"I'm sorry."

He smiled apologetically, and actually pinched out his cigarette.

If this scene is seen by Heiko, it is estimated that his eyes will pop out, Vito is a good young master to his subordinates, but it does not mean that he will be considerate and generous to his henchmen, domineering and unmistakable, is the normal way he has seen getting along with his own eyes in the week on weekdays.

Perhaps, only Hill can enjoy this tenderness alone.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk......"

As soon as the smoke went out, a sour female voice instantly sounded in the carriage, "What a gentleman, young master, I'm afraid that people will inhale a little of your second-hand smoke, why haven't I seen you take care of me so much, I obviously came first......"

Vito glanced at the Ragdoll who had knocked over the vinegar jar and did not speak.

The silver-haired girl with the greatsword on her back also did not speak, nor did she react to Hathaway's words, still quietly looking at Vito.

Because she can't hear it.

Sixteen years ago, Hill, who was still babbling, lost his hearing in both ears forever due to a high fever caused by a fire.

And before the catastrophe that took the lives of her parents, the last words that little Hill said were curiously lying on the edge of the window, pointing to the unconscious lonely soul who had just arrived in the river flowing down from the mountains:

"Mom, water, there's someone in the water."

……

"Are you trying to ask something, Ciel?"

Vito finally spoke, slowing down his speech as fast as possible so that Hill, who was sitting across from him, could see the change in his mouth.

The silver-haired girl nodded, she stretched out her slender right hand, put her index finger against her thumb, gently placed it in front of her chest, and lowered her head slightly.

This is a girl's unique sign language etiquette, which means "young master".

After a brief pause, she made a few more gestures, then raised her head, her blue eyes as clear as the sea, and stared at Vito quietly.

"You say, my breath seems to have changed?"

Vito smiled dumbly, "Do you think that the reason why those snow lions just now were close to me was because they smelled my breath?" ”

The silver-haired girl nodded earnestly.

"Keen insight."

Vito didn't hesitate to praise himself, he rubbed Ciel's little head, and said softly, "That's right, because I still ate that fruit in the end, and it's a change in ability." ”

Allowing the body to release a natural breath that seems to be unique to the depths of the forest to increase one's affinity, this is the most inconspicuous of the many abilities of the Mori Fruit that Vito explored on the ship.

Snow Lion's intimacy was expected, and he didn't pay much attention to it after trying to verify it, thinking about how to further develop this ability, so that his affinity would also work in front of humans who were the primates of all things, but he didn't expect that this subtle change in himself was actually noticed by Hill.

Ciel received an affirmative answer, and suddenly showed a sudden expression, and at the same time she was a little embarrassed, but she didn't avoid Vito's palm, allowing the big hand to ruffle her long silky silver hair.

"I noticed it too, okay!"

Looking at Hill, who was rubbing his head, a certain ragdoll cat was almost going crazy with jealousy, and raised his little paws and said angrily: "And earlier! When I was still on the ship, I noticed that your breath had changed from young master! ”

Why don't you boast of my insight!

"That's because you already knew I ate the Devil Fruit."

Vito unceremoniously revealed, "I often see dark shadows passing in front of my window on the ship, it's you who are peeping, right?" I test the fruit ability in my room every day, and you can't find it until you really know what the hell. ”

"Uh......"

The kitten's cheeks were slightly red, and she was speechless.

…………

The speed at which the snow lion pulled the cart was quite amazing, even in the knee-deep snow, it only took about half an hour to successfully take Vito and the others to the outside of Earl City.

"It's a surprise."

In the carriage at the front, Heiko stuck his head out of the window, looked at the rather majestic city wall and muttered, "A small remote city with a population of only more than 300,000 can still build such an exaggerated city wall......

"It can't be helped."

Sweet, who was sitting on the back of the snow lion, pointed to the far north and said with a smile, "Have you seen the mountains over there, they were all primeval forests that had not been developed much before, and I don't know how many generations of fierce beasts have inhabited them." ”

"When the weather is the coldest and the snow closes the mountain, these beasts can't go down the mountain to the city to find food, and there are injuries for a long time, and many families have been robbed inexplicably, so several major families simply joined forces and spent several years to build this city wall."

"That was decades ago, though."

Sweet's face showed a look of remembrance, and he sighed: "There are no difficult beasts in the mountain now, and this city wall has become an ornament most of the time, but occasionally when pirates attack, it can still barely play a defensive role." ”

"Oh."

Heiko responded perfunctorily, he had just mentioned it casually, and he didn't take Sweet's words to heart at all.

But at this moment, the curtain of the carriage behind was suddenly lifted, and Vito poked his head out, and his eyes fell on Sweet's face:

"You just said that this city wall was built by several major families?"

"Yes, Mr. Captain."

Sweet smiled, his thin face was a little proud, "This also includes our Hansen family, of course, we are just barely qualified to participate, the real organizers have to be the Luke family and the Lexa family, these two of them are the people who talk about this island." ”

Two families.

This seems to be the Isle of Earl, the real supreme ruling class at the moment.

In contrast, Sweet's Hansen family, although they also have a certain strength and can conduct ocean trade, they are not at the same level at all compared with these two behemoths.

Vito quietly glanced at Heiko, the latter, who had already learned to figure out his thoughts, suddenly came to his senses, straightened his body and coughed lightly, and asked solemnly: "To be specific, what is the situation of these two families?" ”

"Then there is, Colonel."

Sweet also came up, "This Luke family is a hereditary nobleman who has been prosperous for hundreds of years, and has the title of earl recognized by Mary Joy...... Oh, the mountain I just mentioned. ”

He pointed to the mountain range to the north, which was now closer, and Vito squinted and could faintly see the huge lights unique to the mine on the bare mountaintop, and the faint sound of falling rocks could be heard.