System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 146: Chapter 145: Philadelphia

[Current Balance: 11,888,532,222 R]

---Philadelphia---

Philadelphia in September of 1714 was a city on the rise, a very busy colonial port that, while not possessing the ancient grandeur of European capitals or the exotic vibrancy of Havana, radiated a distinct charm of its own.

Its streets, laid out in a relatively orderly grid pattern envisioned by Penn himself, were a mix of hard-packed earth and newer cobblestone sections closer to the Delaware River waterfront. Sturdy, unpretentious buildings of red brick and timber, with their clean lines and practical design, reflected the Quaker influence on the city’s architecture... a focus on simplicity, utility, and solid craftsmanship.

The air carried the scent of fresh-sawn lumber from the numerous construction sites, the tang of river water, the aroma of baking bread from local bakeries, and the faint, ever-present smell of woodsmoke from countless hearths. It was a city of industry and commerce, but also one of growing families and new beginnings.

Minutes after La Providencia docked, William Penn’s influence was immediately apparent. The numerous carriages and wagons he’d managed to secure were already waiting, a testament to the respect and authority he still commanded in the province that bore his name.

The city guards, initially alerted by the arrival of such a large, unfamiliar vessel and the sudden influx of nearly three hundred people, quickly relaxed their posture upon recognizing Penn. No questions were asked; his presence was enough.

The journey from the port to Pennsbury Manor, Penn’s country estate located a fair distance upriver, was a smooth, if somewhat lengthy, procession.

As the convoy of carriages and wagons rumbled through the outskirts of Philadelphia and into the countryside, the landscape shifted from the busy port to rolling fields, dense woodlands, and the occasional small farmstead.

Upon arriving at the manor, a handsome, though not overly ostentatious, brick house overlooking the Delaware, the Kenway contingent found it... adequate, but certainly not on the scale of their former Bristol estate.

The Kenway Estate, with its sprawling grounds, multiple outbuildings, and the massive underground training facility and vault Alaric had constructed, was a veritable fortress by comparison. Penn, knowing this, didn’t expect them to be overly impressed by the manor itself, after all, the Kenway Mansion was overkill.

As everyone disembarked, weary from the long voyage and the subsequent overland journey, Penn immediately set the Pennsbury Manor staff into motion. Every available room was to be prepared, provisions organized, and the large contingent of newcomers made as comfortable as possible.

While the staff moved about, guiding the Kenway family’s employees and the Auditore Assassins to their temporary quarters, William Penn walked up to Alaric, who was observing the organized chaos with an amused expression, Kassandra at his side. Penn let out an apologetic sigh.

”Sorry lad,” Penn began, ”the manor’s too packed, even with the guest houses. Everyone might have to share rooms with each other for a while.”

”Don’t worry ’bout it, William,” Alaric smiled, placing a reassuring hand on Penn’s shoulder.

”We’ll manage... actually,” he paused, his eyes scanning the sprawling, undeveloped land surrounding the manor, ”do you have some land I can buy around here?”

Penn raised a brow, then a chuckle escaped him. ”Sure lad, there’s always land for sale in Pennsylvania. That’s rather the point of the colony, is it not?”

”How much money does it take for a hectare or two?” Alaric asked. He fumbled in his coat pocket, pulling out two cigars, one of which he offered to Penn. He lit his own with a familiar flick of his finger.

”Well,” Penn began, accepting the cigar as Alaric lit it for him with another casual gesture. Penn chuckled at the effortless display of fire before continuing. ”A hectare of good land near the river... somewhere ’round nine to ten pounds sterling, I’d reckon.”

”Wait... ain’t that like two hundred eighty-eight to three hundred twenty Reales!?” Alaric’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. ”That’s so cheap!”

”Lad... why’re you so surprised?” Penn raised a brow, taking a puff from his cigar. ”You spent seventeen thousand pounds for four thousand hectares of land back in Bristol during 1700. Land here is plentiful, and we encourage settlement.”

”Ah... yes... yes I did,” Alaric cleared his throat, a slight flush rising on his cheeks as he remembered the vastly different land values. He took a drag from his cigar. ”Anyways... just give me maybe five hectares then? Somewhere with a bit of privacy.”

[Money Withdrawal: 2,222 R]

[Current Balance: 11,888,530,000 R]

Alaric then pretended to reach into the inside of his coat, and after a moment, withdrew a surprisingly large and heavy pouch of coins. ”This is two thousand and two hundred twenty-two Reales... for privacy purposes, and a bit extra for your trouble.”

”Damn it, lad... go to a Proprietary Land Agent and do it properly through the official channels,” Penn grumbled, though he took another appreciative puff from the cigar.

”Oh come on, William, they’re your agents anyway,” Alaric grinned. ”I’m just paying it directly to the top dog. Streamlining the process.”

Penn grumbled again but took the offered pouch with a sigh. ”Fine... I’ll find you some suitable land that’s hard to look up, discreet. But first, let’s go to the house, reunite with Caroline and the others...”

”Caroline?” Alaric raised a brow, his easygoing expression suddenly sharpening, his eyes narrowing slightly. ”She’s not here though, is she?”

Alaric was already a very skilled sensor due to the Foresight Pulse, and his abilities were super amplified by the ”Mind’s Eye of the Kagura” he’d recently acquired.

From the moment he stepped onto Pennsylvanian soil, his senses had been passively scanning, mapping out the signatures of everyone in the vicinity. He’d felt the tens of thousands in Philadelphia, the hundreds within the Pennsbury Manor grounds... but Caroline Scott Kenway’s distinct chakra signature was conspicuously absent.

”What do you mean, she’s not here?” Penn stared at Alaric, his own brow furrowing in confusion, then he turned his head towards the main house.

Just then, figures began to emerge from the manor’s main entrance. Hannah Callowhill Penn, William’s wife, walked out, followed by their younger children: Thomas, Margaret, Richard, and Dennis. Louis Penn, William’s brother, also appeared. Alaric noted the absence of Penn’s older children like William Jr., Letitia (and her husband James), and Springett, whom he’d met at Edward’s wedding years ago. They were likely grown and living elsewhere, or perhaps busy with their own affairs.

From another, smaller guest house on the estate grounds, two more figures emerged. Alaric smiled as he recognized Elizabeth Scott and her younger daughter, Aveline.

They all walked towards Alaric and the newly arrived Kenway family, exchanging greetings and expressions of relief. However, Alaric cut through the pleasantries, his gaze fixed on Elizabeth and Aveline.

”Elizabeth, Aveline... where’s Caroline? The baby, Jenny, seems to be here with you...” His Mind’s Eye had picked up the small, distinct signature of a very young child near them.

”How did you-” Aveline and Elizabeth’s eyes widened, startled by his immediate, specific question. They exchanged a quick, worried glance, assuming Alaric must have asked someone about Caroline upon docking.

Aveline looked at her mother first, then sighed, her expression becoming somber. ”Caroline, she... I think... it’s better if we talk about this inside.”

”...”

Alaric remained silent, observing their troubled expressions, the subtle tells his Mind’s Eye picked up... grief, anxiety, a hint of fear. He finally nodded his head slowly. ”Aveline, you reunite with your husband first... we’ll talk after everyone’s settled in.”

Aveline blushed deeply at the mention of ”husband,” her gaze instinctively darting towards a tall, chocolate-skinned man who was currently helping some of the former slaves find their temporary lodgings. It was Thulani.

’Damn...’ Alaric thought, looking from Aveline’s blushing face to Thulani’s oblivious back. ’Reuben, Thulani, and I... the three of us really did get some baddies.’

’Although mine’s wild,’ Alaric then looked over at Kassandra, who was now engaged in a surprisingly animated conversation with Eleanor and Linette. Kassandra, sensing his gaze, turned and offered him a warm, radiant smile. Alaric smiled back, a familiar warmth spreading through him.

’Who would’ve thought I’d fall in love with the Eagle-Bearer herself...’

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