Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 295 Strategic Shift
Just as the onlookers were wondering what they could do with the door, Arden extended his left hand, and a ring on his index finger flashed white light.

Bang!
A burst of white light suddenly erupted, striking the gate without causing any damage or destruction, but...
Arden simply pushed, and the door in front of him suddenly opened wide.

At the same time, the ring that had performed the service also dimmed, becoming no different from an ordinary silver ring.

With a touch of regret, Arden gently stroked the striking ring, a gift generously provided by a certain mage and director. Suddenly, he drew his longsword, his face resolute, his posture heroic, and raised his arm in a triumphant shout:

"A great man should make his mark today."

One call and ten respond; the rest follow like shadows.

What happened next resembled a banned film shown behind closed doors, leaving the onlookers unaware of the truth.

However, the shouts, roars, and screams that kept emanating from the encampment inside the mansion seemed to indicate just how fierce the battle was.

The fierce battle did not last long, and the encampment fell into silence afterward. Soon after, Arden Maginot emerged.

He led his men into the bustling market district with the air of a victor, loudly proclaiming his triumphant victory over the Shining Coins and his "reclaiming" of the market district.

"Ladies and gentlemen, kind people here, today is a day we should remember. Today, we have finally freed you from the rule of the Money Gang. Life without the Money Gang is truly a good life!"

After speaking, Arden looked at the vendors watching from below the stage.

Damn it, life without you is the best life ever!
The vendors forced stiff smiles and clapped insincerely.

“From now on, you will still pay 30% of your monthly income as protection money.”

Huh?
This is quite a surprise; the dog won't eat its own poop anymore?
The vendors were pleasantly surprised and discussed among themselves, unaware that Arden, after stepping down from the stage, was also somewhat puzzled.

These measures were certainly not due to Arden's sudden change of heart, but rather at someone's behest.

“Master, why bother? Even if you do this, they might not thank you. We can each keep half of the protection fee.”

"No need, you can keep 30% for yourself. Since we're leaving, we won't eat any more."

"Why?" Arden was genuinely confused.

"Why?" The monk's face held an enigmatic smile. His gaze didn't meet the other person's, or even look anywhere in the room, but seemed to be projected into the infinite depths of the void:
"When I wasn't here, you charged 50% of the rent. Now that I'm here, you're still charging 50%. So what was the point of my trip?"

Even today, Arden still hasn't been able to decipher the other party's expression and intentions that day, but upon seeing his "old acquaintance" Mr. Pierre, he seems to understand something.

News of the Maginot's victory in reclaiming lost territory spread like wildfire, reaching the ears of all the major and minor gangs in Luscany. Acting decisively, they seized the opportunity while the Money Gang's main force was on a northward campaign, launching a desperate all-out attack on the enemy's stronghold. Outnumbered, they achieved a resounding victory, annihilating the Money Gang's remaining forces with minimal losses, forcing the remnants to escape through a secret passage.

This decisive battle solidified the Maginot Gang's position and influence in the market district, while the two Blackfish affiliated gangs that had previously allied with Shining Coin were intimidated by its momentum and adopted a conservative defensive stance.

The obvious loser is Shining Gold Coins. In their attempt to retaliate and seize territory in the North District, they lost their own base and suffered heavy losses in terms of troops. They were unable to deal with Maginot, who was holding firm in his position, so they had to reorganize their territory and consolidate their own position before making any further plans.

The one who couldn't understand it the most was Daum from the Finger Gang. Had those beasts from the Money Gang turned to vegetarianism?
Due to the prior agreement with Maginot, when the main force of the Money Gang returned to reinforce the pass, the Finger Gang members also symbolically went to harass and delay them for a while. They didn't have much contact at all, just set up a few traps and tripwires, and attacked from a distance with throwing weapons.

But even these tentative, symbolic harassments seemed to enrage the group of guys who were eager to defend. Like angry bulls, their few charges left them screaming and paying a bloody price.

Not many people died, but looking at his wounded underlings in front of him, and thinking about Maginot's current glory, Dom's joy at gaining new territory faded considerably.

But there was no other way. They needed a place to stay. If they didn't even bother with appearances and let the Money Gang come back to help, Maginot's efforts would be in vain.

If they all perish in the market area, that's fine, but what if they come back? Will the angry Maginots still generously hand over the territory to us?
Dom didn't expect to judge others by his own standards.

Fortunately, things are not too bad for now; at least he has gained a larger territory, he comforted himself.

However, subsequent events proved that Daum had been too hasty in his celebration.

"Damn lunatics! If you're so capable, go find Maginot! It's not like we raided your hometown!"

Such indignant and helpless accusations are often heard in the North City Warehouse District, often accompanied by one-sided attacks, beatings, and pursuit.

The ugly faces of the Money Gang, with the words "bullying the weak" written all over their faces, have become a nightmare that the Finger Gang can't shake off in their midnight dreams.

Although Arden claimed that the Money Gang had lost a significant portion of its strength after its stronghold was destroyed and its counterattack was repelled by Maginot, who held firm at his stronghold, Dom still believed that the other side could easily bully them.

It seems that Shining Coins has abandoned its plan to aggressively attack the market area strongholds and instead retreated to the former territory of the Finger Gang in the North District, adopting a more conservative stance.

But when this conservatism was applied to the Finger Gang, it was a completely different story. From the outside, the Money Gang, having lost its old territory and failed to take Maginot Line, focused its attention on the North District and on the Finger Gang, the unfortunate nemesis right next to them.

This is also how Dom and the Finger Gang members summed up their recent bad luck: they were the unlucky pushovers and punching bags.

Fortunately, perhaps out of concern for the Blood Sail Gang, the bastards of the Money Gang did not carry out a brutal killing. However, their frequent overstepping of the law and their practice of severely beating anyone caught had already caused unrest among some members of the Finger Gang. The henchmen who were beaten so badly that they were either recuperating or simply using it as an excuse to stay at home, resulting in a reduction of nearly half of their members in a short period of time.

Thank you to Dawn in the Valley, I am handsome Yang Peng, Alukard, and the solo violinist playing the moon half-leaning in late autumn for your monthly ticket support!
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(End of this chapter)