"Sick, very serious. ”

Rhodes said.

"It's a sad thing. ”

Laheim returned pretendedly. Although the banquet hall was full of people and glasses, his eyes were always fixed on Rod.

"yes, but the doctor says he can survive this winter. ”

Rod replied with a smile.

"I wish the Goddess of Mercy would take care of him......"

Laheim continued.

"I hope so. Rod took a bite of the roast and continued, "Mulos mentioned you on the sickbed, brother. ”

Rod said, his eyes suddenly sharpening. Raheim's nerves tensed suddenly. But he had to listen. The wife on the side cast a concerned look.

"Oh, yes? What did he mention about me?"

Laheim laughed.

"He mentioned that you are very smart, very witty, and at the same time, very generous and generous. Blackhammer Fort is where it is today, and you have half the credit. ”

Rod replied with a smile.

Laheim didn't know whether he was complimenting him or sarcastic, but in any case, the party could go on without showing a hint of anger or blame. They are all wolves in sheep's clothing, kind on the surface, but bloodthirsty and anxious on the inside. Like a wolf staring at its prey. If you tear off the mask of hypocrisy, they are two beasts.

"The butler is too exalted to me. ”

Laheim laughed. He poured himself a bottle of wine and raised his glass to the audience. The people around them raised their glasses in response, and there was no difference in the slightest. The dwarven butcher even grabbed his large horn cup and drained it whole, spilling wine all over his beard.

"But he also reproached you. ”

After drinking, Rod suddenly lowered his voice and read calmly.

Raheim's eyelids jumped, and he turned to look at Rhodes, and asked—"Blame me? Oh, don't, don't wrong me." Tell me, what did Mulos say about me?"

Laheim made a gesture. But Rod didn't play with him anymore.

"He said you exceeded your authority. Rod said briefly. As soon as the words fell, the audience fell silent.

Laheim felt that the atmosphere was wrong, but he still insisted on asking-

"Am I overstepping my authority?"

Rhodes put down his glass and lay on his side in a bearskin chair, staring at the richly dressed nobleman in front of him. He didn't speak, he just looked at it. For a few seconds, Laheim felt like time was so long, as if every second was a century.

"For example, you violated our agreement and illegally smuggled arms. Another example is that you use smuggled arms to arm your own people, coerce competitors to compromise with you, cede market share, and thus monopolize some highly profitable industries. ”

Rod said bluntly. His voice was still so calm, not even a hint of a change in his breath. And Laheim was already nervous in the audience. The wife on the side put down the knife and fork and looked at the two with concern, although she did not participate in her husband's business activities, she clearly felt the strong smell of gunpowder from their conversation.

"This is an unfounded accusation. Rod, my brother ......"

"Don't call me brother again until this is clear. "Fish fish

Rod interrupted. Staring at him with eagle-like eyes, as if staring at his prey, the gaze burned Raheim and made him uneasy.

"Good, good, good...... You accuse me, accuse me of violating the market order, monopolize this, monopolize that, and arm your own men. But what about the evidence? Back then, when Blackhammer was poor and white, I took the initiative to fund you to make Blackhammer what it is today. ”

Raheim got up from his seat, holding back his fear, and pretending to be arrogant.

"You were there to escape, and something happened to Erlengrad, so you chose to flee early. Looking at Errengrad now, you should be glad you made the decision in the first place. ”

Rod replied loudly.

"Okay, okay, okay, even if you're right, then, if you want to accuse me of this, accuse me of that, there must be evidence. Tell me, where is the evidence?"

Laheim took another step closer.

"Evidence? No, I don't need evidence. I said you smuggle, you are smuggling. ”

Rod yelled. Laheim couldn't help but gasp, he didn't expect this lord in front of him to be so domineering and unreasonable. Isn't he afraid of the condemnation of the whole Kithrie Lady to kill a nobleman in a realm without evidence?

"Rod, you have to be reasonable. This is Kislev, not Nosca, and the law exists. You can't condemn me without evidence, let alone kill me. ”

Raheim took his last breath and replied loudly.

But in the next second, he saw the fierce gaze of the Norscans around him, as if they were irrational beasts.

"Hehe, then you can see if I dare to kill you. ”

Rod continued to press. Of course, in his heart, Rhodes didn't intend to kill him, the impact was too bad, if he set this precedent today, no nobles would dare to invest in Black Hammer Castle in the future. The reason why he yelled at him like this was just to scare him and make him soften. Rhodes knew him, Laheim was not a man who fought in the army, he was just an ordinary nobleman in Kislev before he came to Blackhammer Castle, and in Erlengrad, he was not even a person with a head and a face, and when he saw the mayor, he still had to bow his head and be angry. Such a person has very little courage, and he will not dare to really fight hard.

Sure enough, within three seconds, Laheim was convinced...... His voice trembled.

"Tell me what you want, Rod?"

"Disarm your men and return order to the market. ”

Rod said coldly. It should be said that it is a request, but this time, there is no negotiation.

"But I don't have an armed legion. ”

"Those of your personal 'bodyguards' are that Blackhammer has my men, and there are enough soldiers to keep you safe. You don't need to have so many bodyguards with guns. ”

Rhodes just spoke calmly, but there was an unquestionable majesty in his words.

Laheim was about to retort when several strong Norscan men approached. Even the dwarven butcher, who had just been indulging in drinking, stared at him with strange eyes.

Finally, he compromised again.

"When I got back, I disbanded them......"

Laheim said reluctantly.

"Also, I will take over the work on Muros's hands for the time being until he recovers. During this period, you can negotiate with me on equity and tax issues. "As for the pit mines, follow our previous contract. There is nothing controversial about this. ”

"Laheim, be kind and honest. You can't just be so arrogant and arrogant for a little profit, for your own selfish desires. I'll tell you now, if you're as honest as ever, then our cooperation can continue, and I'll assume it didn't happen, but if you're still like that, then you see if I dare to do anything to you. ”

Rod threatened again. Laheim in the audience was already scared into a cold sweat, and he even stammered a little when he spoke. Of course, Rod said that he would forgive him as long as he did what he was asked to do, and the cooperation was still there. In fact, I have long erased this person from the list of partners. It's just that he can't do such a brutal thing as killing and looting property, and he needs to use some other means to bring down this greedy nobleman in the name of "legitimacy".