Dust of History Chapter 6: Big Ear Monster

Big-eared monsters are the most common demihuman, and they can be found almost everywhere on the continent. They are about the size of a human, with green skin and generally ugly appearance, characterized by a pair of big ears behind their heads. Strictly speaking, they should also be regarded as a kind of orc. Although their intelligence is a little lower than that of humans, they also use human language. It seems that they also had their own language, and it is said that there was a country of their own in a long time ago, but then it fell apart for unknown reasons. Because they are the only race that is more or less connected with human society, people don't treat them as beasts like other orcs, only as a very low race. They usually live in the cracks of human society, petty theft is good at it, and some are engaged in various low-level jobs. Such a hostage-taking incident was unprecedented before.

Aza followed the map left by the big-eared monsters. He originally thought it would be a hidden and well-guarded lair, but he didn't expect it to be on a mountain more than ten miles outside the city of Bracada. The cottage built blatantly outside the cave is so conspicuous that it can be seen from afar.

After Asa reported his identity and intention of coming, the monsters with big ears introduced him into the cottage. There were more than a hundred monsters with big ears inside, and when they heard that Asa was here to redeem the hostages, they all jumped up and down and pointed at him from a distance. Asa noticed that this didn't seem to be a well-arranged lair, it seemed more like a temporary camp. They are all houses built one by one with wooden boards and thatch.

The big-eared monsters didn't tell the reporter how much ransom they wanted at the beginning of the kidnapping, they just asked the Duke to send someone. It seems that I didn't expect such an unexpected and valuable harvest, and I have to go back and slowly consider how much money I can get.

"Where is the person?" Asa always cared about the book, and he wanted to see Chris first to ask.

Several big-eared monsters chirped to discuss and took him to a cave.

The entrance of the cave was separated by a wooden fence, and it became a ready-made prison. Judging by the fact that there was still a lot of food left inside, the big-eared monsters didn't seem to abuse this precious captive. It's just that Chris was so frightened that she seemed haggard. When she heard that her father had sent someone to redeem her, she sat down beside the wooden fence and cried for joy. She was surprised when she saw carefully that it was Asa. "It's you?"

"What about the book?" Asa asked.

"Book? What book?" Chris's answer made him shudder.

"It's the book I lent you. It's in the library of the Academy of Magic. When you left, you said you would read it on the road."

"I've been imprisoned here for so long, and I'm afraid of dying. You didn't ask how I was when you met me, and you didn't care about me at all. Why did you ask me about my book?" Chris burst into tears.

Asa tried her best to calm down, and said in a coaxing voice as gentle as possible: "Don't worry, since I'm here, you will be fine. I'm also very happy to see that you are fine and energetic. But then This book is really important, do you remember where it is?"

"I put it in the bag and was snatched by these guys."

This sentence made Asa almost jump up. But after thinking about it, maybe the big-eared monsters would not ship the goods without checking them. If they saw this book, they might just throw it away.

"Hey, wait here, I'll get you out right away after I've discussed with them." Asa reached in and patted Chris's head to comfort her. He turned around and said to the big-eared monster behind him, "I want to see your leader." The big-eared monster grunted and led him outside.

In the middle of a temporary wooden house, there is an ornate table that is obviously stolen. A big-eared monster who looks like a leader sits upright in front of the table, as if dignified and straight. A few monsters with big ears stood behind him.

Asa asked about the book when he wanted to open his mouth, but he thought that he was here to redeem people after all, so he had to settle this matter first, so he also sat down at the table and asked, "What do you want?" How much does it cost?"

The leader of the big-eared monster grunted, as if clearing his throat, and said in the nasally thick voice unique to the big-eared monster: "You humans have always looked down on us, and you have always bullied us, belittling us as barbaric In fact, we also have a long culture... You see, we did not abuse the hostages, and we tried to hurt people as little as possible when we robbed..." His ugly face seemed to be trying to create a A diplomat's serious self-possession.

Asa said impatiently: "Speak directly, what do you want, how much ransom?"

The leader of the monster with big ears patted the table as if offended and said: "Your attitude is to despise us. Do you think we are an inferior nation? Let me tell you, now is the time for us to stand up. I won't let you humans bully me anymore." That ugly face hit the floor hard.

Asa nodded and waved his hands and said, "How much do you want?"

The leader of the big-eared monster turned his head away, made eye contact with several companions behind him, turned around and said: "Don't underestimate us, we know that she is the daughter of a duke named Mrak, we I have also sent people to investigate, and the Duke has great influence and financial resources." He first stretched out five fingers and then immediately shrunk back to one. "We want five...a thousand gold coins." His narrow eyes looked at Asa nervously.

"Okay." Asa nodded bluntly.

The leader of the big-eared monster froze for a moment, unexpectedly he agreed so simply. A big-eared monster behind him seemed to push him with his foot, and he immediately raised a finger, "No, it's two thousand gold coins."

"Okay." Asa said more cheerfully. He just wanted to negotiate the price quickly so that he could ask about the book.

Even the monsters with big ears behind the leader were shocked. This time the leader stood up without waiting for their signal, and said excitedly, "No, I was wrong, we want...five thousand gold coins."

Asa frowned. He could see these guys playing with the wind. But if he only saw a few silver coins in front of him, he might still be able to clearly distinguish the exact meaning of these coins, but once a large number beyond his experience was used, he would be completely dizzy. From his point of view, one hundred gold coins and ten thousand gold coins share a simple concept of 'a lot'. Thinking of the Duke's status, probably no money is a problem, so he nodded.

"It's decided, we want 10,000." Asa's straightforwardness inspired the leader's ambition and fighting spirit, and the lion suddenly opened his mouth.

Asa slapped the table and stood up, he was already angry. The leader immediately made a concession, raised his hands and waved, saying: "For this price, we will never increase it again, never again." He saw Asa sitting back again, and said again. "Who doesn't love their own children? Think about it, no matter what kind of animal it is, it loves its children. If something happens to my child, I will definitely save him at all costs. The Duke will definitely do the same." That's right. Compared with gold coins, of course the daughter is more important. He will definitely pay this price back."

Asa frowned and said, "Okay, that's the end of the matter. I'll get the money tomorrow, and you'll let him go." The leader's eyes lit up with excitement, and he said with great strength: "Okay .”

"By the way, there is one more thing..." Asa began to talk about his real purpose, and said lightly. "Our lady still has a book with her, I hope you can return the book to me."

"Book? I don't know where it is." The leader and the monsters with big ears behind him looked at it and shook their heads.

"That's actually useless to you guys, it's not worth much, it's just a commemorative value. It's in our lady's luggage, please find it for me." Asa carefully looked at the big-eared monsters look.

"Luggage? All the goods have already been... processed... and left." The big-eared monster seemed to be very cautious and spoke vaguely, but it confirmed what Asa was most worried about matter.

"Where is that book now?" Asa asked with the last ray of hope.

The leader suddenly became angry sensitively, slapped the table and stood up and said: "We are not trying to deceive you, don't try to get information from us." He waved to Asa. "Okay, let's go, remember to bring the money tomorrow. Otherwise, wait for your lady to collect the body."

Asa was almost driven out by those big-eared monsters. Several times, he almost wanted to punch the ugly faces of the big-eared monsters who were pushing behind him, but he endured and endured so that he didn't make a move.

Sure enough, it was the worst case, the book was indeed sent to the city of the orcs. How to get it back? Asa was so depressed that he suddenly lost his temper. He has never lost his temper like this before, and this kind of place where there is fire but not vented can make the anger circulate and rise steadily. If it wasn't for the fact that Chris was still in their hands, he promised to turn around and kill those green-skinned idiots.

The sulking continued until he returned to the town hall in Bracada. He planned to go to Master Borugan to explain the ransom.

"10,000 gold coins?" Borugan-sama was killed by this number, and immediately jumped up from the big chair, with his mouth wide open, and his big bulging eyes staring at Asa blankly.

"Is this the amount that His Excellency the Duke told you in advance? Mr. Special Envoy."

Seeing Borugan-sama's reaction, Asa realized that he seemed to have something wrong. He shook his head.

"Then do you know what 10,000 gold coins can be used for?" Borugan-sama's expression was completely blank.

Asa still shook his head. He really has no idea about this.

"One silver coin can feed a poor family for a month. Did you know that?"

Asa nodded. He also worked as a mercenary for a dozen copper coins.

"One gold coin is enough for an ordinary family to live for ten years, and five is enough for them to live for a lifetime. Ten thousand gold coins can support two thousand families for a lifetime. Two thousand families, more than ten thousand people, one generation , son.” The rest of the facial features on Lord Borugan’s face did not move, and occasionally high-spirited duck voices spit out one by one from that big mouth to let Asa understand the seriousness of the matter.

"Even if I capture all the caravans in this city and immediately confiscate all their property and goods and sell them to you, plus all the funds in the city and sell all the houses, I can get together about 10,000 yuan .Maybe, that’s all. And in fact, it’s impossible.”

Asa swallowed hard.

The two looked at each other for a few minutes, Borugan-sama first jumped from the chair to the table and said to Asa: "Mr. Special Envoy, please sit down and explain to me in detail what is going on."

After listening to Asa's narration, Lord Borugan stared at Asa and shook his head and said, "I suspect that the Duke sent the wrong person. You are really not suitable for handling these matters." Asa blushed a little.

"Those monsters with big ears seem to be used to being poor. They don't have any concept of money. How could they come up with such a price? Do they think the Duke is in charge of the treasury?" Master Borugan's broom eyebrows moved in the middle again stood up. He didn't notice that Asa's face was getting redder and redder.

"I didn't know that they actually set up their lairs in such a place~IndoMTL.com~ Huh, if it wasn't for the fact that all the troops stationed here were transferred to the south, the people in my hands would have to deal with the people in the city The big-eared monsters of thieves and other gangs, otherwise they would have been trampled to the ground. But it seems that they should be doing kidnapping for the first time, so they are so reckless. It is impossible to really pay them. Maybe we can think about using our own method..."

Asa didn't listen to his words too seriously, he was always in a state of anger and shame. This is an emotion he has never experienced in his life

, he himself always does what he wants, if he can't do it, he will do it harder, if he can't do it with strength, he will force him to do it, as direct as an animal. He has never lacked fighting spirit, perseverance and wit, but he has no experience in dealing with this kind of thing, let alone the ability to deal with his own complicated emotions. But in such a trance, Mr. Borugan's words suddenly hooked his thoughts, and when he thought about it in this direction, his feeling suddenly became clear.

That's it, it's overdue. Once he had a direction, the anger that was still swirling in his head turned into fighting spirit and strength. He raised his head and said to Lord Borugan, "Don't worry, I know what to do." He stood up, turned his head and walked out.

"Hey, hey, wait a minute..." Lord Borugan chased after him for a few steps, but he disappeared as soon as he got out of the city hall.