Reychard get whispered with some information from one of the adventurers.
Nikos watch him as Reychard expression changing from relief to hint of worry.
"I get it, thank you for the information." Reychard thanking the adventurer.
"What is it Reychard?" Nikos asked.
"I will tell you later about it, Sir Nikos." Reychard answer shortly, then he excuse himself.
Which Nikos answer him with understanding nod.
Lark paced back and forth in his office, the cluttered shelves of the Alchemist Association store adding to his growing annoyance.
Papers and potions littered his desk, but his mind was in turmoil with only one thought: Nikos. This bastards had ruined his plans too many times. He needed to be dealt with, but how?
"Damn that Nikos bastard!" Lark muttered, slamming his fist onto the desk. "Every time I get close to finishing him off, he slips away. If it weren't for those meddling monsters, I would have the time to destroy his shop completely. Fuck!"
He needed a new strategy, something that would turn the town against this new merchant.
Then suddenly an idea began to take shape in his mind. His scowl slowly transformed into a sly grin, as a sinister plan formed.
"Rumors," he whispered. "Right, I'll spread rumors about his potions. Make everyone think they're dangerous. If I can't destroy him physically, then I'll destroy his reputation."
Lark's eyes gleamed with a sinister light as he began to formulate his plan. He would need to act quickly and decisively to turn the townspeople against Nikos.
Behind the scenes Lark running his plan, ready to ruin Nikos life.
The next day, the town was bustling with activity. Civilians, adventurers and soldiers, they worked side by side, repairing the town walls and reinforcing the defenses.
The recent monster attack had left the town shaken, but the people were resilient, determined to rebuild and protect their home.
Nikos walked through the streets, his presence bringing smiles and waves from the civilians.
He wore his usual emerald green tunic with gold accents, exuding an air of nobility and confidence. Liriel is in alert and watchful states, scanned the crowd with her keen eyes next to him.
"Good morning, Sir Nikos!" a shopkeeper called out, handing him a basket of fresh bread. "Thank you for saving us!"
"Thank you," Nikos replied, accepting the gift with a warm smile. "I didn't do much."
"Sir Nikos!" a woman called out, her arms full of fresh produce. "Your potions have been a great help! Thank you."
Nikos nodded with a polite smile.
A group of children ran up to him, offering him a handmade bracelet. "This is for you, sir," one of the girls said shyly. "Thank you for keeping us safe."
Nikos accepted the bracelet with a gracious smile, kneeling down to the children's level. "Thank you, young one. It's a beautiful gift." He said, ruffling the child's hair.
The kids giggling and run up playing with their friends again.
An elderly man approached next, clutching a small wooden carving. "For you, Nikos. For your bravery and kindness."
Nikos and Liriel continue their walk through the streets.
A couple of days after Lark had begun spreading his insidious rumors, the town square of Oakheart was filled with a large gathering of concerned citizens.
A makeshift stage had been set up in the center, and Lark stood atop it, looking out over the crowd with a smug expression. Behind him, several lackeys held crates filled with potions, their contents hidden from view.
"People of Oakheart!" Lark began, his voice carrying across the square. "I stand before you today to reveal the truth about the potions being sold by Nikos, the so-called merchant who has infiltrated our town."
The crowd murmured in anticipation, many of them having heard the rumors but uncertain of their veracity. Lark gestured to the crates behind him, and his lackeys opened them, revealing rows of vials filled with a cloudy liquid.
"These," Lark said, holding up a vial, "are the potions being sold by Nikos. But what you don't know is that these potions are of inferior quality, even dangerous. Today, I will prove to you that his business is nothing but a scam."
He uncorked a vial and poured a small amount into a cup. With a dramatic flourish, he presented it to the crowd. "Observe the color, the texture. These are not the potions we should be trusting our lives to!"
Lark then poured the contents of another vial into a different cup, one he had secretly tainted with a small amount of poison. He lifted the cup high for all to see. "This potion, purportedly from Nikos's shop, is not only ineffective but harmful. I have reliable sources that confirm these potions have made people sick."
He uncorked the vial and took a sip, faking a grimacing expression and coughing. "This potion is impure! It's unsafe for consumption. How can we trust a man who sells such dangerous concoctions?"
A gasp rippled through the crowd, and worried whispers began to spread.
Just as Lark was about to take another step in his demonstration, a small, curly-haired boy pushed his way through the crowd. It was the same boy whom Nikos had saved during a monster attack.
"You're lying!" the boy shouted, his voice piercing through the murmurs. "Sir Nikos is a brave knight! He saved me and my family, he would never sell bad potions!"
The boy's declaration caused a stir among the crowd. People began to nod in agreement, recalling their own positive experiences with Nikos. The mood shifted from one of suspicion to one of loyalty and defense.
"That's right!" an elderly woman called out. "Nikos's potions have always helped my arthritis. He's an honest man!"
Another citizen chimed in, "Sir Nikos has done more for this town than you ever have, Lark! You're just trying to ruin him!"
"Right, what's Alchemist Association contributions when the town getting attack?!"
"You also try to destroying Nikos shop back than right!" shouted one of the adventurers inside the crowds.
Lark's smug expression faltered as the crowd began to turn against him. He could feel the tension rising, the people's loyalty to Nikos overpowering their fear. His anger flared, but he tried to maintain his composure.
"You're all bewitched by that charlatan!" Lark yelled, his voice rising in desperation. "He's using some kind of magic to manipulate you!"
But his words fell on deaf ears. The crowd's murmurs grew louder, turning into shouts of anger and defiance. Someone threw a rotten tomato, hitting Lark square in the chest.
Another followed, and soon various items were being hurled at him as the citizens expressed their disdain.
"Get out of here, Lark!" someone shouted. "We don't need your lies!"
"Leave Sir Nikos alone!" another voice called.
Seeing the crowd's growing hostility, Lark knew he had to retreat.
He raised his hands in a futile attempt to calm them. "You'll regret this!" he shouted over the crowds. "Nikos is deceiving you all! You'll see!"
But his words were drowned out by the booing of the civilians.
Lark quickly go down from the stage, pushing through the angry crowd as they continued to throw things at him with whatever they could find.
He fled the square, his face red with anger and humiliation. His plan to discredit Nikos had backfired spectacularly.
As he hurried down a side street, he muttered to himself, "This isn't over, Nikos. You may have won their favor for now, but I'll find a way to bring you down. You can't keep fooling everyone forever."
The Adventurers Guild in Oakheart was a bustling hub of activity. The wooden structure, adorned with trophies of past victories and maps of distant lands, exuded a sense of camaraderie and purpose. Adventurers of all kinds filled the hall, discussing their quests and sharing tales of their exploits.
In a secluded meeting room at the second floor, Reychard sat across from the Guild Master, a towering giant named Mesa.
The room was lined with shelves filled with ancient tomes and scrolls, the dim light casting long shadows on the walls. Mesa's desk was cluttered with reports and maps, evidence of the ongoing struggle against the monster waves.
Reychard leaned forward, his expression serious. "Guild Master Mesa, we have a situation that needs immediate attention."
Mesa looked up from the parchment he was examining, his eyes narrowing. "What is it, Reychard? Speak plainly."
Reychard took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "One of the adventurers reported something unusual to me. He believes the monster waves attacking our town are not random. He found signs that suggest the monsters are being controlled by someone or something."
Mesa's brows furrowed in concern. "Controlled? Are you certain? Monsters acting in unison is one thing, but being controlled implies a much greater threat."
"It's confirm by Thalion too." Reychard added. "As you already know. Thalion is a skilled tracker and observer. He noticed patterns in the monsters' movements, their coordination, and the timing of their attacks. It's too consistent to be a coincidence. He also found traces of strange magic near the areas where the monsters are gathering."
The Guild Master leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the armrest. "This is troubling news indeed. If someone is orchestrating these attacks, it could spell disaster for Oakheart. We need to get to the bottom of this."
Reychard's eyes flickered with determination. "I agree. We can't let this threat go unchecked. I suggest we send a team to investigate further. We need to find out who or what is behind this and put a stop to it."
Mesa nodded slowly. "You have my support, Reychard. Go on, choose your team wisely. This mission will be dangerous, and we can't afford any mistakes." he said.
Reychard stood up, his resolve firm. "I will. I'll gather my party and some trusted adventurers from the guild. We'll start our investigation immediately."
As Reychard turned to leave, Mesa called after him, "Be careful, Reychard. If there is someone controlling these monsters, they'll likely have powerful magic at their disposal. Don't underestimate the danger."
Reychard glanced back, a confident yet cautious smile on his face. "I won't, Guild Master. We'll find the truth and put an end to this threat."