Chapter 4: IV. Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Londen City.
Spires and red brick roofs were scattered in harmonious disarray, a few arched plank windows partially open, clothes hanging on ropes strung with iron nails outside, and the occasional potted plant being tended.
On the outskirts of the city, buildings were densely packed, where square beige kiln bricks and red tiles were piled layer upon layer. On the cobblestone-paved main thoroughfare surged a crowd of laborers, Jianghu mages, stall vendors peddling curious and ancient wares, and mercenary travelers of all sorts.
Even though the residents' dwelling places and various shops and inns seemed haphazardly cobbled together to a dazzling degree, within the inner ring of Londen City, those majestic buildings that towered skywards could be seen from anywhere in the city.
The Admiral's castle, among other key functional buildings, the adventurer guild, the City Government Office, as well as estates and high-end entertainment venues owned by the nobles.
There was also a respectable arcane academy in Londen City, along with several educational institutions. Although not the top tier, they were nonetheless first-rate.
Those structures accentuated the city's splendor, with arches, flying buttresses, and intricate bas-reliefs highlighting curvilinear dynamics. The facade's floral badges were interrupted, with curved eaves on the horizontally bent roofline and significantly pronounced wall reliefs. They were extremely ornate, with a strong interplay of light and shadow, wrapped in an eerie veil of mystery thanks to the sacred effigies of unknown religious figures and monstrous sculptures.
Many merchants and travelers who first came to the city would stop in their tracks at the sight of these scenes.
But that did not include the Black Sail Pirates.
The trio passed through the city outskirts, walking past the fish market reeking with the stench of seafood. At this moment, the place was set up with wooden execution platforms where hangmen were getting ready to hang criminals with their ropes.
Liszt had no interest in such spectacles, knowing that others who had come to this place without measuring their own weight, all ended up with the same fate.