The team was noticeably faster on the descent, but Payne felt that it could be any faster, with weapons and shields combined at only 50 pounds compared to a 120-pound load, and he thought time should not be wasted on the road. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

After descending the mountain, the sight in front of him made Payne feel inexplicably desolate, and when he came to the nearest village at the foot of the mountain, everything in front of him seemed lifeless, except for the 'squeak' of the doors and windows, the sound of feet falling to the ground.

The doors and windows of the dilapidated house are not even locked, and the windows can be seen through the dusty and rudimentary furniture, which makes the scene even more desolate. Not to mention the living people in the whole village, not even chickens, ducks, geese and dogs have not seen a single one.

"Captain, something seems wrong in the atmosphere. Quentin said nervously.

"Hmm," Payne nodded, and although he had been a little unhappy with Quentin before, he still agreed with the other party's statement.

Judging from his experience, this kind of scene will appear in the village, and it is not ruled out that the nearby villagers have already entered the city for the winter, but the question is, Baron Wright should also enter the city, how could he send a mission to the mercenaries?

You must know that the nobles are all life-saving races, and even the untouchables in their mouths know to take refuge, and Baron Wright has no reason to stay on his estate.

Taking a step back, even with a knightly guard, these nobles would not joke with their lives. Not to mention...... The Baron had only five knights.

Payne was also apparently aware of the anomaly, "Map. ”

This time, Payne called all four vice-captains over for reference.

The consensus was that they had not gone the wrong way, and the team moved on.

After passing another village that also looked like it had been ransacked, the sun almost clung to the mountain of thorns behind it, and the sky darkened.

Fortunately, the fog had largely dispersed, and it did not affect the speed of their march.

"Hurry up brothers," shouted Payne, "we must get to the manor before dark." ”

"Yes, Captain. The crowd replied in unison, and the procession quickened its pace, certainly not wanting to rush at night.

......

In a manor castle south of Kurstedburg, a middle-aged man dressed as a nobleman was standing in the attic at the top of the castle with a sad face.

The attic is circular in shape, with a small window in each of the eight directions, and standing in the attic, you can take in the view from a radius of more than ten miles.

Baron Wright was using the telescope in his hand to look in the direction of Mount Thorns, and after observing for a moment, his face was a little ugly again.

"Damn mercenaries," Baron Wright put away his binoculars and handed them to his butler, Lange.

Lange carefully took the binoculars, and then asked, "Master, aren't the mercenaries here yet?"

"Well," Baron Wright sighed, "as agreed, they should have appeared in my territory half an hour ago. ”

"Could it be that they had an accident on the way?" said the butler cautiously, "I have heard that several villages north of Kurstedburg have been attacked by demons, and even Nivelle Manor has been affected. I mean, could those mercenaries encounter demons on the way?"

The baron waved his hand, "It's unlikely, don't forget that it's daytime, and the sun has been hanging in the sky since morning rising." And as far as I know, there is a demon on the back...... The Bounty Guild has long since taken over, and even if there are demons, they have been eliminated. ”

Baron Wright said slowly, "I received a message from the mercenary camp at noon, and their men set off at dawn, so they should have arrived a long time ago, could it be that they were on the wrong route?"

"It's less likely than encountering a demon, isn't it?" Lange replied, "So what now?"

"Can't wait, if they don't arrive before dark, then they can only send a mission to the Bounty Guild," the baron's face suddenly sank, "I hope they don't open their mouths." ”

"Yes, sir. Lange replied.

......

Payne pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the time, it was 4:45 p.m., and the sunset here was half an hour earlier than Sheltered Valley, because the Thorn Mountain behind him was blocking the western sunset.

The early darkness made Payne feel bad, so he immediately stopped the group and said to Quentin beside him, "You take the two of you to the manor ahead and check it out." Remember, be secretive, and come back first to report whatever you perceive. ”

"Yes, Captain. Quentin casually pointed to the two men, "You, you, come with me." ”

Along the way, almost every time he made his way, Payne would take out his telescope and take a look at his surroundings.

Although the Silver Knight did not formally teach him how to use a sword, he did teach him a lot about gathering intelligence. And this is the time to show the value of intelligence.

After the three of them left, Hawke walked over and asked in a low voice, "Boss, did you find anything?" ”

"I'm not sure yet," Payne replied, then took out his binoculars again and looked at them.

The outline of a manor house appeared before his eyes, but to his surprise, the manor felt equally lifeless, for he saw that there was no light in the castle.

Payne didn't feel like the castle was inhabited, and the manor not far ahead was the destination of their trip, Wright Manor.

If the markings on the map are correct.

After about a cigarette, the three Quentins returned.

"Captain, there are two knights guarding the entrance to the castle, and everything else looks normal. Quentin reported.

"Is there just two guards?" asked Payne.

"Yes," Quentin said, "the others are probably hiding in the castle, right? I think they're looking forward to us." ”

"......," Payne fell silent when he heard this, he thought, this possibility is not impossible.

Centaurs have very poor eyesight, and are equal to blind people in bright light and shadow, so it is normal for them to withdraw after dark, but what about the slaves and commoners?

Thinking of this, Payne pondered for a moment, and then continued to ask, "Then did you smell anything strange near the manor?"

"Strange smell?" asked Quentin, somewhat puzzled.

"For example, the smell of blood or the smell of fish. Payne asked. In the more than three months that I have followed the Silver Light Knight, the most contact with demons in all the missions is demons, but wherever they exist, there is a smell of blood in the air.

Payne had already smelled a faint fishy stench, but he didn't think about the demons.

He was confident that the mercenary intelligence service would not make such a mistake, if that was the case...... That's not a dereliction of duty,—— it's murder!

......