"Is Old Dunling always this cold?"
Anthony stood at the dock. They arrived much earlier than expected, so there were only a few people at the empty and quiet dock. There were people waiting here in advance, but Arthur, who was going to greet them, was still on the way.
"That's right. The furnace pillars emit thick steam every day. The mist mixed with the burning debris shrouds the city in a hazy gray fog. Even though winter is far away, the damp chill is still oppressive."
Someone came to greet us. They had been waiting here for a long time.
"Hello, guests from Florence."
Shrike extended his hand and gave Anthony a friendly greeting.
Anthony's expression didn't change much. He looked at the man in front of him, then stretched out his hand and introduced him.
"Anthony Russo."
"You can call me Shrike."
Shrike responded just as politely, but his expression wasn't quite normal; he hated his current job.
Originally, this job was not his, but considering that this was the first official contact between the two organizations, Arthur sent Shrike. What he meant was that Shrike had been in the downtown area for so long that he was more socially tactful than anyone else. With his ability to say different things to different people, this job was perfect for him.
"You arrived earlier than expected, and Arthur is still on his way," Shrike explained.
"Arthur? Shrike?" Anthony didn't seem to care, but read their names meaningfully. The centipede-like scar on his cheek slowly squirmed as he whispered.
"This is your internal code name, right?" Anthony asked.
Shrike nodded and confirmed this statement. After all, this thing could be identified at a glance, and it was not a secret. Besides, it would be nice to have some topic for conversation. He couldn't just stand in the cold wind with the priest after saying hello until Arthur came, right? Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.
"According to the ancient knightly legends of Yngveg," said the Shrike.
"I know. I have some knowledge of your specific positions and ranks. Arthur manages Old Dunling, and the other knight commanders manage branches in other regions."
Anthony said with great familiarity.
"Although this is the first time we meet, we are actually old friends. Just like an invisible enemy, he can't threaten you for the time being, but you still have to get to know him. It's a pity that we got to know him a little late. When we discovered you, we were no longer your opponent."
Anthony's words were calm but powerful, and he said everything very directly. Shrike even had the illusion that these visitors might start fighting with him in the next second.
Then the Shrike felt a little awkward. This conversation was totally out of the ordinary. The Shrike was ready to ask about his well-being and discuss tomorrow's sightseeing spots, but after hearing these words, the Shrike was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to respond.
Shrike had met many important figures and had said many lies, but Anthony was different. Shrike could clearly feel that the guy in front of him was an enemy, but now he had to temporarily extinguish his anger for the sake of his own interests.