The world controlled by dice [Western Fantasy]

"Sell the spoils?!"

Mrs. Finn exclaimed.

As Silas imagined, Mrs. Fern had no idea that Ernestine's Tavern had this function.She probably thought it was just an underground gang gathering place.

After Sirius said, Mrs. Finn suddenly realized.She panicked and murmured in a low voice: "No wonder... no wonder..."

"how?"

Mrs. Finn was silent for a moment, then said: "My little Anthony, he always...he always wanted to get involved in his father's business. He thought we underestimated him as a child. He... ..."

Mrs. Finn was a little at a loss for words.

Siles thought, Mrs. Finn and Mr. Finn may not care much about Anthony's ambitions, thinking that Anthony is just a child's nonsense.

It turned out that Anthony found out about Ernestine from somewhere—perhaps from his gang friend, or from Mr. Finn who accidentally leaked the secret—and he planned to beat his father smugly. , go to Ernestine first.

The reason why I chose to leave at this time is probably because the rainy season in July is coming to an end, and Mr. Finn is coming back.

Siles didn't know how to evaluate this behavior for a while.

Mrs. Finn was so distraught by Anthony's disappearance that she had to turn to her tenant for help.And her son probably thought his actions proved his ability.

Siles sighed involuntarily.

He looked at the time: 07:30 in the evening, and said, "Mrs. Fein, since this is the case, then I will..."

"No, no." Mrs. Finn shook her head hastily, "Mr. Noel, you may not be aware that in the old city, it's best not to go out after eight o'clock at night. It's too dangerous."

Siles was slightly taken aback, and he said, "But, Anthony..."

"It's impossible for me to put you in danger because of my son." Mrs. Finn said stubbornly. This middle-aged woman who was always mean and unreasonable showed that attitude again, but this time But it strangely made Sirius feel a little helpless.

Siles didn't force it either, he just asked, "Why can't you go out after eight o'clock at night?"

Mrs. Finn pursed her lips, and finally she said, "Because there are some rumors."

Siles didn't understand.

Mrs. Fein said: "Someone said...after eight o'clock in the evening, I saw some...shadows that appeared inexplicably...I don't know where they came from, and I don't know where they disappeared...

"Mrs. Hovey next door just told me about this two days ago! You must not go out, I don't want to hurt you because of little Anthony...my little Anthony..."

She returned to the room in a daze.

Siles went to the door and looked at the silent street outside.Only then did he realize that there was no one on the street outside.The drizzle and breeze rolled up the dust on the street, making it look extremely lonely and empty.

A shadow of unknown origin?

Siles couldn't help frowning, thinking, this may just be some people's illusion, and then spread the rumors, and finally turned into an existence like an urban ghost story.

He didn't expect Mrs. Finn to be so convinced of this rumor.Perhaps she lived alone all day long, her husband was not around, her son was very rebellious, and the tenants also left early and returned late, which affected the woman's mental state to some extent.

... Siles slowly exhaled.

He returned to his room on the second floor, folded the map of Ramifa City, put it in a drawer, and then continued with his unfinished business before leaving—lesson preparation.

It's already Wednesday night.Time is short.

That night, the lights in the easternmost room on the second floor of Milford Street were still on until late at night.In the quiet and dark neighborhood, it seems that there is only one light left, which still creates a little warmth in this light rainy night.

Days of running around made Siles wake up a little later the next day.He didn't go downstairs until nearly eight o'clock. He wanted to talk to Mrs. Finn, but Mrs. Finn had already prepared a rich breakfast—white bread, fried eggs, hot milk, and fried fish nuggets.

Siles felt ashamed, so he ate a little and left in a hurry, embarking on the way to Ernestine's Tavern.

Milford Street in the morning was much more lively and peaceful than it was late last night.It was a rare day without rain, and even with faint sunlight, which made Siles feel a lot easier.

Sure enough, after the downpour of the previous few days, the rainy season in July is coming to an end.

Ernestine's Tavern is located in the north of West Side.If you go further to the west, it is the poor area of ​​La Mifa.

Due to various reasons in this world, the level of productivity development is fairly average.Perhaps it was also because of the inexplicable gray-black fog that interrupted the process of primitive accumulation of capital.

In any case, when Siles walked out of the Milford neighborhood and walked towards the more remote and dilapidated parts of the old city, he only felt that this area was more chaotic and the buildings were lower and dilapidated.

He walked for about half an hour, not slow, and finally saw the sign of Ernestine's Tavern from a distance.

It was indeed a somewhat unique building.The whole is tall and pointed, and the wall color is dark brown.But when he got closer, Siles realized that the building only had two floors, but it had an exceptionally high roof, standing crookedly like a witch's hat.

Siles was in good time.The tavern opened at nine o'clock, and it was just after nine o'clock.

Siles entered the tavern.

The interior is not as gloomy as he imagined.The brown wooden floor looks very heavy, the walls are hung with valances and oil paintings, and the wooden window frames look very warm under the faint sunlight.

There is a bar counter and some individual seats inside, and the whole doesn't look cramped, just like an ordinary restaurant, and it doesn't look like a gathering place for gangsters at all.

Siles picked a seat by the window and sat down.

A waiter came over with a menu, but when Siles casually looked at the man who came over, he was immediately stunned.The man was also stunned.

—that was one of the members of the Historical Society study group!

That middle-aged man in shabby clothes and always looking anxious.Siles remembered his name as Eric Colens.

Now, wearing a more ordinary shirt and trousers, he stared at Celes in amazement.Slowly, a look of panic and anxiety appeared in his eyes.

Siles said: "I must explain, Mr. Collens. It is only a coincidence to meet you here."

Eric Collens looked around nervously, then walked to Sirius' side, and sat down awkwardly."Just call me Eric," he said.

Siles nodded: "Siles."

Eric said with a little embarrassment: "I work here. The salary here is not high, but three meals are included. Sometimes I can bring some food home. My daughter likes the taste here."

Siles nodded slowly, and did not pursue this question - of course he could see that Eric Collens' family conditions might not be very good.

However, it is precisely because of this that the Enlightenment is a road to the sky that he can hardly give up.

Siles couldn't help being a little stunned.

He was silent for a moment, then turned to mention his purpose: "I'm here to find someone, maybe you have met." Eric listened very attentively, and Celes said, "His name is Anthony Finn is a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy with freckles on his face and a rather... arrogant personality."

Eric reminisced, then said: "I remember him, but I don't know his name. He'd come here every morning recently, have a brunch, play with his mates until nightfall, and then leave .”

Hearing Eric say that nothing happened to Anthony, Siles was also slightly relieved.He didn't want his investigation to usher in the corpse of a young man—but Lamifa City shouldn't be so dangerous, right?Siles thought uncertainly.

"Thank you," said Siles. "I'll wait here for him."

Eric nodded, hesitated for a moment, and asked hesitantly, "Do you want to eat something, or...do you want something to drink?"

Siles said, "Any drink? Non-alcoholic."

"a glass of juice?"

Siles nodded, paid the money, and gave two earl coins as a tip.Eric looked ashamed, but Siles said, "Don't be so embarrassing, restaurant rules."

Looking at Siles' calm and composed face as always, Eric Kollens felt that the feeling of inferiority and shame in his heart had also faded.

In fact, in the past two introductory courses, Eric has always been the one who was even more taciturn than Sirius.He has almost no sense of presence, especially compared with those young people who are from well-to-do families.

He was trembling and cautious, and he lowered himself into the mud.

This time, when he met Siles by chance, Eric Collens felt an indescribable sense of fellowship.

After about half an hour, Eric took the initiative to go to Siles to remind him: "The person you were looking for appeared."

Siles nodded, and his eyes had already discovered the existence of Anthony Finn.

There were already several people in the tavern at this time.And Anthony Finn appeared with some other boys of the same age. They made friends and bluffed, and sat in a row at the bar, but only ordered three plates of fried rice, which were shared among five or six people. up.

Siles noticed that their clothes were dirty and worn out, and their shoes were covered with mud spots.They are like a small group, warming each other and trusting each other, but they are also very fragile and have no ability to protect themselves.

...a bunch of runaway kids?

Siles thought for a moment, and said to Eric: "Give them three more plates of fried rice, three more vegetable salads, one sausage for each person, and a drink. My treat."

Eric looked surprised.

Siles didn't explain much.Finding this child will bring him a lot of money, and now it can be regarded as caring for the weak.

Soon, the group of children became noisy.Soon, Anthony cast his gaze towards Siles.They seemed to be starving, and devoured the food that Celes had offered them.

When Anthony Finn came to Siles, there were still grains of rice on the corner of his mouth.

"I know you," he said. "My mother sent you here?"

His tone was not polite.

Siles raised his head, his dark eyes were quietly watching the young boy.After a while, he said, "Rice grains."

Anthony froze for a moment, then wiped off the rice grains from the corner of his lips angrily.

"Is your companion wandering with you?" Siles asked directly without waiting for Anthony to speak.

Anthony blushed and retorted loudly: "This is not wandering!"

Siles tapped his fingers on the table: "Three duke coins."

"what?"

Siles said succinctly: "It's the money I spent on treating you to dinner."

Anthony Finn, whose whole body was worth only one duke coin, turned pale immediately.