The flames soared into the sky, the howling sea breeze rolled up thick smoke into the sky, and the miserable cries for help of the people on the ship could be faintly heard in the crumbling fire, twisting and struggling in the sea of death, and then completely swallowed up.

The whole sailboat was like a burst boiler, one after another tongues of fire burst out, and then burned violently, and the flames set off by the explosion destroyed the seemingly solid hull completely, like a toy to be easily crushed!

Little Goodwin, who was standing on the shore, was completely stunned, and he grabbed Ludwig Dorian's arm beside him and remained motionless, staring wide-eyed as the sailboat engulfed in flames crumbled and sank into the sea with black smoke - he still couldn't believe it was true!

"What did you do?!" little Goodwin looked at Ludwig in horror, and his hands still didn't let go: "Could it be you, but, but, but ......"

"As I have just explained, from the beginning I had no intention of letting these sailors leave here. Ludwig's expression didn't seem to be very good, and he wiped the blood stains from the dagger with his sleeve: "That's right, there were two barrels of ignition on board when we set off, and the explosion just now was their 'masterpiece' - the top-grade ignition agent from the leader of Marco Tasker, at least two to three times more effective than those ordinary goods!"

"So you already knew that these sailors would betray us, and you deliberately told them what the cargo was on board, just so that they could honestly transport the gold to this island?!"

"Huh...... I'm not Lord Edward, and I'm not as clever as Lord Mark—except that I was ready to kill them all from the beginning. Ludwig smiled cruelly: "But their greed has helped us a lot." I still have to find a way to kill them one by one. ”

Little Goodwin jerked his hands away. Ludwig stared at Ludwig in front of him and took a few steps back. The whole back seemed to be chilling, but he still didn't say a word.

"Looks like you're well aware of the need to do that, Mr. Goodwin. Ludwig, who was standing there, was still oblivious to little Goodwin's vigilance, and his eyes were narrowed and his cheeks were still very friendly: "You can't let anyone know the whereabouts of the gold, everything must be kept absolutely secret, right?"

"Then why burn the ship too?" asked little Goodwin rhetorically, "Isn't the light of the fire and the smoke suspicious—it's not far from here to The Hague Harbour, and it's easy to spot!"

"yes, if it's a sunny day, I might think of something else. But this weather ......," Ludwig pointed overhead, the rumbling clouds had enveloped the entire sky, and he smiled a little smugly, "The storm will hide all secrets." ”

"The ship was burned to avoid being followed, and as for the sailors on board, these are not the kind of people who can keep their mouths shut, and can ask anything if they are drunk, and of course we must avoid this risk, such a private transaction with the enemy is a felony in the kingdom, not to mention the large sum of gold involved, and there will definitely be people who will be jealous!"

"So...... The only people who still know where the gold is hidden are you and me. Little Goodwin's back couldn't help but shudder suddenly. There was still a bit of panic in his vigilant eyes, and he clenched his fists tightly: "Then do you want to kill me with you - so that you can have the secret of gold alone." ”

The sea breeze is getting stronger. A few muffled thunder roars came from afar, and the increasingly gloomy sky turned everything in sight into inky black, and the howling sea breeze was cold and shivering, but little Goodwin still felt the sweat on his forehead constantly cutting across his cheeks, making him stand there at a loss and not even dare to move!

......Standing in a pool of blood on the beach, Ludwig chuckled and shook his head, casually threw his short knife and crossbow at little Goodwin's feet, and then opened his arms as if without the slightest defense: "If you still doubt me, just kill me - I promise I will never resist." ”

"What does this mean?" The panicked little Goodwin quickly picked up the crossbow and stuck the short knife on his belt, still not letting his guard down: "Even if I have a weapon, I won't be an opponent for someone like you!"

"I just want to tell you that I am absolutely loyal to Lord Edward Witwood-you are your squire and confidant, how could I possibly do anything to you?" Ludwig wiped the blood from his hands, then turned and walked towards the wooden boxes piled up on the shore: "It's going to rain, and if we don't move the boxes quickly, I'm afraid we'll have to work in the rain!"

Little Goodwin swallowed, his tightly clenched crossbow still aimed at Ludwig's back. And this guy, who had just killed all the people in the boat, was busy on the beach alone as if there was no one around.

He just stood there and watched as the self-proclaimed "Ludwig Dorian" dragged a wooden chest full of gold and precious stones into a cave on the island—the sailors had done most of it early, but it was still a lot of work, and by the time the last box was moved into the cave, it was already night.

No matter how wary he was, seeing the other party's unsuspecting posture, little Goodwin had no reason to be suspicious.

Outside the cave, the wind whistled constantly, and the pouring rain was falling from the sky with the roaring thunder, and the whole world seemed to be cut off by this layer of rain curtains, and the island, which could hear the birds chirping a few quarters of an hour ago, was completely eroded by the monstrous waves and torrential rain.

The two men who had been hiding in the cave sat opposite each other, and a few dead branches they had found and a fire was lit - after becoming Edward's squire, little Goodwin had learned some of the things that a squire should do, though he still couldn't use a sword.

"As long as tomorrow the rainstorm stops, we can leave here in a longboat on the beach - as you said, it's not far from The Hague Harbour, and we can get there in a day. Leaning against the rock wall, Ludwig looked quite tired: "In such a remote place, there is no need to worry that anyone will find out, the storm will wipe out all traces." ”

"That's what you think?" Little Goodwin was still a little surprised: "Kill the sailors, burn the sailboat...... All to make sure that Lord Edward Witwood is not threatened, and not to steal all the gold for one person?"

"If I really wanted gold that much, I would go and do something for the Minest family. Ludwig opened his eyes slightly, and there seemed to be a little contempt in his cold eyes: "Just before I came, that young master Luscent Minest tried to buy me - because I am close to you, he thinks he can use this opportunity to kill Lord Edward!"

"How much gold did he promise you?"

"He didn't promise. Ludwig shook his head: "He asked me to make my own offer." ”

"I don't want gold, jewelry, silver, or ...... Anyone who can buy an entire room full of wine, eat the best food in the world, or hold a title of nobility, and be entitled to a gorgeous robe, ribbon, sapphire ring, and silver belt buckle - that's not what I want!" Ludwig shook his head: "Master Marco Tasker is obsessed with all this, and I am tired of it. ”

"When I learned that it was Lord Edward Witwood, he single-handedly destroyed the entire Blood Banner Brotherhood, killed Nafario Brindis, defended Fort Clarion, forced Landzel Ottovic, and took the Ottowick treasury beyond anyone's imagination...... I realized that I owe my loyalty to him, not to Marco Tasker!"

"That's it...... So you're going to kill someone?"

"No, killing is only a necessity - often a last resort, and a last resort. Ludwig smiled: "It just so happens that I'm good at it." ”

......Hearing these familiar words, the silent little Goodwin nodded, "Lord Edward may like you very much." (To be continued......)