The City of Marronligar

The spring welcome ceremony is usually held when the snow in the city center has completely melted.The melting of ice and snow will inevitably make the roads muddy, and it is not uncommon for the weather to turn cold suddenly.But as long as one sees the ribbons tied on the treetops by the Pearl River, thinks of the fireworks that will bloom in the sky above Marenliga and the delicious wine that everyone can take, people can always put aside the depression of wintering for a while, and put a little bit of joy on their faces. .

This carnival-like Spring Festival is held once a year, usually hosted by the Governor's Mansion, the Chamber of Commerce, and the distinguished family in turn, and the celebration will naturally be crowned with the title of "golden master".Citizens, rich or poor, only need to prepare a mask and a few symbolic copper coins, and they can participate with confidence.

——Miscellaneous Notes of Yinwan Tower·Public Festivals

After the coldest season, spring is coming.But apart from the bureaucrats, merchants, nobles, and scholars in the Silver Bay Tower, the common people don't care much about the change of the year.

Compared with the number that changes only once a year, they are more concerned about the personal impact of the rotation of the seasons on their lives.If it is a spring full of vitality, water and heat are suitable, the price of food and fish catches is satisfactory, and the tax is lowered, it will be even better.

Even if the "upper class" in the aristocratic district and the central city cause a tyranny again, as long as there is no bloody storm outside the Governor's Mansion and the foundation of their lives is not shaken, most people don't care much about these invisible conspiracies.Live your life, that's all they have.

As for those close to (or attracted to) the core of power in Maren Liga, it is only a dream to stay away from conspiracy and live alone.Even Adrian had to be soberly aware that even if he just followed the instructions of Samuel and Sophia, it was not easy to find his place in Maren Riga.

However, the current "urgent work" made him feel a rare comfort.

There are still more than ten days before the celebration, Sophia has already drawn up the invitation, and ordered a lot of high-quality fireworks from the pyrotechnics craftsman, and the barrels of honey wine have also been sent to the wine cellar of the Flying Lion Mansion. Transported to long tables set out along the river.She asked Adrian to discuss with the tavern and hotel funded by Torresso in advance, and to finalize the location of the fireworks by the way.

To show her dignity, Sophia specially prepared two followers for Adrian.

Because they belonged to Torresso's blood, the two guards who were slightly older than Adrian also had the iconic black hair and blue eyes, and they were dressed as young people from the noble family. The three of them walked together on the street, which was more conspicuous than usual.

It is not unusual for Adrian to run errands for Sophia, he has long been used to it.But it was a little uncomfortable to go out with two entourages who were not yet familiar, and walk around the crowded Maren Riga.

——Could it be that she suspected that I was disloyal to Torresso and colluded with some hostile forces in private, so she specially sent someone to watch?

Adrian immediately denied this unrealistic reasoning: If Sophia and Samuel really couldn't trust him, they would probably have found a reason to send him home.

According to the list made by Sophia, Adrian visited the shops that needed cooperation along the end-to-end streets, and almost made a half-circle in the city of Marenliga.He stopped in front of the barque tavern in the harbor area.

"I have met with the boss here several times, and it is probably more appropriate for me to go in by myself." He said to his two companions. "Also, the environment here...you know it."

The two exchanged glances quickly, and finally nodded to Adrian.

One of them looked at his attire and said, "Indeed, it's too eye-catching for the three of us to go in together, and it looks like we're here to find fault."

Adrian smiled and walked straight into the tavern he had gradually become familiar with over the past few months.

The one-eyed boss behind the counter raised his head and greeted him with a smile: "Ah, it's the young owner of Feishi Mansion."

Facing this somewhat exaggerated title, Adrian froze for a moment: "No, I'm not counting—"

The boss waved his hand and said with a grin, "But I heard that's what the bosses around you call you."

"Oh... okay." Adrian sighed softly.He cleared his throat to get himself out of the embarrassing situation as soon as possible. "I'm here for the Spring Festival celebration."

"Oh, I know! It must be preparing for the banquet and fireworks." The head of the tavern clerk emerged from the crack in the curtain of the back kitchen. "Then you really found the right person. I was the one who set off the fireworks in the harbor area last time."

The young guy who grabbed the white immediately won the head of the boss and said, "You don't want to roast your meat yet!"

The buddy gasped, and quickly retracted his head.

After lecturing the buddy, the boss turned around and replied enthusiastically: "Since it is Madam's order, we will definitely follow it. We have also helped in previous years' celebrations, and we are familiar with everything we need to do, so don't worry!"

Although the boss seemed shrewd and capable at first glance, Adrian still tried to be on the safe side, and confirmed again: "Well...we have to set up a few long tables by the mouth of the Pearl River, and prepare wine and food for the guests to use. The mansion will prepare wine and various accessories in advance, and the reception will be left to you, and we will pay you. There are also fireworks—”

"My buddy has already figured out the fireworks spots in the harbor area. It's okay to leave it to him and those little brothers." The boss smiled heartily. "I will take a good look at them, presumably these little guys will not be lazy."

"Also, in the past few days, you should also publicize a few more words in front of the guests."

"Huh, everyone knows there's such a carnival in spring, and it will come without warning. Look," he pointed to the little mask hanging on the wall. "My little daughter pestered me to buy a mask."

"Then there will be a labor shop." Adrian nodded slightly.

The boss chuckled: "The young master of the Torresso family is just too polite. You don't need to be so rude to those of us who are soaked in wine barrels."

Adrian no longer wants to correct the fact that he is not the young master.

It was noon, which was the busiest time in the tavern during the day.

"Hey, I told you that the rhyme in that passage is bad - you gave up better rhyme for rhyme, and you failed to make the lyrics easier to remember. Come on, let me help you fix it. Don't worry, I'll just change a few words, and I won't charge you money!"

Adrian turned his head when he heard the sound, and saw that the writer Seamus, who was born in the Silver Bay Tower, was huddled on a chair with the minstrel, talking while drinking.The two laughed loudly from time to time, and discussed something in a low voice from time to time.Tambourines and lutes were randomly piled up at the foot of the table, and a few drops of mellow fermented wine were also splashed.

Although he has only met him a few times and is not very familiar with him, Adrian has already classified Seamus into the "friendly" camp - after all, he is a friend of Louis.

So, he approached the tavern owner, pointed at Seamus and asked softly, "Excuse me, is that Mr. Writer in arrears?"

The boss nodded: "Not much, including the two jugs he's drinking, it's only [-] Kirills. He seems to have found a way to make money recently, probably because he finally finished writing a novel and was lucky enough to meet someone willing to replace it for him." He is a bookseller who sells books."

Without saying a word, Adrian took out the copper coin from his pocket and stuffed it directly into the boss's hand.

The boss was taken aback, put away the money in his hand, and said with a smile: "You are just like Mr. Cormac, you are too used to him."

——It seems that the master has done similar things...

For some reason, Adrian felt a little happy.

Next stop is Cobblestone Lodge.

After the incident with Bliss Tobacco, Sophia has re-assigned a hostel owner, and the hostess has changed.Unlike barques and other taverns that mainly deal in wine and food (perhaps with the business of bards singing ditties), the hotel's room service will also be busy on the night of the carnival.

And this also has something to do with a certain tradition of the Spring Festival celebration: from sunset, some citizens participating in the celebration will wear masks, and use two or three copper coins as a symbolic "boat rent" to rent a boat. A small canoe that can accommodate two people starts from the water pool near the city gate and goes down the Pearl River through the city until it reaches the mouth of Yinwan Bay.

The number of canoes is limited, and both sides of the river are extremely lively. Most of the people who are keen to participate in this activity are active young people.

Through a thin mask, it is difficult for people to recognize who is around them at a glance unless they know each other beforehand and remember their physical characteristics. Encounters at the celebration are therefore quite random.Over time, this activity has become a unique opportunity for strange men and women to meet and communicate.The reason why the hostel has good business is also due to this.

Of course, jokes about newly-acquainted couples who are not good at rowing and both falling into the water are indispensable in every celebration.Whoever hosts a pair of unlucky wet guests will at least be guaranteed talking points for the next year.

Compared with the restless young people, other citizens prefer to walk along the sleepless river, laughing and laughing, and looking up, you can see the fireworks lit up in Marenliga.

"Madam asked me to tell you something: at that time, the room rate for guests staying overnight can be reduced appropriately. If you still need anything, just tell the mansion, and we can also help to buy it." Adrian said to the hostel owner.

To be appreciated by Sofia and appointed to manage a little property, the new owner of the Cobblestone Inn expresses his gratitude to the Torresso family beyond words.He nodded hastily, and asked Adrian to tell Sophia: He will be able to manage the business well before and after the celebration.

Adrian looked around and saw that the decorative ribbons had been hung on the wall of the hostel in advance, and he couldn't help thinking: Even if he didn't make this trip, the boss would take care of things by himself.

When Adrian and the others were about to leave, a person happened to come down from the second floor of the hostel.Judging by the attitude and reaction of the boss, it is probably the tenant here.What really caught Adrian's attention was the man's unique appearance and clothing.

It was a middle-aged woman in her late thirties, about the same age as Louis, maybe a little older.He has a darker complexion, strong facial features, a conspicuous scar on his cheek, and a tall and strong figure. He probably comes from a nomadic tribe in the north, but he is dressed as a businessman from the southern part of the Kuno Continent.

Perhaps it was due to an intuition that didn't need to be cultivated, Adrian actually noticed a certain temperament in her that was different from that of a "businessman" - something that bounty hunters also have.

When the woman walked past the counter, the boss suddenly stopped her and handed over an unopened letter: "Guest, the letter you entrusted us to Mr. Louis Cormac can't be delivered—he's not at home, and we don't know how to deliver it." Where can I find him?"

Hearing Louis' name, Adrian stopped immediately.

——She knows the master?

"Master Cormac has already left the city after receiving the entrustment. It will take a few days before he returns to Marunliga."

Out of concern for Louis, without much thought, Adrian took the initiative to talk to her.

The middle-aged woman turned around and looked up and down at the strange noble young man in front of her. A trace of sharp vigilance flashed in her gray-brown eyes: "Are you...?"

His identity is no longer a secret: "I am Adrian of the Torreso family, and I happen to know Master Cormac."

"Everyone here should know that guy." The woman laughed. "Thank you for telling me the news, it seems we will have to wait until after the celebration to catch up on the old days."

Adrian tentatively asked: "Who are you?"

The woman waved her hand with a disappointed expression: "My name is Linka. Right now... I'm just a used bookseller."

After finishing speaking, Linka strode out the door.She walked briskly, like a gust of wind from the grassland.

Bloodstains, blood, gore, a world snake of bones and rusted weapons.

This is Samuel's dream hell.

The vision is shaking, like standing on a suspension bridge across the abyss.The ropes used to lift the long bridge were scarred, and the wooden boards under their feet were rotten and might break at any time.

"Do you remember who you are?"

Thunderous questioning echoed in the abyss, like a sentence.

Samuel didn't answer because he couldn't make a sound.

"Do you remember our names?"

Numerous hands grabbed his legs like vines, dragged him down the suspension bridge, and fell into darkness together with the broken bridge.

"Why did you betray the Order?"

"Why did you betray us?"

"How come you can still live without shame?"

"What exactly are you after?"

"It's here, wake me up."

The fall stopped abruptly.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing Samuel saw was Hagrid Sauron.The heretic judge had already stood up from the bed, turned his back to face the desk, as if he was not the one who grabbed Samuel's shoulder and shook him vigorously just now, dragging Samuel out of the nightmare.

It seems that the "shaky suspension bridge" just now was just a little storm on the Valkyrie.

Hagrid put his hands behind his back, and said in a muffled voice, "The sailors on deck have seen the sails of the Beacon. The two ships will meet soon."

Samuel sat up, wiped off the cold sweat on his face, and didn't speak.

Hagrid glanced at him, turned his head away again, and said with a straight face, "You looked like you were dying just now."

Samuel laughed dryly, raised his slightly red eyes: "Why, you can't bear to part with me?"

"If you throw your body into the sea, it will pollute the habitat of fish and shrimp." Hagrid skillfully used spicy words to cover up his inner anxiety.

After a moment of silence, Hagrid added in a low voice: "You must not die so easily."

"I know." Samuel gave a bitter smile.

He quickly changed the subject: "It's still cold in the north, but it should be spring in Marenliga. I don't know how this year's Spring Festival is going. Unfortunately, before the dust settles, I'm afraid you and I won't have time to spend time in Yinchuan. Drink together under the fireworks in the bay."

Hagrid sneered and said, "It's almost to Logmar, and you're still thinking about such boring things, you really have a leisurely time." He grabbed the clothes piled up on the back of the chair and threw them to Samuel's side. "Come on, let's go to the deck."

The author has something to say: RuleofBalance - DmitryV.Silantiev