Upon hearing Lynn's words, Lauder's expression darkened, and he inwardly cursed Koru for revealing such crucial information to a few apprentices, thereby implicating himself.
He did not doubt Lynn's sincerity, as the recent movements of the Church were a clear signal.
It was precisely this concern that led him to remain in the shadows, ready to flee at a moment's notice, only to be caught despite his precautions.
"The [Smugglers' Guild] has been operating in Harbor Town for years; they must have well-informed sources. Do you know who the Church has apprehended?" Lynn asked, eager for information.
Lauder hesitated and shook his head, replying with evident frustration. "The Guild is under intense scrutiny now, and my knowledge is quite limited. The Archbishop must have sealed the information. Only the local priests have access to such confidential intelligence."
Corrupting and controlling a priest is no easy feat. These individuals wield powerful divine magic, possess unwavering faith, and are not lacking in wealth; they are formidable adversaries.
Even though the [Smugglers' Guild] has operated in Harbor Town for decades, Lauder has always avoided these priests, striving not to entangle himself with the Church's clergy.
Lynn's brow furrowed in disappointment. He had hoped to obtain ample information from Lauder, but to his surprise, the latter was equally uninformed.
"Are you perhaps planning to rescue the captured sorcerer apprentices?" Lauder ventured cautiously.
"Indeed, this is crucial for both of us, is it not?" Lynn replied effortlessly.
"That may be quite challenging. The town is swarming with guards, and they might not be held in the port's prison. Even if you manage to rescue them, escaping Harbor Town will be impossible," Lauder countered. "Rather than risking such an endeavor, it would be more feasible to eliminate them; that way, the difficulty would be greatly reduced!"
Given that the person knew the [Smugglers' Guild]'s secrets, eliminating them would suffice.
Generally, killing is easier than saving.
Lynn was not surprised by Lauder's ruthlessness. In this dark world, a single life is indeed of little consequence, especially when it involves the secrets of the Sorcerer's Domain.
However, Lynn disagreed with Lauder's perspective and scoffed. "Mr. Lauder, are you still hoping that the [Smugglers' Guild] can continue to thrive in Harbor Town after this situation is resolved?"
Since Antares chose Harbor Town as his base, it indicates that the Archbishop has uncovered some clues. Even if the pigeons and Johnny are dead, it is only a matter of time before Lauder's involvement is discovered.
After all, the majority of the cargo transport in Harbor Town is related to the [Smugglers' Guild]!
Lauder's face grew grim. He had certainly considered this, though he was unwilling to accept the reality.
Having spent twenty years in Harbor Town, it could be said that all his efforts for the latter half of his life were invested here!
"You are a clever man, Mr. Lauder. Our only chance of survival now is to sail across the Bewildering Sea to the Sorcerer's Domain. Otherwise, with your current activities, no matter where you hide, the Church will find you!" Lynn said bluntly. "If you set sail now, you can still take a portion of your accumulated wealth with you. However, if Antares acts first, you may not survive!"
Lauder scrutinized Lynn intently, his mouth opening as if to speak, but he ultimately sighed in resignation. "It's too late to set sail now. Harbor Town has begun strictly controlling incoming and outgoing vessels. Today, two large ships scheduled to transport goods were seized."
"So soon?" Lynn paused, realizing the situation was worse than he had imagined, but quickly regained his composure and asked, "You must have a solution, don't you?"
In his days in Harbor Town, searching for this old fox, he had been overwhelmed by various true and false rumors.
If not for the terrifying disguise magic that allowed him to pose as the head of the [Smugglers' Guild], he would have had no means of unearthing Lauder.
Given such a cautious person, Lynn found it hard to believe that Lauder had not anticipated being trapped in the town and had made no preparations.
Lynn quickly reviewed the information he had gathered over the past days…
Since the harbor is under semi-blockade, the only vessels that can leave freely are those patrolling the sea!
"The Sanctity, the Zenith, the Watcher… which ship has your people?" Lynn inquired curiously.
Lauder's expression twitched. He had not expected Lynn to guess this accurately. He even suspected that one of his most trusted confidants might have betrayed him. He reluctantly admitted, "The Zenith."
Impressive!
Lynn was astonished by Lauder's audacity to actually seize control of a warship. He had merely intended to test Lauder.
Lauder replied curtly, "It's not as easy as you think. Although the Zenith's captain is one of mine, every departure and return of the ship requires registration and inspection. Any deviation from the course would quickly be detected by the watchmen."
On the Bewildering Sea, their warships can only rely on archery or ramming for close combat, but the enemy's ship has priests onboard, and a few divine spells could tear even the sturdiest ship to shreds.
Moreover, large-scale personnel and material transfers are no simple task.
"You needn't worry about that. By the time we cross the sea, they will be too preoccupied to concern themselves with us," Lynn said confidently.
"I have a plan, and if successful, no army will pose a threat. But it will require the [Smugglers' Guild]'s assistance…"
Lynn looked at Lauder, awaiting his response. With over a thousand dockworkers in the [Smugglers' Guild], even if they are just a ragtag bunch, if utilized correctly, they could be a formidable force.
"Don't expect them to confront the Church's guards," Lauder sighed. While the [Smugglers' Guild] had many members, most were merely subsisting under his command.
They might handle gang conflicts, but in a proper battle against a regular army, it is likely that half of them would defect before the fight even began!
"Rest assured, I only need you to handle a few minor tasks," Lynn said, pulling out a parchment from his sleeve and placing it before Lauder. "Can you collect these items? The more, the better!"