The night was getting darker, and the small room was dark. From time to time, there were the sounds of children grinding their teeth and talking in their sleep. They are still in the sleepy age, and everyone sleeps deeply. They can sleep until dawn without being woken up easily.
Stephanie lay on her side on her little bed, with her back to the wooden door, counting silently in her mind.
Five, four, three, two, one... coming.
After the door lock clicked slightly, the door was pushed open from the outside, and the light of the lantern shone into the room. After a while, the room returned to darkness.
The "parent" who was patrolling at night locked the door again, and his footsteps gradually faded away. As usual, this is the last inspection tonight. It will be the next morning when the "parent" opens the door again, which is almost four hours away.
Stephanie quietly got up, piled a dummy image on the bed with clothes, and covered it with a blanket, as if she was still sleeping in the bed.
Then, she put on clothes and pants that were easy for movement, pressed against the wall, and climbed up with her bare hands. At this moment, the little girl was like a light gecko, clinging to the smooth and straight wall and swimming upward effortlessly. Soon, she climbed to the ventilation window eight meters above the ground.
This ventilation window is very narrow, just enough for Stephanie to stick her head out. She tried it for a while, first stretched one arm out of the window, used her palm to suck on the outside wall, and then pulled hard. As if her whole body had no bones, she slid smoothly from the breathable window to the outside.
The empty outdoors was filled with the breath of freedom, and Stephanie couldn't help but take a deep breath. After all, she is just an eleven-year-old girl. She usually suppresses her emotions and pretends to be like other children. She has extraordinary abilities but dare not reveal them. In fact, she is very depressed in her heart.
Tonight, Stephanie felt a rare joy after escaping from the nest under the noses of the "parents" without disturbing anyone.
Of course, she didn't forget why she took the risk.
Bobby and Pim have left the den of thieves, and Stephanie climbs onto the roof and stalks them quietly. She bit Bobby's hand before, which was equivalent to giving him a special mark, just like a spider spinning out a silk thread that is difficult to detect with the naked eye to stick to its prey. As long as the silk thread continues, the spider can always sense the location and status of its prey. The closer the distance is to each other, the clearer the perception, and you can even "hear" the other person's voice.
Stephanie doesn't want to assassinate Bobby, nor does she have the ability. However, she must know whether Bobby will reveal his true identity to the old man. Although Bobby is her cousin, Stephanie actually has no impression of this "brother".
When Bobby was sold to Goldfinger by her stepfather, she was less than three years old.
Stephanie always felt that Bobby should be closer to the "family" that raised him. If Bobby reveals her identity as an Island Street orphan to the "parents", she must leave Water Snake Town immediately without delay.
Stephanie actually didn't want to implicate the innocent friends.
Stephanie jumped silently from rooftop to rooftop, always keeping a distance of more than 200 meters from her target. Pim and Bobby never imagined that someone could follow them quietly and out of sight.
The two walked through the intricate alleys, avoiding drunkards and patrolling night watchmen. It didn't take long before they left the alley area and arrived at the east side of Water Snake Town. The architectural layout here is relatively sparse, and the houses are elegant in shape. There are gardens, barns, villas, and barracks. It is the residential area for the mayor, officials, and guard soldiers.
Bobby and Old Man Pim came to get the severance pay, which was not a small amount of money. And it is impossible for a gang of thieves to keep all the gold in their lair. But Bobby never expected that the "big boss" would place the gold hiding place in the east area of Water Snake Town, hiding it right under the mayor's nose.
The buildings in the East District are relatively empty, and it is not easy for the two thieves to hide their traces. A heavily armed patrol spotted them. Old Man Pim took the initiative to walk over and negotiate with the patrolling soldiers in a low voice.
Bobby couldn't hear what they were saying clearly, but the patrolling soldier only glanced at him and left the scene with his men.
"Don't be in a daze, come here quickly."
Pim turned around and asked Bobby to follow him. As he walked, he said, "I'll take you to see someone...a professional doctor."
"Doctor?" Bobby looked around and asked alertly: "Old man, didn't you bring me to get the gold?"
"Gold, haha." Pim smiled slightly mockingly: "Bobby, how can I teach you such a fool? Tell yourself, have you earned 1,000 gold pagodas for your family over the years?"
Bobby muttered unconvinced: "There must be some!"
"Okay, even if the money you give to your family is 1,000 gold pagodas, you don't have to eat or wear clothes? You don't have to spend money when you are sick? Your younger brothers and sisters don't have to spend money either? Also, your subordinates cooperate with you to make money. It’s all your fault, and they don’t have a share?”
"Why do you have the nerve to ask me for a severance payment of 1,000 gold pagodas?"
"But... you obviously agreed." Bobby said guiltily.
"What a promise!"
Old Man Pim cursed: "You're a loser, you didn't even know you were deceived! You told me that you needed 1,000 gold pagodas to buy the secret awakening medicine. Who did you buy it from? Who would sell it to you?! "
"I have found out clearly that the adventurer you know is just bragging to you. If you really use 1,000 gold pagodas to buy the secret awakening medicine from him, you will be dead!"
Adventurers are armed and have a fierce style, so of course they will be worshiped by the common people. But if anyone thinks that adventurers who are used to licking blood with the blade of a knife are good people, then he is totally wrong.
Adventurers generally do not bully civilians because they are generally richer than civilians. On the other hand, the Adventurer's Guild has been safeguarding the legitimate interests of adventurers. Assuming there is no adventurers' union, adventure groups of all sizes are just gangs of bandits robbing homes and properties.
Bobby wants to use 1,000 gold pagodas to make a deal with the adventurer, but he is seeking his own death. As long as the adventurer deceives him out of the town, squeezing him to death is like squeezing an ant to death. How can he sell a set of agility-oriented awakening secret medicine at a low price?
The quality of the awakening secret medicine is different, and the price is also different. The better the quality of the secret medicine, the greater the chance of successful awakening, and the price is naturally higher. However, awakening the secret medicine is an opportunity that can change your destiny. If half-elf civilians want to change their destiny, they can't do it without paying a high price.
At this time, purchasing the secret medicine of awakening is no longer a matter of price. You must have a desperate consciousness to seize an opportunity to change your destiny.
The Earth Temple openly sells the awakening secret medicine of the Archer Path. The quality is average and the price is 3,000 gold pagodas. If someone can shell out 3,000 gold pagodas, then he probably doesn't need the secret medicine provided by the Earth Temple. He should be able to get better quality and even cheaper secret awakening medicine.
The more powerful people are, the richer they are, and the poorer people are, the more miserable they are.
If a poor man wants to change his destiny and transcend social classes, the price he needs to pay is more than just 3,000 gold pagodas?
If the adventurers collect rare resources, which happen to be what the Earth Temple, wealthy families, or highland nobles want, then everything is easy to say. The premise is that you dare to venture into the wild and have good luck. Your adventuring party will help you awaken your expertise and become an Awakened One. But this is just the beginning, you have to continue to work for the adventure group and earn more resources.
In other words, it is not enough for a half-elf commoner to spend money to buy the secret medicine. He has to stake the rest of his life on it, so that the professional class will open the door to him.
Bobby planned to spend 1,000 gold towers to buy a set of secret awakening medicine. How could such a cheap thing happen to him?
How naive!
Goldfinger specializes in theft and fraud. The little thief raised by Pim could be deceived. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Instead, he said to Bobby pleasantly:
"Things like the Secret Awakening Potion can be obtained by well-connected people without spending any money; but unscrupulous people may not be able to buy the right ones no matter how much money they spend. If you take the career path of a thug, we have a way. I will pay 300 Jinta, the Beibang Brotherhood is responsible for paying the remaining money and sending you to the Earth Temple to awaken your expertise. If you can successfully awaken, you must work for the Beibang Brotherhood. In the future, you will sublimate your traits and become a thug professional, which will also be controlled by the Brotherhood. Responsible."
Bobby sighed and said: "Old man, you know that I was born in Island Street. Now I just want to run as far as possible. How dare I go to the Beibang Brotherhood to work?"
Pim was silent for a moment and then said: "I will take you to see a professional doctor now. You don't need to worry about other things. Just follow my arrangements. If she doesn't take a fancy to you, you can leave Water Snake Town tonight and rest assured." An ordinary person...I raised you, taught you how to make a living, and gave you a hundred gold pagodas. You will never starve to death wherever you go."
Bobby was raised by Pim and was not wary of the patriarch. According to his understanding, Old Man Pim wanted to kill himself, so there was no need to go to such trouble. From this point of view, Old Man Pim is indeed giving himself a chance to change his destiny.
He asked nervously: "Old man, if the professional doctor takes a fancy to me, what should I do?"
With a straight face, Pim led the curly-haired boy to the edge of a barn. He opened a slanted wooden cellar door and said: "If she can take a fancy to you, what else can you do besides working your life to repay her? The adult is inside, you go in."
Cellar-->>
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There was soft and bright candlelight inside, as if calling Bobby. He swallowed quietly and stepped onto the stairs leading to the cellar.
This cellar is luxuriously decorated and is definitely not used to store mud melons. The floors and walls are all paved with smooth mulberry boards, and several crystal wall lamps are also installed. Under the light, Pim saw two half-elves, a man and a woman, sitting at the wooden table in the middle of the cellar.
The male half-elf was in his 30s, with handsome features, brown hair and brown eyes, and a carefully groomed mustache. He looked mature and confident, full of the elegant and charming charm of a superior.
The half-elf woman has an eye-catching beauty. Her skin is fair and tender with a soft luster, her nose is high, her lips are red, her bright blond hair hangs lazily around her shoulders, and her sparkling eyes are pure. The topaz orb marks her identity as a highland half-elf.
Bobby shouted out loud: "Mrs. Christine, Mr. Mayor?!"
Mayor Middleton’s wife, Christine, is the most beautiful woman in Water Snake Town. Although she usually lives in seclusion and rarely appears in public, her reputation is even greater than that of the mayor. Not only because of her beautiful appearance, but also because of her beautiful appearance. Mainly because she has the blood of a highland half-elf.
The residents of Water Snake Town believe that Middleton's ability to be the mayor of Water Snake Town is all due to his wife's contribution.
For the Disa half-elf, to judge whether a person is of noble birth, the first thing to look at is his appearance. Therefore, the residents of the town can easily come to the conclusion that Mrs. Christine married Middleton, and Mayor Middleton married Mrs. Christine.
Middleton was used to being looked down upon by lower-class townspeople in front of his wife. He looked at the bewildered curly-haired boy and asked his wife gently: "Madam, is this child to your liking?"
Christine turned her beautiful eyes, opened her red lips slightly, and stretched out a pair of snow-white slender canine teeth. They complemented each other with the bright and bloody lips, which actually had a fatal charm. She raised her delicate white hands, covering her pretty red lips and snow-white teeth, and said with a sweet smile:
"It's okay."
************************
Stephanie hid in the shadow of the haystack and covered her mouth tightly.
Bobby is dead.
The brother who helped her when she was in danger died.
Old Pim, who was always kind to others, obviously brought him here to get severance pay, but he tricked him into the cellar.
There is a legendary vampire in the cellar who killed Bobby.
Stephanie could even feel that when the vampire pierced Bobby's neck with its long fangs, Bobby's whole body was twitching uncontrollably, his trembling eyeballs kept turning up, and blood flowed out gurglingly. Slowly, even his muscle twitching reaction disappeared, and his weak heart stopped beating completely.
The mayor’s wife Christine is a vampire?
Mayor Middleton and Old Man Pym are her accomplices?
Were they conspiring to kill Bobby, the curly-haired boy who taught her the art of pickpocketing and helped her gain a foothold in the den of thieves?
Tears rolled in the eyes of the little girl. She felt sad, frightened, and angry that she could not understand. It was like a superior being robbed of prey by a inferior, and would tear the offending idiot into pieces. Shattered rage.
The spider mark on the palm of her hand was burning, and Stephanie was deeply panicked by all this. She had to cover her mouth hard to prevent the scream that was suppressed in her throat from suddenly coming out.
However, Bobby did die, and the connection between the Spider Mark and him was severed. Stephanie was finally able to control her emotions. After taking a short rest, she quietly ran into the alley in the West District using the shadow of the building, and her figure quickly blended into the quiet night.
Old Man Pim stood alone outside the cellar door until the mayor and his wife came out of the cellar. His heart trembled, and he hid his complicated emotions. He took the initiative to greet him, bowed and said: "Master, Madam..."
Middleton nodded indifferently, but Christine looked pale and looked lonely. Her bare hands were twisted together uneasily, and her body was half leaning on her husband's arms. She was so fragile that she seemed to have no strength.
The mayor put one hand around his wife's slender waist and the other hand supported her arm, and said to the old thief: "You did a good job this time. I will find someone to deal with the bodies inside, so you don't have to worry about it."
Pim lowered his head and said humbly: "Master, the Beibang Brotherhood has not received any newcomers from Water Snake Town in the past year. They may be suspicious of me."
Christine raised her beautiful face and said miserably and remorsefully: "Dear, it's all my fault... I couldn't control myself at all and did something terrible."
Middleton quickly comforted him softly: "My dear, you are not wrong, you are just sick... Moreover, those people are thieves and robbers who deserve their punishment... Besides, this was not your original intention."
Because there was an unsightly old thief beside him, Middleton resisted the urge to kiss his beloved wife and said: "The Thieves Guild is not a problem, but you can't have anything to do with Island Street, otherwise I won't be able to protect you, and you will be involved. .Do you still have Island Street fugitives under your command?"
Pim quickly shook his head and said: "Master, as far as I know, Bobby is the only Island Street orphan under my command. As for the others, even if they are related to the Island Street fugitives, there is no way to find out. Because they were very young. Just follow me without remembering your origins. I guarantee that my people have nothing to do with the Island Street riots."
"Alas, Bobby can't escape. His stepfather was a gang member on Island Street and was executed last year. The Beibang Brotherhood found out Bobby's origins and wanted him to die... If he doesn't die, all of us will Everyone suffers. Bobby’s bad luck can only be blamed, but the real culprit is the female gangster Bertina! She killed hundreds of people!”
The old thief was obviously excusing Mrs. Christine. The mayor gave him an appreciative look and said: "It is the consensus of the sixteen famous families to eliminate the associates of the female gangster Bertina. It is directly ordered by the Supreme Council of the Alliance. Red Sir, of course, dare not be careless. Before the storm of this matter subsides, please be smarter. I can tell you clearly that in order to prove their innocence, the civil sects in each city-state must actively participate in the elimination of the associates of the female bandit Bertina. They don't tell you the evidence when doing things, and 'gold fingers' like you are especially easy to be targeted by them."
Pim said respectfully: "We all rely on the master's protection."
Middleton nodded with satisfaction and said: "You go back. After I send someone to dispose of the body of the fugitive on Island Street, you can come over and get the token to give to Red Siren. As long as Red Siren can deliver the letter, he will not come to you." Trouble."
"Yes, I'll take my leave first."
"Wait!" The mayor's wife suddenly stopped Pim who was about to leave, and said to her husband: "Dear, I..." She bit her red lips, hesitated for a moment, and said timidly: "I just got Some of the memories of the fugitive, he recalled his relatives before his death. His parents and the aunt and uncle who adopted him have passed away, but he still has a sister who lives in Goldfinger's lair, named Stephanie. "
"What?!"
Middleton looked fiercely and said coldly: "I remember Stephanie is your favorite student. I asked you to find out the details of those five strangers. Is this Stephanie you recommended to me? "
With a "pop", Old Man Pim knelt down straight and defended with a pale face: "Bobby is dead, and no one knows Stephanie's life experience..."
"But she knows it herself." Kristine said innocently: "Moreover, she experienced the Island Street riots caused by the female gangster Bertina, and she slipped through the net."
Cold sweat broke out on Pim's face, and he said dejectedly: "Master, madam, please don't worry. I know what to do..."
"Don't worry." The mayor seemed to have other ideas. After pondering for a moment, he said: "You should ask Stephanie to check the details of the five strangers first. I will create opportunities for you, but Stephanie cannot steal. Take their belongings away so as not to be noticed by them. When this matter is finished, you can bring Stephanie over."
"No! Don't bring her here, I don't want this, you handle it yourself." Christine covered her face with her hands, her voice choked. Of course she was not pitying a thief, she was pitying herself.
This beautiful, weak-tempered vampire is a lunatic. She seems unable to accept her true identity unless she needs to eat.
Of course, Christine has been trying to control her eating frequency and behaves normally. Mayor Middleton also doesn’t want too many dead people to appear in the town.
Pim probably understood what the mayor meant. The little thief who sneaked into the room of five outsiders might need to be silenced afterwards, so he let the damn Island Street Orphans do this.
The old thief felt strange. Why did the mayor think that those who investigated the outsiders needed to be silenced? Could it be that the five outsiders had special abilities and could track the thieves who sneaked into the room?
Pim thought for a while and asked: "Master, you won't let my men steal strangers' belongings, so do you have any specific investigation clues?"
Middleton frowned and said: "Help me pay attention to three things, mithril weapons, stones engraved with strange runes, and a type of emblem."
"...The pattern above is a silver-white tower."
