Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 591 Freshmen
"Is this what you call an excuse?"

Kadmon stared wide-eyed at the old captain in disbelief, a twisted smile spreading across his face, a smile born of extreme anger.

He grabbed the other man's collar, about to question him, when suddenly a pair of hands appeared and forcefully separated the two.

"How about I say a few words first?"

The one who made the move was Zhang Yuan:
"First of all, this is not a simple betrayal or power grab. Flame Fist is caught in a conspiracy that neither you nor I should be involved in or even investigate."

"Furthermore, Ska, or you should call him Mr. Alpha, was not lying."

The sorcerer put on the mask again, transforming it into Ska's appearance:
"Changing appearances isn't some myth or legend. He is Ska, I am Ska, and you can be Ska..."

Ignoring Kadmon's stunned expression, the mage continued:
"Anyone can be Ska whenever there is a need."

"What kind of hellish Mingtang is this?"

The initial resentment was shattered by immense shock, and the mage, without answering Kadmon's question, pressed his conclusion while the iron was hot:

"You don't need to figure out these tricks and schemes, but you might as well think carefully about who the ultimate beneficiary is?"

"Is it Ska, who was originally a promising candidate for the Grand Duke's right-hand man but is now a fugitive with a criminal record? Or is it the Angelo faction that will eliminate the Grand Duke and Ska and disband its rivals to seize power?"

Kadmond stood frozen, seemingly in a daze, before finally managing to catch his breath after a long while:
"I'm a little confused."

"Think whatever you want, we don't have time to waste with your nonsense."

Nancy rebuked him without hesitation:
"Your old buddies still have some hope for you two, right? You won't stop until everyone's support is gone?"

"what?"

Ska quickly pressed, "Where are they? Are they safe?"

"We almost missed it. When should we gather the brothers?"

Kadmond didn't have time to dwell on it.

"After the team was disbanded, almost everyone was expelled from the military camp immediately. Fortunately, I arrived in time and managed to retain most of them under the guise of recruiting through the Chamber of Commerce."

"How many are left? Where are they all?"

The two captains pressed for more questions.

"Some people were already disheartened and planned to leave Baldur's Gate to make a living elsewhere. About twenty people left, and the remaining fifty-six people were scattered and settled in our and several other partner chambers of commerce."

“There are other chambers of commerce?” Kadmon was taken aback.

"shit,"

Lawrence rolled his eyes:

"With so many former Flame Fist soldiers joining our guild, what will people think? Has the White Tower Guild gone mad? Is it trying to establish a new Flame Fist?"

"There's no time to lose. Nancy, you take Scar to the High Cliff. Kadmond and Lawrence go to the various merchant guilds to reassure them and prepare them for the northward journey."

The monk paused to ponder for a moment, then finalized his goal:
"Let's go to the dock area first and ask the Chamber of Commerce to vacate some of the warehouses as temporary accommodations. We'll travel in batches, with our own staff arriving first to make proper arrangements for short-term accommodations."

Baldur's Gate Port sees frequent trade, so it wasn't too noticeable for fifty people to travel there in several waves.

“Ska must stay; I can’t clean up this mess by myself.”

When Kadmond heard that Ska was going to run away, he immediately objected.

He can't go with you.

"Why?"

"Because 'Ska' is already dead, as long as he is alive, the subsequent waves will never subside."

The monk, expressionless and devoid of any emotion, said:
"If that's the case, then you can band together and seek justice yourselves. We, Gaoya, are few in number and weak in power, and we can't afford to play along with you."

Having said all that, Kadmon wasn't stupid. He looked to the old captain for help, who nodded helplessly.

"There is no more Ska, I am Alpha." Am I crazy or has the world gone mad?
Beneath the mask, Kadmon pondered a question without an answer. Even after entering the White Tower Merchant Guild's accommodation and meeting his teammates whom he hadn't seen for only a few days, he still didn't know how to explain the events of that day.

"The captain is here!"

"What's wrong with Ska? Is there some mistake?"

"It must be that scoundrel Angelo who's behind this."

More than twenty mouths spoke at once, offering concern, questioning, and cursing, bombarding Kadmond's already troubled head until it was buzzing.

"Quiet!"

When the usually respected vice-captain spoke, everyone suppressed their impatience and listened attentively.

"The Grand Duke was assassinated, and the murderer framed Ska and then killed him as well. Then our group was disbanded and expelled. All of this was part of a conspiracy."

These words immediately caused an uproar. Those who were willing to stay were all longtime comrades-in-arms and veterans, and they were unwilling to suffer such injustice.

The clamor for revenge, a purge, and capturing Angelo alive at his headquarters was overwhelming.

"Revenge? With what means can we take revenge?"

Amidst the fervor of the crowd, Cademont remained calm first:

“If it’s just a matter of going against Angelo’s faction, then I’ll risk my life with everyone else to fight to the death.”

“But what is the situation now? We are no longer one of the Flame Fist’s fingers, but traitors. They can openly accuse and issue arrest warrants for Ska and for me, and thus gather the regular forces of the Flame Fist and even the Baldur’s Gate to annihilate us in a legitimate way.”

"Think about it, what kind of identity will we die with?"

"The last glory of the Flame Fist? The Grand Duke's Shield?"

"Bah! The only thing that will be engraved on our tombstones is the title of traitor. They don't even deserve a tombstone."

As Cademon spoke, his voice grew heavier and heavier, and the initial commotion around him gradually faded into a deathly silence.

In the ensuing silence, someone finally spoke up; it was the big guy, Thauri:
"Are we just going to flee in disgrace like this? Then what did you gather us for? To run away together?"

"Of course not,"

Kadmond looked around, exchanging glances with each of his old brethren before speaking:

"The Flame Fist we once knew has been usurped and stolen. I am here to lead you to live on with the true Flame Fist beliefs for the future, not to have you take her with you to your deaths."

His words were sincere and heartfelt, resounding with emotion, and everyone present was deeply moved.

"Then what guarantees the survival of the Flame Fist?"

While we are moved, we are not inexperienced young people who can rely on empty promises.

"I can't guarantee that,"

Before the uproar could subside, Kadmond's next words fell to the floor:

"But I think a promise from a high-ranking mage lord still carries some weight."

This has caused quite a stir. A high-level mage? A lord? That certainly carries weight and has a touch of romanticism.

Do you think this is a biographical ballad about a wandering poet?
"what?"

"Is this true?"

"Why would I lie about something so easily revealed? Besides, you all know that person, it's Chanem... Your Excellency."

Kadmond hesitated for a moment before adding an honorific title to the old mage, and suddenly felt a sad barrier between himself and his former little brother.

"Huh?!" X 20+
As it turns out, biographical novels and similar works still lack imagination compared to reality.

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