When the first rays of morning light pierced the dim eastern sky and sprinkled the light on the top of the Roman city standing on the top of the eastern obelisk of the city, the people who had been anxious at home finally began to open the doors one after another and carefully walked out of the house.

First some of the bold, then more and more people took to the streets.

However, the streets are always unusually quiet, and people tend to look at each other after meeting, and acquaintances will gather together to whisper, but when they see strangers approaching, they will immediately disperse, and then look at the strangers with wary eyes.

A child quietly ran out of the house, and he looked in the street with some curiosity, but he didn't see the other friends he usually saw, so he walked along the street, but he didn't go far before he stopped.

In one corner, a drunkard-looking drunk man slumped in the corner, curled up like a shrimp, one hand hidden under his stomach and the other spread out beside him.

The child looked at the man from a distance, he often saw such drunkards, so he should not be afraid.

But I don't know why, looking at this person today, he feels unspeakably uncomfortable.

Then he suddenly turned around and ran in the direction of his house.

Soon someone came with the child, and after letting him stay away, several people came over to take a closer look.

The child soon saw that the man's head and face had been covered with a rag that had been prepared beforehand, and the child did not get any closer to see him until he was taken away by the family.

But the silhouette of the crooked leaning in the corner, covered with rags, came into his young mind, but the boy did not know that such a scene as he had seen was playing out in other parts of Rome at this time, and that this frightening and unforgettable memory would not only stay with him for a long time, but would continue to appear for many years to come.

Henri de Charlen rode silently on his horse, his armor rubbing against his mount's jolting, and the cold sunlight of the early winter morning shone on the armor, and the light reflected on it was unusually cold.

De Charlon's eyes behind the black armor on his face were fixed on the street he passed, and when he saw the stiff corpse that was found in some alley, corner, or hidden doorway from time to time, he would stop and look at it for a while, and then continue walking.

"Dozens of people have been found," a knight whispered from the sidelines, "there are the most people here, and people have been found killed in other parts of the city, all last night." ”

With a click, the whip in de Charlon's hand snapped with force, and the shield on his clenched glove stood up like a hedgehog with a creaking sound.

"Send a request to the Vatican, I want to meet the Pope." De Charlain said in a low voice, because he didn't hear a response, he turned his head slightly to look at the people who were following him, "Is there anything wrong with this?" ”

"My lord, the Pope may not agree to see us at this time," the knight next to him whispered, "Our men have seen that it was the Borgia guards who searched the city last night, and they killed all of them. ”

"I know this," de Charlaine interrupted his men in a rude voice, "and I cannot bear it to happen in front of me, and Rome is still under the rule of the King of France." ”

Although he knew that it might not be useful to do so, the knight behind him bowed helplessly, turned his horse's head and left.

"The Borgia family."

Looking in the direction west of the city of Rome, a deep whisper came from behind de Charlon's mask.

Alexander did not sleep that night, and at dawn he walked up the stairs of the corner building to the tall window, and looked at the quiet and empty street below, but he knew that the night should not be peaceful.

Even in the Carolingian Palace, some noise could be faintly heard outside in the middle of the night, and a group of soldiers hurried past the window when it was almost dawn.

Alexander didn't need to know the origin of yesterday's Assassin, but he could have guessed that because of this Assassin's actions, there must have been a bloody storm in Rome last night.

The assassination of the Pope's favorite daughter, both on the charge and for the reason, was enough for Alexander VI to mobilize his army to take revenge on all the enemies in Rome, and even because the reason was too strong, even the French army, which still occupied Rome, could not be dissatisfied with him.

Maybe this is what "they" are really for, Alexander thought to himself.

As for who this "they" were, Alexander believed that it was the Borgia themselves.

But this is just speculation after all, not to mention that Alexander also knows very well that with his current situation, if he is not caught in this vortex of right and wrong, he may soon be eaten up by all forces without even the scum left, so he feels that it is best to watch silently at this time.

It's just clear that someone doesn't want him to be a quiet spectator at such a time.

Because they were almost under house arrest, Alexander and his men had to stay in the corner tower in the side hall of the Carolingian Palace, and although there was no inconvenience, the wait was unsettling.

Carlo tried to go out more than once, but Alexander stopped him, but he didn't stop him from climbing the stairs to the top of the corner tower.

After all, if something happens, Enashan's ability should be able to find a way to protect Sophia.

When it was nearly nine o'clock, a messenger suddenly came to visit Alexander in the Corner Tower.

To Alexander's surprise, this man brought neither Joanna nor Caesar Borgia, but a letter from Giovanni Borgia, another important figure in the Borgia family.

In the letter, Giovanni Borgia paid tribute to Alexander's bravery, and repeatedly stated that although the assassin he prevented was not his sister Lucrezia, the Assassin was undoubtedly very dangerous, and if it were not for his recklessness, which led to the misidentification of the wrong person, perhaps the terrible murderer might have possibly threatened Lucrezia's safety.

So from this point of view, the actions of Alexander and his unknown friend can be said to have eliminated a potential threat to the Borgia family, which is enough to make him a "good friend" of the family.

At the end of the letter, Giovanni Borgia expressed his desire to meet Alexander, and made it clear that if he wished, he could now meet him at the Gilpitz Palace, where he lived.

Alexander was somewhat surprised by such a letter.

Who Giovanni Borgia was, he knew.

As one of Alexander VI's many illegitimate sons, Giovanni and his brother Caesar were the most hopeful.

Many people know that Alexander VI patiently built his Borgia dynasty, and in addition to relying on intrigue to eradicate his opponents and face bankruptcy, he finally ascended to the papal throne, and he hoped that his children would be his most faithful assistants.

So he let Caesar into the church, and he used his power to make this son a prominent archbishop at a young age, and while training Caesar, he also had high hopes for his other son, Giovanni, who he hoped would become a commander in command of the army he ruled for him.

This desire made Giovanni and Caesar the two most powerful members of the Borgia family, after Alexander VI himself.

Now Giovanni suddenly sent someone to see him, and Alexander was compelled to agree, albeit unexpectedly.

The man who came drove a carriage, and looking at the coat of arms of the Borgia family on the thick carriage, Alexander couldn't help but wonder how many people in Rome were trying to kill the people who sat in such carriages at this time.

Unlike the rest of the Borgia family, who lived not far from the Vatican, the Gilpitz Palace was not on the west bank of the Tiber, but on a riverside street near the Mausoleum of Augustus, across the river from Castel Sant'Angelo.

And unlike many other palaces of this era, Guilpitz Palace has a typical Roman style, with triangular porticos and huge Roman columns being the most prominent features of this palace, and the square dome that is different from most palace buildings today can attract people's attention from a long distance.

When the carriage reached the gates of the Guilpitz Palace, Alexander noticed the soldiers patrolling outside the palace, and it was evident that although the palace was close to the street, it was well guarded, as could be seen by the soldiers who were constantly patrolling back and forth and the guards who stood under the porch of the palace and watched the crowd closely.

Just seeing so many guards, Alexander couldn't help but think about what would happen to Giovanni in the future.

Giovanni Borgia was assassinated and killed, and the murderer remains an unsolved mystery.

When Alexander saw the first glimpse of the huge patio porch, he couldn't help but sigh slightly.

A statue of St. Peter, apparently freshly carved and not yet fully polished, stood on the black marble floor in the middle of the porch, the corners of this new sculpture still faintly revealed the sharpness of the chiseled stone, and the statue of St. Peter, who stood on the pedestal, looked quiet but full of wisdom and suffering piety, even if it was a new work, but it was like a statue that had stood there for an unknown number of centuries. It was like being reawakened, and people couldn't help but have an urge to bow and worship.

"This is Michelangelo's 'St. Peter'?" Alexander blurted out, but slightly surprised and puzzled, he recognized this statue, if I remember correctly, this should be Michelangelo's first successful work after coming to Rome, it is by virtue of the artistic soul that this work is endowed with and the exquisite skill carved with every knife, Michelangelo rose to prominence in Rome, and since then embarked on the road to becoming a master of endless life.

However, the statue of St. Peter looked a little different from what he remembered, and Alexander remembered very well that Michelangelo's 'St. Peter' was placed outside the doorpost of St. Peter's Basilica, which will be rebuilt in the future. 106

"It seems that you are indeed a good friend of Bonaroti."

A cheerful voice came from behind the statue, and Alexander tilted his head slightly, and then saw a young man with a curly brown beard and a furnished woollen hat on his head walking briskly.

This man looked a little like Caesar Borgia, so Alexander already knew that he was Giovanni Borgia without introducing him.

Giovanni seemed to be a very cheerful man, and unlike Caesar, who seemed to have a certain charm, Giovanni seemed to be relaxed and relaxed, and he seemed to be very happy that Alexander recognized Michelangelo's work, so he walked over and stood side by side with his guests in front of the statue to admire the work carefully.

"I must say that I am really sorry for Bonarroti to leave," said Giovanni, looking at the statue with some regret, "but he seems to think that Caesar will be more able to let him realize his artistic ambitions, and I could not bear to disappoint such a promising young man, so I had to give him up to my brother, but I did not find nothing, and carved this 'St. Peter' for me before he left me." ”

"Turns out Michelangelo had been patronized by you before, Lord Duke." Alexander was a little surprised.

Giovanni Borgia was the Duke of Gandia.

"Sort of, but I didn't do anything for him, but my brother Jeffrey's wife, Chasan, had always been interested in his artistic talents, and had introduced him to several famous masters in Rome."

Hearing Giovanni's words, Alexander had a strange feeling in his heart for a moment, looking at the Duke of Gandia, who seemed to be obsessed with the artistic masterpiece in front of him, Alexander wondered what kind of thoughts he had in mind when he mentioned his brother's wife.

Caesar, Giovanni, Lucrezia, and Geoffry, along with their father, Alexander VI, formed the Roman House of Borgia.

The rumors about the family were the most talked about in all of Rome, including the unusual intimacy between Geoffrey's wife, Chassan, and his brother Giovanni.

Listening to Giovanni mention his brother's wife without hesitation, Alexander felt a little strange.

"Chassan is fond of art, and she is more likable than Jeffrey in this respect," Giovanni said disapprovingly, as if he had just remembered something, and said casually, "I have heard that you have come to Rome all the way to protect Joanna from Naples, and I think Chasan must be willing to meet you." ”

Looking at Giovanni's seemingly casual appearance, the strange feeling in Alexander's heart became stronger and stronger.

It was clear that it was not the Duke of Gandia who really wanted to see him, but the younger brother and sister with whom he had a special relationship.

The woman's name was Chassan Aragorn, the daughter of the former Alfonso II of the Kingdom of Naples, Ferdinand's sister, and Joanna's sister-in-law.