Chapter 265 Ordinary people can’t play with finance, so they should save money honestly. The
great elder who has ruled Mahakam for centuries looks very old, but his body is actually far better than the old wood in the deep forest: the surface is wrinkled, but The branches are still strong and strong.
It is said that during the general cleaning this year, the great elder personally led the team with a battle ax and was the most murderous among the team.
The people of Sintra soon felt it.
His gaze was like a torch, and his gaze was sharper than an ax blade.
Others present had no idea what was going on, but felt that the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Although they were in the territory of the dwarves, the guards on Cintra's side also reflexively held their hands to the hilt of their swords.
Even though they now know that the Duke's bravery may not require his own protection, in diplomatic situations, they are more interested in expressing their attitude and ensuring that the majesty of the Lions of Sintra is not violated; and if one needs to be sacrificed, If the escort came to show Cintra's belief that "never retreat", they would die generously.
But the Cintra guards' hands reaching for their weapons soon stopped when they saw Lann's gesture prohibiting action.
The body of the Cintra Lion radiated bright emerald light, as if a sun had appeared in the room; his pupils were also completely lit up, spitting out the blazing light as long as the blade, and his skin was hazy, unlike a real person .
The people of Cintra are very familiar with this gesture. It is a precursor to the activation of the Duke's [Flash] or [Teleport].
But the light dimmed immediately, Lann's position did not change at all, and no one present was harmed. It seemed that just now he just saw that the room was too dull and lit a lamp to liven up the atmosphere.
...
The dwarf guards did not react as quickly as the Cintra people, but they also raised their weapons at this moment. They looked at Lann who lit up and then disappeared in confusion, just waiting for the Great Elder to give the order to capture these humans.
They did wait for the great elder's voice, but it was a loud laugh.
The great elder's mood switch was astonishingly fast. The dangerous look in his eyes just now seemed to be just an illusion, and now only the bold and laughing face remained in front of everyone.
The great elder showed admiration in his eyes: "I heard Gabo say before that you showed a magical ability when you fought against Sharma, similar to a warlock's portal, and you don't need to recite a spell, right? Lan
En smiled and nodded: "Yes, after all, you also know - my name is Lei Anlun."
"White Frost and the End of the Age...the blood of the ancients."
The great elder mumbled a few words in his mouth. words and shook his head.
He and Lan looked at each other for two seconds, and then turned their attention to the drawings on the table. At this stage of the negotiation, the next opinions can be expressed without words.
So they looked at each other for another two seconds to make sure that both sides could see the change in emotion.
The great elder put his hand on the drawings of the equipment, and his smile suddenly faded: "What I just said has been made very clear. Mahakam is a completely neutral country, and the dwarves are a nation that abides by tradition. We will not do it for a young man. A few words from people will abandon our past way of life."
Lann also restrained his smile: "Yes, you made it very clear."
"Even if I want to send troops to help you, it won't work, Lei Anlun." The elder shook his head, "Mahaakan seems to be monolithic, but I am not a king, I am just a great elder, and I need to absorb the suggestions of various clans. They often have opinions on me - especially recently, because the 'spring cleaning' was not clean enough for them. They are so troubled that I even have to spend a lot of effort to appease them!" "
Oh? I didn't expect that an elder like you who has ruled a power for centuries would have such troubles." Lan En showed his attentive listening attitude. , "Which clans are they?"
"There are as many rocks as there are rocks on the mountain." The great elder continued to shake his head, "The main clans are Ferenz, Fuchs, and Chis—including Sieglin! "
Gabor Ziglin was stunned. He didn't expect that the great elder would name his own clan. He opened his mouth to defend, but suddenly fell silent, as if he had thought of something.
"These clans have very wild tempers and are very warlike. They are also very curious about the outside world, and their hearts always fly into the human kingdom." Lann
said sincerely: "That is really terrible. For For a Mahakam who values tradition, they must have caused you a lot of trouble, right?" After
thinking for a while, Lan suggested: "How about I visit them and help them get rid of the monsters that are bothering them. At the same time, prepare some gifts - they should also like the drawings of armor, right?"
Lann's consciousness reached into the inventory, and there were many equipment drawings in it, which in themselves were chips to be used in negotiations with the dwarves. Moreover, Lan En had already made a rubbing, so it was not considered a loss.
Moreover, for a demon hunter, the enchantment on the equipment is the priority. For Lan, the equipment recorded in these drawings is far inferior to the griffin armor that Jeron gave him, or even inferior to Kolgrim's. Snake Pie Set.
"They do like equipment blueprints. There is no dwarf who doesn't like steel." The great elder said in a rough voice.
As he said that, the great elder patted the stack of equipment blueprints placed on the table with his left hand, and took it into his arms with a twist of his arm.
"However, it is limited to dwarf equipment." The Great Elder stared into Lann's eyes and said seriously, "Those drawings embodying the ancient forging wisdom of the dwarves allow us to recall the glory of our ancestors and figure out the thoughts of our predecessors - as for other races We don’t want the equipment blueprints, no matter how rare they are."
Lann was stunned, and his tone involuntarily slowed down: "I understand. This is admirable, Great Elder."
The Great Elder nodded, turned around and jumped off the table, shouting as he walked. .
"I don't want to talk to you anymore, Lannister. You, like Vizmir and Foltest, are secretive in what they say." "
I accepted these drawings. Since Cintra doesn't want money, We can provide you with ores and equipment, and other people will discuss the specific quantity with you." The great elder did not look back, "At other times, you can let Gabo take you around to experience Mahakam. The customs and customs. You can get all help here except military assistance - Lei Anlun!"
...
Lan watched the great elder go away with the heavy armored guards, tilted his head and summoned his attendants: "House."
" Sir." The sword attendant lowered his head and stepped forward.
"It's up to you to negotiate with Mahakam's equipment dealer. You know what we need."
House nodded in agreement. Before inheriting Swade's lion-headed silver sword, he was trained as a butler of the Cintra royal family. Even now when he is in Brochlon Town, he helps the old butler Enns from time to time. For logistics, He knows a lot about affairs and understands what Sintra needs now.
Seeing that the great elder disappeared from sight and that there were no more dwarves in the room, Geralt took a step forward with a hesitant look on his face.
"What are we going to do next? Did you have something to say to Brovar Hogg just now?"
Lann nodded: "I originally planned to be emotional and rational, but I didn't expect that I ended up using a little threat. The means... but fortunately, it can be considered as achieving our goal."
Kolgrim also came up: "Our goal was achieved? When? I don't quite understand what happened." ...
There
were no other dwarves around. Lann thought for a while and then began to explain. If the Witcher's political sense can become sharper and he can play more roles in the future, that is what he would like to see.
In the previous conversation, Lan and the Great Elder discussed the pros and cons: if the Nilfgaardians invaded the North, they would never let the dwarves continue to live as they do now. This is a sure thing.
This is also the reason why the dwarves later sent corps to support the northern border under normal historical development.
And the elder's use of "tradition" to excuse Lann is a fart from the perspective of God - otherwise, why would you send troops in the future Civil War?
But Lann would not tell the demon hunters this analysis. He analyzed the problem from another angle.
The dwarves seem to be a simple and forthright race, and Mahakamne's policies are also based on adhering to tradition, but the system of this ancient race is far from being as simple as it appears.
The most important of these is the dwarves’ experience system.
Whenever dwarves reach adulthood at about 55 years old, they will get an opportunity to leave Mahakam and go out for experience. Some dwarves like Gabo will choose to return to Mahakam to continue building their hometown after seeing the dangers of the outside world. Others Dwarves like Yalpan, Zoltan, and Machete will remain in human society.
For Mahakam, this is actually the penetration of the dwarf race into human society. Compared with the elves who have a blood feud with humans, dwarves have integrated well into human society.
What's even better is that because human society has always rejected dwarves in either a weak or strong way, Mahakam has always had a high status in the hearts of dwarves who have left home. Although they chose not to return to Mahakam, they had nothing but praise for their former hometown. Even facing their descendants who had never been to a dwarf gathering place, they would shape Mahakam into a fairy tale kingdom.
In the words of the poet: "Mahakam is the spiritual home of every dwarf outside."
This is the problem. The dwarves have penetrated into every aspect of human society, but their hearts belong to Mahakam. It can be said that if one day the dwarves of Mahakam get tired of life in the mountains and go out to raise their arms, they will immediately be able to summon a terrifying country from human society.
The jobs that these dwarves engage in in human society are not the same craftsmen as in other literary works, but are all-encompassing: blacksmiths, adventurers, pharmacists, merchants, and, as Lan just mentioned, the most important - dwarf bankers. .
As early as the eighth century of the Human Era—that is, almost a thousand years ago—a group of dwarves had already become leaders in the economic industry.
Nowadays, these dwarves outside have established several banking families, including: the Giancardi family, the Vivaldi family and the Zionvanelli family. From Vizima, the capital of Temeria, to Vengerberg, the capital of Aedirn; from Kovir in the far north, to Toussaint, which has reached the south, branches of dwarf banks have been set up in these places.
From the economic perspective of this era, there seems to be nothing, and the kings seem to be happy to let these dwarves do what they like, because they can provide a steady stream of tax revenue.
But from Lann's perspective as a modern person, even if he didn't study economics, he would still feel a sense of horror - a country's largest bank is in the hands of another country, or even another race. What a terrible thing it is. .
Lann didn't even dare to think about it, he just felt that those bright gold coins were buried underground in various countries like gunpowder, just waiting for the lava hidden deep in the Mahakam to emit a little heat and then completely detonate.
Compared to those long-eared elves, dwarves are so smart.
Lann was absolutely sure that although the dwarves of Mahakam adhered to the tradition in name, they said that the dwarves who went out would never return to Carbon Mountain. But secretly they definitely still have ways of communicating with each other, that is, only a naive guy like Yarpan and a stubborn guy like Zoltan would take this "tradition" seriously.
Didn't Machete contact the Great Elder with Lan En's drawings? He is now thriving in Novigrad, the first city in the north.
So when Lan just pointed out the point of "dwarf banker", the great elder's momentum suddenly changed.
For dwarves, this is a layout that lasts thousands of years. If Lan is allowed to reveal it, I believe that the kings of the Northern Kingdom will be happy to confiscate the homes of these financial families for "treason" and enrich the national treasury; and under such hasty conditions, even if the dwarf bankers can fight back, it will not be enough for human society. The damage caused will definitely not be great.
There is absolutely no benefit to Mahakam either.
That's why Lan said that he used threats against the great elder.
...
"This is the general situation of dwarves." Lann concluded.
Kolgrim was frightened after hearing this, and suddenly felt that it would be better to be a simple assassin... no, a witcher. It would be better to be a simple witcher.
Geralt was also thoughtful: "So Brovar's momentum has changed just now. He actually wants to keep us all here. And Lan, you have mastered the ability of the ancient blood because you want to express your uniqueness." The value of it?"
Dwarves are an older race than elves, and the Great Elders are the oldest among the dwarves. They are definitely no strangers to the prophecies of "ancient blood" and "white frost".
Lann shook his head. It was okay to use ancient blood to fool the elves, but it had no effect on the dwarves.
"Look around and look at our feet, Geralt." Lann kicked off his shin guards. "The dwarves hollowed out an entire mountain to build their 'Carbon Mountain'. There is warmth here." Underground fires, safe cave dwellings, and mushrooms can be harvested without sunlight. The hoarfrost on the frozen earth poses no threat to them." "
They may be looking forward to the arrival of hoarfrost, which can help them The surface of the earth is cleared, and after the cold winter passes, you will have a world without humans and elves."
Lann sneered: "——If the cold winter will pass."
Cohen lowered his head in disbelief, and his eyes seemed to penetrate the rock and see below. of rolling lava.
"Did you know this information about the dwarves through the power of the ancient blood?"
Lann nodded noncommittally: "So I just showed the power of the ancient blood, but I just told the other party that I have the ability of a warlock to leave here instantly. And there is no need for lengthy spells - I believe Gabo has told Broval the scene of my battle." "
This is why he gave up his intention of keeping us here and started negotiating a deal in Cintra. I hope your mouth will be blocked." Geralt thought thoughtfully.
Lann's analysis almost overturned their worldview. Fortunately, the only two parties negotiating were the dwarves and Cintra, and Layla of Aedirn did not follow.
Otherwise, the other party would have to rush out and sacrifice his life to serve his king. Geralt didn't want this girl to die. He quite liked this little fan who wished him, Yennefer, and Ciri all the best from the bottom of his heart.
As for Cintra... there are no dwarven bankers in Cintra because Calanthe doesn't like it. Before Lan became the speaker, only humans were resident in the lion's country, and the only special one was Mossak, the druid.
……wrong!
Geralt suddenly woke up, so if the negotiations broke down and the dwarves detonated the economic bomb of human society, plunging the entire northern border and a small half of the southern empire into chaos, would Cintra be able to reap the benefits?
No, Nilfgaard is now eyeing the outside, and the dwarves have penetrated far more into the north than the south. If this happens, the north will be completely over, and Cintra will not be able to get any relief.
What if Nilfgaard retreats?
(End of chapter)