"This pit is still fresh, don't sell it to pharmacies on Central Avenue."

The guy who was originally thinking about snatching children's things, but after Brin, who had a rather low bottom line, accepted the Sumo kernel with a thick face, he coughed lightly and told Ian a piece of news that only an insider knew: "Sold to the Jill family's winery, they are trying to plant wine trees...... When medicine is sold as poison, where is there to make money by selling seeds? ”

"Of course, saplings are the best, but the natives of the Sumo Wine Tree have always been strictly guarded, and even the seeds are mostly used for life, and it is difficult to recycle, so one is worth seven or eight thalers."

"Indeed."

Very understandable reasoning, Ian nodded slightly, and understood.

"It's almost time to go."

At this time, Ian saw that Bryn's physical strength had recovered a lot, so he decided to take advantage of the night and the other party's injury had not deteriorated.

"You can see it, you lead the way." Brin nodded, and then picked up the native knifeman, who was still unconscious, and followed closely behind Ian.

Have a safe trip.

The woods along the northeast coast of Harrison Harbor have long been cut down, leaving only a white field that has been specially covered with saline, which is set up to prevent the natives from communicating with the spirit of the sea of trees and summoning living tree totems to attack the city, and the farmland of the port is mainly located around the official road to the north, on both sides of the Iwok River.

From this saline land, a stone road leads to the nearby village of Boer, along which the guards usually patrol the villages and farms, and there are also watchtowers with torches along the road, illuminating the land in the dark night.

Ian and Brin followed the light of the watchtower, and although they didn't encounter the natives, they were on guard the whole time.

It was only when the two of them reached the bottom of the bright watchtower and saw the towering walls of Port Harrison that they finally breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed.

At the same time, they saw a number of people, either alone or in groups, coming from all directions, gathering under the tower of the gate.

Most of these people looked frightened, disheveled, and some were even seriously injured and covered in blood.

Ian knew at a glance that they were supposed to be loggers or fishermen from the surrounding villages, and all of them had been attacked by natives just like himself, but had survived unexpectedly.

"Don't panic, line up, prove your identity, and enter the city in order!"

There is a squad of city defense troops maintaining order, and these usually casual soldiers are rarely wearing half-body armor and helmets, and holding light crossbows in their hands, and enter a state of combat readiness.

The captain's dull and solemn voice came from the helmet: "Lord Grant has set up a free porridge distribution point, everyone will have porridge to drink and a place to settle after entering the city - but don't make a loud noise and cause a riot!" ”

"Those who indiscriminately stir up a commotion shall be regarded as indigenous spies and imprisoned. Resist, kill. ”

Hearing this simple but powerful combination of grace, the panicked crowd gradually calmed down, but Ian and Brin did not enter the crowd.

"We've got a captive!"

Because Bryn's lungs were injured, Ian spoke in his place, and the boy's crisp voice caught the attention of the captain over there, and he saw the natives whose body was twisted in Brynn's hands, but who still had a breath because of the tenacity of the Terra, and his eyes lit up: "What? ”

"Brin? You're in luck......"

He seemed to know the herb picker, but before the captain of the city defense army could lead the team forward and lead Ian and Brin back to the city, another surprised voice sounded: "Ian? ”

Heavy footsteps sounded like rocks falling to the ground, and the figure of Elder Pude appeared in front of the city gate.

His appearance immediately caused the captain of the city guard to take a step back slightly to show respect, but the elder did not care about the other party's awe, but walked forward quickly and looked at Ian's situation in surprise: "Yes, not injured." ”

Elder Bai Zhimin shook his beard, he looked at Ian's current state, and also glanced at Brin who was injured and smiled, and laughed: "Yes, Bryn, you did a good job!" ”

"No, it's not my ......" Bryn didn't dare to take credit, but before he could finish speaking, Elder Pud withdrew his gaze and looked at Ian: "Of course I know it's not you, with your character, if you really saved Ian's life and captured the captive, you would have asked me for credit a long time ago." ”

"Ian, you did it?"

His inquiry was brief and forceful, and his eyes were burning on the young boy.

"Hmm...... At last. ”

He didn't deny it, because Ian was keenly aware that under Elder Pud's loose robes, he was wrapped in a layer of chain mail, and the other party was carrying a war hammer around his waist, which was completely in preparation mode.

Behind the city gate, he saw several of Elder Pude's usual guards also wearing leather armor and waiting in full armor.

- He's going out of the city.

Ian was aware of this, and he knew very well that there was no need for Elder Pud to venture out of the city other than himself—even if the White Folk Farm was destroyed, the benefits were too small compared to the risks.

Counterpart...... I wanted to save him.

"I see." He said thoughtfully, "It seems that my identity as a psychic is ...... Maybe more valued than I thought? ”

But in any case, the other party was almost immediately prepared, and there was a great possibility of going to search and rescue - usually people don't think that an eight-year-old child could end well when he was attacked by the natives - Ian, who had already been killed, was willing to admit to this alone.

"No matter what, even for the sake of the identity of the psyker, the close clan relationship of the white people is still quite good."

"Ask the doctor to come over, Brin needs to heal."

Patting Ian on the back, Elder Pud nodded to the captain of the city guard, then led the two into the city, and said to the guards beside him: "I just received a message from the flying pigeon, the breeding plant has been raided, the two Aubrey brothers are defeated, and they have taken their compatriots who are still alive to sail into the sea to take refuge, you two call Sainan and Davion to meet them in the Labyrinth Sea." ”

Ian ...... Unfortunately, we ignored your hunch. Come with me and tell me what's going on in the outer city. ”

"Not now, Elder."

But to Elder Pudde's surprise, Ian, who seemed to be very well-behaved, refused his request.

But instead of being annoyed, he waited with interest for the reason: "Why?" ”

"The captive is there, Elder, if you really have a problem, there must be a way to get him to speak."

Turning sideways, the boy smiled and looked at the native knifeman who had been surrounded by three doctors and restrained on a stretcher: "And my younger brother at home hasn't eaten yet—I wanted to bring something to eat when I went out this time, but now it's all gone." ”

"What's more."

Turning around, Ian and Elder Pud looked at each other and chuckled, "Elder, don't you really want to ask me a question, haven't I already answered it?" ”

In his cyan eyes, a warm and crystalline, light halo like water lit up, flickering slightly like fireflies.

Although the glimmer of light that sprouted from within, it only lasted for a few seconds before disappearing, like an illusion, but the color that suddenly lit up at that moment was not falsely real.

"It's ......"

Squinting his eyes, Elder Pud stared into Ian's eyes, and he could clearly see the halo.

"Really, very good, good answer."

He said softly, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, and there was a rare hint of nostalgia in his tone, but more of relief: "So be it, Ian." Stay safe, you should always know by now how dangerous it is outside the city. ”

After a pause, the old man stretched out his hand, rubbed the boy's head vigorously, and reproached him in an accentuated tone: "Moreover, you promised me that you would not go out alone." Well? ”

"It's not a good boy to say yes but not to do it."

"Hey."

Ian tried to get by, and with his appearance, if it were an ordinary person, he would definitely soften his heart for a moment, and even have a desire to protect...... But apparently Elder Pude didn't eat it.

He gently patted the boy on the shoulder: "Go back, this time you have captured the captives and made a great contribution, and Viscount Grant will not ignore it." ”

"Go home and wait for the good news."

Soon, Elder Pud left with Brin and the native captives.

In addition to looking for Ian, they also wanted to lead a team out of the city to patrol, try to catch a few tongues, find out what the natives are crazy, and actually break the tacit understanding of more than ten years and take the initiative to attack the other party's civilians on a large scale.

Because of Ian, they already have a ready number of captives, but it's also necessary to patrol several key entrances and watchtowers.

Ian watched in the direction they were leaving, his relaxed expression gradually becoming serious.

"Why did the natives suddenly go crazy......

He turned his head and looked at the gate of the city, which was slowly reviewing the release.

In the dim light of the algae oil lamp, the frightened, bloodstained villagers either wept or trembled into the city, and a few guards silently carried a large bucket of water and poured it on them, turning them into soup chickens, and washing away the sludge from their bodies, blood stains and insects that the natives might try to send into the city through them.

After the cleaning, some families were reunited, although at a loss, but with a minimum of composure, and were guided into the makeshift tent area that had been cleared out.

Some of them ran all the way, and now they are in a safe place, only to realize that they may have lost some of the most important family loves, so they fall to their knees, wailing and crying in despair.

"No, don't wash it off, it's Daddy's blood......"

He heard a little boy crying loudly, which would have been reprimanded, but in the end it was just an acquaintance who forced a smile and covered the child's mouth and left.

The guards just watched in silence.

After more than ten years of peace, everyone recalled the bloodshed and horror of the war with the natives in the past.

Watching this scene, Ian muttered to himself, "Is all this related to what the teacher said?" ”

"If not, why?"

"And what is Miss Hilliard doing now?"

Silently staring at the crowd behind the city gates, Ian shook his head slightly and walked home.

At the same moment, outside the Viscount Grant Mansion.

A gray chickadee silently descended from the wind and landed in front of the long-awaited guard in front of the mansion.

The guard, who had finally waited for the target, let out a long breath and hurriedly removed the note from the bird's leg

He returned to the mansion as fast as he could, and handed the note from the depths of the redwood forest to the butler, a gray-haired old man who had served the Grant family for forty-five years, and was slightly hunchbacked.

"My lord, here's a letter from over there."

Knocking on the door, and after a rather annoyed response, the old butler slowly walked into the study, and handed the book to Viscount Grant, who was looking gloomy and almost gritting his teeth.

The Viscount is now signing a letter of authorization, preparing to mobilize the resources of the various chambers of commerce in Port Harrison to assist in the resettlement of refugees caused by the native attack, and to prepare for war - whether the imperial capital looks at it or not, as a nominal royal territory, the governor of Port Harrison needs to write a report for backup, let alone mobilize military reserve resources to prepare for war.

Hearing the old butler's words, the angry viscount raised his head, clicked, and crushed the pen in his hand: "Rubbish! The natives all hit us on the head and broke our teeth before they passed the news to me? So what's the use of these lurking spies? Waste so much of my money! ”

"Early warning, early warning, early warning, I just believed their nonsense - a few days ago, Pude came to tell me to be careful of the sudden actions of the natives, I smiled and told him that I must know before him, let him not worry, what is the result?!"

After scolding angrily and taking a deep breath, Viscount Grant still controlled his emotions and unfolded the note with an expressionless face.

Then, his brow furrowed, and his expression became suspicious.

"Isn't the Pure Sacrifice to increase the number of Ascendants in the tribe, nor is it to allow the Sea of Trees to shelter them in a great storm?"

He was stunned and said, "This pure sacrifice is the purest blood sacrifice. ”

Thinking of a possibility, Viscount Grant raised his head, and sure enough, the old butler's expression became extremely solemn, this old man who has witnessed all the history of Harrison Port from its construction to the present obviously thought of the same possibility as him.

The viscount stood up and said to himself incredulously: "Their attack on the village this time is not a precursor to a siege, but to capture enough blood sacrifice offerings?" ”

"They...... Want to wake up the mountain lord with a blood sacrifice?! ”