The darkness of night envelops Eastwood, the dark corners where the light of kerosene street lamps cannot illuminate, the incriminating evil spreads, and the buying, the threats, the insider dealing, the secrets measured in money, are happening all the time.

Aldrich Triss led the dark horse Hayek and strolled through the bright streets, the old man's undulating back as he walked in rhythm, and looking at his fur that shook from time to time, the scavenger could not help but think of the life at sea that had just ended.

Everyone in the upper echelons was staring at the war bond bill, intriguing with each other for the division of huge interests, but he set his eyes on the far northern seas, and although there was good news from the good news, Aldrich could still see a lot between the lines.

The leading warships of the three North Sea countries began to adopt a strategy of contraction in the face of the navies of the Customs Union and the allied forces of the northern states, and the merchant ships on the trade routes endured high taxes and were squeezed and eaten away by the competitors of the western cities.

"After being stunned by our wave of forwards, and falling into the disadvantage of passive defense, the three countries of the North Sea at this time forbearably retreated, I have to say that this is quite a clever strategy, as expected, the alliance of the northern countries that have tasted the sweetness will definitely rush into the North Sea like a hungry tiger, maybe the Ice Wolf King is waiting for the opportunity, sitting back and watching us lose peace for the sake of the scraps. ”

Tris couldn't help but shake his head slightly, "No, the northern countries are not so stupid, they ignore the hundred-year-old feud that has not lost much in strength, and turn their heads against us. ”

Suddenly remembering the mountains of loot in the coastal city of Baifan Port, Aldrich felt that under the lure of such lucrative interests, no one could maintain a normal mind and implement the tacit understanding between the two sides to join forces against the three North Sea countries.

Sighing, he found that his wild mind had jumped too far and had to stop thinking meaninglessly, and at this moment, an inexplicable hostility appeared, and then quietly disappeared into the streets and alleys.

Aldrich was not at the mercy of such an inferior trick, and kept turning in circles with the palm of his right hand against the hilt of the sword, but his footsteps never stopped.

Hayek flicked his tail and swept away the flies on his legs and feet with a long broom-like mane, and Tris glanced sideways and continued on disapprovingly.

Realizing that the target had not been fooled, the Night Bringer, who had used himself as bait, immediately abandoned his plan with many variables, sighed and walked into the dark depths alone, perhaps to explain to his employer, or perhaps to abandon his plan to hunt the Fourth Horseman.

The boss of the docks, President Triss of the Scavengers Guild, is too ostentatious, not only initiating the promotion of the war bond bill, but also daring to jump up and down in the House of Representatives, so it has aroused the dissatisfaction of many bigwigs who claim to be the controllers of order, especially the boss of the dark round table in the underworld, a certain part of the smuggling business was taxed by him with a sword, which almost caused the seat under the ass to shake and turn over, and even directly sent out the trump card that his subordinates had just accepted.

Aldrich didn't roll over his horse and gallop all the way to the docks, he was like an ordinary citizen who left his warm room after dinner and went for a walk, his state of guard was so loose on the outside that he could not help the snipers who belonged to a different plate of scattered sand and could only watch him off.

With the lights on the docklands all night in sight, it was even more difficult for President Triss to reach his own territory, but the unexpected appearance of one man in front of Aldrich caused the Assassins hiding in the shadows to immediately cancel their plans.

Bruce, the only son of Rep. Wayne of City Hall and close to the Secret Police Department, stepped out of the private carriage engraved with the family crest and took off his narrow-brimmed brimmed hat to face Aldridge as he approached.

"Long time gone, Dear Mr. Wesley. ”

Shouting through the pseudonym of the world of All Souls' Day, Tris's right hand made a swift move, and the one-handed sword that had been tempered slid through a cold cold light, almost blinding the man's eyes in the dim light.

"Keng!" didn't use the power of the violent bear, just an ordinary infantry move, and slashed off the top of the cane with a sword from the stranger who was not weak.

"Damn, can you talk well, everyone is an acquaintance. Taking two steps back, Bruce realized that he had underestimated his opponent's reaction and immediately pulled away from safety.

"You should be the most mysterious of the four, and if you want me to believe it, you can. Show me your token!" Aldrich put away his one-handed sword, but did not put it back into the cowhide scabbard.

After being frightened between life and death, Bruce, whose expression became less calm and calm, reluctantly raised his right hand, showed his frost ring, and was taken by him to the real world, not knowing if he could release the constant solidification of the ice dagger.

"It's really you! Triss sheathed his sword, loosened the reins of his left hand, and walked forward overjoyed, spreading his hands as he prepared to cordially hug his friend who had shared his afflictions.

Bruce cautiously approached, hugged the invisible boss in the docklands, and whispered in his ear, "Your identity is really secret, I have been looking for it for a long time." ”

Patting the broad back of his temporary teammate, Aldridge let go of his hand, and the other man immediately took a half step back in response, clearly apprehensive by the not-so-pleasant charge just now.

"After leaving, I went to the North Sea, how did you find me?

Tris, who is very curious about this, is a little eager to know how the other party can see through his disguise, which is related to his most secret second identity, so he naturally has to do a good job of secrecy.

"It's not what you think, you can see someone's identity from subtle words and deeds, which even the senior detective of the Secret Police Department can't do. I'm just using the elimination method to weed out the ineligible targets. The final key point is that there are simply not many traditional knights in Eastwood. ”

There are very few pedestrians on the streets at night, but there are many people walking in the gray area who are secretly staring at Aldrich, and Bruce doesn't want to talk too much, so that it is more or less a trouble for those who are interested to listen.

He leaned halfway, spread his right hand to the carriage door, and made an inviting gesture, but Tris was not interested, picked up the reins of the black horse Hayek, and persuaded in turn: "It's better to spread it out on the road, at least it can be easily breathable, and stay in the closed carriage, don't you feel bored?"

Accommodation and forbearance are virtues! Bruce convinces himself not to be angry, and that being ignored for his good intentions is just a small setback.

Then let's take a stroll through the streets at night and enjoy the sights that are not to be missed. ”

Most of the Assassins lurking in the dark corners gave up, and only a few diehards who were also intelligence brokers seemed to have heard something worthwhile from their conversation and did not leave with the crowd.

"You never returned, and the four of us went in twice in succession, both of which were confined to the existing territory and did not explore deeper. ”

Speaking of this, Bruce cautiously glanced at Aldrich, and found that there was no emotion on his face, and his heart suddenly sank.

"Hmm!" Triss snorted, indicating that he had heard, but anyone could hear the perfunctory meaning, much to the dismay of the leader in charge of the unexpected reunion.

Along the way, it was Bruce who led the way, but Aldrich never gave a positive response, and it was not until the lair in the Shiying neighborhood was in sight that Councilor Wayne's only son took out his hole cards.

"I also found the other three people, and at the beginning of revealing their identities, they all had a strong sense of resistance, but after communicating with each other frankly, they gradually relaxed and came together. Everyone met by chance, and it was no problem to make an appointment to meet. ”

Triston paused, looking sideways at young Bruce, his calm eyes staring at him a little uncomfortably, thinking that he had said the wrong thing again.

After a long time, Aldrich nodded slightly, acquiescing to the matter, and then approached the scavengers' union's territory. He was busy with the war bond bill, and he was so busy keeping an eye on the fighting in the northern seas that he was not interested in the games of these young men vying for power.

Without the intention of subduing Tris, Bruce watched the invisible boss in the docks return to his lair, and originally wanted to go in and sit, but Aldrich, who had been cold, made him a little overwhelmed, and looked down at the cane without a top, the section was flat and smooth and terrifying.

"We are not all the way, he is too strong, whether it is personal strength or the power he controls, the only thing that can overpower him may be power. Luckily, Aldrich Triss was only the lieutenant of the Night Watchman, and he still held an empty title, without a single trunk. ”

Glancing at the scavengers' union, it seemed to remember all this, and Councillor Wayne's only son boarded the carriage, and the coachman skillfully rode back to his mansion.

Back in his lair, the cold sight that was everywhere was gone, and Aldrich let out a long breath of relaxation, and was about to go to bed, but tonight was not destined to let him hide quietly.

A hastily prepared invitation from a senior member of the Merchants' Union was respectfully placed in front of Triss by the union members. He had just opened it and looked through it, and one after another invitations to drinking parties came, and it was obvious that the people who were staring at Aldrich were not only ruthless assassins, but also sinister and cunning businessmen who knew the direction of the wind.

They were all people he didn't know, and of course President Triss could ignore them, and after a day in the House of Representatives, his spirit was tormented by the bombardment of debates and scolding, and he would not have been able to stay without an abundant source of faith.

Gorgo, the chief butler who was trusted by Aldrich, rushed to hear the news, and when he heard that President Triss had rejected all invitations, he immediately nodded yes.

According to his explanation, if you accept only one of them, you will invisibly offend others and set up potential opponents for yourself for no reason. No matter who doesn't accept the invitation to the drinking party, it will definitely affect your reputation, but at least this equality will not cause gossip.

"Don't bother with these trivial matters! Mr. Gorgau, you are also an old man of the trade union after witnessing the creation of the scavenger from scratch, and I would like to hear your opinion on the next development direction of our trade union. ”

Obviously surprised by this topic, Gorgo's original draft was all for the war bond bill, but he had a good brain, reacted immediately, and immediately took over the topic.

"Honorable President Tris, we have a general grasp of the docklands and maintain a balance, and the development of our scavenger union is almost at an end, and if it continues, sooner or later it will offend the other forces. ”

"Hmm!" Aldridge nodded slightly, he had clearly felt some kind of pressure lately, there was very little empty space in Eastwood City, and the sewers and chaotic docklands were occupied by him, which was indeed the limit of what he could reach with the current status of Deputy Captain of the Night Watchman.

"The formation of a customs union in the cities of the West is the end of the world for the smugglers, who are almost unprofitable, and many of them have changed careers and entered other businesses to earn a living. One of the fulcrums that our scavengers are valued by the big names above is about to collapse, and only by transforming into a legitimate business as soon as possible can we maintain an increasingly large scale. ”

President Triss slapped the bedboard, apparently irritated by Gorgo's words, and he got up and paced back and forth between the bed and the desk, "Yes, you're right. The situation of the scavenger is very good, but there are many hidden worries, I am a person with a sense of crisis, and I must plan ahead for the future. ”

The big steward of the union also came to be interested, and the two pressed their fingers to kick out the various industries with good potential in turn by elimination, such as iron smelting, salt, and grain, which were controlled by the big lords and nobles, sugar, spices, silk, and porcelain, which had a high entry threshold, and goldsmiths, gem merchants, and bankers also had high barriers to entry, most of which were controlled by famous families.

When all the calculations come down, with the scavengers' current shallow capital and meager cash flow, they are able to engage in low-profit industries, a result that Gorgaard is very disappointed.

Aldrich did not give up, he reminded his great steward: "Don't forget, now that the naval battles in the northern seas are in full swing, and the converted merchant ships must nail iron armor to all the gunwales, and the sea water is eroded all the time, and the rusty ground is very fast, and the hidden profits are very rich. ”

"Military manufacturing, and the iron industry, which is about strict control, is not so easy. President Triss, please think carefully about the consequences. ”

Gorgau immediately admonished, this was the first thing he had abandoned, and he did not know why Aldrich had brought it up again.

"If our product wasn't ironclad, but those inconspicuous rivets, how much do you think it would do?" Triss still didn't give up.

"The kind of rivet that is not worth a few dollars, not many people want to make it...... Uh! I see. ”

The two looked at each other and smiled, the tacit understanding was incredible, Aldrich calmed down his excitement, and immediately instructed: "Set up a workshop as quickly as possible, craftsmen who are familiar with the anchoring production process, there should be a few in our union, all of them are blacksmiths from Trisley, of course, we can also poach at a high price, the price is medium, don't break the rules of the industry." ”

Gorego nodded knowingly, took his leave, and then turned to leave the president's room to prepare for the relevant preparations. The sooner this kind of thing happens, the better, especially since Tris himself explained, he couldn't wait.