午后,烈日炙烤着大地,空气中弥漫着浓厚的灰尘和淡淡的血腥味.
在黑石镇的入口处,尽管天气恶劣,但气氛一点也不平静.
博林回来了,浑身是尘土和污垢,后面跟着一群瘦弱,面无表情的难民.
这些是他在废弃村庄里找到的镇民.他们的衣服破烂不堪,他们拖着脚步走着,仿佛一阵风就能把他们吹倒.
只有当他们看到黑石镇的新木墙和微弱的秩序迹象时,他们原本呆滞的眼睛里才出现了一丝希望.
"大人,"Bolin说,急忙向Rello走来,脸上带着他无法完全掩饰的疲惫和严肃的神情."难民都被带回并安顿下来.然而..."
他停顿了一下,压低了声音.
"在我们回去的路上,在西边的枯萎森林附近,我发现了一个土匪的临时营地.它相当大,有许多篝火的痕迹.看起来至少有一百个.
强盗!
雷洛的眉头微微皱起.
所以他们来了,但他没想到他们这么快就来了.
就在他思考这件事的时候,一声响亮而傲慢的马蹄声从远处逼近,打断了所有人的思绪.
一个身材魁梧的男人,脸上有一道可怕的疤痕,穿着一件脏兮兮的皮胸甲,骑着一匹瘦弱的马,鲁莽地冲进了小镇的入口.
他粗暴地缰住了他的马,马紧张地用爪子蹭着地面.
疤脸男子用一双恶意的三角眼扫过人群,最后停在了以独特风度脱颖而出的雷洛身上,毫不掩饰的轻蔑.
"你们谁是负责人?" 他咆哮着,喷出了唾沫.
"我是血狼帮的使者!我们的领导说过,从今天开始,这片黑石领地就归我们保护了!年税一千金龙!如果你很聪明,可以在三天内把它送到我们在枯萎森林的营地!否则..."
他冷笑一声,做了一个割喉的手势.
"别怪我们把你那破旧的小镇夷为平地!"
一千条金龙!
镇民们倒抽了一口气,脸色苍白.
这几乎是黑石领地全年的税收!
这些土匪简直就是贪婪!
骑士们的脸色变得阴沉,他们中的一些人已经把手放在了剑柄上.
然而,雷洛的表情仍然出奇地平静,没有一丝涟漪.
他看着这个嚣张的使者,仿佛在看着一个死人.
"艾德,砍掉他的手,"他平静地说.
"是的,大人!"艾德向前走了一步.
虽然他已经有意识地控制住了自己作为新晋级的地球骑士的气息,但大地似乎随着他的脚步而微微颤抖.
他甚至没有拔出他的骑士剑,只是举起了手,仿佛是一把剑,上面覆盖着一层密密麻麻的土黄色斗气（dǒuqì,或"战气"）.
一阵寒光闪过!如此迅速,以至于几乎察觉不到!
大地骑士的象征,即化战气的能力,可以用来制作防护盔甲或进攻之刃.
众人转头看去,惊讶于领主的贴身护卫队长已经突破到了大地骑士境界.
"啊啊!"
疤脸使者的右手,连同他一直紧握的缰绳,在手腕处被切断了!
伤口像镜子一样光滑,鲜血像喷泉一样喷涌而出!
灼热的疼痛瞬间扭曲了他的脸,他从马上摔了下来,紧紧抓住被切断的手腕,痛苦地在地上翻滚.
"Get out!"
Rello's voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling and authoritative tone that resonated in everyone's ears.
"Go back and tell your master that if he wants gold dragons, he can have them—in exchange for his life!"
The messenger, in excruciating pain and nearly fainting, was even more terrified by Rello's words.
He struggled to his feet, using his remaining left hand, and scurried away like a beaten dog, leaving behind a conspicuous trail of blood and the lingering stench of blood in the air.
The townsfolk stared blankly at the pool of blood, then at Rello's calm demeanor. They felt a slight relief from their fear of the bandits, but also a sense of uncertainty and unease about the future.
They had never expected the new, young lord to be so assertive.
"Mayor Buck," Rello turned to the old mayor, who had been silent all this while.
"What do you know about this Blood Wolf Gang?"
Mayor Buck's body trembled, snapping out of his shock.
He hunched over, his face etched with deeper wrinkles, and his cloudy eyes filled with a mix of memories and worries.
"My lord, the Blood Wolf Gang... has been a menace in these parts for many years. They started as a group of wandering bandits, but in recent years, their power has grown rapidly. They've swallowed up many smaller gangs and even... even rumors have it that they have noble backing."
"Noble backing?"
Rello's eyebrow arched slightly, his tone tinged with a hint of amusement. "Which noble?"
Mayor Buck shook his head, his expression growing even more solemn.
"I... I don't know for sure. I've only heard some traveling merchants whisper about it. They say the Blood Wolf Gang can expand so quickly because they always find channels to dispose of their loot, and the lords' efforts to剿匪 (jiǎo fěi, or "suppress banditry") against them are far less vigorous than against other gangs. Plus, the leader of the Blood Wolf Gang, nicknamed 'Blood Wolf' Karl, is said to be a ruthless and cunning individual who has gathered a band of desperate men under his command. So..."
Rello fell into deep thought. Bandits were not formidable in themselves; it was the hidden forces behind them that were truly alarming.
If they were just a mob of ruffians, he wouldn't give them a second thought.
But if they were truly connected to the nobility... things would become much more complicated.
"My lord, what... what should we do now?" Bolin asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
Rello raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. His voice was calm yet carried a compelling force. "Do what needs to be done. The settlement of the refugees must be expedited, and the town's defenses must be strengthened. As for the Blood Wolf Gang..."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a hint of a cold sneer.
"I already have a plan to deal with them. Just follow my orders."
"They want the money of Blackstone Territory, but they don't know that I want not only their money but also their lives."
His voice was not loud, but it resonated with authority.
"Ed."
Rello spoke again. "From now on, you will personally oversee the defense of Blackstone Town. Increase patrols and closely monitor the movements of the Blood Wolf Gang. Report to me immediately if you notice any suspicious activity."
"Yes, my lord!" Ed's voice was strong and resolute.
Rello nodded and turned to walk towards the lord's mansion.
He left Ed to command the knights and townsfolk, who began to set up defenses in an orderly fashion.
Bolin continued to settle the refugees, while Mayor Buck did his best to reassure the townsfolk.
As the sun set, casting a crimson glow over the horizon,
the newly erected wooden palisades around the town cast long shadows, resembling the fangs of a lurking beast.
Rello stood alone at the window, gazing at the setting sun in the distance.
Moonlight, his mouser, rubbed against his arm.
In recent days, Moonlight had done an excellent job as the town's mouser, with over a hundred sand mice falling victim to its claws.