No doubt.

For Bernard, who wanted to return to Ascatra by land, the news brought by the cavalry captain could definitely be regarded as bad news.

This left him in a state of silence for the next few hours.

It wasn't until I passed through the city gate and officially entered the fortress city of Manon that I was a little more perked.

One of the first things Bernard did when he arrived at the market was to start a planned sale of all the camels to merchants who were eager to cross the desert to Port Carlin.

and the nobles and commoners who chose to move their families to Port Carlin for fear that the Red Dragon would continue to move south after the capture of Myratma.

Since mobilization for war has already begun.

Most of the ships in the harbor had either been requisitioned or had sailed to Port Carlin early with people full of people, and there were no free ships to spare.

Therefore, the only camel that can help them cross the Karin Desert will naturally increase in value.

At this moment, it has risen to seven times the usual level.

Coupled with the malicious hoarding and hype of black-hearted businessmen, they deliberately spread all kinds of gossip that can cause panic in people's hearts.

Some aristocrats and wealthy people who were desperate to flee for their lives were even willing to offer ten times the outrageous price.

And those heavy pack horses from the northern Tessel Kingdom, which were originally worth 150 gold coins, fell directly to 50 gold coins.

In addition, the price of a four-wheeled horse-drawn wagon has also dropped from 100 gold coins to 30 gold coins, and the two-wheeled one is only 4 gold coins.

In less than two hours, Bernard sold all the more than 1,000 camels in the caravan.

It was replaced by more than 300 sturdy heavy pack horses, as well as 80 four-wheeled wagons that require two horses to pull, and 140 two-wheeled wagons that can be pulled by only one horse.

As for the goods carried by the caravan, he chose to sell all the weapons and secondary magic items that could be used in the defense of the city to the city government of Mannon, which was preparing for the war.

At the same time, all the difference in the price just earned will be used to purchase antiques, arts, crafts, jewelry, and a large number of valuable ancient books and magical items that the fleeing families are selling at low prices.

In short, in addition to the real estate that cannot be taken away, as long as there is enough profit margin, it has always been refused.

When he had finished everything and dragged his exhausted body to the door of the inn chartered by the caravan, Bernard immediately heard a burst of laughter from inside.

When he walked in, he saw everyone sitting around the stage and laughing.

Even the holy warrior Aroline, who had always been serious and unsmiling, was covering her mouth and trembling slightly uncontrollably.

Only Zuo Si, who was sitting in the center, still maintained his usual calm posture, eating the food on the plate at a very slow pace.

Out of curiosity, Bernard walked straight up to the mercenary leader and asked, "What are you laughing at?" ”

The latter shook his head with a smile and explained, "Just now Lord Soth told a very funny joke that successfully made everyone laugh. ”

"Oh? What kind of joke is it? ”

Bernard leaned into the chair next to him and waved for the pretty hostess to bring her a glass of the best wine in the shop. …

He was now desperate for an alcoholic drink to relieve his fatigue and stress.

Soon, the hostess brought the merchant a glass of fine wine as dark red as blood for the merchant, who looked dusty on the outside, but was richly dressed and decorated.

And that's not all!

She also deliberately pulled the neckline of her skirt very low, revealing the two hemispheres that were quite seductive, and at the same time gave Bernard a reverie-filled wink.

You don't have to ask to know that this is a sign of invitation.

As long as the latter wished, he could go upstairs to the guest room at any time and do some adult sports with the beautiful young hostess.

After all, if you can hook up with a rich businessman, it means that you can get rid of the current poor and embarrassing life.

It doesn't matter if you become each other's wife or mistress.

Anyway, it's a hundred times better than being a hotel hostess who will be molested and taken advantage of by rude men almost every day for the rest of her life.

No matter how poor you are, you can also get a generous tip through a one-night stand.

In short, wealthy merchants and nobles will always be more favored by these hostesses than adventurers and mercenaries who lick their blood.

But it's a pity that Bernard, who was full of worries in his heart, didn't have such a mind at all, and directly ignored the hostess's secret send-off, picked up the cup and took a sip of himself.

The mercenary captain on the side smiled and repeated the joke just now.

The idea is that the younger brother of a knight was killed by the enemy.

At this time, his teammates came forward to express their support for him to take revenge.

Warrior: I will cut off the head of your brother's murderer with my sword.

Ranger: My bow will shoot through the murderer's heart.

Pastor: I will use the power God has given me to find the murderer and make him pay for his deeds.

The necromancer pointed to the corpse beside him that had just been awakened by magic and said, "Don't bother! Your brother will personally strangle the bastard who killed him. ”

After listening to this, Bernard couldn't help but burst out laughing on the spot.

Obviously, this is a typical "hell joke".

Because in Faerun, a normally killed corpse can actually cost a lot of money to find a high-level priest to help resurrect it.

But if it is a corpse that has been desecrated by necromancy, the cost and difficulty of resurrection will be instantly increased by more than ten times or even dozens of times.

If he were this knight, he would have been able to pull out his sword and hack this necromancer teammate to death.

Soon, however, the merchant stopped laughing, lowered his voice and asked Zuo Si, who was eating, "Your Excellency Soth, you don't seem to be nervous at all about what happened to Myratma?" ”

"Nervous? Why should I be nervous? Zuo Si asked rhetorically with a chuckle. It's just a full-grown red dragon and a few thousand monsters that lack organization and discipline. If it does, I don't mind being a Dragon Slayer Warrior. ”

"Slay the dragon?!"

Aroline's eyes lit up slightly.

Know that slaying the evil and brutal Red Dragon is a great challenge and a supreme honor for any paladin.

Zuo Si nodded seriously: "That's right!" If it's an elderly red dragon or an ancient dragon, it may be very troublesome to deal with. But if it's just an adult dragon or a prime-age dragon, as long as you are prepared, it shouldn't be too difficult to solve. ”

"So you've decided to deal with the red dragon and its evil army?"

Aroline clenched her fists excitedly.

If it weren't for the mission and oath she had on her back, she would have wanted to go to Myratma alone.

Emulate the pure, powerful, and fearless paladins of those stories who single-handedly slay the source of evil that stirs up war and strife, bringing peace and hope to those who are suffering.

"No, no, no.

I mean, if it happens, it's a good deal.

If you don't encounter it, then it's better to have more than one thing.

Of course, if the lord of Myratma can offer enough bounties, I don't mind making some extra money. ”

Zuo Si clearly expressed his position.

Although he doesn't mind helping others when he can, he doesn't regard "altruism" as a responsibility and obligation like the "righteous people" in this world.

Quite the opposite!

If he could, Zuo Si didn't want to be involved with all kinds of messy organizations.

He just wanted to get to Ascatra as soon as possible, help Bernard recapture the Chamber of Commerce first, and then bring enough money to Candlefort to include all the precious books in the [Thinking Library].