Chapter 1730 The Duke of the North

The inside of the lord's castle is simpler than expected - this huge fortress seems to be built so tall and heavy just to serve as a military bunker. Only when you walk inside will you know that in addition to the Dragon Empire hanging inside, There is almost no extra decoration except for the emblem and some decorative swords full of fighting spirit.

Hao Ren and Charlemagne, led by Cam, walked along the corridor of the castle to the room where Archduke Owen was. The slightly gloomy corridor echoed with the sound of everyone's footsteps. Only one side of the corridor has windows open, and the skylight shines in through the high and narrow window slits, falling on the decorative shield on the wall on the other side, and casting a hazy halo of dust on the surface of the latter. Flying in the halo, like light smoke.

The guards and maids along the way bowed respectfully in front of this special "visitor team" and retreated to both sides of the corridor. It could be seen from their unconcealed expressions of panic that although Archduke Owen had already woken up, The situation is definitely not good.

At the door of the Grand Duke's room, an old man wearing a white robe with blue edges just opened the door and walked out.

Cam stepped forward and nodded to the old man: "Sister Holman, I have brought the distinguished guests named by the Grand Duke."

The old man known as Bachelor Holman 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 have never heard that there are so many people - the situation of the Grand Duke is very bad. , meeting so many people at one time..."

"The Grand Duke named them to see them," Kaim emphasized again, "Bachelor, as far as I know, you are only responsible for treating the Grand Duke's injuries, not selecting the guests he wants to receive."

Bachelor Holman straightened his back and said with great enthusiasm: "Reducing visitors is also a part of restoring health!"

As a result, as soon as he finished speaking, he heard an even more powerful voice coming from the room: "Holman! I'm just a little injured, far from dead! Let the guests in - don't block them The door!"

Bachelor Holman's face trembled slightly, he exhaled in frustration, and silently stepped aside: "You go in - try to stay quiet."

Archduke Owen was lying on the big oak bed in the center of the room, looking with sharp eyes at the six people who walked into the room - the four Hao Rens, plus the two Charlemagne brothers and sisters. He was an old man with a strong physique that made people doubt whether he had barbarian ancestry. His thick beard and hair were very characteristic of the north. Even though he was lying on the bed after being seriously injured, his huge figure that could not be covered by the quilt still had full courage.

Sunlight poured into the room through the bedroom window. This sunshine should have brightened the room, but for some reason, Hao Ren's first feeling after entering the room was darkness - darkness was everywhere, and everything in the room seemed to be covered in darkness. There is a thin layer of shadow, and even where the sun is shining directly, the floor appears to be blocked by something, showing a dull and decaying color.

There was another person in the room, a silver-haired woman wearing a white dress with an expressionless face. She was standing next to the Grand Duke, her head slightly lowered. She seemed to be a maid taking care of the Grand Duke's daily life. She was surprised by the appearance of Hao Ren and his entourage. He just raised his head and glanced slightly, then lowered his head again and made no move.

"Ah, you are here," after the door was closed, the old man lying on the bed said with a smile. His voice was steady and strong, not at all like the rumored man who was seriously injured and almost died. His eyes were on the Charlemagne brothers and sisters. He glanced at Hao Ren and his entourage, and began to say hello like an ordinary bold old man, "The prince and princess of Ys - ha, I heard about your experience, it's not easy for you to get here, the one on the other side of the world Is the situation in the country okay? And you... the mysterious people from the World Tree Temple... are really mysterious. I asked the best scholars to investigate, but no one knows the origin of the World Tree Temple. You guys really appeared out of thin air. Come as usual."

"The Archduke Heywood Owen," Charlemagne took a step forward and bowed to greet the old man lying on the bed. Although he was a royal, he still said from the bottom of his heart when facing a legendary veteran like Heywood Owen. Tribute, "I heard you were seriously injured, but it's reassuring to see you regain your spirits."

"Ah ha, what nonsense is recovery," Heywood Owen laughed loudly, "It means that he is still alive for the time being. He still has time to meet you two little guys and...these mysterious friends who came with you. .”

As he spoke, Grand Duke Owen's eyes fell on Hao Ren - after all, he was leading two girls and a little girl, and Hao Ren was the most eye-catching among the four: "I heard that you guys are just like walking After passing through the black pine forest, can you still easily defeat the Gorgon Lord?"

"It's just some special abilities," Hao Ren said with a smile, "We have eyes that can see directly through the fog of the black pine forest, and we also happen to have some experience in dealing with ancient weapons like the Gorgon Lords. "

"Some small experience..." Archduke Owen laughed at this statement, "Haha, what an understatement - do you know how many people in this world can directly cross the black pine forest from the lost area like you? ? How many people can defeat those Gorgon Lords - let alone defeat, a Gorgon Lord can almost destroy an entire regular army, and you... tsk tsk, your World Tree Temple has a lot of origins."

Charlemagne suddenly realized that the main focus of the old Grand Duke in front of him seemed to be Hao Ren and his party (or in the "World Tree Temple"), so he couldn't help but said: "Grand Duke, please forgive me for interrupting - My sister and I have an important mission and need to see Princess Constance as soon as possible. Please ask her..."

"She is on the front line now, but she already knows your arrival," Archduke Owen waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, she will meet you, and she will meet you soon. Patience, young man, patience is the most important quality - only Second to having a good drinking capacity, you understand?”

Charlemagne opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something else, but Evana next to him spoke first: "We understand."

Then she whispered a few words into Charlemagne's ear. The latter glanced at the silver-haired woman next to Archduke Owen in surprise, then nodded and said nothing.

"You, and your 'World Tree Temple'," Grand Duke Owen turned his attention back to Hao Ren and his party, "I think it's more than just an 'independent monastic organization', right?"

Hao Ren didn't know what the other party's intention was, so he continued on the topic for the time being: "What are you referring to?"

"Do you..." Archduke Owen frowned, as if he was trying to organize his words, "Do you have any older legends or prophecies that allow you to re-enter the world at a special time? For example, about the change of the era. ...Ha, logically speaking, shouldn’t a secluded organization like yours, which suddenly appeared in the world, take the initiative to mention this matter after meeting me?”

"Oh, it seems like it should be like this according to most books," Hao Ren patted his head, "Sorry, I have only been in this business for a few years, and I don't have a lot of work experience. But then again, after talking about these Didn't you really think of ways to stabilize yourself before? Looking at you like this... I'm afraid you won't survive tomorrow."

As soon as these words came out, Charlemagne and Evanna suddenly opened their eyes in surprise, looking in disbelief at the Northern Archduke who was lying on the bed in high spirits and showed no sign of weakness, and the one who always lowered his head The silver-haired woman couldn't help but raise her head and quickly glanced at Hao Ren.

The Northern Grand Duke was startled for a moment, then laughed loudly: "Haha... you guys are really interesting, really interesting..."

"Arch Duke Owen, you..." Charlemagne couldn't help but said, "Now you..."

"I just said that I am only alive temporarily," Archduke Owen looked at Charlemagne, "It's just that ordinary people's eyes can never see it."

Then he turned to Hao Ren: "You're right, I'm about to die, but how did you tell?"

"Don't worry about this for now," Hao Ren said bluntly, "Let us take a look at your wound."

"It might be scary," the old general lying on the bed said with a smile. "Not only are there several ladies here, but there are also little girls. Do you really want to see them?"

"That's what I want to see," Leah took a step forward and pointed at Archduke Owen's chest, "Open it, the bandages and ointments inside are of no use at all."

Grand Duke Owen put away the smile on his face and nodded silently, and the silver-haired woman next to the bed stepped forward and lifted the quilt covering the Grand Duke with gentle movements.

The old general's upper body had no clothes, but was wrapped in a thick bandage, but there was no blood or anything like that seeping out from under the bandage.

The silver-haired woman did not dismantle them, but gently brushed her hand over the bandages, and the thick bandages broke and opened, revealing the shocking truth underneath.

Under the bandage, a large area of ​​flesh and blood on Archduke Owen's chest had long been festered and mutated. A twisted and torn wound was located on his right chest, and the flesh and blood around the wound turned black and purple as if corroded by strong acid. It was sunken in, and the most horrifying thing was that the wound and the festering flesh and blood around it were actually "alive"!

The rotten and mutated flesh and blood is squirming as if it has an independent life, constantly expanding the scope of its fester. At the junction between the rotten flesh and normal flesh and blood, the rotten parts even grow tiny spikes and teeth. Things, tearing and devouring the healthy flesh and blood around them.

After just one glance, Evana stepped back with a pale face - but at least she didn't scream in surprise.

After all, she had seen the honor of the Black Sword Knight after mutation before.

"It hurt a lot at first, but now I don't feel anything." Archduke Owen looked down at the injuries on his chest. "They are gradually replacing my body, and some of my nerves have been 'eaten' by them. This is a relief." .”

"Didn't you try treatment?" Charlemagne looked terrible, but still said in a calm tone.

"I tried to cut off the rotten flesh, but it would grow back immediately, and it would be exactly the same as before. Even digging out the wound didn't work. The corruption didn't seem to be rooted in the flesh, but in my body. "In the soul," Archduke Owen said calmly, "Ointments, magic, and even elves' blessings have been tried. This change is irreversible - only Bachelor Holman's secret technique has produced some effect. , he cut off part of my soul so that I could talk to you soberly. But this state should not last long. I can already hear some small voices buzzing in my head. They are blasphemous words, and they are like these granules and teeth, slowly gnawing through the spiritual protective barrier set up by Bachelor Holman..."