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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAt8rKuUXbe6
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAU2Xj4typbZ
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAwTrWAzpqUc
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馬祿緩緩吐息稍作呼吸。547Please respect copyright.PENANAmFqpQl6zim
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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:547Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0n1V2eaPT
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「那麼,請各位無須在意階級、席次,依序表達看法吧。」547Please respect copyright.PENANAjpYyybXHsn
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANALHRFml44lH
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAqjAddIEErX
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAluP1zoBAz6
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「霧厙守備長,請。」547Please respect copyright.PENANAAdZVPWW0nE
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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」────547Please respect copyright.PENANAAwumIOdSKC
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安魯邦‧C‧霧厙。547Please respect copyright.PENANAWgZJi4DgiR
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAMTsagWYQ8j
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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:547Please respect copyright.PENANACy0Rt1Gy3H
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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。」547Please respect copyright.PENANA0yH6TjXGN9
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANA06mwqJ2tlP
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────他剛才……說、說什麼?!547Please respect copyright.PENANAH7gc5R5Nns
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAEvlDNRCf6I
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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:547Please respect copyright.PENANAlRHacLevDG
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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!!」547Please respect copyright.PENANAYLgn67mL2V
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANA3EYfiXyUg0
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAb5Djzum3i2
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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:547Please respect copyright.PENANAvZGWyrRBlY
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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。」547Please respect copyright.PENANAZXS7VQ7MJI
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAQLggN5H6W0
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────是偵查隊的……嗎?547Please respect copyright.PENANAuxW6ab1JDA
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安魯邦的餘光注意到,坐在年輕班兵前方。547Please respect copyright.PENANAFNcpIAEk2L
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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?547Please respect copyright.PENANAllQFOYu89H
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不對,這種暗示未免太力道不足。最合理的解答───547Please respect copyright.PENANAPpXKbRBNE6
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果然在隔岸觀火,站在觀望的立場,等候良機吧?547Please respect copyright.PENANAcpHuTNgA05
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAUrx5F4xGJ6
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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────」547Please respect copyright.PENANAjmfcrAw1Ut
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAdfDpPQGonm
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7m7Lw05kB
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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!」547Please respect copyright.PENANACdDSnM6iig
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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?!」547Please respect copyright.PENANADr4XAi1wXD
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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!」547Please respect copyright.PENANAEbkfx4rVgJ
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAYjavifzVG6
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANApf9wz8kZOt
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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!」547Please respect copyright.PENANA2BzhWD9zuU
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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!」547Please respect copyright.PENANAlUo7tXAk2T
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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:547Please respect copyright.PENANA4xm7dDOWz7
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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?547Please respect copyright.PENANAnekGwIFoOE
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAfYWONJu4RL
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────他們,居然沒有一絲勸阻的意願?547Please respect copyright.PENANAGEITUXIgif
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANA95frs0aglb
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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────547Please respect copyright.PENANAepEbOefstt
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惡性爭功547Please respect copyright.PENANAbix2gs4c47
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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兆547Please respect copyright.PENANATD84n5V7qT
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碰──!碰──!碰──!!547Please respect copyright.PENANAOZKx6GjCID
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAmwz7Ax4EF5
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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547Please respect copyright.PENANAtGl8RtuQk8
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「你們,都給我冷靜一點。」547Please respect copyright.PENANAaxur58MBz9
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAeTKRqgWJjG
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAZMxaxKvmKF
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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。」547Please respect copyright.PENANA6peoARjzDr
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不好意思呀,霧厙守備長,呵呵────547Please respect copyright.PENANAVja67iWdLw
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAuvHc3DY9j3
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「不好意思啊,老爺子。出手晚了,抱歉抱歉。」547Please respect copyright.PENANAiYcabq0tcw
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANALkzlvuLfqD
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAJeZirFpDLt
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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。」547Please respect copyright.PENANAjjqoySqvv7
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAryxpF6y85H
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAiUHWrOHPF7
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANA56CUNBmyyW
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANA2vsdVcbGpT
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馬祿抓緊主導權,將會議導回正軌。547Please respect copyright.PENANAUmmZAwQQ5X
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANADfqzVq0SfV
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANANT2CUoeCAW
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「沙漉偵查長,讓我聽聽你的分析。」547Please respect copyright.PENANAAKgQmUCANh
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「……咦?!唔咳咳……是,遵命。」帕祖低頭聽命。547Please respect copyright.PENANAe0ScC0s416
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAFjek1q4he0
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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。」547Please respect copyright.PENANASeya45fBS7
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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?547Please respect copyright.PENANA1bScebYOIQ
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAJxLFdiVnHM
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAaY8ytKr1yt
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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:547Please respect copyright.PENANAT2UgRy4vDZ
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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?」547Please respect copyright.PENANA70XpiiRuiz
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANA02Nd8CZlHD
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAI4861UlXb6
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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────547Please respect copyright.PENANAsdx8NFyP8X
第一班即使在試戰的尾聲,也並非全無希望。547Please respect copyright.PENANADXCymkgPPg
547Please respect copyright.PENANAtq8mcNGZA2
於是,現場揚起了一片重獲希望的握拳聲響。547Please respect copyright.PENANA1UFw1gECa4
547Please respect copyright.PENANAS8t78y4as7
勝利!輿論風向正式倒戈!帕祖難掩好勝心的暗自竊喜。547Please respect copyright.PENANAN6nSebT2MK
547Please respect copyright.PENANAMXpUNv8zhL
「所以,偵查隊的看法是──」馬祿問。547Please respect copyright.PENANAXzBwtQ6a5T
547Please respect copyright.PENANAEiFNw12U3b
547Please respect copyright.PENANAMgthBuWMbT
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「出擊!敝人愚策,應趁夜寐之刻,出籠撕咬獵物,殺個措手不及!!」547Please respect copyright.PENANA2G0a7C8oBh
547Please respect copyright.PENANA7WMp5rixwc
547Please respect copyright.PENANAZBD8XwW3hf
547Please respect copyright.PENANARpyliLrLPG
語畢,帕祖自信滿滿地彈起雙腳,氣勢十足的重擊胸口。547Please respect copyright.PENANA4C5nME2xVP
547Please respect copyright.PENANAEGsyKjWQZ3
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:547Please respect copyright.PENANAXd7C9lpQ69
547Please respect copyright.PENANA9V2EhxlVW8
「出擊!出擊!出擊!!」547Please respect copyright.PENANAL67UW3fs63
547Please respect copyright.PENANAy0KT03KhOE
「讓他們見識見識第一班的威猛!」547Please respect copyright.PENANAbJCC4p6Y2J
547Please respect copyright.PENANA3WztvPFxRl
「唔哦哦哦哦────!!」547Please respect copyright.PENANAH0KXSU8KBy
547Please respect copyright.PENANAB9flbxE50E
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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAotQsNWi7Oa
547Please respect copyright.PENANAiGNEfe1OTq
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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAOM2rYZ78hx
547Please respect copyright.PENANAKSPpGiX0HK
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。547Please respect copyright.PENANA59PAGROVwx
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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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAnoYr1dYsl3
547Please respect copyright.PENANA1tUw2VYZyP
────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?547Please respect copyright.PENANA4nWr13L3Wa
547Please respect copyright.PENANALKJtuCdsBb
儘管時隔多年,馬祿對喀爾爾的觀感一直是如此。547Please respect copyright.PENANAu1euknyyUP
547Please respect copyright.PENANAmFwtOiwiiZ
「偵查隊的看法,我理解了。那麼,別動隊呢?」547Please respect copyright.PENANA4Rs0ZTHdZi
547Please respect copyright.PENANATC4RfSOgzK
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。547Please respect copyright.PENANA1Qe6t14S30
547Please respect copyright.PENANACPxWlQUjXB
「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。547Please respect copyright.PENANAJyDMpsctKp
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「老實說吧────我不清楚。」547Please respect copyright.PENANAGbhdg1cWJN
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什、什麼────?!!