
「帕索斯說了這種話?你確定你沒聽錯?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAF54XsB00jU
579Please respect copyright.PENANA1CquMpLbVw
西蒙斯看著面前的男人,伊恩‧麥隆目光如炬,他那雙如同鷹隼般銳利的眼神盯著他瞧。儘管歲數逼近六十,長年在海上的緣故讓他臉上留下許多痕跡,讓他的皮膚更顯得蒼老,但他渾身散發出一種蠻橫的銳氣,然而或許也因為如此,就算已經年老色衰,當年的銳氣依然遺留在他的身上。579Please respect copyright.PENANAK3RHzxrld1
579Please respect copyright.PENANApy1vfEOkXQ
除了西蒙斯和伊恩之外,伊恩的姪子,諾亞‧麥隆坐在一旁,正當他要咬下蛋糕時,聽到西蒙斯的話頓時愣在原處。579Please respect copyright.PENANAdaoeFbr6L9
579Please respect copyright.PENANAVa6QBb1YJ9
諾亞放下插上蛋糕的叉子,「是不是你說錯話,所以爵士他才不想理你?」579Please respect copyright.PENANA2jcxI635RB
579Please respect copyright.PENANAohwwxAZ4hM
伊恩說:「諾亞,吃你的蛋糕。西蒙斯,你繼續說下去。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAs2D6fydIAa
579Please respect copyright.PENANAfszh5RrIsW
「儘管爵士嘴巴上說不要繼續調查,但我還是有稍微問員工當時的狀況。廚房裡有些原本做好的料理被吃掉了,而廚師表明餐點是在一個多小時前就做好,所以——」579Please respect copyright.PENANATo1kLTVzbs
579Please respect copyright.PENANAZcTKxTJzCv
諾亞舉手打斷他,「你不要看到我吃蛋糕就懷疑人家偷吃東西喔。」
579Please respect copyright.PENANACozFZVaTYc
「諾亞,你閉嘴。」伊恩狠瞪他一眼,接著他說:「西蒙斯,你有什麼根據那個術師跟廚房有關聯?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAkpCCSTdYq6
579Please respect copyright.PENANAOfZaG3FCbo
「那名術師假扮成女僕後,其實有在市政廳內活動一小段時間,有一些目擊者有見到她出現在廚房附近的走道上,況且臉上帶有紅色醬料的痕跡,而當時廚師準備的料理就是以番茄泥作為基底。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAzUY2CEG3Rs
579Please respect copyright.PENANABI6lRtWxSq
「撇除廚房裡的食物被她偷吃之外,還有其他跡象嗎?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAy3DDY9uDtP
579Please respect copyright.PENANA20sPza4qbh
「沒有。再加上她一開始出來的那間辦公室裡存放的大多也是市民庶務相關的資料,或者是龐拜魯的各類建築的藍圖,但全都是平民或是商會的建設。」
579Please respect copyright.PENANA504YUOVh2z
「也就是說,裡面全是沒人願意花錢請術師竊取的資料。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAkosTWeuer9
579Please respect copyright.PENANAmPRrPLfrRP
「我們裡面甚至有人猜測說不定是流浪到這裡的術師,因為肚子餓跑進來偷吃東西。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAO4yWBGSVyy
579Please respect copyright.PENANA40ZpH00U28
諾亞說:「這隨便一想也知道不可能吧?真的想偷吃,她大可去偷烘焙坊或是餐館,何必要跑到市政廳偷吃東西?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAU1TfGVk9gS
579Please respect copyright.PENANAaK3TxC6KYo
「另外我也想到一點。市政廳的保安設備本來就不周全,如果真的有心想闖入市政廳,就算隨便派一名小偷闖進來也辦的到,完全沒必要用上術師。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAcps7x4HLBQ
579Please respect copyright.PENANAmVbjhgxxB3
「畢竟聘請一名術師的經費就等同一座村莊一個星期的糧食費——」伊恩摸著下巴的鬍渣,「說來說去,帕索斯的態度也很有問題。他以前就很討厭有人私自闖入他的私人場所,更何況有術師闖進他的管轄區域,而他卻要你別追查下去,顯然他有些不對勁。」
579Please respect copyright.PENANA1XiMp1wwHX
伊恩拿起菸斗,抽了一大口,「帕索斯有說他今天要去哪嗎?」
579Please respect copyright.PENANADdSul9mhCZ
「沒有,他說今天有人要拜訪市政廳,他得去接待他們。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAU3ewaY0nxW
579Please respect copyright.PENANAMeie5FpiQ3
「誰啊?」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAc0NEU6bBCh
「聖堂的人,好像是要談神儀祭的事。」579Please respect copyright.PENANABmfjXtAtjq
579Please respect copyright.PENANA5ka3DAIDok
「是嗎……」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAkDr8aYefhr
「先生,請問我需要繼續調查這件事嗎?」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAXZD6qJhPq6
「不必了。我和帕索斯也認識了幾十年,如果他真的不想說,就沒必要浪費時間跟他談,你就把精力擺在神儀祭上吧。」
579Please respect copyright.PENANABSkkNPg8Tn
諾亞舔著沾著奶油的手指,「說不定那術師只不過是帕索斯養的女人,只不過不想被人知道她的存在。」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAXMbcm2p7wQ
「這可能嗎?」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAnuWMtzjtNd
伊恩聳肩,「也許吧?如果他能夠接受自己的生活裡出現了一個女人陪伴他,我也會祝福他,雖然我覺得不太可能。」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAdsFgvbviYg
「一提到這點,麥隆先生。我和爵士他好歹也一起相處二十幾年了,都沒看過他和哪個女人一起相處過。」
579Please respect copyright.PENANA9vvFnRM5Nh
「會不會是那個……」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAMdltq1QtEJ
諾亞用食指上下比劃,做出類似下垂的動作。伊恩看了一拳往他頭上槌下去,讓諾亞哀號一聲。
579Please respect copyright.PENANAjgNcRpDQlF
伊恩重新裝填他的菸斗,「自從他妻子離世後,帕索斯就沒有跟任何女人往來。我曾經介紹不少女人給他認識,但他總是拿一些莫名其妙的理由搪塞我。」579Please respect copyright.PENANARYvLv65yHo
579Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0C4BEmbLD
「理由?」579Please respect copyright.PENANARiz15LAJmd
579Please respect copyright.PENANA6DjCx1YfAs
他吐出煙圈,「結婚誓言,至死不渝之類的鬼話。這年頭一堆人養妻子養到連妻子的名字都記不得,他竟然還會說那種古板的話敷衍我,所以我之後就只好作罷。」579Please respect copyright.PENANATpwfPBuq3P
579Please respect copyright.PENANA7iGCLPcbaV
「叔叔,你都沒介紹女人給我認識耶。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAuHORqnallD
579Please respect copyright.PENANAHE1tWGNgw1
「你只會糟蹋女人而已吧?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAdjcP5p1j6d
579Please respect copyright.PENANAZvg2MCNda0
西蒙斯接著說:「而且你缺女人嗎?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAySuBCkccKq
579Please respect copyright.PENANAt9r4V59C3J
諾亞露出一抹輕浮的笑容,「多多益善。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAcb80PbvBGh
579Please respect copyright.PENANAj6AJ0q92Lh
伊恩翻了個白眼,「總之,儘管表面上看不出來,但妻子離世這檔事對他打擊過大,讓他完全沒有組織家庭的意願。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAdsY1X8YAvN
579Please respect copyright.PENANAzhcjT32CeW
話一說完,伊恩再次搖頭,「不太對。應該說他這陣子都顯得有些奇怪,總是皺著眉低頭沉思,不曉得他在想什麼。幾天前我們和過去的戰友聚會,他也還是擺出一臉死人樣,害得我得收拾殘局,不要讓對方覺得受到侮辱。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAoJYlpcABkl
579Please respect copyright.PENANA94ODu9IaPO
「我也有這種感覺。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAgshXdZqqBr
579Please respect copyright.PENANAXcQm15Mo47
諾亞問:「會不會是最近他遇上什麼事?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAPDwByLmbY6
579Please respect copyright.PENANAKHOWyd9Ztw
兩人雙雙望著西蒙斯,而他聳肩,「市政廳最近除了有術師闖進來以外,一切正常……但真要說的話,自從馬藻港落陷之後沒多久,他就顯得相當消沉。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAFqnVshvXH7
579Please respect copyright.PENANALnjCQ9Y63E
「難道他有東西放在馬藻港,結果被海盜給燒了?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAeCvkZz3QzT
579Please respect copyright.PENANAl2Oi50VGIP
伊恩搖頭,「不曉得。外務協會有所有馬藻港倉儲的資料,除非帕索斯私底下偷藏東西,不然我不可能會不知道。再說現在馬藻港的事情已經把協會搞成一團亂了,偏偏我在需要他幫忙的時候,卻不曉得他在想些什麼。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAhudYhofn6t
579Please respect copyright.PENANA5MYEUgMDIz
「叔叔,你剛才提到戰友,難道你跟爵士有一起打過仗?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAcQokr6L6cq
579Please respect copyright.PENANANILHj2k3Fp
「我沒跟你說過嗎?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAoUhIyDucBp
579Please respect copyright.PENANAI7hh5joh40
「小時候有問過……但被你罵別知道太多,我就沒有繼續問下去了。我只知道你們都從海盜戰爭下活下來,而且似乎當時情況很糟。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAPsXTYoSINk
579Please respect copyright.PENANA9vKutYrH9h
「的確很糟,」伊恩將菸斗裡的灰燼倒進菸灰缸內,「那時候的龐拜魯不像現在繁榮,四處都是被火炮給摧毀的瓦礫和廢墟,人們身上總是有股煙硝味。而我當時隸屬於海軍,而帕索斯是陸上部隊的指揮官,其實就跟現在差不多,我和帕索斯的合作關係,就是從那時候一直到現在。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAVrTt4AwPkm
579Please respect copyright.PENANAptJTHHbqI9
他頓了一下,「他的妻子就是在那段期間被炮火給殺害的。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAH1QJMeHYUF
579Please respect copyright.PENANAvax3FmYC4d
「她怎麼不撤離到其他地方去?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAcvjKbSb4JG
579Please respect copyright.PENANAG8P3MlWUi1
「因為他妻子……她是海軍後勤的一員,現在外務協會所用的物流系統,就是她先引進來,我們協會才能繼續沿用下去。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAa2V7VMOfmp
579Please respect copyright.PENANArGlnTumC0d
「聽起來她是個很厲害的人物。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAdUVu1sOWus
579Please respect copyright.PENANAq5mVTRsPps
「當然啦,畢竟她也是麥隆家的人。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAB80Mie7O7f
579Please respect copyright.PENANAXeNEReFol0
「欸?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAEPWi8FYgRD
579Please respect copyright.PENANAJPQoAEfeOh
「茱莉亞‧麥隆,你的姑姑。不過你不知道也正常,她嫁給帕索斯後就跟著他姓了,麥隆家的墓園也就沒有替她留一個位置。579Please respect copyright.PENANA6ELOVw6l69
579Please respect copyright.PENANA6xk0vzXYEk
「所以整座龐拜魯幾乎都是麥隆家的人在管……」579Please respect copyright.PENANATtFOhsoW8c
579Please respect copyright.PENANAH5TU4wFqBJ
西蒙斯拍著諾亞的肩,「你要加油。為了麥隆家的名聲,你得振作一點。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAlJtOinqsm8
579Please respect copyright.PENANA5CtaDDTOIU
「別說的我好像已經墮落似的,好歹我也在協會裡有一席之地。」說完,伊恩向他投射一道冷峻的目光,讓諾亞打了個冷顫,於是他改口說:「大概啦。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAKKDRH3fUQn
579Please respect copyright.PENANADeL1Vtlj3M
他們繼續閒聊一陣子後,伊恩因為還要其他商會會長開會,便先離開了辦公室,留下伊恩跟西蒙斯繼續處理神儀祭的文件。大抵上都在討論祭典上的流程,以及安排賓客的相關事宜。所有的皇親貴族都有自己的習性,甚至有些彼此敵對,巧妙地將他們錯開就變得相對重要。579Please respect copyright.PENANAzfFPAjftZP
579Please respect copyright.PENANAJ93QaRmoau
諾亞很擅長做這件事,據他所言,就像是把羚羊和獅子分在不同籠子一樣。儘管西蒙斯知道他所要表達的意思,但還是辦不到和他一樣的程度。如果諾亞有意願的話,西蒙斯甚至覺得諾亞可以去當生物學者。579Please respect copyright.PENANAoXFzhdhKKl
579Please respect copyright.PENANA5pKIsKvFJY
「對了,」諾亞處理文件到一半開口說:「你和卡菈處得怎樣?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAl0cVGGRljW
579Please respect copyright.PENANAdZblxGJAQp
「你想幹嘛?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAFC8ShhAlL6
579Please respect copyright.PENANAkbYD4Le8Hp
「別那麼提防我嘛。我只是關心你的交友狀況,沒有別的意思。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAt6JPoD7uLp
579Please respect copyright.PENANA2uZd5pFH7b
「沒有就好。」西蒙斯向後傾斜在椅背上,「應該還好吧?我覺得沒怎樣。」579Please respect copyright.PENANA8EaihuKEcS
579Please respect copyright.PENANAFEJi905OYg
「是喔。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAkXEDNt2oI2
579Please respect copyright.PENANACH0s35GrmP
「你有什麼想說的就說,不要用那種一肚子宿便的表情盯著我看。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAxtzxjWAwqm
579Please respect copyright.PENANAwgPoWH55yW
「我就直說吧。我覺得你應該來我們家工作,但我感覺你是因為卡菈才會一直留在市政廳。」579Please respect copyright.PENANA0yNiAEqrWe
579Please respect copyright.PENANAaKMaGsU2Ey
「你在瞎說什麼?我會一直在市政廳工作是因為我從小就在那裡長大,怎麼可能跟你一樣看到女人就昏頭?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAUtpJHowVs2
579Please respect copyright.PENANAfl2cc1Hof7
「不過我們這裡的待遇也比市政廳好上許多,如果你跟卡菈有打算結婚,我們甚至還能替你找最好的婚禮場地,宴客的場地也隨你挑。」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAIxNIAxdbvB
「你說婚禮場地是指這棟協會會館吧?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAuyyIzz7kFK
579Please respect copyright.PENANAyWTTJB4MPa
「當然啊!能夠眺望藍海的懸崖、長年翠綠的大草地,還有金碧輝煌,如同宮殿般的會館,龐拜魯找不到第二個這麼完美的地點結婚了。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAl2OOYoLdkP
579Please respect copyright.PENANAjkoTaJRqIB
西蒙斯嘆氣,「我看你只是想要我替你工作吧?」579Please respect copyright.PENANABP3H4kZYAc
579Please respect copyright.PENANAbgHtZ1UnpF
「尊貴的西蒙斯先生,小的我可沒這麼想。協會的工作我做得還順心,還不用您操心。」579Please respect copyright.PENANA5SoUqRUUbU
579Please respect copyright.PENANAGZPC9UNfcw
「你有話就直說,端出那麼多行銷話術,你是討打嗎?」
579Please respect copyright.PENANA9EWM81Ssrj
「欸,這裡是我家,別在我家動粗。」579Please respect copyright.PENANADsr0lDVAnY
579Please respect copyright.PENANAddAjFf8hTw
「協會是各個商會集資的吧?幾時變成你家的東西了?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAGlL6PhUV4I
579Please respect copyright.PENANAYSLthqCa3s
諾亞傻笑,「所以呢?你怎麼還願意待在市政廳?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAAYYTlgfcB8
579Please respect copyright.PENANAhrteDRNEaA
「你先說你沒事招募我做什麼再說。」579Please respect copyright.PENANADXgJ5bFwVs
579Please respect copyright.PENANAaAOVWWvVy7
「你疑心病很重耶。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAncyAmQ0dtZ
579Please respect copyright.PENANABNus2KzNGy
西蒙斯雙手抱胸,「所以到底要說了沒?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAg1lSTrWMen
579Please respect copyright.PENANArBorTgnfmg
諾亞咋舌,「好啦,其實有遠洋船的船長跟我聊過天,讓我想要去做遠洋貿易。」579Please respect copyright.PENANA8XIFetZHxA
579Please respect copyright.PENANAD7cqQpMoyt
「遠洋貿易?你不怕死嗎?出去的有幾個能回來?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAyhIlDrFk3v
579Please respect copyright.PENANAGmJm3doNSZ
「你不懂啦!這就是男人的浪漫!」579Please respect copyright.PENANAQpypPY6x16
579Please respect copyright.PENANA9ONVC4u3aJ
諾亞說得自信滿滿,讓西蒙斯不禁嘆了口氣。不過諾亞的確是性格浪漫,也許是因為如此,才會受到許多女生歡迎。579Please respect copyright.PENANAnTpufpQE5m
579Please respect copyright.PENANAmIfKCwv3hB
「但你叔叔會讓你去嗎?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAhwup5ks1JC
579Please respect copyright.PENANAL8hj4noG7r
「問題就在這。他成天嫌我能力不夠,更何況是遠洋貿易。我猜如果跟他說,他一定會說『你還沒踏出索羅斯洋,我看會先摔進海裡溺死』。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAAUD7AfKOEt
579Please respect copyright.PENANAm85WTHadqR
「我也這麼覺得……」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAaYJLkeKokU
「什麼叫你也這樣覺得啊?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAvLLalukynN
579Please respect copyright.PENANAIqXCIlCGMw
「再說,麥隆先生如果知道你是認真的,他說話就不會那麼苛薄,頂多要你先寫出一份報告,要你仔細評估出海的風險。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAdL4u5SiuGV
579Please respect copyright.PENANAKTYdcXWHJk
「喔……好像事情真的也有可能這樣發展……」579Please respect copyright.PENANAqNeOjoNnMM
579Please respect copyright.PENANAk5aVwW7SbW
「總之,你先跟他談談吧,如果能說服他,他說不定會讓你去。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAyRbRMHur9t
579Please respect copyright.PENANACGLW5vrJSs
「但前提是,」他伸出了手指,「得有人能頂替我的位置。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAivctcO7FWM
579Please respect copyright.PENANAGvafGOGtS4
「原來如此。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAHuYWN56Aed
579Please respect copyright.PENANAEkDeVEEaDa
「再怎麼說,我對協會也是有所感情,如果把我助理的位置交給我討厭的人做,先別提我叔叔會怎麼想,我光是出海就會覺得有罪惡感了。」579Please respect copyright.PENANAnmpXFZg7v9
579Please respect copyright.PENANAfsdiiZYO08
「你會有罪惡感?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAQFx9RwyuzV
579Please respect copyright.PENANAuDNWvy49rM
諾亞用中指作為問候。
579Please respect copyright.PENANA8cGYvkyvWU
「但帕索斯對我有恩,這點你早就知道了吧?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAWUiVFkblbc
579Please respect copyright.PENANA1qFW9pKEmy
「我是知道。但你已經成年了吧?就算他養你到現在,你也早就有能力離開,但你就沒想過要離開嗎?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAIjI8gDuhoQ
579Please respect copyright.PENANA7ONsqMWnuV
西蒙斯聳肩,「我現在做得還算順心,況且還有卡菈陪我,我已經心滿意足。」579Please respect copyright.PENANA7cnVAeJp2G
579Please respect copyright.PENANApTO4hDOL0k
「對……工作到一半,讓她進你房間按摩搥背,然後隨著兩人肉體開始火熱,就跑到床上工作……」579Please respect copyright.PENANAyUy3Nvfs3f
579Please respect copyright.PENANAxSYaxmuDR8
「我看你是欠打——」579Please respect copyright.PENANA4TkIbVcREA
579Please respect copyright.PENANAWIgO4XZAUf
話說到一半,門外傳來敲門聲,兩人從原本嬉鬧的樣子恢復正經的姿態,才讓對方進門。進門的是麥隆家的女僕長,少數在協會工作的岡瓦那人。但她有別於平時嚴峻的形象,她現在看起來有些焦躁。579Please respect copyright.PENANAq8btUcFCH2
579Please respect copyright.PENANAIoGakcKrcK
「呃?阿米娜?妳怎麼了嗎?」579Please respect copyright.PENANAqGMpcDNXDY
579Please respect copyright.PENANAEgrZVBb4nj
她向兩人點頭致意,「我有緊急的事要告知會長。」579Please respect copyright.PENANACLatJwWr5O
579Please respect copyright.PENANABsDt2cQxqF
「他去紡織商會開會去了。」579Please respect copyright.PENANA8HUU946oqx
579Please respect copyright.PENANAxAU2SNggeg
「知道了,但這件事和西蒙斯先生也有關係。」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAoVFoslUqTQ
「怎麼了嗎?」
579Please respect copyright.PENANAPnBljJJb2w
「聖堂派了大批的人馬前往市政廳,據說是要去逮捕帕索斯爵士。」
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