City of Desire: Chapter 1058 Plans In Dark II (Patreon)

Proofread by Thomas F

Viscountess Valebrook

I stepped out of Marchioness Arenthel’s mansion. It was midnight, and I was feeling sleepy, but unfortunately, I could not sleep yet.

I handed the card to the carriage driver, and the man nodded and opened the door for me.

I stepped inside with Breek.

“The food was good,” he said, and I rolled my eyes. Yes, it was, and the conversation was as well. Quite a few mercenaries and nobles were willing to join Grimvale.

It didn’t surprise me. Grimvale had offered a lot.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the answer I wanted from Arenthel. I tried, but the woman revealed nothing. Also, those mercenaries didn’t attend the party.

A few minutes later, the carriage stopped in front of the mansion. I stepped down and walked inside.

When I reached the hall, an elf appeared before me. One of Arenthal’s, according to the information.

“My lady, only you,” he said. Breek appeared beside me immediately, but I stopped him. “Don’t worry, I can protect myself,” drawing a laugh from him before turning to the elf.

“Lead the way.”

To my surprise, he led me to a room, then to a secret door that opened onto the tunnel. We walked for a few minutes under dim light without saying a word.

I stayed cautious, keeping my hand close to my blade in case of a surprise.

No one came, and we reached the door; he opened it and led me to another room. From there we entered the hallway, and when I turned, surprise appeared on my face, along with a little alarm.

This meeting is secret; if it is known whom I am meeting. It could be troublesome for me.

Fairwyn felt the same, as surprise and alarm appeared in his eyes.

“It seemed likely our destination was the same, my lady,” said Fairwyn as he appeared before me. “It seemed that way, my lord,” I agreed, and it made me curious and scared.

Soon, we reached the large wooden door, with two people standing by it, expressionless.

The two who brought us said nothing. They simply took a place at the entrance. Fairwyn and I looked at each other before we walked toward the door.

As we reached it, the guards finally moved and opened the door for us.

I hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, and another surprise appeared on my face. There were people inside, not one but two; one I had talked to just a few minutes ago, while the other I hadn’t seen in some time.

Silver had said he was sending someone.

I didn’t expect it to be this man. It seemed like the news of him holding Silver’s tit tightly was true.

“Viscountess Valebrook, Baron Fairwyn, it’s been a while,” said a half-bald, chubby man with a big smile, wearing the colorful, ugly suits he seemed to like.

“It has been, Lord Rutto,” I replied.

Looking at him, he still sported a smile, no matter the type of conversation. Instead of looking forced, as it used to be, this time it was filled with ease and confidence.

“Please take a seat, my lady, my lord.” He offered.

“I am sure you are already familiar with Captain Vark,” he said, looking at the man in front of him. Unlike Rutto, the man didn’t get up; he only grinned, seeing the surprise on our faces.

“So, what does your lord want?” asked Fairwyn.

What he meant was what Silver could offer us, so we would not accept Grimvale’s offer.

“Simply that you rule, Bilgas,” replied Rutto, to our utter shock. Seeing it, the smile on his face widened further.

“What do you mean?” I asked, wanting to be sure what I heard was right. In all my expectations, I hadn’t imagined the words he had just uttered.

“Lord Silver hopes that the four of you will rule the city of Bilgas.” He stated. The clarification didn’t lessen the shock; it deepened it.

“The city belongs to Viremont; his son is already coming to claim it,” I said, and Rutto laughed.

“Renwell is a wildland; things here belong to those who take it,” he replied, with his eyes shining with great intelligence and confidence. So, unlike the demure man I used to remember.

“Viscountess, Lord Silver is willing to help the four of you claim it,” he added.

“Why would Lord Silver do that? Seeing we just attacked him less than a day ago?” asked Fairwyan, and his eyes twinkled. “So, you won’t join Grimvale.” The truthful answer surprised me, and not just me.

“So your lord is scared that he won’t be able to defeat the alliance Grimvale is building?” I asked, expecting him to get angry, but the man laughed and shook his head.

“He is more than confident that he could break the alliance and kill most of you.” He spoke and did so with such confidence that it sent a shudder through my heart.

He truly believes what he is saying.

“The problem is that, by doing so. He will lose every city aside from Greltheaven and Panar, a price he is unwilling to pay unless he is forced to.” He admitted. Once more, the honesty surprised me.

Silver has said the same thing, pulling his army to one place to defeat Grimvale.

“You are talking as if I would agree to it. I am a mercenary; why would I want to rule that little city?” Vark asked, interrupting our thoughts.

Rutto turned his eyes toward the mercenary.

“The little city has a lot of mines around, which means money. It will also give you power, make you more than just a mercenary captain.”

He looks like a devil, making a deal.

“As if I want that?” asked Vark. Rutto didn’t reply, only smiling and glaring at him angrily.

Everyone wants that, even the arrogant mercenary captain who believes he is above it. There is no feeling that compares to ruling over people.

Knowing that your every action controls the fate of thousands; there is nothing like it.

It’s another reason nobles are willing to do anything for the territory.

“Who is the fourth person you are talking about?” I asked after a moment of silence. “One of the leaders of the merchant consortium that financed Viremont’s campaign.”

Two nobles: a mercenary and a financier.

The nobles would provide legitimacy; the mercenary, the power; and financiers, money. Silver had clearly thought about it, but not deeply enough; there are flaws.

“It’s a good plan, but it’s not possible, even if we all come together.” Said Fairwyn.

“Gaiden controls a large army, and he has the support of those three mercenaries and a number of small mercenaries and nobles; not to mention, a person from House Viremont is coming to claim the city.”

“Also, it's Viremont’s loyalists that are controlling the city.” Rutto’s expression didn't change, as if he expected the question.

“Gaiden is the glue, isn’t he?” he chuckled.

“A loose glue, but a glue nonetheless, that is holding it all together, but what would happen if that glue suddenly disappeared?” he asked almost casually, sending a shudder through me.

“There is a long road from the front for the new Count Viremont; accidents happen,” he said, shrugging.

“As for the three mercenaries. I am sure you have already guessed by now; someone else controls them. Those people do not have any interest in a small city.”

“But if they do, you three are more than capable of dealing with them.”

The heavy atmosphere filled the room.

He is promising us a city, a piece of it, along with the vast territory around it.

“It is a massive risk,” said Fairwyn.

“And once more, I didn’t agree to be part of it,” added Vark. Rutto looked at Fairwyn for a moment, then turned to Vark and smiled.

“It’s not a promise, but if our relationship remains good, in a decade he will help you ascend to the nobility,” replied Rutto, to our utter shock.

Ascending to nobility is not easy. 

Merchants are doing that right now, but they are paying a massive price for it, which is only increasing.

Vark opened his mouth, but closed it.

Of course, he wants it.

As I said before, there is not a single person in the world who doesn’t want to be noble and have the power and prestige that come with it.

“As for big risks, of course, there are, but tell me, Baron Fairwyn, does Marquess Grimvale offer you a city? Even a small part of it.” A mirthless laugh couldn’t help but escape from my lips upon hearing that.

He smiled and took out a box.

“This is part of the goodwill from Lord Silver. If you agree, lord Silver will provide you with political protection, help you with loans, provide you with weapons, intelligence, and other things,” he stated.

“Of course, all of it will depend on our relationship,” he added with a smile.

He is offering us a lot, but also demanding a lot more. Not joining Grimvale is not a small thing, but his offer is not bad. We will need everything he is offering if we intend to build and maintain a city. And if we can repay Silver by giving him what he wants in the process, all the better.

I stared at the box in front of us, but Vark took it without hesitation and opened it.

He froze, then let out a whistle.

The box was filled with colorful emotion-essence potions. From what I could see, there were even three Grade IV essence potion bottles in it: mana, stamina, and healing.

“So, will we get this?” asked Vark.

“If our relationship is good enough, you will get the opportunity to buy them, and of course, you will get a discount.” It might seem like a poor deal, but even the opportunity to buy an emotion essence potion is a big thing, much less at a discounted rate.

They were already very expensive, and war had taken their prices even higher. Even the nobles are having a hard time getting their hands on it.

It is another reason Silver could gain so much political capital with nobles.

Vark understands better than most. Nobles have connections; it is mercenaries who have an extremely hard time getting such things.

“We need time to think about it,” I said finally.

“You have until morning after that; we will move with our backup option,” he said, his eyes sharpening like a sword for a fraction of a second.

It raised all the hair on my body.

A few seconds later, we walked out of the office, but didn’t leave. Instead, we walked toward the room opposite it. Nobody stopped us.

The moment we did, we activated our Privacy skills, and Fairwyn also used a rare privacy trinket artifact.

“It is a tremendous risk,” I broke the silence.

“We alone wouldn’t be enough. He chose us not for our power, but also because we could win support from others, once Gaiden is dealt with.”

“This way, there will be even fewer people joining Grimvale.” I nodded.

“I am s”

“You both just shut up! I could see with both of your eyes that you want it, and I’d rather not over-discuss it. We should instead focus on how we do it while also remaining cautious of Silver double-crossing us,” interrupted Vark.

I glared at the mercenary, then sighed. He was right; we'd already accepted it in our minds.

It's a city, damned it; even if we share it!

Grimvale will never give us the city, but Silver is even willing to help us keep it. If we succeed and he doesn’t double-cross us, the city will benefit us tremendously.

We could use it to develop individual territories in the wasteland.

“Let’s plan then,” agreed Fairwayn.

“That’s what I am talking about!” grinned Vark before we discussed the plan.