Stray

    In that small war, they had no time to really look around. Now that the smoke has cleared, there is only a slightly sultry ordinary night. Crickets chirped in the grass, and flying insects slammed into the glass shades of oil lamps. Small puddles of puddles filled the damaged streets as the massive ice melted, and the smell of wet straw and mud overshadowed the burning smell of dusk.

    Like where they are now.

    "Why?" Oliver was stunned for a moment, his eyes stopped on Adrian's pale face.

    "I know about the plan of the group." Ann's tone was a little stiff, "Some people decided to stay here, for safety - you know, to prevent us from leaking - will Rebuild the town in a slightly different place. And the other part decides to leave...to never love each other." She gave a wry smile.

    " But I have to say, it's better than both sides. The brat who started the war probably brought down his father by means of means. Now the mayor is awake, and the kid is locked up Get up—they're probably discussing future arrangements at the moment." She turned her gaze to the brightly lit buildings not far away.

    "But no matter what the outcome, Vincent Town will cease to exist." Nemo couldn't tell how he was feeling at this time.

    "Yes, that's what I'm going to say." An said calmly, "In order to protect his 'human identity', no one will tell the truth. After all, neither side believes in prophecy, you guys It's still just an outsider who has stepped in. Since the two of you have returned safely, it seems that the attitude of the blue bird is not bad, but..."

    "Not everyone will like the 'truth'. There will definitely be some people who think that way, and these people are most likely to leave. After the information comes out... Sigh." The female warrior was rarely shaken a few seconds. "Oliver, Nemo, although we haven't known each other for a long time, you are...all good young people. If you continue like this, I don't know if you can maintain your current state of mind."

    And they are just too powerful. Ann Savage couldn't say these words. She has been in this industry for nearly twenty years, and she knows what they will encounter. They were different from her, she could see it. These two must have grown up in sound and warm love, but human nature has never been able to withstand too many tests.

    That simple and pure kindness, if it hits a wall again and again, there will always be times of disappointment and anger-because even if you make the most perfect choice, it may not be a fairy tale satisfaction ending. The world is so much crazier than what they are exposed to, maybe they can hold on, maybe not. She admired them very much, and if they were just two ordinary young men, Ann Savage wouldn't mind continuing to lead them forward.

    But their power is too dangerous.

    Good people in utter despair are sometimes far more terrifying than bad people. They know the pain of being hurt, and they know how to attack the vitals of others.

    "Of course, there's no real disbandment...you have no ambitions, do you? This is a good opportunity for you to find a peaceful place to settle in Willard. Black Chapter missions at least once a month , I will help you find the easiest one, and you won't have much problem with your strength." An said in a breath, she stared at the flying insects on the lampshade, without looking into the eyes of the two. "The rest of the time you can live as normal - as long as you show this attitude, the mercenary guild will not be watching you any more. The danger level will not increase, and the task will not become more difficult. Think about it, Oliver."

    She didn't want to see them sink.

    "…Ann." Oliver looked her in the eye, "I know what you're worried about."

    Nimo turned his head - while the other's attention was on the female warrior, he quietly looked at Oliver.

    Oliver dragged him forward in the night forest, as if it was just yesterday, or too long ago. They had nothing then, no destination, no direction, no plan for how to live tomorrow. They were equally panicked at the time, completely unable to imagine what was waiting for them - and then they met Ann. Although their first encounter was not a pleasant one, without her, they might have been killed by other bounty hunters, or rotted in prison.

    As of now, he doesn't think Ann is afraid of the trouble they bring. Nemo had seen the look in her eyes, and old Patrick had the same expression when he watched those talented children leave with the mercenary group.

    Women are seriously worried about them.

    "I admit, I can't do it completely and don't care. But personally, I didn't do it to get their thanks." Oliver scratched his head, his tone was careful and solemn. "I'm sure Nemo is the same. It's a little uncomfortable, but it's not disappointing."

    He stroked the rough hilt of the bone sword with one hand: "At least we've changed something, haven't we? We really have no reason to move on, but if we're not here, even if we hear this matter-"

    "It will also be a simple 'human resistance to monsters' story." Nemo took over, "It's very ordinary, not even worth mentioning, but now we know that's not the case."

    The world is crazier than they thought, but also gentler than they thought.

    "I don't know if I'm making the right decision today, and I don't know if I've been doing it right all the time." Oliver gave Nemo a soft look, "But if I just stayed put, I might Never figure it out. I want to go on, Ann."

    "It makes no difference to me." Nemo shrugged and looked away. "...Just don't leave me alone, it's too tiring to meet strangers."

    "...Okay." An closed his eyes as if determined, and let out a long sigh of relief. "It's just a suggestion, the head of the team is you."

    "Thank you," Oliver said softly.

    Nemo was subconsciously relieved, then surprised by his own reaction. It stands to reason that he should settle down sooner than anyone else. But in the battle at dusk, the moment when the space is split. The trust and cooperation of the other party, as well as the instant relaxation and freedom - that feeling made his hair stand on end. The attitude of the townspeople of Vincent Town, and the attitude of Grace Blue Bird, all became irrelevant at that moment.

    He is like someone who has tasted honey once, and can no longer survive in the same bitter taste.

    "If we do at least one mission every month, then our mission this month has failed... Do we have to find another one?" Nemo suppressed those messy thoughts and asked very realistically .

    "Well, let's get out of here first." Oliver nodded, "Nemo, can you treat Adrian? If we can, we'll leave tonight."

    "I'll pick a mission this time." An was immediately alert.

    Nemo coughs a few times. He stretched out his right hand, palm close to the sleeping knight commander. Dark shadows dripped like liquid around his fingers, but they didn't successfully heal Adrian Cross's wounds, or even the opposite - the skin under the shadows hissed badly, and the wounds even festered. . Nemo withdrew the shadow almost immediately, the boiling shadow sliding suspiciously between his fingers.

    "That won't do." Jesse reappeared like a gummy candy that couldn't be shaken off. He was half-squatted on the top of the half-broken wall, carrying a bulging cloth bag, and the grey parrot was resting on his shoulders. "The nature of your power is just the opposite, dear Mr. Wright, and your treatment will only kill him."

    Nimo raised his head and squinted at the grey parrot, who turned his head away a little guiltily.

    Jesse jumped off the wall neatly, took out a sheet of paper with the magic circle drawn, and set it on fire directly above Adrian's chest. Under the soft white light, the knight commander's breathing became more even. There was still some cold sweat on his forehead, but he finally slowly opened his eyes.

    “…that’s what it takes,” he concluded.

    "Mr. Dylan, I thought our cooperation was over." Oliver glanced at the outline of the bag, "It seems that your mission was also successful, congratulations."

    Jessie looked at him with a grin and raised one eyebrow.

    Oliver sighed: "You really helped us a lot, but our mission has failed. I think we've cleared up now—"

    "Really?" Jesse said, while Adrian struggled to sit up, clenching his brows. "Have you confirmed your mission?"

    "The matter has come to this point," Oliver called out the task screen with one hand, "I don't think Mr. Delaney...will..." His voice hesitated.

    Their mission is marked with a completion logo.

    "You can confirm with the client tomorrow morning." Jesse Dillon put down the bag in his hand and gently placed the grey parrot on the sofa. He bowed his head, shimmering blond hair falling down his cheeks. "Let me re-introduce myself. Jesse Dillon. Liar, burglar, robber, wandering fortune teller. You can pick a word you like to locate."

    "...Okay." Oliver wiped his face and answered dryly. "We really wouldn't be able to get the job done without you. Now let's open up and say, what do you want?"

    "Anything is okay?" Jesse asked expectantly, swept around the group of people with an unrighteous look.

    "You can't take people away." Maybe the other party's gaze was too explicit, Oliver couldn't help but add a sentence. "...physical contact, too."

    "It's stingy, then I can only take a step back." Jesse pouted, "Let me join you."

    "Okay... no, what did you say?"

    "Change team, change mood." Jesse moved his shoulders, "How hard I work! And you see, we've had a great time working together, haven't we? If I don't obey, you You can kick me out of the team anytime - what a bargain! You wouldn't kick me out the next second, you don't seem like a shameless person... would you?"

    “…Another request.” Oliver turned his face away.

    "I don't want to change."

    "Either I'll put it another way, we've heard it from Paso Tallo." Oliver raised his voice so Ann and Adrian could hear. "You are a powerful fortune teller, or a prophet. I believe you have your purpose... and we do not welcome people with ulterior motives."

    "Even if I'm willing to give clues?"

    "What clue?"

    "Don't you want to know the origin of Mr. Wright? I can do a divination for you." Jesse adjusted the intricately embroidered collar. "If there is no progress, when you kick me out, I promise not to disturb you again. And you see, I definitely can't beat the four of you."

    Oliver glanced at Nemo with a shaken expression. Nemo hurriedly shook his head, making a frantic gesture of rejection.

     "Besides, even if you don't agree, I can always follow you." The blond young man took the opportunity to add maliciously.

     Nemo's movements froze.

    "Wait a minute." Adrian spoke for the first time tonight, his voice still a little weak. "Mr. Ramon, the Nightmare Praise was destroyed by Mr. Dylan. He is most likely related to the Rudd Cult." He sat up straighter, not trying to avoid Jesse Dylan, who was present. "I have an unkind request - I need to find out his origins, if you don't intend to agree, I apply to leave the team temporarily."

    He lowered his head: "I've caused you trouble shortly after joining, I'm very sorry."

    "You are no longer the Knight Commander of Judgement."

    "But if he is really related to the Holy See and uses that power to do evil, then he is my responsibility."

    "You said it very well." Jesse said affectionately, in a very ambiguous tone. "Please be responsible to me."

    Adrian looked away, his face still firm, but a little green.

    "Or let Dylan join for a while, I think he's going to lie down and roll." Nemo whispered, "It's a big deal to tie him to the sheep. He's a fortune teller, always He won't go with us on a mortal mission, but at least he can be a weathervane - so that Mr. Cross doesn't need to leave the team."

    Although it's not known exactly what the peculiar and dangerous person is looking for in them, Nemo is confident in the boring life that is about to unfold for their team. After suffering two big losses, they will never go to suspiciously overdone missions again, and Jesse Dylan may soon tire of them.

    “…you know I can hear you, right? How can you!”

    "Okay." Oliver still stared at the completion sign at the back of the task, "I have no problem, Ann, what do you think?"

    "Can't we kill him?" The female warrior took a deep breath and touched the spear.

    "...can't."

    "Then I have no other suggestion."

    "Thank you, Mr. Ramon. I will monitor him during this time." Adrian stood up a little swaying, and performed a standard church ceremony seriously. And the grey parrot happily flew off the back of the sofa and happily landed on the shoulders of the blond young man, as if that was the object of its contract.

    "Then I have some personal business to deal with. I'll go first, sweethearts, see you tomorrow—" He took the grey parrot off again and put it politely back on the sofa. "It needs some privacy."

    He raised his index finger and made a silent gesture to the grey parrot.

    To be honest, none of them felt real about Oliver's decision - including Oliver himself. The air became dull and oppressive, and the lightheartedness of the event's ending was swept away. Since Adrian was still a little weak, after a brief exchange of information, several people fell asleep in the rubble.

    At four o'clock in the morning, the last light in Vincennes also went out.

    Jesse Dillon carried the bag of bones and stepped into the Holy Land of the Blue Bird humming a little tune. At this moment, the tree bird in the center of the Holy Land was long gone, and the pearl-colored powder quietly gathered into a pile.

    The blond young man opened the mouth of the bag and dumped the corpse in the bag back into the pile of bones. The quest scroll unfolded in the air, and he signed a random name—unlike when Oliver checked it, the client's name twisted like a worm for a moment, turning into the words "Jesse Dillon".

    He completed his commission.

    "Not only have to pay taxes, but also share." He shook his head, "Oh, it's just charity for the mercenary guild."

    No one responded to him. He walked to the pile of snow-white dust, reached out and squeezed a handful, letting them slide down between his fingers.

    The last time between Jesse Dylan and Lavinia was very short, he only planned to put the book down and asked the other party to take a good look - she still stopped him.

    "You're really helping us, Mr. Dylan."

    "Yeah, didn't I say it sooner? You're going too far."

    "Divination and prophecy come at a great price, why do you..."

    "There is no such thing as prophecy, darling. It is calculated after countless details, just the most likely result. You do not know the 'future', but The price of getting 'enough intelligence to predict outcomes' is nothing but intelligence fees. In other words, as long as enough unreasonable variables occur, predictions can of course be overturned."

    "You didn't answer my question directly - you don't seem to have paid any price for the prophecy."

    "It's interesting, I just answered the same question for a person before - why should I ask others for something I already have in my hand? No need to ask, naturally there is no transaction. "

    "Did you..."

    He didn't answer at that time, but he thought she should know the answer to that question.

    "Are you satisfied now?" the blond young man said casually to the dust, "Look, even you... have a moment of resentment for your beloved belief."

    He paused for a moment and gave a not very sincere smile. "That's right, that's normal. Isn't it? Why wouldn't Adrian Cross do this?"

    "I hate that," he concluded.

    (m..=)