After listening to Tok's explanation, the smile on Russell's face gradually disappeared, and he frowned and looked at Yin Linna.
The eyes of the lady in the hidden mirror were covered by black satin, making it impossible to see what kind of emotions there were.
The land and sea transportation, urban planning, infrastructure construction, and production and distribution of military supplies in the Solstice Kingdom are all coordinated and guaranteed by the city hall under the jurisdiction of the "rooster".
And Pantalone lacks experience in carrying out foreign missions. It is not difficult for the mayor to use some means to avoid the surveillance of Russell and Yin Linna and send a child aboard a merchant ship on a mission.
But why did Puccinella do this?
As a butler who has followed Mr. Pantalone for many years, Russell also knows that the Ajax in Tok's mouth is the solstice name of the "Master", the last executive of the Fools.
The seemingly ordinary little boy Zhi Dong seems to have a close relationship with both Puccinella and Dadalia.
This matter most likely involved the plans of the executive officers. Russell knew that he could not make the decision without authorization, so he stood up and dug out the sugar cubes for making coffee from the drawer, handed them to the timid little boy through the water cell, and softly comforted him.
"Little Tuoke, Puccinella... Grandpa didn't lie to you. The destination of this merchant ship is indeed Liyue Port."
"But if I can take you to Liyue with me, I still need to ask Mr. Pantalone for permission."
Russell winked at Yin Linna, indicating that the other party should be optimistic about the sudden appearance of the child, and then hurried back to the deck, preparing to report the situation to Mr. Pantalone.
But the sailor cleaning the deck told Russell that Lord Pantalone had returned to the stern cabin to rest.
The old butler had to go back the same way, came to the main cabin that originally belonged to the captain, and knocked gently on the door.
"Please come in."
An elegant and easy-going voice came from the room, and his tone was obviously calm but seemed extremely cold.
Russell put his hand on the wooden door handle of the cabin and pushed it open gently.
There are candle lights on both sides of the main cabin wall, providing sufficient heat. Although the decoration is not as luxurious as that of Northland Bank, and the furniture is all very simple black and gray, but the details of the carvings can be seen. The cost is high.
"Um...Russell?"
"Have you rested so soon?"
Pantalone narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at her butler, her expression under the frame did not change much, and she even smiled softly.
"No, sir, there is an emergency that needs to be reported to you."
Russell retells the process of discovering Tok to the rich man, and the man who listened to the story picked up the tea cup on the table without haste, rubbed the rim of the cup carefully with his fingertips, and his quiet eyes were filled with thoughts.
"Puccinella personally arranged it, Dadalia's younger brother...is a bit interesting..."
Pantalone put down the priceless porcelain cup in her hand, her voice was loose and slow.
"Let's go meet this kid."
The rich man stood up and put his hands with many rings on the table, while Russell hurriedly opened the hatch for him.
The damp and cold sea breeze flowed into the passage, making the old housekeeper's movements stiff for a moment.
Their ships have left the ice zone, but have not yet sailed out of the winter waters.
Pantalone's glasses seemed to be hiding something mysterious, and they were not fogged even after the sudden change from the warm cabin to the cold.
】
It's just that his eyes are always squinted, and it's completely impossible to guess what's going on in his heart, let alone peeling off the gold and silver decorations on his appearance and seeing the heart inside.
Russell led the way, and the two of them arrived at the bottom cabin.
Yin Linna dutifully maintained the cage made of polarizing prisms. Debt handlers who had heard the news were already guarding the door, and the entire cabin was surrounded by water.
Pantalone frowned, and the old housekeeper noticed this and immediately dismissed the debt collectors around him.
The two entered the cabin, and what appeared in front of them was Tok who was imprisoned in the water mirror and the dignified lady who was hiding in the mirror.
"Yin Linna, thank you for your hard work. Remove the water prison."
Pantalone nodded her head and gave instructions to the lady from the Winter Country, always looking elegant no matter who she treated.
Yin Linna nodded, but her cheeks were slightly bulging, and her hands in front of her belly no longer hugged each other, and her slender white fingers were clasped together, as if she was uneasy because of Pantalone's greeting.
Although he had never seen the appearance of Dadalia's family, the moment Pantalone saw Tok's appearance, he was sure that what the other party said was probably the truth.
Although the child in front of him had some freckles on his face, his blue eyes and dark orange hair color were exactly the same as Dadalia's, and his face looked more like it was carved from the same mold.
Compared with Dadalia's dull eyes, Tok's childlike color that is half lake blue and half azure makes people feel at ease.
Pantalone heard Rooster mention that the reason for the lack of luster in Dadalia's eyes was because he looked directly into the abyss when he was young, so he was inevitably and irreversibly tainted with deep colors that did not belong to this world.
"Kid Tuoke, do you want to go to Liyue with us?"
Pantalone stretched out her hand to help up the little boy sitting on the ground. She didn't mince words like she usually did when speaking. The jewelry on her fingers flashed under the light, with the elegance and quietness unique to Liyue people.
"Um!"
"You must be the Uncle Pantalone that Grandpa Puccinella told you about."
Although he was wearing a heavy fur-collared coat, Tok still recognized Pantalone's handsome appearance that was different from that of the winter people, and the other person's hair color was also like Liyue's precious ebony wood, which was shiny because it was well maintained. Pretty good.
"Grandpa said that if you encounter a stingy person...if you encounter Uncle Pantalone, I will give you this..."
Tok put away the pencil he was holding tightly in his hand, then took out the Mora money bag embroidered with three-leaf fringe pattern from his arms, intending to hand it to the stingy uncle his grandfather said.
And Yin Linna, who heard Tuoke's name, had an uncontrollable smile on her lips. Russell, who was waiting beside him, seemed a little embarrassed and tried his best to wink at Tuoke.
Pantalone seemed not to have heard the little boy's slip of the tongue. She smiled and reached out to take the money bag. After confirming that it was full of molas, she nodded seriously: "Then as the temporary captain of the Yermak, little Tok …You’re welcome aboard.”
"master……"
Russell obviously understood his master's nature. When Pantalone's sweet but poisonous voice sounded, the old housekeeper had a vague premonition of something ominous.
"Russell, I remember this merchant ship had a children's cabin."
"Take Tok there. Daily meals will be provided according to my standards."
Pantalone put away the mora bag and pushed the hair on her forehead behind her ears. Her eyes were deep and she said, "The child is still growing, so he must not lack nutrients."
Russell didn't speak, bowed to signal, then took Tok's hand and prepared to go to the children's cabin on the second floor.
"Thank you Uncle Pantalone!"
The excited little boy did not forget to thank him politely before leaving, and the rich man responded with a smile.
"You're welcome, Tok."
