Pale Emblem

Chapter 50
The destruction of the Tower Cave Clan and the death of the leader of the Steel Rock Clan deeply touched Bartom.

Bolang Town is nominally the border stronghold of Fallen Leaf City, but it is actually the autonomous area of ​​Ta Cave and Hemo.Bartom and his old buddies are also under the protection of the Earth Mother Temple, running an adventurer's home, accumulating amazing wealth, developing their own power, and don't have to worry about being coveted by dignitaries.

For nearly 20 years, the Adventurer's House has gotten along well with the Taku and Hemo clans.Boss Bartom thought he had established a deep friendship with the leader of the Gangyan clan.He never expected that when Braun Town was in danger of being invaded by half-orcs, Gang Yan would sacrifice the half-elves in Braun Town without hesitation, making the Adventurer's House a victim of protecting the Hemer tribe from the dangerous situation.

Bartom was resentful at the time, and his so-called friendship did not exist in the heart of the clan leader, but thinking back carefully, over the years, Gangyan has not made many embarrassing requests to the Adventurer's Home.

If it wasn't for Vertoc who insisted on staying on the back gate to watch the battle, Bartom would never have imagined that the head of the Tagu clan was not a humanoid at all, at least not the humanoid wisdom he knew.

The wind and snow covered the half-elf's vision, but it couldn't block the gaze of a fourth-level swordsman.Bartom witnessed the earth lord's inhuman appearance and his terrifying power, like a character from a fairy tale suddenly coming to reality.Only then did Bartom realize how far apart he was from Gangyan.His dissatisfaction and resentment against the patriarch of the Ta Caves disappeared.As the orc chieftain slaughtered the tyrannical Steel Rock tribe under the axe, the red lion Bartom's heart was greatly impacted.

Strangely, he should have stood on the side of Gangyan, but the earth lord is too oppressive to mortals.Seeing him mercilessly slaughtering orcs and barbarians, Bartom couldn't help feeling terrified, and the retaliation of barbarian warriors and butchers was also shocking.

The death of steel rock does not need the mercy of the hotel owner, just like a rabbit hiding in a hole is not qualified to sympathize with a seriously wounded and dying tiger.But the wolves that have withstood the enormous pressure and defeated the tiger are worthy of admiration.

Orcs and barbarians work together to defeat an opponent Bartom thought impossible, proving just what warriors can achieve with will, intelligence and strength.

Bartom's heart had already made up his mind, he clapped his hands, and said decisively: "Hey guys, it's time to go. Before you go, let's hear a few words from me... Orcs and barbarians will definitely hunt them down. Residents and adventurers who escaped from Braun Town. They dispersed and fled in advance, mainly to Jinsha Town in the west. We were the last group to evacuate, and if we still went to Jinsha Town, I am afraid that the barbarian looters will catch up. So , we can't go to the west. And the east is the lair of the orcs and barbarians, let alone ... going south is the headwind, and the nose of the orcs can smell us. I thought about it, we should go north. North There are shadow lurkers in the dark forest. A few days ago, the dragoons of the famous Golden Oaks also went to the north to hunt the shadow lurkers. Hurant and the dragoons are paving the way for us, and there should be no orcs and barbarian ambushes in the north. . If there were, they were beaten by dragoons..."

"Head, this kind of thing can be left on the road!" Max, the dark hunter, said eagerly.

Bartom ignored him, turned his eyes to Vertok, and said gently, "Vill, can you take off your mask?"

Vertok had just witnessed a great battle, and his curiosity was greatly satisfied.The pagoda clan leader transformed into the image of the lord of the earth, which seems familiar.In his mind, he vaguely recalled a giant tree that supported the sky, and every leaf was pouring golden sunlight.The tree trunk has a naturally generated platform, and he seems to be sitting on the throne of the platform. A rock elf taller than the transformed steel rock knelt in front of him on one knee, bowing his head, as if listening to something.But he couldn't remember the more detailed memory pictures.

Hearing the innkeeper's words, Vertok took off his mask without thinking.

Except for Doctor Cole and the three half-elf maids, everyone else couldn't help but marvel when they saw Vertok after the disguise.

"You are all my most trusted partners. Remember what Vertok looks like now. He will be called Victor in the future. He is a mixed blood of the tower cave and half-elf. You must not reveal his true identity." Bartom is serious. After a pause, he said to Vertok again: "Mr. Vertok, can we trust you? Can you trust us?"

The captain of the guard, York, had a bad premonition and shouted: "Head, you..."

"Shut up!" Bartom looked straight into Vertok's eyes calmly, showing heaviness and firmness.

Vertok tilted his head, thought about it, and said honestly, "Aunt Sarah trusts me, and I trust Sarah too. Does this count as trusting you?"

"Uh... well." Bartom turned to the fat cook and said sincerely: "Sarah, I want to beg you, ask Mr. Vertoc to lead, help and shelter the Adventurer's Home."

Sarah rolled her eyes, but she still said to Vertok: "Vill, if this old cat dies, I ask you to try your best to take care of the members of the Adventurer's House... Of course, it's in your favor. circumstances."

Vertok smiled and nodded: "Okay, Sarah, I will try my best."

The hotel owner was relieved and said with a smile: "Vill, I'm not a good commander."

"Well, it's really normal."

"...You're still so direct." Bartom shook his head and laughed, and then said happily: "But I have saved a huge wealth. The wealth we lost in Braun Town is only a part of it. I every three We invest the money we make in the annual meeting. We have agents in Fallen Leaf City, Rapid City, and Dragon Wing City. They secretly run plantations, shops and hotels for us. Their names and addresses are in this bag. ."

Bartom took off his sloping pocket, handed it to Vertok, and said, "You have to find one of my old buddies, Velen, who manages all the properties invested by the Adventurer's Home, and those agents also recognize him. .Vilun has both legs disabled and lives in the Red Deer Plantation on the outskirts of Uttar Pradesh City..."

The innkeeper is simply explaining his last words.Dr. Cole couldn't help grabbing his collar and growled, "Bartom, what on earth are you trying to do?"

"For a wish." Bartom pushed Cole's hands away and said lightly, "Those beasts are occupying my territory, and I should express something."

His eyes were fierce, like a furious lion.

Cole let go of his hand and said, "No need, really no need..."

Bartom walked in front of John and the others, and said in a deep voice, "Help Mr. Vertok well, and when I catch up with you, I will do the same thing."

There are more than 20 young half-elves in total. They are all half-breeds abandoned by the Hemer tribe. They are also core members of the second and third generations of the Adventurer's House. They have a father-son, grandparent-like relationship with Boss Bartom .The store clerk Pilu rubbed his eyes, choked up and said, "Boss..."

"Don't cry, I'm not trying to commit suicide. I just want to kill a few orc butchers or savage fighters!" Bartom touched the top of Piru's head, and said with relief: "I'll do this after I'm done. Find a way to escape, and then gather with you at the predetermined place."

The third-level shield guard Huck said impulsively: "Head, I'll stay and work with you!"

Bartom laughed and scolded: "You get out of my way... I could have left, but if you drag me down, we both have to die."

It was only when Vertok heard this that he suddenly realized, and asked, "Boss Bartom, do you want to kill a few enemies to vent your anger?"

Your reaction is really slow enough to be the same person as that wise and wise Vertok?

Of course Bartom wouldn't speak his mind.Such Vertok is actually the most ideal "heir".He has a pure heart, is unworldly, has no concept of good and evil, and of course has no bad intentions, and those who assist him will have room to play freely.As for whether he has leadership qualities, that is not the most important thing.The important thing is that Vertoc was born with the ability to bring people together.

"I'm old and still don't accept my old age. When I become weak, I don't admit that I'm weak." Bartom laughed at himself first, then gritted his teeth and said, "But if you don't accept it, you won't accept it, and if you don't admit it, you won't admit it! I want to try it. , can you go one step further!"

The hotel owner's vicious expression showed his determination. Vertok looked at the other party in surprise, remembered a sentence, and said, "Being able to look directly at the weakness in your heart is a manifestation of courage."

Bartom seemed to be very impressed by Vertok's evaluation. He was silent for a while, and then said: "Vill, when I was young, I took something that I shouldn't take in the dark place. It was an eye carved with golden crystal, It's as big as the palm of an adult half-elf, indestructible. I don't know what that is or what it is for? But it should be related to the February War. The Alliance dispatched four top corps to fight against the Orcs, Orcs, The barbarians and the alien orcs fought for more than two months, with countless casualties. I suspect that the tragic battle was for that thing. For the specific situation, I wrote a letter specifically, you can take it out on the road and burn it after reading it. , don't show it to others..."

Such an interesting thing, how could Vertok have the patience to wait and watch when he hits the road?
He immediately opened the bag, took out a stack of cotton paper and quickly flipped through it, then smashed it hard, and threw it into the brazier next to it.

Bartom stared and asked, "You, you, can you remember so much content?"

Vertok shrugged and said, "There are a lot of words I don't know, but I remember them all."

He didn't remember all the words in the letter, but remembering the "knowledge puzzle" means that he remembered it, and it was the kind that would not be forgotten.

Bartom was dubious.The golden crystal found in the ruins of the Dark Lands has always been a problem for him.Because of this secret, he and a few old buddies never dared to set foot in the bustling main city again.Few people know that Bartom's incognito descendants in Fallen Leaves City are actually fake, not even the fakers themselves.Bartom deliberately released a smoke bomb just to see how many people were tracking it down and suspecting himself.If the identity of the fake son's family is dug up, he can know that he is being followed.

The fact is also true, Vertoc's "sister" Lena found out that Bartom's grandson was studying at the academy in Fallen Leaf City.

If someone blackmails Bartom with counterfeit goods, they are destined to get nothing, and it can even prove that Bartom doesn't have what they want.

However, according to Bartom's understanding, those high-ranking bigwigs are ruthless characters who would rather kill mistakes than let go.Once the core members of the Adventurer's House are captured by them, they will inevitably be tortured and then killed.In the past, they were sheltered by steel rocks in Braun Town, and they were not afraid of those people coming to trouble them.

It's different now, the Tagu people died in the first battle, Braun Town fell, and the Adventurer's Home became a lost dog.If they hold tightly together, it may make some forces fear the cruel revenge of the Adventurer's House, but it will never include those big men who planned the February war.

Because of the secret of the golden crystal, the Adventurer's House now needs a strong enough protector.Bartom was determined to take his own life as a bet to attack the realm of the Venerable, but it was far from enough.It was a last resort for him to entrust the core members of the Adventurer's House to Vertoc.

As of now, there is no way to hesitate any longer.

Bartom finally warned: "I arranged for the other members of the Adventurer's House to go to Jinsha Town to gather first, but you don't want to go there, find Velen first, settle down, change your face, cover up your identity, and then find a way to gather them. Now, you guys Go over the wall! Good luck to you, and hopefully we can see you again."

"I hope goodbye."

Watching everyone use ropes to dig out of the tower and run away on the snow.The innkeeper took out the machete on his back and cut off the iron rope on the winch, so that the iron grid at the back door of the town could no longer be pulled up.

Now, the original inhabitants of the entire town of Braun are only the lonely red lion Bartom.

(End of this chapter)