CH 30: The Sanctuary

Ezio nodded at me before she tilted her head and rubbed her neck a little :"alright then, let's go back to the Villa." I nodded back and we made our way back. But just when we entered the Villa, we both saw an unusual scene.

We both shared confused looks before we walked in and saw Claudia behind the desk with a book in front of her and a writing feather at hand. Ezio smiled without as she greeted her :"Salute (hi), Claudia."

She looked up from her position of resting her head on her hand with an annoyed look as she started complaining :"our uncle is un mostre (a monster). This is outrageous!" and of course, the clueless Ezio didn't know what was going on :"what's happened?"

Claudia :"he's making me work! If father was here, I'd never be stuck behind a desk like this."

Ali :"hahaha! You deserve it for always being so spoiled. What? Did you really think we were going to do all the work while you just sit and laze around? Fat chance, dear."

Claudia :"stai zitto (shut up), Ali."

Ezio :"haha, and what are the terms of this supposed enslavement?"

Claudia :"since SOMEONE decided we're going to stay here, Zio (uncle) Mario's <you thought it was Dio, but it was actually me, Zio!!> suggested we try and find the money to repair the Villa. Problem is, there isn't any."

Ezio :"I bet I can bring in some money."

Ali :"you can count on me as well. My pockets are rather full sometimes. Would be a good thing to spend my coins on."

Claudia :"oh great, more work for me. Well, bennisimo (fine). If you start paying for improvements to the town, I'll keep track of them in this book. And, since I have nothing better to do, I'll also make note of any objects you bring in from the outside.

If you actually get this place up and running, travelers might visit and spend money, although I doubt anyone will want to come this far out of the city. But if they do, I'll keep the money we make in this chest. You're going to have to show up to take it to the bank yourself, because when it gets full, I'm just going to take the extra cash for myself. Capito (understand)?"

Me and Ezio nodded in response as I smirked :"deal." I was waiting for this for a long while. It wouldn't work like how it does in the game obviously. At least for Ezio~. You see, I made a very useful wish for this life.

And that wish was that the 20 minute money would still work for me! But of course, it would be very suspicious and weird if a few thousand Florins just kept randomly appearing in the chest. So I made a unique wish.

I made a wish that every twenty minutes, the money that should have gone to the chest, will appear inside of my waist bag's inventory instead! So that is a few thousand florins every 20 minutes, baby! What? Did you really think I would go by the rules of the world?

Fuck off, do you know how annoying it is to gather money here?! It was fucking annoying in the game where you just had to wait, this is my real world now! So of course I would carry some cheats for it! Good thing I always refuse to tell people how much money I have, even Ezio.

I always keep the amount of money I have on me a secret. Hehehe, The money that is going to increase by thousands every 20 minutes. When we heard footsteps, me and Ezio turned around to see a man in normal clothes has walked in.

Ezio :"Buon giorno (good day). Is there something wrong?"

The normal man :"Ser Mario hired me to deal with this mess, but I'm an architetto (architect), not a miracle worker. Without money, I can't fix any of these buildings."

Ali :"and if someone brought you that money?"

The architect :"then we'd be in business! You must be Ser Ali and Madonna Ezio, am I right?"

Ali :"uncle! I like this guy. He's quite straightforward."

The sound of uncle Mario from the room next to us came :"he gets very observant when he can smell money!"

The architect :"if you want to fix this town I'm going to need it. I have a price list here for new shops and renovations. Just bring me gold, make a choice and I'll begin at once. If I build you a shop, you, as the landlords, can purchase goods there at lower rates.

If you invest more money in the shop, you get an even greater discount. As for renovations, well… you'll be bringing the town and Villa back to life. as Ser Mario tells me, that was very important to your great-great-grandfather. Plus, when you buy shops and renovations, you'll be increasing the number of people who visit, causing your income to increase! So, let's take a look, shall we?"

I looked at Ezio and shrugged with a smirk before we both moved closer to him to see the list. Ezio kept her eyes on the list with a thoughtful expression as she asked for my opinion :"love, which one do you think we should rebuild first?"

I scratched my chin as I looked at the two options of the blacksmith and the bank. I remembered from the game how these two would give the best money and income. I pointed at my options and explained:

"either the bank or the blacksmith. The bank should be rebuilt, because people aren't going to carry their coins with them all the time. More visitors will result in more visits to the bank, so we should repair that first.

Or we can repair the blacksmith first. We are going to buy our equipment from there after all. And I feel like we will pay a lot of visits to the blacksmith. Uncle Mario's men would also be armed better if the blacksmith has better goods."

"alright then, the bank it is." Ezio said before I nodded and answered :"alright, you all wait here, I will come back in a moment after I bring the money from my room." And I walked away and to my room before I reached out to my waist bag and took out the needed money to fully repair the bank <as in the three level which will result in 1000+4 or 5000+7 or 9000 florins>.

When returned, I had a small chest in my arms. As I put it on the table, I opened it for the others. The two and Claudia sitting a little away looked with wide eyes of surprise at the amount I just took out and held out for him to take.

I tapped the chest a few times as I smirked :"this should be just enough. I don't like spending too many coins at once, so expect my visit later on. But before that, you can get to working with this on the bank for now."

The poor architect who didn't get a name even though he worked here for more than 10 years in the game nodded eagerly as he closed the box and picked it up :"yes! Yes, Ser Ali! I will begin my job immediately! You can rest assured!"

He walked away with the coin as we all looked at him and then the girls turned to me as Ezio raised an eyebrow :"you were hiding all of that, huh? I guess there is a reason as to why you don't tell anyone how much you have."

I laughed loudly at that before I shrugged :"sorry, love, but I was kind of raised that way. My old man had a saying that went: never ask a woman about her age and a man about his money and income. That sentence is still with me."

She shook her head and rolled her eyes with an amused smile :"fine, fine. You can keep your secrets, while I will try to find them out, sei strano (you weirdo)." I chuckled before bending a little and kissing her cheek :"è questo strambo quello di cui ti sei inamorato (it is this weirdo who you have fallen for), Ashkim (my love)."

She blushed a little and smiled before slapping my arm gently :"spegnerlo (shut it)." But our moment was interrupted by a jealous Claudia :"ew, why don't you two get a room? Sto cercando di lavorare qui, sai (i'm trying to work here, you know)? Uncle Mario has something to talk about with you two."

I rolled my eyes at her while Ezio blushed at that. I grabbed her hand and led her to the room just next to this one before shouting back :"you're just jealous, Claudia!" and I heard her fake gasp before she shouted back :"No, I'm not!"

We walked into the room while chuckling and uncle Mario who was in front of his library turned to us :"Ezio, Ali! I think it's time I showed you two something." He then proceeded to press something on the library, and it moved back before opening a way for us.

He then walked in without saying anything. After me and Ezio shared a look, we both walked in and followed him as well. Ezio of course didn't know about here, but I was quite familiar with this passage way.

After walking down the steps for just a little while, we entered a huge room with multiple big statues, each of different people and holding different weapons. And there it was in the center, Altair and his armor, but with a little difference.

Mario :"this is the Sanctuary. It was built by my great-grandfather to honor the memory of the Assassin order and protect its secrets. Look around! These are the assassins who guarded the freedom of humanity when it was most threatened.

And this is the armor of Altair. Little is known about Altair's life, but his armor is light and very strong. It is also said that it was made in a special way to suit the person who is wearing it, be it male or female <let's just say he made it using his knowledge that he gained from the piece of eden>.

I'd give it to you, but I don't know how to retrieve it. My great-grandfather told me it would remain locked away until all its protectors were made whole. I heard rumors of crypts located throughout Italia, hidden tombs filled with treasure where these six were moved centuries ago. Maybe they have something to do with it. In my younger days, I sought the six myself… with no success. Perhaps you will have better luck."

Ezio looked over at me and smirked knowingly, which I smirked back and winked. She chuckled as she looked back at uncle Mario :"chi lo sa (who knows)? forse se la fortuna è dalla nostra parte (maybe if luck is on our side)."

Uncle Mario smiled and nodded back without minding how she acted :"bene, spero che tu abbia buona fortuna e successo (well, I hope you have good luck and succeed). I will go back up now. You two can visit here anytime you want."

After uncle Mario walked away and up the stairs, Ezio turned to me with a grin and a raised eyebrow, looking like she is ready to cause some mischief :"now, tell me, Ashkim (my love). Can your magical map also show us the location of these tombs and whatnot?"

I smirked back with the same expression as her as I folded my arms in front of my chest and looked at my nails, looking as if I'm doing business :"who knows? I have to check if it does. But that requires a price. And I do not know if you are willing to pay that price…"

She smiled as she shook her head a little in amusement at my antics. Knowing I won't try to take advantage of her and am just having fun, She took a step closer as she gently tapped the center of my chest :"and what would that price be, dear lover of mine?"