[Current Balance: 374,970,232 scudi, 93 baiocchi]
---
Three days passed uneventfully as La Providencia, accompanied by the two captured and now mostly stripped Xebecs, sailed north under fair winds.
Alaric spent much of the time relaxing, occasionally browsing the System, or observing Reuben and Flavia, whose relationship seemed to be blossoming rapidly on the Tuscan sea.
The moment they arrived in the busy harbor of Livorno, Flavia insisted on showing them the sights and the shops. Alaric found himself funding an impromptu tour of Livorno's finest establishments, from silk merchants to jewelers, followed by dinner and rooms at the most luxurious inn the port city had to offer.
Oh... and before leaving Rome, he'd made sure Oldgate got his down payment.
---Flashback---
It was early morning as La Providencia finally docked in Livorno harbor. Oldgate immediately began barking orders, making the crew carry salvaged cargoes from the captured Xebecs and the galleon's own hold onto the deck, ready to start trading and selling as quickly as possible, including the grain he'd shrewdly bought in Civitavecchia.
And Murad? Well, he was the first thing Oldgate sold. He was boasting on how he was now ten thousand scudi richer.
Alaric leaned against the railing near the helm, smoking a cigar and enjoying the view of the bustling Tuscan port. He saw Reuben and Flavia emerge from the hatch leading below deck, walking hand-in-hand.
Flavia looked radiant, practically blooming as her skin brushed against the sun, and Reuben wore a soft, genuine smile Alaric rarely saw.
Seeing his cigar was down to the nub, Alaric took one last drag and, with a flick of his wrist, sending the still-glowing butt flying towards the couple.
"Oi!" he shouted playfully. "Stay in your room, you two! Stop flaunting!"
Reuben, whose senses honed by years of training and Alaric's unpredictable antics, didn't even turn. He simply flicked his wrist with casual precision, swatting the cigar butt mid-air and sending it spinning harmlessly into the sea.
Flavia, however, turned towards Alaric, hands on her hips, feigning annoyance but with laughter in her eyes.
"Calm down, will you?" she shouted back. "You will get a beautiful woman someday too, Signore Kenway!"
Alaric's eye twitched. Before he could retort, a loud, "GURARARARARARARARA!" echoed from behind him.
He sighed and walked down the stairs from the quarterdeck to the main deck where Oldgate stood, grinning widely.
"That lass got ye there, lad!" Oldgate boomed, clapping Alaric on the back. "A god on the battlefield, brought down by a sharp tongue! GURARARARA!"
Alaric just sighed again, shaking his head as he continued walking past the captain. "Well... my fist doesn't discriminate gender, you know," he muttered just loud enough for Flavia to hear.
Flavia gasped dramatically and immediately grabbed Reuben's hand, pulling him quickly off the gangplank and towards the harbor entrance. "Come, Reuben, let us escape before he decides to demonstrate!"
Oldgate stared after them, stunned for a moment by Alaric's blunt statement, before bursting into tears of laughter. "GURARARARARARA! THAT WAS FUNNY!"
"Heh... anyways," Alaric shook his head, stopping in front of the still-laughing Oldgate. He leaned in and spoke quietly, so only the captain could hear, "I left the down payment in my cabin, the two thousand pounds. Just have someone fetch it whenever."
Oldgate's eyes widened once again, his laughter subsiding into a satisfied grin. He nodded curtly. "Aye, lad. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout..."
Alaric smiled and slapped the captain's broad shoulder. "Right then. See you in a few days, whitebeard!"
Oldgate nodded, watching Alaric's tall figure stride confidently down the gangplank and disappear into Livorno's busy marketplace.
---Flashback End---
Interestingly, even though Flavia acted as their guide through Livorno's marketplaces over the next few days, she seemed to benefit the most, essentially exploiting Alaric's casual attitude towards money.
Reuben noticed and felt a bit guilty, but Alaric just waved off his concerns, genuinely not bothered by the expense.
[- £2,000 / 6,400 scudi.] (Down payment)
[- 68 scudi, 88 baiocchi.] (Livorno Expenses + Carriage)
[Total Deduction: - 6,468 scudi, 88 baiocchi.]
[Current Balance: 374,963,764 scudi, 5 baiocchi]
'You be thankful you're Reuben's girlfriend,' Alaric sighed internally one afternoon, watching Flavia haggle fiercely over some expensive lace using coins he'd given her. 'With my wealth, I really don't mind spending... but she literally dragged us through every shop in the city.'
Finally, after three days in Livorno, they hired a carriage. Three more days of travel through the rolling Tuscan hills brought them to the walled town of Monteriggioni as evening descended, around 10 PM.
The carriage stopped just outside the main gate. "We have arrived, Signora e signori," the hired coachman announced, climbing down from his seat to open the carriage door.
Reuben stretched and was about to step out, but Flavia stopped him, leaning towards the open door. She pointed towards a large, well-lit villa visible on a hill just east of the town walls, surrounded by the darkness of the countryside. "Can you get us to that villa over there, per favore?"
Everyone, including the coachman, followed her pointing finger. The villa looked impressive, lights blazing warmly against the encroaching night.
The coachman nodded his head. "Naturalmente! In the morning, Signora!"
Alaric raised an eyebrow. "I know it is not our agreed destinazione, but can we go now? I am willing to pay extra for the trouble."
"No can do, Signore," the coachman replied firmly, lowering his voice slightly. "It is far too dark now. The road is rough, and... well, there are rumors."
He glanced nervously towards the dark hills. "Rumors of a vampiro lurking around Monteriggioni at night."
"How about you rest up here in town? There are good locande. We can travel to the villa safely in the morning light?"
"Would you do it for one hundred scudi?" Alaric pressed, leaning forward slightly. "My friends and I... we are avventurieri. Adventurers. We aren't afraid of rumors."
The coachman's eyes widened at the amount offered, clearly tempted. But fear won out. He sighed again, more deeply this time. "I am truly sorry, Signore. But a vampiro is a vampiro. My life, it is worth more than one hundred scudi."
"Welp... can't help it then," Alaric shrugged, nodding in understanding. His eyes met Reuben's and Flavia's, and a silent agreement passed between them.
They didn't need to say anything more. All three began gathering their belongings and stepping out of the carriage. The coachman looked relieved they weren't arguing further. "Well then," he said, "I will find you a good inn here in town-"
"No, we are fine," Alaric interrupted, stretching his limbs after being cooped up in the carriage. "We are just going to walk from here."
The coachman's eyes widened again, this time in disbelief. He stared at Alaric, then at Reuben and Flavia who were now laden with bags and parcels, mostly Flavia's purchases from Livorno. "Walk? To the villa? Now? You guys are crazy!"
Alaric just yawned, seemingly unconcerned. He flicked a single scudo towards the coachman. "Here. A small tip for your trouble."
The coachman caught the coin, looking down at it, then back at them. He sighed. "I... I can't, signore..."
[Money Withdrawal: - 1 scudo]
[Current Balance: 374,963,763 scudi, 5 baiocchi]
"Just take it, will ya?" Alaric waved dismissively.
He looked over at Reuben and Flavia, chuckling at the amount of luggage they carried now compared to when he and Reuben left London. Flavia, at least, had the grace to look slightly embarrassed by the pile of bags Reuben was helping her manage.
"We are ready," Reuben announced, adjusting the large bag slung over his shoulder after doing a final check inside the carriage.
Alaric nodded, looking towards the distant, lit villa on the hill.
"Alright then," he declared cheerfully. "Let's go and hike to find One Piece!"
"Huh?" Reuben turned his head towards Alaric, his face etched with confusion. "One Piece?"
Flavia looked equally baffled. "One... Piece? I thought we were going to the villa?"
Alaric just shook his head and sighed dramatically as he started walking towards the path leading out of town towards the villa. 'Tch... uncultured swines...'.
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