領主府和商業街一帶的清場行動來到晚上九時終於結束。503Please respect copyright.PENANAYrlXG1RAM0
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茱莉亞、托倫索還有小隊的其餘六人好不容易終於撐到行動完結,大伙正準備打道回府之際,衛兵隊高層卻突然傳來緊急指示,要求小隊立即前往衛兵隊總部。儘管各人早已疲憊不堪,但礙於小隊隊長魯珀特 · 薛夫缺席,無人可以違抗上頭指示,結果他們還是無可奈何地出發到衛兵隊總部去。503Please respect copyright.PENANAG46HZfxGFf
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一行人拖着沉重的步伐,好不容易終於抵達衛兵局總部門外。在這裡,有一道象徵着赫澤爾頓衛兵隊的堅毅和不屈的花崗岩拱門,哪怕經歷長年累月的風吹雨打,這道拱門都一直支撐着衛兵隊的理念。然而今晚不知道為什麼,當茱莉亞準備穿過這道拱門的時候,她的心中竟然泛起一種陌生的感覺。503Please respect copyright.PENANAkfsMJt84or
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茱莉亞站在原地,整理着護甲下面的衣領,任由又冷又乾的夜風帶着催淚煙的味道撲向她的臉上。503Please respect copyright.PENANAltb1Usaf9h
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她著實需要這股初冬的寒風幫助整理思緒。503Please respect copyright.PENANALzca2uCcq4
從庫拉博送來的催淚煙魔道具、那道突如其來的清場命令、直屬上司魯珀特·薛夫隊長不知所踪,到最後總長多佛爾遇襲..... 作為衛兵隊的直覺告訴她,今天所發生的一切實在有太多巧合和太多不合理的地方了。503Please respect copyright.PENANAmma71xEBxg
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「京絲蕾副隊長?」503Please respect copyright.PENANAYWD0ZS60JX
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「來了。」503Please respect copyright.PENANAbx0ekOyGpY
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茱莉亞跟在托倫索身後穿過那花崗岩拱門,寄望着衛兵隊高層是為了作出說明才召喚所有人返回總部。可是當她看到自己的直屬上司魯珀特 · 薛夫,還有黃金獵犬泰勒·霍金斯兩位隊長站在總局大門的石級上進行演說時,她就知道整個衛兵隊已經陷入了一片泥沼之中。503Please respect copyright.PENANA6P91n2S3V0
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「各位同僚辛苦了!今天大家為了守護赫澤爾頓付出了許多許多。在這裡,我和霍金斯隊長代表領主拉姆贊大人,向各位英勇對抗暴徒的行為作出致謝!」503Please respect copyright.PENANA1Hz0zaIepq
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魯珀特的言行猶如領主的代言人。他和泰勒 · 霍金斯所站的石階,更是總長每年向衛兵隊發表演說的位置。要知道,衛兵隊是一個非常講究階級和輩份的組織,突然堂而皇之地站在總長的位置發表演說是何等不敬的舉動!在總長受傷缺席的這一刻,魯珀特站在石階說着「代表領主」這四個字,即使再蠢的人也明白到,衛兵隊要改朝換代了。503Please respect copyright.PENANAjXV4VFgzXv
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泰勒和魯珀特繼續笑瞇瞇的宣讀着領主的嘉許信,並表示將會為參與今天清場行動的同僚頒發額外獎金和嘉許狀。儘管在場依然有不少人對今日的清場行動抱有疑問,但在這種氣氛之下,只要魯珀特跟泰勒隻字不提,又有哪個人會不識相,膽敢在這場合向兩人提出質問?503Please respect copyright.PENANAY7hUv5dMtz
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只可惜,偏偏就是有這麼一個不識相的傢伙身處於人群當中。503Please respect copyright.PENANAeZFNAynA3d
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「薛夫隊長……」503Please respect copyright.PENANAlVvGc215dB
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茱莉亞向着石階上的魯珀特大叫,還想擠過一眾同僚,直接向魯珀特提問。可惜魯珀特卻似是有意無意的躲着她,甚至對她的呼喚完全充耳不聞。503Please respect copyright.PENANAxawJkd8EFx
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「京絲蕾副隊長,一直纏在男人的身後可不會受歡迎哦。」503Please respect copyright.PENANAdIoVrXnNI0
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神出鬼沒的泰勒突然把臉湊近,把她嚇得往後退開了半步。503Please respect copyright.PENANA9d8i7P7dBc
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「霍金斯隊長,請你別擋路。我有些問題要直接問薛夫隊長。」503Please respect copyright.PENANAaN8BpkgMip
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「哦————!有事情要問嗎?」泰勒往前踏出一步,把臉貼近茱莉亞耳邊道:「例如為什麼總長遇刺身亡的時候,原本應該在前線清場的你,卻剛好出現在他身邊嗎?」503Please respect copyright.PENANAgOOKWtFC4O
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茱莉亞聞言臉色一變,一滴冷汗從額角滑落到她的脖子上。503Please respect copyright.PENANAqa4ICA3o06
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「你說什麼!多佛爾總長……遇刺身亡?」503Please respect copyright.PENANA3sIzdAnxO9
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泰勒輕拍她的肩膀,繼續道:「作為衛兵隊一員,你只需要服從上級命令就足夠了。思考還是提問什麼的,那些東西不是你的職務範圍,而且上級也沒有義務給你任何答案。」503Please respect copyright.PENANARhew1unR8g
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茱莉亞如遭雷擊,想起接受衛兵隊的入職訓練時,長官首先教導的就是「先服從」,待事件結束後才可以反映意見。可是現在的衛兵隊卻是即使「先服從」了,但在事後仍然不會有機會反映意見,甚至會被上級恐嚇要求閉嘴!503Please respect copyright.PENANABzqbC33Bit
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泰勒的說話讓她感到腦袋嗡嗡作響。作為一名執法者,作為白銀戰斧克里斯的妹妹和後繼者,她真的可以對衛兵隊突然變天不聞不問嗎?503Please respect copyright.PENANA9HHugE3wgo
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泰勒把話丟下便猶如跳着舞般輕巧地繞過其他同僚,只剩下茱莉亞呆若木雞般站在原地。503Please respect copyright.PENANAV5DFfWPuHI
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她看着托倫索和其他在場的衛兵隊同僚,其實早就心知肚明,很多人加入衛兵隊都只不過是為了謀取穩定的收入和福利而已。從訓練階段開始,他們就被灌輸「毫不懷疑地服從上級長官的一切命令」,有些人甚至會因為害怕得罪上司影響仕途而將「服從」當作一種逃避責任的藉口。畢竟不用思考和判斷,甚至藉著阿諛奉承和攀附關係就可以平步青雲,這種優差能去那裡找?503Please respect copyright.PENANAwyo9oAs0PZ
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茱莉亞苦笑道:「從今之後,衛兵隊只能躲在服從兩個字的後面懦弱地生存嗎?」503Please respect copyright.PENANA0q2w1RQvIX
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再看看總部門外那道象徵堅毅和不屈的花崗岩拱門,曾經被譽為王國南部的精英部隊竟然淪落得連提問和思考都被禁止,真是何等的諷刺和虛偽。503Please respect copyright.PENANAFqt4XMjnJ2
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想到這裡,維克托的說話再次在茱莉亞心中響起。503Please respect copyright.PENANAhxx5JmnxmF
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「你認為你需要保護的人是誰?」503Please respect copyright.PENANACulR4RvN6q
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茱莉亞看着那些士氣高昂的同僚,部份人甚至雙眼通紅,忘形地喊着把違反法律、忤逆領主旨意的蛆蟲趕盡殺絕…… 503Please respect copyright.PENANABYudjJFLM2
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這些就是她一心加入衛兵隊,想要保護的人嗎?503Please respect copyright.PENANAxHjGkGZKKO
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頃刻間,一種莫名的孤獨感突然向她襲來,喚醒她小時候作為側室的孩子那段記憶。那種明明身處家中,可是卻感受不到一絲溫度,還要默默承受着其他人排擠的記憶。503Please respect copyright.PENANAx0HyAiOrVG
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當年,她的身邊尚且有給予她支持的克里斯和艾倫。可是如今,這兩人都已經不在她的身旁。503Please respect copyright.PENANAEZ2mY9MDT4
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「哥,你究竟去了在哪裡?」503Please respect copyright.PENANAMYvDoXOjvG
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茱莉亞緊握着腰間那佩劍的手柄,以此勉強作為繼續前進的力量。可是接下來究竟要往那裡前進、要怎麼做,她卻是一點頭緒都沒有。503Please respect copyright.PENANA9MC3Il6eYF