Chapter 272 The Lesser of Two Evils
A blizzard roaring like a dragon roared out from the left palm covered with a steel gauntlet, and the Great Griffin cloak fluttered in the opposite direction.
A group of multi-legged arthropod monsters could be vaguely seen coming from the cave in a hurry.
The dwarves shouted out their names the first time they saw them: "Qiqimo!"
Qiqimo, classified as [insect-like creature], is an alien creature that came to the mainland after the celestial sphere converged. It has one of the rarest characteristics among monsters. There is organization, discipline and class.
Some scholars believe that Qiqimo should be ant-like creatures from another world. A Qiqimo community is ruled by [Queen Qiqimo]. There are [Qiqimo engineers] who are responsible for hunting and [Qiqimo engineers] who are responsible for guarding the territory. Qimo Warrior]. After an autopsy, it was found that Qichimo's brain was very small, and scholars even suspected that these monsters might have a common consciousness.
This kind of monster is a creature that witchers absolutely do not want to encounter. It is also a creature that witcher mentors warn apprentices not to hunt alone. The level of danger is even higher than some [dragon-like creatures] and [remnants] - because Not only do they swarm in groups like water ghosts, they are as big as calves or even horses, they also have hard shells and are even poisonous.
But now, these dangerous, deadly monsters that cause headaches for human soldiers, dwarves, and demon hunters have all turned into ice sculptures, and their lives are frozen at the moment they rush out of the tunnel.
Because it was the first time he encountered a creature like Qi Qimo, Lan couldn't help but take a second look. But soon he turned around and accepted the greetings from his soldiers.
"Your Majesty the Duke!"
Lann nodded towards them: "Thank you for your hard work, warriors."
"For Cintra! For Lannister! For Your Majesty the Duke!" "
After the battle, remember to collect the materials for these monsters. I specially We used ice instead of fire." Lann ordered, "Of course, all actions must be done under the premise of ensuring your own safety. You are the most precious property of Cintra." "Yes! Your Majesty the Duke!" Lann said
again
. With the dwarf leader nodding, he turned around and disappeared into the bright emerald light.
The dwarf leader looked at the ax in his hand, then at the cold and ferocious ice sculptures, and finally at the high-spirited and enthusiastic Cintra cavalry, and suddenly felt that he was a bit redundant.
...
The dwarves have arranged teams at every exit of the Bottomless Pit of Davor, and each dwarf team is followed by Sintra people. Using them as coordinates, Lan visited every corner of the battlefield and truly demonstrated his combat prowess in front of the Fuchs clan.
The dwarves in these teams may not know that half of them will go to Cintra to live and fight for Cintra. Let the seeds of Lann's powerful back be planted in their hearts at this moment. Later, when Tomor announces orders and selects warriors, the resistance will be much smaller.
Even these short-legged and bearded people will actively sign up.
Lann returned to the edge of the Davor Pool for the last time. At this moment, the inside of the mine had completely turned into a vast ocean, and the artificial reservoir behind the dam was almost dry.
Lann cast his seal for the last time against the gap in the dam he had created.
[Seal of Alder·Bearing·Magic Burst]
The leader of Tomor has not left here, eagerly waiting for Lan to return. At this moment, it was like witnessing Lan En's seal for the first time with eyes wide open in anticipation, witnessing Lan En's left palm continuously roaring out dozens of breaths of snowstorm, forcibly filling in the gap in the dam. The solid ice stopped the torrential flood.
"That's enough. It will make it easier for the Fuchs clan to repair the dam later."
Tomor Fuchs nodded repeatedly. Lan has already helped to this extent. What else can he say?
Lann added: "But now that Mahakam is in spring, maybe my seal will not last long. You still have to start repairing the dam as soon as possible." "Don't worry."
Tomor patted his chest as if A war drum said, "We know the weather in Mahakam very well. Your strength is definitely enough to last for more than a week. This time is enough for us to wait for the flood in the mine to recede and re-count the property inside." The Fuchs clan
wants To migrate, you naturally need to pack up all the clan's luggage. The mine was suddenly occupied by monsters due to a sneak attack. In addition to the explosives warehouse, there were also many unprocessed raw ores and mining tools, etc., which were still underground in the mine and had not been moved out.
After the flood subsides, these can be salvaged again and contribute to the construction of the new tribal land.
"After all these things are accounted for, we will build the dam together to prevent any damage caused by us. Then the whole clan will move to the Polo Pass." Chief Fuchs shook his head, "Originally we planned to use It will take more than a month to complete this plan, and it will take even more if there are guys from the Zeglin family involved." "
Fortunately, I have your help, Duke Lannister." Tomor said sincerely.
Lan nodded slightly, accepted the other party's thanks, and turned the topic back to the business: "How long will your operation take? In other words - when can I get the agreed soldiers?" "The quickest way
. It will be done in seven days." Tomor said without hesitation, and he was not ambiguous about the business at all. "At that time, those slow and leisurely guys in Ziglin have definitely not finished their cleaning. You must not have left yet, and they will not waste your time. ."
"You don't need so many young men to build the dam. When the time comes, I will call everyone together and let you choose. Those who can go to the battlefield will definitely be the best young men!" Lann nodded with satisfaction and looked at the dam
: "Is there anything else you need my help with in the future?"
Tomor laughed. He first expressed his gratitude to Lan again, and then declined: "You have already helped us the most. If we need you again later, like They protect us like nannies, and we will look down on ourselves!"
...
After Fuchs's matter here is resolved, Lan plans to return to the Siegelin clan to see how their "spring cleaning" is progressing.
As the living area of the mine was flooded, the Fuchs clan themselves could only live in tents and could not keep Lan and his party for a long time. So under Tomor's apologetic eyes, they were ready to go back to live in the territory of the Zigrin clan.
However, Tomor's basic thinking is still very simple. He feels that this method of asking people to help and then "evicting" them is very unkind, especially when he still owes the other party, he seems to be a bit cheating.
So he sent Petritt to follow Lan as a liaison to ensure that Lan would not be blinded when he wanted to contact Fuchs again.
"Petrit once served in Carbon Mountain, with the highest military rank of captain." Tomor said proudly, "But he didn't want to stay in Carbon Mountain, so he came back to mine. He is a member of our clan. The best warrior, he will be the leader when we send the boys to Cintra."
Lann nodded. In the previous battle, he saw Petrit commanding the battle. This is indeed a worthy man. Trust warrior.
"Moreover, Petrit is also a diplomat of our clan." Tomor added, "I also promised to help you contact the Ferentz clan and use favors to help you get more reinforcements. I have not forgotten it."
"Leave this matter to me, Lord Lannister." Petrit said loudly. He looked at Lann, with admiration shining in his eyes as he had witnessed the heroic posture of the lion many times, "I have always been responsible for communicating with the Ferenzi clan. When the matter with Zyglin is over, I will lead You go there!"
Lann touched his chin. He also sent a small team to the Ferentz clan, but he didn't know how their work was going. And if he can get more support, he would also like it.
"I'm looking forward to it," Lann smiled.
...
When Petrit followed Lann, he attracted the attention of many Zyglin dwarves. As a clan that had been hostile for many years, Zyglin was no stranger to the celebrity Petrit.
But after all, he was following Lann, so the Zygling dwarf didn't say anything, just looked away silently.
Lann frowned slightly. He noticed that there were more dwarf warriors here than the last time he came here. Lann even suspected that Zigrin had called back all the people who went out to hunt and mine.
Is the hunt just over? Impossible. I and others used trickery to achieve success in Fuchs. The monsters scattered around Siegelin were very scattered, and they would never be cleared away so quickly.
Are they preparing to launch a general attack on the monsters?
"Lan, something is wrong." The first words Geralt said after meeting Lan made people involuntarily become serious.
"I went out hunting monsters with the Zigrin clan, but their reaction was very abnormal." Geralt frowned, "They either only killed about two-thirds of the monsters in a lair every time, or they only annihilated one. Two-thirds of the lairs in the area."
"In short, they will choose to leave a small number of monsters untouched, even if we have the ability to eradicate them."
In the huge tent, Lan listened to Geralt's words and watched. Lu pondered. The candlelight continued to sway with the gusts of wind caused by Geralt's movements, but it was far less than the uneasy swaying in the white wolf's heart.
"When I wanted to destroy those nests, Luca Zygrin stopped me many times and said something about natural balance and food chains." Geralt said absurdly, "He is a qualified warrior, but He is not a qualified liar. He hesitated when he spoke, and even he did not believe it." "
You mean, the 'spring cleaning' here is over?"
Geralt nodded: "It ended yesterday, I have been I'm waiting for you to come back."
"But the soldiers here are gathering more and more. It doesn't look like the cleaning is over, but it looks like the war is about to begin." Lann sighed.
"I asked Bowser. According to them, this is to establish a sentry point nearby to prevent the cleared area from being occupied again." Geralt sneered, "But this is compared to when they stopped me from cleaning up before. The behavior of monsters is full of contradictions."
"I... have a bold guess, Lann."
Lann sighed: "I have it too."
Lann knew that in the original history, Fuchs and The Zigrin clan finally had a battle that shocked Mahakam.
Although there was no convergence of heaven and earth caused by Lann at that time, there were a large number of monsters in the bottomless pit of Davor. The Fuchs clan failed to resist the monsters many times, and lost almost all the dwarf warriors who participated in the war. Their vitality was severely damaged, and they finally migrated back to the Polo Pass almost as a refugee.
The Zygrin clan took advantage of this moment and swooped in. They gathered a large number of dwarf soldiers to sneak attack Fuchs who was licking his wounds and completely annihilated him. Then they attracted a large number of underground monsters to eat the corpses of the Fuchs dwarves, creating the illusion that they were killed by monsters in a sneak attack, hiding this from the great elder of Carbon Mountain.
Although after a series of twists and turns, the truth of this bloody tragedy was finally revealed, the dead could not be resurrected, and the Fuchs clan was eventually removed from Mahakam.
Unexpectedly, after various changes in the past, the Zigrin clan seems to have made the same choice as in the future. The rioting monsters gave them an opportunity, just like the future.
"My judgment is that Sieglin gathered the dwarves of the clan not to destroy the monsters, but to drive them away, and then attack Fuchs with them." Geralt said seriously, showing his keen intuition at this moment
, It is almost inseparable from the truth: "It's just that I can't think of it now. Why does Ziglin think that they can control these monsters and eliminate Fuchs without losing too many members of the clan." Lann rubbed his hands
. Eyebrow: "No, I don't think they want to kill Fuchs with the monster, but just use the monster to cover up the traces of killing Fuchs. As for how to eliminate Fuchs without causing too many losses to the members Si, I think I probably know..."
Lann quickly told Geralt how he had cleared away the monsters in the bottomless pit of Davor in the past three days, and then gave his guess.
"If it's really what you said." Geralt took a deep breath. His usually expressionless face was also moved at this moment. "That would be terrible." Then, now there is a
problem for Lan. In front of Geralt.
Does he want to help Fuchs, who has decided to send half of the young adults to support him, or Zigrin, a relative of Alpan and who already has a certain emotional foundation with Cintra?
"If it had been before, I might have hesitated." Lann took a deep breath. "Although it is a pity now, we must give up Zyglin." "
Internal fighting has reached this level and there is no bottom line. These dwarves will Even if we bring him back to Cintra, there will be endless troubles." Lan said firmly.
It's the lesser of two evils, a desperate move. If possible, Lan would actually like to try a method that has the best of both worlds, but now time is running out.
"Then, let's..." Lan En was about to say something, but suddenly stopped.
Geralt felt something and immediately turned his attention to the door of the tent.
"Your Excellency, Mr. Gabo is here."
The guard standing guard outside reported. Then a stout dwarf came in with familiar short legs.
"Lannister...Duke." The corners of Gabor's mouth raised politely, but it looked like he was forcing a smile.
"We heard that you are back. It seems that Fuchs's problem has been solved. Zygrin is very grateful to your team for their efforts. Geralt has helped us a lot. I won't trouble you about the rest. We are very happy. Sorry... no, thank you very much for your help."
Gabo is Mahakam's diplomat, and his language is much fluent than Kuba, but he is still hesitant at this moment, and the guilt on his face is almost visible to the naked eye.
"What's the problem, Gabo?" Lan asked softly.
Gabor was silent for a while and shook his head vigorously: "Please take care of yourself, Lord Lannister. I'm just worried about... life after the clan." "
If there is any problem, I can help."
"No. We don't want to. I don't want to involve you anymore, Duke." Gabo said almost in a pleading tone, "The patriarch wrote a letter to the Ferenzi clan, hoping to lend you more young men. However, The situation there because of the Red Dragon doesn’t seem to be very good recently, and they hope you can leave as soon as possible.”
Lann did not answer Gabo's words. He looked at the dwarf in front of him, who had been with him for a long time, and said unabashedly: "I do plan to lead the team out, and the Ferenz clan does follow me. It’s in my itinerary. But that’s not where I’m going now.”
Gabo’s lips twitched a few times, the smile on his face gradually fell, and he lowered his head, not daring to look at Lan anymore.
(End of chapter)