第6章 渡鸦

emsp;emsp;天蒙蒙亮时，海上列车停靠在了普朗镇车站。

emsp;The sea train, although it has been under development for many years, only started operating publicly last year. The route and transportation range are quite limited. This town, located over three hundred kilometers away from the Water Capital, is the furthest point that can be reached along the track.

emsp;emsp;而78支部所在的厄尔岛，距离这里还有数百公里的路程，需要在车站换乘，改坐商船前往。

emsp;The station is open-air, and the cold wind blowing through makes it feel even more desolate and empty.

emsp;Colonel Haik disembarked from the train with a bewildered expression on his face. He stared blankly at the sky for a while, and then looked at Vito and the others, who were smiling and waving goodbye to the old driver. He watched as the train turned around and headed back to the city of water. Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with.

Last night's events felt like a dream for Heike. He even felt like he hadn't woken up yet because he kept sensing the five crows on the tree across from the train station sign were staring at him.

emsp;emsp;那是五只体型较大的黑色渡鸦，简直像是一个模板里刻出来的，海克往左走，五只乌鸦也跟着往树枝左边缓缓挪动，往右走，乌鸦们又齐齐跟着向回横移……

emsp;emsp;From beginning to end, not a single dumb scream, the dark eyes blink not even once.

emsp;emsp; The silent scene is pervaded with an eerie atmosphere. Translated content: The character in the story remains completely silent throughout, without uttering a single sound. Their eyes, completely black, show no signs of blinking. This static image evokes a sense of strangeness.

emsp;He exclaimed, "Damn it."

emsp;emsp;他心底一阵发憷，正犹豫着要不要拔枪驱赶这群乌鸦的时候，身后忽然响起脚步声，却是维托等人送别了司机，越过他的身位离开车站，径直向着这座小镇另一端的码头走去。

emsp;emsp;Haikou hurried to catch up.

emsp;emsp;他知道自己现在的身份和半个俘虏没啥区别，一路都非常自觉，低眉顺眼地吊在最后头。

But just as they were approaching the dock, Vito and the others suddenly stopped in their tracks and moved aside, clearing the way for him to be at the forefront.

emsp;emsp;"Lord Vito?"

emsp;emsp;海克一愣，满腹疑惑地刚抬起头，就突然听到热情的招呼声，从远处传来：

emsp;emsp;“上校！海克上校，这边，这边！哎呀，我可是在这等了好久了，您可终于到了！”

emsp;emsp;海克循声望去，发现港口的岸边，一个衣着朴素的高瘦中年男人，正一边向着自己笑着招手，一边大步朝这边赶来。

emsp; I don't recognize him.

emsp;emsp;任凭绞尽脑汁怎么回想，海克也没能在记忆中搜寻到与这个中年男人对应的脸庞，但偏偏对方准确无误地叫出了自己的身份，难道是78支部基地那边的人吗？

emsp;It seems that he understood his confusion, and Vito, who was behind him, chuckled softly:

emsp;

emsp;emsp;"Oh, oh."

emsp;emsp;海克这才醒悟过来，他不留痕迹地用眼角余光看了眼维托，后者已经像是没事人一样，默不作声地低头站在后方，好像真的是他带过来的部下僚属一般。

emsp;I can't believe this guy... He actually arranged for someone to handle things at the Plong Town station in advance. How many people did he bring out from the deep mountains? He claims to have over ten thousand subordinates. While he definitely couldn't have brought all of them out, it's certainly more than just the few around him, right?

emsp;emsp;再想想之前自己的履历底细，被对方早早就查了个底朝天，海克的心情复杂而沉重，有种不小心上了贼船，就再也无法回头的感觉。

emsp;emsp;"Colonel, sir!"

emsp;emsp;At this moment, the thin and tall middle-aged man also arrived in front of Hake, respectfully bowing to him. After sizing him up for a moment, Hake just pursed his belly and nodded reluctantly as a response.

emsp;emsp;他的身份毕竟是海军支部上校，虽然这两天在维托等人面前乖巧的像是孙子，但放在厄尔岛那就是最顶端的上位者，自然不会对岛上要仰仗自己鼻息的商人多客气什么。

emsp;emsp;而这种摆足架子的模样，在瘦高中年男人看来也是理所当然，他直起身来时，丝毫没有在意海克上校的轻慢，脸上满是挤出来的谄媚笑容：

emsp;emsp;"Last night, I heard Captain Vito say that you will be transferring to Er Island today from the Plang Town station. I immediately took charge of the arrangement without calling the elders from our family for approval. It is indeed an honor for our entire family to have the privilege of accommodating such a distinguished figure as yourself. Once we arrive on the island, I expect the family head and others will praise me for having foresight…" Translated: "Last night, I heard Captain Vito say that you will be transferring to Er Island today from the Plang Town station. I immediately took charge of the arrangement without calling the elders from our family for approval. It is indeed an honor for our entire family to have the privilege of accommodating such a distinguished figure as yourself. Once we arrive on the island, I expect the family head and others will praise me for having foresight…"

emsp;emsp;瘦高男人在那边絮絮叨叨地说着，海克刚开始还有兴趣听他吹捧，到后面也有些不耐烦起来，伸手打断了话，斜瞅着这人问道：

emsp;emsp;"Which family on Elde Island do you belong to?"

emsp;emsp;“回上校大人的话，小人是汉森家族的，我们家族做的是烟草布匹的生意，每年都会沿着固定航线，去伟大航路南侧的几个岛屿贸易。”

emsp;emsp;被打断话的瘦高男人非但没有生气，听了海克的话反而振奋起来，满脸讨好地说道，“小的是负责这次商船的领队，您叫我斯威特就行。”

nbsp;He held a vague idea of getting close, but Haik completely ignored it and simply responded with a hmm before getting straight to the point and asking, "So, have our rooms been arranged?"

emsp;emsp;“您放心！昨晚我就连夜安排人腾出来了，绝对是船上最好的几间房！”

emsp;emsp;"Then what are we waiting for."

emsp;emsp;海克摆摆手，不耐地道，“现在就走吧，我可不不想在这冷的要死的鬼地方多待下去。”

emsp;emsp;"Uh, uh, okay, please follow me."

emsp;emsp;瘦高男人忙不迭地答应下来，只是在转身领路的时候，想起刚才海克说这露天码头寒冷，脸上不由露出一抹古怪之色。

emsp;emsp;这位身娇体贵的大人物，果然是在四季如春的马林梵多呆惯了，这就觉得冷了吗……那要是上了厄尔岛，岂不是一年到头都得在抱怨中度过？

emsp;emsp;海克跟在后面，没有注意到这个他眼中小人物的脸色变化，事实上他的心思完全不在登船这件事上，而是心中回想琢磨着刚才瘦高男人提到维托时的称呼。

emsp;emsp;Captain Vito.

emsp;emsp;这算什么？在和自己通过气之前，就提前预定好的职位吗？

emsp;emsp;海克内心有些许纠结，这个职位的空饷可不好领，毕竟距离校官的位置只差一步之遥，在一个支部基地里面怎么也算的上是中层精英了。

He had never even considered giving his handful of subordinates such positions before, not even the thin monkey man whom he relied on the most—the unlucky bloke who was the first to get shot in the head. He had only planned on giving him the rank of lieutenant, and the difference between captain and lieutenant was not just a small amount of difficulty when it came to covert operations.

emsp;emsp;但形势比人强，眼下自己只不过是个阶下囚罢了，除了照着维托的意思办，还能多提什么要求？

emsp;emsp;海克毫不怀疑，只要自己对维托的计划表现出哪怕零星半点的不配合，那个叫瑟提的大块头，就会重演海上列车里发生的一幕，像老鹰抓鸡崽一般把自己的脑袋给拎起来。