Chapter 345: Carlo: Is That How You Negotiate?
Carlo glowered at Lynn. Lynn met his stare, not backing down for a second. After a tense few moments, Carlo was the one who finally looked away.
"You say you're from Toussaint, yet you know more about Novigrad than the locals?"
Lynn chuckled. "If I'm going to do business here, I can't exactly walk in blind. I know you two have your own disagreements, and I know Whoreson I has always acted like he owns the place. He's the most powerful gang in the city and doesn't give a damn about you or the Razors. He calls you the 'Three Gangs,' but the truth is, he'd love to just walk all over you both."
Carlo fell silent. The look on his face, though, said it all: This is how you negotiate? The atmosphere in the courtyard grew thick with tension.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. "I don't care what you do to Whoreson, but don't expect me to fight your battles for you. All I can promise is that if you two start a squabble, I'll stay out of it."
"Sounds like a deal." Lynn raised his fist.
Carlo raised his own and bumped it against Lynn's. He thought for a moment, then added, "It's not enough to convince me, though. You'll need to get the Razors to stay neutral, too. That's the only way you'll be fighting just one enemy." Carlo hesitated, then continued. "The Razors don't really have a problem with you, anyway. They came from the gutter, just like the rest of us. Show them you're a protector of the poor, and they won't stand against you. I don't think that'll be a problem for you."
Lynn blinked, realizing that this was Carlo's way of giving him a heads-up. The Syndicate had already gathered this information, of course, but Carlo's words were a clear sign of his position.
After leaving Carlo's turf, Lynn and his men immediately made their way to the Razors' territory. The meeting with them went even more smoothly than expected. It was clear that Novigrad's three gangs weren't fools. When Dudu's business started to flourish, arousing Whoreson I's greed, the other two gangs had already figured out that this "Baron Brandon of Toussaint" was Dudu's backer. From that moment on, the Razors were expecting a visit. When Lynn made it clear he had no intention of starting a war with them and was only going after Whoreson I—and that their shared principles aligned—the Razors agreed to a non-aggression pact.
As they walked out of the restaurant that served as the Razor's headquarters, Lynn smiled at Roche and Letho. "Now, it's time to go have a word with that son of a bitch."
A day later. The sky was gloomy. A torrential downpour began to fall. The streets were deserted, the only sound the patter of rain.
Outside the main gates of the Willy estate, three armed guards stood under the eaves, passing the time with a desultory chat. As they talked, their conversation quickly veered toward which brothel offered the best value. Just as their chatter grew more animated, a carriage suddenly appeared. The large raindrops drummed a crisp rhythm on the carriage's roof as its wheels ground over the cobblestones, splashing water from the cracks before coming to a stop just outside the gates.
Two men in raincoats jumped out from the front of the carriage, walked to the side, and opened the door, holding an umbrella for the young man inside. With black hair, blue eyes, and a tall, elegant build, he was effortlessly handsome. The already refined and noble clothes he wore only served to enhance his aristocratic bearing.
Seeing the trio approach, the guards under the eaves grew nervous. The young man's demeanor and attire were clearly not that of a commoner, and the guards didn't dare to offend him. As the three men walked straight toward them, the guards finally had to swallow their pride and stop them.
"Wait, who are you? What... have you sent a letter of intent in advance?"
"Go inform your master," Lynn said, using the face granted to him by the Charm of Deception. "Tell him Baron Brandon of Toussaint has come to call."
"Baron Brandon?"
Even a low-level guard knew the name of the man their boss had been trying to take down. They were shocked that he had come in person, and with only two attendants. The three guards exchanged glances. One of them knocked on the large door behind him. A narrow window slid open. The guard told the person inside about Lynn's arrival. The window closed again, and the sound of distant footsteps was lost in the rain.
"Uh... that is," the guard said, feeling awkward. "Why don't you and your men come stand under the eaves out of the rain? We can make some space for you."
Despite knowing the man before them was their boss's enemy, the guard figured that since he had shown up in person, their conflict might just be resolved peacefully. Such was the way of the privileged: even if they were defeated and captured, as long as they still had land, they would be well-fed and cared for while they awaited a ransom. Nobles were the privileged class in this world.
But Lynn refused the offer. He insisted on waiting at the gate. Time ticked by, moment by moment. It wasn't until a dozen minutes later that footsteps finally sounded from behind the door. The gates swung open.
Several guards with swords and daggers appeared, one of them holding an umbrella for an old man. The old man was dressed in a pristine butler's uniform, his silver hair neatly pressed, and a monocle clipped over his right eye.
As soon as he saw the scene outside, he roared, "Are you blind? You let a distinguished guest stand in the rain!"
The three guards at the gate looked terrified and quickly tried to explain, but the old man didn't seem interested. After a few more reprimands, he turned to Lynn. As he did, the expression on his face instantly shifted into a look of perfect serenity.
"My sincerest apologies, my lord Baron, for any unpleasantness this may have caused. I offer you Mr. Willy's most heartfelt apology on his behalf." The old man bowed deeply. The guard holding the umbrella for him also bent over, but perhaps not being used to it, he forgot he was holding an umbrella, drenching the old man's back with a fresh wave of rain. The old man, fuming, gave the guard another harsh scolding before his face returned to a placid smile.
"It seems some people still require some discipline. My sincerest apologies, my lord Baron, for that spectacle. Rest assured, I will teach these insolent fools a lesson."
Lynn was unconcerned by the spectacle. He simply hummed in response and asked, "Is Mr. Willy ready to see me now?"
"Of course. The moment my master heard you had arrived, he immediately ordered me to come and greet you. Please, follow me." The old man gestured for him to enter. The guards who had come with him moved to the sides of the gate, making a path.
"Much appreciated." Lynn nodded and, along with his two attendants, followed the old man into the Willy estate.
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