西曆1631年10月4日 聖山(大杜王國領地)
時間:凌晨 天候:陰
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扣除緊急召集返營的10位哨兵,目前在第一班據點待命,含幹部共計20員,全擠進由數個帳篷連接,臨時組合的應急會議室。將原先擺放的裝備拖出帳外,硬是騰出足夠的空間,讓所有人或站或坐。但為了彰顯馬祿的班長身份高低,幹部們一致命令各隊部屬席地而坐。569Please respect copyright.PENANALykNdim5KQ
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三路人馬由幹部領隊,排成三方縱隊,井然有序地面向馬祿。耳聞「軍議開始」的始動指示──足以稱是一瞬間──所有人倏然挺胸正座。569Please respect copyright.PENANAOxxx476zWg
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厚實雙掌慎重地蓋在膝頭上。馬祿微微仰起視角,仔細卻快速地掃過底下每雙,將滿腹不安情緒傾倒而盡的愁眉苦面。569Please respect copyright.PENANA37g8hJkTEh
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馬祿緩緩吐息稍作呼吸。569Please respect copyright.PENANA4JXX6A8kw0
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緊接著,他以不算大聲,卻帶著微妙精神的音量宣達:569Please respect copyright.PENANAhjyVsRPNYe
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「那麼,請各位無須在意階級、席次,依序表達看法吧。」569Please respect copyright.PENANALCrh5On4eF
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所謂的微妙程度,大概就是……容易引人注目,但心情不會受到煽動的程度。畢竟這是軍議,統籌各方不同意見並加以過濾出結論,才是會議的主旨。否則,不過是獨裁者為了賣弄權力,利用輿論壓力扼殺不同立場的聲音罷了。569Please respect copyright.PENANAXgwEupFTAi
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表明了要所有人擱下身段盡情發表己見的用意。馬祿遂將目光移向左邊第一排。569Please respect copyright.PENANAqEsYihgiQ1
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排頭。那位將顎下銀冉,綁束成一條粗壯麻花捲的虎背老漢。569Please respect copyright.PENANAcR9tiFcEW6
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「霧厙守備長,請。」569Please respect copyright.PENANAnlhSmUI8eL
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馬祿恭敬地平舉抬手。將先發言權,讓給不論外貌或資質上,都具備相當份量的守備隊隊長。同時,此人正是他們口中的「老爺子」────569Please respect copyright.PENANAy3it3HANNp
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安魯邦‧C‧霧厙。569Please respect copyright.PENANAPNv8NqjY4R
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「感恩至極──」蘊藏著濃厚歷練的厚沉嗓音,給予相襯的禮遇性回應。569Please respect copyright.PENANAtwzdCKJCoG
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乘著對方的敬意,安魯邦泰若自然的輕咳幾聲。做足心理準備後,慎重開口:569Please respect copyright.PENANAUSIHGRhYTI
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「恕老夫直言。依本班現在的立場,若貿然主動展開突擊,必定慘敗。」569Please respect copyright.PENANABszWHtrNAZ
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此話一出,除卻面容沉澱的守備隊班兵,其餘人都不敢置信地面面相覷。569Please respect copyright.PENANAwFQY0hExwy
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────他剛才……說、說什麼?!569Please respect copyright.PENANAnmHFT4w3XR
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一張張錯愕的臉,彷彿……不,已經有別隊的班兵承受不住,那滿胸懷抱著初出茅廬的好戰情操,受到退役老將無情冷諷的屈辱。569Please respect copyright.PENANAdTkoSRDGTD
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坐在第三排──別動隊後段的年輕班兵憤然起身,嚴厲指責安魯邦的發言:569Please respect copyright.PENANAqWpAHyVlAd
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「身為守備隊幹部,竟鼓吹未戰先敗,帶頭貶低士氣,成何體統!!」569Please respect copyright.PENANAUEy0F0Iwst
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然而,懷著激情的意氣指責,換來的卻是沉甸甸的嘆氣聲。569Please respect copyright.PENANAPUFQ3MKrnr
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不論是自認己身過去的戰役資歷,在場的人除了喀爾爾、馬祿以外,無人可以理解他的遠瞻,也是理所當然的發展;抑或是……單純的自恃傲人。569Please respect copyright.PENANAYFyqks4X7H
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總之,安魯邦無視背後,那雙乍然初苗的烈火青眼,繼續用平穩的語調說了:569Please respect copyright.PENANAEkHCPxz91d
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「請別誤會。老夫只是將實際戰力與現況做粗略的交叉比對。要打?當然可以!若諸位由衷地秉持…不,是堅持──*!『縱然徒勞無功,也要硬幹到底』*的心理建設,老夫自然無話可說。」569Please respect copyright.PENANAThlB0fsFLN
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「所以您現在是奉勸我們,直接投降的意思?」緊接著,是隔壁排的年輕班兵。569Please respect copyright.PENANAwzZe6TrO9y
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────是偵查隊的……嗎?569Please respect copyright.PENANAdNi6AmH6F7
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安魯邦的餘光注意到,坐在年輕班兵前方。569Please respect copyright.PENANApNjCwhPERt
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那位閉目養神,行為舉止略為貓膩的嬌小幹部。嬌小幹部保持著淡然笑容,纖細手指不斷輕輕敲點太陽穴。看似指令卻又嫌曖昧不明。勸退部下嗎?569Please respect copyright.PENANAgiXo4JUXRw
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不對,這種暗示未免太力道不足。最合理的解答───569Please respect copyright.PENANAmGO6bCrokY
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果然在隔岸觀火,站在觀望的立場,等候良機吧?569Please respect copyright.PENANAYjfGnOQ5cF
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唉,帕祖啊……好大喜功的乳小子。對於同儕的爭功心態,安魯邦暗自感嘆。569Please respect copyright.PENANAwKbEqs4BRP
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「如老夫前言所述,這僅是單純的個人見解。首先,乾糧要比預期減少的快速;再者,我方對敵人,也就是『二班』、『三班』的地形情報有限────」569Please respect copyright.PENANA5YXs8xSTBR
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遺憾的是,這句尚未說完的良性建言,儼然成了引燃唇槍舌戰的狼煙信號。569Please respect copyright.PENANAAKZMre5WIf
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下一秒,貌似兩隊班兵早串通好似的。除了排頭的兩位幹部全數起身,共同指著守備隊及安魯邦痛罵。569Please respect copyright.PENANAVQwzyv4iei
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「可恨──!!別以為你高齡老邁,就能仗著經驗搬弄是非,妖言惑眾!」569Please respect copyright.PENANAB2XWDKdBOX
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「沒錯,我身為偵查隊一員,職司調查,豈有不明白本班現況的道理?!」569Please respect copyright.PENANAOfBMlKXnXq
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「這點我能做證!我們別動隊,在偵查隊的勤務上略有支援!反而是貴隊伍,自本班建立『隊伍管理制度』起,守備隊始終隔絕其他隊伍的支援!」569Please respect copyright.PENANAY006QxBZOK
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當然,身為事主方的守備隊班兵,斷不可能忍氣吞聲。569Please respect copyright.PENANAQWf1aZHBnn
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基於捍衛上司的忠誠與守備隊尊嚴,隊員們不甘汙衊,倏然築起一道堅硬人牆。569Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ux2uwWIZq
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「給老子收回那句屁話!只敢躲在暗處窺視的蟲子,憑什麼插嘴前線勤務!」569Please respect copyright.PENANAGH8rhNSpzX
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「別動隊的蛀蟲也是!敗壞風紀的禍源,豈會輕易讓你們破壞守備班的名聲!」569Please respect copyright.PENANAHKQF2TnBwW
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雖然早有預設最壞的發展。頂多各隊堅持己見相互激烈辯論。但卻從未料想到,竟會惡化成無效性質,單純的爭鋒相對。軍議最忌諱提出藏匿著私人情緒的發言,相信這是在場所有人都能理解的基本共識。至於為何變成如此,其實不難猜想。客觀點的說法──不,是再退一步的推測:569Please respect copyright.PENANAgaeRWen0EY
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恐怕是安魯邦所點出的癥結點,嚴重詆毀到其餘兩位幹部──帕祖和喀爾爾所涉獵的勤務範圍,才導致一觸即發的火爆局面吧?569Please respect copyright.PENANAWUg2fuExf7
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────話雖如此,但更讓我在意的是……馬祿看了一眼另外兩位幹部。569Please respect copyright.PENANAQFAP01qA7g
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────他們,居然沒有一絲勸阻的意願?569Please respect copyright.PENANApFTZz5vtdD
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雖然各自用不同的方式沉思,但觀望的意圖非常明確。569Please respect copyright.PENANAqZXn4gNalL
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這個現象有兩種解釋:第一, 帕祖和喀爾爾也在思考著相同問題,但礙於身份或情勢發展而不容置喙。至於第二……這是馬祿,最想否定的猜測────569Please respect copyright.PENANAui2c6fmvMJ
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惡性爭功569Please respect copyright.PENANAzLa1hWBekP
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總之,現下已嚴重偏離會議的主要性質,是該出面化解陷入白熱化的惡兆569Please respect copyright.PENANA6LXHe5AWEJ
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碰──!碰──!碰──!!569Please respect copyright.PENANA8V8Nmr44hc
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木槍重擊草地的悶響,儘管聲音不大,仍瞬間彌平了會議室高漲的激昂聲浪。569Please respect copyright.PENANAoFAcLq52IL
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劍拔弩張的三隊人馬同時停下動作,用近乎驚慌的表情轉向眉頭緊鎖的馬祿569Please respect copyright.PENANA9J15um3REZ
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「你們,都給我冷靜一點。」569Please respect copyright.PENANAdoyOUvvghL
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此刻,其餘兩位幹部──偵查長‧帕祖,別動長‧喀爾爾,總算有了應對動作。569Please respect copyright.PENANA7A5bz7Xpza
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帕祖優雅地舉起小食指晃了幾圈。喀爾爾則邊嘆氣,邊落落大方地擺手。569Please respect copyright.PENANANI2l15josR
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「哎呀,敝人的部下冒犯了。請容敝人以『偵查長』身份,向您致歉。」569Please respect copyright.PENANALji5Wd9ung
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不好意思呀,霧厙守備長,呵呵────569Please respect copyright.PENANAQXiigrbSjN
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說歸說,但帕祖那張得意的小臉蛋,全然不見丁點的歉意。反倒像參加鬥犬的飼主,不小心咬死對方飼犬,嶄露勝利者獨有的輕蔑笑容。569Please respect copyright.PENANA3MaI6ICaG1
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「不好意思啊,老爺子。出手晚了,抱歉抱歉。」569Please respect copyright.PENANAnecVUIW6Du
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相比之下,喀爾爾強壓闖禍的部下們,逐一朝安魯邦和馬祿低頭道歉。即使言辭過於隨興,舉止堪比市井混混的致歉方式,誠意仍是有餘。569Please respect copyright.PENANAjI7v7CNitd
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倘若帕祖的個性屬於陰天,那麼他的血親哥哥──喀爾爾,肯定為晴天。569Please respect copyright.PENANAinaSmBJ4iG
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「無妨。各隊都是為了一班而心急如焚,行事作風略為焦慮也是情有可原。」569Please respect copyright.PENANApS81kkwrLW
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說到這,安魯邦罕見地皺起眉頭。原本佈滿皺褶的臉龐越發滄桑。569Please respect copyright.PENANA8CH6iOyyJh
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他緩慢嘆息。捻著銀白麻花冉的傷腦模樣,看起來貌似又老上好幾歲。569Please respect copyright.PENANA8xiKzTIQGQ
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難怪村里的長者常言:過度的壓力,容易使人快速成長。569Please respect copyright.PENANAFjBuTEEUt3
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相互表達理解對方舉止的同時,氣氛終於降回適合商討議論的溫度。569Please respect copyright.PENANAo4hYQ7rteC
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馬祿抓緊主導權,將會議導回正軌。569Please respect copyright.PENANAKATexfgHOZ
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「那麼,這便是守備隊的看法,是嗎?」馬祿雙手盤胸,閉眼沉思了一會兒。569Please respect copyright.PENANAPJ8vAWCoBa
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在安魯邦以點頭作為答覆之後,馬祿繼續把話鋒轉給下一位發言人順位,帕祖。569Please respect copyright.PENANAmNbfQiXnfz
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「沙漉偵查長,讓我聽聽你的分析。」569Please respect copyright.PENANACSUh2W68Tx
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「……咦?!唔咳咳……是,遵命。」帕祖低頭聽命。569Please respect copyright.PENANAO20fRjiI6Q
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有那麼一剎那,帕祖在大夥都看不見的角度,偷偷露出「終於輪到我了!」迫不及待、好求表現,完全不符合小孩年齡該有的社會人奸笑。569Please respect copyright.PENANArpra5G3GEB
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「就本隊蒐情、勘查等類報告的成果彙整顯示,本班非但握有絕對權、先發權兼具完備的地緣上風位置,各隊職司的勤務:人力規劃、緊急補給、臨時哨,全都能在最短應變時限內,確實達到低風險的良性反應。換句話說,若用時間單位來制定,反應時間絕對在『五分』…哦不,只需要『三分』即可。」569Please respect copyright.PENANARcCH3S4t7V
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即使概略說明了「地緣位置和危機應變速度」皆站在我方的立場鳥瞰戰局,恐怕這些戰爭話術除了有過「義民軍」經驗的安魯邦、喀爾爾、馬祿以外,沒人能體會,藏在那股使勁壓抑的平淡語調中,逐漸瀑漲的激昂情緒吧?569Please respect copyright.PENANA54VDmypomR
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瞧見眾人包含自己的隊員,都露出無法理解的困惑表情互相對看。569Please respect copyright.PENANAaeo4qJiDTd
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面對擴張延伸至整個會議室,怕被責難而刻意壓低的討論聲、悄悄話,帕祖顧慮到假若忽視軍議的基本常識,當面數落其他單位的下屬沒有見識,這般行為確實有失格調──雖然他非常想這麼做──於是,帕祖刻意無視背後的竊竊私語,將目光鎖定在馬祿身上。盡可能催眠自己,現在是跟馬祿召開單獨密會。569Please respect copyright.PENANAxapvGkv7hz
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「講得更簡單一些:『有人會在獵犬、獵具、獵場皆新穎、齊全且高熟悉度的狀況下,放棄好不容易等待了一整年的狩獵旺季?只因出門少帶幾塊乾糧餅?!』嗎?」說到這,帕祖脾氣使然的補上一句:569Please respect copyright.PENANAgb4A0Nx9se
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「相信在場稍有文學造詣的諸位,都能明白語中含意吧?」569Please respect copyright.PENANACgDu6EGgCN
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五隻細嫩的小玉指抵在平坦的胸腔。帕祖勾起嘴角,保持一貫的招牌微笑。569Please respect copyright.PENANAmDXydEE9NA
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這番言論宛若一條救命繩,著實拋向每位相繼露出豁然展顏的班兵。569Please respect copyright.PENANACWJYDW6nlC
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撇除他們的內心,是否真能理解的這項疑問。最起碼能確信一件事────569Please respect copyright.PENANAidWfIAo4oH
第一班即使在試戰的尾聲,也並非全無希望。569Please respect copyright.PENANADd76OmS1dj
569Please respect copyright.PENANAwlyr6O2xbN
於是,現場揚起了一片重獲希望的握拳聲響。569Please respect copyright.PENANATsxfbF0CHc
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勝利!輿論風向正式倒戈!帕祖難掩好勝心的暗自竊喜。569Please respect copyright.PENANAgl744Nnqga
569Please respect copyright.PENANAgBfpOM2xQr
「所以,偵查隊的看法是──」馬祿問。569Please respect copyright.PENANA3fTwwIIlfc
569Please respect copyright.PENANAMzMaJZ4EC9
569Please respect copyright.PENANAEF44FWPAzk
569Please respect copyright.PENANA6JBjNu43Bd
「出擊!敝人愚策,應趁夜寐之刻,出籠撕咬獵物,殺個措手不及!!」569Please respect copyright.PENANAdo0OuYVTWL
569Please respect copyright.PENANADIAhYPHeOi
569Please respect copyright.PENANABPt8P5BUfe
569Please respect copyright.PENANACVdz9RlPrT
語畢,帕祖自信滿滿地彈起雙腳,氣勢十足的重擊胸口。569Please respect copyright.PENANAxtRTLbXWTq
569Please respect copyright.PENANAru0J7mYNl5
受到帕祖所營造的澎湃氛圍影響,班兵們甚至是部分的守備隊隊員,都紛紛做出一樣的動作並齊聲附和:569Please respect copyright.PENANAC9O3T5IyNj
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「出擊!出擊!出擊!!」569Please respect copyright.PENANAK1hVcPUiqL
569Please respect copyright.PENANAWJr4spTjYM
「讓他們見識見識第一班的威猛!」569Please respect copyright.PENANANc5vc5qDBg
569Please respect copyright.PENANABBD6ZURVLj
「唔哦哦哦哦────!!」569Please respect copyright.PENANAA5q5zQm5t7
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可是,這股猛然竄起的熱流,並未感染到別動隊排頭的喀爾爾與馬祿二人。569Please respect copyright.PENANAzzFSCn7dS4
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身為會議擁有最高裁定權的馬祿,理當必須保持中立角度,鞏固會議的公正性。569Please respect copyright.PENANAN10A26XmPP
569Please respect copyright.PENANA6dMC1JHgfG
對於擁有「義民軍首領」歷練的馬祿,真正在意的是喀爾爾的反應。569Please respect copyright.PENANAxwqVANQ30Q
569Please respect copyright.PENANAHfjG9Vx4p9
據往例而論,喀爾爾的態度,不論本質上或言行舉止,絕對與運籌帷幄的智將搭不上邊,這是大家都有的共識。但說是萬夫莫敵的悍將,又缺少該有的紀律。569Please respect copyright.PENANA0yByJ9SPXZ
569Please respect copyright.PENANAIfDaJSe5Nn
────大概,除了周遊列國,博學多聞的「客將」以外,沒有別的形容詞吧?569Please respect copyright.PENANAotS77n1AvI
569Please respect copyright.PENANA3ABjSAgTlQ
儘管時隔多年,馬祿對喀爾爾的觀感一直是如此。569Please respect copyright.PENANADkVCAIl2DW
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「偵查隊的看法,我理解了。那麼,別動隊呢?」569Please respect copyright.PENANAHlBBn03NW4
569Please respect copyright.PENANA9aP7zguxAk
馬祿朝眾人高舉拳頭。明白用意的班兵們,紛紛聽命將高亢的情緒壓下,給予喀爾爾適合發言的空間。569Please respect copyright.PENANAZvVYNo0Hgr
569Please respect copyright.PENANAcvsiKmyKA3
「唔……」喀爾爾搔弄著雜亂的鳥窩頭。手指擱在滿是鬍渣的下巴,沉思起。569Please respect copyright.PENANA9m4Hi7y0Hy
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「老實說吧────我不清楚。」569Please respect copyright.PENANASyyALkTKsy
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什、什麼────?!!