Brando smiled: "You might not be able to escape now, but that might not be the case in the future. Once you recover your strength, no one will be able to stop you." There were some things that he did not say. Brando could not possibly leave two Gold-ranked warriors in the mines just to watch over one person.
Kodan placed a hand on his sword, but he quickly let go. The old man could sense that the young man was interested in his suggestion, or else he would not have said so much to him.
"If that's the case, what do you think we should do?"
Brando pondered for a moment and asked: "What's the name of the clerk in the mines?"
Kodan was stunned. He could not keep up with Brendel's thoughts. He didn't understand why the topic was brought up to the noble clerk, but he still replied, "Perkins."
"Perkins from the Sikorville Family?"
"You know him?" Kodan narrowed his eyes. He instinctively sniffed out Brendel's identity. It was likely that he was a young noble. After all, a normal person would not have such a clear understanding of the nobles.
It was just like how a well-informed person in the capital might know the names of the nobles above him, but outside of Corvado, he might not know the nobles in the other provinces.
However, Perkins was the nephew of Count Randner's wife, and belonged to the same class as Graudin in the Randner Province. It was impossible for Brando not to have heard of him. Even though Perkins was not famous in this era, the players would have to deal with the young nobles as the old nobles gradually aged and passed away.
Brando remembered that Perkins was the lord of the Silman region, but he did not expect him to be the clerk of the Schafflund Mines. He immediately realized that the silver mines were Count Randner's confidante, and it was possible that Perkins had gained the count's trust from there.
He cursed in his heart. [This kid's bright future is going to be ruined because of my actions.] But, in the spirit of not letting his friends die, he had no choice but to say 'sorry' in his heart.
"I heard that he's a decent guy." Brendel asked in a roundabout manner.
"That's a nice comment." Kodan raised his eyebrows. "It would be better to say that he's as timid as a mouse and mediocre." He didn't hold back at all as he mocked. Perkins had destroyed a squad of his subordinates, and this old man was still brooding over it. "You nobles just love to say nice things."
After saying that, he looked at Brando provocatively.
Brando didn't care about Kodan's probing. He was just pondering in his heart. According to Kodan's evaluation of Perkins and his understanding of Perkins, that young clerk would do everything he could to suppress the chaos in the mines for the sake of his own future. He definitely wouldn't send someone to inform Lord Palas.
This way, they would have plenty of time to search for the path to the surface. Whether or not the elderly Swordmaster would lead the way wouldn't affect his plan at all.
But when he looked at Kodan, he had another idea. He didn't want a Gold-ranked expert to return to Count Randner's hands, but it was a problem to keep him here.
Kodan didn't seem to be completely loyal to Count Randner, or else he wouldn't be here to negotiate with them. However, he still had the demeanor of a Knight. It wouldn't be easy for him to surrender, especially when he didn't have the strength to do so.
Brando thought for a moment and had a plan in mind.
"Then I'll have to trouble you to come back to Abies with us for the time being. After this period of time, I will naturally let you go. It will take at least a month and at most half a year. "
He didn't mind sending one or two Gold-ranked experts to watch over the Swordmaster in Abies.
"Half a year?" Kodan narrowed his eyes. "If I don't appear in the mines for a long time, it will arouse suspicion. Aren't you worried that the news will be leaked?"
Brando thought that this old man was really cunning, but he had already considered this point. "It's fine. Didn't you suffer heavy injuries in the earthquake? You'll need some time to recuperate, and I think Aukins will understand — "
He purposely emphasized the words' Aukins will understand '.
Kodan snorted in disdain. He knew why the clerk would understand. If he didn't, the young man would use his sword to make him understand. The clerk wasn't a tough nut to crack. He could imagine that if Brando threatened him, the clerk would cry and become their mouthpiece.
The old man fell silent.
"It seems like you've made up your mind. But how can I guarantee that I can leave after a month or half a year?" He asked again.
"Why should I guarantee that?" Brando retorted.
Kodan was stunned. He raised his silver-gray eyebrows and glared at Brendel.
"But since I asked you to go to Abies, as long as you don't act rashly, I won't do anything unnecessary." Brando replied. "I won't make unnecessary sacrifices. You're a veteran of the November War, aren't you? Life is precious, and the winner of a war is the one who survives — "
The old man snorted: "You know very well that there are survivors of that war among your elders?"
Brando did not answer and only stared at the old man.
The old man glanced at the ring on Brando's finger and remained silent for a while. He then asked: "Judging from your actions, you're planning to stay here for a long time. But I have to remind you that Count Randner will not allow a territory to be separated from his control, even if it's the most barren Tónigel. Are you prepared to face the wrath of a 'king'? "
Other than Corvado, Erouine was controlled by thirteen 'vassals'. These vassals included six Dukes, two Marquises, and five Counts with special privileges. Their power was comparable to the royal family, and they were nicknamed the 'Kings under the Throne' by the people.
Among these 'kings', other than Duke Arreck, Duke Viero, and Duke Seifer who were the strongest, the rest of them were on par with each other. Count Randner was not the strongest among them, but he was not the weakest either.
In Kodan's opinion, Brando and the others were like ants trying to challenge a giant. They could be crushed at any time.
However, Brando laughed and shook his head: "You've got two things wrong. First, I knew what Count Randner would do from the start. Second, Tónigel is not the most barren of lands. "
Kodan looked at him deeply: "Confidence is a good thing, but arrogance is not necessarily the same, young man."
"I agree." Brando replied.
"Fine, I don't care what you think." The old man shook his head and stopped talking about it. He placed his hand on his sword once more: "I still want a promise. Promise me that you will let me leave after at least half a year."
"You promise that you won't return to Count Randner's side?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't promise that." Kodan replied firmly.
Brando looked at him with admiration, but he did not refuse this time. He smiled: "Fine, I promise. I don't need half a year, just three months. "
The old man was slightly taken aback. He raised his head and looked at Brendel in surprise.
Brando smiled and did not explain.
After reaching an agreement, Metisha was also done resting. She felt the Soulfire in her body becoming active again, and they continued on their journey.
At this time, Brando glanced at the miner behind them. In fact, when he found out that Brando and Scarlett were not part of the mine's garrison, but were traitors who wanted to go against Count Randner, the poor man was terrified and almost wanted to run away.
But he quickly calmed down. Compared to thinking about the future, the monsters that were lurking in the mines would immediately take his life. In the end, the man still followed them.
But he met Scarlett, and after the red-haired girl threatened him fiercely, the miner had no choice but to bring his family to Abies with him.
During the conversation, Brando found out that the man had also learned some skills as a silversmith, so he decided to give him a job as an apprentice blacksmith. In comparison, this job was much safer than being a miner, and the benefits were much greater. In the end, the man still felt uneasy, but he could not help but look forward to it.
With these thoughts in mind, he felt the people in front of him stop again.
But this time, they did not encounter any monsters or people. Instead, there was no way out. To be exact, everyone saw a dark door not far from them in the mine tunnel.
The door was tightly shut and sealed off the entire tunnel.
Metisha and Scarlett could not help but stop and look at Kodan. He said that this path could lead to the elevator. But when they saw the old swordsman's face, they could not believe what they saw.
"This is …?" Kodan was slightly taken aback.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Scarlett frowned. Her voice was weak, but it was filled with suspicion.
"No, no, what's going on?" Kodan frowned and said to Metisha: "Miss, can you help me over there to take a look?"
Metisha looked at Brando with a questioning gaze, and the young man nodded. He had been here before and knew that the old man was not lying. There should not be such a door in this place.
He had a suspicion, but he still needed to confirm it.
The Silver Elf princess did as she was told, supporting the elderly Master Swordsman as they walked over. The Master Swordsman used his hand to feel the cold, heavy giant door as he muttered to himself, "How is this possible, how is this possible …"
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