The City of Marronligar

In addition to the Temple and the Silver Bay Tower, the most luxurious buildings in the central city are undoubtedly the Governor's Palace and the City Hall.Every governor of Marenliga is elected by the people-although the governor has a lot of power, this approach is much more "civilized" than the tyrant system.Of course, the election process has nothing to do with the common people who make up the majority of the population, but a power game between businessmen and nobles.

A century or two ago, the religious order might still have a considerable say, but with the religious order's decline, the Governor's Palace no longer needs to worry about the restrictions of religious forces on it.Take Governor Morgis, who was born as a banker, as an example. He has been good at calculation all his life, and he can be said to be the most standard "merchant politician" in this city.

The governor's wife, Mrs. Bella, is much younger than him. It is said that she is a descendant of a poor noble family. She used to be active as a courtesan in the upper class of Marenlica. Her beauty is also the creative material for us down-and-out literati.There are so many rumors about her and the governor's husband that I can't list them all and verify their truth, but one thing is certain: Mrs. Bella's marriage was a complete tragedy.

——Miscellaneous Notes of Silver Bay Tower: Gossip and Conspiracy in the Governor's Mansion

After putting away the map with the route and destination marked, Samuel turned around and leaned his back against the hard corner of the desk: "This trip is really hard for you. I am embarrassed to keep you close to dangerous situations, and then I will go to Los Angeles. Gemma will probably use the order's ship, that's what I agreed with Hagrid."

Huta waved his hand, showing indifference: "Don't worry, come to me anytime you need it."

Samuel smiled: "You spend most of your time at sea, so you can't find them 'anytime'."

"Ah, it seems to be the same."

"After the catastrophe problem is solved, what are you going to do?"

Huta looked up at the ceiling and thought seriously: "If you don't need to find the relics and holy artifacts for you... Then go on traveling around the world, either looking for new continents, or visiting those friendly civilizations, or being a mouthpiece for different countries and tribes , anyway, neither I nor the Beacon will be idle—there are still so many unknown routes in the world waiting for me to open up."

Samuel looked at his friend who was always adventurous and energetic, and felt happy for him from the bottom of his heart. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel distressed by the predicament he was in: "Sometimes I really envy you, you can go wherever you want, No worries, no restraints."

"I see that Sophia is very interested in sailing, and she will go to the beacon every time. When Darren is older, I want to take him on a short voyage, just to play along the coastline for a month or two. If you want , and you can do it anytime.”

Samuel shook his head slightly: "Sophia can, but I can't." He held the snake-shaped pendant on his chest, and the lines flowing on the pendant were dull and dull.

After a short silence, Huta scratched his head and managed to choke out a sentence: "It will be possible someday."

Before bidding farewell to Samuel, he asked half-jokingly and half-seriously: "The crew and I will rest in Marenliga for a while, can you let Sophia open a letter as the proprietress, so that I can enjoy discounts in the Rosary Church? Don't worry, I will never lend this voucher to others."

Samuel smiled: "Don't ask me about this kind of thing, you can just please Sophia."

During the training interval, Adrian sat by the window, quietly watching Louis assemble the scattered wooden parts into shape.

It was a simplified light crossbow, with a leather strap fixed on the back, it would be very convenient to carry and use.Adrian has seen the large ballista that might be used to defend against foreign enemies on the outer wall of Heshan Manor, and also seen the standard crossbow on the back of the city guard here, and he probably understands the principle.However, he himself has only learned bow and arrow, so he still doesn't know how this weapon feels in the hand.

"There is honey water on the table, if you are thirsty, drink it yourself." Louis said without looking back.

Adrian looked at the clay pot on the table, thinking that he seemed to be treated like a child again.Considering that Louis has no apprentices and seems to have no family, it is understandable that he does not know how to talk to juniors.

Adrian poured himself half a glass, and while drinking, rejoiced that the honey water was not too sweet.He asked Louis at the right time: "Master, where did you learn the craftsmanship of these weapons?"

The project in Louis' hands just came to an end.He put away the blueprints, heaved a sigh of relief, and replied, "My former president. I used to be his apprentice." He didn't go on, and Adrian didn't ask.

——Not only is he good at fighting, but he can also make weapons. He has both talent and experience. It is indeed no problem to call him a "master".

Adrian admired Louis even more.But the closer the two got closer, the more mysteries about Louis became, so many that Adrian suspected that this man would disappear from his eyes at any time.

For example, the house they were in was simple and old, with only traces of Louis living alone, and it did not have the air of an "honorary president".But the night Adrian appeared outside the window on the second floor, a mysterious woman clearly appeared here, and he still remembers the vague smell of perfume; after leaving the pub a few days ago, Louis also put his arms around another woman. A prostitute spends a good night together.This is nothing unusual in Maren Riga, not even a gossip.

Adrian knew there was no need to pay attention to Louis' private life, but for some reason, he was still curious.

Is that just curiosity?Adrian didn't know either.

When he realized that he was interested in Louis, and that he was no longer concerned only with the knowledge and skills of bounty hunters, the doubts in Adrian's mind increased: Is Louis really alone in this city?Who is that woman in the cloak?Why is he against other bounty hunters?

Like the feathers of a seabird blown by the wind, the more crucial question flashed and disappeared in Adrian's mind, never staying in his memory: Who am I to Louis?A student thrust into his hands, a member of the Torresso family, or just Uncle Samuel's nephew?

As if driven by this question, Adrian said to Louis: "I want to try that weapon too."

Louis raised his eyebrows, grabbed the handle of the light crossbow and raised it: "You mean this?"

Adrian nodded.He pursed his lips, feeling a little anxious: "Can you teach me?"

The "teaching" he said is naturally not just "how to use", but "how to use it well in battle", including the repair and maintenance of weapons - Adrian's character has always been serious, if he is determined to learn something, he must Work it out from beginning to end.

"Okay." Louis smiled shortly, bowed his head and continued to adjust the tension of the bowstring. "It's better to give you this crossbow."

Adrian shook his head subconsciously: "I can buy it with money."

Louis had given him a short sword (and it was now on his waist), and he could no longer accept gifts for no reason-though not for no reason.

Contrary to the tense Adrian, Louis didn't care at all: "Just take it, I'm not poor enough to make a living selling weapons. But the house is too narrow, we have to try it in another place."

"where to?"

"Outside the city. Just find an open space and borrow a scarecrow from the farmer, or draw a target directly on the tree."

From the market to the west city gate of Marunliga, you need to pass through the main road in the central city.Every time at the crossroads where the roads meet, Adrian can't help but look at those tall and beautiful buildings, imagining how people built this city of gold with bricks and stones centuries ago , And whether these stone poems will usher in a day destroyed by time.

Louis, who has lived here for a long time, has long been used to this kind of scenery, just like farmers are used to the fields and fishermen are used to the sea.Walking in an extremely familiar city, he didn't need to pay special attention to look around like a visitor from a foreign land.He would be the first to notice any abnormalities in the surrounding environment.

But when he walked through the intersection and approached the edge of the central city, Adrian keenly noticed that Louis looked twice more in the direction of the Governor's Mansion.

He followed Louis' line of sight: the gorgeous mansion stretched along the street, the carved arched corridor on the first floor and the sky balcony on the second floor were decorated with complicated decorations, and the plain reliefs under the eaves reflected the sculptures embedded in the columns. Flower beds are like the ribbons tied on the buns and skirts of noble ladies.Outside the Governor's Mansion stood eight statues of goddesses with different postures. Fresh petals of various colors were sprinkled in front of the bases of the statues all year round, and they were inadvertently crushed by passing carriages.

—What is Master Cormac looking at?

Louis quickly moved his gaze back to the front, as if he had never looked up at all.But Adrian silently remembered this detail.He looked again at the third floor of the Governor's Mansion. Most of the two-foot square windows were closed, only two were still open.When passing under the two windows, Adrian's footsteps froze - he seemed to smell a familiar smell.

Staring at Louis's back, Adrian realized for the first time that his observation and senses were so redundant.

On the avenue outside the city of Marunliga, there are many merchant convoys coming and going, as well as villagers from nearby farms going to the market and delivering goods.The guards at the city gate did not dare to slack off, and registered the names of those who entered the city and the contents of their goods with ease.

Compared with entering the city, it is much more convenient to go out of the city.Louis and Adrian came to a barn on the outskirts of the city, where the view was wide, except for a few thick and short fruit trees in front of the barn, the surrounding area was harvested wheat fields, and a windmill in operation could be seen from a distance, behind the towering city wall A spier of a building pops out.

Louis moved a scarecrow from the edge of the wheat field, inserted it between the fruit trees, and asked Adrian to take the crossbow and take a few steps back to leave a shooting distance.

"Do you know how to use it?" Louis leaned against the tree trunk, standing very close to the scarecrow. "If you have practiced riding and archery in your hometown, you will at least know something about bows and arrows."

Adrian looked down at the newly made light crossbow—the arrow had been loaded, and all that was left was to aim and pull the crossbow.He raised his crossbow and aimed it at the scarecrow among the fruit trees, while weighing the weight of the weapon.The simplified crossbow is smaller and lighter than expected.

Louis still stood there without moving: "Pay attention to the wind direction and speed. Also, remember to calculate the angle of the arrow's fall."

Adrian closed one eye, lifted the front end of the crossbow a little bit, and did not pull the trigger for a long time: "Master, don't you plan to walk away?"

Louis shook his head: "No, I'm just standing here."

"...That's what you said." Adrian bit his lower lip, and cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck.

--calm.

Adrian carefully adjusted his breath, reconfirmed the position of the front sight, and then pulled the crossbow.

The off-string arrow shot forward with the momentum of breaking the wind, directly piercing the scarecrow's head, and the sharp arrowhead pierced into the tree trunk behind the scarecrow, less than an arm's length away from Louis.

Slowly lowering the light crossbow in his hand, Adrian finally breathed a sigh of relief, the cold sweat that broke out from nervousness was chilled by the wind.

"You scared the hell out of me," he muttered under his breath.

Only then did Louis turn around slowly, observe the depth of the arrow piercing into the tree trunk, and speculate on the lethality of the crossbow.He pulled out the arrow and said absently, "I should be the one who should be afraid."

Adrian couldn't see the slightest bit of fear on Louis' face.

Then, Louis walked up behind Adrian, held his wrist, almost pulled the bowstring with his hands, and loaded the arrow: "The aiming action should be more decisive. Like this——"

Like playing with a ball-jointed doll, with Adrian's hand, Louis quickly raised his elbow and shot.The arrow passed through the scarecrow's head and hit exactly where it landed last time.It was too late to marvel at Louis' proficient skills, and the too close physical contact made Adrian freeze in place, not knowing how to react for a while.

"Did you smell something when you passed by the Governor's Mansion?"

Louis' voice rang in Adrian's ear, and he was speechless in shock, his wide green eyes were full of surprise and anxiety.

The older bounty hunter said again: "That is Mrs. Bella, the wife of Governor Morgis. The night you saw me with the letter, she was the woman you saw from the window. She seemed to regard me as a lover. I It did bring her some comfort. However, apart from the physical|physical relationship, I did not ask or receive anything from the Governor's wife."

Louis' tone was unwavering, making it impossible to guess his true thoughts.

Adrian recovered from the shock, feeling unhappy for no reason: "...Why did you tell me this?"

——I want to know the answer to the riddle, but this is not the result I want to see.Why?

After a moment of silence, Louis took half a step back—the temperature on Adrian's body also disappeared.

"Because you seem to care about 'who is that', and I'm sure you won't tell anyone about it." Louis looked into Adrian's downcast eyes, realizing that he seemed to have inadvertently hurt this delicate person. young people.

Night is coming.When Adrian returned to the Flying Lion Mansion, he happened to meet Samuel who was wearing a cloak and was about to go out.He stepped aside and called "Uncle" politely.

Samuel walked in a hurry, but still stopped briefly in front of his nephew.He showed a reserved smile, looked at the light crossbow in Adrian's hand, and asked casually, "This is what Louis gave you?"

Hearing Louis' name, Adrian's face flashed with panic, but he quickly covered it up: "Yes. I practiced crossbow | arrows with Master Cormac today."

Although he noticed Adrian's unnatural expression and wanted to tell him face to face, but because he had an appointment with Hagrid, Samuel didn't dare to delay, so he simply explained: "We must gain Louis' trust as soon as possible." .If there is any change between him and the Bounty Hunter Association, report it to me or Sophia in time."

"Yes, uncle." Adrian lowered his head, hiding his expression in the shadows.

The author has something to say: Whirling-In-Rags12PM-BritishSeaPower (from Disco Elysium)