Naples, an ancient city in the southern part of Italy, is full of history.
Every morning, when the bright sunlight or the golden sunset shines on the Santa Lucia coast, the clear waves hit the rocks, and the gentle sea breeze carries a romantic and free atmosphere.
It flows through the sacred church of the Virgin Mary, across the winding alleys, lifting the colorful clothes hanging on the clotheslines.
Charming Italian folk songs, the sound of flutes, laughter, and even the noisy calls of street vendors come together to create the unique atmosphere of this city.
Standing tall in the southeast direction of the city is Mount Vesuvius, the volcano responsible for destroying the ancient city of Pompeii in 79 AD.
But from across the bay, you can see the grandeur of this ancient volcano and feel the deep history of the old city.
Women walk the streets in tight clothes and high heels, while street vendors shout their sales of fake bags.
From time to time, you can see electric scooters, carrying young girls, speeding through narrow alleys, leaving behind cheerful laughter like silver bells.
The air is thick with the rich aroma of coffee. It is often said that coffee runs in the blood of Italians. While this may be an exaggeration, it certainly reflects their love for coffee. Of course, a fresh clam soup or a hot pizza pairs perfectly with it.
Ripe tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella cheese, and simple basil leaves are enough to make a delicious pizza.
Of course, when visiting Naples, one must also be cautious of the local thieves. After all, aside from its beautiful scenery and rich cultural history, Naples is most famous for its Mafia.
Bruno was a small-time crook, growing up in this neighborhood, where the local customs helped him refine his skills to perfection.
It could be said that no one in this area was better at stealing than him. He could quietly and effortlessly steal a wallet from someone's pocket.
Today, Bruno was leaning against a street corner, looking for his next target when he suddenly saw a tall man wearing a hat, despite the hot weather, dressed in a long coat that covered his face. The man was walking briskly with a black leather bag.
Bruno had seen many suspicious people like this before. They were either Mafia from outside Naples or people running from trouble, hiding in the city.
Bruno lowered his head, pretending to be just another passerby, quietly following the man.
After waiting for some time, he deliberately brushed past the man, bumping into him lightly. Quickly bending down, he acted apologetic. "Sorry, I didn't see you there."
Without waiting for a response, he quickly squeezed into the crowd, disappearing into the streets and alleys.
Bruno ducked into a small alley, a smug smile curling on his lips as he weighed the object in his hand. "Heh, easy pickings."
Just moments ago, while brushing past the man, he had used a small blade hidden between his fingers to slash open the black leather bag, quietly taking whatever was inside.
Once he was sure he had lost the man, Bruno took a moment to check what he had stolen.
From the feel of it, he had taken the largest item inside, but as he looked down, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What is this?"
The item he had stolen was wrapped in expensive silk, and from the texture, it felt like a book.
But a book isn't exactly something valuable.
"This is unlucky. I thought it was something worth more," Bruno said, feeling bored. Still, the item was in his hands, and he couldn't just give it back. So, he lifted the corner of the silk.
"Let me see what kind of book this is. Maybe it's worth something, I could sell it."
As he peeled back the silk, a black cover was revealed.
The book was thin, about the size of an octavo, and it didn't look like some ancient text. It seemed more like a modern print, with only three twisted symbols on the cover that stood out.
Though the silk had concealed most of the symbols, Bruno felt strangely dazed, as if he could hear a mysterious, ambiguous melody in his ears.
An impulse from deep within pushed him to lift the silk further, to see the full symbols.
Just then, a large hand suddenly reached out, covering the thin black book, halting Bruno's next move.
Startled and shaken from his trance, Bruno snapped back to reality. The haunting melody in his mind disappeared, leaving him drenched in sweat from the bizarre encounter.
"Fortunately, I made it just in time. If I were any later, it would've been too late."
Suddenly, a voice floated over.
Bruno snapped back to his senses and looked up at the owner of the hand. It was none other than the man he had just stolen the books from.
Earlier, when they brushed past each other, Bruno hadn't looked closely. But now, up close, he was instantly captivated by the man.
His golden hair shone like sunlight, flowing down to his shoulders like a proud lion's mane, complementing a face that resembled a Greek sculpture. His ice-blue eyes were devoid of warmth, coldly staring at him.
"What was that just now?!" Bruno asked, his lips pale and voice trembling, still shaken.
The man frowned, seemingly unwilling to answer. He took the black leather book from Bruno's hands and said calmly, "If you don't want trouble, don't mention you've seen me. Understood?"
With that, the man rewrapped the silk cloth around the book and tucked it into his coat pocket. He leaned against the nearby wall, his steps heavy as he began walking away.
"Hey, you won't make it far like this," Bruno, with his sharp eye, quickly noticed the man was severely injured.
The man stopped and remained silent for a moment before replying, "None of your business."
But after taking only a few steps, his injuries seemed to worsen. He suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.
"Hey, are you okay?" Bruno rushed over in shock.
"I'm fine." The man's voice was weak, struggling to get up, his ice-blue eyes staring ahead. "I can't stay here. I must… I must go…"
Before he could finish, the man passed out from the severity of his wounds.
When Caesar woke up again, he found himself lying on a bed.
His body was wrapped in bandages, and the gunshot and knife wounds on his chest, which had nearly rotted, seemed to have been treated by someone.
Caesar suddenly sat up, instinctively reaching for his chest. When he found the silk-wrapped book still there, he finally relaxed and let out a deep breath.
At this point, he finally had the chance to look around. It was a simple room. Apart from a wooden bed with a sheet on it, there was hardly any furniture to be seen.
The space was small, with the street right outside. The sounds of street vendors calling out and the chatter of passing residents filled the air.
Through the makeshift window, he could see clothes hanging on a line, fluttering in the wind, like colorful flags waving in the breeze.
"You're awake?" Bruno said, entering with a basket of bread. Seeing Caesar sitting on the bed, he quickly explained, "Don't misunderstand, you saved me, so I won't just let you die there. I didn't touch that book, don't worry."
Caesar remained silent for a long while before rasping out, "Thank you."
"It's nothing. No need to thank me," Bruno said, handing over the bread. "By the way, my name's Bruno Frigo. What's yours?"
Another silence.
"Alright, if you don't want to say, that's fine."
Bruno shrugged and turned to make coffee.
"Caesar."
Caesar sat on the bed, holding the bread with a lost look in his eyes. "My name is Caesar."
"Wow, you're named after Emperor Caesar? That's pretty cool."
Bruno genuinely admired him, then turned to look at him and asked, "What's your full name? What's your last name?"
However, Caesar's eyes dimmed, filled with unspoken sadness. He softly replied, "I don't have one. Just call me Caesar."
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