The Book of Hibernation

Aldin kicked open the door and threw Simon in.

Simon fell to the ground, dazed, and instinctively wanted to climb far while coughing.

Aldin closed the door behind his back without turning on the lamp.Simon cried out in fright and kept curling up, while Aldin approached step by step.

"There's no one here, it's quiet, and it's a good place to continue chatting." Aldin stepped on Simon's ankle, preventing him from crawling towards the corner. "What did you talk about with Winter Thistle? Tell me too."

"No, nothing important..." Simon muttered while crying, "It's just what the elemental mages told me to do... and things like IOUs..."

"What IOU?"

When Aldin asked, Simon suddenly realized that something was wrong.

He suddenly understood.Aldin really didn't know about the IOU, but it wasn't because Winter Thistle was hiding it from him because he was afraid that he would be angry, but because there was probably no IOU.Winter Thistle should have made up an excuse to achieve other purposes.

Even though Simon had thought of this, he still couldn't understand Winter Thistle's true purpose.If you can't guess the purpose of the winter thistle, you can't guess the source of Aldine's anger.

Out of instinct, Simon decided not to tell the whole story, he had to pretend to know less, the less he knew, the safer.

So he explained that the IOU was not a big deal, it was just that Dongji had confided a small trouble, it seemed that someone had tricked her into issuing an IOU, Dongji was not at ease, so she complained to him about it, and he knew the details Not many.

Aldin listened, nodded, and moved away from Simon's foot.Simon was about to get up to avoid it, but Aldin pinned his back again.

Aldin cut his arms back, pulled out a leather cord, and tied it tightly.

Simon kept repeating "I'm telling the truth", but Aldin didn't answer.

After tying it up, Aldin squatted next to Simon: "Don't be afraid, I won't kill you, and I won't hurt you. As I said just now, I don't want you to have an accident in Harbor City."

Simon looked at him with difficulty, not knowing what he meant, and he didn't dare to continue crying.

"It doesn't matter if he dies somewhere outside Harbor City," Aldin said.

Simon began to cry and beg for mercy again, still insisting that he knew nothing.Aldin stood up, clapped his hands twice, and a small door opened on the side of the dark hall, and two warriors in leather armor came out from the basement.

Aldin said to them: "Before dawn, send this man to the Martha in the South Fishing Port, and watch the ship set sail. Be careful when transporting him, and don't hurt him, otherwise the pirate leader on Percy Island will die." Can't use him anymore."

Simon froze.He is not very familiar with Harbor City, and he doesn't know where the South Fishing Port is, but he has heard of Percy Island.

Percy Island is one of the southeast islands, with a small area, it is a stronghold for a group of pirates.These pirates are well-known, and they are villains that everyone fears in the southeast sea.

Many years ago, the Ten Sails Street Chamber of Commerce negotiated with the pirates, and the negotiations went relatively smoothly, and the two sides reached a lot of private cooperation.Since then, pirates will never rob the Chamber of Commerce's ships again.

Aldin looked down at Simon and smiled slightly: "You are very beautiful, with blond hair and blue eyes, and handsome facial features. You don't look like the son of a servant, but rather a little nobleman from somewhere. You are really likable. Even monsters like Wu Yun I like you too. Did you know that the leader of the pirates on Percy Island also likes people like you very much, both male and female. He said that it is better for a man not to be pregnant, and it is more convenient to bring it on the boat to relax and entertain at any time."

After he finished speaking, the two men dragged Simon up from the ground, and took out a ball of handkerchiefs, trying to gag Simon's mouth.

Simon cried and screamed in fright, turned his head desperately, avoiding the handkerchief that smelled of medicine, begging "I will tell you" "Please give me a chance to tell the truth"...

So Aldin waved his hand, and the two men let go of Simon.

Simon fell back to the ground, impatiently recounting every encounter he had with Winter Thistle.From the process of making friends to the ins and outs of the IOU, everything is detailed and clear, and it also describes Dong Ji's emotions and reactions every time he communicates with him.

With his back turned to him, Aldin listened silently without any interruption.

Simon stopped from time to time, wanting to see Aldin's expression, but Aldin stood in the darkness at the corner of the hall, so he really couldn't observe.

After Simon finished speaking, Aldin pondered for a moment before coming over, knelt down, and patted Simon on the shoulder: "That's right, such is an honest friend."

After speaking, he stood up again and walked away.

The two subordinates standing aside grabbed Simon again, not only did not untie him, but continued to gag him with a handkerchief.

Simon struggled desperately, but he was still unable to withstand the strength of the two fighters. One of the two fighters held him firmly, and the other used the handle of a dagger to break his jaw, and stuffed a large ball of handkerchief stained with medicine into his mouth.

Aldin said in a comforting tone: "Don't be afraid, you will fall asleep in a while. I will give you a suggestion. After waking up, take good care of others and don't make a lot of noise. Pirates are not as gentle as me. If he is impatient , will cut off your tongue."

Simon was gagged and whimpered, his body becoming weaker and weaker.The two subordinates lifted him up on the left and the right, and dragged him towards the door of the big house.

Just when one of them was about to push the door, the door was suddenly opened from the outside.The two subordinates let out an "ah" in surprise.

Aldin also looked back to the door.Winter Thistle stood outside, frowning.

Winter Thistle blocked the way of the two subordinates, looking over their shoulders at Aldin: "Let him go...it's none of his business."

Aldin didn't answer right away.If it was in the past, he might have made up some excuse to deceive Winter Ji so that she would stop asking about this matter.But today...it's no longer necessary.

Aldin shook his head lightly: "This man has no skills, but he is definitely a disaster. There is no benefit in keeping it."

Dong Ji said: "He has a family in the capital, aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?"

Aldin smiled: "I don't understand. Do you feel sorry for him, or do you just think it will be troublesome to deal with him?"

"It's both ways," Winter Thistle said. "No matter what kind of thinking it is, I hope you can let him go. Lord Aldin, please don't do this. I asked him to investigate the mercenary matter. It's his fault." I should be blamed too."

The two warriors looked back at Aldin, waiting for orders.

Aldin tilted his head, motioning for them to take Simon down first.There is a small door on the side of the big house, which leads to the basement which is used as a private prison.

Simon was unconscious.Two warriors dragged him into the basement and closed the door from the inside, leaving Aldine and Winter Thistle alone.

After his men left, Aldin slowly walked to the door.As soon as he stepped out the door, Winter Thistle took a step back.

Aldin frowned slightly, stepped over to Winter Thistle, and put his arms around his shoulders as before.

This time Winter Ji didn't dodge any more, but his expression looked weak.

Aldin wanted to leave with his arms around Winter Thistle, but Winter Thistle resisted.Aldin said: "Well, don't be afraid, I will not give Simon to the pirates. I just wanted to scare him. I didn't hurt him much, did I? Don't worry about him going out. There is evidence against me. A person like him knows how to do better for himself."

Winter Ji lowered her head: "I can't believe it."

"Then think about it carefully. If I really give him to the pirates, what if he is particularly favored and lucky enough to return to land alive in the future? Why don't I just kill him and dispose of the body quietly? Isn't that Is it more neat?"

Aldin had a point.This is probably not a lie.

But Dong Ji didn't feel relieved by this, on the contrary, he felt even more chilly all over his body. "Kill him directly and then quietly dispose of the body", this is exactly what happened to those mercenaries...

Aldin took the winter thistle and walked back along the vine corridor.

Aldin sighed: "To be honest, I'm puzzled, why are you worried about that waste who has no brains and only flatters? Do you know him? Do you still think he is an innocent little pitiful?"

Winter Thistle said, "I don't want to tell you these things. I can't talk to you."

"But you must have something to say to me. The servant should have prepared dinner by now, come on, let's sit down and talk."

They said they wanted to sit down and talk, but when the two of them walked into the small meeting room and actually sat down, neither of them took the initiative to speak.

Winter Thistle didn't take the initiative to make a sound, and Aldin didn't urge him, but just ate as usual.Winter Ji had no appetite, moved slowly, looked distraught, and didn't eat much.

The dinner dragged on for too long, and the two maids were waiting at the door, not knowing if they should come in to clean up.Finally, Aldin waved to them and told them to take away the tableware and the extra candlesticks, leaving only the two necessary ones.

The servants knew how to read words and expressions, and gently closed the door of the small meeting room before stepping back.

In this way, there were only Aldin and Winter Thistle in the room.

"Do you really don't want to say anything?" Aldin asked. "If you hold back something and want to say it, then say it. If you really don't want to say it, don't make a sad face like you are sick."

Winter Thistle had been looking down at his hand, but now he finally raised his head slightly, looking at Aldin diagonally across the table through the dim candlelight.

His eyes and nose were a little sour.If it is not an illusion, Aldin seems to be speaking to him in this tone for the first time.

He looked at Aldin: "I really want to ask you something, but I'm afraid it's useless even if I ask, you won't answer."

"You talk about it first."

So Winter Thistle asked, "There was an elf rescue team who wanted to go to the warehouse to rescue the slaves. What happened to the rescue team?"

Aldin remained calm on the surface, but was secretly surprised in his heart.

He originally thought that Dong Ji wanted to ask about the mercenaries, but Dong Ji actually asked about the rescue team from so long ago.

"Why do you think of this again?" Aldin said, "Didn't we already talk after that matter was settled?"

Winter Thistle said: "Ever since I heard the news about those mercenaries 'poisoned and killed', I thought of the Elf Rescue Team again. I remember you said that the Elf Rescue Team rented a boat, which was an unnamed fishing boat without a keel mark. ...Master Aldin, in fact, I didn't think about it so much before. I didn't realize it until a few days ago... The keel mark is not the pattern on the sail. If the elf returns directly, how can you see it directly? Unless Take that ship into the dock and examine it carefully..."

Aldin said: "Of course someone can do this, but not me. It is not me who is in charge of negotiating with the elves."

"Of course, I believe this. You shouldn't need to do it yourself...just like you did to those mercenaries." Winter Thistle's voice trembled, "So what happened to the rescue team? Have they returned, or are they already dead? gone?"

Aldin said in a deep voice, "I will not kill unnecessary people. I am a businessman, not a lunatic who takes pleasure in killing."

Winter Ji asked: "Then...do they need to be killed, or not? Can't you answer me directly?"

"The matter of the rescue team ended peacefully. Whether it was the pier or the South Fishing Port, there was no fighting at all, and no island elves died here. I can guarantee this."

"They didn't die at the pier, they didn't die at Nanyu Port, and they didn't die anywhere in Harbor City... right? Did they die in the open sea? Or under the sea?"

When Winter Thistle asked this question, Aldin was taking a sip of light wine.As soon as Winter Ji finished speaking, he put the cup back on the table heavily.

The bottom of the metal cup collided with the wooden table with a crisp sound, which made Winter Thistle tremble in fright.

It was the first time that Aldin treated Winter Thistle with an impatient tone, and it was also the first time that Winter Thistle spoke to Aldin in such an aggressive manner.

Aldin was silent for a moment, calmed down his emotions, and when he spoke again, his tone was quite amiable: "Winter Ji, you are telling me these things, don't you just want to discuss the old things that have happened?"

Winter Thistle sighed.

He no longer needed Aldin to answer.

Aldin stood up, went to the chair next to Winter Thistle and sat down, took Winter Thistle's hands and put them in his palms.Just like before.

He asked: "I can see that you don't just want to talk about the past, you have other ideas. Say it, what do you suggest, what do you want me to do."

"Will it be useful if I say it?" Winter Thistle looked at him weakly.

"Although you have a soft personality, you are actually a very rational person. You will not make unrealistic demands. As long as your suggestion is reasonable, of course I will consider it."

Winter Thistle nodded: "Okay. Then I'll be straight. I want to leave here."

Aldin gently stroked the half-elf's hands, and said in a soothing tone: "I understand. But haven't we communicated before? After the limelight has passed, you can get the acquiescence of the Austrian Law Federation and the Royal Capital." Get out. Don't worry, the day isn't far away."

"That's not what I meant," Winter Thistle said. "My lord, I don't mean leaving the mansion. It's... I've thought about it over and over again. I'm not suitable for living in Harbor City, and I'm not suitable for continuing to work for Ten Sail Street. Chamber of Commerce services. I want to get out of here."