Uliu could feel that the temperature around him seemed to drop suddenly, and he felt a chill on his body, and a layer of gray instantly appeared on his dark face.

He heard the voice, the man he had been called by his men on the banks of the Tiber River, and the thought of his cruel order to kill them made Uliu's forehead cold.

Alexander didn't see Ulliu's strange expression, and he was looking at Olgala at the top of the stairs with the same surprise as the others.

Others may have thought that the famous prostitute must have appeared in his house because he was in the midst of a hot fight with the Ottoman.

Alexander thought more than anyone else.

He knew that Orgala would never be close to him just because someone was rich, and as Groganin's eyes in Rome, this woman had some kind of task on her shoulders.

Sure enough, looking at Olgala's attractive countenance, Ashulk did not show his obsession like the other men, he just looked at the intoxicating woman with admiration, and then he tilted his head slightly towards Alexander, and whispered a little closer to his ear: "I am talking about our mutual friend not this lady, but another person, but his relationship with this lady is very unusual." ”

Alexander had a look on his face, and Ashulk smiled slightly at him like this.

Orgala slowly walked in front of the two, today she was wearing a water-green double long dress, a slightly exaggerated shawl was very casually draped over her shoulders, the shawl was of precious silk texture, but one corner of the shawl was fixed to the back hem of the skirt by a brace supported by fishbones, and it looked like the whole shawl was like a pair of huge wings that broke back, and she was almost completely encircled The intricate folds on the collar set off the pair of "wings" to look bigger.

"Madame, you've always been so different." Alexander smiled and took Olgala's hand and kissed it gently.

"And you've always made us all feel unbelievable because of surprises again and again." Orgala let Alexander take her hand, and the corners of her forehead, which she had smeared with black ointment, twitched slightly, before she said to Ashulk, "I think you must have learned the earl's eloquence, and his unusual words." ”

Listening to Orgala's pointed, Ashulk nodded.

He really didn't expect that his first meeting with Alexander would begin in such a vaguely gunpowder argument.

"Count, you must already know that I have visited your house before," said Hashulk earnestly, "I think we can be good friends and companions, especially since we have a mutual friend, whom Groganin has repeatedly recommended me to know, and who calls you a truly wise man. ”

Listening to the compliments of the Ottomans, Alexander did not look smug, he seemed to be considering the words at first, and then he spoke slowly: "I must admit that you are indeed a respectable and generous person, especially those suggestions you have made, which I have heard from my sister, and which can only be explained by generosity and kindness, but please forgive me for not accepting your kindness." ”

Hearing Alexander's refusal, Ashulk did not show surprise, he listened calmly, and then asked in a very sincere tone: "Can I know why you rejected my proposal?" You know, no one can refuse such a good intention, so I'm more interested in what your reasons are. ”

Looking at Ashulk's calm appearance, Alexander could not help but feel admiration for his calmness.

As the Ottomans say, no one could refuse a proposal on such favorable terms, and whatever the motives of this man and that Groganin, at least from this suggestion, any suggestion that was rejected should be outraged.

It's just that Alexander is well aware that there is no cheap thing in the world that is picked up for nothing.

What's more, how to cooperate with the Ottomans will create a huge contradiction with his future goals.

Alexander remembered very well that the cruelty and hostility of the Iberian Peninsula, which had endured centuries of Moorish rule, towards the infidels would never tolerate a man who was inextricably linked to the Ottomans.

His ultimate goal is to embark on a peninsula that is destined to have a huge impact on the world for centuries to come.

Although this goal now seems too far away, Alexander believes that he can get there.

In that case, you can't do anything from the beginning that makes people grab the handle.

Although the conditions of the Ottomans were good, Alexander was convinced that things would not be so simple, especially when it came to Grogenin.

Alexander instinctively had a certain wariness of the lowlander who seemed bent on restoring the glory and early glory of the Hanseatic League.

The historical Hanseatic League is now slowly declining, and even without the challenge of the New World in the future, not only the Hanseatic League, but even the entire Mediterranean circle, including as far away as the Levant, is facing a declining fate as the navigators bravely open new routes to the East and completely cut off land communication with the Ottomans.

The Mediterranean, which Europeans regarded as a pile of gold and wealth, is slowly and irreversibly "depleting".

And what Alexander had to do was to get the most out of this sea of wealth while it was still abundant, so as to prepare for that crucial step in the future!

As Ashulk asked, Alexander's mind quickly swirled with these thoughts.

Finally, meeting the Ottomans' gaze, Alexander said: "I must admit that your suggestion is hard to refuse, but I think I can only refuse your kindness, because I cannot cooperate with a man who is about to wage war against all of Europa, and that would only make me have to remind myself at all times that every gold I earn is related to our enemy, and that every commodity I sell for you is helping the enemy to make crossbow arrows to shoot at us, just think of it. I can't make the money that makes me feel scared. ”

Alexander's expression was resolute and full of anger when he said this, his face flushed, and his voice raised slightly with excitement, which had attracted the attention of the people around him, and when they heard his words, they were even more stunned by their astonishment.

In this day and age, no one has ever said such a thing, and almost no one has thought like this.

Even if you are a heretic, as long as you have money to make, everything is easy to say.

As for the difference in faith, it seems that no one cares much about these things, except for the overly religious Castile and Aragonesians in the Iberian Peninsula.

After all, the Crusaders' golden horses are long gone, and this is an era of wealth and pleasure.

As for the jaw-dropping-sounding argument that "every time you buy an enemy's commodity, you donate money for the enemy to make a weapon to kill you", everyone was speechless for a while.

Ashulk listened politely, even if he was also surprised by the strange remarks, but he never showed any displeasure.

It was only as he looked at Alexander's eyes with a playful look that grew, and finally he nodded slightly and said: "Count, I must admit that I was surprised by your words, I did not expect you to be such a pious person, although your piety means that you will definitely be my enemy, but I still want to show you respect." ”

As he spoke, Ashulk spread his hands and bowed slightly.

"I apologize for the recklessness of my previous advice to you," said the Ottoman politely, "but I can assure you that unless war is a real occurrence, any vessel of the Chamber of Commerce under your name will be treated most fairly at any port under my jurisdiction, and this is my loyalty and piety." ”

Alexander bowed in return, and just then his eyes caught a glimpse of Ulliu, who was standing not far behind.

From Ulliu's eyes, Alexander could see that he had clearly gained something, and that there was no need for him to stay any longer.

Under the playful gaze of Ashulk and the slightly puzzled gaze of Olgala, Alexander took his leave, and as he passed through the Roman nobles, Alexander saw in their eyes an undisguised ridicule, mockery.

But I also saw surprise, surprise, and confusion.

In such an age, would anyone still do anything for the sake of faith?

In an age when the church openly sells indulgence charms, the priesthood can be bought with money, and even the papal throne can be pocketed with a large sum of gold, can piety and faith really hold on?

"This Count Montina, what does he mean?" A noble lady looked at the people around her in astonishment, "What does he think of himself, saint or vagent?" ”

Listening to her somewhat annoyed words, a nobleman said faintly, "I don't know what he thinks of himself, but I am sure that tomorrow the whole city of Rome will know what he said." ”

Ulliu, who had been standing not far from Alexander, as a Moorish servant, was at this time completely like an ordinary slave beside his master, and when Alexander came out of the hall, he hurried to follow, and carefully opened the door for his master.

It was only when he had just gotten into the carriage after Alexander that Ulliu immediately lowered his voice and hurriedly said, "Sir, I see ...... No, I heard the man's voice. ”

"You mean, the people on the Tiber?"

"Yes, it's that Kaubar, I can tell that the retinue of the Sultan's envoy is that Kaubar, and I can assure you that I heard that man correctly."

Despite his prior guess, Alexander was a little surprised, he didn't understand who was tracking down Pelotto Cadron, and he couldn't figure out why the Sultan's envoy was involved.

Alexander whispered to himself, "It looks like something is in trouble. ”

originally thought that Peloto Caderón was just having an affair with Giovanni's wife, but in Alexander's mind, he had even thought about making this Peloto Cadron the murderer of Giovanni's death, after all, this person lost his life because of various rumors with Lucrezia, so now he became the murderer of Giovanni, which only makes that plausible history even more strange.

But now Alexander is not sure whether this idea is appropriate.

It is clear that there is a conspiracy brewing around this Pelotto Cadron, and this conspiracy is likely to involve a group of behemoths.

Alexander pondered in his heart that he believed that Uliu should not be mistaken, so there was no doubt that the involvement of the Sultan's envoys had complicated matters.

Should Alexander VI be told about this?

The thought only flickered in his mind before Alexander pressed it.

From the moment he accepted the appointment, Alexander knew that the Pope did not want the killer to be one of his sons, which was not only difficult to accept, but also likely to plunge the entire Borgia family into crisis.

So what is needed is a murderer who is acceptable to everyone and does not "humiliate" Giovanni.

Peloto Caderon was a good scapegoat, but he doubted that Alexander VI would allow the Ottoman Sultan's emissaries to be involved.

Despite his unusually strong proclamation after receiving the Sultanate's credentials, Alexander was well aware that everyone, from the pope to the commoners, was looking to the east with unease and fear.

The shadow of the Crescent Empire is looming over Europe with the gradual fall of the Balkans.

Italy and the Balkan Peninsula are separated by the Adriatic Sea, which is not very wide.

Despite the heated rhetoric, how would Alexander VI react if Giovanni's death involved that Ashulk?

Perhaps, in order to cover it up, the Pope will give him a glass of wine mixed with Canterella, a special ingredient of the Borgia family.

The corners of Alexander's mouth twitched, he knew that not only would this happen, but that he would almost certainly be the one who awaited him once he told Alexander VI about it.

It is a tradition to kill a son-in-law, not to mention that it is just a lover of a daughter.

Thinking of this, Alexander stretched out two fingers to Ulliu on the opposite side and beckoned: "Listen, don't tell anyone about this." ”

"Obey the order, sir."

Ulliu nodded immediately, the Moor wisely didn't ask why, but then he looked at Alexander with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"Sir, you know I don't know much," the Moorish muttered before leaning over and whispering, "but why did you say those things, I mean those things that angered the messenger, I think he should be a sultan trusting the vizier, but it doesn't matter, but why do you say that?" ”

"Don't you think it's because of my piety?" Alexander glanced at Ulliu, who looked stunned across from him, then closed his eyes and leaned back in the carriage to doze.

Ulius looked at Alexander in amazement, and although he knew that it was wrong to question his master, the Moors believed from the bottom of their hearts that this was not Alexander's true words.

It's just that although the Moors don't dare to ask, it doesn't mean that others don't have the guts.

The next day, while Alexander was still asleep, the door was slammed open, and a voice of anger rang out in his room.

This was the first time that Josha had become angry with Alexander.

"Why?! Why would you turn down such a good opportunity? Josa loudly questioned Alexander, who got up from the bed, her body leaned forward, and her upper body was almost pressed against Alexander's chest, "Don't you know that once an agreement is reached with that Ashulk, our chamber of commerce will be unimpeded throughout the Mediterranean, and even Genoa and even the Venetians will envy our good luck, but not only did you give up such a good opportunity, but you also said something like that, you know, now the whole of Rome already knows what you said last night, It's too late for you to regret it now. ”

Tsusha questioned angrily, her face flushed with anger from being too angry, her neck also floated a faint red because of excitement, and the tendons and veins under her white and almost transparent skin twitched slightly, as if she would break through the skin and jump out if she tried harder.

To make matters worse, as the body leaned forward, the two bulging hills could be clearly seen from the drooping skirt, and the middle was squeezed into a valley-like depression.

Alexander made a gurgling sound in his throat, and he felt that he couldn't do it again, or the brother would probably not be able to continue to be in office.

In front of him, he was like an angry beautiful lioness, which made Alexander feel the urge to be an orc.

"I'm going to say that because I don't want to have anything to do with that Ottoman," Alexander smiled and stretched out his hand, the back of his fingers sliding lightly over Josha's jaw, and then he lay back and leaned against the head of the bed, "I want everyone to know that I am a devout Christian, I want people to see that I am fighting at all costs to defend God's faith in this world, and I will make everyone feel that I am doing it right, and the key is that everyone, Even that Ashulk believed that the invasion of the Ottomans was inevitable and imminent. ”

Jisha looked at Alexander in astonishment, she really couldn't understand what this "brother" was thinking.

Still, she quickly thought of something.

"So, all of this has something to do with your current plans?"

"Of course, it's all about planning," Alexander said as he strained himself out of bed, "Listen, I have made myself an image of a pious man, and everyone thinks that I am convinced that the Ottomans will invade all of Europa, and that I will be a determined warrior." ”

At this, Alexander's eyes drifted slightly from the still leaning forward body of Jessa and then a smile appeared on his face.

"It's all business, though."