Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 12

"Officially, homosexuality is still against the law," Leonardo said dryly. "This behavior is punishable by fines. And considering that someone like Alberti is in power—"

"What to do with the corpse?" Ezio interrupted Leonardo.

"Oh," Leonardo said, "that's a bonus. Help me drag the body in before anyone sees us. Put it with the others."

"A windfall? The others?"

"It's cold in the cellar. It should last at least a week. Every now and then I get an unclaimed corpse or two from the hospital. In private, of course. I'll cut up the corpses and study--this Can help me improve my research."

Ezio looked at his friend with more than just curiosity. "what?"

"I think I told you - I want to understand how everything works."

They dragged the body into the house, and two of Leonardo's assistants took over, carried it into a door down a flight of stone steps, and disappeared behind it.

"But what if they send for him?"

Leonardo shrugged. "I'll deny it," he blinked. "I don't lack powerful friends here, Ezio."

Ezio was a little confused.He said. "Well, you look confident..."

"Just don't tell anyone about the accident."

"I won't—and thank you, Leonardo, for everything you've done for me."

"Happily. And don't forget—" his eyes flashed eagerly, "—if you ever find any other pages in that ancient tome, bring them to me. Who knows what else is new in there design."

"I will!"

Ezio walked towards Paola's "House of Pleasure" in triumph, though he did not forget to blend in with the crowd as he made his way north through the town.

Paula breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him. "You've been away longer than I expected."

"Leonardo liked to talk."

"Isn't he just talking to you?"

"Oh, no. Look!" He showed her the "wrist blade", and then activated the mechanism with an exaggerated movement, causing the blade to pop out, with a childish smile on his face.

"very impressive."

"Yes," Ezio looked at it appreciatively, "I still need some time to practice. I don't want to lose a few fingers because of it."

Paula looked serious. "Oh, Ezio, it looks like you're ready. I taught you the necessary skills, and Leonardo repaired your weapon," she took a deep breath. "Next, all you have to do is It's been put into action."

"Yes," Ezio said softly, his expression darkening again, "the problem is the method of approaching Alberti."

Paula was lost in thought. "Duke Lorenzo is back, unhappy with the executions that Alberti had authorized in his absence, but he has no power to challenge the magistrate. However, tomorrow night in the cloisters of the Santa Croce, the latest work of Maestro Verrocchio The exhibition will officially begin. People from all walks of life in Florence will be present, including Alberti," she looked at him, "I think you should go too."

Ezio had long known that the statue to be unveiled was a bronze David - a biblical hero associated with Florence.The work was commissioned by the Medici family and is expected to be installed in Palazzo Vecchio.Master Verrocchio had begun the carving three or four years ago, and rumor has it ever since that the head of the statue was modeled on Verrocchio's handsomer young apprentice at the time - certainly Leonardo da Vinci too.All in all, it's an exciting event, and people are already thinking about what to wear to the event.

Ezio had other things to think about.

"Please take care of my mother and sister while I'm away," he said to Paula.

"I will treat them like my own family."

"If something happens to me—"

"Have faith in yourself."

The next night, Ezio arrived early at the Basilica of Santa Croce.He needed time to prepare, to hone his skills at wielding that new weapon until he believed he knew it well.He thought again and again of the death of his father and brother, and the words of Alberti's death sentence rang clearly in his mind.

As he approached the church, he recognized two figures walking ahead, followed not far behind by a small body of guards—people whose uniforms had five red balls on a yellow background.They seemed to be arguing, and he moved closer enough to hear him.They stopped in front of the church porch, and he, out of sight, listened.The two men spoke with dissatisfaction in their tone.One of them is Uberto Alberti; the other is a young man of twenty-seven or eight years old, with a big nose and firm features, richly dressed, wearing a red hat and red cloak, over which he wears a Silver-gray tunic.He was Duke Lorenzo - "Duke Splendid" as his subjects called him, much to the displeasure of the Pazzi family and the faction to which they belonged.

"You cannot blame me for this," said Alberti, "I acted only on the basis of information and irrefutable evidence - I acted in accordance with the law and within the scope of my competence!"

"No! You've crossed the line, Chief Executive, and you've done it while I'm not in Florence. It's very unpleasant to me."

"What qualifications do you have to say that you crossed the line? You took control of the city and proclaimed yourself a duke without even getting permission from the lord or anyone else!"

"I've never done such a thing!"

Alberti laughed ironically. "Of course you say that! You're always so innocent! What a convenient excuse. In Kaliki, you also keep yourself company with what we think of as dangerous free thinkers—Ficino, Mirandola, and that Terrible Poliziano! At least we got a chance to see how far your sphere of influence extends - it looks like you have no sphere of influence at all! That would be valuable to me and my allies a lesson."

"Yeah. Your allies, the Patsys. That's your real motive, isn't it?"

Alberti examined his nails carefully before replying: "I will pay attention to what you said, Your Excellency the Duke. I am afraid you have said something you should not have said." But his tone did not sound very confident.

"You are the one who should keep your mouth shut, Chief Executive. I hope you pass on this advice to your accomplices—take it as a friendly warning." After speaking, Lorenzo and his guards They walked away in the direction of the corridor.After a while, Alberti cursed in a low voice, and followed.It seemed to Ezio that Alberti was cursing himself.

Curtains of gold silk were hung around the cloisters, reflecting the dazzling light of hundreds of candles.On the high platform next to the fountain in the central corridor, a group of musicians are playing music.On another high platform stood the bronze statue, which was half the height of a person and looked delicate and beautiful.Ezio walked through the door, using the pillars and shadows to hide himself, when he saw Lorenzo admiring the workmanship of the statue.Ezio also recognized another mysterious figure in a cowl: the Spaniard who stood beside Alberti on the gallows.

Not far away, a group of local nobles surrounded Alberti, and they did not hesitate to praise him.From the bits and pieces he heard, Ezio knew that they were congratulating the Prefect for having rid the city of such a scourge as the Auditore family.He never imagined that his father would have so many enemies - and friends - in Florence, but he knew they would only strike when his father's main ally, Lorenzo, was not in town.Ezio couldn't help smiling when a lady told Alberti that she hoped the Duke would understand his integrity and honesty.It was evident that Alberti did not like the implications of her words.Then he heard more conversations.

"Where is the other son of the family?" asked one of the noblemen. "Is it Ezio? Did he run away altogether?"

Alberti forced a smile. "The boy isn't a threat anyway. He's soft, and he's even softer. He'll be caught within a week, and he'll be sent to the execution ground."

The nobles around him laughed.

"So—what is your next goal, Uberto?" asked another nobleman. "The throne of the lord?"

Alberti spread his hands. "It is God's will. All I want to do is continue to serve Florence faithfully and diligently."

"Oh, we'll support you no matter what you choose."

"Thank you very much. Let nature take its course." Alberti smiled cautiously. "For now, my friends, I suggest that we put politics aside and concentrate on admiring this venerable masterpiece of art." , it is a generous gift of the noble Medici family."

Ezio waited while Alberti's companions all walked towards the David.Alberti picked up a glass of wine and scanned the surroundings, his eyes mixed with satisfaction and vigilance.Ezio knew this was his chance.While the others were looking at the statue, Verrocchio was making a short speech beside it.Ezio quietly approached Alberti.

"It's not easy getting you to say that last compliment," Ezio said in a low voice, "but it suits you well that you lied until the last moment of your life."

Alberti recognized him, and his eyes widened in horror. "It's you!"

"Yes, Prefect. It is I, Ezio. I have come to avenge the friend you murdered with your own hands - my father - and my innocent brother."

Alberti heard the faint sound of springs twitching and metal clashing, and then saw a sharp knife pressed against his throat.

"Goodbye, Your Excellency," Ezio said coldly.

"Stop," gasped Alberti, "if you were me, you would do the same thing - to protect the one you love. Forgive me, Ezio - I have no choice."

Ezio moved closer, deaf to his excuses.He knew the man in front of him had a choice—and a worthy choice—but he was too weak to make that choice. "Do you think I'm not protecting the people I love right now? If my mother and sister were to fall into your hands, would you be merciful to them? Now listen: where are those papers I gave you? You must have put What a safe place."

"You'll never find it. I never leave those documents!" Alberti tried to push Ezio away and call out to his guards, but Ezio plunged the blade straight into his throat, then forced Severed his carotid artery.Alberti couldn't even utter a sound, so he could only kneel on the ground, clutching his neck instinctively with both hands, trying in vain to restrain the blood splashing on the grass.After Alberti fell sideways, Ezio quickly bent down, cut the wallet from his belt and opened it to take a look.Alberti finally told the truth in arrogance.Those files are really in there.

The surroundings suddenly became silent.Verrocchio's speech came to an abrupt end, and the guests began to look back, not understanding what had happened.Ezio stood up and faced them.

"Yes! You are seeing the truth! You are seeing revenge! The Auditore family is not dead. I am alive! Ezio Auditore!"

While he was panting, a woman screamed, "There's an assassin!"

Chaos reigned all around.Lorenzo's guards quickly surrounded him, swords drawn.The guests fled in all directions, and the braver ones stepped forward and tried to restrain Ezio, but no one dared to make a real move.Ezio noticed that the hooded figure disappeared into the shadows.Verrocchio stands there, protecting his statue.Women and men shouted, and city guards poured into the corridors, not knowing whom to pursue.Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ezio climbed to the top of the cloister and jumped into the courtyard next to it, where the open door led to the square in front of the church.A curious crowd gathered there, attracted by the commotion in the corridor.

"What happened?" someone asked Ezio.

"Justice has been served," Ezio replied, before heading northwest across the city to Paola's mansion.

He stopped briefly on the road to check the contents of Alberti's wallet.That guy's last words were true.All files are inside.Besides that, there is something else.It was an unsent letter from Alberti.To confirm its contents, Ezio tore off the wax and unfolded the letter.

This is a personal letter from Alberti to his wife.As Ezio read the letter, he gradually understood what kind of forces could force a person to be less than fair and honest.

my love:

I write these thoughts into a letter, and I hope to have the courage to share them with you one day.By then, you must have learned that I betrayed Giovanni Auditore, branded him a traitor, and sentenced him to death.In the history of later generations, this behavior will probably be recorded as political stance or greed, but you must understand that it was not fate that forced me to do this, but fear.

When the Medici took everything from our family, I found myself filled with fear.For you, for our son, for the future.If a man loses all his possessions, what hope can he have in this world?As for the others, they offered me money, land, and a title in exchange for my co-operation.

That's why I betrayed my closest friends.

No matter how unbearable this approach was, it seemed necessary at the time.

Even now, looking back, I still can't see any other way out...

Ezio carefully folded the letter and put it in his wallet.He'd reseal it and send it off.He doesn't want to be that narrow-minded person.

(End of this chapter)