Taking Thassa to a small house on the second floor of the tavern, the strong man instructed the waiter to continue cleaning, and then closed the door.
This is a place to entertain customers with special needs. Only twenty-five bronze eagles are charged a night, so the environment is not very elegant. There was an unpleasant musty smell on the cramped bed, and the bedding was wrinkled, as if it had not been taken out for a long time to wash and dry. The cracked wooden table was missing a corner, the cracks were filled with black flocs, and the table top looked greasy and dirty. But Thassa didn't bother to care, he sat down beside the bed and waited quietly for the other party to speak.
"It's been a long time," the strong man said with a grin. "Since Lord Najib took your place, why haven't you come to the tavern? Even if you are no longer in charge of this matter, you can come and have a drink."
His nickname is Black Hammer, the keeper of the "Underground Trumpeter" tavern, and a member of Skull Fingers. It sounds scary, but it is one of the many mice in the dark streets of the capital. The rats formed gangs, divided their sites, and formed large and loose organizations according to their different business operations. Behind these underground organizations are more or less the shadows of big nobles or wealthy businessmen, and Skull Finger is no exception. But unlike domestic dogs, most rats don't choose to swear allegiance to one person, and they can work for anyone as long as there is a benefit.
"Stop talking nonsense," Thassa said bluntly. "In the evening, you can call Silvi, the swineherd, the silver ring, and the clay pot over here. I have something to arrange in this tavern."
"These are all underground trumpeters," Black Hammer was stunned, "Is it enough for them?"
"I said, it's a good business." He shrugged, "I'm looking for you because you've done a lot for me."
According to the usual steps in dealing with the black street, you must first find the connector, and then let the other party decide whether to accept the task. After the two reach an agreement, the linker will delegate the task to the right person and charge a fee at the same time. Of course, this process is not guaranteed by any contract or written certificate, and it is completely unknown whether it will eventually achieve the effect expected by the employer. Generally speaking, the more famous an organization is concerned about its own reputation, and the commission fee is also higher, while the new organization charges lower, but it is easy to end up in a situation where people and money are empty. These mice and the city patrol formed a delicate balance, and together they maintained the order on the surface of the capital.
Before entering the palace to become a palace guard, Thassa served in the patrol team and was responsible for handing over some inconvenient affairs to various organizations on the Black Street. Therefore, he knew the most powerful rat colonies in the capital, and he also saved the time of dealing with the contact person. As for the reason for choosing Skull Fingers, it's simply because they're not that bad yet.
"Can I ask, who are you working for now?" Black Hammer asked after hesitating for a moment.
Thassa didn't answer, but pointed out the direction of the palace behind with his thumb.
Whether it was a patrol team or a rat, most people only knew that he had become the Imperial Guard, but they did not know that he was chosen by Wimbledon III as the personal guard of the Fourth Prince and went to Border Town with His Royal Highness. In the six months since they disappeared, they should think that they have been staying in the palace. Besides, I was just pointing in the direction of the palace, not lying. The royal family was not the only one, but Roland Wimbledon was also a member of the royal family.
"I see," he nodded, "but Sylvie and the pig herd are gone, can I pick my own?"
"What happened to them?"
"Dead." Black Hammer said bitterly, "Last winter, he had a conflict with the people of Dreamland Water. They sold poppies and ferns to the Beicheng site, and Casas led the group to drive them back. Hill Wei was slashed in the neck, the blood couldn't stop, and the pig herders were filled in the canal by them."
Thassa frowned. The patrol team will not pay attention to this kind of thing, and even deliberately provoke the mice to bite each other from time to time in order to control their strength and number. As for the dead, no one will care. . "That's fine, but you have to remember that it must be someone from the tavern."
…
After leaving the underground trumpeter, Thassa took a deep breath.
The rotten and damp smell of the tavern made him feel sick to his stomach, and it was not until the hot air poured into his lungs that this turbid and dull feeling was slightly dispelled.
Although Blackhammer graciously invited him to wait in the tavern and promised to serve him with a good wine, Thassa was reluctant to spend too long in a small place. If something goes wrong, he can't immediately notice the difference.
Next, he decided to go to the inner city and find a reliable hotel to book a room for tonight. As for the soldiers of the First Army, they were very skilled at camping at night, so they didn't need to worry about it.
After dark, Thassa returned to the underground trumpeter again.
At this time, the pub was already open for business normally, and customers came in and out from time to time. He watched in the dark for a while before entering the house behind a drinker.
As a low-end tavern in the outer city, most of the people who come to drink here are civilians, and the drinks are also cheap and low-quality ale. Ten copper eagles can drink several large bowls in a row. In the noisy voice, he quickly found Black Hammer's men. They were sitting in a partition against the wall, and there was a white phalanx on the table.
Thassa walked over calmly, and someone immediately gave him a place.
"Good evening, my lord," the silver ring and the clay pot nodded and saluted.
"I'll introduce these two to you. She is Littlefinger," Black Hammer patted the little guy beside her, and then pointed to the young man beside her, "Hill Fox, only recently joined Skullfinger."
"Fox?" Thassa's eyes stopped on the other side, and the latter bowed his head a little cautiously.
"There are very few guys in our industry with complete surnames," Black Hammer laughed. "He lost all his gambling, his wife ran away with someone, and he even sold his house, so he had to go to the dark streets. Don't worry, he I used to live in Beicheng District, and occasionally visit the underground trumpeter.”
The silver ring and the clay pot were both old acquaintances, and Littlefinger looked just like an ordinary vagabond, but this Hill Fox, Thassa felt a little strange... His appearance and expression are indeed very similar to those who have experienced drastic changes. The lost person who became haggard after the blow, but there is something indescribable in his eyes, like... He thought about it, but he couldn't get an accurate answer after all.
Well, since he lives in the North District and is an acquaintance of the tavern, it shouldn't be a big problem. And the first task he has to do first is to transport the fugitives, there is no risk.
"Listen, things are not complicated. The above does not want to see the number of refugees in the east continue to increase, and the food for relief is decreasing every day. If this continues, riots will occur sooner or later, and it will be much more difficult to deal with it. , so think of a way to get them out of the capital."
"What do you need us for?" Blackhammer asked.
"It's very simple, spread a message that the western border is reclaiming wasteland, the local lord is willing to accept these fugitives, and the mercenary and fleet escorted have already set off, and will arrive at the canal pier in three days. What you have to do is Spread this news to those idiots outside the city, the specific details can be freely added, the more realistic the better."
"But... if there are no mercenaries and fleets at that time, it's useless to say it again." Silver Ring said.
"Of course there will be," Thassa smiled.
"Ah?" He was stunned, "Could it be that there are really some Western lords who want to accept them?"
"You idiot," Black Hammer gave him a slap on the head, "acting naturally requires a full set. After they are transported to the Western Territory, they can still walk back to the king on two legs? As for how to deal with them, let the local lords Go to the headache." He looked at Thassa, "It's really not a difficult task, but for the reward..."
Thassa stretched out two fingers, "Twice. My new employer is no bigger than the patrol, he just wants to see the results as soon as possible, the golden dragon doesn't mean much to him." He smiled slightly, "I said, this It's a good business." (., Your support is my biggest motivation.)