Summoning the Holy Sword

Rhodes felt that he hadn't done anything in the past two days, so he was specifically a guide.

In the face of Li's request, Rhodes should not have agreed, but he didn't know what kind of psychology, and after a moment of thinking, he nodded and agreed. Then the two secretly slipped out of the palace and set off for Daxter. Rhodes did not take Dr. Rank and others to visit there before, because Dr. Rank and others are mostly adults, it is already commonplace for such things, and showing them will not change. But for a child like Li, the situation is completely different. However, for the sake of insurance, Rhodes brought another person with him.

"Head, where are we going? Who is this girl?"

Anne, who was rescued by Rhodes from Marin's "ceremonial hell" quietly, was staring curiously at the girl following Rhodes. The young girl now did not conceal her curiosity and excitement, which is no wonder Marlene ’s etiquette education is not acceptable to ordinary people. The rigorous surname of her even required the etiquette to be accurate to centimeters. This is why Rhodes did n’t turn his head immediately after seeing Li Jie and Annie ’s suffering. The reason for the excuse to go back is to slip away. In the game, the player salutes the npc. It is more of a sense of incorporation and pretending to be cold and noble. Who would be bored and really learn what aristocratic etiquette is? Of course, you have to say that it is like the Dark Brotherhood With the help of precise gestures, you can get something in secret ......... that's another thing ...

And Anne ’s experience is even more pitiful. I ’m afraid that Marin has long seen that it ’s impossible to learn noble etiquette with her lively jumping surname, so she simply gave her a duck-filled education and asked her to do it today. A thousand times of seeing etiquette practice! According to Marin's idea, since you can't remember it in your mind, let the body instinctively remember it!

Annie is miserable. I can imagine how painful this girl who has always been in the face of thousands of complicated etiquette training, so when Rhode came to her, Annie was as if she was dying from the concentration camp. Escaped in general, he almost regarded Rhodes as his own salvation benefactor, and Ded regarded it.

"Her name is Li, who is from here. This young lady wants to visit the poor people's places, so I will call you to protect her. I think you should know how to do it, Annie."

"What kind of place?"

Although Annie couldn't understand the meaning of "slums", Rhode's concise words made her quickly understand the meaning. For the mercenaries, most of them lived at the lowest level, and there were no fewer people in the slum Dealt with. Thinking of this, Rhodes shook his head slightly, thinking carefully, as if he had never seen such an innocent young lady who did not know the suffering in the world. Rabis, Annie and Li Jie were all mercenaries, so they knew it well. Not to mention Christie, if you talk about the dark side of the world, she may be deeper than anyone else, but even so she can still maintain a good family name, which shows that the girl is strong. And a rich lady like Clark, who was once abducted by pagans, also tasted the warmth and coldness of the world and began to change. But Li in front of them is different from them. If you want to make an analogy, then Rhodes feels that this girl is like a flower cultivated in a sterile greenhouse, surrounded by glass walls and comfortable temperatures, and fertile soil. She has lived in a very comfortable environment since she was a child. She has not experienced the invasion of dry and barren soil, cold wind, hot sun, and torrential rain. For a girl, it all seems completely in her world. does not exist. What's more terrible is that she doesn't think these things exist in this world.

Hearing Rhode's words, Annie widened her eyes and looked at the girl beside her.

"What kind of place are you going to do? It's very dangerous there. A cute girl like you might be taken away and sold in a blink of an eye."

"Hey?"

Upon hearing Annie's words, the girl's complexion turned pale, but she took up the courage, raised her head, and looked at Annie with a trembling voice.

"But ... Miss Anne, don't you ..."

"Ah, just call Annie Anne. Don't call it Miss. Anne hears the word Miss and feels itchy and uncomfortable."

"... Ah, sorry, but Annie, don't you ... would you go there?"

"That's right."

Upon shrieking, Annie shrugged.

"Annie was in the former mercenary regiment, but did n’t go to the kind of place with the regimental commander. It was dirty, messy, and messy, and there were many people who wanted to take Annie away. It's Annie's opponent. Annie waved like that, and those guys were scared away! Hahaha, it's really interesting. "

"but…………"

Li frowned at hearing Anne's words, and seemed a little dissatisfied.

"Those people are very poor ..."

"Of course Annie knows that they are poor, but what is their relationship between poor and pitiful? They want to come to Annie, but they are wrong!"

"....................."

Looking at Annie, who was waving her fists right behind, and opened her mouth, and looked at her Li dumbly, Rhode couldn't help laughing in his heart ... The pair looked really right. In a way, Annie is actually a child, but she is a child who has seen more of the world. Annie is different from everyone else. The average person will change more or less after experiencing so many things that Annie faces. The old regiment who raised her died, and the original mercenary regiment was torn apart to fight for power, and Anne, the adopted daughter of the old regiment, was also involved. If the average person encounters such a situation, it will change more or less. But Annie is different. She chose to leave very decisively, but this is not because of sacrificing herself to maintain the stability and solidarity of the mercenary group, but simply because she does not like the current atmosphere of competition for power in the mercenary group. Because of this, Annie always makes choices based on her mood, and basically does not think about what others are thinking and how others think of her. From this point, Annie is indeed still a child.

Because of this, Rhodes chose to bring her.

Marilyn is a theory school, Li Jie is a soft school, but their truth is not understandable to a child like Li. Rhodes knows this very well. Everyone has grown up from the child's stage. If you think about it, you will know that most children rarely listen to what adults say when they are young. They are more like what they like and do n’t like. To define the tone of one thing. Children like Li naturally do the same. Although taking Marilyn and Li Jielai can take good care of Li as well, after all, the differences between the two sides are too great, and Annie—speaking of awkward words, the two people's thinking circuit is quite consistent from a certain point of view.

Daxter.

As yesterday, Rhodes and the other three walked on the street without attracting much attention. This is where the civilians live. The crowds on the street are either busy working or buying and selling. No one is too busy. Follow them. Only Rhode's "beauty" and Annie's pretty and beautiful figure and the huge Adamantite shield behind her attracted the attention of some people, but they turned around and looked around curiously when passing by, and soon Go back and continue your business.

Only Li, this little girl leaned next to Li Jie, wrapped herself in a white cloak, and looked around curiously. Rhodes even saw a little disapproved expression from the girl's face. It was obvious that This scene is too much worse than what Rhodes said, but Rhodes doesn't care about it. Of course, he knows why he chose this place. As the saying goes, no one knows you better than your enemies. Rhodes leads the player and the kingdom of light to death in the game. There are several bricks on the streets of Casablanca. Chu, of course he knows what to do so that the flowers in this greenhouse can be hit the most.

"right here."

Crossing the corner, Rhode stopped and turned to speak to Li behind him.

"Here?"

Upon hearing Rhode's words, a little dissatisfaction and curiosity flashed across the girl's face, she walked across the street corner, and looked forward doubtfully-then, the girl stood still.

Different from the white, tidy and clean streets that everyone passed by before, what is displayed in front of them at this moment is a dark, muddy slope, rows of dilapidated and humble, houses made of straw and wood at random. In this way, the rows extend down the slope. There is no smooth road on the ground. Only the black snow and muddy mud ponds have been trampled on. From time to time, you can see some people wearing tattered clothes or even covering themselves So standing shivering in the cold wind, they curled up in the corner, staring blankly at the sky.

"Here, here is ..............."

Looking at the scene in front of her, Li grows her mouth, but she can't even speak half a sentence. She stepped back subconsciously, looking at the other side of the street, where the flat, clean and tidy roads, the scattered houses, looked unusually bright under the sun. But right here, it's just a turn, but the world has completely changed into another look, light and shadow, just one step away.

"This, how, how could it be ........."

The girl stood still. She couldn't accept that it was not just the tragic scene in front of her, but also the attitude of the crowd in front of her. On the other side of the street, people live their lives, they are calm, happy and busy. Everyone walked on the street, but turned a blind eye to this dark area that was only separated by a wall, as if Rhode had seen nothing but an illusion. Not only that, it can be clearly seen that no one is willing to approach this place, and they will not even look at it as if it were a dark, dirty and evil place.

"Well, Li, this is just the beginning, and then the dinner is next, Annie, protect her."

"Understand, head!"

Hearing Rhode's words, Annie nodded quickly, and then she took the Adamantite shield behind her, only to hear the sound of the machine, and soon she saw countless sharp barbs flying from the sides of Adamantite shield, and Annie Holding the heavy gold shield in one hand, he blinked at Li.

"Well, come on, Annie will protect you, don't leave Annie?"

"Yes, is this necessary?"

Seeing Annie's movement, Li could not help but startled. She looked at those who were curled up in the dark corner, her eyes filled with sympathy and pain.

"He, they are just a group of poor people, there is no need ..."

"Hateful people must have pity, Li, not only those with horrible flesh and cruel looks are bad guys. Do you know why people there don't want to be near here, or even look at it here?"

Having said that, Rhode reached out and pointed to the happy and peaceful street not far behind them.

"why?"

"Because this is a gathering place for thieves, robbers and reporters."

Rhode lifted his head and narrowed his eyes to the place in front of him, his tone filled with indifference.

"Thieves will steal their belongings when they are not at home, and at night, robbers with sharp weapons will mingle in the shadow of the street and rob them. And those greased girls will stand on the street and seduce each A man they can see, for the residents there, it ’s not a poor man living here, but a group of criminals. You can ask if they can, even this place and the people living here Disappear completely. "

"but……………"

Li frowned when he heard Rhode's words, and looked dissatisfied.

"Mr. Rhodes, you said that these are all poor people. They are also residents here. Why can't those people help them ..."

"help?"

Hearing Li's inquiry, Rhode sneered softly. Then he raised his chin and pointed forward.

"Do you know how many people are here? Li? Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands? How can I help them? Don't forget, the people behind us who live in clean and tidy houses are just ordinary people. It ’s just that they do n’t have the power of nobles or the wealth of businessmen. They are just trying to be able to work. It ’s already hard to feed themselves and their families. Where do you think they have extra energy to care about these and their non-pro Unexplainable guys who also rob and steal their wealth? "

"But the council did not do it ..."

Rhode didn't finish listening to Li's words, he just waved his hand and walked towards it. And seeing Rhode walk away, Li had to close her mouth, followed closely behind him, and walked into this dark, corridor-like passage leading to hell.

The mud under the feet made an ugly noise under the trample of expensive buckskin leather boots. Although it's winter, you can smell the stench from all directions. In this dark environment full of ugliness and death, the well-dressed Rhodes and others naturally attracted everyone's attention. Although they are all wearing cloaks, covering the expensive clothes inside, but only the exquisitely made capes and coats are enough to attract the attention of everyone here.

The more you go inside, the more Rhodes and others can feel the unsightly gaze more and more, but the deterrent power of the pure gold heavy shield wielding in Annie's hand is very obvious. Almost all people with bad intentions, just see The heavy gold shield in Anne's hand would immediately dispel her ghost idea.

Li looked solemnly at the scene in front of her. Rhode did not intend to cover her mouth and nose, but let the girl stare at everything in front of her.

In the dark street, the drunk man who was drunk and shouted, and soon a few hooligan rushed over to knock him to the ground, and there was a scream and a scream, watching Li frown Head, but people around it seemed to be commonplace in the end. In the end, the drunk man was pressed to the ground, and then saw a hooligan picking up a stone from the side and hitting his head heavily.

"boom!!"

The heavy collision sounded, and the drunk twitched, and there was no more sound. Not far beside him, an exposed woman was being hovered by a man who was purring and snoring happily. When the drunk fell down, they didn't even look at the bad mold, but Still mingled with each other, enjoying a brief joy. The hooligans sneered and ran out of everything on the drunk man. In the end, even his dirty coat was snatched away, leaving only a naked body lying on the muddy little one. In the alley. Seeing this scene, Li could not help screaming.

"Mr. Rhodes, they, they killed!"

"I see it."

Hearing Li's shout, Rhodes glanced there, then looked away. Seeing his performance, Li looked even more anxious.

"Hurry up, call the City Guard, those killers ......... they ..."

"The City Guards won't manage it. They never come here."

Rhode took his eyes off and went on.

"For them, the people here are better off killing each other.

"how come…………………"

Li looked down in depression, staring silently at the ground near her feet, and at this moment, suddenly, a dirty child ran over and he came to the side of Rhodes and others, exposing Smiled. Then he reached out his dirty, soiled little hand.

"Dear Master, please give us some money. I ca n’t even have enough food for the poor. I beg you, as long as you have one silver coin, I can live. Good Master ..."

"Ah, please wait."

Hearing the child's words, Li hurriedly reached out, took out a purse from her arms, and untied it, and when she reached out to pay for the money, suddenly, the little child looked pale and had nothing at all. The left hand didn't know when a dagger was added, and then he rushed towards Li!

"Get away!"

At this moment, Annie yelled, and then the girl waved the heavy gold shield in her hand, blocking Li in front of her, and drove the child out of the air, only to see the ragged ghost on the ground. It stopped after a few rolls, but he quickly got up again, staring fiercely at Annie. But in the face of his gaze, Annie was obviously not afraid, and she met the opponent's vicious eyes without fear, and at the same time wielded the heavy gold shield in her hands.

"Under Annie's protection, don't try to make a bad idea, and if you don't leave, be careful that Annie will smash you into meat sauce!"

"Cut, **** !!!"

Hearing Annie's answer, the little boy took a sip of breath and disappeared into the dark alley.

"He He……………"

Li stared blankly at the scene in front of her, and couldn't believe her eyes anyway. When the boy brought out the dagger just now, the girl was really frightened. He looked even smaller than himself, but when he waved his dagger and rushed at himself, Li even felt that he was not human at all, and It's a ferocious beast! !! If it wasn't for Annie flying the other party in time ... "Why did he ... I promised to give him money ..."

Looking at the back of the boy who had disappeared, Li couldn't understand. Annie, who stood next to her, frowned.

"You are so stupid, he didn't plan to ask for money at all. Annie has seen it many times. This group of people borrowed money for the reason that they would take out the money bag and then you could take the opportunity to rob! You give What's the use of one or two of his gold coins? They don't want to stay in this ghost place after spending all their money? Only a large sum of money can make them leave here. Hmm, but those little ghosts are stupid, even if he Really grabbed your money, Annie can also guarantee that he can not live for two hours, so many people watch, without Annie's protection, he can leave this ghost place safely and blessedly. "

"....................."

I don't know why, when Anne said "Blessed by the Holy Spirit", Li's complexion became extremely complicated. She opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but in the end, Li closed her mouth.

The crowd continued to move forward, but this dark ramp seemed to never end. The more you walked inside, the more ugly Li looked. The original pale face because of the cold was almost incomparable. Almost leaning on Annie's side, if it wasn't for Anne's help, the girl would be paralyzed to the ground.

Rhode stopped, this is a small square, also a market in this slum. Here you can see the humble street vendors and many poorly-dressed poor people. They gathered around this open space, staring at each other. Looking at Rhodes and others in front of them, they could see hostility, hatred, disdain and panic. Rhodes can understand that, after all, no aristocracy came from this place.

"Mr. Rhode, are they ...?"

Looking at the scene in front of her, Li's expression has become bewildered. She stared at all this in front of her.

"They are losers, losers abandoned by this society. I think you can see, Li, many of them do not belong here. In order to live a better life, they left their hometown and came to Casablanca. , Trying to expand their new life here, but they failed. They couldn't find a job, and no one would hire them. They were abandoned by the city, and they could only gather here like this, and live one day. One day said. "

"So why don't they leave?"

"go away?"

This time, it wasn't Rhode who answered Li, but an old man sitting not far from them. He heard Li's inquiry, the old man sneered, looked up, and looked at the girl in front of him.

"Do you think we don't want to leave? Miss? But how do we leave here? Do you know how long it took us to come to this city? Some people sold all their belongings, some people waded through the mountains and they gave up Everything came to this city in order to live the life they dreamed of. But Casablanca, raised by this bitch, is a demon who eats no bones! ''

Talking, the old man reached out and shivered at himself.

"Look at me. My leg was broken. After that, no one wants me, and my home is gone. Those consortia and politicians are connected and take away everything from me! I really hate my stupidity How did you believe this was a great and beautiful city? Ha, listen to what those politicians say? Casablanca is a beautiful paradise that humans have seized from the dragon soul of light and built by humans themselves! Here Everyone is welcomed equally and freely! This is a lie at all! Those politicians don't care about our interests at all, they just do it for themselves! "

Saying here, the old man smiled bitterly.

"I remember that before, a politician also came here specifically and brought out a few people. He claimed to be a companion of the poor, and he would help us escape from poverty! But then? After the election, those people seemed like garbage. I was thrown back here again! The bitch-born politician had no intention of caring about our lives at all, he just used us as his bargaining chip and showed his kindness and love to those voters! After his election success , Our garbage is useless. Anyway, no matter those politicians, nobles, or other people, they will not care about us, and do not care about our life and death !!! "

Having said that, the old man gave a violent cough, then he spit out the black blood, raised his head, looked at the girl in front of him, and waved his hands weakly.

"Let ’s go, ma'am, this is not the place for those of you. As the person around you said, we are all losers, haha, we have no value here. Although the Council of Light claims to help We, but they are just a bunch of liars. Every day, those politicians are busy clamoring for the big bosses, big chambers of commerce, how could they care about us? We ca n’t bring them votes or make them famous. And status. "

"But shouldn't the Light Council protect everyone? For everyone's equality, freedom and happiness ..."

"Hahaha, to this day, only a child like you will believe this kind of crap."

The old man laughed and interrupted Li's question.

"They only do it for themselves, and apart from that, they don't care about anyone. As long as they have power, status, and wealth, how can they care about those things?"

Having said that, the old man bowed his head.

"Let ’s go, miss, this is not your place, nor is it our place. We are here, after all, just outsiders ... and not the host here, nor can we turn to be the host. Oh, not only We, look at the distance, elves, dwarves, no race will like this city, this country. "

"......... Thank you, Grandpa."

Hearing the old man's words, Li said a moment of silence, then she reached out and took out a few gold coins.

"This ......... please take it ........."

"I don't want anything like these."

Looking at the gold coins in the girl's hands, the old man smiled and waved.

"Here, money is the source of all evils. I am old, and I dare not take the money you gave me. Maybe when you leave, I ca n’t even see the moon tonight. You can go ... ... "

When Rhodes and others returned to the palace, it was already dusk. After leaving Daxter, Li had always looked blank, and now her eyes were as if dipped in black ink, losing her original brilliance and becoming dim and dim.

"Today ... Thank you, Mr. Rhodes."

Standing in the garden, where the two first met, Li had lost her previous agitation at this moment. Looking at the girl's appearance, she knew that she had suffered a heavy blow.

"I never knew ...... there would be these people. I always thought that the Council of Light exists for the happiness and freedom of all people. Everything they do is for the people of this country to do it. It ’s better, because only humans can change human beings ......... I always think so, because light is only light, so I can only watch quietly, and the light shines on everyone , Will not change because of the nature of each other ......... So, quietly watching, waiting ......... their own decision. "

Having said that, Li looked down.

"But now ... I think ......... Is this really true? Mr. Rhodes?"

"This is not a question I can answer."

Upon hearing Li's inquiries, Rhodes shrugged his shoulders, then he looked up and looked to the sky.

"But I can tell you a story, Li, a story of the north wind and the sun."

"North wind and sun?"

At this, Li looked up curiously at Rhodes, and Rhodes nodded.

"The north wind and the sun are going to be more powerful than they try. To this end, they have selected a traveler who can make the traveler take off his cloak successfully, even if it wins. The north wind blows strongly, but the traveler Under the violent wind, the cape was not taken off, but the package was tightened. Then the sun did not say much, but shone the traveler warmly with his own sunlight. Before long, the traveler He took off his cloak because of the sultry ... "

Speaking of which, Rhodes shrugged.

"That is to say, if the north wind continues to blow and the sun never appears, then the traveler will not take off his cloak."

"………………………… Thank you, Mr. Rhodes."

Hearing Rhode's words, Li's complex expression appeared on her face, she was silent for a moment, then nodded to Rhode.

"Today ... I learned a lot of things that no one had taught me before, thank you very much ... then, I'm leaving."

After saying this, the girl turned her head. Soon, her petite figure disappeared deep in the bushes in the garden, and watching the girl's back disappeared, Rhodes slightly raised his lips and whispered. Replied.

"…………you are welcome."

Talking, Rhodes turned around and looked at Casablanca again.

In the setting sun, the bright red light shines on this white city, covering it with a bright red, like a flame swallowed by flames. Looking at the scene in front of him, Rhodes narrowed his eyes, a few cold smiles flashed in his eyes.

"... Since it is all being exploited, it is still being exploited by me, Your Majesty."

Then he mumbled to himself.

(To be continued)