
「帕索斯說了這種話?你確定你沒聽錯?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAeZzV5j1b8L
480Please respect copyright.PENANAd7rHEWv6uk
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。480Please respect copyright.PENANA3djI3R0tbR
480Please respect copyright.PENANA5z6jmI9DzL
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。480Please respect copyright.PENANAzWviWzbQS4
480Please respect copyright.PENANA2SfH5fMV4N
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?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAcDd2AnJO5b
480Please respect copyright.PENANAy31uMR9CFl
伊恩說:「諾亞,吃你的蛋糕。西蒙斯,你繼續說下去。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAporhLjnVNW
480Please respect copyright.PENANAiQtZUDspf8
「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——」480Please respect copyright.PENANAEFCBywk1Rc
480Please respect copyright.PENANAlz7VXjigf1
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。」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAenrmAsKw6q
「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?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAkNmf44qGzX
480Please respect copyright.PENANAt0qUW1wG6u
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAj7PQl8Iqz8
480Please respect copyright.PENANA4F3LTRS5K6
「撇除廚房裡的食物被她偷吃之外,還有其他跡象嗎?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAHZvyQPxF6q
480Please respect copyright.PENANAfdjqHwSbDK
「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。」
480Please respect copyright.PENANA1FxhaEkQY6
「也就是說,裡面全是沒人願意花錢請術師竊取的資料。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAVVj10mOytb
480Please respect copyright.PENANAcVR4c5J2rd
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANABI6rPhg5KK
480Please respect copyright.PENANArR2TUkBiZg
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?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4zAI2g81p
480Please respect copyright.PENANAVdQjFLNSEc
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANASBd9E0raWk
480Please respect copyright.PENANAw7iBMGTBw2
「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。」
480Please respect copyright.PENANABqDn3dMb6d
伊恩拿起菸斗,抽了一大口,「帕索斯有說他今天要去哪嗎?」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAA7uGCtdrMJ
「沒有,他說今天有人要拜訪市政廳,他得去接待他們。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAYFi1g7G3Oz
480Please respect copyright.PENANA6fqIGEqbdn
「誰啊?」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAY1Frn3Oryr
「聖堂的人,好像是要談神儀祭的事。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAPovLe24bUK
480Please respect copyright.PENANAfIGPzdVQfw
「是嗎……」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAKLVQFEIV2R
「先生,請問我需要繼續調查這件事嗎?」
480Please respect copyright.PENANABDIH5dj0Xg
「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。」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAtdTwnF6zxd
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。」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAIt51kXpjnD
「這可能嗎?」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAJYSnxB37cs
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。」
480Please respect copyright.PENANA7fmHfrVPi5
「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。」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAXhrkJ9YnOY
「會不會是那個……」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAu8a9cnuqZf
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。
480Please respect copyright.PENANAmgf9YmT8tW
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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAUB8IgqNLTC
480Please respect copyright.PENANAF5h1LhMdp2
「理由?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAKlfJ49zFJo
480Please respect copyright.PENANAmDVHVlDIUR
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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAxraLcTrKCZ
480Please respect copyright.PENANA2732hdNma8
「叔叔,你都沒介紹女人給我認識耶。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAPtoADDZ5Z2
480Please respect copyright.PENANAnG3HrkD9o1
「你只會糟蹋女人而已吧?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAI3hPupDrG4
480Please respect copyright.PENANAdHMPdamVj5
西蒙斯接著說:「而且你缺女人嗎?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAF5RS5cqCcv
480Please respect copyright.PENANA4Mf53IqgR7
諾亞露出一抹輕浮的笑容,「多多益善。」480Please respect copyright.PENANA6kqJrU7Gqy
480Please respect copyright.PENANAsSSIfOqwJO
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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAKMgkbpdHeD
480Please respect copyright.PENANAfr4WNUj0Pg
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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAgVzT8ymFkr
480Please respect copyright.PENANAWETbcgUoew
「我也有這種感覺。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAoptju5RTf8
480Please respect copyright.PENANAyLAfzQyyUZ
諾亞問:「會不會是最近他遇上什麼事?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAQzQ8wfyxZM
480Please respect copyright.PENANAM3eZIVU3Sw
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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANADL2mNA1JmL
480Please respect copyright.PENANAwxoENwXShY
「難道他有東西放在馬藻港,結果被海盜給燒了?」480Please respect copyright.PENANARdMBlcXElu
480Please respect copyright.PENANAI0cX2TGKwI
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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANACWo2VRzpbo
480Please respect copyright.PENANA0vVi5SZxUJ
「叔叔,你剛才提到戰友,難道你跟爵士有一起打過仗?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAQmjrtEQxyj
480Please respect copyright.PENANAwodORx7dNv
「我沒跟你說過嗎?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAOfOEsMXDfB
480Please respect copyright.PENANARaK9YFUyre
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAJhJwTbf4kB
480Please respect copyright.PENANASYwm3Qg9uM
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAxCwjiLUNlU
480Please respect copyright.PENANAbtrO70oOEV
他頓了一下,「他的妻子就是在那段期間被炮火給殺害的。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAvd8dXVNqx2
480Please respect copyright.PENANAlN4bFYwYS3
「她怎麼不撤離到其他地方去?」480Please respect copyright.PENANA2O9YKNfHBt
480Please respect copyright.PENANANEqiXbjhhM
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANArax7fOJq9G
480Please respect copyright.PENANAAQGp06qwEX
「聽起來她是個很厲害的人物。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAHM1HwYrrRO
480Please respect copyright.PENANA5uPTu25XXz
「當然啦,畢竟她也是麥隆家的人。」480Please respect copyright.PENANA5TEpEfovhe
480Please respect copyright.PENANAGipt7uKXh7
「欸?」480Please respect copyright.PENANArjxsK7jGPw
480Please respect copyright.PENANAeMZHTnAWQJ
「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。480Please respect copyright.PENANAydzv38xLBD
480Please respect copyright.PENANAdZsIGxCMD3
「所以整座龐拜魯幾乎都是麥隆家的人在管……」480Please respect copyright.PENANADNnwQBaEGN
480Please respect copyright.PENANAnvjipBqi8w
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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANARfLZQlCYC3
480Please respect copyright.PENANAaiVdty1Fhd
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAQVnw5CAfQE
480Please respect copyright.PENANAxEVuRXBPI1
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。480Please respect copyright.PENANAkgdHQ7CyRk
480Please respect copyright.PENANAH7BPPrHa9Y
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。480Please respect copyright.PENANAgfHLPHUxJU
480Please respect copyright.PENANAlyP58lJw7N
「對了,」諾亞處理文件到一半開口說:「你和卡菈處得怎樣?」480Please respect copyright.PENANA3LYNMznswF
480Please respect copyright.PENANApJ6wpahKqo
「你想幹嘛?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAPV9owDbNqb
480Please respect copyright.PENANAYAFUIJhMBX
「別那麼提防我嘛。我只是關心你的交友狀況,沒有別的意思。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAne7igrZgEp
480Please respect copyright.PENANACcBkqcppao
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAFPcP8RbhOS
480Please respect copyright.PENANA2jKTa5JmaD
「是喔。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAV4bCEl5f3E
480Please respect copyright.PENANAyPYq1kGdqI
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAHqmxlbzZpQ
480Please respect copyright.PENANAI4QHPzzBX2
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANArzIBLumbZi
480Please respect copyright.PENANAU5pNLu4teu
「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?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAOPadV8mjuU
480Please respect copyright.PENANAqi8eMZj1YD
「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。」
480Please respect copyright.PENANALWPjqyWPq4
「你說婚禮場地是指這棟協會會館吧?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAsBIz4Z8XN4
480Please respect copyright.PENANARCzGNWt1Ze
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAwkvXlaT8vH
480Please respect copyright.PENANAIympROK6qT
西蒙斯嘆氣,「我看你只是想要我替你工作吧?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAJHNiay9wMb
480Please respect copyright.PENANAOjnJseOBal
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANACfo72m2yAI
480Please respect copyright.PENANAP9JbnpTftw
「你有話就直說,端出那麼多行銷話術,你是討打嗎?」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAjtywpV9OJr
「欸,這裡是我家,別在我家動粗。」480Please respect copyright.PENANA6WJQguW8Qv
480Please respect copyright.PENANAcTH1KZ8WQR
「協會是各個商會集資的吧?幾時變成你家的東西了?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAQsX3MO6HUt
480Please respect copyright.PENANAKTtICDmzZk
諾亞傻笑,「所以呢?你怎麼還願意待在市政廳?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAjoQIUTRdKi
480Please respect copyright.PENANAIzl0J50O60
「你先說你沒事招募我做什麼再說。」480Please respect copyright.PENANALkeb2jiW1B
480Please respect copyright.PENANA6FUb8aymrY
「你疑心病很重耶。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAR0k0xi5d7D
480Please respect copyright.PENANA7jakjxZuf2
西蒙斯雙手抱胸,「所以到底要說了沒?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAvKsnOOjrtP
480Please respect copyright.PENANA6RXZdS8a53
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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAR8AQiRsFPN
480Please respect copyright.PENANAJGfTkCUcya
「遠洋貿易?你不怕死嗎?出去的有幾個能回來?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAegisABUM4X
480Please respect copyright.PENANADSAtbx5xWZ
「你不懂啦!這就是男人的浪漫!」480Please respect copyright.PENANA2M02yCK523
480Please respect copyright.PENANAlOOmtYcpbF
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。480Please respect copyright.PENANAxpXpEFZZos
480Please respect copyright.PENANA9PMLGUCUoo
「但你叔叔會讓你去嗎?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAAyLK58WxU6
480Please respect copyright.PENANACqlhFaLeQQ
「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』。」480Please respect copyright.PENANA5u1faxcz8F
480Please respect copyright.PENANADKQ1HzPxGX
「我也這麼覺得……」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAZftQ4X2g3F
「什麼叫你也這樣覺得啊?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAJl1CdVfe5h
480Please respect copyright.PENANAjHXHkkbhQn
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAWHBZViKxyE
480Please respect copyright.PENANARHwAhI4Ckk
「喔……好像事情真的也有可能這樣發展……」480Please respect copyright.PENANAGJp31CAUCx
480Please respect copyright.PENANA5uwCgPRBeD
「總之,你先跟他談談吧,如果能說服他,他說不定會讓你去。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAJK3swRoQAY
480Please respect copyright.PENANADfudu7gNAe
「但前提是,」他伸出了手指,「得有人能頂替我的位置。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAcMZ9avSn4m
480Please respect copyright.PENANAHBmsYf2IXY
「原來如此。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAuKNmIi5BZf
480Please respect copyright.PENANAHlUSZwTKva
「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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANApQlFNBzJTs
480Please respect copyright.PENANAXKG0br0M0u
「你會有罪惡感?」480Please respect copyright.PENANA9pUmoOHgSk
480Please respect copyright.PENANAlSk0DuK9iO
諾亞用中指作為問候。
480Please respect copyright.PENANAbe88tffKbB
「但帕索斯對我有恩,這點你早就知道了吧?」480Please respect copyright.PENANAiT4heYhgV3
480Please respect copyright.PENANAPUNMmHgko8
「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?」480Please respect copyright.PENANALIAp3WWmJ4
480Please respect copyright.PENANAhhTQIf8Z8b
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。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAniyl6PLvWq
480Please respect copyright.PENANAYDribZ3473
「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……」480Please respect copyright.PENANAZeURMq9yva
480Please respect copyright.PENANAMBFYoDjhN0
「我看你是欠打——」480Please respect copyright.PENANAA9F2a8zeCU
480Please respect copyright.PENANAeu1A0UM7WD
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。480Please respect copyright.PENANA9MvidgbwTE
480Please respect copyright.PENANANr5ynXUldN
「呃?阿米娜?妳怎麼了嗎?」480Please respect copyright.PENANA1JdZoX7ltw
480Please respect copyright.PENANA0wd2kXgMEG
她向兩人點頭致意,「我有緊急的事要告知會長。」480Please respect copyright.PENANAUhdSaZsGBT
480Please respect copyright.PENANA3pGf2hssIO
「他去紡織商會開會去了。」480Please respect copyright.PENANASFyeBbfcPT
480Please respect copyright.PENANAW0maWQKGk6
「知道了,但這件事和西蒙斯先生也有關係。」
480Please respect copyright.PENANANiQg09f5is
「怎麼了嗎?」
480Please respect copyright.PENANAiuMS29iChP
「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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