The City of Marronligar

Like other merchants in Marenlica, the Torresso family attaches great importance to the property in their hands.Especially the taverns and hotels in the downtown area, where people come and go all day long, local civilians and foreign businessmen will stop here, and few people can completely bypass the shops under the name of Torresso.

In addition to never being short-changed or falling behind when paying taxes, and maintaining a good relationship with the Governor's Mansion, they also consciously maintain order within their sphere of influence.Strict bans on the trade in banned drugs such as Bliss Tobacco are part of this, and drug dealers are forced to avoid these areas.However, there will still be very few people trying to touch Torreso's bottom line.

——Miscellaneous Notes of Silver Bay Tower Torreso's family business

Although Louis was not allowed to accept the asylum of the Flying Lion Mansion as a "bodyguard" as he wished, Adrian still found another way to get along with Louis.

——If the Torresso family encounters any problems in Marenlica, you can always come to me.

Adrian wasn't sure if this promise was also for Samuel's sake.However, since he got Louis's tacit approval, even if he couldn't get along like he did some time ago, Adrian could still find a legitimate reason to walk across the street covered with thin snow and visit the corner of the market wearing a warm leather long cloak. Three-story building.

If other clansmen ask, Adrian doesn't need to feel guilty - he is not wasting time and affection on Louis, but with an impeccable necessity.

Just like this time.Adrian went to Louis for help, which was also Sophia's intention.

As usual, Louis sat at the wooden table and smoked.It wasn't until he heard Adrian's knock on the door (he had already summed up the rhythm of the knock on the door) that he slowly put away his pipe and opened the wooden window halfway, so that the accumulated smell of smoke in the room could be blown away with the wind.

It was precisely because of this that Adrian felt colder than usual as soon as he entered the room.

Louis closed the window again calmly, and asked, "Why, you have encountered a problem that needs to be solved by me again?"

Adrian nodded, and told Louis the truth about the things that bothered him: "Someone is selling bliss tobacco in the store we invested in. Although the tobacco dealer has been handed over to the city guard, we hope to track down the distributor who supplied it. It can also uproot the underground workshops that produce banned drugs."

"They are quite courageous. Sophia should be really angry if they dared to do such a thing on Torresso's territory." Louis knew very well what the Torresso family's attitude towards these contraband was. "Be more specific. Who sells this stuff where?"

Adrian was a little embarrassed, and tried to replace the straightforward and common words with euphemistic expressions: "...it's 'that' shop."

Subtle expressions are not much different from wording and straight speaking.Louis couldn't help being speechless: "Isn't it the Holy Rosary?"

"Of course not." Adrian clarified quickly. "It's a hostel in the harbor area. It's a special service. It's called the Cobblestone."

Louis responded immediately: "Oh, I know this store. The level of wine and food there is average, but the business is good."

Adrian knew that most of the good business there was due to the beautiful waitresses who also operated "special services".Thinking of this, his expression became unnatural.

Both Sophia and Samuel are relatively informal, open and casual is Marenlica's consistent style, but Adrian is extremely cautious on this topic.Louis found this contrast very interesting, and believed that Adrian had already realized that this might be a small shortcoming.

Adrian added: "It is the hotel owner who secretly sells Bliss Tobacco. He deceived a few girls under his command, making them think that it was a 'happiness drug' sold to the guests, and he also made a fortune from them."

Recalling his drunken youth, Louis often talked and laughed with women who were active in romantic situations, so he had unique sympathy for them: "Then he is really a villain." He sighed softly.

"According to the law of Maren Liga, the only thing waiting for him is the death penalty. As for the girls who were deceived into becoming accomplices, the Flying Lion Mansion is working hard to negotiate with the city court to ensure that their punishment will not be too heavy. But whether they know it or not, Selling Bliss Tobacco is hardly condoned."

Bliss Tobacco, a special drug that is highly addictive, can bring "Elysium-like dreams" in a short period of time, but with the escalation of drug dependence, it will gradually make users lose their minds, and eventually fall into a state where only death is the only way to go. Resolvable madness.

People are not unaware of the evil consequences of using bliss tobacco, but in the era of turmoil and catastrophe, the illusory scene of heaven is so tempting that some people always leave the "future" behind and throw themselves into the future Every field is a dream piled up by hallucinations.

Louis can understand Adrian's current mood very well: "The actions of the drug dealers threaten the safety of the citizens and damage the reputation of your family. Instead of waiting for the guards to seal up the drug workshop, it is better for Torreso's people to do it with their own hands. Solve the problem, show the attitude and action of Feishi Mansion——you and Sophia think so, right?"

Adrian admitted frankly: "That's it."

Altruism and a sense of justice are on the one hand, and the symbolism embodied in actively cleaning the house is another.

"You may remember that I killed a man at the pier a few months ago." Adrian mentioned the scene of meeting Louis for the first time. "He is a drug dealer, and he still has a ledger. However, that guy belongs to the end of the chain, and most of the ledgers are written in code words and pseudonyms, so it is difficult to trace to the workshop. At that time, my uncle was busy investigating the holy artifact , and this matter will be delayed.”

Louis nodded clearly: "Actually, you have already grasped very important clues. It's just that in the gray area of ​​Maren Liga, some knowledge may be beyond the comprehension of serious people."

Adrian asked modestly: "You mean, we need to find someone in the 'industry'?"

"Adrian, do you know why Bliss Tobacco has been repeatedly prohibited despite the powerful Governor's Mansion, well-trained city guards, and strict laws and regulations?" Louis suddenly asked.

Adrian lowered his head and thought for a moment, then tentatively replied: "Could it be that the Governor's Mansion is condoning its circulation?"

Louis shook his head: "That's not the case. If the Torresso family takes the lead in cutting off the distribution channels of this banned drug and destroying the production workshops in the Marenliga area, the Governor's Palace and the City Hall will still give their support, at least clearly On the face of it, it is not only beneficial to the security of the city, but also can improve the prestige among the citizens, so why not do it.”

Adrian pursed his lips: "But they didn't show enthusiasm, which makes it hard to believe that there is no interest in it."

"Because Bliss Tobacco has become a part of Maulliga." Louis slowly revealed the answer. "It's very dangerous, but it's profitable. There are always people who take the risk and provide funds and manpower for the underground workshops that produce banned drugs. These businessmen are very shrewd. They know when to invest and when to get out, and then put their books on the table. Handle it cleanly."

"The merchants are the 'heroes' of the city's prosperity, and they are the source of part of the power of the Governor's Mansion. Offending a few rich merchants rashly is enough to hurt Marlon." Adrian followed the logic explained by Louis.

Louis spread his hands: "That's how it is."

Adrian emphasized his position in a low voice: "Our Torreso is different from those businessmen."

"I know." Louis smiled. "However, if you just destroy the workshop itself and don't involve the benefactor behind it, the group of 'big shots' won't jump out to embarrass you. It's safer to take this approach now."

"That's the only way to go." Adrian sighed helplessly, thinking that he had to wait for his uncle to come back to discuss some questions.

Seeing Adrian follow his own train of thought and find the most suitable solution to solve the problem, Louis suddenly felt in a good mood: "I'm very happy that you can take the initiative to ask me for help instead of forcing yourself to fight alone."

Adrian smiled and said, "You said I could do this."

"I will help you with this matter. But you must remember that you, like Sofia, represent Torresso now, and you need to be clear about your position at all times." Louis promised readily. "I'll take you to meet someone first. Although that guy didn't get involved in these dirty deals, he knows almost nothing about Maren Liga."

Adrian tilted his head: "Could it be that Mr. Writer again?"

"Of course not, he is much richer than Seamus."

Two days later, Louis invited Adrian to the public bath in the noble district.

"Are we here to meet the informant, or to take a bath?" Adrian stood at the entrance of the bathhouse, lost in thought while looking at the snow-covered wooden signboard.

In winter, it’s so cold outside that people huddle together, and the interior is warm like spring. This kind of weather is naturally very suitable for spending time by the hot tub. Adrian also likes the feeling of stretching his body and emptying his mind (after all, there is a There is a natural hot spring), but he feels that this is far from the time to enjoy it.

Louis had already brought two wooden basins and clean towels, and beckoned Adrian to walk towards the bathing place, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying: "This time, I will count it as my invitation to you, and it doesn't need to be counted in the subsequent remuneration."

Adrian didn't move, his suspicious eyes filled with "Are you serious?"

"I'm serious." Louis put on a serious expression. "It's a good place for serious business, and the 'jack of all trades' we're meeting is a favorite place to soak in. Respecting and mimicking each other's interests helps build trust."

Although he suspected for a moment that he was being fooled by Louis, Adrian still chose to give in.

As long as he thinks, Adrian can list a series of reasons at any time to explain why "important matters should not be discussed here": the fog is steaming, there are too many people, the clothes are not covered, and it is too immodest...

But in the face of Louis, a veteran bounty hunter, Adrian worried that these seemingly well-founded doubts would make him seem superficial-the age difference of more than ten years, the gap in life experience and temperament lie between them While guiding Adrian's growth, it also made him feel subtle inferiority complex from time to time.

Louis always told him to "don't care about these details", not to let the difference in identity and experience interfere with the normal communication between the two, but Adrian was not sure that he could always maintain the right posture.

He longed for this man from the bottom of his heart.Unknowingly, longing became the biggest obstacle for him to express his heart.

The floor of the public bath is paved with marble, the permeating water vapor is so thick that it almost blocks the murals on the wall, and the hot wind is mixed with the smell of incense.On both sides of the large rectangular bath in the center, there are several round baths with a square of one foot scattered, separated from each other by lacquered carved wooden screens.Marunliga people value pleasure, so the bathing place is naturally very lively, and the sound of talking, laughing and playing in the water never stops.

After unloading the layers of clothes, Louis led Adrian into the small bathtub in the corner, and sat in the water against the wall of the pool.The "know-it-all" invited by Louis has not yet appeared, so they can only wait while taking a bath.

There was only a bath towel around his waist, and the steam made his skin red.Adrian unconsciously looked at Louis's exposed upper body, then turned his head awkwardly, forcing himself to focus on the hollow pattern of the screen, and named each pattern with limited aesthetic knowledge.

The body of the bounty hunter should be strong and strong, covered with looming scars.Knife wounds, arrow wounds, and perhaps traces of being burned by fire, those unnatural bulges or depressions are like messy verses, describing stories that Adrian has no way of knowing.And those who caused these wounds, besides the lightless and beasts, were more people, all kinds of people.

In contrast, Adrian's experience is as clean as a blank slate.Whether it is the power struggle within the family, or the undercurrent surging under the prosperity of Marenlica, he is assigned a certain role in it, but he hardly needs to express his will.

It may be easier to be pushed by a greater force than to consciously seek a new position.

Adrian looked at Louis again pretending to be inadvertent, but found that the other party had been staring at him.

He moved his body unnaturally, and asked as calmly as possible: "What are you looking at?"

"I'm looking at the injury on your arm." Louis said, and stretched out his hand directly to the scratch on Adrian's body that was scratched by the Lightless. "It's a pity to leave such an obvious scar. This is probably the first time for you, and hopefully the last time."

The bounty hunter's fingers and palms, with calluses from the weapon, brushed against the healed scar on Adrian's arm.The movements were extremely gentle, reminding Adrian of the brazier in Louis' room and the few laps of dry and soft bandages.The picture that flashed through my mind was as light as a dream, and everything seemed to reappear from yesterday.

When Louis withdrew his hand, Adrian inexplicably felt that something was missing in his heart.

"Whether you are fighting against the Lightless or getting involved in the game between people, you should protect yourself." Louis said slowly, his deep voice soaked in thick water vapor. "I know what the inheritance law of the Torreso family is all about, and I also know how Samuel seized power. As for the power struggle in Maren Liga, I have seen more."

Adrian looked at Louis steadily, not knowing what to say for a while.

And Lewis just summed it up lightly: "You may never need to do what I or Samuel did. Being hurt by people is far more painful than being hurt by wild animals."

The author has something to say: Merchants of Novigrad - Marcin Przybylowicz

Reference to the bathhouse in Nuocheng in the Wizarding Three Mile