Falkenridge, the royal capital of the lower city.

The morning sun shines through the leaves and brings warmth to the world.

On the wide streets, people come and go, getting up early to start the day's work.

Four years ago, it would have been a rare occurrence of such an early morning full of life and vitality. Because of the extremely poor law and order in the lower city, although the royal capital of Barrington is the most prosperous city in the country, it is also the city with the largest gap between the rich and the poor, and the lower city and the upper city are simply two worlds.

Even during the day, the streets of the lower town were filled with thieves and thugs, and the royal garrison, corrupted by the money and power of the nobles, did little. So the only thing people in the lower town can do is to wait for the sun to rise before going out.

At least at that time, they can feel a little more secure in their hearts.

In fact, the above changes are thanks to the establishment of the Special Security Force four years ago.

"Ahh......h

Rhodes slouched down the stairs and pushed open the office door. Even though it was morning, his face still looked sleep-deprived.

The headquarters of the special security forces is not as luxurious as the general public thinks, nor is it as majestic as the headquarters of the garrison, but from the outside it looks like an ordinary three-story building. If it weren't for a wooden sign hanging next to the gate with the words "Royal Capital Special Security Force", I'm afraid no one would have associated it with that rather legendary organization.

Of course, it's actually an ordinary small building. Although when Iroh left four years ago, he left behind a lot of wealth, but for a nascent organization, there are really not many places to use money, and it is still in the famous and luxurious place of the royal capital.

If it weren't for the help of Marquis Alec before Elo left, I am afraid that four years later, this budding organization would have long since been disbanded, and then regarded as a farce that tried to reform but failed.

"I said, Rhodes, you've been here for four years, why are you still like this?"

Noyce put down the pen in his hand heavily, put the official documents arranged on the table on the file shelf, and then took the tea in his hand and drank it down, with a helpless expression on his face.

"I've said it a long time ago, as a future archmage, I can't spend all my time here......"

The little goblin caster had the urge to close the document the first moment he opened the document in front of him, "I really don't know what the use of dealing with these things is. I'd rather go on some mission. ”

"In any case, we are also a government organization under the name of the king. Carlyle on the side didn't look up, still seriously dealing with his share, "The funds for daily operations depend on these things." ”

Glancing at the wolf orc, Rhodes shrugged at Noyce, "Hey, don't keep talking about how I'm doing. You see Carlyle has been doing this for four years, isn't he still exhibitionist?"

Apparently he was referring to Carlyle's sturdy upper body that was exposed.

"At least people haven't missed work because of this. ”

Noyce replied unceremoniously, "Look at your efficiency, if it weren't for Will all the time helping you make up, we would really have to consider hiring again." ”

"Didn't I also say that it was to train newcomers in their ability to do things?"

"Oh, shut up, you slacker. ”

Noyce held his forehead and decided not to continue to fight with this goblin who was known for his "shamelessness".

Sometimes he couldn't help but think that if there was no Rhodes in the security forces, it is estimated that everyone's efficiency would be much higher......

Although that might be a bit boring.

Then again, the changes in the special security forces...... It's really big.

Looking at Rhodes, who had to work with a serious attitude under the "threat" in Carlyle's eyes, Noyce suddenly felt a little emotional.

If four years ago, someone told him that one day he would be sitting in a spacious and bright room, fighting for the stability of the whole country, and that he would have a group of very reliable companions by his side, he would never believe it.

Four years ago, with the support of the young nobleman named Iro, he and Carlyle, Rhodes, Hedda and others formed this nascent organization, which can almost be said to start from scratch, and it was really hard along the way, but it was also extraordinarily fulfilling.

Noyce knew that everyone had been quietly building up strength all these years, just as Iroh had told him when he left, to start small. First, he helped the garrison to process documents, then assisted them in policing work, and then went on an independent mission.

Now they can even participate in the affairs of some nobles, under the care of Marquis Alec and Princess Bella, intentionally or unintentionally, as long as they do not touch the real bottom line, it can be said that there are almost no people in the royal capital who can move them.

What is even more worthy of pride is that in recent years, the special security forces can be said to have injected new vitality into the royal capital. The law and order situation, which had been sluggish, has gradually improved, and although the hidden evils in the lower city are still unsightly, they are still stronger than they were four years ago.

Moreover, he is not working alone, not to mention Carlyle, who has a lifelong friendship, although the would-be dragoon Heda is a woman, his ability and strength are no less than that of any man.

And Rhodes, despite his lazy and bickering with himself, knew that it was just that he wasn't interested in the little things. In the past four years, they have also cracked down on some criminals in the royal capital, and at that time Rhodes was more fierce and active than anyone else......

As for Will, a newcomer who only joined half a year ago, he is also a very reliable type. Although in terms of age, Will, who has only come of age this year, is the least experienced among them, but even the stern Heda has to be admired for his diligence.

Today's special security forces have only five members, but Noyce is convinced that things will only get better if they keep going.

"By the way, what about Will and Heddah, that old woman, she won't oversleep, will you?"

Rhodes didn't settle down for a few minutes and started looking for a topic again, "The two most diligent ones are not there, it's very suspicious." ”

"They went out early in the morning. But I'll tell Hedda what you said just now. ”

Without waiting for Noyes to reply, Carlyle replied without looking up—apparently he had a way to deal with Rhodes.

Sure enough, the goblin immediately let out a wail: "Hey, don't be so ruthless! I'm still young, I don't want to be the dung of that broken dragon......"

"Well, this sentence has to be added as well. ”

Carlyle closed the file, his angular face with an imperceptible smile, and he looked particularly handsome in the sunlight.

"No, I'm going to protest against your personal vendetta!"

"Protests are ineffective. ”

"I'm so grateful for your decision not to tell them what you just said!"

"No, your thanks can't be eaten. ”

“...... Damn werewolf, I'll fight with you!"

Listening to Rhodes' begging for mercy in his ears, Noyce laughed in his heart, Rhodes's biggest problem except laziness is that he is not able to hide his mouth - at least when it doesn't matter.

The dragon just mentioned is actually Heda's mount and partner, a red male wyvern with true dragon blood, who is not only powerful but also very irritable, and hates being ridiculed behind the back of others just like his owner. What's worse is that it can still understand the lingua franca, and Rhodes has been taught by it more than once in the past four years because of his lack of words.

It is estimated that in the entire special security force, although Carlyle is the commander, there is only one person who can really control Rhodes.

"What are you doing?"

The lively atmosphere suddenly cooled down, Rhodes's body froze, and he slowly turned his head to meet the curious eyes of Shangwill.

And, of course, the woman in red with a frosty face behind him.

"It seems that our Mr. Rhodes has a lot of energy, so why don't you take advantage of the good time to go out and train with Hongyan?"

Hedda suddenly smiled, accentuating the pronunciation of "training" as she pointed out the door.

Red Flame is the name of Heda's Wyvern. Needless to say, even if Hedda didn't listen to all of Rhodes's words just now, he listened to them all the time.

So Heda's smile at this moment was tantamount to a demon's grin for Rhodes.

"Don't——!"

The screams of the goblins echoed throughout the building.

“...... Ahem, okay, that's all for the gossip. ”

After a few moments, Carlyle finally interrupted the increasingly lively atmosphere with a voice, but Noyce felt that it was not so much Carlyle's fear that the harmony between his companions would be disrupted, but rather that Carlyle's fear that Rhodes' screams would cause consternation among nearby passers-by.

"Will, Heda, how did you get this time?"

"Ah, it's perfectly done!"

Will showed a hearty smile and took out a small stack of documents from the backpack behind him, "The materials are all here, thanks to the help of Heda's seniors!"

"Don't be modest, you have a lot to contribute. ”

The ever-strict Hedda gave Will an appreciative smile, and his attitude towards Rhodes was a world of difference.

As a newcomer to the special security forces, Will is a young man with short black hair and blue-black eyes, and although his face is ordinary, his clear and determined eyes are quite impressive.

He came from the Havar Empire half a year ago, and it is said that because his family's business is not very good, he plans to find another way. At that time, Carlyle was struggling with a shortage of staff, and although he was trying to recruit new people, he was struggling to find qualified candidates.

Because the top talents in the royal capital are basically controlled by the three nobles, and the rest are in the hands of the royal family. A nascent organization such as the special security forces can only recruit some ordinary people.

So Will's appearance really surprised Carlyle.

"After four years of accumulation, I think it's almost time to make a big move. The current kings are all in chaos, and the water inside the city is too deep for us to interfere with, but aren't there still many targets to choose from outside the city?"

Carlyle quickly flipped through the file that Will handed over, then placed it on the table, "Like, this. ”

Noyce picked up the document and took a cursory look at it, and found that it was a piece of information about a bandit gang around the royal capital, and the content was quite detailed.

"Bloody Fang, they are entrenched in the gold trade route southwest of the royal capital, specializing in robbing rich merchants between Barrington and the central and western regions of the kingdom, and have committed more than ten crimes so far, which is really suitable as a target. ”

The corners of the young wolf orc's mouth curled into a chilling arc, as if smiling but without the slightest hint of a smile.

"Let them be our first real feat in the royal capital. ”