Shadow of the Evil God

Diana really understood the twists and turns of the aristocrats.

"Me? You..."

Chapter 223 You Have a Conscience

"I can tell you this," Diana said, "as long as Fort Gural remains, our treaty will remain in effect. If it does, these northern towns will be reduced to ruins. What do you think? The war is raging in the south, and you've heard about the suffering of many towns. You can just leave it to fate and wait for your transfer to be approved. Perhaps they'll send you to a place slightly better than Sodoris, but you and I both know that's almost impossible."

"When you are thirsty, the water offered by others is always poison..."

"So?" she asked back.

"Poison is poison," Levita sighed. "I accept it, but until the Shawl Order sends someone with medicine, I hope you can help me. In this hot and humid weather, with the streets filled with corpses, the epidemic will spread faster than usual."

"There will be many people under your command," Diana nodded. "Then we have a deal, Brother Levita, I hope you can be ready as soon as possible." She stood up and rubbed her sweaty forehead. The place was still hot and humid at dusk.

Cesar nodded and left. The temple's side chamber was even hotter than outside, and he hadn't been there long before his sweaty undergarments clung to his back. The alderman's residence was spacious and airy, with a courtyard and fountain. It was far more comfortable than this shabby little temple. If properly renovated, it would be perfectly suited for use as a medical center. However, he believed that using the shawl to obtain their medical supplies was only a temporary solution; the proper approach was to obtain their methods for producing early antibiotics.

After all, he wasn't a doctor, and at most he had some vision. He couldn't create something like this out of thin air.

......

The only surviving noble of the alderman's family sat on a chair in their basement. It was said that he had committed a crime and was imprisoned by the family. He had his hands folded on his knees, his face blank and terrified, and he didn't seem to understand what was happening.

Cesar wasn't exactly clear on the details. He only knew that the alderman's family was seizing supplies to gain control of their identities, perhaps with the intention of negotiating terms, so they would accept their family's authority in the area, just as the Kingdom's Knights had. The matter could be major or minor, but Cesar didn't care about past agreements. He simply insisted that this supply route must be controlled, and then he handed the matter over to Altinia.

After a night passed, he received the news that the alderman's family was lying dead in the square, and their private soldiers were piled up like a hill on the street.

Cesar could imagine that the princess employed not only military tactics but also political deception. She would first convene a meeting to negotiate, aligning herself with the other side's wishes, and projecting a cautious and friendly demeanor that suited their perceptions. Once the opportunity arose, she would launch the long-planned attack. Not only did they capture the important town, but the alderman's family itself was also annihilated.

In such meetings, a single wrong look, a single inappropriate gesture, would reveal her true intentions. She must have used the most sincere voice and focused expression to deceive everyone. Many people, perhaps until the very last moment, remained unaware of her deception, even as they perished under the sword. Political deception has been a common tactic throughout the history of politics. Without skill at deception, one could hardly be called a politician. However, her deception, of all the political deceptions of recent years, was perhaps the most perfect.

Looking back, she pretended to go south to study, but actually took the opportunity to escape the control of the palace. This has already demonstrated her ability to deceive and perform. What can I say? She is worthy of being the one who chose him as a teacher at first sight?

Cesar pulled a chair over and sat down across from the man. He was a middle-aged man with pale skin and slightly sunken cheeks, the look of someone who had indulged in alcohol and sex. He also had dark circles under his eyes, and his hair had lost its color, relying on dye to prevent it from graying. Observing this, Cesar couldn't help but glance at the dark circles under Phils's eyes, earning a gloomy stare back.

Now, this guy was awake for less than half the time she was unconscious. He'd gotten plenty of sleep, but he still looked like this. It seemed that after the two Ferrieres severed their connection, the dark circles under her eyes had become fixed to the present moment, along with her age and physical characteristics. Although it was unpleasant to say, Cesar felt a sense of satisfaction tinged with guilt. After all, many people wished their loved ones' time would remain constant at a certain moment, never increasing.

Cesar took her hand and squeezed it gently. To others, it looked like he had simply raised his hand and squeezed it. The basement was eerie, and some inexplicable actions seemed to carry a sense of horror and absurdity.

"I don't understand what you're gesturing at, but I'm just a nobody, it doesn't matter at all." The man reacted violently, his eyelids twitching, and he struggled to maintain his composure. "I'll tell you anything you want to ask, but please, don't send someone to torture me."

Cesar was in high spirits, so he grabbed Fils's wrist and pulled her onto his knees. "To be honest," he stroked her hair, "I've been having a really hard time these days. First, the long march, then dealing with the local nobles who withheld supplies. My mood has reached its lowest point. Finding someone to enjoy myself with, listening to his screams to soothe me, is this a difficult idea to understand? Can you understand, sir?"

“The family makes the decision

It wasn't me." He lowered his voice, staring at Cesar's strange movements, as if he thought he was a mentally unstable lunatic. "It really wasn't me. Everything that happened in this place has nothing to do with me!"

Cesar bit Phils's earlobe, then held it in his mouth, rubbing it between his teeth. Her fidgeting and whispering made him feel quite happy, and his eyes softened.

He said, "I remember a few days ago, a young and brave knight challenged me. They say knights don't scream or kneel down to beg for mercy, so I cut off her limbs and slowly processed her until she screamed like an animal. The sound was high-pitched and shrill, even higher than the most famous singer in the opera house. Only when people realize how much use their skin can make, they will find that they are not much different from wild animals."

The other party was trying to calm down. "Why did you come to Sodoris?"

"I don't know, maybe just passing through?" Cesar frowned. "You should have heard the artillery fire the night before, right? I'm extremely unhappy about what happened to Sodoris. Not only did they seize military supplies, but they even wanted to negotiate with me. Do you know that I'm an impatient person? If you don't know, I can have them drag their shapeless remains from the pile of corpses and show them to you. That way, you'll have a basic understanding of your own fate."

"The bodies must be burned together." Diana reminded him rudely.

"Okay, let's burn them together." Cesar's mouth twitched slightly, "But I think you can be burned alone, sir. Do you know why? I want you to live a little longer, enjoy yourself a little longer, and when there's really no other way, I'll burn you alone. To be honest, you're already worthless, but I cherish my fellow nobles, and I don't want any of them to die worthlessly. So I think providing me with emotional value is the only contribution you can make before you die."

"I've heard you're... conscientious," the middle-aged noble said cautiously. His tone suddenly changed. Previously, he'd acted as if he didn't know him at all, but now he acted as if he knew the rumors about him by heart.

"I do have a conscience," Cesar agreed. "I've prepared a wealth of medicine for you. It can heal severe burns, heal bleeding from broken limbs, treat infections from torn nails, and treat poisoning from intestinal ulcers. You can't imagine how much I love medicine. I've cured more people than even those monks."

He shrugged, "Despite this, many patients unfortunately died, experiencing their last moments of life in excruciating pain. However, it was precisely because of their persistence that I was able to operate on them while they were still alive, dissect them, and observe the functioning of their organs before they died." He pressed down on Phils's thin lips, tangling with her teeth that wanted to bite him for a while, then pinched her soft tongue and circled it with his fingertips. "When the excruciating pain and near-death experience are intertwined," he said slowly, "the human heart will beat very violently. If you cut open the chest, you will see that it seems to be about to burst out of the ribs. I can't even describe the feeling to you - would you want to touch your own heart? I guess you would. If you still had fingers at that time, I would hold your hand and let you touch it too."

Cesar beckoned to Gouzi. She suddenly emerged from behind him, her white mask like a ghost hanging in the darkness. He pulled the sharp scimitar from her wrist, the blade gleaming with a sharp light. "But it's a pity," he said, "that's the last pleasure. Before that, let's start by discussing which of your fingers is the least important."

"I know about the family's recent financial transactions!" The middle-aged nobleman suddenly collapsed and shouted at Diana, "Don't just stand there and watch! Tell him I can be of use!"

"What use can you be of?" Cesar asked impatiently, and then waved Diana out. "Don't stand there, miss. This place doesn't need too many people. Just go and do your job."

"The easing of the war in the north has severely impacted the family's financial transactions. In recent years, a large amount of logistical supplies have been shipped to Gonzales instead of through Sodoris, seriously disrupting the family's pre-made plans. We originally bribed the affairs officer and financial officer of the Kingdom's Knights, especially a few years ago when we paid a huge sum of money. Now, all that money has been wasted as they went south to join the war. It's absolutely impossible to bribe you with another huge sum of money, and the bank will not agree to lend money for such an excuse. To overcome the difficulties, we have to, have to..."

"If you can't make it up," Cesar said, and the other man shuddered, "you don't have to force it. I can tell the truth from the lies."

Chapter 224: The Non-Existent Invisible Assassin

"Bankers are always trying to expand their business further!" the middle-aged nobleman blurted out. "Really, it's all about money. There's no other reason than money! Since the empire split, wars have continued, and the economic order has been shattered. Aside from a large area of ​​territory in the north that's still intact, and a piece of territory in the south that's been barely rebuilt thanks to the Chancellor's tricks, the rest is a complete ruin. But they still have money, they still have people, and they still have potential that's waiting to be tapped. If they can find an opportunity to enter one of these areas, they can leave their competitors behind and make a fortune!"

"You mean the bank took the lead in asking your family to reach an agreement with the Casar Empire? Then why are you still making things difficult for me? Aren't you afraid of alerting the enemy?" Cesar asked him.

He was very emotional: "Because it was the bank that bribed the army still stationed in the fortress, not us! If we don't reach an agreement and take more credit, what use are we besides signing our family name? Sodoris is in a mess now, and the family chamber of commerce can only sit in the castle and have no intention of taking care of the city. The agreement proposed by the bank is indeed an opportunity, but it is not enough! They took all the benefits, and we are just bargaining chips. Then when the matter is over, won't we still be insignificant bargaining chips?"

"It sounds like you feel that Sodoris can no longer keep your family running," Cesar said.

"More than that, we can't sustain it. Without the war in the north, we're even losing money. You know, we operate in the shadows, relying on smuggling for all our important commerce. Smuggling means going through all sorts of channels, exploiting everything at every turn. In the end, how much is left for us? We used to be at a crucial border pass, leveraging the momentum of the war to expand our influence. Now, attention has shifted from the north to the south, and Sodoris has become as insignificant as any other town."

"You still have an opinion?"

"It's not just Sodoris, the entire north is a quagmire!" The middle-aged noble immediately expressed his vehement opinion. "The Kingdom Knights are the worst kind of sludge! Earl Villar considers himself noble and considers himself a disciplined temple monk, but in reality he's just an old fool who never cares about his subordinates. And his subordinates—those affairs officers, financial officers, and military officers whom he trusts—are all the worst kind of garbage in the bureaucracy. These people are either thinking about how to gain more honor or how to make more money. Moreover, they all have one thing in common—they're particularly good at pleasing old fools."

"Did you see it with your own eyes?"

"At least half of the money we earn goes into their pockets. The Kingdom Knights just sit there waiting to die defending Fort Gural, daring neither to advance nor to retreat. They pretend to fight a few undefeated battles but gain nothing, and yet they claim to be guarding the border. In reality, they can't even use half the supplies the Kingdom provides, leaving them to rust and rot! We want to use the extra for circulation, but we even have to hand it over to them!" The man cursed non-stop, and at the end he even coughed excitedly. "The past ten years have been an orgy of corruption! That old fool of the Kingdom Knights thinks he's so noble, but he can't see the kind of people around him. He should bear the primary responsibility!"

"So at this time, the banker and Cliface's men came to you?"

The middle-aged nobleman panicked: "How do you know it's Clefas?"

Cesar poked Firth's cheek with his finger, about to invent a story about his numerous spies and informants, but someone spoke first. "When they were young, the princes and princesses would all pay homage to the Grand Master," Altinia stepped out from the shadows. "When I was little, the Prime Minister, or rather, my grandfather, took me north. That year, General Clefas also arrived with their prince and convened a banquet for us princes and princesses to symbolize our blood relationship."

She had an elusive smile on her face.

"I was young and ignorant then," the princess said. "I gave a speech in front of everyone, using my views on history. I wanted to prove myself superior to others, especially my brother, who was destined to inherit the throne. Although I satisfied my momentary vanity, I also attracted many strange looks. General Clefas brought his young prince to meet me. Not only that, the general also went to my dear grandfather, the Prime Minister, to discuss marriage and marrying far away. As a result, when I returned to the palace, I was banished to the most unnoticed corner."

Altinya continued to move forward, approaching slowly with her hands behind her back, and finally put her right hand on Cesar's shoulder.

"After that," she said, "I pondered day and night what I had done wrong, and took steps to correct it. I realized that my brother, despite his mediocre talents, was highly regarded and destined to ascend the throne. The reason was simple: my beloved mother wanted to govern from behind the emperor's back—she only wanted a mediocre puppet, not a capable heir. I also realized that many officials in the court were dissatisfied with my mother. They were willing to support me, willing to lend me a hand when the time was right, and even to work together to help me escape the shackles and head south."

The middle-aged nobleman's face was tense, and his mind seemed to be working rapidly, trying to keep up with the secrets he was hearing.

Altinia placed both hands on Cesar's shoulders and said, "Of course, I also realized that General Clefas in the southwest has a serious territorial dispute with us. He has used many methods to take me to their territory and to make me have blood relations with his prince.

"I want to marry someone who is my own. I want to do this not only to show my ability, but also to win the support of many ministers when I attack the southeastern empire in the future. It seems that I will either have to spend my whole life in the deep palace or marry with my own blood relatives. What do you think I should do, Mr. Correra?"

Corera stared at them. "Abandon the palace intrigues and rise through the chaos of war. As long as you can control your own army and, relying on the defeats of Auldan, seize a large swathe of northern territory, you won't have to look after either side."

"Indeed," Altinia agreed. "You've misjudged the situation, Mr. Correira. If you had inquired about our control over Gonzales, you would have known that the territories along Fort Gular would suffer the same fate. We were prepared for General Cliface's attack and the chaos at Fort Gular."

She bent down and gently tapped the scimitar in Cesar's hand. Combined with the white mask just now, Corella suddenly understood: "Invisible Assassin..."

This man thought that Altinya had an entire army of invisible assassins loyal to her.

He had to admit, his beloved princess was becoming increasingly adept at using her power to bluff, even though Gouzi certainly did a good job of pretending. But then again, how did Altinya, barely ten years old, manage to give a speech in front of her siblings? He was genuinely curious. Back then, while she was talented, she sounded incredibly childish and arrogant.

"As you said, we've already seen the chaos in Gural Fortress." Altinia maintained her enigmatic smile. "It's the same in many places. At this crucial moment, as a neglected family member imprisoned in a dungeon, will you take on the role of patriarch, continue your family's bloodline, and free your guild from the constraints of Sodoris? Will you take on all these responsibilities, or will you be buried with the others? Make a choice, Corera."

Chapter 225: The Empty Banquet Hall

Cesar glanced at the Faceless Man beside him, but Gouzi showed no reaction. This meant that Corera had little hatred or murderous intent in her heart. Even if she had, it had now been overwhelmed by the princess's promise.

The reality was truly absurd. The noble family they had eradicated with their own hands had only the remaining members who did not take their blood relatives and family seriously at all. They were full of longing when they heard about the opportunity. It was clearly not his fault, but his fake niece Isley wanted to avenge her uncle who had died unfortunately, and tried every means to take his life.

"I can explain it in more detail," Corera said, grasping at the lifeline without hesitation. "General Cliface has a very clear understanding of the forces you have at your disposal. They believe that, aside from the knights assigned to you by Grand Duke Urbino, the others are merely peasants and thugs, filler in the numbers, and need not be feared. However, to be on the safe side, the officers they've bribed at Fort Gural will continue to do their utmost to assist you, including arming personnel, training soldiers, and even strengthening the city's defenses. Not only will they do this, they'll even offer to do it."

This was really unexpected, Cesar thought, he had expected a bloody battle when taking over the fortress.

Altinia stared at the middle-aged noble. "So, not only will the traitor not hinder us, but he'll even help us take over the fortress," she said.

"That's absolutely true."

"Then, by gaining our trust while we're desperate for manpower, they can take up key defensive positions in the city," she said.

"I think it will continue until the day the army lays siege to the city," said Corella.

"The old man has a lot of tricks up his sleeve." Artinya widened her eyes slightly. "But he's right. As long as they can occupy key defensive positions and switch sides at the crucial moment, the old man can indeed capture the fortress without bloodshed. By then, not only will this well-repaired fortress be completely transferred to the hands of the victor, but the mercenaries will also change their minds and completely turn to the victor of the war. Relying on the fact that they have completely defeated me in strategy, I myself..."

"It seems that General Cliface wishes you to..." Corera ventured, "surrender in the most complete defeat, Your Highness."

"Not only do I have to kneel down willingly, but everything I own must also be given away intact as a dowry? That's a good idea. I hope he'll be alive to claim it once he decides he's the emperor's heir. A general who was raised on his grandfather's milk, no matter how much he boasts of his bravery, is just a babe." Artinya spoke calmly, but her fingers gripped tightly, causing Cesar to wince. "Do you have a detailed list of those who were bribed?" she demanded.

Corera's face turned grim; it seemed she had asked about an area of ​​which he was completely ignorant.

"I... I really don't know." The middle-aged noble racked his brains to make excuses. "Those who came to us for bribes followed the Kingdom Knights south to join the war. We know nothing about the officers who stayed behind."

"It won't be too late to investigate once we get to the fortress," Cesar said. "At least they'll have to swear allegiance to me, and we have the army under our control. When Gonzales was dealing with the rebellion, I still had to cater to Governor Vermeer's wishes, but I'm still here. For us, internal enemies are easy to deal with. The real issue is how to use General Cliface's plan to counter their attack."

Altinya pondered. "Take advantage of this situation..." she hesitated. "With our current means, it's not difficult to identify those plotting rebellion, and it's also feasible to monitor their every move. But arming them, training them, and even strengthening the city's defenses..."

"Think of it this way," Cesar tilted his head back and met her gaze, "since they've been paid to help us take over the Gural Fortress, we should treat them as the most diligent laborers. Anyway, it's not us who pay, but General Clifas and those bankers." He spread his hands and said in an exaggerated tone, "That must be a huge sum of money to buy lives. With this money, all the righteousness and reputation will be thrown at their heads one by one, and no insider will dare to say otherwise. Before the contract reaches a turning point, they will naturally endure silently, and..." He paused.

"Don't keep me in suspense, teacher."

Although her expression remained calm, her tone was also calm, with a hint of command in her voice, the princess gently squeezed his shoulder with her right hand, the strength just right. If it weren't for Phils staring at him with wide eyes, Cesar would have almost hummed with pleasure.

"Furthermore," he coughed to conceal his expression, "for those who are paid to act as collaborators, greed is an essential quality. Some, blinded by greed, can't bear to work diligently, so they bargain and extort more money. The more greedy these people are, and the more they go back on their word, the more difficult it will be for those who have bribed them to deal with them. This will force those who want to work with them to delay, making them spend more time and effort to pay their ever-increasing price."

"Sir," Corella suddenly reminded him, "you can't describe this matter so simply. No matter how greedy people are, there must be a limit."

Cesar blinked, whispered something to Phils, then grabbed her hand and pointed at Corella. The guy muttered something under his breath, but still didn't refuse his request. As an unheard whisper spread, Corella suddenly opened his eyes wide, his hair stood on end, his pupils contracted, bloodshot, and his face was

Already filled with exogenous fear, a heartbeat later, the exogenous fear disappeared.

The middle-aged nobleman's eyelids twitched wildly as he stared at Cesar, as if he felt that some invisible and huge darkness was shrouding him.

"There are countless tiny thoughts in the human soul," Cesar said, casually grabbing Phils's hand and lifting it into the air, as if he were clutching someone's heart. "I can find them one by one, pick one and grab it, and nail it firmly in the most conspicuous place. As time goes by, this thought will gradually grow, filling a person's heart, and even become the master of its owner."

"Your Highness..." Corella moved his throat and turned his gaze to Altinia, "I am fully willing to be loyal to you, but can you allow me to go to the place where Mr. Cesar can't take care of you and share your worries?"

"I had no intention of working with you," Cesar said, spreading his hands. "I have a lot of things to do in the future, so it's unlikely we'll ever meet again. Go compile a financial statement for your family and draft a rough outline of how you'd like to run the Chamber of Commerce. If you can prove your ability, the resolution will naturally pass smoothly."

"You mean to say that you only care about ability and skill?" asked the middle-aged nobleman.

He shrugged. "What else? Could it be that we still rely on those complicated family relationships?"

"How did you get such..."

"Do you have any questions, Mr. Corella? We're probably not close enough to chat about the past, are we?"

Corella's fingers trembled. "I heard they sent people to attack you. I thought you were dead. How could anyone survive that situation? I don't understand. Are you really communicating with some invisible entity?"

"You're a little over-frightened, Mr. Corella," Cesar sighed. "What could be invisible? You don't really think I'm holding a distorted, crippled beast in my arms, do you?"

"Because they say you're not a threat, and that people who worship those ancient, mindless beasts will only act as recklessly as beasts themselves."

Cesar leaned forward and smiled at him. "Perhaps this shows that forgotten things are not static, Mr. Corella. Years from now, worshiping those ancient beasts will no longer require carving them with sacrificial symbols."

Spreading a deliberately constructed lie was also a way to conceal the truth, he thought. The more falsehoods he spread, the more blurred his true identity became. Besides, this wasn't something he had deliberately fabricated; it was Corella's own conjecture. In terms of credibility, the former couldn't be more credible than the latter.

......

Then came the banker, the highlight of the day. In order to create a suitable environment, Artinya specially kept him in the banquet hall of the alderman's residence.

The place was ablaze with light, a splendid spectacle that could only be described as opulent. Not only were the artistic displays impeccable, but it looked as if it had been specially decorated for a banquet. The ballroom was hung from top to bottom with a riot of brocade and silk. Several of the most striking pieces were embroidered with the musket and mining draft emblems of the Guild in gold thread on a blue field, a symbol of their power and the presumption of their importance in the war.

Cesar passed an intricately carved marble screen and had the alderman's servant, looking uncertain, record it in his ledger and write down the estimated price. Then, passing a statue of a goddess inlaid with gold and silver, he asked Diana which master craftsman it was. After inquiring about its origins, he decided to have the Chamber of Commerce ship it to a knowledgeable dealer and sell it to pay the Black Sword's commission. He walked from the entrance to the end of the banquet hall and found the entire room filled with his military supplies, which immediately lifted his spirits.

It was obvious that the place was well-tied and ready for a banquet, in order to ease their emotions after the agreement was finalized.

Presumably, in the eyes of the aldermen, any losses suffered in official business could be compensated privately at a lavish banquet, and they would return home satisfied. Besides various sculptures and paintings by famous artists, the side rooms adjacent to the banquet hall were also filled with soft velvet pillows, and the dressing tables were filled with carefully prepared cosmetics. Candles burned quietly in glass globes, emitting a wonderfully sweet fragrance that was particularly noteworthy for its ability to make people forget their unhappiness.

But unfortunately, before the comforting banquet could be held, all the hosts had died.

Chapter 226: Music and Dance on the Grave

The banker accepted the invitation and slept with his lover in a dressing room on the left side of the banquet hall, specially prepared for ladies. The room wasn't large, but it offered privacy and a beautiful setting. Famous frescoes could be seen on the vaulted ceiling and walls. One wondered how much the alderman's family had spent decorating their castle.

Cesar asked the guards to make way and saw their banker, lost in thought at his dressing table. He was, to be honest, a strikingly handsome young man, dressed in a velvet-trimmed suit—rose velvet on the right side, blue satin on the left. The bank's scales were embroidered in gold thread on the chest. His suit clung to his slender figure, even highlighting his muscles. The belt, studded with diamonds, shone brightly on his slender waist.

His blond hair was combed long and tied into a ponytail, with a few strands cleverly draped over his forehead and onto his cheeks, creating an elusive charm. This man looked like he had dressed up carefully before the banquet, and even if Sodoris had met with misfortune, he would insist on maintaining his appearance.

Cesar coughed and tried to choose his tone, but Diana elbowed him in the waist. "You've got the wrong guy, fool," she lowered her voice. "The banker is reclining on the cushion over there, and the one on the dressing table is her lover."

"Oh, it seems I fooled you, little Borgia." A deep voice suddenly spoke. "When I bring Kleiser here, everyone's eyes will fall on him first. No matter whether they are men or women, they can't help but linger on his handsomeness and figure. Do you like my baby? If you do, I don't mind sharing him with you, and I will also share with you my experience of using him."

Cesar coughed again, trying to ignore the man's words. He now understood why Diana called him a male companion instead of a lover. "Perhaps you're hiding it too well," he said.

"I'm used to staying in the shadows, really," the woman said, stepping out of the shadows with a smile. She was a well-groomed middle-aged woman, tall, round, and substantial. Her smooth-skinned face was plump and round, barely maintaining a chin. Her hair was a natural gray, and unlike Corella, she didn't seem to be trying to hide her age. She wore it in a high, neat bun secured with an ivory comb.

This person's clothes were simple, just a plain black long skirt. It was not difficult to notice her in the dark, but it would be particularly difficult with her male lover as a cover.

"It seems you've already spoken to the others, young Borgia," the banker said. "I'm surprised you've put me last. I thought you were going to ignore me altogether."

"I usually save the most threatening one for last," Cesar said politely.

The woman shrugged. "No problem, that's a good idea," she said. "If you say so, let's get started. Can I go to the long table in the banquet hall to talk? I've been lying on the mat all day and all night, and I'd like to change my position."

"If you're willing to cooperate, things will be great." Cesar said as he stepped aside.