Chapter 368 Golden Friendship

Although Carlo Ed is old, his resolute character has not changed at all.

After agreeing to visit "White Eagle" and leaving two reliable servants to help run errands and deliver letters, he stopped lingering and took the initiative to say goodbye to Winters and Anna.

The black carriage decorated with silver strips drove out of the village. Carman, who had been playing the role of a puppet, asked Winters coldly: "Lies, tricks and conspiracies... You brought me here to listen to these. Do you want to confess? Or is it just for the sake of confession?" wasting my time?"

"None of them." Winters replied immediately, and he solemnly declared: "The reason why I ask you to accompany me to receive guests is because there is a friendship as precious as gold between us."

Anna looked at the mountains in the distance with shame, pretending not to hear anything.

"Your Excellency Montagne." Carman put on a polite smile: "You are really not shy at all when you speak! As expected of you."

Winters nodded in thanks. He was completely immune to this level of attack.

Kaman snorted softly, picked up the cup and took a sip of ice water.

Next was Winters' turn. He also picked up the cup and asked calmly: "I'm also curious, if you don't like to sit in, why don't you just find an excuse to leave?"

"That's not because..." mid-sentence, Kaman suddenly stopped. He glanced at Anna's back and swallowed what he was about to say.

The victorious Winters left his chair and stretched hard, causing a series of muffled sounds in his spine and joints that were stiff from sitting for a long time.

Winters exhaled a long, comfortable breath. He looked at Anna, smiled slightly and asked, "Is the sunrise beautiful?"

"Beautiful." Anna replied softly.

"Let's go, Mr. Carman, let's go and enjoy it too." When passing by Carman, Winters patted the latter's shoulder: "Although the sunrise has passed, it's not bad to take a walk."

Kaman remained motionless and continued to taste the ice water.

The devout priest of Wolf Town had wasted a whole morning and even missed morning prayers. He was sulking and didn't want to pay attention to Winters at all.

After walking a certain distance, Winters whistled, and the two wolfhounds immediately ran towards him like arrows.

Kaman was slightly startled when he saw the two wolf dogs running around around Winter. He immediately stood up, nodded to Anna, and hurriedly chased after her.

…

Wangshan is a dead horse.

The top of the mountain seemed not far away, but Winters was still halfway up the mountain after walking for a full hour.

The human village in the center of the valley is small enough to fit into the picture frame, but the top of the mountain has long since disappeared due to the curvature of the hillside.

The air in the mountains was thin, and Winters felt a little tired, so he stopped going up. He found a piece of flat grass nearby and sat down slowly.

The moment his butt hit the ground, Winters couldn't help but let out a long sigh of pleasure. He patted his sore calf and called to Carman: "I'm not going, let's take a rest."

"Isn't this going to work?" Kaman's cheeks were slightly red, but his breathing was still steady.

"Stop pretending, I don't believe you're not tired." Winters patted the open space next to him: "Sit down and rest for a while. We'll go back when we've rested enough."

Kaman was noncommittal. He walked straight to Winters, but instead of sitting down, he stood with his knees up and slowly adjusted his breathing rhythm.

The two wolfdogs followed Winters all the way up the mountain, and were very tired at the moment. The two big dogs lay next to Winters panting with their wet tongues drooping, motionless.

The cold air of the late winter was refreshing. Winters leaned comfortably on the wolfdog and took turns rubbing the two dogs' heads and chins.

Suddenly, Winters let out a long sigh.

After sighing, he jokingly said to Kaman: "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have been able to imagine that there are still some people in the world who live surrounded by mountains from birth to death - when I open my eyes every day, what I see is They are all mountains, and all you can see are mountains.”

Kaman asked coldly: "Why, you haven't seen a mountain?"

"It has nothing to do with 'whether you have seen the mountain'. [Seeing it with your own eyes] and [hearing it with your ears] are different." Winters considered the words and explained with a smile: "If I say this, you may understand - from From birth to adulthood, in every land I lived, I could definitely see the sea as long as I walked for an hour."

"What about when you become an adult?"

"After adulthood?" Winters laughed at himself: "After adulthood, won't you be sent to Plato?"

Carman was touched by Winters' true feelings and couldn't help but sigh.

He sat next to Winters and narrated softly:

"It would be difficult for Monta people to imagine a world where they can see the ocean within an hour's walk. I have met some believers who have never left their parish in their lives. For them, the world is their homes, farmland, Markets and churches. Life is so poor that the Kingdom of Heaven is needed and the Kingdom of Heaven must exist."

Kaman finished his speech and both fell into silence.

After sitting there for a while, Winters asked, "By the way, have you ever seen the sea?"

Kaman was about to answer, but was suddenly stunned.

After a moment, Kaman hesitated and said: "I haven't seen it..."

But he immediately added: "But I know what the ocean looks like."

Winters burst into laughter: "You have never seen the sea, but you know what the sea 'looks like'. How do you know? Did an angel give you a dream?"

"Through books, paintings and other people's descriptions." Kaman defended himself: "I don't need to see the ocean with my own eyes to know what the ocean looks like."

"What did I just say? There is a difference between [seeing it with your own eyes] and [hearing it through your ears]." Winters patted Kaman on the shoulder with pity: "If you have the chance, I will take you to see the sea with your own eyes. But... …Have you never taken a sea ship when you came to Plato? Didn’t you first dock on the inland sea and then enter Plato?”

"I took the overland route and went to Palato via Monta." Kaman explained helplessly: "The overland route is a little slower, but it is much safer than taking a boat, so I try not to take a boat if I can take the overland route."

"Before coming to Plato? You have never seen the sea before."

"I was handed over to the Holy See by my sister as soon as I could remember. I have lived in St. Michael's Monastery since I was a child. How could I see the ocean? The monastery only has stone walls, corridors, corridors, prayer rooms, libraries and altars of divine grace..."

Without any warning, Kaman's voice stopped abruptly.

Winters, who listened with great interest, was confused and looked at Kaman questioningly.

Knowing that he had made a mistake, Kaman suddenly stood up and stared at Winters, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force of the clenching.

"I thought...we were friends." Kaman said through gritted teeth.

Winters has noticed the changes in Kaman. At this moment, the Kaman in front of him is no longer the cold-faced and warm-hearted priest of Wolf Town, but has become a clockwork-headed beast intent on devouring people.

The two wolfdogs, with manes blowing from their necks, stood guard in front of Winters, one on the left and one on the right, baring their teeth at Carman.

But the tail of the wolf dog is tightly clamped between the hind legs, and the chest is almost touching the ground, and they do not dare to make any bark - this is the posture of a weak person. The smart wolf dog understands that the upright beast in front of them is stronger than them. More dangerous.

Winters' instinct was also warning him wildly. His intuition told him that any slight movement might cause Kaman to lose control.

"We are friends." Winters said calmly, trying not to irritate Kaman as much as possible.

"Friend? Is this how you treat your friends? Deception? Trick? Conspiracy?" Karman's chest was filled with unprecedented rage, and tangible flames spurted out from his eyes almost to his waist. The moment he thought there was a true friendship with Winters, he suffered a despicable "betrayal."

Winters understood what Kaman was thinking: "You thought... I was trying to trick you."

Kaman's body tensed and he looked at Winters without saying a word.

The oath of silence, he broke the oath of silence that could never be broken. Unspeakable hatred filled his heart. He hated himself for breaking his oath, and he was even more furious because of Winters' "betrayal".

Winters stood up and looked directly at Kaman: "I do hope to learn about divine magic through you, but only if you voluntarily provide help. In the conversation just now, I did not intend to obtain information, nor did I use temptation or deception. It's a trick. I'm just chatting with you, and the question is just because I'm curious, not about magic..."

As he talked, Winters found himself trapped in a strange trap: He had never intentionally tricked Kaman into revealing the secret—Kaman hadn’t said anything important—but he couldn’t prove it.

Winters didn't want to fight with Kaman. The battle between spellcasters was like eggs smashing each other with a sledgehammer. At least Winters didn't know any combat spells that would not cause injury or death.

The temperature must be lowered first, at least so that Kaman can listen to the explanation.

So Winters sat back again, showing a completely defenseless attitude: "I asked you to go out to climb the mountain, actually, there are two things."

Winters looked at the village below the valley, not making eye contact with Kaman at all - looking at each other might also create a sense of threat.

"The first thing is to say thank you. I'm not forcing you to meet with Carlo Ed, not unreasonably." Winters smiled bitterly and explained calmly:

"Carlo Eide is a partner in Navarre's house, and I'm worried that he will pass on Mrs. Navarre's attitude, and Mrs. Navarre's attitude is not very friendly. But she has a sore point-secrecy. Navarre Mrs. Lei doesn’t want more people to know about my relationship with Anna.”

Kaman didn't say anything -- but nothing was a good sign for Winters.

Winters continued: "So I need a third party who can be absolutely trusted to be present. If an 'outsider' is present, Mrs. Navarre's envoy will be wary; if the 'outsider' is a clergyman, then Even if Mrs. Navarre comes in person, she won't be too aggressive. Just in case, I have a final plan - you will witness the marriage between me and Anna on the spot. So you must be present so that I can do it without any further trouble. Confront Madame Navarre’s emissary.”

"Of course, Mr. Ed's unexpected tolerance... these are all things for later." Winters turned his head and looked at Carman: "I can't say all of the above in front of Anna, let alone in the camp. Talk. So I can only say thank you to you when it’s just you and me."

Winters nodded and said, "Thank you."

The wind poured into the valley, blowing through the coniferous forests on the hillside, and the rustling sound of swaying branches echoed in the mountains.

The wind also passed between Winters and Carman. She stroked Carman's cheek, messed up Winters' hair, and left with a smile.

"The second thing." Kaman's voice was hoarse.

"The second thing is easier." Winters stretched out his arm, let go, and the peculiar bone whistle fell down: "The way the [Beast Spirit Whisperer] in the Hurd Shaman drives the beasts."

"You want to tell me for free?" Carman asked sarcastically: "You don't want to make a deal with me? No secrets in exchange for secrets?"

"The principle is actually very simple, but it is buried under the complicated rituals and rules of the Hed Shaman." Winters turned the bone whistle around his fingertips: "As long as you ask, I will tell you."

Kaman gritted his teeth: "Ask?"

"Yes! You just need to ask. 'Mr. Montagne, how does the Beast Whisperer drive the beast?' Is it difficult to say this? If you don't pursue knowledge, how can you expect knowledge to come to you voluntarily?" Winters Firm attitude: "If you don't ask, then I will never reveal a word. I will not force you to tell the secret of magic. I hope you can do the same."

Kaman thundered: "I don't care about pagan witchcraft!"

Winters responded tit-for-tat: "That's your business!"

The two seemed to be fighting hard, but in fact Kaman's attitude had softened unknowingly.

There was another moment of silence.

"According to..." Kaman said hoarsely and with difficulty, "I should get rid of you immediately..."

"Just a few gossips? Then I'm really unjust, because I didn't hear anything useful." Winters met Kaman's eyes: "It's a pity that I can't testify for myself."

"Under the gaze of the Lord, no one can hide." Carman sneered: "Do you think unbelievers can escape judgment?"

"You mean..." Winters suddenly had an idea, and suddenly he was ecstatic, hugging Kaman: "Reading minds? Why didn't you tell me earlier? Is there this type of magic? Then what are you waiting for? ? Let’s start now!”

Kaman was stunned, as if he had been punched hard.

…

[Twilight, camp]

The sun is about to set, but the campground is still very lively.

Pierre and Balian were repainting the carriage borrowed from the Navarre Merchant House, and others were also preparing to enter the city tomorrow.

As for Winters himself...he was lying on a bench tremblingly, waiting for someone to "slaughter" him.

To be honest, even when facing thousands of troops charging into battle, he had never been as scared as he was now.

Anna came over with the lampstand, saw Winters moving uneasily, and scolded: "Don't move."

"I don't want to move either." Winters said in pain, he begged: "My dear, you'd better let me do it by myself, I..."

"No." Anna sat next to Winters and spread out a roll of skin. The four razors shone coldly under the light: "How can you shave as cleanly as me if you do it yourself? Besides, I need to practice more. Only then can you shave better.”

"I don't want to see you doing these trivial things. Just let me do it myself, or let Ciel help, okay?"

"How many times can I take care of your beard?" Anna brought the basin and sighed softly.

Anna's fingertips touched Winters' ears and cheeks, and she said sadly: "Actually, it's just a few times when we go out. Mrs. Mitchell said that some men are destined not to belong to women. So I don't want to miss every moment. Seconds, every moment of memory.”

Winters immediately stopped talking.

Cold soapy water was wiped across the chin, and then an even colder blade touched the skin.

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Winters' forehead and back. Not only did he not dare to move, he didn't even dare to make a sound, for fear that his neck would be wiped accidentally...

"When you and Father Carman come back at noon." Anna still had time to chat: "Why does he look so depressed?"

Winters made a faint hum while keeping as still as possible.

The blade scraped across the skin, making a rustling sound.

Anna asked: "Why did you bully others again?"

"I didn't." Winters hummed, "Just focus, please."

Anna flicked Winters' forehead: "Don't move."

After shaving one side, Anna switched to the other side and continued to use the razor: "You trust Father Carman so much, but why do you always quarrel?"

Winters thought carefully about this question. He originally wanted to say "because Carman is a very difficult guy, and he never misses an opportunity to be sarcastic to me."

But the answer he finally gave was: "(Sigh) Who made us friends?"

[There is ambiguity in asking for leave until this weekend...actually asking for leave until this weekend (end)]

[The 4,000-word chapter is back] [Thank you book friends for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation votes, monthly votes, rewards and comments, thank you all]