"Go southwest, about one hundred and thirty miles."
The short and cold answer caused complete silence in the entire hall.
The deeper you go, the greater the danger.
This is the roughest and most primitive rule framework of the Whispering Forest. Countless cave bears have used their lives to add detailed provisions to this framework.
For every ten miles you advance from the forest, the monsters you may encounter will become one level stronger - those kobolds and goblins who can only work together as a group are nothing at all. Things like gnolls or ogres that are not inferior to the army are also already inside.
It is quite common, but the ground in the jungle will gradually turn into a swamp. Eventually, thorny things such as wetland dragons may appear in this environment. Even in the deepest parts, petrified cows and multi-headed snake lizards may appear.
Such terrifying monsters, which are said to be comparable to giant dragons, will also show off their superb ambush skills to outsiders who rashly invade from time to time.
One hundred and thirty miles to the southwest undoubtedly means entering the hinterland of the forest—that is already known as a restricted area.
So they held the guy eating in their hands, and the mercenaries bowed their heads and said nothing. After evaluating each other, some people began to give up the temptation of those gold coins. But more people were still making their own decisions——
After all, what one thousand kingdom gold coins represents is the temptation to quit, buy a pasture and a group of good breed livestock, and live out your old age in peace.
And the bigger temptation is that this job seems to have a high probability of success...
Or the depths of the forest are full of dangers, but the high bounty means that there is no need to adopt a small team search method like hunting. If a dozen or even dozens of people move forward together, there is a relative guarantee, not to mention
There is also a seemingly high-level mage and paladin as the backing, which makes this guarantee even more impressive - especially those paladin. Although they are disgustingly arrogant, it is this arrogance that makes them absolutely
They will not turn a blind eye when mankind is facing a crisis... For all the guys on the continent, at least those who have not committed crimes, this group of people will always be a relatively reliable guarantee.
Especially now, when the person who asked the question spoke again to break the silence, it also added a little more weight to the guarantee in everyone's hearts.
"Okay, I, Baroque Yeyu, have taken over this job. In the name of my beard, I will definitely ensure your arrival." He said, and after a brief pause, more than a dozen voices began to respond one after another.
stand up,
"I'm joining too, in the name of the God of War." "Me too, in the name of my grandfather..."
Obviously, that fluffy, burgundy beard is indeed a strong guarantee, not because it has been dragged down to the waist, taken care of very carefully, braided, and tied with several glittering hair.
The glowing copper ring. But because it belonged to a dwarf - the guarantee a dwarf made with his beard was always quite binding.
What's more, these sons of the earth are famous for their superb combat prowess.
--segmentation--
"Going southwest, about one hundred and thirty miles. Khaki, Gera and Ligao's team have joined? And the dwarf who just came yesterday?"
Baiyang Town is very small, so rumors always spread as fast as the wind.
Especially in Old York's blacksmith shop - because this is the largest and only blacksmith shop in Poplar Town. Its functions of repairing and buying and selling weapons have made it the most popular blacksmith shop in the entire town, except for the Hilton Express Hotel.
, the largest gathering place for adventurers.
At this moment, several adventurers formed a half circle in front of the stall outside the shop, talking about simple news. The person listening was the young man named Edward.
"About one hundred and thirty miles...?"
The young man's fingers gently scratched an old sheepskin... This sheepskin was not very well-tanned. Some places were still soft and covered with wrinkles, while other parts were already hard and glowed with a smooth black sheen.
, only those who know the seemingly messy lines and symbols on it will know its value - this is a map of part of the terrain of the Whispering Forest. Although it is not detailed and perfect, it is enough to make the current adventurers
The areas where it can appear are unobstructed.
For the cave bears around, this sheepskin is a priceless treasure. However, generally speaking, only the most experienced hunters can own such a map.
"I know, I will go too." After a moment, Edward nodded slightly. But this brief speech made several adventurers smile happily.
"Then let's go as well. It's rare to have such good hands. Maybe we can actually make a fortune."
"Yes, yes, I don't want as much as a thousand gold coins. I just need to get a few ounces of evening primrose from the forest and turn back halfway."
…
"You really want to go?"
The sound came from outside the circle of people, interrupting the chattering of several people.
The young man in black aristocratic clothing did not have an entourage like ordinary nobles, but it seemed that he did not need the ostentation - just approaching the stall, several mercenaries had already shut up, and then in the next moment,
He ran away with a gesture of holding his money bag tightly.
"Why are you running away! Damn it, I don't come here to collect taxes every time! What do these bastards think of me? They don't even salute, and I am still a knight after all!" The young noble frowned.
He cursed bitterly, then noticed that the person he was looking for had already entered the room, so he followed him in.
"James... I have said it many times, we are a small place here, and there are so many powerful people in the world that it is unimaginable... What you did today was really too reckless."
It wasn't until he entered a room at the back of the shop that Edward sighed and said in a low voice: "If they were ordinary paladin, of course you could suppress them with your status as a hereditary viscount, but you didn't think about it.
Think about this guy... how much strength and good weapon is needed to completely split the Black Crow's horse and vest with one sword? In addition, the Holy Emblem inlaid with gems, have you seen that thing before? A
Can your noble status be able to deal with such a guy?"
"Oh, you spent dozens of days planning, but failed at the last moment. Don't you feel angry? And just because he is a paladin, how do I know that he will draw his sword against a noble like me? But even if he draws his sword, it will actually be useless.
It's nothing, can he really attack me despite divine punishment? He still has decades to go before he wants to scare me!"
Sitting down on a chair, the young nobleman grinned dissatisfiedly: "But in the end... it was so shameless! Ed, why did you insist on me apologizing at that time? I completely ignored it.
For your sake."
To this complaint, the young man named Edward did not answer.
He was opening a box in the room and taking out a bow.
This is a short bow that adventurers like. Made of sinew, horns and hardwood, it has always been a good weapon for mercenaries. It is light and powerful, although the effective range is usually less than a hundred feet.
, however, it is the most suitable weapon in the woods.
So the noble young man became quiet and watched quietly as the hunter carefully inspected the bow, and then used a long bow string to wrap around two small wooden wheels at the end of the bow arm, forming a strange look.
appearance.
After many years of interaction with the other party, he had long known the habits of this boy who was a few years younger than himself. The hunter king of Baiyang Town always paid full attention when arranging his weapons, especially this bow.
So it wasn't until Edward inserted the bow into his quiver, tied the strap on his back at a suitable angle, and then took it off that he asked.
"Are you really going to follow them? Those people... are very strong, so you are not afraid that they will go very deep?"
"You saw it too... they took away all the cave bears around. I have nothing to do if I stay here... and I should be able to get a lot of things from this trip."
The hunter still didn't raise his head, but continued to take out a wide belt made of cowhide and tied a sheathed long sword around his waist. Then he spoke:
"Indeed, they are likely to go very deep and not take ordinary routes, so if I want to make a fortune, I have to go with them, and don't forget that I am almost fifteen years old...
…The entry threshold for the Royal Capital Academy of Magic has not changed. If you still can’t get that amount, I’m afraid there won’t be any opportunities in the future…”
"That mage's ability is very good... but it's a pity that it seems that you can't arouse any interest in her at all..."
The term "magic academy" made the aristocratic young man frown deeply, and finally couldn't help but say: "And you still haven't given up on that idea? Why bother? Even if you can make a lot of money, I
I won’t care about you, but do you think you can really touch the edge of magic with your talent that even old Link denies? Why waste your efforts on something unrealistic? "
This statement is very straightforward and a bit hurtful.
But the young hunter just curled his lips and didn't want to refute... because he knew what the other party meant, and he might be arrogant, but also sincere.
And because, most importantly...this is the most real fact.
The world he lives in now is a world that according to legend was created by two giant snakes and perfected by the gods. It is a world of magic and swords.
But in this world, the people chosen by the Magic Network are always a very small number among the crowd. Those who possess extraordinary power may really be just the legendary favored sons of heaven - even though the gate of magic is known as
It can be open to everyone, but if you want to truly get a glimpse of the beauty inside, you must cross that threshold... And unfortunately, for most people, that threshold is a journey that takes almost a lifetime to complete.
A natural chasm and cliff that can be climbed over.
For the seedlings that truly have talent, even a genuine mage will personally walk out of his mage tower, but those without talent, even if they have the most outstanding mentor and a wealthy country, will spend their whole life.
He could only wander within a few steps of the gate.
As for Edward, it is very likely that he is the most talentless among the group of people without talent.
It's not self-destruction without hard work, nor is it contempt and humiliation, it's a fact.
Harsh, real, cold facts.
Mage apprentices, warlocks, poets... there are too many mercenaries wandering around Poplar Town, trying to get some luck out of the Whispering Forest, and there are countless beings with supernatural abilities among them. However, so far, Edward
He is still just Edward the Skinner, Edward the Jungle Scavenger, King of Hunters of Poplar Town, Deputy Edward of the Guard, not... Edward the Spellcaster.
This is not because he has not worked hard, it is just that so far, countless people have proven that he does not have that kind of talent.
"Hmph, magic is just a piece of cake. If it is really as omnipotent as those mages say, then why are there so many mages still listening to His Majesty the Emperor's orders? ... As long as they have the power in their hands.
, Isn’t it easy to get a few mage guards around? I really don’t understand you. If you stay with me, within twenty years you will..."
The silence of his companion made the young noble a little embarrassed. He knew that he had said too much, so he quickly began to cover up clumsily:
"And you also know that the deeper you go, the more dangerous it is. You are not a mage. You can escape through a portal! If you accidentally die...what kind of trouble will there be? What will happen to so many things in the city?"
"My eldest young master, don't underestimate my ability, and don't let me underestimate your ability, okay?"
The young man who tied the long sword around his waist raised his head and showed a smile: "You have almost learned the methods of training those brats. When negotiating with the businessmen in the south, as long as you know the bottom line, you probably won't lose much."
, this year’s new fields have been cultivated, and the pasture has been raised. The insufficient part can be purchased, and the rest is waiting for people to grow slowly. There is no rush for this matter. As for me, do you think it is my first time?
A newbie in the woods?"
"But..." The young noble wanted to say something, but in the end he found that his words were a bit unsustainable.
"I've told you before, you can't always rely on me, right?"
With a choked voice, the dark and skinny young man pulled out the long sword from the sheath and waved it in the air: "I can't stay here forever, and I have no interest in managing the eating, drinking and eating of a group of territorial citizens. You would have done it long ago."
I know. And all this will be and can only be your own responsibility. I have always believed that Master James is not a fool. Or do you think my view is not correct? "
"Hell! You go..."
The infrequent switch was replaced by a joke that was neither light nor serious. Sir James was a little angry for a moment. He blushed and wanted to respond with a curse, but in the end he did not spit out the unlucky word.
He came out, just turned around and left, leaving behind a complaint: "Okay, okay, you'd better come back early... Otherwise, your iron shop can still sell some things, but the hotel will be missing a lot of signboards.
The dishes are ready...
…
After walking out of the gate, the young noble waved his hand vigorously.
As his closest friend for eight years, James didn't want Edward to leave - if it weren't for him, his territory, which was located in a remote country or even described as a wilderness, might never be able to prosper. The best he could do was
A country nobleman who was just waiting to die and accomplished nothing in the end...
Now, the annual tax of this small town has reached thousands of gold coins. This alone is no less than or even surpasses the direct donations from the so-called wealthy territories in the middle of the kingdom. Old York's blacksmith shop
, is even a multiple of this number... And he can see that the other party has many, perhaps even unimaginable, novel plans that can make this place richer and become a peaceful, small kingdom-like place.
Existence is not impossible.
But eight years of getting along with him also made James know how obsessed with magic that young man who was a little younger than himself was.
It is naturally good to have a magician as a subordinate, but everyone knows that it is not realistic.
In fact, although the age limit for students in the Magic Academy is fifteen years old, I have never heard of any mage who actually started learning at this age and became successful... The real geniuses are all around ten years old.
They have already begun formal studies, and some even reveal their talents at birth. That is what a true mage should do as a being who has been chosen as the chosen one.
Edward should be called a genius.
Regarding business and management matters, his views even surpass those of many old businessmen who have been involved in the profit field for more than ten years. He even has unique views on managing territories and training soldiers.
However, geniuses are obviously not the same things. Those weird runes and awkward spells are definitely not things that he can easily understand. Moreover, in the past few years, the spell casters among the adventurers have also become familiar with it.
The child's talent expresses a negative attitude.
I hope he can retreat after seeing how difficult those things are at the Magic Academy... Before that, I hope he can come back safely this time.
The young noble comforted himself in his heart. But he still couldn't help but wonder...
Edward is so shrewd, what if he really passes the preliminary examination by luck? Moreover, his stubbornness and strong desire for magic are hopeless... What if he really sees that little bit of nothingness?
There is a vague hope that this guy will probably be buried in the academy for the rest of his life, among those boring books and low-level spells?
Before that, what should he do if he can't come back this time?
But it was obviously pointless to dissuade him... In the past five or six years, he had already discussed this issue with him dozens of times. However, in the end, Edward used various theories to refute him at a loss.
In vain it increased his confidence.
It's called confidence, but it's probably closer to stubbornness.
"The outside world is not that simple. Be careful if you hit your head and bleed, no, come back as a corpse..." James, who couldn't figure out the answer in the end, could only mutter to himself: "Maybe this place will become a place in the future.
You will regret not having the chance to see it when it is one of the top commercial centers on the mainland!"
;
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