Chapter 669 Magic Master

"What's the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?"

On the bustling street with people coming and going, Thales supported the little broken hat on his head and whispered to Hillary next to him.

Miss Kevin Deere had already changed back to her practical and simple rushing clothes, her hair was messed up into a bird's nest again, and she even had a bit of dust on her face, and no one would think that when she saw it on the street This is a noble lady.

"It's nothing, you used to wear fancy clothes, but today, you are surprisingly suitable for this poor look."

Thales' expression stiffened.

"What do you mean? What is 'surprisingly fit'?"

He touched the standard "Common Man Passer Armor" costume that came out of the theater, even the corners were torn up, and his expression was strange.

"It's just your skin, it's too pampered and out of tune," Hillary ignored his questioning, "Ah, yes, don't move."

The eldest ?? patted the wall skillfully, held the face of His Royal Highness the Prince without resistance any longer ("What are you doing - woo, don't, no, let go..."), wiped and rubbed hard.

"Well, this is much better."

Xile looked at the work in front of him and nodded with satisfaction. Then he withdrew his scrutiny and walked away: "Okay, don't be naughty, hurry up, the target is moving."

Lonely Prince Prince, to be precise, the little poor Sour Thales, who was covered in dust and fireworks, threw his fists and feet on the spot.

As the most famous tourist and entertainment place, the streets of the Iris District are full of festive crowds:

The drunkards holding the barrels and holding the glasses in broad daylight are looking for someone to clink their glasses drunkenly in the streets; the drunkards who are stumbling around in the alleys are obviously too drunk to wake up; Luxurious; flower girls carrying baskets full of flowers, and smiling when they saw couples shopping; a group of ocean-going sailors who temporarily docked at Emerald City gathered together and sang in unison "The Merman Has No Dad" and "The End of the Sea Eye" It's Your Home", the lyrics are rude and vulgar ("The merman baby cried and asked his mother, why is there no father in the whole sea? Yo hey! Because the heroic sailor finished drinking every day, happy to stand on the deck and face the sea. It's cool!"), passing parents had to block their children's ears, telling them to not work hard when they were young, and to become sailors when they grew up;

The parade performance teams that pass by on the road from time to time set up the stage on the spot to promote the reputation of their troupe or troupe; the local escorts and tour guides of the Emerald City can appear in every corner, looking for enthusiastic recommendation from outsiders; from pubs, hotels, tea rooms, restaurants Or the helpers of other small shops, dragging people all over the street to find business; and hawkers pushing carts to sell trinkets, wanting to juggle the street stalls occupying every corner and screaming at the intersection of people coming and going Entertainers, carriages that carry rich or expensive guests to various dates and banquets, of course, the least of which are the tourists who are dressed in fancy dress and walk through the streets...

"The best Lijing powder festival box fireworks, imported from Humble, flame sea craftsmanship, assembled by local craftsmen, and the same style of fireworks used by Kongming Palace!"

Talking low-key, Thales and Hilley passed a peddler, who pushed a cart full of fireworks, while tirelessly shouting and selling, while struggling to drive away the noisy children around:

"Twenty coppers for one round! Sixty for five rounds, 100 for ten rounds! Buy more, get more free, bundle with more flames, the effect is even better!"

Defense attorneys Slimani-Thales and Hilay were the targets of their stalking. After the theater ended, they walked alone on the street and mixed into the crowd. Here they watched the performances and applauded, and shopped at the vendors there to buy flowers, but no matter where he was, he It didn't take long for him to stay, and he looked back and watched nervously from time to time along the way, appearing to be distracted and preoccupied.

"Slimani is a well-known defense attorney in the city. He is familiar with the city's law and can speak well. He is well-connected in both the Vigilance Hall and the Judgment Hall, so the fees are high." Playing with a doll, "But the higher he charges, the more dignitaries will come to him to defend him in court."

"I know, I've seen his performance in the trial court. Even judges as harsh as Brennan couldn't find fault with him," Thales squatted beside her, but he kept paying attention to the sitting Outside the restaurant opposite, Slimani was dazed by a glass of wine, "But when Slimani was talking to Kaquere just now, he was not eloquent at all."

"Indeed, he was frowning along the way, not like a citizen of the Emerald City should be at the Queen's Day celebration."

"He must know something," Thales nodded and whispered, "Whether it was about Diop who died, or the people and things involved in it—and those things frightened him and made him have to go Ask Cacquere for news from the palace."

In the distance, Slimani exhaled and seemed to make up his mind. He dropped a few coins and left his seat, as well as the glass of wine on the table that he had never sipped.

Sheila put down the doll and stood up with Thales, disappointing the stall owner who was expecting them to buy something.

"Then are you going to show up to find him?"

"It can't be here, it's easy to be discovered by Jen's eyes and ears, and we have to wait for him to go to a sparsely populated place..."

"Then he was moved by his affection, 'Come on, join Prince Thales, let's defeat the Great Demon King Jenn together'?"

The two of them re-mixed into the crowd and hung behind Srimani, watching him give a few copper coins to a group of entertainers, and then stopped a flower girl, who was listlessly picking flowers in her basket. .

"If it really doesn't work," Thales shook his head, ignoring the irony in the other party's words, "We can only ask him 'civilly and politely'."

"What's the meaning?"

"The stalk in the Star Lake Guard is related to one of my subordinates named Morgan - hey, where did you get the flowers?"

Thales looked in surprise at the bouquet of flowers that suddenly appeared in Shi Lai's hand. There were at least three colors or categories in it.

"Of course you gave it!" Kevin Deere's eldest lady was righteous.

"what?"

Thales turned his head: I don't know when, a little flower girl with a flower basket was standing beside them, smiling and looking at Thales with hope.

Xile raised his eyebrows:

"Oh? Don't tell me you're not going to buy me flowers on a date?"

Thales' expression stiffened.

A few minutes later, Shi Lai was walking on the street, happily playing with the flowers in his hand, while Thales touched his purse, which was deflated a little bit, thinking in his mind what reason he would use to repay Jenn.

"Be happy," Sheila took out a flower and inserted it into the hole in Thales' hat, "We are following after all, we need to blend in with the crowd, be natural, and don't be seen as flawed."

While speaking, Slimani took a bunch of flowers and walked around, hesitating for a while outside an obscure hair shaving shop, and finally walked in.

Thales and Hillary hurriedly stopped, pretending to be tired tourists, and sat down on a broken stone slab across the street to rest.

"I can't believe that he walked like a fly without a head for so long, but ended up coming, er, shaving his head?" Thales was a little helpless.

"Compared to this," said Sheila, "on the days of the Emerald Celebration, there are still shops open for business?"

Thales shook his head, he awakened the sin of the Hell River, entered the "hell senses", focused on his vision and hearing, and observed the movement in the shop across the crowded streets.

"Welcome, shaving or trimming?"

Several guys in the barber shop sat casually on the ground, playing cards one after another, and seeing the guests coming, one of the guys stood up lazily under the urging and running of his companions and pulled out his chair. The drape on the top is used as an apron and tied around the waist.

Slimani took a deep breath: "I..."

"Sorry, our manicurist went back to the country to get married."

The head shaver had reluctance written on his face. He picked up a razor, dipped it in water, and scratched on the whetstone at will: "But there is a discount during the Queen's Day, two people traveling together for one free..."

Slimani smiled unnaturally. He walked to a vase in the shop, took away the dead branches, and inserted the newly bought flowers in a slanted way.

The man's eyes changed and he stopped the sharpening work in his hand.

"Oh, nice flower," the guy winked at his companions, and the others threw the game down, "A regular customer?"

"Yes, I think, I want to find Balta," the defense attorney said with embarrassment, "I came a few days ago, you should recognize me."

After ??Slimani finished speaking, he took out a few copper coins from his pocket.

The guys in the shop glanced at each other, the guy who spoke nodded and took the copper coin skillfully.

"The boss went out and won't be back in a short time. But well, if you have anything, you can leave a message and we will convey it to ensure that it is correct."

Slimani was stunned for a moment, a little puzzled:

"What? Balta is out? At this time?"

"Yes, this time!"

The shaved guy weighed the copper coins in his hand and seemed a little dissatisfied: "Do you have an opinion?"

Slimani was affected by the other party's attitude and his face was ugly, but he still took a deep breath and endured:

"No, of course not, I'm just... But this is the Emerald Celebration, what is he going to do..."

"We went to a party with old friends!" the lead guy said impatiently.

historical

"Hey, stop talking nonsense! Either leave a message, or shave your head, or get out," another guy said bluntly, "We are not a police station, we also have a holiday, we have to celebrate, and we have to go back to accompany the wife and children, okay?"

As soon as these words came out, several guys looked bad.

Slimani is a well-respected defense attorney, and he rarely suffers from such idleness on weekdays. Hearing this, he looked unhappy and prepared to walk away in a fit of rage, but he turned around halfway, gritted his teeth and turned around, not without pain. Find a silver coin.

"Okay, then, can I wait here for the boss to come back?"

The guys exchanged glances. The leader had just unbuttoned his apron. Hearing this, he smiled and pointed to the hair art sculptures all over the wall.

A few minutes later, Slimani wrapped a scarf and drape, sat uneasily in a chair, and let the lead man, with a sharp razor in his hand, trim his beard and hair.

"That's great," Sheila sighed, unraveling the flower ties in a bored way. "Now we're still here, waiting for him to shave his head. It's a real spy experience."

"Those people in the shop, they are on the road." Thales lowered his head and took out the flowers in his hat.

Xile's eyes moved: "How do you know?"

"Which barber have you ever seen with such a rude attitude, as if waiting for a guest to come and beg him?"

"That's not necessarily true," Sheila curled her lips, "I just know one, who looks like holding a scissors and a razor, just like holding a magic gun."

Thales shook his head:

"There is only one explanation: this shop, they are not in the business of shaving hair, but selling other things."

"for example?"

"I don't know, but I think they should be from the Blood Bottle Gang, or a small gang subordinate to the Blood Bottle Gang."

Hilech said: "How do you know?"

"Because they're not like a fraternity."

"what?"

"The blood bottle gang and the Black Street Brotherhood have different sources of personnel. The difference is obvious. It can be seen from their demeanor, actions, habits, and the level of their dealings, and those guys are obviously..." Thales subconsciously said , but then he noticed the skeptical look from Hille, "Oh, I, I heard Wyya say, he's, um, well-informed."

Sheila glanced at him and rearranged the order of the flowers in his hand.

"Wya again?"

"Uh, yes, it's Wyya again."

"Which Wyah?"

"Just, a certain Wyah."

Shi Lai, who was full of contempt, and Thales, who smiled awkwardly, looked at each other for a second.

"Well, I have to say, your 'a certain Wyya' is quite knowledgeable." Facing the crowded streets, Shi Lai pouted, "He was at least half right."

"half?"

"The Brotherhood only entered the Emerald City more than ten years ago, and its power is only in the area of ??Beimenqiao in the new suburbs. But the Blood Bottle Gang, as I said, they are stalkers, and they are familiar with the rules of the streets of the Emerald City," Xilai said. Says, "You rarely see policing crimes with them like anywhere else: theft, extortion, kidnapping, robbery, murder—all the bad things that keep businessmen away."

"how do you know?"

"Please, Your Royal Highness, I grew up here."

"No, what I'm asking is, how do you know what 'elsewhere' is like?"

Sheila glanced at him.

"Oh, this, I heard 'Wyya' say it."

Thales shrugged helplessly, biting "Which Wyah" in his mouth.

Really hold a grudge.

Thales changed the subject:

"Then I guess, here, taking the Blood Bottle Gang as an example, the way they go to the streets to make a living is different?"

"Yes, they are largely integrated into the normal economy and production, at best a little out of the ordinary."

"Like?"

Xile thought about it:

"It's not so much a gang, they are more like a guild, with the same occupation, the same situation, and the same region gathered in one place: barbers, shoemakers, blacksmiths, printers, coachmen, porters..."

"Then how do they get money to operate?"

"Protection fees, taxes, transportation fees, intermediary fees, cooperation with large chambers of commerce, joint industry monopoly, operating a gray business in the legal cracks... They take a share of the prosperous Emerald City trade in a legal and illegal way. , I heard that some of them are even directly involved in the business, almost no different from businessmen. As long as it is not too much to maintain within the bottom line, the Vigilance Agency will even cooperate with them.”

Thales frowned: "It sounds like an informal street wardens."

"Who said no?"

"And this is what Kevin Deere has indulged for generations?"

"It's 'incorporation' and 'exploitation'," corrected Shiley. "'Staghorn' Duke of Cork - my great-grandfather believed that there are always things in this world that cannot be fully controlled, 'there are always gaps in the good bread' ."

"Your great-grandfather...the one who made the maid who came to menstruation entertain the guests of the blood clan?"

"what?"

"fine."

While chatting one after another, Thales was also paying attention to the movement in the shaving shop.

"I really didn't expect that the Duke of South Bank is quite knowledgeable," a poker player chatted, "When I came to the store today, I even asked where our razors and creams came from, what prices, and whether the market went up or down. Ask, not like those knights in my country who only know how to show off."

Srimani was sitting in a chair absent-mindedly and was startled.

"Hey, what's that!"

The guy who was shaving Srimani with a cigarette, replied disdainfully:

"I heard from the boss that the Kevin Deere family has invested in a lot of business - of course, they have a mine in their family, and the Lijing business in the territory is enough for him to make money. In short, if the duke wants to pretend to be knowledgeable, It couldn't be easier! Besides, how do you know it wasn't the manuscript cheat sheet prepared for him in advance by his subordinates?"

"what are you saying?"

Slimani reacted, his face turned pale:

"You mean, Duke Jane came here today?"

"Isn't it," the man continued without noticing Slimani's expression, "Your lord is on a parade, the Duke's team will pass this street in the morning, and our shop will die. We are chosen as the Duke to go deep into the people. The model store I visited, haha, can you believe it? Us? Model? Hahaha!"

"Compared to Roger and Gutierrez's business, of course we are a model! Craftsmen! Why isn't it worth the Duke to go to the people to parade?" The card player had a bright face.

"Go deep into the people? I bah! Just like those knight masters in your country, it's just a show!"

The guy with the shaved head changed his hand to play the soot, and it seemed that he was bitter and hated:

"It is said to follow the example of kings and queens of hundreds of years ago, but in fact it is the same every year. However, there are several fixed routes around the Emerald City, and a large number of servants and servants are waiting in front of and behind the saddle, and the little duke is full of oil. I walked down in front of my back, smiled and shook hands with us little people, and asked us, 'How old is this year, how many people in the family are eating well, whether they are dressed warmly, and take care of their health' and so on..."

Another poker guy turned his head and laughed: "I know, it's very safe and hypocritical to give another stinky and long 'I'm fine with you, I'll be better with you' nonsense speech. ..”

The shaved guy tutted his head and pinched his throat:

"Of course, basically everyone giggled and nodded, excitedly saying, 'We had a great time'."

Slimani stared blankly at himself in the broken mirror, swallowed, and joined the chat:

"Then, they, I mean, are you sincere when you're 'giggling and nodding' when you face Duke Jen?"

The guy who shaved his head raised his brows and shook his razor: "Yes, of course!"

He smiled sarcastically:

"When the dignified grand duke stood in front of you, do you know how you felt? Especially when you knew that he could crush you to death with the touch of a finger... Ha, he blinked his eyelids, and your heart will be filled with tears. Frightened, he grinned, your legs are shaking!"

Hearing this, Srimani shook his head and gritted his teeth.

"I'm sorry, I just shaved my head when I got excited. I'll fix it for you."

The guy who shaved his head lit another cigarette, changed his pair of scissors, and shook his head in disdain.

Slimani stared blankly at the mirror. He was always harsh with his hairstyle, but he ignored the mistakes that used to drive him crazy.

Across the street, Thales was also fascinated, and unconsciously rubbed the flowers in his hand.

A poker guy lost a hand. He threw down his hand and took out a few copper coins:

"I know, especially when the duke is full of officials of all sizes standing behind them, shouting back and forth, embarrassed, smiling, and dozens of pairs of eyes staring at you intently, waiting for your answer!"

The guy who won this round laughed and gathered the money happily:

"And at the end of the team, the little official who directly controls your livelihood and can make you run out of money just by checking taxes for a reason is still looking at you with a smile on his face, full of encouragement, 'Come, what are you talking about? , don't be afraid, tell the duke the truth'!"

"To be honest, he is paralyzed!"

"Really? Like 'Hey, Lord Duke, can you melt the gold urinal in the palace and give us a little extra pay'?"

"Dare to say that in person? If you go back to being an official, you have to find the green skin, and then the green skin will find the boss, and the boss will melt you first when he comes back!"

"Hahahahaha..."

"No way, they are adults, masters, and nobles with good fate, what is it if you are melted - oh brother, sit down, don't move around, I'll shave it and it's yours!"

Slimani nodded reluctantly, restraining his trembling body.

"At that time, let's not say it's a small complaint," the shaved man exhaled a cigarette and continued, "No matter how big your grievances and sufferings are, a thousand words will dare to condense into a sentence 'Life is good. Yes, thank you sir' isn't it? Hey, who can say, who dares to say that this is not sincere? It's more humbling than the grovelling 'I know I know, thank you boss for your hard work' Be sincere, be sincere!"

"One copper coin," a guy in the game smiled, "I won't tell Boss Balta this."

"Grass you!"

"Yo, you look very dissatisfied, so be content," Slimani said nervously amid the playfulness, "Duke Tang shook hands with you, smiled and said hello, what else do you want?"

The guys exchanged glances.

Slimani said in a trance: "As a duke, Mr. Zhan cares about the people's well-being and your livelihood. He is always higher than him, and he doesn't care about the **** - such as the group of people in the north, such as the gentlemen of the royal capital. ?"

The guy playing cards scratched his head: "Uh, it's true to say that, but at the time, I thought... Oops anyway, I just don't think it's right."

"He cares about a hammer!"

The shaved guy dropped the scissors, grabbed the razor with a bang, and began to trim Srimani's beard:

"Don't look at the duke's smiling face, he seems to be very easy to get along with... But I know, I just know, he cares about shit! Maybe as soon as he turns his head, he will quietly talk to his subordinates and talk to the **** group of shaved heads. Dirty!"

"Yo, you're revealing your stuff, aren't you! The duke is an aristocrat and a man of culture," the poker player said lazily, "they use too many words, all of them are literate, but they won't swear swearing!"

"He's a **** duke! Lord of Emerald City!"

The shaved guy sneered:

"What he's supposed to do isn't go to our shop and make a smirk, hold a useless hand, and wait for everyone to applaud—what's the point of doing this trivial thing? He should be sitting in the empty palace and signing a document , approve the budget, repair the big pit in front of this street, and let the green skins come to the business less on credit. By the way, let’s reduce the litigation deposit for arrears lawsuits, don’t just be the boss can afford a lawsuit..."

"Two coppers, I won't tell the boss!"

"roll!"

"He has to do that, to put on a gesture and soothe people's hearts," an older guy slowly poured himself a glass of water, "it's just like Boss Fogg who has to go shopping from time to time and visit the bosses, of course. , the bosses from all over the world are polite on the surface, but they don't give him a lot of fun behind the scenes."

"But the bosses are still helping Fergie." The poker player reminded.

"The Emerald City is different from the king, and we are also different from the black silk. The superiors are the superiors, but it just means 'I recognize you as the boss, but you don't bother me'," the shaved guy smiled. "The bosses of various fields have made business in all walks of life so prosperous, who wants to cut the meat? As for boss Fergie, yes, he is the boss in name, but he wants to get involved in these businesses like a king in charge of a duke? Hey, hey, Difficult!"

In the shop, Slimani just sat on the chair, motionless, letting the man's razor shave back and forth.

Across the street, Thales clenched his fists.

"What are you doing? What are you thinking?"

Thales was startled, and realized that it was the bored Hillary holding flowers and drawing circles back and forth in front of his eyes.

"that power."

Thales sighed, remembering the battle of wits and courage with the Black Prophet in the Secret Division, and he was moved:

"Many times, power does not have to act at all. It can exert unimaginable influence as long as it stays there quietly and maintains its posture."

Xilee stared at him, not speaking for a long time.

"Okay, we're done, can you take a look?"

In the shaving shop, the man lifted the scarf and drape, and smiled and stretched out his hand to Srimani.

Slimani came back to his senses, but he didn't have time to worry about his shaved head, and quickly asked:

"Baltar hasn't come back yet?"

The ?? buddy shrugged, but he did not withdraw his flat palm:

"The boss went to see a friend, maybe he drank too much, maybe he didn't come back."

Slimani frowned, walked and took out a silver coin and stuffed it into the hand of the worker. The latter was startled and hurriedly hid it under his clothes to avoid being seen by fellow workers.

"Okay, I figured it out, did you offend the big man?"

Srimani changed his face when he heard the words:

"You, how do you know?"

Buddy smiled slyly:

"Don't forget, we're barbers, and there's no one like us that can make people—such as you—willingly drop all guard and expose vulnerable points such as eyes, nose, throat, etc., to the threat of sharp razors so calmly and dangerously. Down?"

Srimani looked at the man in shock.

"Only at this time, on this chair that is left to be slaughtered, will people show their most relaxed and real side," the man touched the inner pocket containing the coins, "At this time, the news you got, Talent is often the most reliable - our guys' eyesight was trained by Boss Baltar, but it's poisonous."

Srimani was speechless.

"They really didn't shave their heads!"

Across the street, Thales took a deep breath and said suddenly:

"The shop is just a cover - these people are buying and selling underground news."

"How do you know?" Hillary looked suspicious.

"I.."

Thales paused, then reacted, and made up a lie unnaturally:

"Uh, did you see Srimani handing them silver coins? But the guy didn't give anything, he just moved his lips, and the deal can only be news, right?"

Xile narrowed his eyes, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Thales could only smile dryly.

The guy in the shop patted Slimani on the chair and said to him in the mirror:

"Well, for the sake of your wealth, don't say I didn't warn you: you're in trouble."

Slimani was surprised: "What?"

The guy flipped his fingers, and the razor was played with a flower on his hand:

"Well, just the little couple across the street, the poor boy and the flower girl, they've been there for a long time, neither kissing nor selling flowers," the man laughed, "it can't be the end of the fight. Are you going to break up?"

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