Dawg Russ strode back, thinking over and over in his mind how to report to Redd.
He thought over and over the correct words several times, and also thought over the words he was going to say later several times - he wanted to show that he had really worked hard in the search, but not to appear to be taking too much credit;
We should not only make His Highness feel that we are capable, but also not steal His Highness's limelight.
It's too difficult.
When he walked to the stone house, it was almost dark.
Two guards stood at the door. When they saw him coming, they stretched out their hands to stop him.
"My lord, please wait a moment. Your Highness is having a meal."
Dawg Russ nodded quickly. "No hurry, no rush, I'll wait."
He stood at the door, straightened his collar, pulled on his cloak, and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeves - after running all afternoon, he had sweat all over his body and couldn't even wipe it away.
There was a faint sound of clinking bowls and chopsticks in the stone house, and... a low whine?
Dawg Lars glanced inside quietly and almost lost his balance.
In the room, Redd was sitting in front of a rough wooden table, with several grilled fish on the plate in front of him.
King Ghidorah was lying outside the stone house, but all three heads were squeezed into the window and the door. The one in the middle was sticking his big head to Redd's hand, staring longingly at the grilled fish on the plate, purring like a puppy.
Not to be outdone, the one on the left also squeezed in hard, making the window frame creak.
The one on the right is not squeezed in, but its eyes are filled with resentment, staring at the back of Redd's head. The expression clearly says: Why do they have me instead of me?
Redd Without looking back, he grabbed a piece of grilled fish from the plate and threw it back.
The middle head caught it accurately, swallowed it without chewing, and then continued to whine.
The one on the left became anxious and made a louder whine.
Redd threw another one.
The resentful look on the right became even darker.
Redd sighed, threw the last grilled fish to it, and then shook his head at the empty plate. "I'll let you eat them all, what should I eat?"
The three heads groaned in contentment at the same time, retracted and rubbed against each other, and finally stopped.
Dawg Russ stood at the door, dumbfounded.
This... is this the monster that just slaughtered a fleet in a cup of tea?
The guard coughed lightly. "Sir, Your Highness will let you in."
Dawg Russ quickly came to his senses, straightened his expression, and walked into the stone house.
"Your Highness." He bowed and saluted.
"Sit." Redd pointed to the wooden bench opposite, "How's the check going?"
Dawg Lars did not dare to sit down, so he stood and reported, "Back to Your Highness, I will lead people to search Bloodstone Island, and then send people to Gray Gallows Island.
There are indeed no defenders on the island. Daemon took away everyone they could, leaving only a few fishermen and farmers."
Redd nodded, seemingly not surprised.
"However," Dawg Russ's tone rose slightly, "The general asked something."
He repeated what Li Zheng said in detail - Daemon left three days ago, took away all the defenders and ships on the island, and went to Lys;
He was followed by three or four men in black robes, who were mysterious and kept in a room talking and no one was allowed to come near him;
Before he left, he left a message, saying that Stepstones was his territory and he would settle the score with the visitor when he came back from Lys.
"The man in black robe?" Redd raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Yes, the kind of black robe that wraps you from head to toe, you can't even see your face clearly." Dawg Russ said cautiously, "The general is thinking about it, this matter is a bit strange.
Daemon Although that guy is arrogant, he is not stupid. If he dares to abandon his lair Lys, he must have a bigger plan.
Those men in black robes... I will eventually wonder if there are some other forces involved?"
Redd didn't speak immediately, just tapped the table with his fingers.
Dawg Russ stood aside, not daring to express his anger.
After a while, Redd spoke, "You did a good job."
Dawg Lars's heart skipped a beat, and he almost laughed, but he held it back and just bowed and said, "It's the general's responsibility."
"Those men in black robes," Redd's eyes flashed slightly, "Did you ask anything else?"
"This..." Dawg sweated on his forehead again, "The general is incompetent. Those people left with Daemon. The people on the island really don't know their origins.
The general has asked his subordinates to continue interrogating you. If you can find out anything, please report it to His Highness immediately."
Redd nodded and did not ask any further questions.
He stood up and walked to the door. King Ghidorah's three heads immediately came over.
He reached out and patted the one in the middle, but looked towards the sea in the distance. Night had fallen, and the sea was dark, with only a few fishing fires flickering in the distance.
"Daemon went to Lys because he wanted to join forces with Menander." Redd said lightly, "But the two of them alone are not enough to fight us. Those men in black robes are the key."
Dawg Russ asked cautiously, "Your Highness, where do you think those men in black robes came from?"
Redd was silent for a moment, then slowly spit out two words: "Citadel."
Dawg Lars's pupils shrank suddenly.
Citadel?
That Citadel of Oldtown? Those bachelors who only know how to read and write?
"Isn't it possible?" he blurted out, "Citadel never participates in disputes between princes. This is a thousand-year rule--"
"Rules?" Redd turned around, glanced at him, and raised the corners of his mouth slightly, but the smile made people shiver down the spine, "Dawg Lars, do you think it is in line with the rules for me to ride a dragon everywhere?"
Dawg Russ opened his mouth but was speechless.
"Rules are for those who abide by the rules." Redd looked away, "Those who don't abide by the rules naturally have their reasons.
Those old guys at Citadel have been living in Oldtown for thousands of years. Do you think they are really willing to just read and write all their lives?"
Dawg Lars felt a chill on his back.
If Citadel really got involved... then the nature of the matter would be completely different.
That is not a dispute between a few governors or a few princes, but...
He didn't dare to think about it.
"Your Highness, then we..." He swallowed, "What should we do next?"
Redd didn't answer, just looked at the sea in the distance quietly.
The head in the middle of King Ghidorah came over and lightly rubbed his shoulder.
He reached out and patted it, his movements were very gentle, as if he was comforting or making up his mind.
"Early tomorrow morning, we will set off for Lys." His voice was calm, "Since Daemon is there, let's solve it there. As for Citadel..."
He paused.
"It's not too late to go to Oldtown after we finish dealing with them."
Dawg Russ took a deep breath, bowed and clasped his fists. "I will obey your orders."
He exited the stone house, walked a few steps, and couldn't help but look back.