In mid-February, the chill subsided.

Allegri has been on the island of Thran for almost two months.

In the backyard of the Copper Compass Tavern, Simba, the big dog, is running around happily. Allegri, to be exact, is training it.

In the rest of his mercenary career, due to the existence of the life-sharing contract, he must take the big dog with him, and in that case, he must improve his life-saving ability as much as possible.

"What are you doing?" asked Zennis, looking at the side for a moment with his hands behind his back.

"Stop!" Allegri gestured, and the big dog immediately lay down honestly, he turned around, and replied evasively, "I want to see if I can get Simba to assist in the fight." ”

"That's it?" the old man glanced at the big dog, summoning mages and some rangers do rely on pets for fighting, but only if their summons and tamers have some special abilities, not cats and dogs that can be seen everywhere.

Discerning his contempt, the big dog barked, looking very dissatisfied.

"It's quite spiritual, but it's a pity that speed and strength are all about that," Zennis shook his head, "When I was younger, I saw a gray-robed mage who summoned an alien demon dog that could bite through iron armor in one bite. ”

"There's no hurry, you can develop it slowly," Allegri patted the big dog's head and said with a smile, "In the jungle, if he can catch a few hares, I'll be satisfied." ”

"What are you doing in the jungle?" Zenis was stunned.

"After a while, I want to be a mercenary. Allegri then remembered that he had not consulted his teacher on this matter.

"Well, it's better to go out and practice than to carry a bag every day," Zenis said approvingly, "but your knife skills." At most, it's a small success, and it's too dangerous a task, so don't challenge it. ”

"Yes, teacher. Allegri nodded and replied respectfully.

"And," Zenis pointed to the stick around his waist. added, "Don't forget, go change the knife first." ”

"Teacher, is there a blacksmith shop near the tavern?" Allegri asked, Zenis is also a snake in the land here, and should be familiar with it.

"If you do this, you will be pitted," the old man thought for a moment. Beckoned, "Forget it, I'll take you there." ”

The two of them exited the back door and weaved their way through the winding and narrow alleyway. The buildings in the dock area are often dense, with shops on the lower floors and residential houses on the upper floors.

Allegri looked up, the old signboard. with dried laundry, covering the entire sky.

Zenis loses the lead. Along the way, many people greeted him, but the old man never paid attention. About half an hour later, he stopped in front of a low-rise shop and pushed the door straight in.

The black, dirty walls, a thick layer of soot had accumulated on the floor, and Allegri had just entered. I smelled a pungent smell of gunsmoke. There were three people in the room, thirteen or fourteen years old, who were struggling to pull the bellows, and the fire was blazing, and there was almost no smoke.

next to an anvil embedded in the floor. The old man with thinning hair was trimming the iron with a small hammer, and the strong man with his bare body was beating with a sledgehammer.

"Utter, come here. As soon as Zenis entered, he shouted loudly. Allegri glanced at the shelves on either side, which were skewed and skewed, and the goods displayed on them were things like shovels or brick knives.

"What's the matter?" asked the old blacksmith, handing the tongs to his apprentice, clapping his hands.

"Hit a knife," Zenis said, gesturing at Allegri, "my apprentice." ”

"It's weak at first glance," the old blacksmith pouted, and pointed back, "compared to mine, it's far from it." ”

Hearing this, the big man next to the anvil laughed, bending his arms to show his muscles.

"So you're a fool," Zenis snorted, "Hey, do you have any good material to keep private?"

"I have Star Iron, can you afford it?" the old blacksmith leaned against the shelves and took a puff on his cigarette.

"You don't need star iron, you can use steel," Zenith knew that he was joking, so he waved his hand and said seriously, "My apprentice, the strength is enough, but the skill is not proficient enough, when you hit the knife, the arc is a little smaller, and the hardness is a little higher." ”

"Poor ghost," said the old blacksmith, drawing a soft ruler and measuring Allegri's arm, "how did you teach an apprentice with a hard knife, old fellow?"

"Lao Tzu has a high level, can't he teach him according to his aptitude?" Zennis walked around the store and asked suspiciously, "I said, you create this garbage every day, and your craftsmanship won't be rusty, right?"

"Fart," scolded the old blacksmith, "get out, take it in three days." ”

"Go back first, Iago," Zennis commanded, smiling disapprehantly, "I'll catch up with my old friend." ”

Allegri nodded, got up and left, not even a word the whole time.

Five minutes later, Allegri found himself lost.

It's just that the structure of the dock area is too complicated, like a huge ant labyrinth, and the road direction is not due south or north, so it is easy to get lost in it.

Allegri sighed and went to the shop next to him to inquire, but when he came out, he was even more confused. Here, it should be not far from the shantytown, where stone buildings and wooden houses are nestled together, and the boundaries are blurred.

"Brother, how did you get here?" a familiar voice came. Allegri turned his head and saw that it was Logan, the big man.

"I came with the teacher to get a knife. He replied truthfully.

"It's Utter, isn't it?" said Logan, smiling, "A long time ago, he worked as a blacksmith on Blackstone Island, where pirates lived, for more than ten years, and his skills were very good, but most people didn't know about it. ”

This heroic man seems to know everything. Allegri glanced at him in admiration and asked casually, "Brother Logan, are there really pirates in Thran?"

"The pirates of the blue seas, mostly Aalborgs or Torm, operate in the southeast, but occasionally they wander here, especially when hunted, and retreat into the Blackstone Islands to take refuge for a while," Logan replied as he walked, "but rest assured, pirates do not dare to enter the waters off the coast of Thran." In the land covered by the magic web, they have nothing to hide. ”

It's the magic net again, Allegri thought to himself, it seems that its influence on the people of Seran has penetrated into every aspect.

"But this dock area is much more complicated than the sea. Logan looked around and said with emotion, "It's almost impossible to find a missing person here. ”

Inexplicably thought of the wriggling sack the night before, Allegri's heart sank, and he subconsciously distanced himself from him.

"Don't worry, man," Logan leaned over. "The only suspicion about you is that the past was too clean for me to find." ”

"Brother Logan," Allegri replied after a moment's hesitation, also in a low voice, "I'll tell you the truth, I'm from the mainland. ”

Logan was slightly stunned. After a while, it dawned on him. "I see. He patted Allegri on the shoulder and promised, "If you get into any trouble, just come to me." ”

"I owe you three meals," Allegri said gratefully, "when I first arrived at the Bronze Compass." If you hadn't invited me, I wouldn't have been able to afford to eat even a meal of meat, and then the old steward took my ...... for the sake of your face."

"It's all the little things. Logan smiled and waved his hand, "I have long seen that you are not an ordinary person, brother. ”

The two talked as they walked, with Logan leading the way, and soon went around to the main entrance of the tavern.

According to the usual habit of the big man, he would order a plate of barbecue and two glasses of dark beer. Allegri, on the other hand, had just finished three days of night shift, so he was able to take a day off to adjust his schedule for the next three days of the day shift.

But as soon as they sat down, someone rushed in and whispered, "Big brother, something happened." ”

"You're cheap again, brother. Logan didn't hurry, and drank a glass of beer before getting up to leave.

"Alas, being a man should be like Logan, bold and atmospheric. As soon as he left, the waiter Lu Ben shook over, sat down, and ate without seeing anything.

"Can you please stop talking with your throat pinched?" Allegri shuddered.

"I don't know what the old knife thinks," Lu Ben ignored him at all, and said to himself, "With my qualifications, will I be worse than you?"

"Or else?" Allegri asked rhetorically.

Luben choked on him, and was so angry that he pulled his plate to his side, not letting Allegri eat it.

"Brother Logan is not afraid of the Sheriff's Department for this kind of business?" Allegri didn't mind, but asked softly.

"You're in the docks, have you ever seen the Magic Tower?" Luben asked an unrelated question.

"It doesn't seem to be. Allegri tilted his head and thought that he hadn't noticed it.

"The street patrol mage of the Sheriff's Department will not enter the dock area either," Lu Ben shrugged, "Lord of the City, he has assigned several gangs to manage this place, and he is only responsible for collecting money. ”

"Why?" Allegri asked, puzzled.

"Because all the taxes collected are under the supervision of the Council of the Nine Rings," Luben replied softly, "and the black money from the docklands is the main source of income for the lord of the city." ”

The Lord's Mansion of Dover.

The pavilions and pavilions are resplendent with gold, and in the center is a seven-story tower that shows its status, but under normal circumstances, the city lord of Claude will not stay on it.

Although he did not marry a wife, he raised three beautiful women, all of whom are beautiful and fragrant, with unique charm.

"This is the January offering of the docklands, and the total number is three thousand five hundred gold coins. The white-faced and slightly bearded presiding officer reported that it was the practice of the City Lord's Mansion to count the income and expenditure of the previous month in the middle of each month.

"Why so little?" Claude asked, dissatisfied. Five thousand gold coins is the normal level.

"The arrival of the Continental merchant ships has been delayed, and a great deal of money has been lost," explained the presiding officer, "and, as you have commanded, let them reduce the number of activities during the New Year." ”

"This month, each gang will raise the amount by thirty percent," Claude asked again, "and how did that go?"

"The message from Logan yesterday has been done. The presiding officer bowed and replied.

"He's okay with it, don't let him be half worshipped," Claude snorted, "that old thing, how dare you confront me in front of me and make him pay a ransom of a thousand gold coins, or don't let him go." ”

"I immediately informed Logan. The presiding officer nodded in understanding.

After he went out, the handsome city lord of Dover leaned back on the chaise longue, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he thought to himself. He had to pay a huge price to defeat his competitors and take over the bustling harbor city. So during his tenure, he had to loot a lot to make up for his losses.

Otherwise, if he doesn't have enough funds, how can he work up and down to ensure his status, and even go further.

Of course, while making money, you should also pay attention to proportion. And on the island of Thran, as long as you don't be stupid enough to provoke the High Ring Mage, you won't poke out any baskets.

"It is said that the Dante family has been in business for generations, and the family is prosperous," Claude muttered, "and extort only a thousand gold coins, isn't it a little less?"

At last week's council meeting, the elder Dante openly questioned his decision, arguing that the Docklands were a smoky miasma that was a major obstacle to the city's business development. Claude was naturally angry, so he sent someone to inform Logan that he had kidnapped his son.

This kind of kidnapping, both parties naturally know it, but in the end, Dante still has to pay obediently, unless he can't bear to give up, this most beloved little son.

In addition, some of the largest casinos in Dover City, brothels, and Claude can take a cut of them. This is the fastest way to get money other than kidnapping for ransom. And behind them, they are all managed by gangs controlled by the lord of the city.

So some people say that he is the biggest gang leader in Dover, but there is nothing wrong with it. Claude thought that it was his attitude to the Nine Rings Council that would ensure the stability of the White City and the College District. And the dock area is his private land, and those untouchables can't stir up much wind and waves anyway.

Moreover, the whole island of Thurand is like this, and not only the city of Dover?

At the same time, in an abandoned warehouse in the dock area, the big man Logan frowned.

In front of him, seven or eight corpses were lying crookedly on the ground, and it was he who assigned them to take care of the Dante son's men.

"How many people are coming?" Logan suppressed his anger and leaned over to observe, the dead were all pierced in the throat by a sword, and blood was dripping everywhere. And the son of the Dante family was also rescued by the enemy.

"One person, it's a black-clothed swordsman, I'm too far away, I can't see ......it clearly," the thin young man's palpitations did not subside. He disguised himself as a peddler and hid in the distance to watch the wind, but the enemy came so fast that before he could give a warning signal, the brothers were stabbed to death.

Listening to his answer, Rogan gasped. With such a swift skill and such a ruthless sword move, could the other party be a high-ranking martial artist?

"Inform the brethren to move immediately," Logan thought for a moment, then ordered, "and prepare a carriage." ”

When such a major event happens, he must personally go to the contact point and ask for guilt.

... (To be continued......)