The inside of the lord's castle was more modest than expected—the huge fortress seemed to have been built only to serve as a military bunker, so tall and heavy that it was only when you stepped inside that you would know that it had little decoration other than the incardiac emblem of the Dragon Empire and some decorative swords with a martial spirit.Hao Ren and Charlemagne led the corridor of the castle to the room where Archduke Owen was, and the slightly eerie corridor echoed with the footsteps of everyone.There was a window open on only one side of the corridor, and the light of the day shone in through the high, narrow cracks of the windows, and fell on the decorative shield on the wall on the other side, and on the surface of the latter a hazy halo of dust flew in the halo like light smoke.The guards and maids along the way saluted respectfully in front of this special "group of visitors" and retreated to the sides of the corridor, and from their unconcealed panic expressions, it was clear that the Grand Duke of Owen was not in good condition even though he had awakened.At the door of the Grand Duke's room, an old man wearing a robe with blue trim on a white background happened to push the door and walked out.Kem stepped forward and nodded to the old man, "Lady Holman, I have brought the distinguished guest whom the Grand Duke has named. ”The old man, known as Holman Bachelor, raised his eyes and glanced at the group of people in front of him, his eyebrows twitched slightly, and there was a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone: "I haven't heard of so many people—the Grand Duke is in a very bad situation, and he ...... to see so many people at once" "It was the Grand Duke who asked him to meet them," Kem emphasized again, "Bachelor, as far as I know, you are only responsible for treating the Grand Duke's injuries, not selecting the guests he will meet. ”Holman straightened up and was full of energy: "Reducing visitors is also part of restoring health!"
”As a result, as soon as he finished speaking, he heard an even more neutral voice from the room: "Holman!
I'm just a little wounded, and I'm far from death!
Let the guests in – you don't stand in the way!
”Maester Holman twitched slightly, exhaled deflatedly, and silently stepped aside: "Go in—try to be quiet." ”Archduke Owen lay on the oak bed in the center of the room, staring at the six people who walked into the room—Hao Ren's four, plus Charlemagne's brother and sister.He was an old man with a strong physique that made one wonder if he had barbarian blood, and his thick beard was quite characteristic of the north, and although he was lying on the bed after being seriously injured, his huge body that could not be concealed by the futon still had full strength.Sunlight poured into the bedroom through the window, which was supposed to brighten the room, but for some reason, Hao Ren's first feeling after entering the room was dim - dim everywhere, everything in this room seemed to be covered with a veil of shadows, and even where the sun was shining, the floor seemed to be shaded by something to show a dull and decaying color.There was another person in the room, it was a silver-haired woman in a white dress with an expressionless face, she stood beside the Grand Duke, her head slightly bowed, it seemed to be the maid who took care of the Grand Duke's daily life, she only glanced up slightly at the appearance of Hao Ren and his party, and then lowered her head again and did not move."
Ah, here you are," the old man lying on the bed said with a smile after the door closed, his voice was calm and powerful, not at all like the rumored serious injuries and almost died, his gaze swept over the Charlemagne brothers and sisters and Hao Ren and his party, and began to greet them like ordinary bold old men, "The prince and princess of Isu—ha, I have heard about your experience, it is really not easy for you to get here, and the situation in the country on the other side of the world is okay?"
And you guys......
A mysterious man from the 'Temple of the World Tree'......
It's really mysterious, I asked the best scholars to look it up, and no one knows what the origin of the World Tree Temple is, you really came out of thin air. ”"Grand Duke Heywood Owen," Charlemagne stepped forward and bent down to greet the old man lying on the bed, although he was a royal family, he still saluted from the bottom of his heart in the face of a legendary veteran like Heywood Owen, "I heard that you were seriously injured, but now it is reassuring to see that you have recovered your spirits." ”"Aha, what bullshit recovery," laughed Heywood Owen, "I'm still alive for the time being, and I still have time to meet you two little ones, and......
These mysterious friends who came with you. ”As he spoke, Grand Duke Owen's gaze fell on Hao Ren - after all, leading two girls and a little girl, Hao Ren was the most eye-catching in the foursome: "I heard that you walked through the black pine forest like a walk, and you can easily defeat Lord Gorgon?"
”"It's just some special abilities," Hao Ren said with a smile, "We have eyes that can directly see through the fog of the Black Pine Forest, and we also happen to have some little experience in dealing with ancient weapons like Lord Gorgon." ”"A little experience......
"Archduke Owen laughed at the remark, "haha, what an understatement—do you know how many people in this world can cross the black pine forest directly from the Lost Zone like you?"
A few more men can defeat those Gorgon Lords - let alone defeat, one Gorgon Lord can destroy almost an entire regular legion, and you ......
Tsk, your World Tree Temple has a long history. ”Charlemagne suddenly realized that the main focus of the old duke in front of him seemed to be on Hao Ren and his party (or the "World Tree Temple"), so he couldn't help but speak: "Grand Duke, forgive me for interrupting - my sister and I have an important mission and need to meet Princess Constance as soon as possible, may I ask her ......"
"She is on the front line now, but she already knows about your arrival," Grand Duke Owen waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, she will meet you, and soon."
Patience, young man, patience is the most important trait – second only to having a good amount of alcohol, you know?
”Charlemagne opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but Avena next to him spoke first: "We understand." ”Then she whispered two words in Charlemagne's ear, who glanced at the silver-haired woman beside Grand Duke Owen with some surprise, and then nodded and said no more."
You, and your 'World Tree Temple,'" Grand Duke Owen turned his attention back to Hao Ren and his party, "I guess it's not just a 'hermitage organization' that is independent of the world, right?"
”Hao Ren didn't know what the other party's intentions were, so he temporarily followed the topic and said, "What do you mean?"
”"Are you ......"
Grand Duke Owen frowned, as if trying to figure out how to organize the language, "do you have some old legends, or prophecies, that allow you to re-enter the world at a special time?"
For example, the epoch change......
Ha, it stands to reason that a hidden organization like you, who suddenly appeared in the world, shouldn't take the initiative to bring up this matter after meeting me?
”"Oh, it seems like that's what most books say," Hao Ren patted his head, "I'm sorry, I've only been in this business for a few years, and I don't have a lot of work experience."
But then again, don't you really think of a way to stabilize your state before you talk about that?
Look at you like this......
I'm afraid I won't live to tomorrow. ”As soon as these words came out, Charlemagne and Evenna's eyes widened in surprise, and they looked at the Grand Duke of the North who was lying on the bed, in good spirits, and couldn't see the feeling of weakness at all, and the silver-haired woman who had always hung her head couldn't help but raise her head and quickly glanced at Hao Ren.The Grand Duke of the North was stunned for a moment, and then laughed: "Haha......
You're really interesting, you're really interesting......"
"Grand Duke Owen, you ......"
Charlemagne couldn't help but speak, "You ...... now" "I just said that I'm just temporarily alive," Grand Duke Owen looked at Charlemagne, "It's just that ordinary people's eyes can't see it." ”Then he turned to Hao Ren: "You're right, I'm dying, but how do you see it?"
”"Leave this alone," Hao Ren said bluntly, "let's take a look at your wounds." ”"It may be scary," said the old general lying on the bed with a smile, "and there are not only several ladies here, but also little girls, do you really want to see them?"
”"That's what I'm going to see," Leah stepped forward and pointed to the position of Grand Duke Owen's chest, "open it, the bandages and ointments in here are useless." ”Grand Duke Owen put away the smile on his face and nodded silently, while the silver-haired woman next to the bed stepped forward and lifted the futon covering the Grand Duke with gentle movements.The old general's upper body had no clothes, but was wrapped in a thick bandage, but from the bandage, the silver-haired woman did not disassemble them, but gently brushed her hand over the bandage, and the thick bandage broke and opened, revealing that under the bandage cover, a large piece of flesh and blood on the chest of Grand Duke Owen had already festered and mutated, and a twisted and torn wound was located on his right chest, and the flesh around the wound seemed to be corroded by strong acid and showed a black-purple color and sunken inward, and the most terrifying, It was the wound and the festering flesh around it that turned out to be "alive"!
The rotting and mutated flesh wriggled as if it had an independent life, constantly expanding its festering range, and at the junction between the rotten flesh and normal flesh, the rotten parts even grew tiny spikes and teeth, tearing and devouring the healthy flesh around them.After just one glance, Avenna pale back - but she didn't scream.After all, she had seen the honor of the Black Sword Knight after the mutation before."
It hurt a lot at first, but now I don't feel anything," Grand Duke Owen looked down at the injuries in his chest, "they are gradually replacing my body, and some of my nerves have been 'eaten' by them, which is a relief." ”"Didn't you try a cure?"
Charlemagne's face was terrible, but he still said in a calm tone."
Try to cut off the rotten flesh, but it will grow back in no time, and it will be exactly the same as before it was cut, digging the wound whole will not work, and the corruption does not seem to be rooted in the flesh.
Physically, but in my soul," said Archduke Owen indifferently, "the ointment, the magic, and even the elven blessing have all been tried, and the change is irreversible—only the secret technique of Maester Holman has had a slight effect, and he has cut off part of my soul so that I can speak to you soberly."
But this state of affairs should not last long, and I can already hear small voices buzzing in my head, blasphemous words, which, like these flesh buds and teeth, are slowly gnawing through the psychic protective barrier set up by Master Holman......"