War is the most destructive act of human beings themselves, and this is evident even before it has even begun. In the past, the outer city of Suero was always filled with crowds of people rubbing shoulders and street vendors. But now, the crowds and vendors on the road are gone, and all that remains are the gravel streets scorched by the midday sun, and most of the shops are closed. Only a few people walked down the road, looking for news from hand to ear.

Xiao Chen and Caterina entered the outer city all the way and did not encounter any guards at all. The two rode to the northwest corner of the outer city and found a courtyard that was not small in scale, but looked a little old and simple.

"This is a warehouse of our 'Golden Jasmine' trading company, and it is also a stronghold of the Ministry of Intelligence, since the incident with Baron Goya, it is now mainly filled with us and the Bacchus family. In the past, I relied on them to help me in my activities in the city. Now to hook up with Avali, you have to find their people. Caterina said, turning over and dismounting.

Xiao Chen followed and dismounted, he looked at the courtyard, the courtyard gate was made of thick wooden boards, although it looked dilapidated but it was actually very heavy, the courtyard door opened a crack, and there was a listless old dog tied to the door, who was hiding in the shadow of the courtyard gate, lying on the ground and napping.

"Are the people of the Bacchus family reliable?" Xiao Chen asked.

Caterina said, "Don't you know? Baron Carvalho, the head of the Bacchus family, has sent his son Sangino to settle in Riverbend New Town, Sangino has bought a house in the neighborhood next to your house, and he is an instructor in the martial arts school, and his son and daughter are also studying in the primary school of Riverbay New Town. How can they all be considered their own people?"

"Baron Carvalho has a vision, much better than Baron Goya, and he has made a wise choice. Xiao Chen said.

"Let's go. Let's go find Uncle Ivo, he's an old man in the Bacchus, and he's so well known in the city that there's hardly anyone he doesn't have a relationship with. ”

Caterina walked into the crack in the door, and the old dog on the ground looked up at her, and then at Xiao Chen, as if judging the relationship between the two. Katerina touched its head, "Brother Xiao is his own person. ”

So, it wagged its tail and fell down again.

Xiao Chen walked into the courtyard with her and found that there was a three-story building in the courtyard, surrounded by simple board houses stacked with materials.

"No one?" he asked, but then his gaze fell on the grass on the side, "There's a magic circle here." ”

"Don't look at the empty courtyard, if you didn't follow me in just now, you probably have been attacked by the formation. Caterina said. As soon as she took Xiao Chen to the door of the small building, she saw a gray-haired old man walking out of it.

"Miss Katarina, you are back again, it seems that you have already contacted the army, this should be Your Excellency Xiao Chen, right?" The old man was wearing a neat and clean cotton robe with some small embroidered patterns on it, and a pair of dark trousers underneath. This is the typical costume of the wealthy local commoners.

"That's right. This is Uncle Ivo. Caterina introduced, "Uncle, Brother Xiao needs to infiltrate Suero alone, I thought of Awali's way, do you have any way?"

"It's dangerous to go into the city now. Ivo said.

Xiao Chen said: "I naturally have a way to deal with the danger, you just need to find a way to send me in." ”

"Are you the only one?"

"Yes. ”

Ivo thought for a moment and said, "Generally speaking, our merchants from the outer city want to go inside, and they all drag their families with their mouths, and I have never seen such a person as you enter. Besides, Avali was very familiar with the merchants in the vicinity, and if he were a single face, he would probably be recognized as a spy as soon as he came up. ”

"What can I do then? I've heard that the inner city has opened a magic circle to detect stealth and magic fluctuations, and it's not realistic to sneak in. Caterina said.

"However, it is not only Avali who has the ability to bring people inside, after all, it is his stewards and guards who do the work. There are always some of these people who want to make a fortune for themselves, and I don't believe they will not make small moves. Ivo pointed to a room in the building and said, "Wait here for a while, I'll go out and ask if there's anything I can do." ”

Xiao Chen and Caterina waited for about an hour, and Ivo hurriedly ran back, and he said: "I bought a guard captain, and he promised me to let you mix in when the next group of merchants entered the city, but you have to dress up yourself, you look like a Chinese with black hair and black eyes." ”

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Half an hour later, Xiao Chen followed Ivo to the foot of the uphill road in the inner city, Xiao Chen now changed into a hair color very similar to Ivo, looking like his son and nephew. They entered a path, and around the corner they saw a man in armor and a sword at his waist waiting there.

"Old Ivo. Why is it so slow, almost out of time. The man looked to be in his thirties, and he seemed impatient when he spoke.

"Captain Pascoe, what you want is not a small amount. It's not easy for me to get together in this little time. Ivo took out a bag and stuffed it into Pascoe's hand, who took it in his hand and frowned, "I said the price, it's not enough, it's not just a personal problem. ”

Ivo said, "This is a space bag, you open it and take a look." Even if the bag is included, it is my sincerity, please take care of my nephew, he is the hope of our family. ”

Pascoët opened the pouch with his fingers and looked inside, nodding in satisfaction. He said to Ivo: "In that case, you can rest assured." It doesn't matter who you're sending in. I'll always take care of this for you, and I'll take care of the rest. You can go back. ”

Pascoe looked at Xiao Chen again, felt that there was no problem, and then beckoned, "Come with me." ”

Xiao Chen nodded to Ivo, and then followed Pascoe through the alley.

As he walked, Pascoët said, "Listen, I don't care who you are, I only have one request, don't get into trouble while I'm there, understand?"

"Understood. Xiao Chen said.

The two of them came to the gate that led to the inner city. There were already dozens of people waiting in line. Xiao Chen could see that these people came from seven or eight different families, and judging from the way they dressed, they should all have good conditions.

Pascoët walked over and said a few words to a fat merchant in the middle, who nodded his head repeatedly. Pascoe asked Xiao Chen to stand behind the fat man and said, "Just follow along." ”