Part Two The Human World Chapter Six The Monster with Big Ears
Big-eared monsters are the most common subhumans, and they can be found almost everywhere on the continent. They are about the same size as humans, have green skin, and are generally ugly in appearance. They are characterized by a pair of big ears on the back of their heads. Strictly speaking,
They should also be considered a type of orcs. Although their intelligence is lower than that of humans, they still use human language. It seems that they also have their own language, and it is said that there was a country of their own a long time ago, but later for unknown reasons
Disintegrated. Because they are the only race that has more or less contact with human society, people do not treat them as beasts like other orcs, only treating them as a very low-level race. They usually live in the middle of human society.
In the cracks, petty theft is a specialty, and there are also people engaged in various low-level jobs. Such hostage-taking has never happened before.
Asa followed the map left by the big-eared monsters. He originally thought it would be a hidden and heavily guarded lair, but he didn't expect it to be a lair more than ten miles outside Brakada. It was built blatantly outside the cave.
The cottage is very conspicuous and can be seen from afar.
After Asa reported his identity and purpose of coming, the big-eared monsters introduced him into the village. There were about a hundred big-eared monsters inside. When they heard that Asa was here to redeem the hostages, they all jumped for joy in the distance.
They pointed at him everywhere. Asa noticed that this didn't seem to be a well-arranged nest, but seemed more like a temporary camp. There were houses built here and there with wooden planks and thatch.
The big-eared monsters did not tell the reporter how much ransom they wanted at the beginning of the kidnapping, but just asked the Duke to send someone. It seemed that they did not expect such an unexpected and valuable harvest, and they had to go back and think about it slowly.
How much money can you get?
"Where is he?" Asa was always concerned about the book. He wanted to see Chris first to ask.
Several big-eared monsters chattered and took him to a cave.
The entrance to the cave was blocked off with a wooden fence and became a ready-made prison. Judging from the fact that there was a lot of leftover food inside, it seemed that the big-eared monsters did not abuse this precious captive. It was just that Chris was frightened.
She looked very haggard. When she heard that her father had sent someone to redeem her, she was so happy that she sat down next to the wooden fence and cried. When she took a closer look and saw that it was Asa, she was surprised. "Is it you?"
"
"Where is the book?" Asa asked.
"Book? What book?" Chris' answer made him tremble with fear.
"It's the book I lent you. It's in the library of the Magic Academy. When you left, you said you wanted to read it on the way."
"I've been locked up here for so long. I'm scared to death. You didn't ask me how I was doing when I met you. You didn't care about me at all. Why did you ask about the book?" Chris burst into tears immediately.
Asa tried his best to calm down and said in the gentlest coaxing voice possible: "Don't worry, since I'm here you will definitely be fine. I'm very happy to see that you're fine and still energetic. But that book is really
It’s very important, do you remember where it is?”
"I put it in my luggage and it was snatched away by these guys."
This sentence almost made Asa jump. But then he thought about it, maybe the big-eared monsters would not transport the goods without checking them, and if they saw the book, they might just throw it somewhere.
"Good boy, just wait here. I'll help you out immediately after discussing with them." Asa reached in and patted Chris on the head to comfort her. He turned to the big-eared monster behind him and said, "I
I want to see your leader." The big-eared monster grunted and led him outside.
In the center of a temporary wooden house was a gorgeous table that was obviously stolen. A big-eared monster who looked like the leader was sitting in front of the table with his back straight and majestic. There were several other big-eared monsters.
The ear monster stood behind him.
Asa wanted to ask about the book, but he thought that he was here to redeem people after all, so he had to settle this matter first, so he also sat down at the table and asked: "How much money do you want?"
.”
The leader of the big-eared monster grunted, as if clearing his throat, and said in the thick nasal voice unique to the big-eared monster: "You humans have always looked down on us, and you have always oppressed us and belittled us as a barbaric race.
In fact, we also have a long culture... You see, we did not abuse the hostages, and we tried to hurt as few people as possible during the robbery..." His ugly face seemed to be trying hard to create a diplomat.
A serious and calm demeanor.
Asa said impatiently: "To put it bluntly, what do you want, how much ransom do you want?"
The leader of the big-eared monsters patted the table as if he was offended and said: "Your attitude is contempt for us. Do you think we are an inferior nation? Let me tell you, the time has come for us to turn over, and we will not let it go any longer."
You humans are oppressing me." That ugly face slapped the floor hard.
Asa nodded and waved his hand and said, "How much do you want?"
The leader of the big-eared monster turned his head, made eye contact with the companions behind him, turned around and said: "Don't underestimate us, we know that she is the daughter of a Duke named Mrak, and we also sent people
I went to investigate and found out that this Duke has great power and financial resources." He first stretched out five fingers and then immediately shrank them into one. "We want five...a thousand gold coins." His narrow hands
His eyes flickered and looked at Asa anxiously.
"Okay." Asa nodded simply.
The leader of the big-eared monster was stunned for a moment, not expecting him to agree so simply. A big-eared monster behind him seemed to nudge him with his foot, and he immediately raised another finger, "No, it's two thousand gold coins."
"Okay." Asa said even more cheerfully. He just wanted to negotiate the price quickly so he could ask about the book.
Even the big-eared monsters behind the leader were shocked. This time, without waiting for their signal, the leader immediately stood up and said a little excitedly: "No, I made a mistake, we are going to...
Want...five thousand gold coins."
Asa frowned. He could see that these guys were following the trend. But if he only saw a few silver coins in front of him, he might still be able to clearly distinguish the precise meaning of the money, but once he got beyond his experience
He was completely stunned by the large amount. He felt that one hundred gold coins and ten thousand gold coins were sharing a simple concept. Thinking of the status of the Duke, probably no money is a problem, that is,
Nodding..
"It's decided, we want ten thousand." Asa's cheerfulness inspired the leader's ambition and fighting spirit, and the lion suddenly opened his mouth.
Asa slapped the table and stood up. He was already angry. The leader immediately made a concession, raised his hands and waved, saying: "For this price, we will never add more, never again." He saw Asa.
He sat back again and said, "Who doesn't feel sorry for their children? Think about it, no matter what kind of animal they are, they love their children. If something happens to my children, I will definitely kill them at any cost."
The Duke who was rescued will definitely be like this. Compared with gold coins, of course his daughter is more important. He will definitely pay this price."
Asa frowned and said, "Okay, that's it. I'll get the money tomorrow and you'll let him go." The leader's eyes shone with excitement, and he said powerfully, "Okay."
"By the way, there is one more thing..." Asa then began to talk about his real purpose and said lightly. "Our lady also has a book with her. I hope you will return the book to me."
"Book? I don't know where it is." The leader and several big-eared monsters behind him looked at it and shook their heads.
"It's actually of no use to you. It's not valuable. It's just of some commemorative value. It's in our lady's luggage. Please find it and give it to me." Asa carefully looked at the expressions of the big-eared monsters.
"Luggage? All the goods have been... processed... and gone." The big-eared monster seemed to be very cautious and spoke very vaguely, but it confirmed what Asa was most worried about.
"Where is that book now?" Asa asked with the last glimmer of hope.
The leader suddenly became sensitive and angry. He slapped the table and stood up and said: "We are not trying to deceive you. Don't try to get information from us." He waved his hand to Asa. "Okay, let's go quickly. Remember to bring the money tomorrow."
Bring it. Otherwise, I’ll wait for your lady’s body to be collected.”
Asa was almost driven out by the big-eared monsters. Several times he almost wanted to punch the big-eared monsters that were pushing behind him and smash their ugly faces into pieces. He endured it again and again before he took action.
It was indeed the worst case scenario. The book had indeed been sent to the city of the orcs. How to get it back? Asa was so upset that he suddenly got angry. He had never been so angry before.
A place where there is fire but no outlet can allow the anger to circulate and rise. If it weren't for the fact that Chris was still in their hands, he would have guaranteed to turn around and go back and kill all those green-skinned idiots.
This sulking continued until he returned to the city hall in Brakada. He planned to go to Lord Borugan to explain the ransom matter clearly.
"Ten thousand gold coins?" The portrait of Polugan was killed by this number, and he jumped up from the big chair, with his mouth wide open, and his big bulging eyes looking at Asa.
"Is this the amount that the Duke has promised you in advance? Mr. Envoy."
Looking at Master Borugan's reaction, Asa realized that something seemed to be wrong with him. He shook his head.
"Then do you know what ten thousand gold coins can be used for?" Lord Polugan's expression was completely blank.
Asa still shook his head. He really had no idea about this.
"One silver coin can support a poor family for a month. Did you know?"
Asa nodded. He once worked as a mercenary for a dozen copper coins.
"One gold coin is enough for an average family to live for ten years, five is enough for them to live for a lifetime. Ten thousand gold coins can support two thousand families for a lifetime. Two thousand families, more than ten thousand people, one lifetime.
"The rest of the facial features on Master Borugan's face remained motionless. Occasionally, high-pitched duck sounds came out of the big mouth one by one, letting Asa understand the seriousness of the matter.
"Even if I arrest all the caravans in the city and immediately seize all their property and goods and sell them to you, plus all the funds in the city and sell all the houses, I can probably raise ten thousand.
It’s just a concept. And in fact it’s impossible.”
Asa swallowed hard.
The two looked at each other for a few minutes. Mr. Borugan first jumped from the chair to the table and said to Asa: "Mr. Special Envoy, please sit down and tell me in detail what is going on."
After listening to Asa's story, Lord Borugan stared at Asa and shook his head and said, "I suspect that the Duke has sent the wrong person. You are really not suitable to handle these matters." Asa blushed a little.
"Those big-eared monsters seem to be used to being poor and have no concept of money. How could they come up with such a price? Do they think the Duke is in charge of the treasury?" Lord Borugan raised his broomstick eyebrows in the middle again.
He didn't notice Asa's face getting redder and redder.
"I didn't know they actually built their nest in a place like that. Huh, if all the troops stationed here hadn't been transferred to the south, the people I have would still have to deal with thieves in the city and other gangs.
Weird, otherwise they would have been crushed long ago. But it seems that this is their first time to do something like kidnapping, so they are doing this hastily. It is impossible to really pay them. Maybe we can think of using our
My own method..."
Asa didn't listen to his words too seriously. He kept swirling in emotions of anger, anger and shame. This was an emotion he had never experienced in his life.
He himself has always done whatever he wants to do. If he can't do it, he will work harder. If he can't do it with his own strength, he will force out murderous intent to do it. He is as direct as an animal. He has never lacked fighting spirit, perseverance and wit.
But he had no experience in dealing with this kind of thing, let alone the ability to deal with his own complex emotions. But in such a trance, Lord Polugan's words suddenly caught his mind, and he continued in this direction.
As soon as he thought about it, he felt suddenly enlightened.
That's it, it should have been like this a long time ago. As soon as he had a direction, the anger that was still swirling in his mind turned into fighting spirit and strength. He raised his head and said to Lord Bolugan: "Don't worry, I know
What should I do?" He stood up, turned around and walked out.
"Hey, hey, wait a minute..." Lord Polugan chased after him for a few steps, but Asa disappeared just after chasing him out of the city hall.