Lauder curiously took the parchment, glanced at it, and his face was immediately marked with surprise.
This was not due to the items Lynn sought being particularly precious. On the contrary, the parchment listed materials that were exceedingly easy to gather, even some waste that couldn't be sold…
"Could you tell me, what is the purpose of these items?" Lauder asked, thoroughly perplexed.
Instead of answering directly, Lynn suddenly inquired, "Have you ever seen the spectacle of fireworks, Mr. Lauder?"
"What is that?" Lauder blinked, shaking his head in confusion.
"It is something that can send an entire city's garrison skyward. I assure you, it will be the most dazzling sight you've ever witnessed!" Lynn replied with a smile.
Lauder's expression faltered, disbelief written across his face.
With Harbor Town originally having an eight-hundred-man guard force, and Archbishop Antares having brought in an additional three thousand elite soldiers from Nordland, he could scarcely imagine what power could obliterate such a formidable force so swiftly.
Could it be materials needed for some powerful alchemical array?
Lauder immediately considered this possibility. He had heard from Koru that some adept alchemists could magnify magical power exponentially through arrays.
If that were the case, their odds were not entirely hopeless.
With this thought, Lauder ceased to probe further, as the secrets of magic were typically guarded jealously by sorcerers.
"In addition to these materials, I also need a map of Harbor Town, the patrol routes of the city guards, and most crucially…" Lynn paused, then said solemnly, "I require detailed information on the appearance, temperament, and routines of every cleric in Harbor Town. The more detailed, the better!"
Lauder pondered for a moment, remaining silent. While obtaining maps and patrol routes was manageable, gathering comprehensive information on the priests would be far more challenging.
"Sometimes, survival demands a price, doesn't it?" Lynn reminded him.
Lauder gritted his teeth, "Alright! I'll get you these things, but I need to know how you plan to rescue the sorcerer apprentices?"
Lynn no longer withheld information and outlined the general plan, detailing the part the [Smugglers' Guild] would play.
After hearing Lynn's plan, Lauder felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
However, he was relieved that the most perilous aspect of the operation—the rescue—was to be handled by Lynn himself, with the [Smugglers' Guild] only responsible for the extraction. Crucially, this meant that Lauder would be in a relatively safe position for most of the operation.
"Well then, let us hope for a successful collaboration!"
Lynn extended his hand smoothly, and Lauder, without exception, clasped it firmly.
A sharp, fleeting pain surged in Lauder's heart. He instinctively withdrew his arm and glanced down, finding a fiery mark now adorning his hand.
"What does this mean?" Lauder demanded sharply, clutching his hand.
Lynn leisurely withdrew his own hand and said with a smiling face, "I heard from Rabour that you never trust anyone around you…"
"That's an admirable habit!"
"Coincidentally, I share the same sentiment!" Lynn responded with an expression of finding a kindred spirit.
Lauder's face darkened. He mentally cursed Rabour, the scoundrel, to the very bone.
The fiery mark evoked memories of the tragic scene outside Ul Town. An informant he had sent was sentenced to death merely for accidentally catching a spark from being too close, and despite jumping into a river, could not escape the infernal flames that consumed him entirely!
"By the way, I left your subordinate Rabour in a side room at the port. This is an internal matter of the [Smugglers' Guild], so I won't interfere," Lynn said, rising and preparing to leave.
After Lynn departed, Lauder's repressed fury erupted. He furiously swept valuable vases and utensils from the table onto the floor.
Hearing the commotion, the guards rushed in, only to stand dumbfounded, watching their leader lose his temper in the room.
After venting for several minutes, Lauder, panting, took his seat and addressed the guards.
"You there, go and bring Rabour back immediately!"
"I want to personally flay him alive!" Lauder growled through gritted teeth.
…
As Lynn emerged from the dilapidated house, the midday sun blazed high overhead.
Having successfully persuaded the lame Lauder and secured the cooperation of the entire [Smugglers' Guild], Lynn felt a sense of relief. At least now he would not be fighting alone, and rescuing the pigeons and Johnny had become considerably more feasible.
As for the magical mark left on Lauder, it was merely a decoy and held no real significance.
Lynn understood that the earlier battle outside Ul Town had showcased part of his strength, serving as a deterrent.
Someone like Lauder, even if he spoke the truth, would never believe it, but rather think his life was at Lynn's mercy.
This was precisely Lynn's intention. For the actual operation, to ensure safety, the most critical parts would need his direct involvement, while Lauder would remain securely in the background. The risks were not equally shared, which is a major pitfall in any collaboration!
Thus, some balancing measures were necessary!
In the following two days, news of the trial and the public execution of the devil worshipers on Monday spread throughout Harbor Town, and everyone was abuzz with the topic.
Lynn reaffirmed his previous assessment and spent his time, apart from sword practice with Ivyna, handling the materials that had been delivered.
In seventy-two hours, he had performed the [Basic Matter Decomposition] spell thousands of times, leaving him nearly exhausted.
Each time he returned to the residence, Pedro's steward looked at him with a strange gaze. Unable to contain himself one day, he earnestly advised Lynn not to wear himself out at such a young age.
Lynn merely gave a casual reply, unable to provide another suitable explanation for his frequent late nights.
In any case, the embarrassment of Lot, who faced public disgrace, was no concern of his.
The smooth progress of the plans was also thanks to Baron Pedro's frequent absences, as he busied himself with various noble banquets, making appearances before the prominent figures.
Amidst this orderly busyness, Harbor Town welcomed the final night before Monday…