The City of Marronligar

Unlike the hostesses and hotel hostesses in the seaport area, the girls and a few boys in the "House of the Rose" basically don't need to work hard to attract passers-by.They only need to sit sideways on the balcony and tend flowers and plants like the young lady of aristocratic family, while playing fans, talking and laughing softly, or making a reserved gesture in front of distinguished guests. The merchants who have sailed here have offered their hospitality.Most of them don't have money troubles, and they don't have to sell their bodies to earn a living. They play more roles of courtesans in the "upper circle" of Maren Liga.

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

Morning seemed to come earlier in the Mansion of the Flying Lions than in the rest of Marenliga.Just before dawn, Adrian had already packed his clothes and was going to accompany Sophia to inspect the family business in the city of Marenliga, and get familiar with the surrounding environment by the way.

Although he has always called Samuel "uncle", Adrian is more used to calling Samuel's sister and his aunt Sophia "Mrs. (Signora)".A few years ago, after her husband died of illness, Sophia returned to Feishi Mansion with her young son.She did not start a widowed life in the traditional sense, but continued to run the intelligence network serving Torreso, supporting this huge family together with Samuel.

Like her elder brother, Sophia not only has the qualifications of an excellent assassin, but also has a good hand, and can enjoy both black and white.She can always make herself look dazzling - not only exquisite makeup, fashionable clothing, but also the courage to be the hostess of the Flying Lion Mansion from the bottom of her bones.

For some reason, Adrian felt more relaxed by her side, probably because his sense of existence would be weakened by Sophia, so that he didn't need to care about other people's eyes.

Among the taverns, hostels and special "high-end places" scattered in various districts of Marenliga, quite a few are related to the Torresso family, and Sophia is their behind-the-scenes boss. Became the eyes and ears of the brothers and sisters of the patriarch.With large investment and effective management, Samuel and Sophia successfully weaved an information network in the city while making profits according to the agreed ratio.

The city of Marunliga is densely covered with water networks, with rivers, bridges and land routes interlaced, and the walls along the river reflect flowing waves of light.Because it was still early, there were few pedestrians on the street, and the open-air market and shops with storefronts had not yet started business. The boss and the guys were yawning and setting up the belongings needed for doing business.When they saw Sofia, they approached her politely, called her "Mrs. Torresso" respectfully, and asked her if she would like to come to the shop.

Sophia walked in front of Adrian, her long crimson dress was dragged by the cool breeze, and her carefully braided bun was tied with a ribbon embroidered with dark patterns of swimming snakes.Every time she came to a property owned by the Torresso family, she would stop and give Adrian a brief explanation of the business.

The Rosary Church will not open until dusk, and the door is still closed at this moment. Only the wooden windows facing the street are half-opened. The gauze curtains and the vines wrapped around the balcony railing are fluttering in the wind, revealing a bit of a charming atmosphere. mean.

"I heard from my brother that you are in charge of accounts at Heshan Manor?" Sophia asked Adrian.

Her voice is very gentle, but mellow like refined aged wine, with a faint intriguing echo, which brings an inexplicable sense of security to the young people who have just arrived and are unfamiliar with the place.

"Yes, I used to deal with ledgers a lot." Adrian added a few more words. "But all the work is very trivial, and there are veterans checking it, so I don't have much say. I only started to receive special training in combat at the age of 16, which is far from the 'flying lion test' that my uncle passed. Woolen cloth."

Sophia smiled, and said again: "In the past few days, you have visited Ma Lunliga once, so you shouldn't get lost."

Adrian nodded: "Uncle gave me a map, which is very carefully marked." In addition to the assassination task that Samuel gave him as a skill test, Adrian memorized at least half of the road in Marenliga and building layout.

"The map... my brother will really save me trouble." Sophia sighed softly. "Different from the Heshan Manor in my hometown, both the environment and the people here are much more complicated. The 'Lightless Ones'—the monsters that fell from human beings—are also more active."

She sat down on the edge of the flower bed in front of the Silver Bay Tower and looked up at the Statue of Wisdom on the steps.The statue's downcast eyes are facing the paper roll in its hand, and the interlacing of light and shadow shows a bit of compassion and detachment.

"The center controlled by the church and the governor's mansion, the rich and luxurious aristocratic area, the market and civilian area with many shops, and the seaport area where the three religions are mixed. The gap between the rich and the poor is clear, right? This is a seat built with money. In a city-state, everyone is chasing interests—or money that can be held in their hands, or people and scenery they love, or beliefs that can sacrifice everything for it. There are different interests, and there are different people. But in the final analysis, one cannot survive without sustenance and goals. In this sense, who can distinguish between a nobleman and a beggar, who is more noble and who is more despicable?"

When Sophia said these words, Adrian thought of what he had heard and seen these days.

For him, everything in Marenlica was foreign.The "chosen son" who was born with honor and wealth, the poor who barely survived in dilapidated seaside shacks, the shrewd philistine who wanted to put a price on his time, and the sailor who linked his life with his ship.Their lives extend on different roads and intertwine in the same city, consciously or unconsciously blending into the torrent of Marenlica history.

He himself—Adrian Guillette Torresso, a descendant of the same clan who was named by the patriarch Samuel to go to Marenliga, where should he go?

"Brother fell in love with your talent, and I hope you can help us" - this is what Sophia said.

Being flattered is Adrian's first thought, followed by dispensable confusion.

Compared with other clansmen, except for his innate talent for fighting and his special bloodline for restraining the Lightless, Adrian is not as aggressive as he is, and he is more cautious in his conduct, and strives to be safe in his actions.In many cases, he is not even gentle like the Torresso family.This is his weakness, but also his strength.

The uncle needs himself, and the family needs himself, which is why Adrian left the Heshan Manor where he had lived for 20 years and came to the unfamiliar Marenliga.As for what kind of life he wanted, Adrian deliberately didn't think too much about it.However, Adrian was still happy that Samuel and Sophia recognized his insignificant talent.

Sophia put away the folding fan and folded her hands on her lap: "You should know why Samuel is so busy that he needs help."

Adrian tilted his head: "I heard that Uncle is going to leave Malunliga to investigate the latest catastrophe."

Sophia nodded slightly, her thin lips pursed slightly: "Yes, the fate of the Torresso family has always been connected with the catastrophe. But the situation in Marenlica is very complicated, and Samuel's work cannot be disturbed by people with ulterior motives. "

Adrian chewed on Sophia's wording: "People with ulterior motives... Are you referring to the church or the governor?"

"The religious order is now on the same front as us. What needs to be worried about is the governor's side, and there is another force," Sophia paused for a few seconds. "Bounty Hunters Association."

"They?" Adrian was a little surprised, and at the same time remembered the stranger he met the night before. "I thought they were all mercenaries for money."

"Haha, our Torresso family used to be similar to mercenaries. However, there are also our friends among the bounty hunters. Speaking of which," Sophia pulled out a letter rolled up with a ribbon from the secret pocket hidden in her cuff , to Adrian. "You go to a man named Louis Cormac and give him this letter of introduction. He knows how to deal with it. Louis is the honorary president of the Bounty Hunters Association, and he and Samuel are old friends. After officially taking over You can learn a lot by his side before important work."

Adrian took the letter with both hands and looked at the red wax seal where the ribbon was knotted. It was stamped with Samuel's personal seal, and his initials were circled by a ouroboros. "Honorary President?"

Sophia nodded and said: "He used to be the 'real' president, but he has resigned now. You can ask him about the specific situation. By the way, he may not be in the city during the day, so I suggest you look for it at night. Although Louis does not seem to be Too serious, but apart from the scary messy love history in his youth, he is indeed an excellent bounty hunter, and you should respect him."

Although full of doubts, Adrian still chose to bury these questions in his heart - his uncle asked him to come to Marunliga to help rather than ask questions, and everything should be in the interests of the family.

Having said that, when night fell and the lights came on, and the Rosary Church in the aristocratic district and the taverns in the harbor district began to be lively, Adrian was still caught in a dilemma.

It's not that he's lost and can't find the people he needs to find.

In fact, he quickly found Luis's house - a three-story building on the edge of the market, with a lower floor of brick and stone structure and an upper two and a half floors of wood. very common.The houses with simple structure and unremarkable appearance are connected together along the flat road, and there are some wooden barrels and crates for storing sundries piled up in front of and behind the house.A well-trained and agile young man like Adrian can even use the cover of night to quietly climb onto the roof and move freely on another plane of the city.

For some reason, Adrian didn't go through the main entrance, nor did he want to.He climbed up the outer wall of the small building and stopped at the window sill on the second floor of Louis's house.The wooden windows assembled with iron nails are partially hidden, and flickering lights and warm air overflow from the room.Maybe it's a fireplace, maybe it's a brazier, in addition to the burning smell of charcoal fire and low-quality tobacco drying, there is also a vague smell of perfume.People in the Torreso family seem to have five senses that are far superior to ordinary people, and they are often quite confident in their physique.

There is a conversation behind the window, a man and a woman.The voice was very soft, and it didn't take long before it stopped, and then there was the creak of the room door opening.

Peeping in through the gap of the wooden window, Adrian happened to see the figure who was about to leave: a slender figure, with a long hooded cloak over a long skirt, her face could not be seen clearly, she should be a weak noblewoman.She left in such a hurry that she didn't even close the door, and Adrian soon heard the sound of a carriage driving away from the other side of the house.

Now, there is only one other person in the room.The man's back was facing the wooden window, and Adrian couldn't see his face, but he felt inexplicably familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere not long ago.Obviously only knocking on the wooden window and officially showing up, Adrian suddenly felt guilty for his secret spying, and felt that now was not a good time to visit.

If you have to say it, it's not a good habit to hang out of other people's windows, but the Torresso family doesn't emphasize this much.

"How long are you going to stay on the windowsill?"

The man didn't look back, he just spoke directly.Adrian was startled, and subconsciously clenched the wooden railing of the window eaves.After thinking about it again, he immediately remembered who the man in the room was—with a magnetic bass and a slow tone, it was the man who was following him by the pier.

Is he Louis Cormac?

"Don't hang on to the window. It's very cold here at night, so it's better to go inside to warm up. Even if he's here to kill me, it's not too late to drink two glasses of wine before doing it." The man suspected of Louis said again.

Adrian bit his lower lip, opened the wooden window bravely, and climbed into the room through the window.He stood still in front of the window, lifted the hood attached to the cloak, revealing that young face.

"...Are you Louis Cormac?" He hesitated and opened his mouth, his hand holding the letter slightly tightened.

"As far as I know, I don't seem to have another name." Louis turned around and paused when he saw Adrian. "Oh, I remember you, you were the young man on the pier."

Adrian nodded, and handed Samuel's handwritten letter to Louis.He watched as Louis untied the ribbon wrapped around the letter, quickly read the contents, and then burned the letter in the brazier.

Adrian noticed that Louis was wearing a plain shirt and trousers (the workmanship was not very good), as if he was ready to go to bed at any time.And the perfume he smelled outside the window was not an illusion.

"I probably understand the situation." Louis sat down by the bed. "Since Samuel introduced you, I can't find any reason to refuse. What's your name?"

"Adrian. Adrian Guillet Torreso."

Louis nodded slightly, indicating that he had remembered the other party's name.

The author has something to say: Writing bgm: TheSlopesofttheBlesssure-PiotrMusial (from the game Witcher 3)