125 Hero (2/2)
”Screw the fortune to high heavens,” said the younger blonde man. Before Li had explained the situation, the man had introduced himself as Leon Lakely, Launcelot���s younger brother and true heir to the family's building ventures in Duvin.
”The Lakelies man the primal runes that fortify this city's walls. Chevrette would not dare to oppose us when the entire city's safety – the very reason that all those of wealth feel confident enough to invest in his bank, in this city, in the first place – is under our control.”
”Under your control,” corrected Launcelot. ”You are the true heir to Lakely runesmithing and building, and I hold no such power. You are the only one that can control the walls, but you do not even live here, nor can you afford to spend more than a few days away from your company in Duvin.”
”I can spend more than a few days this time around,” said Leon. ”The Gigantopede has robbed my company of many of its men, and I can take that as an excuse to loiter about, fishing for new talent in our lovely little hometown of Riviera.”
Launcelot shook his head. ”Say that it is so, that you stay here for this venture, to face Chevrette. You believe you can bargain your control over the walls against him. Yet are you truly willing to rob the city of its walls when tensions with the Republic mount so?
Once you erase the runes, it will take months, perhaps years to prepare them again after poring through centuries old texts. Can you truly endanger the lives of countless thousands? No, we hold no bargaining power, and a man as sharp as Chevrette will understand this.”
”As level headed as ever, brother,” said Leon with a defeated shrug. ”As expected of a Veritas graduate. I still wonder why you did not man this whole building business. It is quite the burden you've passed upon me, you know.”
”I am certain you cry upon your bed of coins every night,” said Launcelot as he rolled his eyes. The two brothers shared a smile before Launcelot continued, addressing everyone in general.
”I understand that a just fire burns within you all, as it does within me, but there is a reason Chevrette has prospered so long, even through the duchess's reformations of the nobility. He is extraordinarily dangerous. His family name, having once been great traders in Trieste, allows him to hire the most powerful of warriors across the world across the north and the east, to dredge up the foulest of forbidden mages in the darkest of corners and crevices.
But power is his weakest trait. No, it is his grasp over this city that allows him to stand so strong. The Gold Standard is the largest bank in Riviera, the lifeblood of all the wealthy across the entirety of Soleil, not to mention that he personally is responsible for having funded much of the restorations of streets and businesses across lower and middle Riviera.
The common man adores him for his seemingly heroic generosity with his coin. The noble man cannot oppose him as he holds powerful blackmail against the vast majority of them with his slave trade – the real purpose of him undertaking the trade to begin with.
It will take far, far more than a mere few days to uproot this man.”
”So we do nothing?” said Jeanne, her voice challenging.
”I did not say that. If you wish to fight, then I will join. I merely wish to tell you all of the risks involved.”
Li cracked his knuckles, and the room fell silent as they awaited what he had to say.
”It might just be that it'll only take a couple of days to get rid of this guy,” said Li. ”Like you said, the reason why nobody can take this guy out is because he has so many connections to this city and so much dirt on everyone. His generosity is revered by the common man, and that's why even the duchess hasn't been able to just throw him out by using the law.
So all you need to do is destroy his good image. Once you do that, once the common man is against him, the law will finally have a chance to bite down at him.”
”How do you suppose to bring this about?” said Launcelot. ”Chevrette, as you said, is revered like a hero. It will be difficult to tarnish his image for none can bring word against him.”
”But we can put word against him.” Li put his plan into motion. ”We have our own hero, don't we?”