Zoro watched as Gaia's eyes flickered, and his breathing grew heavier and heavier. From time to time, a thin electric flame flickered around the hand that was clenched into a fist, and it was because Sauron's mood swings were too great to control Liliang. Gaia just put her hand on the hilt of her sword and looked at Sauron with interest. He didn't even lift Liliang, and at such a close distance, Zoro felt like he could reach it.

But Zuihou, the light in Zoro's eyes dimmed, and the hand he was holding loosened. He sighed in his heart, knowing that he would never want to rebel against Gaia in the future. In this contest of wills, he has lost very completely.

"You made a wise choice. ”

He was sitting in front of him, but Gaia's voice came from behind him. Zoro broke out in a cold sweat, knowing that if he did it rashly just now, he would definitely fall for Gaia's plan. I couldn't help but secretly rejoice in my heart, rejoicing in my wise decision. But he forgot that if he had been fifteen years ago, he would have taken care of a lot. But now, he doesn't even have the courage to give it a go.

Zoro subconsciously avoided this question, he lowered his head and said respectfully: "The distance between me and the adults is insurmountable, and this self-knowledge is still there. ”

"Very well, in order to reward your 'loyalty', let me give you two Ninth Order. Gaia's voice finally came from the front: "It seems that you have two regimental commanders in the meeting, call them in, and I will give them liliang." ”

Zoro suddenly shot a blazing light in his eyes, and said, "My lord, I"

"Don't worry, I won't forget you. As long as you bring that man back, I will advance you to the tenth rank. Gaia said lazily.

Sauron bowed his head, said yes, and exited the palace. Outside, he called Wither's to call Leo and the others. It wasn't long before Leo and Frank arrived. When they saw Sauron outside the palace, the two of them were obviously a little surprised, and they immediately bowed.

Sauron looked at them and said, "Come with me, and don't be surprised at what you see." There are some secrets that should be known to you now, and all I can say is that when you come out again, you will be on the same level as me. ”

Leo and the others were shocked, and looked at Zoro in disbelief. is at the same level as him, and he is also a ninth-order powerhouse. Just one trip to the palace to be able to advance to the ninth rank is like a fantasy. But Sauron didn't look like a joke, so Leo glanced at Frank, who hesitated, then nodded. In any case, it's a good thing to be able to move up the ranks.

It's just that there is no free lunch in the world, and the two of them vaguely feel that they may have to pay some price for this promotion.

But to reach a powerhouse of their level, it is a lifelong dream to be able to advance to the next rank, what is the point of paying some price? The thirst for Liliang made them follow Zoro into the palace like a demon's lair.

When the door closed, Wither was a little envious and a little jealous. He himself was already a seventh-order powerhouse, and he could only advance to the threshold of the high order by taking one step further. He who followed Sauron knew that the palace had changed hands, but he never thought that the mysterious person in it would have the power to improve the rank of the person of ability. Now that this good thing has fallen on Leo and Frank, Wessel is both envious and jealous, thinking that he must find an opportunity for Zoro to intercede for him, and see if the lord can make an exception and raise his abilities to the next level.

But when Wesel faintly heard the screams of Leo and the others in the palace, the face of the commander of the guards turned green. It sounds like the price paid by the two of them for the promotion of Leo is quite a lot. At least Wesel didn't know how much pain it would take to make the two high-ranking screams like pigs. Anyway, this kind of pain is probably something he can't afford. Wessel thought for a moment and hurriedly lowered his head and retreated.

How far to go.

The city of Rome today is bustling, with a lecture being held in a small square to the north. The speaker is the current young pope, and Paul VI seems to have been very enthusiastic about speaking lately, always once or twice a month. His Holiness the Pope always had a free drink when he gave a speech, which attracted a large number of people, especially those of the lower middle class.

The small square was so full of water that a car without any markings had to stop at the corner. The door opened, and a man covered in a cloak quietly got out of the car and walked with his head bowed in a low-key manner. It is rare for a person like this to attract the attention of others, not to mention that not far away the pope's still youthful voice is shouting loudly, attracting the attention of passing citizens, and who would pay attention to such a person.

The man turned into a small alley and walked out of Truth Street. Straight across the street, Zuihou walked into a bar down the street. It's still daytime, and the bar has just opened. There were few guests inside, and a waiter greeted them. Before he could speak, the cloaked man held out his hand. A little milky glow spilled from his fingers. His fingers flickered, the milky white light outlining a canopy as his fingertips moved.

The waiter immediately understood, reaching out and tapping three times on the bar. After the sound of two long and one short sounds, he walked away. The cloaked man casually scattered the white light that remained in the air, and walked straight in the direction of the kitchen. The kitchen door was already open, and inside there was a kitchen where bread and food were being prepared. The man in the cloak came in, and the cook didn't look at him, as if he was transparent.

So the cloaked man was able to walk straight through the kitchen to the warehouse at the back, and when he entered the warehouse, he removed a closet with a hidden door behind it. The cloaked man pushed the door open, and inside the door was a room. The room is not big, about 20 square meters. There was a table and three or four chairs, an electric light was on, and there was already a man in the room. He is also wearing a cloak, but he can faintly see the appearance of a silver armor stomach under the cloak.

As soon as I entered the door, I lifted the cloak and revealed the face of a middle-aged man. This face reveals the majesty of a long high position, as well as the vicissitudes of life after years of immersion. He was Mendrissa, Habeth's father, one of several cardinals in the Papal Chamber.

Mendrissa sat down on one of the chairs and took a bag of gold coins from his bosom and threw it at the man's hand. The man wrapped in the cloak was visibly breathing heavily, and he reached out and quickly scooped up the bag. I opened the bag and looked at it tiredly, and the eyes in the hood shone greedily. He immediately put the bag away and said hurriedly: "Lambonis and the others never came out after entering Sauron's palace, I don't know what happened. Only one thing is certain, there is another person hidden in the palace, a man that even Sauron does not dare to offend. ”

Mendrissa listened, nodded, and said, "You can go." ”

The man immediately stood up, opened the door and left.

"Even Lambonis was killed, Zoro, I really underestimated you. Mendrisa muttered.

A voice came in: "There is nothing more dangerous than a mad dog breaking free from its collar." ”

The door opened again, and a man walked in. Under the light, he is still a man in a cloak. He lifted his hat to reveal the face of a one-eyed old man. He had a gray beard and looked much older than Mendrissa. The old man walked over to Mendrissa and sat down, took a cup from the plate on the table, and poured himself a glass of water.

"Mendrissa, maybe we should look for another investor. ”

"Old Joseph, I'm curious, do we have a better choice than Sauron?" Mendrissa closed his eyes and said lightly, "Who else is worth our investment in now?

Joseph is also the name of an old man, and this name is also an important figure in the city of Rome. Because this is the name of the current Odson family, but now, the heads of the two great families of New Rome are gathered in a room that is so shabby, it seems to be a ridiculous thing, but it is actually happening.

Joseph took a sip of water, moistened his dry lips, and said, "No, now we have a more haode option." ”

Mendrissa raised an eyebrow, "You don't mean the people who occupy Canon? Are you crazy, old Joseph?" What are those people, they are pirates. And it's the murderer of Habeth and your Canunmon! You plan to invest your resources in those people, and I might as well choose His Highness the Pope!"

"To be honest, the best choice is still Zoro. It's a pity that he shouldn't have killed Lambonis, and Zoro's role has shaken the foundation of our cooperation in the first place. Against a mad dog that can bite you at any moment, old man, I don't think it's a big deal to work with the enemy. Joseph said quietly: "Don't forget that you and I are sitting in this position now, thinking about personal grievances and gains and losses, how to continue the family's bloodline is the key." There's no denying that both Carromon and Habeth are talented. But as long as the bloodline is still there, we still have a chance to have such talents. On the other hand, if Zoro is allowed to attack the two of us as he did against Lambonis, and the bloodline is cut off, then there will be no more chance. ”

Mendrissa jerked to his feet, his eyes glaring at Joseph. After a moment, he sighed and sat back down. Standing and sitting, Mendrissa looks like ten years old. He sighed again, and said, "Then you really like those pirates, although they have captured the fortress of Canon, but it seems to me that the good times are short-lived. ”

"I just think they have a chance. Don't forget that they still have Istta's weapon on their hands, which says something, old man, you should know it. Joseph smiled faintly: "If Ishtar joins forces with them, it's hard to guarantee that it won't surprise Zoro, right? Of course, it's too early to talk about investment." If they can reach the City of Rocks, then I will stake the fate of my family on them!"

Mendrissa closed his eyes, and as the patriarch of the Kalki family, he knew very well what his responsibilities were. Like Joseph, they think first about their family and then about themselves. As patriarchs, their more important task is to lead the family to the right destiny. Just like fifteen years ago, the sharp-edged Sauron brought them to the fate they have today, and they will not hesitate to betray the sacred oath to stand on Sauron's side.

And today, in the face of Zoro's ruthlessness, Mendrissa knew that the time had come to face another choice.

Eventually, Mendrissa nodded, agreeing with Joseph.

"Then let's wait and see, if we can see them outside of the Rock City, then it's time for Zoro to step back from that position. Just like that time fifteen years ago, let's hope that this time, we can still hold on to the rope of fate. Mendrissa said lightly.

As dusk approached, the afterglow of the setting sun fell on the radiant clouds at the horizon, making the sky seem to burn. As a result, the sea surface also weaves a brilliant ribbon of light, embellishing the radiant sea reflecting the glow even more beautifully.

On the island of yellow sand, several fishing boats docked. The fishermen who jumped out of the boat were not happy, they looked depressed, and they had little to gain today. Even the most experienced fisherman, Kedar, and his son Jorah were no exception to the others, and they were only better than the other fishermen when they managed to catch a few big fish.

The small village was hung over a cloud of gloom that could not be dispersed. It's winter, and there are fewer and fewer fish around the island. To catch more fish, you have to venture out into the open sea. But with the small fishing boats they have in their hands, entering the open sea is no different from looking for death.

Winter is coming, and the cold winter is the season when it is impossible to work. If we don't get enough food before winter, many people will starve to death this year. In the small village, there is also a better family in Kedar. They have stocked up on some food when the fish are abundant, and with the recent harvest, it should be enough to barely survive the winter. But others save at most two-thirds, or even one-thirds, of their food.

These foods will be served first to men and children, with the elderly and women coming in at Zuihou. It's cruel, but men have labor, and children are the hope of blood continuity. In contrast, an elderly person who has no labor force is a member who can give up completely. As for the women, they are treated only a little better than the elderly.

Even with such cruelty, no one protested. Because everyone knows that only in this way can the bloodline continue in this increasingly cruel environment. As a result, in recent days, some families who do not have enough food for the winter have left the village one after another. They will enter the center of the Isle of Sand and become food for sand lizards or fire ants.

Voluntary separation from the family is for these elderly people to contribute to their own homes in the way they can.

That night, Jorah slept restlessly. It's been many nights when I can't sleep, and every day at night, shijie becomes extremely quiet. I could always hear a whispered cry coming from somewhere, and Jorah was too young to experience the sadness and helplessness of life, but she had seen it countless times. Every time, he wished that he could be stronger, at least so that the people in the village could live a better life.

When he thinks so, he always thinks of that wonderful outsider.

If only I could be a man like him

It was a wish that had been on Jorah's mind a lot lately, but he knew that it might not have much hope of coming true. After tossing and turning, Jorah had another difficult night. When it was still dawn, he had already gotten up and was ready to continue his work with his father Kedar today. It's always haode to be able to stock up on as much food as possible before winter.

Even if you have enough for your own home, you can still share it with other people in need.

Today seemed special, though, when the Kordar family was ready to set sail, a medium-sized ship was heading for the Isle of Sands. The ship was flying a flag that had never been seen before, and the flag was painted with the portrait of Poseidon, the god of the sea, which aroused suspicion.

Soon, this particular ship arrived on the Isle of Yellow Sands. One after another, people came down from the ship, apparently well-trained soldiers. They had come to deliver important news, and the new lord of Canon Fortress had posted recruitment messages on the various outer islands. The recruits were workers and soldiers, and when they heard such news, the islanders were stunned. The Papal Hall has also had similar recruitment, but the target is on the inner islands, such as the outer islands, which seem to be abandoned by the mainland, and the ships of the Pope Hall have not even been seen once.

However, it was soon learned that the Canon Fortress, which had always belonged to the Papal Chamber, had now changed owners. Doesn't it mean that the supposedly impregnable Canon Fortress has fallen?

It's just that this news has a limited impact on the people on the outer islands, after all, they can't even take care of their lives, so how can they care about whether Canon has changed hands. Even if the Papal Chamber is served tomorrow, it is none of their business, in the eyes of the inhabitants of the outer islands, they are just an abandoned bunch. It's not easy to be alive, and who has the time to pay attention to what is happening on the mainland.

Seeing the fully armed recruited soldiers, the villagers were also worried. Plundering slaves is nothing new, as the Papal Chamber has done. It's called recruitment, but it's actually a slave hunt, and there are always one or two rumors like this every year. However, the conditions announced by the soldiers next made the villagers think that something was wrong with their ears.

The new lord of Canon was so generous that he paid the common workers ten silver coins a day, and the food was not provided separately, but had to be deducted from the wages. After deducting food, you can still earn seven silver coins a day. A month is equivalent to earning about two gold coins, and two gold coins are enough for a family's living needs for a month.

As for soldiers, it is billed annually. The annual salary is 50 gold coins, which is a large amount, which is not much different from the treatment of soldiers of the Holy Seal Knights. Moreover, soldiers can be promoted, and the treatment of each rank is different. If you choose to become a soldier, you need to go through three months of training before deciding whether you are qualified or not. After qualifying, they must serve for three years, during which they must not leave the army.

At the end of the three-year service, they can choose to remain in their original position or leave. The natural treatment of those who stay remains unchanged, and those who leave can also get a retirement payment.

In order to gain the trust of the villagers, as long as you sign up at the recruiting place and fill in your name, you can receive food worth about five gold coins from the soldier in advance. This allows the villagers to be relieved of their worries, and if they fail to fulfill their obligations after signing up and receiving the food advance, the defaulters themselves, including their families, will be uprooted under the joint sitting system.

Judging by the iron-blooded aura emanating from the soldiers on board, the villagers did not doubt that they had the ability.

Grace and power are both gracious and powerful, this is the way of zero.