After arriving at the shop and opening the door, Morven saw someone he didn't expect.
Morven was surprised and said from the doorway,
"Oh… it's you… Brother Lucien!?"
Lucien, leaning against the shop's reception desk with a glass of port wine in his hand, finished the drink with a tilt of his head. He chuckled softly, set the glass down, and said,
"Hey, little brother! It's been almost 10 years since I last saw you!"
Morven stepped inside, and Marcus followed closely behind, quietly entering. Seeing Lucien, Marcus was shocked.
"Who's he, Master?" he whispered to Morven.
Lucien smiled, stepped away from the desk, and stood straight.
"Oh, Morven… your apprentice doesn't even recognize me!?"
Morven tapped his cane firmly on the ground and said,
"Lucien… what are you doing here!? What's the reason for your visit!?"
Lucien smirked and turned to Marcus.
"You're famous as the master of watches… they say you're unmatched in watchmaking after me. What do you think about leaving this inexperienced man and working with your elder brother instead!?"
Marcus sighed, shook his head in pity, and smirked at Morven.
"Oh… I think I know him now, Master… isn't he that arrogant older brother of yours!? The one who only got influence among the nobles because of your father!"
Morven gave Marcus a small smile and said,
"Oh… so you figured it out!? Yes, Marcus… that's him!"
Lucien, a bit offended, closed his eyes and replied with a smile,
"Thanks for the compliment!"
Marcus chuckled softly and started to say,
"If I made you think that was a compliment, I'm really sor—"
Before Marcus could finish, Morven cut in seriously, facing Lucien.
"Get to the point… I'm sure you didn't come here for a bunch of worthless words!"
Lucien looked at Morven, took a deep breath, and said,
"You're right. The Treasury Minister's son is dead… I'm sure you know about it, don't you!?"
Morven took a deep breath and replied,
"Yes, I was there about 40 minutes ago… how do you know!?"
Lucien sighed and said,
"We're in a war right now. Things aren't good. Portugal's the only ally we've had so far… but there's no guarantee Portugal won't turn against us like Spain!"
Marcus listened to both of them talk. Morven responded to Lucien,
"Yes, I'm aware of that… now tell me your business!"
Lucien stepped away from the desk, walked to the shop door, opened it but didn't leave. He turned his head halfway toward Morven and said,
"Watch the people around you. I'm not worried about you… but I'm saying this because if you die, one of the most important members of the Blacktide family will be gone. After me, you're the most significant."
Morven walked to the reception desk and said,
"I have no loyalty to the family, just like you… you chose your own path too, only difference is you depended on Father first!"
Lucien smirked and said,
"I guess I should pray for your death… in church!"
Morven replied calmly,
"I hope you succeed… with your prayers to kill me!"
Lucien took a deep breath, left the shop, and closed the door.
1 Minute After Lucien Leaves:
Morven and Marcus were both silent. Marcus checked the shop to see if anything was missing, while Morven went to the watchmaking room, placed his hat and long coat on the coat rack, and leaned his cane against it.
When Morven came back out, he looked at Marcus.
Marcus, who was glancing around the shop, noticed Morven's gaze and asked quietly,
"What's wrong, Master!?"
Morven took a deep breath and said,
"Lucien… we hadn't seen each other in 10 years. What's on his mind? Even when we were in the family, he never cared about me… what changed!?"
Marcus raised his hand to his chin, thought for a moment, and said,
"Really… I don't get it. Maybe he wants to use you for something!?"
Morven closed his eyes, leaned against the desk, and said,
"What's he thinking… what's going to happen? This case… why doesn't it make any sense!?"
Marcus looked at Morven in silence. They both grew quiet, with only the sound of the clocks… (tick tock, tick tock, tick tock)
Meanwhile, Lucien Blacktide:
Lucien Blacktide walked toward the harbor after leaving the shop, talking to himself in his thoughts.
"This time… no… brother."