The Book of Hibernation

Facing March's question, Winter Ji didn't answer right away.

Winter Thistle knew that she was not good at fighting, but if she wanted to help, there was not only one way.

After thinking about it, Dongji said to March: "I understand. Then I won't go back, I will leave alone. But before that, I want to ask you for a favor."

March said: "I can't help Aldean, my goal is only Bellows Jr. I don't care about other people."

"You don't need your help," said Winter Thistle, "I want you to bring something to little Bellos."

"For little Bellows?"

Winter Thistle nodded.He opened the satchel in the cloak and rummaged for a while, took out some odds and ends, and put them in a long and thin book case.

He handed the box to March, and said: "Give it to him as soon as possible after you go back. He knows what it is, so you don't need to explain it. If he asks where it came from, tell the truth—I know you, you Tell me in advance that the situation in Harbor City is complicated, so I escaped from the city. After leaving the city, I will give this thing to you and let you pass it on to him."

March frowned: "What on earth do you want to do..."

Winter Thistle said, "Please do me this favor. Don't you want to know who Little Bellos is? I've done this to help you. I won't explain the details just yet, but I can assure you that I will definitely won't get in your way."

"Okay. I believe you." March put away the box.

She didn't ask what was in the book case, or if she could examine it.Since Winter Ji didn't mention these things, it means that he doesn't mind whether she checks it or not.

The dead hunter behind asked: "Do you trust the refiner so much?"

March stood up and walked out of the cave with her. "He believed me easily in the past," Sanyue sighed, "Then I might as well trust him. Anyway, I don't have any future to speak of, and I'm not afraid of being harmed."

"That's right, anyway, you will be next after Bellows."

Listening to these words, Winter Ji could more or less guess what kind of twisted "agreement" the two of them had reached.

He couldn't say much, he could only sigh.

The sound of the two women's conversation and footsteps gradually disappeared into the woods.Dongji thought in a trance, it seemed to be the same as last time in the tomb: he leaned on the stone alone, watching them appear inexplicably, and then walk out of the cave inexplicably.

Dong Ji waited for a while before standing up with the support of the stone wall, dusted off his body, walked out of the cave, and looked around.He should be in the hilly forest to the northwest outside the city.

He took out a small compass, walked around the forest a few times, and slowly decided on his next move.

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After returning to Harbor City, Kanai was arranged in the "Bird of Return" station.

He sat in the carriage along the way, and entered the post station by the side door.Simon deliberately arranged to prevent any passers-by from seeing Kanai.

The Bird of Return covers a large area, with taverns, small buildings and separate courtyards.Simon chose a single-family house in the courtyard and asked Kanai to live in the bedroom with the best conditions on the second floor of the house.

Kanai had a broken leg and couldn't get out without help.Simon told him that it was better not to go out, not to let Aldin know that he had returned.

After returning to Harbor City, Kanai's mood has been relatively low. She just reads silently every day and doesn't ask about other things.

At lunchtime, Simon himself came to him with a plate.Kanai sighed and said that he was in a bad mood and couldn't eat.

Simon sat down beside him, and while cutting up the steak for him, he comforted him softly: "Don't be afraid, just tell the truth normally."

Kanai said: "I will definitely say it. The question is... what next? What should I do next? Many things in the past, although I have no right to make decisions, but I am also a participant after all. A close assistant. If something happens to Aldin, I will not escape."

Simon put down the tableware, held Kanai's shoulders, and looked at Kanai seriously: "I have thought about this a lot for you too... Kanai, do you believe me?"

Kanai said, "Honestly? I don't believe you. But there's nothing else I can do."

Simon: "Don't be so pessimistic. Let me tell you this, Harbor City is very important, and the chief needs a credible person to manage it."

Kanai said: "That person will not be me. For so many years, I have only been assisting Aldin. I have no achievements in the Austrian Federation, and I have no foundation in the local area. Simon, don't blame me for speaking badly. In fact, I I know exactly what you're thinking."

"What are we thinking?" Simon watched Kanai's profile, but Kanai didn't look at him.

Kanai said: "Since you want to investigate the business routes related to necromancy and you have found Harbor City, then you must choose between Aldin and me to destroy it. Only in this way can we completely end this matter and let everyone Both parties are satisfied and at ease. Under normal circumstances, you should choose me, after all, I am more irrelevant. But you chose Aldin... This shows that it is our brothers you want to destroy. If he loses everything, I There will be no good results."

Kanai's tone was sad and serious, but the corner of Simon's mouth moved, holding back a relieved smile.

Simon thought for a while and said, "I can tell you the truth now. The chief lord really wants to deal with Aldin. The reasons for this are very complicated, and it is difficult for us assistants to understand. After this incident, in a short time The chief lord will not reuse you, and you will indeed be affected. But in the long run, everything is actually in your favor."

Kanai sneered: "I'm just an assistant hiding behind others, I'm afraid the Chief has no impression of me at all."

"But at least the chief is willing to protect you so that you will not be killed in vain," Simon shook Kanai's hand, "You said just now that we want to choose someone to destroy. Under normal circumstances, you should be chosen... Kanai, look, that's how your brother chose."

Kanai took a sip of water and put the glass down heavily.

Simon saw that his face was becoming more and more ugly, so he didn't say any more, just observed him quietly.

After a while, Kanai took the silver fork from Simon and finally started eating.When he ate the steak that Simon had cut for him, he said thank you, and his expression was a little more relaxed than before.

After taking a few bites, he put down the tableware, wiped his mouth with a towel, and asked softly, "I have another worry. In Harbor City, with Aldin present, can my testimony be accepted?"

"Why not?" Simon said.

Kanai said: "I am soft-spoken and I am related to Aldean. Even if I dare to say something, people may think that I am selfish and will not believe me."

Simon said: "Most of the adults in the court are from outside the chamber of commerce. The king is most afraid of things about necromancy. Their purpose is to find out the matter, not to deal with a specific person. They have no preference for you brothers. Yes. There is also the Austrian Federation, they already trust you more. The local temple and city hall have a better relationship with Aldin...but the chamber of commerce is on your side, and we will listen to your testimony."

Kanai nodded, not intending to eat any more.

Seeing that he was upset, Simon comforted him a few more words, picked up the dinner plate, leaving only the water bottle and quilt, and left Kanai's room with light steps.

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Under the shade of the trees in the courtyard, Bellos and Aldine sat on either side of the rattan table.The servants were all ordered to go down to rest, and the mansion was very silent.

There were only the two of them in the courtyard garden, but outside the courtyard wall, the streets and alleys surrounding the mansion were already full of city guards and mercenaries from the chamber of commerce.

"Have you really thought it through?" Bellows asked.

Aldin poured tea into the two cups, and sprinkled the multi-colored spices from the glass bottle into the cups.

After doing all this, he said: "Think it over. The main thing is... there is no better way than this."

He picked up the cup and smelled it, but without tasting it, he put it aside again.

"It's true," Bellows said. "You also have to be prepared that he might not accept it, that he might not understand your ideas."

Aldin sighed deeply: "That can't be helped. As you said, the gecko can only survive by cutting off its tail. Besides, the matter is not as tragic as cutting off the tail. As long as I try my best, at least he can be guaranteed safe. If even I If he can't protect himself, he has no one to count on."

"I also suggest that you do the same, so as to protect both of you." Bellos nodded.

Aldine said, "I might as well tell you, I'm very chilled right now."

"About that ship?"

"Well. There are many small things."

"I understand what you mean," Bellos said softly, "but after all, you are brothers, and you are the people who understand each other best in the world. You should also reflect on whether you have treated him too lightly, causing him to hold some ideas for a long time. Hold it in your heart."

Aldin nodded: "This matter has calmed down, I have to talk to him."

The two clinked glasses with tea instead of wine, and took a sip.Bellows coughed a bit from the strong spice inside, he really couldn't appreciate the local taste of Harbor City.

Putting down the teacup, Aldin said, "That half-elf named Winter Thistle, do you remember him?"

"That refiner, of course I remember." Bellos said.

"If things don't go well, I'll get into a lot of trouble..."

"With us helping you together, it won't happen."

"I know, I mean just in case," Aldine said, "if I can't take care of him, I want you to help me take care of him."

Bellos smiled knowingly: "It seems that you care about him very much, and you still worry about his safety at this time."

Aldin said: "He can't be affected by these things. After all, he is a refiner. In his hands, there are a batch of temporary enchanting tools and catalysts in the production process, which are distributed in seven different workshops. This aspect has to be arranged Well, we can't delay, otherwise not only will I lose money, but it will also be a great loss to the chamber of commerce."

Bellos nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, I attach great importance to people like him. Even if you don't tell me, I will definitely protect him."

At this moment, the two guards following Winter Thistle came back from the outside.Looking at the large number of guards in the streets, both of them secretly felt that something was wrong.Fortunately, they all had keepsake badges on them, and they went all the way back to the gate of the mansion smoothly.

As they entered the courtyard, they met Aldine and Bellos head-on.The red-haired guard immediately shouted: "Master Aldin! It's bad! The refiner is gone!"

His voice was so loud that the city guards and mercenaries outside couldn't help but sneak a look over.Aldin didn't say a word for a while.

The black-haired guard immediately picked up the words of his companion, and briefly described the process of the carriage where Winter Thistle was in being robbed.

After the incident, the two of them should have searched for it immediately, but their horses were killed by the robbers, and it was impossible to search on foot in such a large area in the suburbs, so they decided to come back first to find a helping hand, but they couldn't go back once they came back. Out of the city, even with the token of Aldin's emblem.

After listening, Aldin said: "Okay, I see. You should first inquire about clues in the city, and I will arrange for someone to go out to find him after the work is over."

The two guards nodded their heads and walked into the depths of the mansion.

"You sent him away?" Bellos asked in a low voice.

Aldin shook his head: "I still want to ask if it's you."

"This is weird..." Bellos sighed, "Don't worry, it's not convenient for you to go out now, but I can send someone to look for it. When I arrive at the city hall in a while, I will find time to make arrangements."

The City Hall of the Harbor City is a huge ring-shaped stone castle with four entrances and exits, leading to the meeting hall in charge of different affairs.

The four gates face four streets respectively. They are the widest roads in the city, but they are not the most prosperous area. Most of the houses in this area are the private residences of officials and nobles. The big houses are hidden among the evergreen flowers and trees all the year round, and they are harbors. The quietest place in town.

Two groups of people approached the city hall from different directions, breaking the silence at dusk.

When Aldin and Bellos got off the carriage, they just saw another group of carriages approaching around the edge of the stone castle.

There were very few guards accompanying the carriage, and after the stop, a strange blond young man came down.

Simon approached and bowed to Aldin and Bellos.Bellos introduced to Aldin, saying that he was his emissary and assistant, arranging some trivial matters for him.

Aldin didn't look at Simon very much, but kept staring at the carriage in the distance.I saw a hand gently opening the curtains in the carriage, and then retracted quickly.

There was another person in the carriage.The man was reluctant to come out for a long time, as if he wanted to avoid meeting Aldin, and wanted to wait until Aldin entered the city hall.

Bellos patted Aldin on the shoulder and whispered a few words to him.

Aldin smiled at the carriage, turned around and followed Bellos into the gate of the city hall.