Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 32

Finally, they came to another pier, tied the cable, and quickly went ashore, because Rosa's wound needed to be cleaned and treated as soon as possible, otherwise her life might be in danger.Paganino remained in the boat while Hugo and Ezio half dragged and half supported Rosa, who was almost unconscious from the blood loss.They walked through another winding alley made of crimson masonry and wood, and came to a small square with a well and a tree in the center, and the surrounding houses were dirty, and the plaster on the walls had long since peeled off. .

They walked to the dirty crimson door of one of the houses, and Ugo tapped on the door a few times in a rather complicated way.The peephole opened and closed, and the door swung open and closed behind them.Ezio noticed that, despite the lack of maintenance in everything else, the hinges, locks, and latches had been well oiled, and there was no visible sign of rust.

He found himself in a dilapidated courtyard surrounded by high gray striped walls with a few open windows.Two wooden stairs lead to both sides, connecting with wooden corridors surrounding the second and third floors, and there are many doors on both sides of the corridor.

A group of people gathered, some of whom Ezio recognized had been involved in the scuffle outside the Palazzo Seta.Ugo was already calling the shots. "Where's Antonio? Go and find him!—make room for Rosa, another blanket, some ointment, hot water, a knife, and bandages..."

Someone ran up the stairs and disappeared into the second-floor hallway.The other two spread out a barely clean mat and gently placed Rosa on it.A third came back with a medicine kit.Rosa regained consciousness, saw Ezio, and reached out to him.He took her hand and knelt beside her.

"Where are we?"

"I think this is the headquarters of your companions. You're safe, anyway."

She squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry, I wanted to steal your wallet at that time."

"Don't mention this."

"Thank you for saving my life."

Ezio looked anxious.She was pale.If they really wanted to save her, they had to hurry up.

"Don't worry, Antonio knows what to do." Hugo said, standing up.

A 38-nine, well-dressed man with a large gold earring on his left earlobe and a turban on his head hurried down the stairs.He walked straight up to Rosa, knelt beside her, and snapped his fingers again to be handed his medicine kit.

"Antonio!" she said.

"What's the matter with you, my little one?" he said in a husky native Venetian accent.

"Help me get this thing off!" Rosa growled.

"Let me see the situation first." Antonio's tone suddenly became serious.He examined the wound carefully. "It penetrated the thigh cleanly and didn't touch the bone at all. Fortunately, this is not a crossbow bolt."

Rosa gritted her teeth. "Get it off quickly!"

"Give her something to bite," Antonio said.He folded off the arrow feathers, wrapped the arrows with a cloth, applied ointment to the wounds on both sides of his thighs, and then pulled hard.

Rosa spat out the gag they put in her mouth and screamed.

"I'm sorry, little one," Antonio said, covering the two wounds with his hands.

"To hell with you and your apology, Antonio!" Rosa yelled, and the women held her down.

Antonio looked up at one of his followers. "Mihir! Go find Bianca!" He looked at Ezio with piercing eyes, "And you! Hold these compresses for me! As soon as I move my hands, press the compresses to the wound Go up. So we can bandage her well."

Ezio hastily complied.He felt the temperature of Rosa's thigh with his hands, and also felt the reaction of her body, so he could only try not to meet her gaze.Meanwhile, Antonio busied himself, even elbowing Ezio away, and finally looked with satisfaction at the neat bandages on Rosa's legs. "Very well," he said, "you'll have to wait a while before you can climb the wall again, but I don't think there will be any aftereffects. Just be patient. I know you!"

"Do you have to hurt me like this, you clumsy fool?" She glared at him viciously. "I hope you get the plague, you bastard! You and your mother whore!"

"Take her in," Antonio laughed. "Hugo, go with her. Make sure she rests."

The four women each picked up a corner of the cushion and led the protesting Rosa through a door on the ground floor.Antonio watched them go, then turned to look at Ezio. "Thank you," he said, "that little vixen is dear to me. If I lose her..."

Ezio shrugged. "My weakness is that I can't resist helping girls in distress."

"It's a good thing Rosa didn't hear you say that, Ezio Auditore. But your reputation has already reached here."

"I didn't hear Ugo tell you my name." Ezio was alarmed.

"He didn't. But we all know what you did in Fiorentina and San Gimignano. Well done, just rough."

"Who are you?"

Antonio spread his hands. "Welcome to the headquarters of the professional thieves and pimps of Venice," he said, "I am Antonio de McGuinness—the chief here." He bowed sarcastically, and added: "But of course, We just steal from the rich and give to the poor, and our whores like to call themselves courtesans."

"Then do you know why I'm here?"

Antonio smiled. "I do have an idea - but I'm not going to share it with my...employees. Come on! Let's talk in my office."

The office was very similar to Mario's study, which surprised Ezio at first.He had not expected that room to be filled with shelves of costly books in good bindings, fine Turkish rugs, furniture of walnut and boxwood, and silver-gilt sconces and candelabra.

In the center of the room is a table, which is a large-scale model of Seta Palace and its surrounding landforms.Numerous wooden model figurines are scattered among them.Antonio waved his hand, motioning for Ezio to sit on the chair, and hurried to the fireplace in the corner that looked quite warm, and a strange but alluring fragrance wafted over.

"Would you like something to eat?" Antonio said.His mysterious air reminded Ezio of his Uncle Mario. "A few biscuits? Maybe some coffee?"

"Sorry—what did you say?"

"Coffee," Antonio said, straightening up. "It's an interesting concoction, brought to me by a Turkish merchant. Come, try it." And with that, he handed Ezio a small white A porcelain cup, filled with a scalding black liquid—that was the source of the previous aroma.

Ezio took a sip.His lips were burning a bit, but the smell wasn't bad.He said what he thought, only to add abruptly: "Perhaps it would be better with some cream and sugar."

"That would spoil the taste," said Antonio angrily.They finished their coffee, and Ezio suddenly felt a surge of new energy in his body.When he sees Leonardo again, he will definitely tell him about this drink.But right now, Antonio pointed to the model of Seta Palace.

"We were going to take those positions after Rosa entered the palace and opened one of the side doors. But you know, she was found and shot again, so we had to retreat. Now we need to regroup Troops, and Emilio will have time to fortify the defense. Worse, the operation will be expensive. I hardly have a penny left."

"Emilio must be rich," Ezio said, "why not do it now and help him lighten his financial burden?"

"Didn't you hear me? Our income was tight, and he was on his guard. Without the advantage of surprise, there was no way we could beat him. Besides, he had two powerful relatives backing him, They are brothers Marco and Agostino—although I believe Agostino at least has a good heart. As for Mocenigo, well, the Doge is a good man, but he is too naive and always leaves things to Others will do it—and those 'others' have long since obeyed Emilio's orders." He looked at Ezio sharply and said, "We need someone to help fill our cash drawer. I think You may be able to offer such assistance. If you can, I take it to mean that you are a worthy ally. Would you accept such a mission, Mr. Cream and Sugar?"

Ezio smiled. "I'll try it out," he said.

(End of this chapter)