"One, two, three............... Eight, nine. ”

Willford counted nine thalers to Wu Xin.

Wu Xin smiled and said, "Thank you." ”

Villefort pouted: "This one is almost all pressed Belcott, I thank you almost." ”

Although most of the members of the French group didn't like Belcot either, they still trusted the strength of his group, so almost everyone lost money.

The Spaniards didn't have much to pressure Wu Xin either, but they were in a good mood.

"Frenchman, I knew you were wasted, but I didn't expect it to be so wasteful.

"Go home and nurse the baby, haha."

This kind of underdog couldn't be better for the bookmaker.

It was only at this time that the other Frenchmen were dejected and indignantly indignant, and most of them had suppressed Belcott, so Villefort could not be too happy.

In addition to being happy and unexpected, although he knew that Wu Xin was not the kind of rookie warlock who had just awakened his spell-casting ability, he didn't expect that the Belcott trio, who could be regarded as the top combat power in the knight apprenticeship, would lose so quickly and completely.

The information he provided didn't work.

After Wu Xin got Taller, he stuffed one into Seymour's hand and didn't give him a chance to excuse himself: "Thank you." ”

This is also the general rule of the winner, Seymour wanted to say something, but at this time, Delia also came over, he smiled at Wu Xin, and then went to the cafeteria.

Delia also unceremoniously accepted a thaler given by Wu Xin, but she was still a little unsatisfied: "That warrior fled very quickly, and I can't even be sure if Villefort is telling the truth." ”

She and the other party's samurai, after only two or three moves, the fight was over.

Seeing that both the wanderer and the mage had been knocked into battle, the heavily armored samurai, although not yet injured, immediately gave up.

Although the rules of this kind of fight are strict, it is also very common to be seriously injured, whether it is the priest's magic or the medical care of a high-level knight, it is very expensive, at least several talers are consumed, of course, this kind of private fight cannot get free treatment, if you don't have money, you can only lie down and boil slowly.

"Unfortunately, this would have been a good opportunity to determine Villefort's position." Delia was not satisfied, and was a little sorry that she could not be sure if Villefort had provided important information.

"It's a good thing that they didn't use it this time, you look at them." Wu Xin expressed a different opinion, and he asked Delia to see if it was the losers.

Delia turned to see Belcot's angry eyes.

The cost of the Arrow of Life was not small, but other than that, he was barely injured, so except for his face was not very good, it was not a big deal.

He was glaring at Wu Xin and them as he was talking to the warrior, and the wanderer who had been hit by the "Arrow of Life" had already been sent to Father Erlan for treatment.

Of course, the wanderer's medical expenses must also be counted in his account, and Belcot has lost a lot this time.

Delia shook her head in disgust: "It seems that this time, I didn't convince these Frenchmen." ”

Although the distance was not close, Belcourt still sensed Delia's meaning from his body language, and he shouted in response: "This time you are just lucky, come back tomorrow, I must get you out of my training ground." ”

……………

The knight's apprentice's lunch hall was larger than the servant's, but the food served was almost as bad.

Like the servants, even the hard-to-swallow black bread was rationed, and each person could only take a piece weighing about half a catty, which was still full.

But complementary foods, whether cheese, meat, or vegetables, are very scarce.

They can only eat pork or mutton once a week, and fish is also rationed.

The knight apprenticeship was a little better than that, and everyone in the bowl had a piece of meat half the size of a palm, although the slice of meat was thin enough to let in the light.

There are a few slices of potatoes and vegetable leaves in the soup bowl that seem to be about to melt.

Today, however, the apprentices in the English group had a real treat.

The knight trainees of the English group gathered around for dinner, and they kept congratulating Wu Xin and asking him to treat them.

Wu Xin did not hesitate to use two silver talers to buy a good commodity in the canteen, a pickled wild goose.

The Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by a number of grey geese, creatures that migrate in pursuit of food from the sea, and the location of the island of Malta is also an excellent relay rest for them, some of which will pay a great price for this rest.

There was no shortage of knights and apprentices in the Order who were skilled in archery and hungry with green eyes.

After the chef and Wu Xin said a few words, Wu Xin gave the chef another thaler, and if poultry wants to be delicious, it must have seasonings other than salt.

The chef set up a fire in the yard in front of the cafeteria on the spot and began to process the wild goose.

The chefs are in a good mood, although they are only consignment, but being able to sell them in time can still allow them to get dozens of coppers, so they are very careful about their work.

As the geese tumbled on the fire, the fragrance of bay leaves gradually spread in the cafeteria, and everyone was full of mouth.

More and more French knight apprentices could not stand this torture and got up and left the canteen.

But Wu Xin didn't care, low-key and cautious is a virtue, but if you don't even dare to celebrate, then simply don't fight, don't resist, and honestly let others knead it.

In order to thank Wu Xin for his patronage, the chef also presented them with a bottle of cheap fruit wine.

Wu Xin certainly received the most praise, and although Seymour was known for his prestige in the English group, this time he clearly played a bigger role, and he also paid for such a delicacy.

The supplies are scarce, the space is small, and the occasional food enjoyment is particularly precious.

"Cesare, you cut it." Delia handed Wu Xin a dagger.

Wu Xin took the dagger without hesitation, and then divided the best part to Delia and Seymour, which is the treatment that the victor deserves.

He cut the flesh while observing the others.

He pays the most attention to Seymour, he didn't humble the dagger, but also to see Seymour's heart, he is the caster and the servant manager, although the level is relatively low, but he should still be the head of the English group apprenticeship, for his own possible struggle on the island, Wu Xin will need this status, since he can't humble the status, he is not humble to the dagger that divides the flesh.

Fortunately, the older knight trainee never showed any jealousy or disappointment, and he noticed another detail.

Seymour gnawed the wild goose leg that had been given to him very cleanly, and chewed up the thigh bone and swallowed it, which is evidence that he had no guilt.

The meal lasted an hour and everyone was satisfied.

"It's really good, I haven't eaten real food for a long time, there is no meat and no vegetables, and now even fish is so expensive, I really can't stand it." Seymour looked very satisfied.

However, his words made Ser Sheila show a worried expression: "The fish on the menu is getting more and more expensive, and the big fishing boats have been afraid to go out recently. Not to mention that there are enough nutrients, even if the fat can be fully supplied, I have long been a stalwart samurai. ”

"Yes, it's not just that it's hard to cross the threshold for the backbone, but it's hard to get past even the backbone and elite samurai, and the high-level samurai need fully processed food and nutrients more than we do." Seymour's words speak to the general problems of the Order.

Wu Xin was also able to participate in this discussion because of his expertise in "knowing history": "The Barbary pirates have the support of the Ottoman navy, and we have no choice. ”

"Actually, the emperor is also supporting us, the Mediterranean detachment of the Spanish Navy has always been stationed on the island of Malta, and every month there are still ships coming from Seville and Barcelona." Seymour said impartially. "His Royal Highness the Regent's support is also there, and he really can't do much in the current situation in Austria."

"Humph! These two Habsburgs, despising the Church, sacrificed their ancestors. They even forced Rome to hold the Chosen Pope hostage, and the Austrian regent even colluded with the Church of Calshus, claiming that the Lord of Flames was also the true faith, which was blasphemous! "Delia was clearly unhappy with both godless monarchs, especially with the Austrian regent.

"He's already paid the price, hasn't he." Seymour didn't feel any emotion and said quite calmly. "He once claimed that the king wanted to pass the throne to his descendants, but after the defeat of Buda, the Vulcan Church collapsed, and his elect were drowned by Suleiman the Magnificent by the waters of the Danube, and the entire Red Mage Order was left with no bones except for the town of Misrila. In order to gain the emperor's support, he was also forced to re-recognize the emperor's second son's inheritance to Austria. ”

"It was the struggle and ambition of the two of them that gave the Ottoman pagans the opportunity to invade Central Europe again." Delia obviously didn't like this kind of royal fighting. "We have actually been affected, and the Barbary pirates have been inspired by the battle of Buda to be so rampant, and the island of Malta is in such a difficult situation, and the brothers and sisters to the south must be even more precarious."

In addition to the island of Malta, the Knights Hospitaller also took over two of Libya's most important ports, Tripoli and Benghazi, from the emperor, and built a series of forts nearby, but the area they were able to control was very small.

"It is difficult for us to defend the island, and the two strongholds to the south can only hope that the Ottomans will not be able to look at them." This question made Seymour also put down the food in his hand, and said bitterly, "The navy of the Ottoman Empire is too strong, after the decline of the Republic of Venice, there is no navy in the Mediterranean that can fight against these infidels, only the Spanish foreign fleet can deal with these infidels, and the navy of our knights can only be broken into pieces and guerrilla at sea." It's so uncomfortable, and if we continue like this, we're going to have nothing to eat. ”

Seymour's words are a slight exaggeration, a naval blockade without radar is not enough to starve people to death, but it is entirely possible to weaken the defense of the entire island.

"Chief Eli Adam will be back next month with Cardinal Picomini, and the fleet of the Church of Rome that sent them over should bring a shipment of supplies." Delia was talking about something that the entire Order had been waiting for. "As long as Eli Adam, the silver-white knight, and a few cardinal archbishops are there, there will be no problem on the island of Malta."

"Cardinal Archbishop Picromini is not only a close confidant of His Majesty the Chosen Pope, but he is also very good at inspiring heretics." Seymour asks a question. "It's strange, now the cardinal of Gonzaga on the island is also famous for converting heretics, he never presides over Mass, there must be something important to be busy with, is there any important heresy to be influenced here?"

"It should be, Cardinal Gonzaga and Cardinal Picromini have been working shifts for two years, and there has always been one person on the island." Serhira didn't understand the politics of the front, and only when she heard the cardinal archbishop say with some expectation. "It would be too much of an exaggeration to have two cardinal archbishops acting as the Bishops of Malta, and both of them are said to be the favourites for the next true pope, and it would be easier to go to heaven if you could do a mass with such a figure."

"There is no shortcut to heaven, only reverence." Delia spoke very firmly. "Don't think about it, we may be leaving soon, it is said that a group of people will be sent to Libya in the near future, the port of Benghazi and several other forts are asking for support, the sea supplies are cut off, and the Barbary pirates and nomadic tribes are eyeing it."

Delia's words made the faces of the apprentices darken.

If the Knights Hospitaller is the first line of defense, then the Libyan region is the barricade in front of the first line of defense, and it is definitely the darkest mission.

"The first two batches of reinforcements were intercepted by Barbary pirates before they reached their destination, and now they have been auctioned off at the slave market in Istanbul............" Sershira was very afraid of this fate, in fact, being able to go to the slave market for auction was already a "preferential treatment" for women, and the male captives were directly thrown into the dirty and damp bilge and paddled to death. "Even if you enter those two strongholds, it will be precarious.........

Seymour suddenly said with annoyance: "Many knights watched the battle on the playground, and they often recruited the best apprentices directly into the front-line troops............"

Without a backstage, having strength is not necessarily a good thing.

Delia showed a completely different temperament: "What's the wrong thing about that, isn't all the training we have gone through to destroy the heretics for the glory of God, who can not die, isn't it the best way to die for God?" ”

"Hey, why hasn't His Majesty's ocean-going fleet come yet?" Würzburg lamented. "Only by gathering the capital ships of Spain can we deal with the Ottomans."

Delia replied indignantly: "Hmph, the Spanish foreign fleet is busy transporting the curiosities of the New World and the treasures of the Netherlands back to the port of Seville, where can we take care of those of us who are desperate with the infidels. ”

"It's just nonsense, the despicable King may support the infidels at any time." The Spaniards at the table next to him mostly agreed with the words of the English group, and when they heard these words of Delia, they were immediately excited, and one of them stood in front of Delia and said loudly, "And even so, the Emperor did his best to help us, if it wasn't for the Emperor who transferred a detachment from Sardinia to Malta, the Ottomans would have landed directly." This is a great deal for Spain, and do you know how much it would be safe for Spain if these two capital ships and five sail ships were to stay in Sardinia or Sicily? ”

His words made it impossible for a few Englishmen to refute that the Spanish detachment was docked in the port of Malta, and although it was overwhelmed by the Barbary pirates, it did have a certain effect, otherwise the fishing industry on the island of Malta would have completely collapsed.

Correspondingly, tens of thousands of people in southern Italy are captured by Barbary pirates every year, and are appraised and sold naked in the slave markets of Cairo and Istanbul.

The Spanish apprentice continued to say a few words that went too far: "And who knows if your England will ally with France, and your king will divorce His Majesty's aunt of the Emperor, and abolish Princess Mary's natural and righteous inheritance, and let that illegitimate daughter Elizabeth inherit the throne." Even in collusion with other gods, how dare the Emperor transfer the fleet to the Mediterranean, maybe your heretical king will poison Queen Catherine and Princess Mary while the Dutch fleet leaves Antwerp. ”

"What heresy?! His Majesty is a devout believer of God, and to say that he has converted to other gods is a despicable and shameless lie and baseless slander. Hmph, there are so many loyal righteous men and devout followers of His Majesty God in the Kingdom of England, and Her Majesty the Queen and Princess Mary are as secure as Ben Nevis, and there is no need for the Emperor to protect them. Delia was furious, she couldn't tolerate this at all, she said as she stood up and approached the Spanish trainee. The emperor has defeated France in a row in the past few years, and even insulted the true pope, I think he wants to rule the world, and protecting the queen and princess is just an excuse. ”

Wu Xin reached into his belt and grabbed the spell casting materials of the "Panic Technique".

Once the Spaniard jumped, he had to support Delia.

While it would be extremely unwise to go against the Spaniards and the French at the same time, Delia's expression showed that she would not back down on this issue.

The Spanish trainee was indeed ready for a big fight, or even a fight.

But Delia's expression at this time was very terrifying, she showed extraordinary emotions, her face was full of hideousness and sternness, and her beautiful big eyes shot out of them as if they were choosing people to eat, and she saw that the apprentice was a little weak.

There was an older Spanish trainee who had fought many battles, and he saw that Delia was not bluffing, so he grabbed his companion: "Girl, don't be impulsive, everyone is your own. ”

They gave in first, and Wu Xin also spoke in time: "Can't you see that Delia is obviously a loyal supporter of Her Majesty the noble Queen Catherine, and everyone is their own people." ”

"Yes, yes, Cesare, sure enough, he has both strength and knowledge, and everyone is his own people."

"You are very happy to teach the arrogant Frenchman, and it is very happy."

Several other Spanish apprentices also joined the round, and they all said that the Spanish foreign fleet was definitely the backbone of the fight against the infidels, and the emperor was the most peace-loving supreme, and had absolutely no ambition to rule the world.

The Spaniards' concessions kept the fight from beginning in the end.

The other party relented but Delia was not happy, and Wu Xin felt that she actually wanted to fight hard over this issue.

Delia, who failed in the appointment, became in a bad mood, and after eating, she refused Wu Xin's invitation to continue practicing, and went to church alone to pray.

However, Wu Xin still achieved his other goal, and he had a smooth exchange with several Austrian and Spanish apprentices, making full use of the victory and laying some contacts.