Part Two: The Human World Chapter Fourteen: Shadows
Werewolves' stomachs are not used to vegetarian food, and it is said that there is a training ground here that specializes in breeding wild beasts, so meat is very scarce and there is no extra supply for humans outside. The soil in the wild highlands is very strange and cannot be grown.
Without food such as wheat and soybeans, there are no restaurants or other places for humans to go in Ofu. Almost all alien humans can only eat food specially cooked for them in hotels.
And this hotel is specially prepared for foreign humans in Orfor City. The boss here is a half-orc, who speaks human language fluently. Half-orcs are stronger than humans, have a face like a pig, and have two fangs.
Their mouths are raised upward, making them look ferocious and ferocious, but also a bit stupid and funny. But in fact, in terms of intelligence, they are the most outstanding among all the orcs, and they are almost no different from humans.
The body of the one-eyed dragon had been brought back and was lying quietly in the dining room of the hotel. The orc boss covered it with a cloth to prevent it from affecting the appetite of the guests.
No one claimed the body. It was the human who carried out the execution who led the two werewolves to carry him back to the hotel. The hotel was originally a subordinate of the City Hall, and upon checking he knew that he was with them.
The other guests had already finished eating and left. Xiao Yi still stayed in the room upstairs because he had no appetite because he had just seen the hanging. The thieves were discussing with the old thief Fordoleng in the corner while eating the food on the plate. That was
A paste made from the fruits and tubers of several endemic plants in the wild highlands. I found it palatable after just one or two mouthfuls, but once I ate more, a thick, cloying taste lingered in my mouth and nose.
It also rushed straight into the head, and the rough powder filled the mouth and scratched the throat, which made the throat hurt. Even if the half-orc boss occasionally showed mercy and added some offal of cattle and sheep to boil it, it could not improve the strong impact on the mouth. The thieves
They have been eating this for more than ten days, and many people are getting more and more angry after eating it. This is completely different from their expectation of making a lot of money and then going to a party. But no matter how angry they are, they will never dare to kick the table and throw the bench here.
People are robbing things, and the figures of ogres and werewolves that can be seen at any time, as well as the stone tablets and gallows standing in the square over there, are excellent tranquilizers. However, the anxiety accumulated every day makes many people have doubts about this plan.
The instigator of the incident, the old thief Foduoleng, was very dissatisfied.
The old thief has been working hard these days to inquire among the big-eared monsters and orcs, hoping to find a way to communicate with them and get the stolen goods. Now he already knows some specific conditions of the city, and the managers of the city seem to
They are humans. This is good news. In the thieves' experience, similar species are much easier to deal with than the indigent orcs. Some people suggested secretly kidnapping the families of these people, and some suggested going directly.
Threats and intimidations are just mindless remarks based on professional habits. From the expression on Fodoleng's face, it seemed that he had no choice but to make his own plans.
Asa mingled among the thieves without saying a word, holding the plate and eating the food in it bite by bite. He was the only one here who could eat this kind of food with gusto.
Just as the meeting was about to end, the middle-aged man who returned the corpse came again, accompanied by a werewolf, and informed them that all the people in the group would gather in the central square tomorrow afternoon, saying that he had something to announce to them.
As soon as the person left, the thieves discussed it and immediately became excited. The central square was where the one-eyed dragon was hanged just now. The cold body was still beside it. Many people also felt sad and angry for losing this accomplice. This period of time has accumulated a lot of backlog.
The anger, resentment, cowardice, and guilty conscience of the thieves were all aroused into hostility by this ambiguous announcement. Many people drew their weapons and clamored to fight to the death.
"Damn it, do you want us to send it up ourselves and wait for them to hang us? You won't lose money if you kill one, but you will make money if you kill two." A robber shouted, waving the knife in his hand.
Fodoleng quickly stopped everyone, but it didn't work and only added fuel to the fire. Several people were already shouting whether he had colluded with these orcs to trick everyone here, just like some private mining companies capture big-eared monsters and use them as slaves, intending to use them as slaves.
The coolies may be fed there first like cattle and sheep and used as food at any time.
"What do you think we should do?" Someone stood up and asked Asa for his opinion. After all, he is the most qualified criminal here and has the best skills. Now he is calm and silent without saying a word. He seems to be a sophisticated man who has everything under control.
appearance.
Asa still ate the mushy food unmoved. He seemed to be the most relaxed and confident. As he ate, he said vaguely: "...I don't know, let's talk about it tomorrow."
"If we go there together tomorrow, we might all be hanged. They already know that we are with the One-Eyed Dragon and know that we are after those goods." The knife-wielding robber was the most excited. "We might as well rush in now.
Go out and fight."
"The consequences of going there tomorrow are at least uncertain. Now the consequences of rushing out with a knife are certain. You guys are going to do whatever you want, just don't say you know me when you are caught." Asa finished eating.
He put down the plate and walked out. He was completely unconcerned about such a tense situation.
In this tense atmosphere, the casual attitude and indifferent words are undoubtedly the most shocking and convincing. When the thieves saw that someone was so calm, they calmed down a little and the smarter ones also thought about it.
He said: "If you really want to kill us or capture us, just bring a few werewolves here. How can there be any reason to notify us in advance?" So they decided to wait. Everyone began to praise the young man for his calmness and composure in the face of such a situation.
He didn't panic at all, he was indeed someone who had seen big scenes.
The orc boss heard the noise, walked in and asked, "What's going on?"
"We are discussing how to bury this companion's body. Because we are really sad, everyone is a little excited when talking." Only Fodoleng was the most responsive, with a sad tone.
The half-orc boss made a strange nasal sound and said gruntingly: "There are regulations here. The corpses must be disposed of by the same kind of people to avoid any racial disputes. It's up to you whether to bury or cremate them. If you find it troublesome, leave the city.
The animal training farm will buy it. There is a shortage of meat during this period, about thirty coppers."
"Oh, okay, thank you." The old thief nodded in agreement. As soon as the orc boss left, he pointed to the others and said, "Whoever sends him over will get the money from the sale." But he didn't.
People understand him.
Asa walked out of the hotel. He was not calm about this situation, but his mind was completely filled with more personal and wonderful things, and there was no room for other thoughts to intervene.
It was as if he could still smell her breath, the wind blowing on his face felt like the wonderful touch just now, and her voice was still faintly in his ears. All his feelings were still stuck in that moment just now.
From the moment Xiaoyi joined his schedule, a very subtle strange feeling began to grow from scratch. Unknowingly, he became accustomed to being with her every day. Unknowingly, her voice, appearance, and smile became part of his life.
It is a very natural link, and you have to see and hear it every day to feel at ease.
At the moment just before eating, he was completely and completely drunk in the atmosphere. So he didn't care about anything else and couldn't pay attention to it.
He has never had any experience with the opposite sex. When he was in his hometown, no woman of his age was interested in this animal-like person who only knew how to fight and exercise in the wild all day long and never seemed to take a shower or put on a single piece of clothing.
The monster has any interest in it. He was also immersed in his dreams and exercises all day long. He spent his teenage years in an almost ascetic way, spending all his energy in endless exercises and fights.
.
The so-called love between men and women, he had only heard of it from the mouths of bards and drunken miners in taverns. One was too noble and abstract to understand, and the other was too practical for people who had not experienced it with real swords and guns.
Understand. He never even thought that he would experience this. As for the current situation, he didn't know what it was about, but he was naturally immersed in such feelings.
Walking on the streets of Ofu feels like being in a forest of rock fortresses. The buildings here are probably built based on the huge size of the ogres, only the unmodified edges and corners of the rocks themselves and the height and width of the building.
It is extremely thick, and even if it is not grand, it is still impressive enough. But in Asa's eyes now, it seems that this is the most interesting building in the world.
It is already afternoon, and you can see orcs walking everywhere. Most of them are carrying goods or pushing special construction equipment. They talk to each other in their own language from time to time. From the houses on the street, there are bursts of iron banging.
There were also the sounds of planing wood and even spinning. The city invited human and dwarf craftsmen from various industries to teach the orcs various manufacturing techniques. The city was full of the vitality of its infancy.
Asa also felt as if he had gained a new-born vitality, even the weird-looking orcs now looked so pleasing to the eye. He had never felt such a wonderful feeling, and the whole world had changed because of her.
We came to a market not far from the hotel. This is a large place, mainly used for foreign merchants and dwarves to trade their goods. During the time they stayed here, they found that there were more and more people.
People from other countries and dwarves come here to trade. This place is filled with a large number of goods from all surrounding countries. It is almost the same as a street market in human society, with the sounds of selling, bargaining, and moving goods all around.
The sounds of collisions mixed together to form a very energetic atmosphere. After looking at it for a long time, the green-skinned or furry figures among them became less eye-catching, and they automatically blended into this peaceful atmosphere of life.
In one corner of the market, there were a few young orcs selling some weird specialties from the wild highlands. Asa bought some fruits unique to the wild highlands from a little ogre. This was still a young ogre.
, but compared to the body, it is even a little bigger than Asa. Although the life span of the orcs is slightly shorter than that of humans, they develop very quickly like all other beasts. In just a few years, their bodies and minds can basically grow.
forming.
Half a year ago, he saw with his own eyes such a giant fluffy man holding a weapon and turning his companions into piles of fuzzy flesh and blood. The sound of bones exploding and the scene of flesh, blood and internal organs flying around often appeared in his sleep and woke him up.
There was a time when he thought that he could not let them die so miserably in vain. But now he was buying things on such palms with a very sweet mood, and there was no trace of tension, killing, hatred, etc. in his heart.
Mood. Those things have long been squeezed out of the sky by the current good mood.
She returned to the hotel room with the fruit. Xiaoyi was organizing her notes by the light on the bed by the window, which was just a few pieces of wood. After receiving the fruit Asa gave her, her face turned slightly red and she nodded sweetly.
Smile: "Thank you."
Asa found that he started to like seeing her smile at some point. Those hazy eyes and thin lips placed a gentle smile on her round face, as if she was happy all the time.
But it wasn't until I saw the corners of her eyes curved downwards and the corners of her mouth pursed upwards that I realized that the hidden smile was her real beauty.
Especially now that there was a blush on her face, she looked even more beautiful, cute and good-looking. At least Asa would be fascinated by other people. Because Asa vaguely knew that the look was for him. He felt that he could die soon.
In this look and blush.
Xiaoyi ate the fruit and looked at his notes and said, "Hey, do you think anything strange has happened here for a few days?"
"What's weird?" Asa didn't feel it at all.
"Don't you think the orderly order here is completely inconsistent with the impression that the orcs gave people in the past? You know, in the wasteland to the west of the empire, hundreds of humans were killed and eaten by orcs every year. But now they actually look like
Humans also build cities, learn to make things, trade with humans, and have their own laws and systems. As you can see today, the officials here are humans. Who can gather these originally barbaric orcs together?
, and they are governed in such an orderly manner? Why do they do this? Aren’t you curious about this? Don’t you want to know why?”
"Not curious." Asa was never interested in these things in the first place.
Xiaoyi made a face at him. "I knew you must be an idiot for these things. Let me tell you."
"You should also know that the Wild Highlands are located in the very center of the continent. Because the Sandface Mountains in the north, the Lizard Swamp and the desert in the south are natural barriers that are difficult to cross, the Wild Highlands have become an important link for communication between the surrounding countries.
Trade routes. In fact, after the imperial army wiped out the orc tribe here, someone proposed that a city could be built on it. If a city was built as a market in such a location, it would be of great benefit to the commercial economy of the surrounding countries, and
This city must also be able to develop and grow through business. But in the end, this plan still could not be implemented. There is a lack of resources in the wild highlands, and it would be too difficult to build a city out of thin air in such a place far away from any human civilization environment. It is more important.
The thing is that this wasteland is surrounded by several countries, and no one wants others to build a city in such a place that was originally a public area. Because it can be used as a springboard for military attacks at any time. So even if the empire is the most powerful among these countries
Yes, and I have never been able to offend the public."
"Only the orcs who are familiar with the living environment here can build a city in such a short period of time. But they have never been united and have no technology, so someone must be leading them. This
The merchants and craftsmen we saw in the city in the past few days were all from several other countries around us. This place was not established for a long time, so why do so many merchants from other countries come here to trade? Even though the location here
No matter how good it is, no matter how convenient trade is, you must know that there are dangerous orcs here. The answer is simple, this place was originally built with their own funds. It is hard to imagine that the surrounding countries that have always had conflicts would secretly
For things like cooperation, it is more likely to be a private force, which must be the chamber of commerce."
The Chamber of Commerce is a non-governmental organization similar to the Adventurer's Guild. It is a group established by businessmen to earn more money for the common benefit. Because there are few things more powerful than money, although this association is only private
, but the ability is by no means small, and can even influence the political situation. Due to the national system, the empire does not have such a thing, and a few big families monopolize most of the commercial trade.
"My guess must be correct, definitely!" Her slender eyebrows were squeezed in the middle, the hazy eyes below had a flickering light, her delicate nose was wrinkled, and her face was slightly red. This is exactly what a voyager is.
An expression of excitement like discovering a new world.
"No wonder they want to hide the construction of this city from the empire. The military that has exterminated the orcs for a long time naturally does not allow the orcs to rebuild a city. For those nobles, such a large market with convenient transportation will
It affects their monopolized business interests. But why can they really hide it from the empire? Although the empire has never paid much attention to the private chambers of commerce in these other countries, logically speaking, such a large-scale activity cannot
The one who will leak the news is. Didn’t the military send troops to conduct reconnaissance? Could someone be covering them up..."
Asa stood up straight and took a deep breath. All the fragmentary fragments and questions in his memory were connected by her detailed explanation. He finally knew what was going on.
But even if I knew it, it wouldn't matter. I just suddenly realized it, and then I felt a little admired for the Duke's methods, and a little indignant at being fooled. It also aroused a little injustice towards the soldiers who died tragically on the mountain. But what exactly was the Duke's intention?
He didn't care what he was going to do, as long as he knew it had nothing to do with him.
"What's wrong with you? Are you scared by my reasoning?" Xiaoyi looked at him proudly.
"I find that you look like a person now." Asa suddenly lowered his head and looked at her face carefully and said.
Xiaoyi blushed, raised her eyebrows, opened her eyes and asked, "Who is it?"
Asa said: "It's the magistrate of Brakada with a head like a pumpkin named Lord Borugan."
Xiao Yi chuckled, stretched out his hand to pinch Asa, and said with a half smile and half annoyance: "It's really annoying, I'm serious."
"I'm serious, you two are really similar. You both can think things through so clearly. I really admire you two." Asa said with a serious look.
"Go to hell, you look like a pumpkin." Xiaoyi stretched out his hand to hit him, but he stretched out his hand to block it. His palms clasped together, and his heart skipped a beat, but he just thought of the Duke, and for some reason he felt another shadow passing through his heart.