Chapter 344: Mr. Cleaver
In other words, if Lynn gave the word, the Syndicate would immediately act and have Whoreson I stabbed to death on his next route. After all, Whoreson I was just a common man, not even a fighter.
A single yari ashigaru was enough to assassinate the great Lord Abe; therefore, dozens of Syndicate assassins disguised as vagrants would be more than enough to chop Whoreson I into fine bits of minced meat, ensuring his own father wouldn't recognize him.
But to Drek's disappointment, Lynn slowly shook his head.
"If your people did that, the other two gangs would know by the next day that we've bought off all the beggars in the city. How would we continue to gather intelligence after that?"
"Don't expose this intelligence network unless absolutely necessary."
"Yes," Drek replied, his voice full of reluctance. "Lord, are we just going to let this go?"
"Of course not... but I have something else for you to do."
Lynn took two scrolls of parchment from his coat and handed them to Drek.
"These are two greatsword blueprints. I was supposed to have Master Thayne Seer forge them for me myself, but the situation in the city means I have to race against time. So you'll have to go in my stead."
With that, Lynn looked at Roche and Letho. "Roche, Letho, you two come with me. Remember to bring a cloak."
At the entrance to a certain alley in Novigrad's Lower Quarter, a bored dwarf guard suddenly saw three people walking toward him. One was dressed like a nobleman, while the other two, wrapped in large cloaks, seemed to be his guards.
He quickly blew his whistle to alert his companions, then held out a hand, motioning for the group to stop. "Hold it, you've taken a wrong turn, 'tourists.' This is private property. If you want to tour Novigrad, you should be moving in the direction of your arses."
Lynn, who had already used a Charm of Deception to alter his appearance, spoke calmly. "I need to see Carlo 'Cleaver' Varese."
The dwarf guard laughed. "You think Cleaver is just anyone who can be seen?"
Lynn didn't get angry. He raised his right hand, palm facing out, and showed the signet ring on his finger to the guard.
"Of course not, but I have the right to demand an audience with Cleaver, because I am not just anyone. I am Baron Brandon of Toussaint."
The dwarf guard was taken aback. He scrutinized the signet ring on Lynn's finger but couldn't tell if it was genuine.
That was to be expected. It was the real thing.
The dwarf guard hesitated for a moment before deciding to go inside and report. "Please... please wait here. I'll go inform him." After all, this was an alleged nobleman. This was above a dwarf guard's pay grade. As for whether it was real or not, he'd let the boss decide.
While the dwarf guard went to report, Roche, who was standing behind Lynn, quietly stepped up next to the Witcher and whispered, "Lord, why are we here?"
Lynn whispered back, "We're here to pay a visit to the local kingpin. To be honest, we've had our businesses in the city for over a year, so we're already being rude by just now showing up to pay our respects. That's why I've come personally."
"Of course, there's also another matter..."
At this point, Lynn's peripheral vision caught the dwarf guard returning, and he fell silent. He simply patted Roche on the shoulder, giving him a look that said, "Trust me."
So Roche took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. The three of them waited for the dwarf guard to approach. "Baron, the boss has agreed to see you. Please, follow me."
Lynn nodded and was about to go in with Roche and Letho. But the dwarf guard held out a hand again, stopping the three of them.
"Baron, the boss has only agreed to see you. Please have your guards wait outside."
Lynn looked at Roche and Letho. "Alright... then you two wait for me outside." With that instruction to Roche, Lynn followed the dwarf guard into the alley.
The other end of the alley opened up into a place that resembled a courtyard house, but the air was thick with malice. Around twenty dwarves were either sitting or standing along the sides of the courtyard. The moment Lynn followed the dwarf guard in, they stared at him with undisguised hostility, their eyes full of provocation.
The dwarf guard wore a look of unknown meaning and walked off to the side. The surrounding dwarves slowly began to close in, their stares becoming more brazen.
Lynn frowned, looking at the dwarf guard who had retreated to the edge of the courtyard. "What is the meaning of this?"
"It means what I want it to." A booming voice came from his right.
A dwarf with a mohawk, several thick gold chains around his neck, and tattoos on his bare chest and arms, walked forward. It was Carlo "Cleaver" Varese.
Lynn met his gaze. "I don't understand, Mr. Cleaver. What is your intention?"
Carlo let out a loud snort. He crossed his arms over his chest. "It means I don't want to get involved with you, Baron... if you really are Baron Brandon."
Lynn smiled. "What, you think I'm a fake?"
Carlo shook his head. "How can I believe you? Toussaint is at least a few months' journey from Novigrad. You came all this way for these small assets in Novigrad? And what's more, I never received any reports from my men."
"Not even a bird can fly into this city without my knowing."
Lynn seemed to be thinking. "So you think I'm a fraud? If that's the case, why did you agree to see me?"
"Because I wanted to see what you had to say. What do you want?"
"It's not about what I want; it's about the agreement I will give you."
"What agreement?"
"An agreement of non-aggression."
"Non-aggression?" Carlo burst out laughing. "Assuming you really are Baron Brandon, I hear your business in this city is on the brink of ruin. And you came here to propose a non-aggression pact with me?"
Lynn nodded. "That's right, Mr. Cleaver. I'm sure you know that I am not a racist. Some of the workers who serve me are dwarves, and I give them the same treatment as human workers."
"So, I don't think we need to have a conflict."
Carlo snorted again. "Do you dare to have a conflict with me? I didn't give myself the nickname 'Cleaver' for nothing."
But then, his tone softened. "So what's your point? You're going to deal with Whoreson I? You want me to stay neutral?"
Lynn waved his hand. "How could you call this 'dealing with' him? Whoreson I was the one who went after me first; I'm simply defending myself."
"Besides, Mr. Cleaver, don't you have a problem with Whoreson I?"
Carlo said, "Why would I have a problem with him? Whoreson I and I have always kept to ourselves."
Lynn smiled. "Is that so? If that's the case, Mr. Cleaver, then why do you use the derogatory nickname 'Whoreson I' instead of addressing him as Mr. Alphonse Willy?"
(End of Chapter)
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