Chapter 120: Brugge, the Anthill
"So, you agreed to spar with me to help me break free from that man's influence?"
James's emerald eyes gazed at Arthur, as if looking up at a towering mountain. "When I first heard of your young age and the honor of the Royal Seat Knighthood, I thought you were merely an opportunist who had somehow won a princess's favor. I never imagined there could truly be a person of such high moral integrity in this world! I am profoundly grateful and ashamed. If you ever require my aid, I am utterly at your service!"
"Haha, ha ha, I'm not as virtuous as you make me sound."
Arthur felt genuinely embarrassed by James's heartfelt declaration.
Firstly, the plan to use high-focus mental concentration to awaken reason and expel foreign influence was entirely Mousesack's idea.
Secondly, James's successful liberation was also thanks to his noble status; Corvo didn't dare use overly brutal methods. If James had suffered brain structure damage like the bandits and peasants from last night, all would have been lost.
And finally, there are many ways to make a person concentrate, but Arthur deliberately chose sparring, primarily to boost his own skill proficiency. Although he didn't improve his two-handed weapon skill, he did confirm a suspicion: even without deliberate practice on one-handed weapons, his accumulated insight and experience from countless battles remained. With just a little application, his skill level could rapidly increase, without having to start completely from scratch like in a game.
Thinking of this, a flash of inspiration hit Arthur:
"Actually, you don't need to be so conflicted. Although the duel didn't determine a winner, you can completely join us to Cintra, where professional authorities can conduct the interrogation work!"
Arthur nearly applauded his own cunning.
Handing the captive over to Brugge was not a good idea. Given Corvo's influence in the Brugge area, the talented young Guardsman might easily suffer a fatal fall from his horse the very day they entered the city.
Cintra, on the other hand, was ideal. Firstly, with a Grand Druid like Mousesack in attendance, it would be difficult for Corvo to infiltrate. Secondly, Verden's actions were highly unbecoming and could easily trigger a war if mishandled. Having Cintra, their mutual suzerain, mediate, could prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
Thirdly, if he could convince James to join the party, wouldn't he gain a world-class swordsman as a sparring partner?! Setting aside James's disadvantages in raw strength and reaction speed, his swordsmanship was remarkably refined perhaps skilled enough to contend even with Geralt.
James considered it for a moment, then happily agreed. After all, he was merely young, not foolish. The influence on his thinking was the biggest factor behind his earlier, rash behavior.
As the boundary between Brugge and Cintra, Dillingen was less a fortress and more a port city. Ships constantly traveled up and down the Yaruga River.
"This world is ridiculous. We can use portal towers to instantly travel hundreds of miles, yet we can't build a bridge over a river that's only a few hundred meters wide."
At the ferry crossing, Arthur grumbled unhappily, looking at the surging river. Their party wasn't large, but they had quite a few horses and supplies, making it impossible to find a single large boat.
The ferry attendant eagerly suggested:
"Why don't you split into three groups? See those ships with the crosses on them? Those belong to our garrison. The sailors on those are top-notch; I guarantee the time difference between you reaching the opposite bank won't be more than a single meal."
Dandelion was already impatient and immediately approved:
"I think that sounds fine. Arthur, Mousesack, Geralt, each of you can lead one group, that should be smooth enough "
Before the poet could finish, James sharply reprimanded the soldier:
"Get rid of those ridiculous notions of yours! This is a Knight of the Royal Seat of Temeria, and I have the King's order to escort them to Cintra go find a large boat immediately!"
Faced with James's white robes, the soldier didn't dare utter another word. He quickly saluted, turned, and ran off.
A quarter of an hour later, a large vessel, big enough to hold hundreds of people, slowly docked. A flag bearing a white-flowered cross on a green field flew high on its mast. Even ignoring the difference in size, the sheer quality of the flag alone made the smaller boats the soldier had recommended look like trash.
"This is the actual Brugge military vessel. Everyone, feel free to board."
James stood on the gangplank, blocking any loiterers who might try to follow them. He only sprang onto the deck himself the moment the ship began to move.
"What was that about? You suddenly lost your temper back there." Arthur was curious. James's fighting style was grand and honorable. He didn't think he was the type to engage in petty bullying.
James lowered his head and paused before replying sheepishly:
"Ah, I was originally ashamed to mention it, but since they acted on it, I have nothing to hide. The smaller boats the soldier recommended are not actually the property of the Dillingen garrison, but belong to certain 'active' social groups."
"Every time they see a well-off group, they try to recommend these small boats. If there's a strong person like you leading the party, it might be fine, but if they see you're just ordinary folk, once you're in the middle of the river, the boat captain changes his tune and asks if you prefer the Nekker or the Water Hag."
Dandelion frowned: "What do you mean, choosing a Nekker or a Water Hag? I don't like either of them!"
James let out a soft 'heh' and patiently explained:
"The 'Nekker' choice means cold steel goes in, red blood comes out they stab you to death and dump your body in the river."
"The 'Water Hag' choice means they bind you with rocks and sink you straight to the bottom."
Dandelion's mouth dropped wide enough to fit an egg. It took him a good moment to react: "Murder and robbery! Why doesn't your garrison do anything about it?"
At this, James looked disheartened:
"Those captains pay the Dillingen garrison thousands of crowns in dividends every year, and they're often running military contraband. They're essentially one and the same. If they were to act, it would only be for show."
Arthur also asked: "If the garrison can't control them, then doesn't your King intervene?"
James's head drooped even lower when this was brought up:
"He did, of course! Last year, the King personally tasked me with investigating the Dillingen scamming incidents."
"But the investigation team was marked as soon as we arrived. We were attacked by various gangs an average of six or seven times a day. If my sword hadn't been sharp enough, we wouldn't have even survived to leave."
Arthur clicked his tongue and pressed further: "Then what happened? Did the King just
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tolerate it? He didn't send the Royal Guard to put down the rebellion?"
James spoke bitterly: "Many of the gang members I cut down were retainers of high-ranking nobles. If the investigation team hadn't also included many high officials, I probably would have been hanged already."
Arthur shook his head in amazement, secretly grateful he hadn't wasted time fighting a losing battle in this petty state of Brugge.
They say a thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant's nest. Brugge, it seemed, had been completely hollowed out by the ants.