Located in Dongcheng District, the closest to the west, Sweet Water Lane is the "upscale location" of the entire Dongcheng District, not only close to the canal of the hill to the north, but also has cobblestone streets, beautiful and clean red brick buildings, fountain gardens, maple grove avenues, and silk shops...... Although the dignitaries and nobles of Turin rarely visited here, many knights and wealthy people who lived in the eastern part of the city were frequent visitors.

In the deepest part of Sweetwater Lane is a beautiful café where the beans are cheap from the South and can't compare to real Dominica coffee beans, but the chefs here are genuine Dominicans, and the dishes are very different from the locals. Let those rich people who dare not go to the silk street in Xicheng District can also experience the "Dominica style".

Not to mention that the owner of this shop is also a "gentleman", in addition to the usual bards, the café can often be seen with enchanting dancers and beautiful female musicians, so that customers can enjoy delicious food and have a good time. If you don't like to be in the lobby, you can also have a separate private room for people to rest.

Extravagant and spacious room, with a crimson curtain blocking the floor-to-ceiling windows at the back. Dressed in a loose ivory robe, Marco Tasker was on a soft couch and enjoyed the wine and delicate veal ribs on the table—the eight-cooked beef was still bubbling in the "zez", the sauce on top looked even more tempting with a few onions and cherry tomatoes, and the bottle of wine from Seahorse Harbor seemed to be on the verge of floating.

Gently took a sip of the wine in the glass, and as soon as he looked up, Marco found that the bottle was gone, staring at him with a pair of vicious eyes, holding the bottle in both hands and pouring wine for another person.

"Welcome to the House of Tenderness, Dear Sir Edward Wittwood!" Marco Tasker looked as if he wasn't surprised at all, raising his glass to salute the figure sitting on the couch facing him, with a languid smile on his face, even though Angela's fierce gaze made him a little hairy: "I didn't expect you to come to my new home so soon." ”

"Cortés' bones are still cold, and you will eat all his inheritance. Edward took the wine glass handed over by Angela, and sat on the soft couch with a sneer and looked at the silver-haired wizard opposite: "Don't you think this is a bit shameless?"

"Dead people don't need to spend money, and besides, this café was originally a secret investment by me, but it was borrowed from the name of the Blood Flag Brotherhood - of course, now the Brotherhood is mine. There was no trace of embarrassment in Marco's expression, and he replied with a very calm smile: "So this café has become the new stronghold of the Blood Flag Brotherhood." ”

"That's right, dead people don't have to spend money. Edward smiled and drank the wine in his glass: "Of course, we originally agreed that all the remaining property of the Blood Banner Brotherhood would belong to you." ”

"No, no, no, not mine, but you, and I will be absolutely loyal to you - including this café, for as long as you need it. Marco suddenly became very solemn, and even stood up directly from the soft couch: "My allegiance to you is wholehearted, please believe me, okay?"

"Then I'm curious, is sending someone to spy on me secretly also a manifestation of your 'loyalty'?" Edward snorted coldly, with a "smile" on his face: "When you borrowed my hand to eradicate those Cortez's die-hard remnants, were you also thinking about the words 'everything is for Edward's good'?"

"I assure you, it's just a no-choice - I know I'm going to be suspicious, but trust me that I'm looking out for you. Marco's expression was very sincere: "As for the spy buried in the Knights, you must have discovered it a long time ago." ”

"I promised to help you, did you misunderstand something?" Edward's eyes burned: "You are a very capable guy, so I see you as a reliable friend, and this is what you give me in return?"

"You are so gracious, I serve you as if you were a man to whom I can be allegiant. Marco shook his head: "I hope I can gain your trust." ”

"Trust is a premise, especially when you have to take action. Edward smiled and replied, "Especially when it comes to showing what you're capable of." ”

"I'll give you what you want...... I'll do whatever I can whenever you need it. Marco finally smiled, "But what do you want?"

"The wine, the food, the women...... No, no, no, these are not what people like you want, that's what people like me crave, and money is worthless without pleasure. Marco stepped down from the soft couch and sat down at the table to enjoy his calf ribs: "If I can't eat the most delicious food, drink the best drinks, and let the best woman warm my bed, my wealth will be nothing but a pile of broken copper!"

"But what about you? I have no doubt that you would have survived even if you had eaten black bread mixed with sawdust and drank cold water from the gutter, and you had opened my eyes on the night of the Rose Glass, and that you could restrain your physical impulses......" Marco swallowed a piece of meat, picked up a handkerchief and wiped his mouth, "You enjoy these sensual stimuli, but none of them can make you happy. ”

"Only power can fill the void in your heart, my esteemed Sir Edward Wetwood—this is what you want!" Marco began, "If that is the case, I can only advise you not to leave Turin for the title of Governor of the Castle Fortress in the East, it is not worth it." ”

"Why?" asked Edward, rhetorically, "That's how Gaio Valens did it, he was like me, and now he is the chief knight. ”

"Yes, but it took him fifteen years and time and time again and again to survive. Can you endure fifteen years?" Marco smiled and shook his head, "If you are determined to fight to the end in the Knights of the Sacred Tree, this may be a good choice. But this is just a www.biquge.info and a springboard for you – don't be limited by what's in front of you. ”

"Can I understand that you are inciting me to betray the Knights?"

"I'm encouraging you to seize the moment - betrayal or not depends on your final choice. Marco spread his hands gently, "But if you are really so loyal, you will not leave the Mineste family and choose the Knights." ”

"Oh, then why do you say?"

"I don't want to be a lackey, I don't want to be a pawn, the only reason you joined the Knights is to have more opportunities here, so why not wait for the opportunity while there is still plenty of time?" the silver-haired wizard smiled and pushed his glass in front of Edward: "The storm is coming, it's not worth leaving now!"

.................. Edward did not leave the café in a hurry, but returned to the hall, ordered a cup of coffee and sat down, enjoying the silence of the morning. Angela, the little maid, sat next to him, looking at him with big eyes on her immature face, obviously wanting to speak.

"What do you want to say?"

"You can't believe the lies told by the big liar, he is lying to you!" Angela shook her head: "He said all this for his own good, so that the big liar will not be like Angela." ”

"Angela alone is your instrument, serving you wholeheartedly. The little maid said in an affirmative tone, grabbing Edward's sleeve with both hands: "If you believe it, you can only trust Angela!"

"Unless I go crazy one day, I can't trust Marco Tasker. Edward comforted Angela as if he were a child: "This man is a gambler, and he has put his gambling money on me in order to get something more—the last time he gained a lot and got the Brotherhood, that's why he is so anxious to see me win again." ”

"And what are you going to do with him?"

"It's very simple, that is, let him put more bets on me, until he doesn't dare to give up in the end. Edward took a sip of his coffee, "Only then will he be truly loyal to me." ”

Just as Edward put down his glass and prepared to go out, a familiar figure happened to walk by the door, and immediately stopped at the sight of the black-haired boy's almost trademark hair and eye color.

"Edward, why are you here?" Sir Leonardo glanced at the sign of the coffee shop in front of him in some surprise, and then looked at the black-haired boy standing below strangely, "I didn't expect you to like this kind of Dominica black bitter water." ”

"Always try something new, don't you, Sir Leonardo?" replied Edward quipped, "with honey and sugar, it's not so bitter." ”

"Anyway, I just can't stand this unpleasant thing, I didn't expect it...... Forget it, let's not talk about that. Sir Leonardo muttered once or twice, and then pointed to Edward's pony tethered to the door: "It just so happens that you are here to save me another trip to the headquarters, hurry up and go to Xicheng with me, and bring your little girl with you." ”

"Any mission?" Probably because he had just been "trapped" by Marco once, Edward couldn't help but ask a few more words: "If you can, you can let Angela go back first." ”

Hearing what Edward said, the girl immediately nodded, and obediently said, "Angela can go back by herself, don't worry about Edward and you!"

"What an obedient and good boy, but this time it's not for you to give you any task, quite the opposite. Leonardo's solid face showed a somewhat mysterious smile: "I have a gift for you!"

(Thanks to wjsffjsw for the tip, another ...... The emptiness of one-finger Zen can't hurt, please encourage me a lot~)