The City of Marronligar

Maren Liga, who made her fortune from the ocean, naturally has an unfading passion for sailing.Children in the harbor area, in particular, grew up listening to stories about sailors, captains, and explorers. They also like to stand on a small sampan by the pier, pretending that they are commanding a three-masted ship, and imagining strange things in the distance. Rare treasures and stormy seas.

They are not interested in the plots of business and political struggle in the story, but they are particularly fascinated by the parts about treasure hunting, fighting and love.The Falcon, the Violet, the Valkyrie, and the most famous Beacon are children's "dream ships".And when these almost legendary ships return to the port for repairs, the children are always happier than the midsummer carnival.

——Miscellaneous Notes of Silver Bay Tower: Explorers and Their Ships

When the boat songs, oars and fluttering sails approach the pier, the city has already started a day of life.Coins and pricing chips fell on the wooden table, the running water that washed the street seeped into the cracks in the bricks, and the reflections of pedestrians were reflected in the microwave of the Pearl River.

Adrian also came to Louis' residence as usual and continued his daily "boring training".

The third floor of Louis’ home is a not-so-spacious training ground, complete with dummies, wooden targets, pendulums, and sandbags, but dust has fallen on it.It hadn't been used for a while before Adrian came.Although it is not as good as Heshan Manor or Flying Lion Mansion, it is closer to the actual combat situations that bounty hunters usually encounter.

Of course, Adrian was the only one who trained seriously. Louis, who had finished his apprenticeship for nearly 20 years, just sat in a chair and watched Adrian brandish a pair of short swords in his hand.Although they are all short swords, one of them is longer than the other, and the shape of the blade and hilt is slightly different.

After getting used to the training ground in the past few days, Adrian has been able to hit the vitals of the target while avoiding the cork dagger casually thrown by Louis.

Louis felt that the scene in front of him was very familiar - he had seen this set of Torresso's "sword dance" when he was acting with Samuel a long time ago.The protagonist has changed, but the routines and techniques seem to be the same. The figures of Samuel and Adrian seem to overlap at some moments, bringing old hallucinations to Louis.The difference was that Samuel's saber was also very good, which made Louis wonder if it was necessary to let Adrian try another weapon.

Slender stature, quick movements, excellent reflexes, light equipment, these are the characteristics of the closely knit Torresso lineage.Torreso's ancestors were well aware of their weaknesses and strengths, and created combat skills that could be passed down through long-term practice.

The short sword attack that pursues speed and precision is based on excellent physical fitness. It aims at the enemy's weakness and resolves the battle with a swift key blow-as long as the battle is ended quickly enough, the risk of injury can be effectively reduced.

Of course, lack of armor has become another safety hazard because of the pursuit of fast and light movements.

After watching it for a while with the mentality of a senior and a mentor, spit out a few pertinent comments from time to time, or pointed out the flaws in the connection between attack and defense. Louis's guidance work seems to be very easy.He almost forgot that Adrian also needs to rest, and Adrian is not the character who would take the initiative to ask for a rest.

It wasn't until he found that the opponent's breath was disrupted, and the movement of the large slash followed by the backhand stab was not as natural as before, that Louis coughed quietly and said, "You can change the style, I will teach you how to do it first." Identify good weapons."

Adrian was competing with himself, and he was also unconsciously competing with Louis.

On the other side of the Flying Lion Mansion, the work of Patriarch Torreso is also not easy.

Samuel doesn't look very energetic because he has been running between the temple, the city hall and the flying lion mansion in recent days.He stayed up all night in the study, and was so tired that he fell asleep directly on the soft couch with his clothes on.Sophia took over the unfinished paper work from Samuel and continued to write letters to the elders of Heshan Manor.She and Samuel had the same tone, and their handwriting was very similar. It was not difficult to do such a thing.

The window of the study room was open, and the wind blowing across the table was not strong, only gently brushing a corner of the paper, like a vine clinging to a stone wall.Here is a distance from the downtown area, so the owner will not be disturbed by the complicated conversations related to money. The only thing that is blown into the room and corridor by the wind is the sound of running water and birdsong.

Sophia could also see the garden below through the window.

Her son Darren is still young, and now he is squatting under the olive tree with several nearby children of the same age, making gestures on the ground with branches, and playing some unknown game.Samuel has no wife and no children. He basically regards Darren as his own child. Not long ago, he discussed with Sophia where to find a suitable teacher for Darren.

Soon, there was another sound of birds flapping their wings outside the window.The carrier pigeon fluttered its wings, its red claws were clutching the window sill, and a small roll of letter paper was tied to its feet.It tapped the window sill with its beak, and tilted its head obediently, waiting for Sophia to notice him.

Sophia turned around, put down the quill in her hand, and walked towards the carrier pigeon at the window.She unfastened the things on the carrier pigeon's feet, and stroked the soft breast feathers and smooth back feathers gently.The carrier pigeon combed the feathers blown by the wind during flight, stood on the window sill and flapped its wings, then left the Flying Lion Mansion and flew to its home in the harbor area.

At the same time Sophia unfolded the roll of letter paper, Samuel also just woke up, probably just heard the movement of the carrier pigeon.His eyes were still sleepy, and he asked, "What's wrong?"

"There is a message from the pier that Huta and the Beacon have entered Silver Bay and will be berthed soon." Sophia folded the letter paper and replied with a smile.

Samuel sat up and supported his still somewhat confused head - he was indeed extremely tired during this time.He had to mediate between several forces, and he had to take his hands out to investigate the secrets of the catastrophe, and he had to beware of some elders from his hometown stabbing him in the back.Samuel thought so more than once: Being a patriarch is really the number one hardship.

Pushing the blanket aside, Samuel stood up, lowered his head and straightened the wrinkles on the clothes: "Then it's time for us to greet him."

He asked Sophia again: "Where is Adrian? I haven't had time to talk to him these days. I don't know how he gets along with Louis."

Sophia replied: "He went to Louis's place early in the morning, saying that he had some daily training." She folded her arms and said in a helpless tone. "You are already busy enough, just leave it to me on Adrian's side, I will pay more attention to it."

Samuel nodded with a wry smile: "Then please."

He looked at the mottled tree shadows outside the window, and thought that when he fell asleep in the study, the lower edge of the moon had already covered the opposite roof.I don't know when these days will end.But if it does end one day, Samuel isn't sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

He held back the urge to sigh.

"Let's go, Sophia."

Word had spread among the children of the Harbor District that the Beacon had returned to Marunliga.They huddled together on the boardwalk leading to the sea, and the little boy standing at the front was even squeezed into the water. He had just climbed back to the boardwalk, wiped off the seaweed debris on his face, and didn't bother to go home and change his clothes. He began to poke his neck and look at the huge sail.

There's a reason Beacon and her master, Huta, are so revered.Huta, a navigator and explorer who was born as a mercenary, once discovered mineral deposits and expanded trade routes for Marenlica overseas. Every time he traveled, he always brought back a lot of valuable goods and novel knowledge from foreign countries.

Behind him is the financial support of the Torresso family-in fact, Huta spent a period of time at Heshan Manor when he was young.Although he didn't bear the surname of Torreso, and the Beacon number was his own assets accumulated bit by bit, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is the captain hired by the Torreso family.

As a friend of Samuel's, Huta was more than happy to help in any way he could.

After hearing the news, Samuel and Sophia rushed to the pier quickly.The anchor of the Beacon has sunk, the sails have been furled high, and the crew is busy packing up the items on the deck.A few brave children ran around on the deck, and the older sailors carried them back to the open space where they would not disturb their work.The chief mate, carrying a purse, negotiated with the port management staff on the cost and specific requirements during the berthing period.

Sophia wore a light men's suit, a tight leather vest over a tie-up shirt, and leather boots with heels wrapped most of the trousers.In Marenliga, it is not unusual for women to dress like this - for the convenience of movement, many female workers sometimes wear their husbands or brothers' clothes to work (of course, the premise is that the size fits).She stepped onto the deck briskly, leaning on the railing on the edge, and looked at the blue water below the side of the ship.The seabirds that had just been frightened away by the beacon flew back, calling and circling on the top of the mast.

Huta came out of the captain's cabin and waved warmly to Samuel and Sophia from afar.With his hips akimbo, he directed his subordinates to carry out the cargo in the cabin in boxes. He also carried a large bag of fine silk fabrics, and the leather package hanging on his waist was bulging with various maps and manuscripts.

Samuel went forward to meet him: "You have really gained a lot from this trip."

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten what you asked me once!" Huta patted Samuel's shoulder and laughed loudly, then whistled in Sophia's direction. "Ma'am! I also brought you a lot of good things. And Darren, the child seems to be six years old, right? I brought back a few unique toys, he will definitely like it."

Sophia smiled lightly and said, "Okay, these things can be discussed later." She pointed to Samuel. "My brother is still waiting for you to talk about business."

Huta immediately restrained his frivolous and rough manners, and his expression became serious: "I'll let my old man arrange the goods. Where can we talk in detail?"

In order to prevent people from distracting, Samuel directly brought Huta back to the Flying Lion Mansion.The financial matters related to the goods required Sophia to come forward to socialize, so only Samuel and Huta were left in the study.

On the round table in the center of the study, Huta spread out an old sheepskin map and pressed the four corners with a paperweight.The map depicts the Kuno Continent where they are located, but Marunliga actually only occupies a small piece of the peninsula in the southeast corner of the continent.In the northwest, separated by rift valleys and towering mountains, there are many secrets that people have not yet discovered.

Huta pointed to the lonely and secret land in the northwest—the now uninhabited Logmar area, the "beginning and ending place" of the catastrophe, and the suspected location of the ancient temple of the Torresso family.If there really is a way to stop the cataclysm, there may be some clues there.It was also to find clues that the Beacon circled half a circle along the Kuno Continent, avoiding the natural moats and barriers on land, and looking for a route to approach this area from the sea.

"Although we have found the route, found the coast where we can dock, successfully landed, and even approached the depths of the Logmar area, I have to confess," Huta's tone sank. "That place is dead, dead dead."

Samuel's hands on the table unconsciously formed fists.

Huta shook his head slightly, and continued to say: "That sea area is very strange. It may be due to ocean currents. There is no sea ice on the seashore, and there is no snowfall in the sky, but it is extremely cold. After landing, I brought A group of people walked from the beach to Logmar, but they didn't dare to go too far. There are hills and depressions in the middle, and the birds, animals and vegetation are not unusual. After turning over the mountain, we saw a large plain on the peak—— To be precise, the grassland should be the hinterland of Logmar."

He picked up the water glass, took two sips, and then said: "You mentioned to me the fragments left by our ancestors before, which described the situation in the Logmar area. What we saw was basically the same as what was written on it—the vast The grassland is golden and emerald green, like a solid ocean. Not to mention human figures, I dare not even see birds passing there. There are relics of buildings in the middle of the grassland. I saw some vaguely with a telescope, but most of them have disappeared. Flooded by weeds, not sure if it is a town or the ancient temple you are looking for. There is a huge sinkhole in the distance, and the other side of the sinkhole is a glacier, which is the limit of our vision. Strangely, the plain There was no wind—not a breath of wind, not even the grass would move. If I were to use an analogy: the land was completely frozen from head to toe. In contrast, the aurora in the sky of Logmar was completely frozen. It seemed unremarkable."

Samuel stared intently at the Logmar area on the map, muttering to himself; "Those legends are not groundless, we have already found Logmar."

Huta nodded: "That's right, the vision we saw should be the trace left by a certain catastrophe—or the sequelae? No matter, that's what it means anyway."

However, he was still a little worried about Samuel's future plans: "For safety reasons, we did not dare to enter the plains. Probably because of the lack of your Torresso's blood, I am not very sensitive to the vision of catastrophe. But just standing On the edge of Logmar, I can feel some kind of indescribable fear. For the first time, I have experienced that sense of oppression, like an unarmed toddler standing alone in the dark, and unknown unknown forces are hidden in all directions. Monster. What the hell happened there? Why did it feel like that? We don't know anything."

"Finding the location of Logmar and knowing how to get there is already a great achievement." Samuel rolled up the map and put it into the manuscript basket at the corner of the desk. "After handing over the work on Ma Lunliga's side, I can set off."

Knowing that he couldn't beat Samuel, Huta shrugged helplessly, and asked again: "You can't go alone, can you?"

Samuel lowered his head; "I have teammates. You should have heard of it, Hagrid Sauron, the Chief Inquisitor of the Order."

Huta took a half step back exaggeratedly: "I know him, that super fierce brother of the sect!"

"Super fierce? Well, you're right." Samuel laughed twice.

The author has something to say: Writing bgm: Rome (TheMedievalEra) - RolandRizzo (Roman bgm of Civilization 6)