The Legendary Art of Mutual Business Flattery 1/3
Buzz---Buzz----
As dusk fell and the sky turned a blood-red hue, the melodious and solemn sound of Evening Bell emanated from the Subordinate God, echoing through the Alamut Mountains. Startled eagles hastily folded their wings and obediently nestled in their nests.
The Evening Bell bells haven't rung for a long time...
Pairs of eyes, young, frail, or old, gazed reverently at the shadows deep in the mountains, each with its own thoughts.
As wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys, the Arab villages scattered throughout the Al-Buz Mountains fall silent in the deepening twilight under the setting sun, a scene of tranquility.
In Dongyu Village, a group of Hassan sat around a campfire, staring at each other in an eerie silence. Their eyes were fixed on the Evening Bell Temple built on the main peak of Alamt, their gazes meeting at the tightly closed cave door, as if they were waiting for something.
Beep...
The crackling sound of burning firewood and the burnt smell of bread on the fire startled them awake, and they quickly turned their attention to their dinner, which was about to be ruined.
Calamity Jane and that kid have been inside for two hours, haven't they?
The broth simmering in the pot was bubbling away. The Hassan present were busy munching on their flatbreads, but they still kept most of their attention on the majestic Evening Bell Temple. Their thoughts were in turmoil, and all sorts of imagined scenes came to mind, which made them look strange.
What exactly was the old man talking to them about? Was it really about marriage customs and procedures?
Meanwhile, deep within the Evening Bell Temple, in a Hassan of the Stillness knelt beside a fire, cooking porridge and drinks, carefully attending to his needs. However, due to his nervousness, he made several clattering noises from the bowls and plates, and his expression grew increasingly embarrassed.
Hippolyta, who couldn't stand by and watch, kindly offered to help, which helped stabilize the situation.
"It's been a long time since we parted ways in Uruk. You're still as energetic as ever, Mr. Ziusudra."
Samael picked up a date, casually put it in his mouth and chewed, savoring the taste, which seemed quite different from the local products of Uruk in the past, and greeted it familiarly.
"Entering the game from a desperate situation, turning death into life, and defeating both the Hunnic and Persian armies, your style and wisdom are still as good as ever."
Across from him, an elderly man in a hooded long robe, with a simple and ancient face, responded quietly, his eyes filled with a profound depth like a secluded valley.
The lamplight flickered, and the two figures sitting opposite each other at the stone table seemed to separate and reunite with the movement of the flames.
"Isn't this what you forced me to do? If you hadn't stabbed Romulus in the back, leaving Rome leaderless and on the verge of collapse, with the entire Panhellenic defense line on the verge of collapse, I wouldn't have had to personally step in to save this dead end."
Samael rolled his eyes in exasperation, his gaze subtly shifting, his expression a half-smile.
"So, you're here to hold someone accountable?"
Hearing the low, hushed question, the Hassan of the Stillness beside him, who was holding a tray and serving drinks, turned pale and trembled, almost dropping what he was holding.
Hassan al-Sabah, the founder of the Assassins' Order, known as the "Old Man of the Mountain," has retired to the Evening Bell Temple in order to follow the teachings of the gods. He has kept his sword sheathed for many years and no longer easily intervenes in human conflicts.
However, due to his high status and the fact that his assassination skills had transcended the mundane and were almost divine, he was also known as "Mountain Hermit".
As the old man of the mountain, he not only had to wield the sword of punishment against the corruption and depravity of the Assassins' Order, but also "Hassan who killed Hassan".
If Hassan, who has inherited the title of "Old Man of the Mountain," shows signs of mental instability or technical decline, then the old man will step in as a watchdog and take his head.
It can be said that the old man in front of them is not only a teacher who imparts skills to them, but also a monitor who scrutinizes their behavior.
The youngest member of the group, Calamity Jane, both respected and feared the old man.
Legend has it that this girl's future fate was sealed because of her emotional turmoil and breakdown, leading to her being killed by the old man from the mountains.
"You have your stance, and I have my plans. What responsibility can I pursue? Besides, an assassin is just a weapon. It depends on who the person wielding it points the sword at. Even if I were to cause trouble, I should go and talk to my employer about my life ideals. I came to the Eagle's Nest because I wanted to catch up with you, sir."
Samael reached out and helped up little Hassan, who was terrified, and chuckled lightly, his gaze nostalgic.
"After all, you helped us a lot in Uruk, and Anna's transformation also owes to your advice. Now that we're so familiar with each other, we should at least go and thank you."
Immediately, the ancient snake smiled and took the tray from Calamity Jane's trembling hands, picked up the cups, and handed one to himself and the other to the girl opposite him, thus relieving the terrified girl from her predicament.
"Mmm? It smells so good!"
Samael stirred the spoon, making a crisp, pleasant clinking sound, then raised his glass in greeting, took a small sip, and the rich, sweet flavor burst on his tongue. His eyes narrowed, and he felt quite refreshed.
"This is Jellab. If you like, you can have the child prepare more."
The old man, his features simple and unadorned, paused for a moment, a hint of reminiscence seeming to appear in his eyes. When he came to his senses, the murmur he uttered had a more soothing and gentle tone.
Jellab is a classic Arabic drink made with glucose syrup and rose water, and also includes pine nuts and raisins. It has a rich and delicious flavor.
The Hassan of the Stillness serving him was skilled at preparing this kind of thing.
The purpose of this was primarily to facilitate the use of poisoning and assassination of targets.
However, in the old man's mind, it was definitely a subtle progression and gesture of goodwill in the relationship between the two parties, and the atmosphere between them was becoming more and more harmonious and subtle.
What do you think of Cyrus?
After a few drinks, Samael leaned against the stone wall, eating dates as he brought up topics with great interest.
"A benevolent Lord, a qualified emperor..."
The old man closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, carefully considering his words, before slowly opening his deep eyes.
"Yes, the Emperor is a good man. He provided food relief to the mountain people, allowed us to cultivate the land, grow food, and preach in the villages..."
The Hassan of the Stillness, who was serving nearby, relaxed unconsciously in the harmonious atmosphere and couldn't help but chime in.
Samael nodded upon hearing this, recalling the rumors he had heard about Cyrus the Great on the way, and searching through the scattered historical records about the Persian Empire deep in his memory.
Ultimately, the ancient serpent had to admit that these assessments were quite accurate.
The Persians were a small and weak tribe in the southwest. After Cyrus came to power, he worked diligently and, with his outstanding military talent, won a series of wars as if divinely inspired. He conquered the Median, Lydia, and Babylon empires, and unified most of Mesopotamia.
During his reign, he enabled Persia to grow and lay the foundation for the empire's expansion over the next 200 years, demonstrating his great talent and strategic vision.