Brand secretly broke into a cold sweat, thinking that this guy was really difficult to deal with. He gripped the armrest of the chair and replied calmly, "I think that a normal person in this position would wonder what the person hiding behind the scenes intends to do. After all, tens of thousands of refugees are gathering south of Brags, and the nobles are reacting so slowly. These people are like a powder keg ready to explode."
"Well said," Test applauded. "And what are your intentions?"
What are my intentions? Probably to find a place to farm and upgrade my base, becoming the leader of the farming party. Brand rolled his eyes in his mind, unsure of how to answer the question. He cunningly retorted, "What are your intentions?"
"Whatever the All Things Return to One can do, I can do," Viscount Test replied with a slight smile, polite as always. Few people knew the true charter behind the Ring of Serpent of the All Things Return to One, but many had at least heard of the organization's name.
In fact, the All Things Return to One has long been a notorious name along the coastal regions of the Abyss Sea. They had caused multiple tragedies in several places, each of which people discussed with dread. However, while the organization was seen as a devil's embodiment amongst civilians, nobles imagined a member of All Things Return to One to be a demon spitting venom and reeking of sulfur.
This was because the actions of the members of the All Things Return to One were intolerable to any traditional authority. They almost symbolized the primal evil.
Brand, of course, also knew this. But he pretended to have just understood, laughing lightly, "So, it seems we are mostly not on the same side, but on this particular matter, we can reach an agreement."
He answered with words that betrayed his true feelings.
Test turned to look at the other mercenaries, all of whom had indifferent expressions. He trusted his own eyes; even the subtlest expressions couldn't escape his notice. This meant that the young man's followers didn't oppose his words—proving that, in some respects, Brand might not be lying.
Of course, if Test knew that these were just Brand's summons, he would probably want to find a block of tofu to knock himself out against. Provided, of course, that there was tofu in this world.
But he still pondered, not quite understanding Brand's meaning: "What do you mean?" Read complete version only at novel[f]ire.net
Brand had a precious maxim from his squad leader: 'The best way to deceive others is to let them hear what they want to hear.' This saying wasn't particularly profound, but Brand considered that people often said beautiful women lied. His senior sister and squad leader was one of the top beauties in the "Amber Sword", so perhaps there was some insight in these words?
As he thought about these irrelevant matters, he also gathered his thoughts: "Simply put, you're opposing this country, and so am I. But you are idealists, and I am an ambitious person. It's that simple." He replied half-truthfully.
"Idealists—" This word gave Test a favorable impression: "It seems we are indeed not on the same path. However, I understand your point. You don't want to join us; instead, you want to co-opt us. But the All Things Return to One doesn't need allies." He rubbed his thumb against the sword hilt, "Aren't you afraid that saying this will make me kill you?"
"Killing me would merely decrease the number of potential spies within this declining country by one. It wouldn't matter much. But alive, we have potential mutual interests whereby you might receive assistance from me. Of course, it wouldn't be free—" Brand said, sitting in the chair.
"But you must understand, the All Things Return to One's work does not involve building a new kingdom upon ruins," Viscount Test said with a smile.
"Allow me to introduce myself, that is precisely my work. When the old system collapses, a new system will inevitably thrive on its corrupt corpse. You understand this inevitability."
It must be said that Brand was naturally gifted at lying brazenly without blinking an eye or blushing.
"How bold," the young noble couldn't help but applaud, "In Erune, where various forces gather, the local nobles have racked their brains trying to gain more independence. But they probably never expected that a mere youngster would speak such wild words. Let me ask you, what do you plan to replace the Colcorva family's centuries-long rule in this land with?"