I admit there are times when it is useful to live among simpletons. For example, I was able to trade several gallons of my Lazarus Chowder to a group of hunters in exchange for an entire contingent of tamed gigantopithecus, and they never questioned wether it had been tested on humans yet.

  Well, I suppose if they return with another batch of apes, then I'll now that Lazarus Chowder doesn't cause asphyxiation, won't I? It's not exactly a conclusive, scientific trial, but I suppose it will serve.

  Unfortunately all these primitive primates have given Rockwell Manor quite the pungent odor. Isabelle said she is working on some sort of air freshener, but I hope she makes haste.

  我承認有時候和傻子相處也挺容易的。舉個例子來說吧，我想用幾加侖的拉撒路雜燴和一群獵人交換一隊馴化過的巨猿，他們想都不會去想這些藥湯是不是已經(jīng)做過人體實驗了。

  好吧，我假設(shè)他們還能再為我?guī)硪慌澈?，那時候給他們的拉撒路雜燴就不會導(dǎo)致窒息了。那并不是一個決定性的科學(xué)實驗，只是我假設(shè)那藥能行。

  不幸的是這些原始的靈長類動物讓莊園里充斥著異臭。Isabelle說她正在做一個空氣過濾器，我希望她越快越好。

  I am perplexed. Even with an expanded number of test subjects, I just cannot find the passion that I once had for my research. I truly thought that my recent adventure had lit a fire in my belly, but I constantly find myself losing focus. Confound it all!

  Perhaps said adventure itself is the problem. Thinking about it, I am always eager to discuss the obelisks and the artifacts I found with my assistants, even when I am not in the mood for research. There is a certain allure to them that I cannot describe, something that causes my thoughts to drift in their direction, like the pull of a strong tide.

  But it could simply be a passing fancy. I must give myself more time.

  即使擁有了一堆試驗對象，我也找不到曾經(jīng)的研究熱情。我很困惑。我真的感到最近的那次探險點燃了我心中的火焰，但我卻在失去關(guān)注。一切都亂套了!

  也許冒險本身就是個問題。仔細想想，哪怕我無心做實驗的時候，我也一直急切的想和助手們討論方舟和神器的事情。它們有一種我無法描繪的魅力，把我的思緒拉向那里，如同潮水一般。

  但這只是一時的幻想，我需要給自己更多的時間。

  I was ever so glad to see Miss Walker again. My assistants are clever in their own right, but dear Helena is still the only person that I feel comfortable diving into my deeper theories with.

  I fear that I may have kept her from getting a word in edgewise, though. Once I got going on the obelisks, why I just couldn't contain my enthusiasm!

  My word, I really have become quite enamored with the subject, haven't I? Well, that settles it! After this next set of trials, I shall go check on the Iron Brotherhood's progress. Perhaps I can convince Miss Walker to join me. We could make a real scientific expedition out of it!

  我很高興再次見到Walker小姐。我的助手們在他們自己的領(lǐng)域內(nèi)挺聰明，但是親愛的Helena是我唯一覺得可以深入潛心分享理論的人。

  我恐怕說得太多了讓她插不上嘴，雖然，我去過一次方舟，為何我就不能控制下我的熱情。

  用我的話說，我是不是對這個主題太著迷了?好吧，一言為定!我下一組實驗結(jié)束后，我要去查看一下鋼鐵兄弟會的探險進度了。也許我能說服Walker小姐加入我。我們能成為一對真正的科學(xué)考察組合!

  The latest Broth of Enlightenment trials have concluded, and as expected, I am disappointed in the results. Thought the primates I tested it on showed increased aptitude for learning, I do not believe any of them have truly ascended to a higher level of intelligence.

  Well bugger the little blighters, I say! My assistants have almost finished preparing my supplies for my next expedition, and I have drafted a letter to send to the Iron Brotherhood ahead of my departure. Soon enough, I'll have forgotten all about the...

  Pardon the interruption, it seems that I have a guest. Now just what is Mister Nerva doing here? I suppose I'll find out.

  最新的啟蒙藥水的試驗已經(jīng)結(jié)束，正如預(yù)期，我對試驗結(jié)果很失望。我在靈長類動物身上測試，試圖讓它們表現(xiàn)出更高的學(xué)習(xí)能力。但我不相信它們真正提高了智力水平。

  ***的**!我的助手們都快為我準備好下一次探險的裝備補給了，在我離開前，我也起草好一封寫給鋼鐵兄弟會的信函。很快，我就會統(tǒng)統(tǒng)忘記……

  不好意思停頓一下，我似乎有一位訪客。Nerva先生現(xiàn)在到我這兒來干什么?我想我會知道的。

  I have always tried to maintain a strict neutrality when it comes to tribal matters, but then again, I have never had an offer this tempting from someone as respectable as Mister Nerva. Not only has he offered to provide me with test subjects, but he has also expressed a mutual interest in investigating the obelisks. All he asks from me is that I provide him with "reliable council."

  I would trust few tribes to be able to make good on such promises, but Mister Nerva's New Legion is perhaps the most powerful tribe on the island. Indeed, if they maintain their current trajectory, they may be the only powerful tribe on the island.

  His offer is worth considering, at the very least.

  在處理部落間的事務(wù)時，我一直恪守中立。但是，我從沒有收到過一份來自像Nerva先生這樣受尊敬的人的邀請。他不僅愿意提供我受試驗的對象，還向我表達了一同探索方舟的意向。而他想要我做的就是為他提供“可靠的建議”。

  我不相信會有多少部落能做出這么美好的承諾，然而Nerva先生和他的新軍恐怕是島上最強大的部落了。的確如此，如果他們繼續(xù)保持現(xiàn)在的運作，他們就會是島上唯一的超級部落。

  他的邀請有那么點兒值得考慮。

  After much deliberation, I have decided to accept Mister Nerva's offer. True, the New Legion is not beloved by many other tribes, but was Charlemagne beloved by his enemies? If my studies are to continue, I must be on the right side of history.

  As part of our agreement, I will need to travel with Mister Nerva for a time, and wait to study the obelisks until the New Legion has taken care of some smaller matters of foreign policy. As such, I have left Rockwell Manor in Isabelle's charge. She will take excellent care of it, I am sure.

  Well then, onto new frontiers! Excelsior!

  想來想去，我還是接受了Nerva先生的邀請。誠然，新軍不討很多部落喜歡，但是Charlemagne(查理曼大帝，西羅馬帝國皇帝)會被他的敵人喜歡么?如果我想要繼續(xù)我的研究，我就得站在能創(chuàng)造歷史的那一邊。

  作為約定的一部分，我將和Nerva先生一起出行一段時間。等新軍處理完一些外交上的小事，就能前往方舟去學(xué)習(xí)。既然如此，我把Rockwell莊園留給了Isablle主持，我相信她一定會好好打理的。

  好吧，在新的領(lǐng)域!精益求精!

  I admit, I have been rather coy with Mister Nerva when it comes to the true nature of the obelisks. As a military man, the obelisks would naturally be more useful to him if they were some sort of weapon, and I have made sure to allude to that possibility from time to time.

  It is not as though I am selling my gracious host a falsehood. After all, I have neither any proof that the obelisks could be weaponized, nor any evidence to the contrary. Their purpose is entirely theoretical at this stage, and if twisting those theories will convince Mister Nerva to march on the obelisks any sooner, then so be it.

  我承認，當和Nerva先生談及方舟的真正屬性時，我有些靦腆。他作為一個軍人，如果方舟是某種武器，對他而言就太有用了。我必須不斷的暗示有這種可能性。

  這并不是我向親愛的主公所編繪的謊言。畢竟，我還沒證實方舟可以被武器化或者不能。方舟的用途目前還只在理論水平。但如果混淆這些概念能說服Nerva先生盡快向方舟進軍的話，那就這么說吧。

  The New Legion is finally on the march, and not a moment too soon! Mister Nerva runs his tribe exceptionally well, but their compound is positively spartan. I don't think I saw a single piece of decor anywhere! It certainly made me miss the comforts of Rockwell Manor, I'll say that.

  At any rate, we are apparently in pursuit of a barbaric "Beast Queen". According to the men, she feasts on the flesh of her enemies alongside her army of monsters. Dreadful! Mister Nerva is convinced that she is heading towards an obelisk, but I see no cause for alarm. No mere heathen could hope to uncover its secrets, and certainly not alone.

  新軍最終很快完成了集結(jié)。Nerva先生將他的部落管理得井井有條。但他們的場地太簡陋了，我在任何地方都看不到簡單的裝飾布置。這讓我很是想念我的莊園。

  無論如何，我們正努力追蹤一個叫做“獸林女王”的野蠻人。聽人說，她和她的怪獸茹毛飲血。太可怕了!Nerva先生相信她正在趕往一個方舟，但我覺得沒必要那么緊張。一個不信科學(xué)的人如何能揭露方舟的秘密。