Chapter 10 Chapter 9 Milnburg

As the horizon bulges, the mountains grow taller and the dirt surfaces gradually turn into rocky mountains.Regan was not exaggerating when he said that it takes a hundred Bokin mounds to make a mountain.At this moment, Aaron looked up and could see the mountains in all directions.The higher they climbed, the colder it became; the wind whipped like a long whip.Aaron turned his head and found that the world had been spread flat in front of him—he was looking forward to crossing the land with spears and messenger bags alone. Aaron couldn't believe his eyes when Fort Miln came into view.No matter how specific Regan described it, he always thought that Milne was the same as Tibe Creek, only bigger.But when Milne Castle appeared in front of him, he almost fell out of the carriage in shock.

Milnburg is built on a hill overlooking a wide valley.The mountain upon which Milne rested lay on the other side of the valley.A circular wall thirty feet high surrounds the city, though many of the buildings in the city rise above the walls and into the sky.The city wall stretches for dozens of miles from near to far. On the wall was painted the biggest sigil that Aaron had ever seen in his life.His gaze followed the invisible lines between the magic seals, forming the entire city wall into a magic seal net to keep out the monsters in the center of the earth. Despite its grandeur, the walls still disappointed Aaron—the so-called "free" city was a bit of a misnomer.The city walls that block the monsters in the center of the earth also imprison people's footsteps.In Tibe Creek at least, the walls that imprison people are invisible.

"How to stop the wind demon from leaping over the wall?" Aaron asked. "There are many rune posts on the top of the city wall, forming a rune barrier over the city." Regan said. Aaron felt that this question did not require Regan to answer to guess the answer.He still had many questions, but he kept them in his mind, seeking possible answers with his keen mind. It was past noon when we approached the gate of the city.Regan pointed to the thick smoke in the mountains miles above the city. "Duke's Mine, which used to be a town, bigger than your town of Tibe Creek. But they can't support themselves, because the Duke needs more control--there are convoys going back and forth every week. Food, salt, metal and coal block down the hill."

A low wall extends from a corner of the main city, encircling a large strip of long and narrow agricultural land along the valley.Aaron saw many rune stakes above a neat green orchard. "The big garden and the Duke's orchard." Regan introduced. The gates were wide open, and many people were coming and going, and the guards waved them as they approached.They were tall, like Regan, wearing dented metal helmets, thick woolen sweaters and a layer of hard leather armor.Holding a spear, but more like a display than a weapon. "Ah, Messenger!" cried one of them, "Welcome back!"

"Gaines Warren." Regan nodded at him. "The Duke has been waiting for you for several days," Gaines said. "We are worried that you did not come back on time." "Think I was eaten by demons?" Regan laughed. "That's impossible! When I passed by the town of Tibe Creek on my way back from Angels, it was attacked by demons. We stayed there for a while to help. " "By the way, you picked up a lost child?" Warren said with a smile. "As a gift, give her to stay at home and wait for you to come back, and make her a beautiful wife for your mother?"

Regan's face sank, and the guard flinched immediately. "I didn't mean any disrespect." "Then I suggest you avoid making any disrespectful jokes, servant." Regan said with a grim expression.Warren paled and nodded quickly. "Actually, I saved him on the way." Regan said, stroking Aaron's hair and smiling, as if nothing had happened just now. Aaron loves Regan's personality—smiling at all times, not holding grudges, but demanding respect and making sure everyone knows who they are.Aaron hopes to become like him one day. "On the way?" Gaines asked suspiciously.

"In the middle of nowhere!" Regan exclaimed. "This boy draws runes better than some messengers I know." Aaron raised his head proudly under his praise. "What about you? Bard," Warren asked Kirin. "How did it feel to try Naked Night for the first time?" Qilin's face was full of anger.The guard laughed. "Seems all right, huh?" "It's getting late," Regan said. "Word to Matron Jon that I'll go to the palace when I get home, bathe and eat." The guards saluted and let them enter the gate. Despite some initial disappointment, Aaron was quickly drawn to Miln's bustling scene.The buildings soared into the sky, and everything else seemed to pale in comparison, and the streets were paved with stone slabs instead of hard clods.There is no way for the earth core monster to turn out from under the artificially cut stones, but Aaron really can't imagine how much manpower it will take to cut thousands of tightly interlocking stones.In Tibexi Town, almost all the buildings are made of wood, with stacked stones as the foundation, and magic seal wooden signs on the thatched roof.Here, almost everything is cut from stone and is of a certain age.Except for the fortified outer walls of the magic seals, all the buildings in the city are dedicated to erecting magic seals, some of which are beautiful and some are very practical.

The air in the city is terrible, full of garbage, burning dung, and sweat.Aaron tried to hold his breath, but then gave up and started breathing through his mouth instead.Having said that, Qilin showed the appearance of breathing fresh air peacefully for the first time. Regan leads the way to a market.There, Aaron saw the busiest market.Hundreds of Rosk Hoggs were hawking their wares to him from all directions at once. "Buy this!" "Try that!" "Big deal, you got it!" They were all tall, giants compared to the people of Tibe Creek. On the carts, fruits and vegetables are piled up like a mountain, and there are many new clothes on display at the clothes stalls, as if people here wear new clothes every day.There are also people selling oil paintings and sculptures, the workmanship is unimaginably detailed, how could anyone have the time to get that kind of thing.

Regan led them to a stall on the other side of the bazaar, the tent with the emblem of a shield painted on it. "The Duke's men," Regan said as they approached the cart. "Regan!" cried the boss, "what did you bring today?" "Swamp rice." Regan said, "The town of Tibe Creek pays the duke's salt tax." "Did you go to Rosk Hogg?" The boss seemed to be stating the facts rather than asking, "Is that liar still plundering the property of the villagers?" "You know Hogg?" Regan asked. The boss laughed. "Ten years ago I testified before the Council of Matrons that his merchant's license was revoked for trying to get away with a load of rat-infested grain," he said. Fleeing to the other side of the world. I heard he did such things in Angels before, and then he came to Milne to be kidnapped."

"It's a good thing we checked the rice carefully," Regan murmured. They haggled for a while over the prevailing prices for rice and salt.In the end, the boss finally backed down, admitting that Reagan hadn't suffered at Hogg's hands.He gave the messenger a bag of coins to make up the difference between the price of salt and rice. "Can Aaron take over driving?" Kirin asked.Regan glanced at him and nodded.He threw a bag of coins to Qi Lin, Qi Lin briskly took the money bag and jumped off the carriage. Regan watched Qilin's back disappear into the crowd. "Not the worst bard. Pity I'm a bit timid." He mounted his horse again and led Aaron across the busy street.Aaron was nearly overwhelmed as they walked through a crowded street.He noticed that someone was still in tatters in the cold wind of the mountains.

"What are they doing?" Aaron asked, watching the men hold empty bowls high at passers-by. "Begging," Regan said. "Not all the people of Miln are rich." "Can't we give them a little money?" Aaron asked. Regan sighed. "It's not that simple, Aaron," he said. "The soil here is poor, and there's not enough produce to feed most of the population. We need to buy grain from Luxembourg, fish from Renekton, and livestock from the Angels. Other cities don't." These things will be given to us for no reason. It will go to people who have jobs and can earn money to pay for food, that is, merchants. Merchants will hire servants to help them do things out of their own pockets, and then provide them with food, clothing, and shelter." He pointed to a man in dirty, tattered clothes begging passers-by with a wooden bowl in his hand, but passers-by turned a blind eye and refused to make eye contact with him. "So unless you are an aristocrat or a believer, as long as you don't have a job, you will end up like this." Aaron nodded, but he didn't really understand.The people of Tibe Creek used to run out of grocery points, but not even Hogg would let them go hungry. When they came to a house, Regan directed Aaron to stop the carriage.Compared with the houses Aaron had seen in Miln, the house was not large, but by the standards of Tibe Creek, this two-storey house made of stone was already very impressive. "Is this your home?" Aaron asked. Regan shook his head, got off his horse, came to the door, and knocked loudly.A short while later, a young woman with brown braids opened the door.She was slender and well-built, like all the Myrns.She was wearing a high-necked dress that reached to her ankles and was tight at the chest.Aaron couldn't tell whether she was beautiful or not. Just when he thought she was ordinary, she suddenly smiled, and the feeling changed immediately. "Regan!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. "There you are! Thank the Creator!" "Of course I'll come, Jane," Regan said. "We couriers will take care of our own." "I'm not a messenger," Zhenya said. "It's the same if you marry a messenger. I don't care what the guild decides, Greg will be a messenger until his death." Zhenya looked sad.Regan immediately changed the subject, strode to the carriage and unloaded the rest of the cargo. "I brought you some top-quality swamp rice, salt, meat and fish." He said as he moved the things down and put them in her room door.Aaron hurried to help. "And this." Regan added, taking out a bag of gold coins and coins from Hogg.In addition, he also presented the small purse paid by the Duke's merchants. Zhenya opened the purse and widened her eyes. "Oh, Regan," she said, "too much. I can't..." "You can, take it quickly." Regan interrupted her in a commanding tone, "This is what I can do." Tears welled up in Zhenya's eyes. "I don't know how to thank you," she said. "I've been very worried recently. The reward for writing for the guild is not enough to cover the family. Without Greg... I thought I would be reduced to begging again." "Okay, okay," Regan said, patting her on the shoulders, "my brother and I would never let things go to this point, and I wouldn't let you live on the streets even if I had to take you home to help." "Oh, Regan, are you really willing to help me like this?" she asked. "There's another thing," Regan said. "A gift from Rothk Hogg." He took out the ring. "He wants you to write to him and ask him to confirm you received it." Looking at the sparkling ring, Jin Ah shed tears again. "Greg is very popular," Regan said, slipping the ring on her finger. "Let this ring be a memory. This food and money will get you through for a while. Perhaps, during this time , you can find another husband and become a mother. But if the situation is so bad that you have to sell this ring, you must come to me first, understand?" Jin-ah nods, but her eyes are downcast as she touches the ring while weeping. "Promise me," Regan ordered. "I promise you." Zhenya said. Regan nodded, then hugged her again. "I'll come and see you when I get the chance," he said.She was still crying when they left; Aaron looked back at her as they walked. "Don't understand what happened just now?" Regan asked. "Yes." Aaron agreed. "Jenya came from a beggar family," Regan explained. "Her father was blind and her mother was sick. Fortunately, they gave birth to a healthy and beautiful daughter. After marrying the messenger Greg, she and her parents' Two steps up in social class. He took the three of them into his family, and while he was never assigned the best courier routes, he made enough money to keep the family happy." He shook his head. "But now, she has to pay rent and support three people. She can't go too far from home because his parents can't afford to take care of themselves." "It's good of you to help her," Aaron said, feeling better. "She has a beautiful smile." "You can't help everyone, Aaron," Regan said, "but you should try to help those you can." Aaron nodded. They climbed a hill along a winding road, and finally arrived in front of a certain house.A six-foot-high wall runs along a spacious courtyard, and the mansion itself is three stories high and has dozens of windows, all glass that reflects sunlight.This mansion alone was already larger than the great hall of Bojin Hill, which would be large enough to house all the townspeople of Tibbey Creek during the Winter Solstice celebrations.The mansion and the walls are painted with bright magic seals.Aaron thought that such a magnificent place must be the Duke's home. "My mother has a glass blessed by a magic seal, which is as hard as steel." He said and looked up at the window, when a skinny man ran up to open the gate. "She usually puts it away, and occasionally takes it out when guests come, so that people can see how bright it is." They walked through the vegetable garden that had not been ravaged by the earth core monsters, and several people were digging vegetables in it. "This is the only building in Miln City that uses glass windows entirely." Regan said proudly, "I paid a lot of money to hire people to paint the magic seals to make sure they won't break." "I know that technique," Aaron said, "but you need the demon to touch the glass to provide the magic." Regan chuckled and shook his head. "Probably not." There are also relatively low buildings in the courtyard, stone houses with chimneys, people come and go, like a small village.Dirty children skipped and frolicked, and women watched them as they went about their chores.They came all the way to the stables, and a groom came up at once to take Nighteyes' reins.He is very respectful to Regan, as if he saw the king in a fairy tale. "I thought we'd go back to your house before visiting the Duke," Aaron asked. Regan laughed. "This is my home, Aaron! Do you think I'd risk my life wandering in the wilderness?" Aaron looked at the mansion, opened his eyes wide and asked, "Is all this yours?" "All of them." Regan nodded and said, "The Duke has always been generous with people who are not afraid of the monsters in the center of the earth." "But Greg's family is not so rich." Aaron questioned. "Greg's a nice guy," Regan said, "but he's just a passable messenger. He's just going to make a trip to Tibbey Creek once a year and stop at some remote village he passes through. Something like that." The courier may be able to support the family, but it is impossible to accumulate a lot of wealth. The reason why Zhenya can get so much profit is because I buy things out of my own pocket and sell them exclusively to Hogg. In the past, Greg had to borrow money from the guild to buy goods, and the guild took a cut Heavy pumping." Some tall man bowed and opened the mansion door.He is expressionless and wears a faded blue wool coat.His face and clothes were clean, in stark contrast to those in the courtyard.A boy not much older than Aaron jumped to his feet as soon as they entered the house.He ran to the marble steps and pulled a bell rope, and the house rang loudly. "It seems that your luck has not yet come to an end." Not long after, a woman said loudly.She has black hair and bright blue eyes.She was dressed in a dark blue gown, more gorgeous than anything Aaron had ever seen in his life, with glittering jewels around her waist and neck.She gazed at them from the marble balcony above the hall with an icy smile; Aaron had never seen a woman of such elegance and beauty. "My wife, Elisa," Regan whispered, "a reason to come home...and a reason to leave." Aaron wasn't sure if he was joking; the women didn't seem too pleased to see them. "One day, you will die in the hands of the earth core monster." Eliza said as she went downstairs, "At that time, I can marry that lover who is younger than me as I like." "That's impossible." Regan said with a smile, pulling her to him and kissing her lightly.He turned to Aaron and explained: "Eliza always dreamed of inheriting my property one day. I fought against the monsters not only to protect myself, but also to prevent her from getting what she wanted." Eliza laughed, and Aaron was relieved. "Is this?" she asked, "a child so you don't have to carry it in my womb?" "I just need to melt your frozen petticoat, dear," Regan retorted. "This is Aaron from Tibe Creek. I met him on the road." "On the way?" Eliza asked. "He's just a kid!" "I'm not a kid!" Aaron exclaimed, then felt stupid.Regan gave him a cold look, and he quickly lowered his head. Eliza didn't seem to hear his roar. "Take off your protective gear and go take a shower." She ordered her husband, "You smell of sweat and dust all over your body. I'm here to entertain guests." Regan leaves, and Elisa calls servants to help Aaron prepare snacks.The Regans seemed to have more servants than all of Tibe Creek combined.They cut him a large piece of cold ham and a thick slice of puff pastry with cream cubes and milk.Eliza watched him eat, and Aaron couldn't think of anything to say, so he concentrated on the plate. After eating the cream, a maid dressed in the same color as the manservant's coat entered the room and bowed to Elisa. "Master Regan is waiting for you upstairs," she said. "Thank you, mother." Eliza responded, showing a strange expression, stroking her stomach with her fingers intentionally or unintentionally.Then she turned to Aaron, smiling. "Take our guest to the shower," she ordered, "and let him out after you can see the color of his skin." Aaron, accustomed to standing in the sink and dousing himself in cold water, felt uncomfortable at the sight of Regan's deep, wide stone tub.He silently waited for the maid Margaret to add hot water to the bathtub to expel the cold for him.She was tall, like all the Myrns, and had friendly eyes, and hair the color of honey, except for a few gray locks showing from under her bonnet.She turned her back on Aaron.Let him undress and get into the tub.She couldn't help gasping when she saw the stitched wound on his back.He hurried over to check on his injuries. "Oh!" Aaron exclaimed as she poked at the top cut. "Don't be a child," she reprimanded, rubbing her index finger and thumb together, and sniffing at her nose. Aaron gritted his teeth and let her repeat the action on all the wounds. "You're luckier than you think," she finally said. "When Regan said you were hurt, I thought it was just a little bruise, but this..." She tutted, "Your mother never taught you not to sleep at night." Are you staying outside?" Aaron wanted to talk back, but couldn't help but choked up.He bit his lip and said nothing.Margaret noticed his reaction and immediately changed her tone. "These wounds are healing well." She pointed to his wounds, then took out the soap and began to wash the wounds gently.Aaron gritted his teeth. "After you take a shower, I will help you prepare ointment and clean bandages." Aaron nodded. "Are you Eliza's mother?" he asked. The woman laughs. "O Creator, boy, why do you think so?" "She called you 'Mother,'" Aaron said. "Because I am a mother," said Margaret proudly, "with two sons and three daughters, one of whom will soon be a mother." She shook her head sadly. "Poor Eliza, despite all her wealth, is still only a daughter, and she is in her thirties! It hurts to think about it." "Is being a mother so important?" Aaron asked. The woman looked at him as if he had just asked whether the weight of the air was important. "What could be more important than being a mother?" she asked. "A woman's duty is to bear children and keep the city strong. That's why mothers have the highest honor, they can choose products first in the morning market, and There's a reason why all duke councilors are mothers. Men are good at breaking things and building things, but politics and paperwork are best left to women who went to their mother's school. Also, the right to elect a new duke when the duke dies The person with power is also the mother." "Then why isn't Eliza a mother?" Aaron asked. "It's not about trying enough," admitted Margaret, "I dare say she's trying at the moment. Being away for six weeks would make any man a bull, and I've made a conception tea for her On the bedside table. Maybe that would help, but any fool knows the best time to conceive is before dawn." "Then why haven't they had a baby yet?" Aaron asked.He knew that having a baby had something to do with the game Rena and Benny wanted to play, but he still didn't know much about the specifics. "Only the Creator knows." Margaret said, "Maybe Eliza is barren, maybe Regan is barren, which is really a pity. There are really not many good men like him, and Milne needs His good sons and daughters." she sighed. "Eliza is very lucky that he hasn't left her yet, or gone to young maids to have children. For God's sake, they are all willing to help him have children." "Can he leave his wife?" Aaron said in shock. "Don't be so surprised, child," said Margaret. "Men need children, and they will do anything to get them. The Duke of Oak has married three women, but he hasn't had a son yet!" She shook her head. "But Regan doesn't. Sometimes they fight like Goblins, but he loves Elisa like sunshine and he'll never leave. Neither will Eliza, no matter what she gave up for it. " "Give up?" Aaron asked. "She is a nobleman," said Margaret. "Her mother is a member of the duke's council. As long as Elisa marries another nobleman and conceives and has children, she can also serve the duke. But she wants to be with Regan. Together, they demeaned themselves against her mother's wishes. They never spoke to each other after marriage. Now Eliza is a merchant class, a wealthy businessman. With her mother's school rejection, she will never Unable to gain any status within the city, let alone serve in the Duke's Council." Margaret cleaned the wound of the silent Aaron, then picked up his clothes from the ground.She clicked her tongue and inspected it for stains and holes. "I'll try to fix you up while you're in the shower," she promised, leaving him alone in the tub.After she left, Aaron tried to make sense of what she had just told him, but there was just too much to understand. Margaret reminded Aaron of Roscoe's daughter Katrin Hogg. "She will tell you all the secrets in the world, because it will allow her to listen to her own voice for a while." Sylvie always said that. A short time later, the woman returned with a clean but ill-fitting suit.She bandaged his wound and helped him dress amidst his protests.He had to roll up his sleeves so he could see his hands and his trousers so he wouldn't trip over, but Aaron hadn't felt this clean in weeks. He had an early dinner with Regan and Eliza.Regan shaved his beard and tied up his hair, and changed into a white shirt of excellent quality, a dark blue fleece jacket and trousers. To celebrate Regan's return, a pig was slaughtered in the kitchen, and the table was quickly filled with pork chops, pork ribs, thin slices of bacon, and juicy sausages, and the servants brought large jugs of chilled ale and clean, cold water.Eliza frowned as Regan instructed the servants to pour Aaron a glass of ale, but said nothing.She sipped the red wine in the glass, and the glass was so delicate that Aaron was afraid that it would be crushed by her slender fingers.For dinner there was crusty bread whiter than any bread he had ever seen, and large bowls of boiled turnips and potatoes, smeared with heavy cream. Although his mouth was drooling looking at the food, Aaron couldn't help but think of the people begging on the street outside.Even so, the guilt was quickly overwhelmed by hunger, and he took some from each dish, filling a large plate. "My God, how can you have such a big stomach to eat so much?" Eliza asked, clapping her hands and watching with interest as Aaron cleared the plate in front of him. "Do you have a hole in your stomach?" "Leave her alone, Aaron," Regan suggested. "Women can spend the whole day fussy in the kitchen and only eat a little at dinner, so as not to show their lack of breeding; men are the real gourmets." "He's right." Eliza rolled her eyes and said, "Women can't enjoy life like men." Regan's body shook, and the ale in his glass splashed out, and Aaron realized that she was under the table Kicked him; Aaron figured he liked her. After dinner, a valet in a gray overcoat with the Duke's shield painted on the chest came to deliver the letter.He reminded Regan to see the Duke, and Regan sighed, but assured the attendant that he would attend the appointment immediately. "Aaron's dress is not suitable to meet the Duke." Eliza worried, "You can't dress like a beggar when you meet the Duke." "It can't be helped, my lady," Regan replied. "There are only a few hours before dark, and we have no time to go to the tailor." Eliza was unwilling to accept this tactic.She stared at the boy for a while, then flicked her fingers and stepped out of the room.She returned a short time later with a blue tight top and bright leather boots. "We have a squire about your age," she said as she helped Aaron dress.The sleeves of the jacket were short, and the shoes were so narrow that the feet hurt, but Lady Eliza seemed perfectly satisfied.She brushed his hair with a comb, then took a step back. "Okay." She said with a smile. "Be polite with the Duke, Aaron," she ordered.Aaron smiled and nodded at her, uncomfortable with the ill-fitting clothes. The Duke's Castle is a rune-guarded fortress in Milnhold Keep.The outer wall is made of dense stone blocks, over twenty feet high, densely painted with magic seals, and patrolled by heavily armed spearmen.They rode through the gates into a broad courtyard in the center of which stood the palace.The palace, which dwarfs Reagan's mansion, is four stories high and has several towers twice as tall.Vivid sigils are painted on every stone, and the windows reflect glass light. Armed guards patrolled the inner court, and men in the duke's uniform rushed in and out.A hundred men worked in the chambers; carpenters, stonemasons, blacksmiths, and butchers.Aaron saw a lot of grain and livestock stockpiled in the yard, and a vegetable garden bigger than Regan's.In Aaron's view, even if the gate is closed, the Duke can survive in this fortress forever. Noises and smells from the inner courtyard were shut out as soon as the heavy doors of the palace were closed.The entrance hall is covered with rich carpets and beautiful embroidered hangings on the cold stone walls.Except for a few guards, they couldn't see any men.Dozens of women rushed in and out, their loose skirts fluttering in the wind.Some calculated numbers on slates, others filled their calculations into heavy books.A handful of richly dressed women roamed haughtily, supervising the work of others. "The Duke is in the reception hall." One of the women said, "He has been waiting for you for a long time." There was a long queue outside the audience hall, mostly women with quills and bundles of papers in their hands, but there were still a few men in fine clothes. "The low-ranking petitioners," Regan explained, "want to see the Duke before the evening bell rings and he is forced to leave." The lower-ranking petitioners all seemed to realize it was getting late, and started arguing loudly about whose turn it was next.But as soon as Regan appeared, the conversation stopped immediately.When Regan walked past the crowd, straight through the line, the low-ranking petitioners said nothing, and then followed him like a pack of dogs vying for food.They followed all the way to the entrance of the audience hall, and then stopped in front of the guard's eyes.They crowded outside the entrance, watching Regan and Aaron enter the audience hall. The audience hall of the Duke of Milne Oak made Aaron feel very small.The dome was several stories above the ground, and the torches were mounted on marble columns that surrounded the Ork throne.Each stone pillar is engraved with a magic seal. "High-ranking petitioners," Regan explained in a low voice, pointing to the men and women who paced the audience hall, "they like to form small groups." He nodded to the large group of men gathered by the door. "Wealthy merchants," he said, "spend money around, buy the right to hang around in the palace, to hear news, or to see which nobleman you can marry your daughter to." "There——" he faced a group of elderly women standing in front of the rich merchant—"the Mistress Council, waiting to report today's affairs to the Duke." Near the throne was a group of men in sandals and brown skin, standing silently and steadily.A few spoke in low voices, while others listened in silence. "Every court must be garrisoned by believers." Finally, he pointed to the richly dressed men chattering around the duke, surrounded by a group of servants carrying food and drink. "Nobles," Regan said, "The Duke's nephews, cousins, second cousins, and third cousins ​​all flattered him in front of him, imagining what would happen if Oak left the throne without an heir. The Duke hates them." "Then why didn't you drive them away?" Aaron asked. "Because they're nobles," Regan said, as if that alone explained everything. Halfway to the throne, a tall woman stopped them.Her hair was tied back with cloth strips, and the wrinkles on her face were so deep that it seemed that there were magic seals carved on it.She was slightly arched, with a dignified expression, but the lump of flesh hanging under her chin kept shaking.She had something of Celia in her air—a woman who was used to giving orders and no one dared to question her.She looked at Aaron with disdain and sniffed, as if smelling dunghill.She looked up at Regan. "The Steward of the Orcs, Jon." Regan murmured before the other party could hear them, "Mother, noble, one-eighth of the blood of the inner earth monster. You don't stop until I stop, Otherwise she'll tell you to wait in the stables for me to see the duke." "Your squire must wait outside the hall, messenger," Jon said, coming up to them. "He's not my squire," Regan said and moved on.Aaron maintained his original speed, and Jon was forced to let go of his majesty and step aside quickly. "Your Excellency, the Duke doesn't have time to meet all the orphans on the street, Regan!" He whispered, quickening his pace to keep up with Regan, "Who is he?" Regan stopped, and Aaron followed.He turned to stare at the woman, and leaned forward.Matron Jon might be tall, but Regan was taller and three times her weight.This momentum alone made him take a step back involuntarily. "He is the one I choose to take." He said coldly through the gap between his teeth.He tosses her a package full of letters, which she accepts reflexively.As soon as the package was received, the wealthy businessman and members of the Mistress Council immediately surrounded her, and the priest also sent an altar to come over. The noble noticed the commotion below, and pointed fingers at the people next door.Suddenly, half of the people around them greeted them.Only then did Aaron realize that those were just servants in fine clothes.The nobles showed indifference, but their servants, like everyone else, were rushing towards the pile of parcels. Jon handed the letter to his servant, and hurried to the Duke to announce Regan's arrival, although she didn't have to.The commotion Regan had caused had long since attracted the attention of the Duke himself, and Oak watched them come forward. The duke was in his late sixties, a tall man with gray hair and a bushy beard.He was wearing a green short-sleeved jacket with grease stains from his fingers, richly embroidered gold trim, and a fur-trimmed cape.His hands were covered with glittering rings, and on his brow was a crown of gold. "You've decided to come at last," the Duke said aloud, sounding like he was addressing the others.This sentence really worked, the nobles nodded and whispered to each other, and several people in the crowd who snatched the mail raised their heads. "Isn't my business urgent enough?" he asked. Regan came to the chief and looked directly into the Duke's eyes with cold eyes. "Forty-five days' journey, first go to Angels, and then come back via Tibe Creek Town!" He said loudly, "It was thirty-seven nights sleeping in the wild under the continuous attack of the earth's core monsters!" His eyes never took off Duke's face.Aaron knew, and so did he, that he was speaking to everyone in the hall.Most people couldn't help turning pale and trembling when they heard his words. “离家六个星期，公爵阁下，”瑞根说，压低一半音量，但仍让所有人都听到他的声音，“你难道不愿让我先回家盥洗，与妻子一同用餐吗？” 公爵迟疑片刻，目光在大厅中游移。最后，他发出豪迈的笑声。“当然不会！”他大声道，“冒犯公爵会让你的日子十分难受，但是冒犯老婆的话你就得吃不了兜着走啦！” 众人哈哈大笑，紧张的气氛立刻化解了。“我要私下和我的信使谈！”笑完后，公爵立刻下令。急着想要探听消息的人们发出一阵不满的声浪，但琼恩指示自己的仆人带着信使离开，大多数人立刻跟了上去。贵族们死赖着不走，直到琼恩用力拍击手掌。这个动作把他们吓了一跳，随即以最有尊严的速度鱼贯而出。 “待着。”瑞根低声对停在一定距离之外的亚伦说道。琼恩指示守卫，守卫随即拉上沉重的大门，然后待在门内。与城门外的守卫不同，这些守卫神色戒备且训练有素。琼恩走到自己的主人身边站定。 “以后不准在大庭广众之下，给我来这一套！”清场完毕后，欧克随即吼道。 瑞根微微鞠躬，表示收到命令，但连亚伦都看得出来那只是礼节上的。男孩满心敬畏，瑞根简直无所畏惧。 “提贝溪镇有消息传来，公爵阁下。”瑞根开口道。 “提贝溪镇？”欧克大声道，“我管提贝溪镇干吗？林白克怎么说？” “他们在缺乏食盐的情况下度过一个严冬。”瑞根继续说道，好像刚刚公爵没有说话，“而且还发生了一次恶魔攻击事件……” “黑夜呀！瑞根！”欧克吼道，“林白克的答复可能影响密尔恩的全体居民好几年的生活，不要向我提什么落后地区贫困小镇的出生死亡清单和收成数量！” 亚伦吓得倒抽一口凉气，退到瑞根身后。瑞根安抚地轻捏他的手臂。 欧克继续进逼。“他们在提贝溪镇发现黄金吗？”他问道。 “没有，阁下。”瑞根回复，“但是……” “阳光牧地新开了一座煤矿？”欧克打断他。 “没有，阁下。” “他们发现失传许久的战斗魔印？” Regan shook his head. "of course not……" “你至少有带回足以支付你这趟来回开支的沼泽米吧？”欧克问。 “没有。”瑞根不悦。 “很好。”欧克说着搓揉双掌，仿佛拍掉手上的灰尘，“那么接下来的一年半中我们都不须关心提贝溪镇了。” “一年半太久了。”瑞根态度坚决，“镇民需要……” “那就免费前往。”公爵打断他，“这样我就负担得起了。” 眼看瑞根没有立刻回应，欧克面露微笑，心知自己已经赢得这场争论。“安吉尔斯有什么消息？”他问道。 “林白克公爵托我带信。”瑞根叹气，手伸进外套，取出一根上有蜜蜡封住的管状容器，但公爵不耐烦地挥了挥手。 “直接说答案，瑞根，愿意还是不愿意？” 瑞根两眼一眯。“不愿意，阁下。”他说，“他的答案是不愿意。前两批货物都遗失了，所有随队人员也消失。林白克公爵不打算继续派遣商队。他的人伐木的速度有限，而对他而言，木材比食盐重要。” 公爵满脸涨红，亚伦以为他会立刻爆炸。“可恶，瑞根！”他大声怒吼，重重甩拳，“我需要那些木材！” “公爵阁下认为他更需要那些木材来重建大河桥。”瑞根沉稳地道，“位于分界河南岸。” 欧克公爵嘶嘶作响，目露凶光。 “这是林白克的总管大臣的主意。”琼恩发表意见，“多年来，詹森一直试图帮林白克染指部分过桥费。” “既然有办法全拿，又何必只取一部分？”欧克同意，“关于我在收到这种答复时会有什么反应，你是怎么向他说的？” Regan shrugged. “身为信使不该揣测公爵的意思。你认为我该怎么说？” “说躲在木头堡垒里的人不该在别人家后院里放火。”欧克怒道，“我不须提醒你，瑞根，那些木材对密尔恩有多重要。我们的煤的产量逐年减少，没有燃料，所有矿坑的矿砂都没法提炼，半座城市将会结冰！如果事情走到这个地步，我一定会亲自放火烧掉他的新大河桥！” 瑞根鞠躬，表示自己了解这些事实。“林白克公爵知道这点，”他说，“他授权我提出还价。” “什么还价？”欧克问，扬起一边眉毛。 “重建大河桥的建材，以及半数过路费。”琼恩在瑞根开口前已经猜到，“而且河桥镇要搭建在邻近安吉尔斯的分界河岸。” 瑞根平静地点点头。 “黑夜呀！”欧克诅咒，“造物主呀，瑞根，你到底站在哪边？” “我是信使。”瑞根骄傲地回应，“我不站在任何一边，我只是回报他人要求我传达的信息。” 欧克公爵猛然起身。“那就以深夜的黑暗之名告诉我，我付你这么多钱到底是为了什么！”他大声问。 瑞根将脑袋侧向一旁。“你想要亲自跑一趟吗，公爵阁下？”他和善地问。 公爵脸色发白，不作回应。亚伦可以感受到蕴含在瑞根简短回应中的力量。如果可能，他想要成为信使的欲望比之前还要强烈。 公爵终于认命地点点头。“我会考虑考虑。”他终于说道，“天色已晚，你可以回去了。” “还有一件事，公爵阁下。”瑞根补充，示意亚伦迎向前来，但是琼恩指示守卫打开大门，高阶请愿人随即涌入接见厅。公爵的心思已经不在信使身上。 瑞根在琼恩离开欧克身旁时挡住她的去路。“主母，”他说，“关于这个男孩……” “我很忙，信使，”琼恩语气不屑，“或许你该等我不忙的时候再'选择'带他前来。”她偏过头去，迅速离开他们身旁。 一名商人来到他们面前。此人壮得像头大熊，而且只有一只眼，另一个眼眶中只是带有伤疤的肉块。他的胸口绘有手持长矛和背袋的骑士标志。“很高兴看到你平安无恙地回来，瑞根。”男人道，“明天早上你会前往公会递交报告？” “马尔坎公会长，”瑞根鞠躬说道，“很高兴见到你。我在路上遇到这个男孩，亚伦……” “在城市之间的野外？”公会长语气惊讶，“你不该这样做的，孩子！” “距离城市好几天的路程，”瑞根强调道，“这个孩子绘制魔印的技巧强过很多信使。”马尔坎听完这话，扬起一边眉毛。 “他想要成为信使。”瑞根继续说道。 “你找不到比信使更光荣的职业。”马尔坎对亚伦说道。 “他在密尔恩无亲无故。”瑞根说，“我在想他或许可以在公会担任学徒……” “瑞根，”马尔坎说道，“你我都清楚，只有合格的魔印师才能成为公会学徒。去找文辛公会长试试。” “这个孩子已经会绘制魔印了。”瑞根争辩，不过他的语气比和欧克公爵说话时明显恭敬许多。马尔坎公会长的体形比瑞根还要健硕，看来也不像是会被在野外过夜之类的故事吓着的人。 “那他要在魔印师公会取得资格应该不是难事。”马尔坎说着转过身去，“明天早上再见。”他头也不回地走了。 瑞根环顾四周，在富商群中找到另一个男人。“跟我来，亚伦。”他低吼一声，迈步穿过接见厅。“文辛公会长！”他边走边叫。 对方在他们走近时抬起头，然后离开自己那群人，走过来向他们招呼。他对瑞根鞠躬，是出于尊敬，而不是因为身份高低。文辛留着油亮的黑色山羊胡，光滑的大背头。肥胖的手指戴满闪闪发光的戒指。他胸徽是一个关键魔印，是魔印网中所有功效魔印的基础。 “我能为你效劳吗，瑞根？”公会长问道。 “这个孩子叫亚伦，来自提贝溪镇。”瑞根说着指向亚伦，“在一次地心魔物攻击事件中沦为孤儿，他在密尔恩无亲无故，而他希望成为信使公会的学徒。” “这样很好，瑞根，但是和我有什么关系？”文辛问道，一直没有看亚伦一眼。 “除非登记成为魔印师，不然马尔坎不肯收他入会。”瑞根说。 “是呀，这是一个问题。”文辛同意。 “这孩子懂得绘制魔印。”瑞根说，“如果你愿意帮忙……” 文辛摇头。“很抱歉，瑞根，你不能指望我相信，来自偏远小镇的乡巴佬拥有够格登记成为魔印师的绘制技巧。” “这个孩子的魔印切断了石恶魔的一条手臂。”瑞根说。 文辛大笑。“除非你还带着那条手臂，瑞根，不然这种鬼话还是说给吟游诗人听吧。” “那你可以帮他安排学徒身份吗？”信使问。 “他有钱支付学徒费用吗？”文辛问。 “他是流落街头的孤儿。”瑞根抗议道。 “或许我可以找个魔印师收留他当仆役。”公会长提议道。 瑞根一脸不悦。“谢谢，那就不用麻烦了。”他说完带着亚伦转身离开。 他们加速赶往瑞根的住所，因为太阳再过不久就会下山。亚伦看着密尔恩繁忙的街道逐渐冷清，人们小心翼翼地检查着魔印，紧闭家门。即使拥有石板街道以及厚重的魔印城墙，所有人在夜晚来临时，依然把自己关在家里。 “我不敢相信你竟然那样和公爵讲话。”亚伦一边赶路一边说道。 瑞根窃笑。“身为信使的第一要件，亚伦，”他说，“商人和贵族或许会付钱给你，但是只要你容许他们，他们就会骑到你头上。你在他们面前必须得表现得像个国王，永远不要忘记出城冒险的人是谁。” “这套对付欧克十分有效。”亚伦同意。 瑞根听到这名字，眉头立刻皱起。“自私的猪猡。”他啐道，“除了自己的口袋什么都不在乎。” “没关系。”亚伦说，“去年秋天提贝溪镇在缺乏食盐的情况下还不是撑过来了，再撑一次也没问题。” “或许。”瑞根火气稍缓，“但他们本来没必要这样。还有你！一个好公爵一定会问我为什么要带孩子前往接见厅。一个好公爵会让你接受王室庇护，不会让你流落街头乞讨度日。马尔坎也没有好到哪里去！测试一下你的技巧难道会要了他的老命吗？还有文辛！只要你付得出学费，那个贪婪的混蛋会在太阳下山前找个魔印大师来收你当学徒！仆役，他说得出口！” “学徒不是仆役吗？”亚伦问。 “完全不是。”瑞根说，“学徒是商人阶级。他们学习技能，然后自行出来闯荡，或是和另一名大师共同创业。仆役一辈子就是仆役，除非通过婚姻关系提升阶级，我就算死也不会让他们把你当成仆役。” 他说完陷入沉默。而亚伦，尽管仍搞不清楚其中差别，认为这个时候最好不要继续追问。 穿过瑞根家的魔印后没多久，天就已经完全黑了。玛格莉特带领亚伦前往一间几乎有杰夫整栋房子一半大的客房。客房中央摆有一张高到亚伦必须用爬才能上床的床铺，而由于他一辈子只睡过地板和草垫，所以在沉入柔软的床铺里时，他感到十分惊讶。 他很快就陷入沉睡，但在听见争吵声时立刻惊醒。他溜下床铺，离开客房，朝声音来源移动。宅邸走廊空无一人，仆役都已经回房休息。亚伦来到楼梯最上方，争吵的声音逐渐清楚，是瑞根和伊莉莎在吵架。 “……收留他，这就是最后的决定。”他听见伊莉莎说，“反正信使也不是小孩子的工作！” “他想当信使。”瑞根坚持。 伊莉莎哼了一声。“把亚伦丢给其他人，不能减轻你在明知该带他回家的情况下仍带他前来密尔恩的罪恶感。” “恶魔粪，”瑞根大声说道，“你只是想要找个可以从早到晚让你照顾的孩子。” “我不准你把这件事算到我的头上！”伊莉莎恶狠狠地说，“当你决定不带亚伦回提贝溪镇时，你就必须肩负起照顾他的责任！此刻你应该扛起这个责任，而不是到处找人照顾他。” 亚伦竖耳倾听，但是瑞根好一阵子没有说话。他想要下楼参与讨论。他知道伊莉莎是一片好意，但是他已经厌倦了让大人帮他计划自己的人生。 “好吧。”瑞根终于说道，“我把他交给卡伯怎么样？他不会鼓励那孩子成为信使。我会支付所有费用，我们可以常常去店里看他，关注他的生活状况。” “我认为这是好主意。”伊莉莎同意，声音中的怒意已然平息，“但是亚伦可以住在这里，没有理由去睡某间工坊的硬板凳。” “学徒生涯本来就不好过。”瑞根说，“想要掌握绘制魔印的技巧，他必须从日出到日落一直待在那里，而如果他打算成为信使，他就得接受各式各样的训练。” “好吧。”伊莉莎气冲冲地说，但不久语气便转柔。“现在过来在我肚子里放个孩子。”她柔声说道。 亚伦轻声溜回客房。 亚伦一如往常在天亮前睁开双眼，但一时之间，他以为自己还在沉睡，或者飘浮在白云上。接着他想起自己身在何处，随即伸展四肢，感受塞满羽毛的床垫和枕头的柔软舒适，以及羽毛被带来的温暖。壁炉中的炉火现在剩下一堆暗淡的余烬。 他有一股想要待在床上的强烈欲望，但尿意迫使他离开床铺温柔的拥抱。他滑到冰冷的地板上，依照玛格莉特的指示，自床下拉出两个夜壶。他在一个壶里小便，另一个壶里大便，然后将夜壶放在门边，等人取走用作花园的肥料。密尔恩的土壤贫瘠，居民不会浪费任何东西。 亚伦走到床边。昨晚他一直凝望窗户，直到眼皮垂下，但是窗户上的玻璃依然令他着迷。看起来似乎空无一物，实际上却坚硬异常，宛如一张魔印网。他伸指触摸玻璃，在晨霜上画下一道直线。他想起瑞根携带式魔印圈上的魔印，于是将直线转化为其中一个印记。他继续画出好几个魔印，在玻璃上吹气以消除他的杰作，然后重新描绘。 心满意足后，他穿上衣服，走到楼下，发现瑞根站在窗边一面喝茶，一面欣赏太阳自群山之间缓缓升起的景色。 “你起得很早。”瑞根微笑说道。“有朝一日，你一定会成为信使。”亚伦感到万分骄傲。 “今天我会带你去找我一个朋友。”瑞根说，“一名魔印师。我在你这么大的时候，就是他教导我绘制魔印的，他现在想收学徒。” “我不能向你学吗？”亚伦满怀期望地说，“我会努力用功。” Regan chuckled. “我毫不怀疑。”他说，“但我不是好老师，而且我待在城外的时间比城内还多。你可以向卡伯学到很多东西。早在我出生前，他就已经是信使了。” 亚伦眼睛一亮，问道，“我什么时候可以见他？” “太阳已经出来了。”瑞根回答，“没有理由不吃完早饭再出门。” 不久后，伊莉莎步入餐厅和他们一起用餐。瑞根的仆役做了满满一桌菜，有培根、火腿、涂了蜂蜜的面包、蛋、马铃薯以及烤苹果。亚伦狼吞虎咽，迫不及待地想要出门。吃完后，他枯坐原位，看着瑞根吃饭。瑞根不理他，在坐立难安的亚伦面前以出奇缓慢的动作享用早餐。 最后，信使放下叉子，擦拭嘴角。“真美味，”他说着站起身来，“我们可以出发了。”亚伦眉开眼笑，跳下椅子。 “先等等。”伊莉莎叫道，两人立刻停下脚步。亚伦想不到这句话会在他心中激起如此巨大的波涛，简直如同听见母亲在说话，他强行压下内心的波涛。 “在裁缝来家里帮亚伦测量尺寸前，你们哪儿都不能去。”她说。 “为什么？”亚伦问，“玛格莉特洗好了我的衣服，还补好了所有破洞。” “我了解你的苦心，我的夫人，”瑞根帮亚伦说话，“但我们已经觐见公爵了，没有必要急着做新衣。” “这件事没得商量。”伊莉莎站起身来说道，“我不能让我们家的客人打扮得像个乞丐一样在外面跑。” 信使凝视妻子紧皱的眉头，轻叹一声。“认了吧，亚伦。”他低声劝道，“在她满意前，我们哪儿都别想去。” 裁缝不久便抵达。此人身材矮小，十指灵活，以打结的长绳测量亚伦身上所有的部位，仔细在石板上用粉笔记下各种数据。量完后，他和伊莉莎女士交谈片刻，随即鞠躬离去。 伊莉莎走到亚伦身边，弯腰面对他的脸。“不算太糟吧？”她问，拉直他的上衣，拂开脸上的头发，“现在你可以和瑞根一起去找卡伯大师了。”她抚摸他的脸颊，手掌冰冷而柔软，令他一时沉溺在这种熟悉的感觉中，接着他突然后退，瞪大双眼看着伊莉莎。 瑞根察觉到这一幕，并注意到亚伦缓缓后退仿佛看到恶魔时，妻子脸上受伤的神情。 “我想你刚刚伤到伊莉莎了，亚伦。”瑞根在他们离家后说道。 “她不是我妈。”亚伦压抑自己的罪恶感说道。 “你想念她吗？”瑞根问，“我是指你母亲。” “想。”亚伦静静回答。 瑞根点头，不再说话。亚伦十分感激他这种反应。他们默默地继续前行，不久亚伦的心思就被密尔恩的奇特景观吸引过去了。到处都弥漫着粪车的臭味，收粪人挨家挨户地收集昨晚的粪便。 “啊！”亚伦捏着鼻子说道，“整座城市的味道比畜棚还难闻！你怎么受得了？” “基本上只有早上才会这样，收粪人收完就好了。”瑞根回应，“你会习惯的。我们曾经修建过下水道系统，贯穿所有房舍地底的通道，借以处理民众的粪便，但是下水道早在几个世纪前就封闭了，因为地心魔物会利用它们进入城内。” “你们难道不能直接挖个粪坑吗？”亚伦问。 “密尔恩城的土壤贫瘠。”瑞根说道，“没有私人菜园需要施肥的人家就必须交出他们的粪便，让收粪人收去公爵的菜园做农肥，法律有明文规定。” “很臭的一条法规。”亚伦说。 Regan laughed. “或许吧。”他说，“但是这样做可以供我们温饱，并且促进经济。收粪公会长的豪宅让我家看起来像是茅草小屋。” “我肯定你家比较香。”亚伦说。瑞根再度大笑。 最后他们转过街角，来到一间坚固小巧的店家，该店窗户四周、门梁和门框上都刻有细致的魔印。亚伦懂得欣赏这些魔印，刻得出这些魔印的人肯定拥有一双巧手。 他们在一阵铃铛声中进入店内，里面的景象令亚伦大开眼界。整间店里摆满了各式形状、尺寸与材质的魔印。 “在这里等着。”瑞根说完，走到另一边和坐在工作台边的男人交谈。亚伦在店内闲逛，几乎没注意到他已离开。他敬畏地伸手轻触绣在挂毯上的魔印，刻在光滑石头表面的魔印及以金属铸模而成的魔印。这里有专为农场打造的魔印桩，还有瑞根用的那种携带式魔印圈。他试图记住眼前的魔印，但数量实在太多了。 “亚伦，过来！”不久后，瑞根叫道。亚伦吓了一跳，连忙跑过去。 “这位是卡伯大师。”瑞根指着一名年近六十的老人介绍道。以密尔恩人的标准来看，此人并不算高大，反倒给人强壮的男人发福后的感觉。浓密的灰胡中只剩下一些黑胡掺杂在内，他的脸深埋在其中，脑袋上留着整整齐齐的短发。皮肤上满是皮革般的皱褶，拳头可将亚伦的手掌完全罩住。 “瑞根告诉我你想当魔印师。”卡伯说着亚伦重重坐回板凳上。 “不，先生。”亚伦说，“我想当信使。” “所有你这个年纪的男孩都想当信使。”卡伯说，“聪明的人会在害死自己前抢先醒悟。” “你不也曾是个信使？”亚伦问，对方的态度令他十分困惑。 “我是。”卡伯承认，卷起衣袖露出一个刺青，与瑞根的刺青十分类似，“我的足迹踏遍五大自由城邦以及十几座偏远村落，并且赚到了我自以为永远花不完的财富。”他稍停片刻，让亚伦心中的迷惑持续酝酿。“我同时也赚到了这个，”他说着撩起上衣，露出满是疤痕的腹部，“还有这个。”他说着踢开一只鞋子，原先四个脚趾的位置，现在只剩下已愈合的半月形伤疤。 “时至今日，”卡伯说，“我只要睡一个小时一定会惊醒，伸手摸索我的长矛。是的，我曾是信使，技巧高超，幸运无比，但我仍不期待任何人走上这条道路。担任信使或许看起来十分光荣，但几十个信使里只有一个能像瑞根这样住豪宅，受人尊敬，其他的很可能都会惨死在路边。” “我不在乎。”亚伦说，“这是我的志向。” “那我和你来个约定。”卡伯说，“要当信使，最重要的就是要先成为魔印师，所以我会收你作学徒，教导你成为魔印师。有时间的话，我会额外教你一些野外生存之道。学徒阶段为期七年。到时候如果你依然打算成为信使……好吧，那是你自己的人生。” “七年？”亚伦愣了愣。 卡伯哼了一声。“绘制各种魔印不是两天就能学会的，孩子。” “我已经懂得绘制一些魔印了。”亚伦争辩。 “瑞根告诉过我。”卡伯说，“他也告诉我你是在完全不懂几何学和魔印论的情况下绘制魔印的。以目测方式绘制魔印或许不会让你明天就死，孩子，甚至可以撑上一个星期，但我敢保证你一定会死。” 亚伦跺了跺脚。七年听起来就像永远那样久远，但是内心深处，他很清楚大师说得没错。背上的痛楚随时提醒自己他还没有准备好再度去面对地心魔物。他需要这个男人懂得的技巧。他毫不怀疑有无数信使死在恶魔手中，而他发誓自己绝不要因为固执到不愿从错误中学习教训，而成为其中之一。 “好吧。”他终于同意道，“七年。”