In the warm spring breeze, a full-sail three-masted sailing merchant ship is moving in the sea, seagulls circling around the merchant ship and chirping, and the sea breeze blows up layers of waves.

Merchant ships have been adrift at sea for more than half a month, and they travel along the coastline, passing through large and small wharves to stop ships to unload cargo, which delays a lot of time.

If driven at full speed, it takes only seven days for an all-sail ship to travel from Jikronsi to Britts.

Now the merchant ship from Jikronsi has finally arrived at its final destination, the most prosperous port in the whole of Norman, the port of Rotterbeni.

Standing on deck, the port of Rotterbeni can accept both sails and ships, and from the deck, Bill can see from afar dozens of ships docked at the docks, large and uniform.

The sun is abundant, and the occasional steam freighter whines through with white smoke, leaving a trail of ripples on the calm sea.

Looking further afield, behind the harbour is a magnificent complex of buildings shrouded in mist where the historic Norman capital, Brittus, sits along.

I don't know when it began, Brittus was shrouded in a faint mist all year round, hence its nickname.

"It's finally here. ”

"Fog, Brittus. ”

When the merchant ships are moored, you can only feel the size of the port of Rotterbeni when you get closer, and as far as the eye can see, there are tons of cargo boxes piled up all around, and the unloaders on the docks are busy and noisy.

Tired and excited in his eyes, the traveler slowly stepped off the passenger ship.

"This is the pride of Norman, Rotterbeni Harbour, and it lives up to its name. ”

"Let's rent a carriage first, Brittus seems to be some distance from here. ”

Stepping on the ground, the feeling of thickness comes from the soles of the feet, familiar and unfamiliar.

Butrice, though behind the harbor, is still a long way from the port of Rotterbeni, the Norman capital, unlike the Gécransi, which is close to the docks and the streets are full of fishy smells.

Following the flow of people, I soon saw a horse-drawn carriage waiting behind the port.

"I'm going to Brittus West, 14 Garton Road. ”

"Come on, guest, rest for a while, you'll be home soon!"

Feel free to rent a clean carriage, the driver is very enthusiastic, the carriage leaves the harbor, the horse's hooves gallop through the low slopes and woods, and go straight to Brittus.

Brittus is a different story.

The greystone pavement has just been washed away by the torrential rain, and the streets are lined with shops of all kinds, steam locomotives pass by speed limits, and there are special signs holding up signs to remind pedestrians to give way.

Pedestrians were also looking serious, sitting on the side of the road with newspapers in hand, and many policemen were hurrying past with police dogs, not knowing what they were looking for.

After entering Brittus, the carriage began to slow down, and there was a mist in the air, and through the main street, Bill saw many workers demonstrating in the street.

They held up signs, wore shabby water-blue workers' uniforms, held scissors and hammers, and shouted slogans, both men and women.

"Equal treatment, fair competition!"

"Government reform is urgent!"

The workers blocked the main street, and the coachman, in desperation, sighed, turned the carriage around and entered the alley.

Bill turned his head to see that the police had hurried to chase them away, not the ones leading the dogs.

"What is this?"

"Did the workers' movement start so early?"

Bill frowned, it was an industrial place, a political atmosphere, a restless populace, and a society far less stable than the newspapers had written.

"Guest, you haven't been back to the capital for a long time!"

"They were sent by the factories, and those rich people thought that most of the members of the council were nobles and that it was status discrimination, so they strongly demanded government reform!"

The coachman smiled, feeling that the procession was far away from him, and that the nobles were willing to give up their power.

"It's not the workers' movement, it's the bourgeoisie. 」

"Workers are just being used. 」

"It seems that you also care about politics all the time, and you know all these things well. ”

"Guest, I don't care about those things!"

"It's just that the newspaper reports it every day, and there are newsboys who send newspapers for free, I don't think it's hard to know!"

After a few more alleys, we came to a civilian quarter, where the carriage came to a slow stop in front of a building.

Dark clouds gather over Brittus, and spring is the rainy season for Brittus, and heavy rain falls as soon as it happens.

"Guest, 14 Garton Road has arrived, watch your step when you get off. ”

"Thank you. ”

When he got out of the carriage, it was dark and in front of him was an old two-story brick building.

The brick masonry has thick mortar joints, steeply sloping roofs, attics, and chimneys, with undulating shapes, random windows, and climbing plants that grow all the way to the second floor.

The carriage slowly departed, came to the door of the brick building, and pulled the handle, but the door was unlocked.

When I opened the door, there was a long, dark and narrow corridor, with only a kerosene lamp hanging on the wall, and the cold wind blew through the crack in the door, and the flames faltered.

Half a foot stepped into the brick building, and the first door clicked open at the entrance, and out came a fat woman, who was fatter than John.

"You ......"

"Oh my god, Bill, you're back!?"

The fat woman was holding a pile of clothes in her hand and stared at Bill's face for a long time before she reacted, very surprised.

"You said that you would leave a room for you for three months, but now it's three and a half months, and I thought you wouldn't come back. ”

Throwing the clothes into the wooden basin at the door, the fat woman clapped her hands and smiled at Bill.

Bill doesn't have any memories of the fat woman, but it looks like she's the owner, and Williams lives in a rented house in the capital and doesn't have a real home.

"I still have the room, but the house is due, you have to renew the room, and the settlement will be cleared by the end of next week at the latest. ”

"The key is in my drawer, and since you're back, I don't have to keep it for you. ”

The fat woman goes back to the room to get the keys, and Bill follows.

I took the key, and the room number was on it, and sure enough, it was 207.

"Thank you. ”

Bill thanked him casually, and the fat woman was a little surprised.

"Oh my God, is the sun coming out of the west today?"

"You'd say thank you, Bill, I've known you for more than three years, and you haven't said anything superfluous!"

Stiffening slightly, Bill quickened his pace and left.

"I'll talk less in the future. 」

A closer look at the interior of the brick building reveals two rows of rooms, much like a bachelor's apartment, but in a humble setting.

There was a smell of mold everywhere, two windows at the end of the hallway, dim and dim lighting, and an old wooden floor creaking to step on.

After searching the second floor for a moment, Bill finally found a flight of stairs around the corner that led to room 207.

This is the cheapest loft, warm in summer and cool in winter.

When I opened the door, the dust was blowing in my face.

"Poof!"

Walk into the attic, the attic roof is low.

The triangular roof is hung with two wooden beams, surrounded by several posters of stars, and a calendar hanging on the wall, with no other decorations.

The only furniture in the house was a wooden bed, a desk and a wooden chair, the quilt was dirty and thrown on the floor, and there were many empty wine bottles and a few stacks of discarded newspapers on the floor.

There are two dates marked with circles on the calendar, and I don't know what special meaning they have.

"July and August, have you already planned what to do in these two months?"

Holding up the calendar, his fingers are covered with dust, and the lowest part of the attic is only two meters, which looks extremely depressing.

"Let's clean it up first, at least make it habitable. ”

"Damn, why is that guy so dirty, it's not so exaggerated in the smuggling boat!"

"I'll move it out when it arrives, I still have some money, so there's no need to be wronged to live here." ”

Lacking the familiarity and sense of belonging he had imagined, Bill decided to move out when the payment was mailed, and he could even find a new place to live in advance and return the room when the dangerous goods arrived.

Now he has to go out and buy some groceries to clean up.

Although he was in a hurry to check on Williams, in the small space filled with dust, he couldn't help but recall a mine full of dangers somewhere.

Open the windows to ventilate, the sky is already dark, the weather is getting warmer in May, and the nights are still cold.

Bill felt a chill, and looked at the messy wine bottles on the floor to know that this body had been eroded by alcohol for many years, and hardly ate on time.

Alcohol can provide calories, but it doesn't have any nutrients, and since it has taken over this body, Bill has to make a good makeover, and health is the minimum standard.

He believes that in the near future, he will encounter all kinds of unpredictable troubles, and in order to survive and find out who is behind the scenes, he must be stronger!

Closing the door, Bill turned and walked down the stairs, through the dimly lit hallway.

The fat woman heard the footsteps and opened the door and shouted in Bill's direction, the voice echoing in the hallway for a long time.

"Bill, is that you!"

"I still have a lot of letters sent to you here, hurry up and pick them up!"

The fat woman's voice was deep and penetrating, and Bill raised his eyebrows, a little curious.

"Someone sent a letter to Williams?"

"Silent, not clean, still a wizard in private, does Williams have friends?"

Curious about all of this, nothing could stop him from going out to buy and clean the room unless his life was at stake.

"Go out, come back and pick it up. ”

Passing by the fat woman's room, Bill responded lightly.

"Then don't forget, I'm full of envelopes, all sent to you!"

"Hmm. ”

Pushing open the door and leaving, Garton Road is a civilian residential area, and the shopping street is far away, so Bill can only look around and familiarize himself with his surroundings.

"I remember seeing it in the carriage, there should be a ...... seller in the west"

"Strange, isn't it the West?"

Passing through the street, there is a sign with small advertisements on it.

Stop, scan through the ads quickly, and try to find a store that sells groceries.

"Gilda Restaurant is offering a discount every Saturday, so we look forward to welcoming you!"

"Financially stable, faithful for life, health insurance, service to permanent. 」

"Beo Racecourse: Bet with enthusiasm and good luck!"

"If you are concerned about oral health and professional dental surgery, please come to 32 Harley Street. 」

"Villa transfer, don't disturb!"

"Friend, join us, the Heavenly Eye Sect will show you the world clearly. 」

"The church warmly reminds that in order to protect your physical and mental health and property safety, please do not join illegal organizations↑. 」

"Save more money, save more worry, buy goods and ......"

"Ah, I found it!"

According to the advertising instructions, I finally found a daily necessities store, which is full of products with high prices.

"It's hard to imagine how the average family can afford to live on the cost of a bar of soap, which is enough for a family of three to eat for a week. ”

Pick and choose, and the kraft paper bag is quickly filled with daily necessities.

When I walked out of the store, night had completely fallen, the sky was covered in ink, and the stars were obscured by a thick fog.

Under the gas lamp, Bill walks briskly through the streets with a paper bag, and he doesn't want to walk alone at night, which brings back some bad memories for him.

Turning the alley, there were fewer and fewer passers-by, and suddenly a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows walked towards him, opening his arms and looking extremely excited.

"Williams, you're back, they really didn't lie to me!"

"I thought you had gone into hiding in the countryside and didn't dare to go back to Brittus. ”

"But it's good that you're willing to show up, dear Mr. Cliff, I've been thinking of you!"

Bill stayed where he was for a moment, not daring to move.

"Who is he, good friend?"

"What attitude should I use to respond to such enthusiasm for me?"

"What does it mean to hide in the country?"

"You ......"

"Surprised to see me?"

"I'm also surprised, it seems that you really make a lot of money, and you won't turn around and run away when you see me. ”

"Williams Cliff, don't try to run again this time, and I'm not going to let you escape. ”

The middle-aged man hugged Bill, the dagger against his waist, and his voice suddenly turned cold.

"Murder pays for life!"

"Debt repayment!"

Notes₁: Williams has a lot of nicknames, and they vary greatly, and you may not recognize them as the same name just by their literal form, Bill, Billie, Billy, Liam, Will, Willie, Willy, etc. are all Williams' nicknames, Bill and Will actually read very similar, have you noticed?