Part Three Light and Darkness Chapter Nine Stupidity
Bishop Ronis was assassinated. The Duke led the Magic Academy and the Holy Knights to join forces to surround the necromancer. He offered a reward for the murderer. The Duke arrested the Minister of Finance and announced that the country would exterminate relatives... This series of explosive events was rumored to be centered in the royal capital.
The surroundings vibrated radially.
At the same time as the rumors, wanted orders and the Duke's notices spread rapidly. When these things arrive in every town, the place will immediately boil. Not only adventurers, thieves, and mercenaries are excited and busy about these things, but ordinary people are also excited.
Many devout believers cried bitterly because of the murder of Bishop Ronis. They also drew a picture of the wanted poster and hung it in front of their door, hoping that one day they could avenge the respected bishop. And the rumors spread by word of mouth.
Dozens of different versions were derived over time, and they were discussed and lectured in taverns.
Sweetwater Town is a remote town in the eastern part of the empire. When the shock wave of this news swept over, it was almost shaken like other places. In addition to the tavern becoming the most lively place, the town hall was also extremely busy. Not only did it have to deal with
The adventurers who came to ask if there was any other news or announcements also had to do a massive search in the town because the wanted order was official. By the end of the day, the mayor's bones were almost falling apart.
After returning from the search and sitting on his chair, the mayor finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to complain to the security guard: "I don't know why we are still searching. How could such a heretic criminal be so stupid as to walk around with such arrogance?
Will it be delivered to your door?”
But the Sheriff didn't answer, and he didn't even seem to hear him. All the muscles in his face seemed to be out of control, his mouth was open enough to fit his fists in, and his eyes were about to fall out if he opened his eyes any wider.
The mayor followed his line of sight strangely, only to find that a person was walking in at the gate of the town hall. Then his own facial expression immediately lost control.
This man walked not only swaggeringly, but simply arrogantly. He pushed all the dazed people in front of him away and walked up to the magistrate. He glared at him and asked in a deep voice: "Are you the magistrate here?
?”
This man's eyes were all bloodshot, and his facial features were all distorted due to emotional excitement. His rage, anxiety, and ferocity were all clearly displayed on his face. But the reason why he was being watched was not because of his expression, but because of his
appearance.
Even if he is distorted by emotions, his face can still be recognized at a glance. Because this is the face they just went out to search for on the street, and now everyone knows it, is familiar with it, and misses it all the time. That face is worth five dollars.
The face of a thousand gold coins.
"Are you the biggest official here?" This wanted criminal, who is now recognized as the most evil and weird, slapped the magistrate's table and his voice was roaring, as if he was the one who controlled the current situation and justice.
The Sheriff who reacted had already drawn his sword, and the original shouting voice turned into a woman's scream due to too much excitement: "Here comes someone~~~~Hurry and catch him."
"Are you the mayor?" Ten minutes later, the wanted criminal, already covered in blood, kicked the desk to pieces and roared at the magistrate who was huddled in the corner.
"Yes..." The mayor had peed his pants. The wounded had almost filled the floor of the town hall. The simultaneous groans of hundreds of people seemed to be a weird chorus.
The wanted criminal stepped forward and grabbed the mayor. The mayor realized that the vicious guy in front of him was from the Undead Guild, and thought that he would turn into a skeleton or a zombie in the next moment. He immediately lost control of his urination and urination.
But this man just yelled at him: "Go to the capital and give me a message. Send it to Duke Mrak." The wanted criminal's voice was hoarse with anger, like the howl of a wild beast. "Tell him to be careful.
As he wishes, I will come back."
Walking out of the town hall with injured people on the ground, Asa felt his liver and gallbladder bursting and his blood boiling. There were three figures floating in his mind, Bishop Ronis, Sandro, and Xiao Yi. The Duke was in the background.
smiling face, and blood.
He passed by this town today and saw his wanted poster in the tavern. He also learned about the death of Bishop Ronis, and he felt like he was struck by lightning.
Bishop Ronis. Although Asa did not agree with his actions and even disliked him, Asa also knew that the most respectable old man in the empire actually cared about him and loved him very much. It could even be said that many of his efforts were for
Himself. And such an old man died inexplicably like this.
At the same time, he also heard about the Paladins and the Magic Academy working together to kill a necromancer. From those vivid descriptions, he could certainly tell that it was Sandro. He heard
He almost vomited when he heard the news. Sandro, this weird necromancer's position in his mind was weird, but it was definitely important.
There was no need to think too much about what was going on. The Duke's announcement said it all.
The meaning of the Duke's announcement was equally obvious: Come back soon. Either you die or she dies.
Asa looked to the west. That was the direction of the royal capital. The setting sun was bright red. It was like the Duke's smile, so kind and friendly, but also a bit bloody and cruel. It seemed as if he was smiling and saying to him: Come here quickly.
Since the Duke has informed the whole country, if he doesn't show up by then, Xiao Yi will definitely be burned to death. He must go back.
Not far from the town hall, there was already a crowd of dark figures, and almost everyone in the town began to gather around him. As soon as he took off his mask and walked into the town hall, someone recognized him, and the news immediately spread to people.
The extreme speed that the legs could reach spread in the town. Adventurer mercenaries came one after another, but from the first few mercenary groups that rushed to the town hall, only a few people crawled out with severed hands and feet, so
The people behind had to stand still. But people's courage gradually grew as the number of people gathered increased. Until later, the townspeople also came over with hoes and kitchen knives.
Seeing him walking out of the town hall, the thousands of people who had gathered earlier let out an earth-shattering shout and rushed towards him. Asa jumped onto the roof of the street and ran towards the west.
In the royal capital, the Duke smiled happily when he heard Asa's message.
The Duke carefully asked about the time, place, and circumstances of this person's appearance, and even the person's expression and movements. Then he nodded with satisfaction. He knew that his trap had indeed produced an effect.
What is the most effective trap? That is a trap that the other party knows it is a trap but has to sneak into it. The Duke has always been a master of traps because he is very good at taking advantage of human nature.
But he didn't seem to realize that the deeper he studied this kind of thing and the more skillfully he used it, the less and less this kind of thing he had in himself. This was the point when he decided to continue to move towards the ultimate peak of power.
, after using his daughter as bait and possibly actually silencing her in the end, it reached a new level.
In fact, after making this decision, he was sad and depressed for a while, but it was only for a while. His rational judgment of the situation and the powerful relationship did not take much effort to cover up this weak emotion. But because of this weakness
With fewer and fewer things, he can think more rationally, more rationally, and without scruples. It is like an extremely sophisticated machine. A machine that calculates and acts for power. Even he himself has to admit that in using
In terms of using means to wield power, I have indeed stood very high.
This is a height from which there is no turning back.
The Duke used his sophisticated thinking to think about it for a moment, and he could immediately conclude that the boring message specially asked to be sent was nothing more than the howling of a beast in a desperate situation. Expressing a little despair and anger in his heart would not have any objective effect.
The messenger has delivered the message, but this person has not yet appeared. There are only two possibilities. One is to find reinforcements.
This possibility is extremely slim. You must know that this kid is now a wanted criminal by both the church and the empire. No matter how powerful anyone is, they will never dare to help him. This undoubtedly shows that he is related to the murder of Bishop Ronis.
The second possibility is that this person is already in the capital, but he is lurking and does not dare to come out, waiting for the opportunity to act. Thinking of this, the Duke immediately ordered all the royal guards to be on standby at any time and be on high alert. Also, please ask the Holy Spirit
The Knights sent people to strengthen the prison's guard three times.
That kid will definitely fall into a trap. The Duke is very confident. The kind of person who is bound by emotions and driven by his own impulses is completely synonymous with stupidity, and he will never be able to escape the trap he has arranged with his exquisite reason.
The prison of the Royal Guards is a prison that the Duke ordered to take special care of. Now there are nearly a thousand of the most elite soldiers outside at all times. There are also many people from the Holy Knights and magicians from the Magic Academy.
As soon as the wanted criminal is discovered, the Holy Knights led by Captain Roland can arrive within ten minutes.
Captain Roland also asked the Duke about Clovis and Xiao Yi. Many ministers in the court and even His Majesty the Emperor persuaded him to investigate more. But the Duke produced several very convincing pieces of evidence.
Moreover, when he was discussing with His Majesty the Emperor, he showed his true feelings and cried bitterly, describing his feelings for his daughter and his love for his assistant. However, the situation was such that he had to kill the family to appease the spirit of Bishop Ronis in heaven and lead out the real murderer.
After being moved to tears, His Majesty the Emperor no longer interfered with the Duke's behavior. And as long as His Majesty the Emperor stopped interfering, the Duke could do almost anything he wanted.
To be honest, this earth-shattering approach is not in line with the Duke's usual style. But he can't care about so much now. He must kill the kid as soon as possible, because there are other things coming next.
The Duke imprisoned Clovis and Xiao Yi together. Both of them were extremely important hostages. Naturally, they had to be kept together to prevent anything from happening. The reason for this was also the Duke's concern for the escaped father.
A kind of attention.
To be honest, the Duke had to express some admiration for the prodigal Marquis Inham Erny, whom he had always looked down upon. He was able to run away immediately after finishing the work, which could not but be said to be extremely smart.
Once the matter is completed, his use value will be gone. If he assassinates the bishop, the Duke will definitely silence him. And after silencing him, his son will definitely not be able to escape.
On the contrary, after he ran away, the Duke would naturally not attack Clovis in order to have capital to blackmail him. So it was indeed a wise choice for him to run away at the first opportunity. He is a smart man, so be on guard.
I wonder if he will use any unexpected means to get his son away.
But the Duke didn't really care about the Marquis. At least he was busy dealing with Asa's matter and didn't have time to ask. Because the Marquis's actions were obviously just some cleverness. Look at the desolate look of the prodigal son. Although it was interesting to see
A smart mind who figured out his own intentions, but he wasted such good minds and talents on sensual things and those bullshit arts and women. He fell into despair, and finally had to be held hostage by himself.
Being entangled in any emotional impulse is stupidity, and those fancy little cleverness are simply hopeless worse than stupidity.
Real wisdom and wisdom should be used to make decisions, to give up all other obstacles, to focus all your energy on your own goals, to make use of all available things, and to ultimately reach the pinnacle of success.
.just like myself.
Thinking of this, the Duke felt as if a long-lost pride was stirring in his chest. He stood in front of the window.
You can have a panoramic view of all the brightly lit buildings, terraces and pavilions of the royal capital. The Duke stretched out his hand to shake the scenery. His hands, covered with veins, scars, traces of training and hard work, were so strong and so strong.
Steady. As if he can hold all the prosperity in his hands. Of course, this also includes countless stupid people.
On the other side of the royal capital, in a heavily guarded dungeon, the two people who were once the Duke's closest friends now feel completely opposite to the Duke. Not only do they not see any prosperity and vitality, they don't even have the right to hope.
The conditions in the dungeon are not bad, and are even much better than ordinary hotels. Even though these two are prisoners, their status is still special. And the Duke has absolutely no intention of abusing them. He hopes that both of them live well.
, at least while it's still useful.
There were no guards in the dungeon. What these two people said casually was probably highly confidential. The Duke didn't want to cause trouble, and even the people who brought the meals were deaf people who were specially found.
Clovis had basically saved his life thanks to the efforts of the priests at the Magic Academy. However, his spirit almost completely collapsed. When he got better, he ran to the steel fence all day long and yelled to see his mother.
Duke Lark roared until his throat became completely silent and threw all the food everywhere. Unfortunately, the Duke had already issued a ban on how to treat the two prisoners, so no matter how much he roared, there was no response.
After he stopped shouting, Clovis just looked at his completely useless hand and cried and laughed. Sometimes he would bite the hand with his own teeth until it was bloody, and he would destroy everything in his cell.
He was smashed to pieces. Sometimes he hit himself against a wall and hit his head with blood, but he never committed suicide. For a while, Xiaoyi suspected that he had gone completely crazy.
Finally, after a hysterical and crazy noise, Clovis suddenly calmed down. He only murmured in a crying voice: "It turns out that the only use value I have for him now is this life." Then he shrunk.
He fell asleep in the corner.
Xiaoyi's days in the dungeon were much quieter and more stable. Of course, such quietness and stability were only relative to Clovis's situation. After all, she was imprisoned by her father as a bait to kill her beloved.
.
No matter what kind of woman is in this situation, it would be good if she could not be as hysterical as Clovis. But Xiaoyi calmed down after only one or two days of hesitation and anxiety.
She ate the food and rested well. At other times, she actually began to meditate and move her muscles in the small cell, as if she was a gladiator recharging her energy for the upcoming competition.
Same. As for Clovis next to her, she ignored him no matter how much trouble he made.
"Hey, can you hear me?" Suddenly one day, Clovis spoke. Although it was a weak voice, it was no longer a crazy roar, but talking to others. And there was no such thing in this dungeon.
There is no third person.
Although Xiaoyi was slightly surprised, he still replied calmly: "You can hear it."
Their cells were diagonally opposite each other. As long as they didn't look at each other deliberately, they could only hear each other's voices.
"Why are you so calm? Do you think he will come to save you?" Clovis asked.
Xiao Yi was even more surprised. Clovis should not have participated in the Duke's operation and was asleep most of the time. She couldn't help but ask: "Do you know why I was locked up."
"I heard some conversations among the soldiers at the Duke's Palace and on the way here. Bishop Ronis was assassinated, and that bastard was wanted... I can probably guess what happened. I have always known the Duke very well.
.”
"Oh, then you must be sure why he arrested you." Xiaoyi replied lightly. She had never liked this person.
"Even if you don't know, you can probably guess it now. I know that my father went to see the Duke, and then the Bishop was assassinated." Clovis's voice always had a hint of crying. "Then.
Do you know that the two of us are probably dead? Since the Duke can safely lock us two people who know so much together, he will never let us go out alive to talk."
"perhaps."
"Then why are you so calm? You prepare every day. You imagine that he will come to rescue you, and then the two of you will work together to escape like the hero and heroine in the story, and fly away? Haha...haha..." Clovis should be
He was laughing, but the sound he made was actually crying. It turned out that he had been paying attention to Xiaoyi's movements these days. "Do you think he will come to save you? Come here even though you know he will die? Is he that stupid?"
Xiaoyi was silent for a moment, and murmured as if to himself: "I hope he won't be so stupid. But...if he really comes, at least I will find a way to let him leave safely. I will do my best.
effort."
"Ahaha..." Clovis cried again. "Since the Duke has arranged it this way, he will never give you any chance to struggle. As long as that bastard comes to save you and is caught, you
They are really like mandarin ducks with the same fate."
"It seems that you really know him well." Xiaoyi's voice has always been so calm.
"Understood... Of course I understand. I have been with him for so long... Haha... I also know that he is actually very kind to me. He actually didn't stab my eyes out, blind my tongue and the tendons of my hands and feet.
Cutting it off actually allows me to wait here for death... Haha."
Xiaoyi didn't answer again. Clovis didn't ask any more questions. After crying for a while, he fell silent again.
After spending a few more days in silence, Clovis suddenly asked: "Do you know how many days are left before the deadline the Duke gave that bastard?"
"Thirteen days." Xiaoyi answered. She remembered it clearly every day.
"Thirteen days. Haha. Wait slowly. See if he is an idiot, or if you believe he will come, you are an idiot."
Xiaoyi didn't answer, and continued to do what he had to do. Clovis also stopped saying anything.
On the next day, Clovis said again: "There are twelve days left. The idiot still hasn't appeared... No, maybe he has appeared, but he has been killed by the soldiers outside. Hahahahaha...
Really stupid..."
Xiaoyi ignored him.
"Eleven days are left... That fool must have been caught by the Duke. Haha. The Duke, who hates this bastard so much, will not kill him so easily with one knife. He will definitely chop him up slowly one by one.
That must be a very enjoyable thing. I would have done this kind of thing originally, hahahaha... But it's no longer possible. It seems that the idiot had the foresight to cripple me first. Hahaha
.....Hey, are you listening...Hey, are you making a sound...Are you dead?"
"There are ten days left. Aren't you going to say anything? Why don't you express your feelings now? Hahaha..."
"There are nine days left. This number is unlucky. Did you hear that? You stupid woman who believes in stupid people... did you hear that? Haha..."
"There are eight days left..." Clovis would announce the date like this every day, and then often say nonsense that he didn't care whether Xiao Yi would pay attention to. And Xiao Yi did not pay attention to him either...
"It's been seven days... Maybe someone will come to arrest you later. Will the Duke kill you with his own hands? Haha... If the Duke is like this, he can kill his own daughter without hesitation.
They are all so sensible and efficient. They are really my idols. Hahaha..."
"Six days..." "Five days..." "Four days..." "Hey, stupid woman. There are three days left..."
"Don't you remind me today? There is only the last day tomorrow." Xiaoyi suddenly spoke first. Maybe she has been used to being noised by him these days, maybe there is something in her heart that makes her uncomfortable and she wants to find it.
Speak personally.
"I'm tired and don't want to say anything more." Clovis's tone was already very calm and no longer as crazy as before. In fact, he seemed to be getting calmer as time went on, and he even didn't drive all day yesterday.
Mouth. "And I've been thinking about things these past few days."
"What are you thinking about?" Xiaoyi now feels that there is something holding back in her heart. She really wants to talk to someone, even if this person is the most annoying person in the world to her.
Clovis actually sighed: "I just realized now. It turns out that I am much worse than you. You and I both know that we are going to die, but you are still so calm and do things that are only one in 10,000.
Prepare. As for me, I am almost crazy. Even now, I dare not face the reality and hope for a miracle to happen... Only now do I understand what my father said. The higher you climb, the harder you fall.
The heavier the fall, the more painful the fall, the more sober I feel. I am completely sober now. It’s really strange, I hate my father the most, but the person I miss the most now is him..." He actually said it at the beginning
He kept talking, probably pouring out all the things that had been in his heart these past few days. "Actually, I have been recognized as the most outstanding genius in my family since I was a child. However, because of my father's relationship, I was looked down upon by others and was dismissed.
Others squeezed me out. I may not even be qualified to be a family member in the future. I was not willing to give in, so I worked harder and worked harder. I swore to myself that I must be outstanding, I must have the greatest power, and I must stand in this world.
I want to become the strongest person in this world. Finally, I was accepted as a disciple by Captain Roland, and I will have the opportunity to inherit the position of leader of the Holy Knights in the future. I am very happy. And at this time, I even met Mu
Lord Duke Lark."
"The Duke is so strong, so smart, so good at fighting for power, and his methods are so clever. He is a person who can stand at the top of the world. He is completely my idol and my goal in life. So I have made up my mind
I am determined to follow the Duke. I must become a person like the Duke."
"When I became the Duke's deputy, I was so happy. I felt that I was already on top of the world. I regarded him as a god, and his orders were even greater than my own will. Alas, it's strange to say.
I admire him so much because he is so good at using people, including myself. When I have no value, he will throw me away like a rag... What's the matter, do you still think I'm annoying? Don't say anything.
"
"No. I'm just surprised. I feel surprised." Xiaoyi's voice did have a hint of surprise in it.
"What are you surprised about?"
"I'm surprised you turned out to be alone." Xiaoyi returned to a calm tone.
"Probably because I'm going to die. But it seems that you will be faster than me. You will die tomorrow." Clovis's voice was calmer than Xiaoyi's. Although there was emotion, it was lifeless, as if
It smells like the dead talking.
"...Well, probably."
"Do you really think he will come to save you? Unfortunately, even if he comes, the sooner the better. As time passes, the security outside becomes tighter. If it is a law field, even if he comes, he will die with you. So he
He has not come until now, which only means that he will not come."
"It's best if you really don't come." After Xiaoyi said this, he felt relaxed and a little sad. The corners of his eyes were already wet.
"If he is not an idiot, you will become an idiot."
"Huh, aren't you an idiot too?"
"Haha. Yes. I am a fool." Clovis laughed at himself for the first time in his life. "But you, the fool, will die before me, the fool. Just tomorrow."
"Tomorrow..." Xiaoyi sighed, and his deep voice echoed in the dungeon.