"Very interesting and tempting statement, Warlock," Hawthorne said. "You use the future as an excuse to make us work for you and the Emperor of Nilfgaard, but you don't show me any tangible benefits. Why should we help you?"
"Besides," the tattooed Machete also spoke at this time, "I heard from my dwarf friend who just arrived in Novigrad that this Lannister was sent by Vizimir II, and he has already contacted the Eternal Flame. No one in Novigrad can deal with the Eternal Flame."
This statement drew unanimous agreement from everyone, and even Ogierd had to admit it.
In Novigrad, the Eternal Flame is bigger than the king.
But I saw Reans smiling proudly and pointing to the empty seat beside him.
"Everyone, haven't you noticed that we still have one participant who hasn't arrived yet?"
Everyone had noticed this a long time ago. There were clearly six chairs around the round table, but there were only five people here.
Machete said in a rough voice: "I thought you wanted to show off your wealth and say that you have enough to put six chairs for five people."
Hawthorne said dissatisfiedly: "I want to know how busy this guy who is hiding is. Warlock, is this person the one you think can deal with the Eternal Fire?"
Hawthorne was talking to himself, but Ogierd, who was sitting next to him, suddenly changed his expression, as if he had thought of something.
He looked at Reens' smug face with interest.
Before the warlock could continue explaining, everyone suddenly heard loud footsteps.
They were now in a hidden underground vault. To get here, they had to pass through a long, enclosed corridor. Anyone approaching would make loud footsteps, and there was no possibility of sneaking in or being eavesdropped.
The footsteps were louder than those of ordinary people and were too familiar to everyone.
That was the loud sound of steel greaves stepping on the ground. People living in Novigrad would definitely be familiar with this sound.
The Beggar King and Olgierd chuckled at the same time.
"Why is it so dark in here? There needs to be a fire!"
A deep voice sounded in the basement, and it felt as if an interrogator had come to the dungeon.
The candlesticks were lit one by one, and the dim basement was finally illuminated.
Also illuminated was the man who suddenly appeared: he was bald, had a fierce scar on his left eye, had a beard, and always had a vague and mocking smile on his face.
His upper body looked very bloated, with a layer of blue-purple leather armor on the outside. Apparently there were steel plates inside as protection to hold up this bulging body.
"Caleb Manji, head of the temple guards, I never thought that Reigns would find you here! Such a brilliant figure would actually stay in this basement with us and sit at the same table."
Ogierd clapped softly as if he had seen something very interesting.
On the other hand, the three gangsters were silent. They were usually hostile to Caleb Manji, and when they spoke, they were always sarcastic or sarcastic. The most important thing was that they had no chance of winning against the Eternal Flame.
"Ogierd von Everec." Caleb Mangi narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "I didn't expect to see the founding hero of Redania here. If I hadn't come here, how long would you have wanted to sit in the shadows?"
This nomadic family of bandits has long been on the list of the Eternal Fire.
Among the three gangsters, it was the Beggar King who spoke first.
He hid in his hood, and even the brighter room could not dispel the shadow under his cloak: "Indeed, if Nilfgaard increases its commercial efforts, the Eternal Flame will definitely benefit the most. You will definitely be tempted.
But is this how you deal with the Lannisters? You, Caleb Mange, are going to deal with Vizimir II's helper and Chapelle's guest in public?"
Hawthorne pretended to pray: "Fire bless us."
Caleb Mangi glanced at them. "It is not the Lannisters I am dealing with, but Olgierd. Lannister was sent by Vizimir II to deal with Olgierd, and Olgierd is the most suitable person to make the blade."
Caleb Manji turned to the man next to the warlock when he said the second half of his sentence.
Olgierd spread his hands. "Very good. Now I will be the cannon fodder in the front. With all due respect, Nilfgaard's help will not fall on me at all. Why should I sit at this table and listen to your chatter and your instructions?"
"It's very simple." The head of the Eternal Flame Temple Guard said, "I will help you solve the Eternal Flame's problems. For example, Olgierd, you will be able to live in the city in the future instead of continuing to live outside without a fixed place to stay."
Ignoring the surprised looks of the crowd, Caleb Manji seemed to have been suppressing his emotions for a long time, and began to speak in a speech tone: "Everyone, since Chapelle has changed, I believe your business has been affected in different ways. He has become weak and vulnerable to external forces, but has become reckless and reckless at home.
Francis Belan, are the tramps and beggars gradually no longer in need of you, the 'Beggar King', and are the 'taxes' they pay you becoming less and less?
Carlo Varese, do the dwarves and other non-human races no longer need your protection? It is becoming increasingly difficult to replenish your thugs after the losses they suffer?
Chapelle had a stroke, was reborn, and wanted to change his personality and become reckless, but he never thought about how much trouble and disappointment his actions would bring us! ”
Hawthorne sneered and retorted: "But my business has improved. The number of customers in the casino and the women's branch has increased."
Caleb Manji said, “Support me and I can make your business better.”
Olgierd folded his arms across his chest and sneered at Caleb Manji's promise, which did not capture his interest at all.
Looking at Caleb Manji who was becoming passionate, he sneered: "So what can you get, rights? I thought you were a devout believer in the eternal fire."
"It was the Eternal Flame that guided me to do this." Caleb Manji answered firmly, "Chapelle not only harmed you, but also violated the Eternal Flame. Under his decision, the faith of the believers gradually weakened, and the sins that were so close to them could not be judged. This is something I cannot tolerate.
The light of the flame should reach every corner, and the heat of the flame should burn all filth!"
Caleb Manji's words were powerful and everyone present was a smart person. Everyone could hear the hidden meaning in Caleb Manji's words.
Is what he said true? Maybe, he is indeed a believer in the Eternal Fire.
But is what Caleb Manji said completely true? Anyone who believes it is a fool.
Oh, those guards of the Eternal Fire behind him might believe it.
But the atmosphere has come to this point, and smart people are willing to continue to follow the other party's words. After all, the support of the Eternal Flame is far more helpful to some of them than Nilfgaard.
"So Caleb Manji, how do you want us to help you... spread the light of the Eternal Flame?"
"You three have men scattered in almost every corner of Novigrad. I want you to stir up chaos: beat up citizens, rob shops, and even kill and burn people. These are what you are best at. But there is only one thing - you are not allowed to harm the believers of the Eternal Flame."
Hawthorne chuckled. "Then, you will appear as a hero, save everyone, and gain their faith, right? We will dedicate ourselves to fulfill your reputation?"
Caleb Manji shook his head. "No, I will confront Chapelle on the front line. Your role is to make him too busy, because Chapelle, who is now weak, will not ignore all this. He will disperse his forces to help the citizens, and I will attack him at this time."
“Thieves, vagrants, gamblers, beggars, and all the non-human races that are usually oppressed are rioting together at this time. It’s really a scene that makes people tremble just thinking about it.” Olgierd admired sincerely, “I want to join in too.”
"Don't go near the Temple Island, don't harm the believers, the rest is up to you, as long as you can deal with Lannister."
Everyone chewed over Caleb Manji's words carefully. After a while, the Beggar King spoke up:
"I have a question. Even if we stir up chaos among the citizens, how can you be 100% sure that you can deal with Chapelle? His current prestige is not something you can shake. Aren't you worried that the temple guards around you will turn against you?"
Caleb Mange replied: "I discovered a secret of his and have been waiting for the opportunity to expose it. It will be enough to ruin his reputation."
Hawthorne also spoke up: "I also have a question, but it's not for you, but for this warlock——"
"We are stirring up chaos, while Olgierd is dealing with the Lannisters. What are you doing here? Just coming here to deliver the orders of His Majesty the Emperor of Nilfgaard?"
Rience sneered: "I will ensure that Lannister can be taken back alive. This is also the will of His Majesty the Emperor. Lannister's current strength should not be underestimated. I doubt that Olgierd alone is enough to deal with him. 'Wherever the lion passes, there are corpses of the men of the Black Sun'. Do you think this is a metaphor in poetry? This is realism!"
When he said this, Rians only felt a dull pain in his leg with a steel prosthesis. He had once despised Lannister and paid a heavy price.
Everyone disagreed with Reens' words. Without having seen the battle scene in Lann with their own eyes, it was hard for them to believe that a person could have the fighting power in the poem. That was a person, not a real "lion".
"If, I mean if," Hawthorne said sarcastically, "the poem is true, and you, a sorcerer, are not enough, right?"
The Beggar King nodded: "According to my information, quite a few warlocks have fallen at the feet of the Lion."
Reans did not answer, but took a step back, allowing everyone to see the four cloaked men who had been sitting behind him from beginning to end.
"Four... gentlemen." The warlock used the honorific title, but his expression was full of contempt. "Give everyone some confidence and let them know how much effort His Majesty the Emperor has put into the Lannisters."
The four cloaked men ignored Reans' words.
They stood there motionless, filling the air with silence and awkwardness.
The other five people at the round table exchanged glances, and their eyes turned toward the warlock with a teasing look.
Just when Reans was about to get angry, the person sitting in the middle of the four cloaked men slowly stood up.
As he straightened his back, everyone realized that there was such a "giant" in the room. He was very tall and very broad, and Reens even looked like a girl who had not grown up in front of him.
Then, the "giant" lifted his hood, revealing a bald head covered with scars, a muscular face, and a pair of sparkling eyes.
Seeing the leader's actions, the remaining three no longer concealed themselves. They stood up, lifted their hoods and revealed their true faces to everyone in the room.
Four pairs of amber snake eyes lit up together.