A caravan carrying a large amount of goods crossed the Alps and walked the desert edge to the city of Gardinanras, a one-way journey that took nearly three months. Along the way, we also had to overcome difficulties such as heavy snowfall, ice breakage, and water supply.

But for Chris, who travelled light and had a horse to travel, it was a pleasing ride for the eyes.

The sentimentality of being far away from relatives and hometown will be blown away by the cold wind when the horse is galloping; The endless desert is golden during the day, but at night it is like mercury bursting to seal the world, which makes people feel the magic of nature; And the back of the sand lizard man who wandered the edge of the desert in search of food, and fled for his life into the desert when he heard the sound of horses' hooves.......

All of this made Chris feel that the world outside of Eaton's territory was very new.

Even the food and drink along the way have become unique.

Seeing in his eyes, Sien did not bother him with the novelty and stupidity that he had not seen in the world.

After all, if you are a young person, you will inevitably have a heart that yearns for freedom and longs for the distance. Even the gaze that fell on Chris occasionally flashed with a ray of worry.

It's a kind of worry similar to when a father lets go of his juniors.

His duty is only to escort Chris to the city of Edin of the Einsk family in the south, and Chris will have to grope for the rest of his life alone.

This big boy he watched grow up, although he has the quality of kindness and a certain ability to protect himself, he is as pure as a blank sheet of paper, and he does not understand the sinister and dirty of the world. He was worried that this big boy had not yet grown up to the peak of a warrior, and he had already been swallowed by the sinister hearts of the world.

Of course, he didn't intend to interfere too much.

Growth comes at a cost.

The chicks, who have always sheltered under the wings of their elders, will never usher in the sky of their own.

What he could do was to familiarize Chris with the world outside of Eton's territory as much as possible on the way south, so that he would suffer less sin in the future.

The desert on the western side of the Alps was a deserted walk, and the two did not linger long, and it took only about a month to reach the outside of the southwestern city of Gardinanras, an important city in the southwestern part of the empire.

Nestled between the remnants of the Alps and Lokidaran mountain ranges, the city is the only line of defense for the Holy Empire against the Serpents, hundreds of miles ahead of the Serpent Men and a plain from the Imperial Capital to the Plain.

The garrison is extremely powerful, and 50,000 imperial elites are stationed all year round.

Among them, 20,000 troops came from the griffin legion, which was directly under the royal family.

Chris, who had just arrived outside the city, was first shocked by the thirty-meter-high wall, and then looked at the flag embroidered with a griffin pattern and was silent.

There were no knowledgeable scholars in Eton's domain, and he didn't have the opportunity to read many books.

But when he was very young, his grandfather, Henry Sr., told the history of the Eton family; His father, Franz Kafka, also told him stories about the history of the Holy Empire and the origins of the lords and families.

So he also knew that more than a hundred years ago, it was this flag embroidered with a griffin pattern that never appeared in the Alps, which led to the shame of the Eton family being branded as "traitors to mankind"!

Spurned by the Ice and Snow Goddess Sect, and criticized by the lords of the Northwest Plains!

Especially to this day, the Eaton family still pays a heavy tribute to the empire every year.

"The Empire has long since abandoned the Eaton Territory, so we can't give up on ourselves."

He silently repeated in his mind what his grandfather had always said.

Immediately, he quietly added, "So, I must become a strong man." Only with enough strength can the Eaton family control their own destiny. ”

Theon, whose face was covered with dust, smiled when the city came into view.

Just as he was about to turn his head to introduce the history of this city to Chris, he happened to see Chris looking at the griffin banner and being silent, and he was a little surprised for a while. But after thinking about it a little, he knew the reason in his heart, who had long been integrated into the Eton family.

"Let's go into town, Chris."

He jumped off his horse vigorously, pulled the reins of the horse and said softly, "We don't have enough dry food, and the horses have to rest for a while, so it's time to go into the city to rest for a few days." ”

"Okay."

Chris, who was interrupted from his thoughts, smiled back.

When he dismounted and walked, he asked curiously, "Why did we dismount here?" Is it the ban in the city of Gardinanras? ”

"Yes, Chris, you're very observant."

Sien nodded with a little relief, "Whether it is a nobleman or a commoner, you must walk three miles from the city wall. Otherwise, it will be regarded as an attack, and the soldiers on the city walls can shoot directly without a notification. ”

After explaining this softly, he didn't wait for Chris to ask, and then took the opportunity to tell more about the city of Gardinanras.

The city of Gardinaras, which is directly under the jurisdiction of the Griffin Legion, is also the most orderly and respectful place in the empire's territory.

Here, the nobles did not enjoy immunity if they committed crimes.

In the same way, this is also a place where no lord can enforce the law and impose punishment.

Therefore, countless people who could not get along in the heart of the empire gathered here, such as robbers, mercenaries, thieves, fugitives, wanted criminals, or farmers who could not pay the rent, and so on.

And the city of Gardinanras welcomes anyone.

As long as you can afford to pay the gate tax, regardless of gender, there is no need for children, and the gate tax for one person is ten silver coins!

It's not expensive, it's just a hundred times more expensive than other cities.......

This is not a private tax increase by the griffin legion, but a high amount that the empire has to set in order to alleviate the financial difficulties of supporting the city's huge army.

Of course, with the high gate tax, the griffon legion is also responsible for keeping everyone safe.

For example, killing is not allowed in the city.

If you really want to see blood, the two sides can run outside the city to solve it and come back; If one of you doesn't want to go out, stay in the city, and the griffon legions will continue to keep you safe and proud of your enemies.

If one party can't help but riot and kill people in the street~~

Well, the Griffin Legion will help the victim avenge it as soon as possible, and laugh at all the property of the abuser!

As for the brawls, please feel free if they don't affect the order.

But remember that if something is broken during the fight, it will be compensated at ten times the price.

After all, every shop has paid protection money to the Empire's army..... Ahh

Chris and Sien went into town and spent fifty silver coins.

Both horses also have to pay taxes, which makes Chris a little distressed.

Fifty silver coins is half a gold coin, enough for a farmer's family in Eaton's territory to cover for a year.

But when he entered the city, he knew how poor Eton's territory was.

Because this is also the most famous city in the empire to sell stolen goods, except for the particularly high-end goods that will be traded in the auction, things worth hundreds of gold coins are sold directly on the street. And many people trade with gold or rubies, and almost no money is paid for in silver.

As for copper coins~

Chris, who had been in town for half an hour and walked four streets, was stunned and didn't see him.

His wonderful looks along the way also fell in Jack's eyes.

He was a resident of the city and one of the city's brokers, acting as a guide to those who came to Gardinanras, or as an intermediary for caravanserans.

After years of experience, his eyes were very vicious, and he not only noticed that Chris's cloak was buttoned with the coat of arms of nobility, but also convinced that this person was a fledgling who had never seen the world.

Chicks need brokers the most.

It is also the easiest to be tricked into paying for a bunch of flashy things, so that brokers can easily earn a lot of intermediate fees.

"Good day, two noble knights."

Jack, who seemed to hear the pleasant sound of gold coins colliding, trotted in front of Chris, nodded and promoted himself, "I'm Jack, a broker who is very familiar with the city. It's your first time visiting Gardinanras, right? If you hire me as a guide, I can save you a lot of money in this city! ”

If God was giving Jack a chance, he would never have gone to Chris to recommend himself.

But there are no ifs.

After almost a decade of being a donor since the age of fifteen, Jack has experienced many ways to be rejected.

Some people said they didn't need it very graciously, some people raised their heads and ignored him, some people scolded him rudely, and some even spit on him viciously.......

But I really haven't seen anyone pull out a knife directly!

So today he has seen a lot.

Chris replied that Jack, who was suddenly in front of him, quickly pulled out a long knife and put it on his neck.

The one-meter-two blade flashed with cold light, and the slightest cool air aroused Jack's goosebumps all over his body, making Jack suddenly feel that his legs were a little weak, and he hurriedly begged for mercy with a crying voice, "Adults spare their lives... I have no malice~~"

I just want to ask if I need a guide, what a big deal!

As for drawing the sword?

Jack's heart was devastated at the moment.

"Don't be impulsive, Chris."

Sien, who was on the side, hurriedly patted Chris's arm and motioned for him to put the knife away, "He's just a broker, not an assassin." Also, don't draw your sword in the city. ”

Yes, Chris mistook Jack for an assassin.

Ever since the Eton family was spurned by the Cult of the Ice Goddess, fanatical followers have infiltrated the territory in an attempt to assassinate anyone with the Eton surname.

Broker?

Who is it?

Chris was a little puzzled, but he also put away his long knife.

Imperial soldiers patrolled every street in the city, and Tsien's reminder reminded him of the rule that no blood should be seen in the city, and his own behavior could easily be mistaken for vendetta by the soldiers.

"Indeed, we need a broker."

By this time, Theon had already walked between the two of them, and asked Jack in a very gentle tone, "How did you charge?" ”

Because he knew that if there was no broker to lead him, it would indeed cost a lot of money.

It's just that the frightened Jack has no mind to do business.

This kind of master who draws his sword at every turn, he feels that he can't afford to serve, and if he has money, he may not have his life to spend.

"Two sir, I don't do ....."

He moved his steps slightly, and replied with a look of horror, "Well, I'm sorry, I'm suddenly a little uncomfortable, you better find someone else." ”

"Don't pretend! Say, how much? ”

Theon grabbed him by the arm, glared at him and threatened, "If you push it off again, I'll take you to the sheriff and say that you just tried to steal my purse." ”

I'm a broker, not a thief!

Jack's face turned red visibly, and he just wanted to refute, but when he saw the mace on Theon's back about the size of his head, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva and whispered, "Ten silver coins a day......"

"So expensive!"

It was Chris who spoke, and he was still a little indignant about the gate tax he paid when he entered the city, "Why don't you rob it!" ”

"That's the lowest price!"

This time, Jack finally couldn't help but cry out.

Heaven and earth conscience, in this city, ten silver coins a day is really the minimum charge for brokers.

But soon he changed his face with tears and sorrow, because he found that this good-looking chick seemed to want to draw his knife again, "Five, it's five silver coins!" I just made an error. ”

"Deal."

Seon let go in satisfaction and motioned for Jack to lead the way, "Take us to a clean tavern, no dancers." ”

There are only two kinds of places in the world where you can spend the night.

One is a tavern with dancers, and the other is a tavern where you can simply eat and stay overnight.

"Yes, Lord Sir."

Jack, who was full of bitterness in his heart, stretched out his hand sideways and said, "I know that there is a tavern in the south of the city, there are no dancers, the place is small but the price is very fair, and the food is very delicious. The south of the city is where the families of the garrison and the locals live, and they all make a living, and no one dares to make trouble there. ”

He had already understood the barbarism of the two people in front of him, and directly said that there was no commission, and it was also the cheapest tavern.

You know, as long as the other taverns bring their employers there, the owner of the tavern will privately give the broker three silver coins as payment....... It's three silver coins per person!

Alas~~

Jack didn't tell a lie.

Chris and the others followed him along the road, and the rows of shops slowly transitioned from taverns, casinos, and Fengyue venues to small grocery stores, blacksmith shops, bakeries, etc., and pedestrians also changed from fierce men with knives and swords to children laughing and running around the streets.

The tavern was small, only two stories high, and at first glance it was a repurposed place.

The front of the door was cleaned, and a wooden stick was placed diagonally under the eaves of the door, carrying a coarse cloth, and two large characters were written in the lingua franca of the empire: tavern. There was still a door on the other side of the house, closed, and from time to time there were a few cries of cattle, presumably a stable.

"Aunt Hera, are you at home?"

As soon as he arrived at the door, Jack shouted at the top of his voice, "There's a distinguished guest coming, hurry out and settle the horses!" ”

"Is it Little Jack? I got it, I'll be out right away! ”

The loud sound like the roar of a beast came from the tavern, startling the winter finches on the roof, and the chirping was very lively.

It seems like...... Jack is calling Auntie, right?

Chris and Theon looked at each other, their eyes full of doubt.