The dark steam tram traveled silently in the gray foggy city, this time is the old capital at night when the fog is the thickest, the visibility range is not more than ten meters, the ghost tram is selected at this time to start, it did not make any sound, along the railroad tracks on the remote road, cleverly missed all the patrols of the mounted police, stopping and stopping along the way to pick up a number of mysterious guests, we sat in the magnificent We all sat in a gorgeous carriage, soundproof compartments to isolate each seat from each other.
Iguan looked out the window and saw nothing but darkness, this place was a tin can of isolation, and the enclosed space made her feel panicky.
"Where the hell are you taking me?"
The detective in front of her was not trustworthy, at least not completely trustworthy, since Iying began to have a few regrets, I should have been more wary of him only right.
This was a compartment within the compartment and Lorenzo was sitting across from Iguan, he looked familiar and said slowly.
"Attending Saber's ball."
Said Lorenzo as he pulled out a mask and handed it to Iguan.
"Sabo is mainly in the smuggling business, he has a group of Vikings he works with on the northern seas, they are responsible for the plundering and delivering the goods to the port of Reyndona, then Sabo sells the stolen goods."
"Those are unseemly things, the common people have no purchasing power, but the upper class nobles are excluded, so he will hold a ball regularly, although it is called a ball, but in reality it is a trade fair, one hand pays and the other hand delivers the goods, listening to Lorenzo's words, Yi Guan's heart calmed down a bit slightly.
"The threshold for wanting to participate in this ball is very high, I also got the tickets through a trustee."
"That coin?"
Iguan was impressed with that coin, it was the center of a country, but there was a currency in circulation that had never been seen before, Iguan had to be wary.
"Yes, they generally call this the Butcher's Coin, minted by the owner of the lower city, the Burrowing Bird. It has the Burrow Bird engraved on it."
Lorenzo explained the intricacies of the Lower City for Iguan.
Where there were people rules were derived and classes were divided, even the chaotic and dirty Lower District was no exception.
"What you need to do to rule an area is to unify the currency, nowadays anyone knows that coins with lions on them and banknotes are hard currency internationally, while coins with Burrowing Birds on them are the norm in the Lower City, every Butcher's Coin can be traded outright, and in the black market you can exchange it for any currency."
"You can think of it as the whole of the Lower City being a giant casino, with the Butcher while in your hand being your chips."
Lorenzo said and took out a few more and handed them to Iguan, they were heavy in his hand, he didn't know what precious metal they were cast in.
"Saber is a very discreet man, his business is very profitable and anyone would want to replace him, normally he hides in a heavily guarded bunker but this time he will be at the ball, that's the only chance we'll have to get direct access to him."
"He won't let anyone know where the ball is, every time there is a ball there will be a letter carrier delivering a letter for those nobles informing them of the station stops and then traveling at midnight."
Lorenzo said as he put on a mask, a brass mask with bits of cogs set into the edges for decoration.
So we don't know where we're going either?
Iguan also put on a mask with feathers sticking out of the edges, as if she were some kind of keen bird. She looked out the window still dark and nothing was there.
"Yes."
Lorenzo nodded.
"Though Saber is a Viking, he's never been a Ruyan, or even a little too cautious."
The impression was that the Vikings were a bunch of reckless men who thought it was an honorable thing to die on the battlefield, and that their souls would be taken back to the Hall of Spirits by the Valkyries, where they would join the never-ending banquet of the gods and ancestors.
This belief was strong in the days of the Foolish Taste hundreds of years ago, when these desperate Vikings fought right up to the gates of the old capital.
Unfortunately times had changed, and all faith faltered under that incessant barrage, and when that war blimp swept through the airspace of the kingdom laden with ammunition, everything from the old days was swept into the grave.
"How do you know all this."
Iguan asked suddenly, blue-green eyes beneath the mask looking at Lorenzo, a mysterious and enigmatic identity beneath that brass mask.
"You're a detective, and you have butcher's coins, and you know so many hidden secrets."
"Iguan was in a position to believe that Lorenzo was a two-fifty, the guy had acted like a mobster from the start than a detective he was more like some wanted leader."
This had to make Iguan wary and now that Lorenzo's weapon was on him she had the complete advantage.
Lorenzo was silent for a few seconds in response to Iyengaru's question and then smiled frankly.
"Would you believe me when I say I have a mega strong buddy who told me all this?"
I'm afraid no one would have thought that the honorable Burrow would become Lorenzo's backup, after all, the class difference between the two is too great-one is the emperor in the darkness, and the other is an unknown detective.
"In fact, whether I answer you back or not, you will still have questions about me, won't you? We are merely allies united by interests, such an alliance is the strongest and the most fragile, and when interests diverge, we become mortal enemies."
Lorenzo recounted it blandly, sensible and uncharacteristic.
"Eve, the lower city is a huge casino, or even say that life is a gambling game, except for yourself also the cards in your hand you can't grasp anything."
The gray-blue pupils of his eyes gazed at her, his voice steady and strong.
"How about the first gamble on whether or not I'm trustworthy. If you think I'm trustworthy the action still continues, if you don't think I'm trustworthy it's not too late to leave."
Holding up a finger, Lorenzo concluded.
Iguan was silent, she was torn.
She was the princess of the Phoenix family, as Lorenzo said, she was of noble status, if Lorenzo plotted against her she was now a sheep heading for the wolf's den, but equally if she didn't accomplish anything her father would surely find a way to transfer her out of Suaram Hall.
With safety on one side and dreams on the other, Iguan made his decision without even thinking about it.
"If you dare lie to me, I swear I'll kill you."
The girl said viciously, then leaned back in her chair and waited to arrive at the ball.
This was quite the stubborn one, if it wasn't for her background maybe Iguan could actually be a good detective.
Lorenzo didn't say much, everything this night had gone well up to this point, too well to be true, and from the moment the girl had accepted Lorenzo's invitation he had known that she wouldn't take it so kindly, simply because she was a child of the Fenix family.
Only Immortals were born from the ashes, not a walking chicken.
The carriage rocked slightly, and faint sounds of conversation came from the compartments around it, before everything finally faded away.
Finally it was the valet who knocked on the doorway to inform the pair that they had arrived.
According to Lorenzo's script the two of them would be lovers this night, and though Iguan didn't understand why it wasn't the noblewoman and his valet, she said nothing in the strange atmosphere around her, and was simply pulled along by Lorenzo.
The white mist of steam rose slowly, warming the air.
The not so big platform was already full of people, most of them dressed in fancy clothes and wearing different masks, they were the buyers of this night's ball, as no one could recognize anyone with the masks on, but in reality even if they knew each other they would remain silent, this ball was like a beautiful dream, whatever it was after waking up shouldn't be remembered.
The lights were dim, Iguan looked around and could only see gray mist and pitch black, she only knew she was in the lower city, but she didn't know exactly which location, the
Looking to the sky, the familiar black shadows were still swimming in that cloud layer, she was slightly relieved for a few minutes.
"If you don't understand, please remain silent, our identity tonight is that of a newly joined couple, Saber will be wary of newcomers, don't reveal yourself."
Eve nodded without saying anything and at that moment the squire stepped out and curtsied and bowed leading the group to the ball.
It was winding roads with only dim lights for company along the way, removing that there was nothing, men with guns followed at the back of the group to prevent anyone from leaving.
Traveling Iguan suddenly smelled an eerie smell, followed by more light rising.
Beneath her feet was a welcoming red carpet, but from that faint light the neighborhood was in ruinous decay, dots of shimmering light came from fire candles, and behind that faint light was a pale, dry face, like that of the dead that tended to the light.
Lorenzo pulled her close, and immediately after Iguan saw more, a fishy odor coming from the darkness. Something seemed to be flowing slowly, and whimpering screams came faintly.
The tightly closed door was then open.
It was as if it was the door to heaven, endless light pouring out of the door in front of them, the smell of wine and singing, coins clashing together to make a clattering, intoxicating sound, lazy moaning constantly, with an atmosphere of manic spirituality. The guests let out an exclamation of surprise, and then proceeded at a brisk pace to that heavenly paradise, fervently as if they were devotees.
honeyed wine and cheese, riches and beauty, that was a taboo that could satisfy all, if you were willing to lay down your life to join it.
"Lorenzo . ..... What's this?
Iguan stood before that gate, her mind frozen in place as if she had been dealt a huge blow, but Lorenzo instead did nothing to comfort her, instead whispering in her ear.
"Welcome to the dark side of Old Turin, Ms. Iguan Phoenix. "