Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 61 A Meeting Ten Years Later
Accompanied by Zhang Yuan's antics, Nancy's scolding, and Garrick's bewilderment, the carriage finally arrived at the entrance of the Wanlong Bridge.

Gazing at the surging, ceaseless flow of the Chongsa River and the magnificent, winding bridge spanning it, someone was inspired to write poetry. A surge of heroic ambition welled up within him, and he felt an urge to pick up his pen and write a timeless masterpiece.

Unfortunately, given his limited knowledge, he couldn't squeeze out a single word after trying for so long. Finally, when pushed to the limit, he managed to squeeze out a few words like toothpaste, which are as follows:

Wanlong Bridge, you are so thick and long, so thick and long;

Chongsa River, may your waters flow on and on;

The winding dragon pressed down on Chongsa.
I don't know if the Chongsa River has more water;
The winding dragon bridge is still longer.

Seeing that this guy who had been walking with him all this way without any semblance of propriety could actually recite poetry, Garrick couldn't contain his surprise and curiosity.

"I didn't expect that Lord Chanem is not only a magician, but also has some knowledge of poetry. I am also a bard, so why don't we have a discussion?"

Before Zhang Yuan, with a smirk (and a lewd expression), could even begin to impart some life experience to the other party, a furious roar rang out.

"Shut the hell up! Don't spread your filthy thoughts to others!"

Zhang Yuan immediately shut his mouth obediently. Nancy was really angry. Ever since they met in the laundry room, she hadn't mentioned the word "old" again.

After calming herself down a bit, Nancy squinted at Zhang Yuan, her eyes seeming to shoot out daggers.

"Can you swim, Mr. Chanem?"

"Yes, why?" Someone swallowed hard, sensing something was wrong.

"That's good. I'm planning to throw this dirty and cumbersome insect shell into the Chongsa River to wash it. I don't think you'll mind, will you?"

"No, it's all my fault, we can talk this over."

“Then listen up, Chanem. I don’t care if you’re joking, but I don’t want to see you corrupting Gavial with your vulgar talk that you’ve picked up from who-knows-where, from the Abyss or the Underdark.”

"Do you understand?" Nancy said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly.

"Yes, your will is my command." The man bowed and patted his chest in a gentlemanly manner.

"You..." Nancy, unable to retaliate against the other party's slickness, had no choice but to swallow her anger.

The group, who had been heading towards the center of Flame Fist Guild, finally arrived at the guild's main gate. The three of them stopped temporarily, each with their own thoughts.

Garrick stared blankly at the fortress-like building before him, at the orderly and well-trained Flame Fist soldiers, occasionally crossing his hands and rubbing his knuckles.

Zhang Yuan was more frank and open. While rubbing his hands together like flies, he secretly sized up Garrick beside him, just like a human trafficker assessing a hostage.

Nancy, meanwhile, kept her head down, clutching a necklace so tightly it was digging into her flesh without her noticing. You could vaguely see damp marks left by some liquid on the back of her hand, where the veins were bulging.

“Let’s go in and bring this surprise to a father who has waited for ten long years,” Zhang Yuan said.

"Also, bring the quest items to the NPC who issued them, and give the quest reward to the player who has been helping for almost ten days." This was what Zhang Yuan said, though he only thought it to himself. The other two composed themselves and followed him inside in silence.

When the three of them entered the guild headquarters, Zhang Yuan wanted to ask the Flame Fist clerk how to get an audience with the Grand Duke.

To everyone's surprise, Nancy ignored her colleagues and dragged Garrick straight up to the second floor. When they encountered a soldier who was questioning them, she took out something that looked like a badge, and the soldier saluted her respectfully and let them pass.

Seeing this, the person wouldn't be foolish enough to continue arguing with the others. He quickly caught up with Nancy, puffed out his chest and belly, looking like a sycophant borrowing the tiger's power.

Once you go up the stairs, the space becomes much smaller; the hall is only about a quarter the size of the one downstairs, replaced by many corridors and rooms.

At this moment, Iltan was sitting in the hall, engrossed in reading a letter without looking up: "It's Nancy. What's up? Last time you borrowed all of Elizabeta's jewelry from me, saying it was for a very important purpose."

"So now? Is there any result to report? Or just..." The Grand Duke raised his head, intending to continue asking Nancy, but when his gaze swept over the group, or rather, passed Garrick, all other thoughts vanished.

His eyes were fixed on Garrick, as if he were seeing the child from ten years ago who called him "father" all the time, a child who was always timid but had his own stubbornness. A sense of connection and resonance between blood kept reminding him that the child who had disappeared back then was right in front of him—Gavial.

"You, child, what is your name?" Iltan felt that his hands, which used to swing his sword without hesitation, were now trembling like those of a centenarian; his feet, which were once unwavering no matter how strong the enemy, now seemed like those of a toddler who had just learned to walk, and he was about to fall if he wasn't careful.

Garrick naturally saw the other party as well, the leader of the largest military organization in Baldur's Gate, the arbiter of order, and the judge of the violent apparatus. He thought he would be trembling with fear, as helpless as an ignorant beast encountering a dragon at the top of the hierarchy.

But none of what he had imagined happened. Looking at Iltan now, he was just Iltan, a grieving yet redeemed old man, a father who had found his lost son.

All the carefully prepared and meticulously crafted words and phrases along the way were completely forgotten – no, they were simply completely forgotten.

Garrick had just taken two steps forward, still dazed and confused, when Iltan rushed over and grabbed his head and shoulders.

Iltan pressed his forehead against Garrick's, silently burying his face in it. No one but Garrick knew what the Grand Duke's expression was at that moment; the only clue was the water stains on the floor where they stood.

After a while, Iltan finally raised his head. Having composed himself, he was still the dignified Grand Duke, except for his slightly red eyes. However, his constantly heaving chest betrayed his true emotions.

The two audience members who had remained silent the whole time finally spoke up. When the Duke's gaze fell on Nancy's face, the former maid began to recount the whole story.

From being found by Chanem while in seclusion, refusing to cooperate and being followed, to choosing to cooperate after witnessing Andrei's prophetic abilities, to setting off with Chanem, joining forces to defeat Xike'er of the Valley Wind Band, and successfully returning home with Gavial.

Although the Flame Fist Grand Duke on the opposite side tried his best to control his facial expression, he still failed to achieve his goal. Especially after hearing about Xi Ke'er's flip-flopping, his wide eyes couldn't help but radiate murderous intent.

After thinking for a moment and calming himself down, Iltan first thanked Zhang Yuan and Nancy, both of whom simply said it was their duty.

However, when Nancy said this, she had a relieved expression, as if she had finally been freed, and her eyes were even wet.

Meanwhile, the other person acted as if to say, "I'm just being polite, but the reward I'm owed can't be missed," while his eyes were fixed on the Grand Duke with longing.

Ah! I almost forgot, thank you to Lazy Yinglong for the generous donation.

I'd also like to recommend another new author, "I Want to Sail a Big Ship," specifically his work, *My Giant Ship Girl*. (The second author is a bit of a slang term for anime/manga/games).

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(End of this chapter)