Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 20

"We'd better go and find out what's going on," Ezio said, walking down the street towards the commotion.In the square, they saw Cristina's friend Gianita, a girl whom Ezio did not know, and an older man - who he remembered as Cristina's father's chief clerk.

"What happened?" Ezio asked.

"It's Manfred!" cried Janita, "again because of gambling debts! They're going to kill him this time!"

"What?" Christina exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, madam," said the clerk, "he owed money to two men. They dragged him under the piers of the Pont Neuf. They said they'd beat him till he paid. I'm sorry, madam. There's nothing I can do."

"It's all right, Sandio. Go get our house guard. I should go—"

"Wait a minute," Ezio interrupted, "who is Manfred?"

Christina looked at him as if she were standing on the other side of the prison bars. "My fiancé," she said.

"I'll do something," Ezio said, running in the direction of the Pont Nova.It wasn't long before he was standing on the embankment, looking at the narrow strip near the first arch of the bridge that adjoins the slow-flowing Yellow River waters of the Arno.A young man--he was richly dressed in silver and black--was on his knees.Two other young men were sweating profusely, cursing and kicking him, or stooping and beating him with their fists.

"I'll pay you back, I swear!" moaned the young man in silver and black.

"We've heard enough of your excuses," said one of the men who beat him. "You're making us look stupid. So now we're going to make an example." Then he lifted his boot and stepped on the young man's leg. neck, leaving the young man face down in the mud while his accomplice kicked the young man in the ribs.

The speaker was about to step on the young man's waist when he felt hands grabbing his collar and the hem of his clothes.Someone lifted him up—the next thing he knew he was flying through the air, only to fall seconds later into the sewage and garbage under the bridge.Gasping for breath as the disgusting river of water poured into his mouth, he failed to notice that his accomplice had suffered the same fate.

Ezio reached out to the muddy young man and pulled him up.

"Thank you, sir. I thought they were really going to kill me this time. But they would be fools if they did. I'll pay them back—I mean it!"

"Aren't you afraid they will come to you again?"

"As long as they think of you as my guard, they won't dare to trouble me."

"I haven't introduced myself yet, I am Ezio de Castronovo."

"Manfred di Azeta, at your service."

"I am not your bodyguard, Manfred."

"It's okay. I'm grateful you helped me get rid of those clowns. You don't know how grateful I am. In fact, please allow me to repay you. But first, I'm going to clean up and buy you a drink .There's a little casino on Cornflower Street--"

"Oh, wait a minute," Ezio said.He knew Christina and a few others were coming.

"what's up?"

"Do you gamble a lot?"

"Why not? In my opinion, it's the best way to spend time."

"Do you love her?" Ezio asked.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Your fiancee—Christina—do you love her?"

The excited tone of the savior made Manfred vigilant. "Of course I love her—if it matters to you. Even if I die here, my heart for her will remain the same."

Ezio hesitated.It sounds like the man is telling the truth. "Listen then: you're never allowed to gamble again. Do you hear me?"

"Got it!" Manfred looked terrified.

"you swear?"

"I swear!"

"You don't know how lucky you are. I want you to promise me that you will be a good husband to her. If I hear that you have broken your promise, I will find you and kill you with my own hands."

Manfred could see that his savior meant business.Looking into those cold gray eyes, he seemed to remember something. "Do I know you?" he said. "You look familiar."

"We have never met," Ezio said, "and we will never see each other again, unless..." He broke off.Christina was waiting on the other side of the bridge, looking under the piers. "Go back to her. Remember to keep your promise."

"I will," said Manfred after a moment's hesitation. "I really love her, you know. Maybe I should learn the lesson of today. And I'll do everything in my power to make her happy. You Without threatening my life, I will make such a promise."

"I hope so. Well, let's go!"

Ezio watched Manfred climb up the embankment, his gaze involuntarily drawn to Cristina.Their eyes met for a moment, and then he half-raised a hand in goodbye.Then he turned and walked away.His heart had never been so heavy since the death of a family member.

When Saturday night rolled around, he was still depressed.In his most depressing moments, he felt like he had lost everything: his father, his brother, his home, his status, his career - and now he had lost his lover!He thought of Mario's kindness and care for him, and the mother and sister he successfully rescued and protected.He thought about the future and his career—both of which he still had, only in a very different way than he had imagined.He had work to do, and his thinking about Christina was doing him more harm than good.His heart will never let go of his affection for her, but he will accept the lonely life given to him by fate.Perhaps this is the way of the assassin?Perhaps this is the creed that assassins need to live by?

He walked melancholy towards the old market district.Most people he knew avoided it, and he had only been there once.The former market square is dingy and deserted, as are the surrounding streets and buildings.Many people come and go here, but they are not walking.These people have clear goals, walk in a hurry, and always keep their heads down.Ezio deliberately dressed plainly, without a sword at his waist, but buttoned up his new gauntlet and old wrist blade just in case he needed it, but he knew that he would be quite conspicuous in the crowd here, So always be vigilant.

He was thinking about which way to go next, and was planning to go to the low bar in the corner of the square to see if he could figure out a way to contact "Fox" by insinuation, when a slender young man appeared out of nowhere. Come out and bump into him.

"I'm sorry, sir." The young man smiled politely and pushed past him quickly.Ezio instinctively reached for the belt.He had left all his valuables at the lodgings, though he had kept a few florins in a purse at his waist, which had disappeared.He turned quickly and saw the young man walking towards an alley beside the square, so he ran after him.Seeing Ezio's reaction, the thief quickened his pace, but Ezio kept on chasing him, and finally, just before the thief was about to step into a tall, nondescript house in Via Sant'Angelo, he grabbed his collar.

"Give it back to me," he growled.

"I don't understand what you mean," retorted the thief, but there was horror in his eyes.

Ezio was about to eject the wrist blade, but suppressed his anger.It occurred to him that this person might be able to provide him with the information he wanted. "I'm not interested in hurting you, my friend," Ezio said. "Give me back my wallet and we'll be settled."

The young man hesitated for a moment. "You won." He said regretfully, reaching for the small bag beside him.

"One more thing," Ezio said.

The man immediately became alert. "what?"

"Do you know where I can find a man who calls himself 'Fox'?"

The man looked genuinely terrified. "Never heard of it. Now, take your money, sir, and let me go!"

"After you tell me, I'll let you go."

"Wait a minute," came a low and hoarse voice behind him, "maybe I can help you."

Ezio turned around and saw a broad-shouldered man, about his height, but at least ten years older.He wore a hood on his head, not dissimilar to Ezio's, and part of his face was covered, but Ezio could see the piercing purple eyes beneath the hood— ——Those eyes seemed to contain strange power, staring at him closely.

"Release my companion, please," said the man, "and I will answer for him." He said to the thief, "give back the money to this gentleman, Corradin, and disappear. We will come back to this matter business." The authority in his tone made Ezio let go.Coradin quickly returned the purse to Ezio, and disappeared into the house.

"Who are you?" Ezio asked.

The man smiled slowly. "My name is Gilberto, but they call me many things: 'murderer,' and 'killer;' but my friends call me 'fox.'" He bowed slightly, his eyes The piercing eyes were still fixed on Ezio. "At your service, Mr. Auditore. Indeed, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"You—how do you know my name?"

"It's my job to know everything about this city. And I think, I know why you think I can help you."

"My uncle gave me your name—"

The fox smiled again, but said nothing.

"I need to find someone - if possible, I hope to get there first, and wait for the work," Ezio said.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Francisco de' Pazzi."

"Looks like a big prey," the fox said seriously, "maybe I can really help you." He thought for a moment, and then said, "I heard that some Roman visitors got off the boat at the pier recently. They came here to participate A meeting they think is confidential, but they don't know me, let alone that I'm the eyes and ears of the city. The chair of that meeting is exactly the person you're looking for."

"When will the meeting be held?"

"Tonight!" the fox laughed again. "Don't worry, Ezio—it's not some fate. If you don't find me, I'll send for you—but the test itself is fun. Very interesting." Few have managed to find me."

(End of this chapter)