Chapter 218: Human Constitutions
The clang of steel resounded incessantly, and sparks from colliding weapons fell like rain.
Then...
The silver sword replicated by the doppler was parried and sent flying by the witcher, landing in the pigsty.
The witcher then pressed his silver sword against the doppler's throat.
Just one more inch, and the doppler's throat would be pierced.
"I understand your kind, doppler. Although you can transform into me, there are certain parts of me you cannot replicate, such as those parts that would harm others, that would kill... You simply cannot comprehend them."
"That's you, doppler."
The doppler dared not move.
Not only because of the silver sword inches from his throat, which could easily pierce it.
But also because the doppler's weakness was silver.
The moment he touched silver, he would lose control of his form and turn into a puddle of goo.
"Then kill me, witcher. I'd rather die by your sword than fall into the hands of those madmen from the Eternal Fire."
Lynn did not reply.
Just then, the sound of many footsteps came from afar, growing closer.
"Over there."
"Quick! Quickly!"
"Don't let the troublemakers get away!"
Lynn, without thinking, took off his cloak and tossed it into his runic leather satchel.
Beneath his cloak was a set of Novigrad City Guard armor.
"What are you standing there for? Aren't you going to transform into me?"
The doppler didn't know Lynn's plan.
But he quickly realized that Lynn wasn't planning to hand him over.
So he complied.
When the city guards arrived, alerted by the commotion, they saw only two comrades.
"The troublemaker ran that way," Lynn said in a low voice, pointing in a random direction. "My companion is injured; I need to take him to a doctor."
Most of them ran towards the direction the witcher pointed without thinking.
A few city guards concernedly offered Lynn assistance: "Need help?"
But Lynn declined their help.
When all the guards had disappeared from their sight, Lynn said, "They'll soon realize they've been fooled. We need to leave here quickly."
But the doppler hesitated.
He didn't know whether he should follow Lynn.
Seeing that he didn't move.
The witcher, without thinking, put his arm around the doppler and ran in the opposite direction.
Lynn was fast, and he didn't go in a straight line, instead trying to cut through streets and alleys.
After passing through another deserted alley, Lynn canceled the effect of his Deception Medallion, returning to his witcher appearance.
The doppler also transformed himself into an unremarkable small merchant.
Emerging from the alley, they had arrived in another area.
The streets here were even dirtier, and the mental state, nutritional condition, and clothing of the people passing by were worse.
This was Novigrad's Portside District, also known as the Docks.
It was, besides the slums, the dirtiest and most chaotic area.
If the slums were where only outsiders lived, then the Portside District was entirely inhabited by city dwellers.
"This should be far enough. Those guards probably won't chase us here."
The doppler finally voiced the question on his mind: "Why didn't you hand me over to those guards? Wasn't that your purpose in catching me?"
But Lynn didn't answer, instead throwing out a question.
"What's your name?"
"What does it matter? In your eyes, we're all monsters anyway."
"I asked for your name. I hate saying the same thing twice, and I certainly don't want to ask a third time."
Seeing that the witcher wasn't joking, the doppler finally uttered a name.
"Tricor Langrevink Letot."
"Just as I thought," Lynn said to himself.
"Do your friends call you 'Dudu'?"
This time, it was the doppler's turn to be surprised.
"You... how do you know?"
"Not only do I know what your friends call you, I know more about you."
In the future, he would also meet a gnome merchant named Dandy Bibberwitt.
He made a huge profit by impersonating the latter.
And even further in the future, he would impersonate Whoreson Junior, one of the Big Four, not only laundering all of Whoreson Junior's assets but also investing in legitimate and highly profitable overseas trading companies.
No matter which world it is, people's constitutions are not all the same.
Some are naturally good at sprinting, some are naturally good at fighting...
And Dudu, he was born with a knack for business.
This was also why Lynn, even before becoming a baron in Toussaint, had the confidence to recruit Letho and others.
He had already planned to have Dudu become his professional manager, helping him manage his assets to achieve self-generating wealth.
Some might ask, aren't you afraid he'll run off with your assets?
Again, when it comes to cunning, dopplers, gnomes, dwarves, elves, dryads—all these elder races combined don't have as much cunning as humans.
And dopplers are the kindest of all the elder races.
Because they don't even have evil thoughts.
So, Lynn could confidently entrust his assets to Dudu.
"Come on, let's find a place to sit down and talk over a meal."
....
A while later.
Inside a private room at The Golden Sturgeon tavern.
Dudu, sitting opposite Lynn, widened his eyes, his face filled with an expression of disbelief.
"I... I didn't mishear, did I? You want to hire me... to be your professional manager, responsible for handling all your assets?"
Lynn speared a piece of roast meat with his fork, put it in his mouth, and chewed, making a muffled sound.
"Word for word. Your hearing is as good as mine."
"But, why?"
"Why what?"
"I thought you would..." Dudu lowered his voice, "use me to prove your companion's innocence."
Lynn picked up the apple juice on the table and took a sip to clear his throat.
"I have other ways to secure his acquittal, but a loyal and kind professional manager is like finding a needle in a haystack."
Lynn's words filled Dudu with joy.
Anyone would be happy to have their abilities recognized by others.
Especially a benevolent creature like a doppler.
But he still had one question.
"Aren't you afraid I might run away with all your money?"
Seeing Dudu's serious expression, Lynn couldn't help but want to tease him.
So he pretended to think for a moment before slowly saying, "Hmm, that is indeed a problem, but I believe, with your intelligence, you wouldn't do such a thing."
"What do you mean? Are you looking down on me?" the doppler said somewhat angrily.
The witcher spread his hands.
"Of course not. It's just... look, even kings need allies, and nobles marry their daughters to other nobles to seek political alliances."
"In this rotten era, no one can do without friends, especially those whose businesses are growing larger and larger."
"Logically, you should know what fate befalls someone with no friends and a huge fortune."
"So, are you sure you want to miss out on my friendship for the sake of the gold I hand over to you?"
"I shouldn't need to remind you of the importance of friends, should I?"
.....
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