A simple question caused Eirich and Finn to pale simultaneously, as they suddenly realized that if the goods had indeed been sold but there were no sightings in the south, then where could the cargo possibly be?
Even if the items were sold elsewhere, some would inevitably disperse along the route. However, the absence of any sightings in the south indicated that the goods had not traveled down the Moonsea Road or the Northern Horsepath, leaving only one possible destination.
"You sold the goods to the Drow, didn't you?"
To the south of Dagger Valley, yet not quite in Komir, there appeared to be no nation, but several entrances leading to the Underdark existed. If the goods were taken from Dagger Valley and sent directly into the Underdark, then the surface world would indeed remain oblivious, as contact between the Drow below and the surface races was sparse and seldom fruitful.
It was no wonder, then, that news had remained undisclosed for many years.
"Why are you bringing this up now?" Count Karyel dismissed the notion, seemingly unconcerned, as he viewed it merely as a stalling tactic. "You can simply die."
With that, the Count snapped his fingers. However, after a few moments of silence, nothing occurred. Karyel's expression darkened, and he raised his voice in frustration.
"Daniel, what are you doing?"
Evidently, Count Karyel had prepared a trap, intending to activate it at this moment. Yet, the only response was a prolonged silence, suggesting that Daniel had not heeded his call.
"Fool! Do you not understand? Your underlings have been eliminated; it was the followers of Arakne who severed our escape route!"
Breaking the silence was the pale Drow, Imory, her expression charged with emotion as she drew her weapon. She unconsciously slipped into her native tongue: Arakne was the term used exclusively by the priestesses of the Spider Queen, a name that no one but the Drow themselves employed.
"Vampire, you would do well to arm yourself and fight alongside us—my kin did not come here to assist you; you, like us, are likely one of their targets."
"But what would they want with me?" Count Karyel struggled to comprehend. "I have nothing left; my business is finished. What incentive do they have to trouble me?"
"What incentive do you have to trouble the Gnomes? Sometimes people act merely for their own enjoyment, not for gain," Imory retorted sharply. "Did you not cheat them in your dealings or treat them poorly? Then killing you before parting ways would surely bring them joy; why wouldn't they?"
"I conduct my business fairly!"
Karyel defended his commercial reputation, but he could not counter the claim regarding his demeanor. The vampire had clearly grown accustomed to arrogance; offending others was hardly unusual.
"Moreover, I suspect the Drow's presence here is not solely for retribution," Lynn interjected once more.
"I have been puzzled from the start why the smugglers remained indifferent to our troubles. Logically, if we were to engage in battle, the other smugglers should have been concerned as their operations would be affected. Hence, I have long suspected that the severing of our retreat was related to other smugglers. However, at that time, I was unaware of the Drow's involvement. In retrospect, it seems likely that the other smugglers did not arrive precisely because the Drow dealt with them."
"What do the Drow truly seek?" Count Karyel was now utterly baffled. He understood the schemes he had concocted but could not fathom the intentions of others.
"Gnomish goods have consistently been sold to the Drow; within this commercial chain, no individuals from the righteous factions are involved. So how would those righteous factions learn of this trade route and come to seize your position as a broker? It is highly likely that those who seek to usurp your status are not from righteous factions but rather the Drow themselves seeking a new trade route."
Finn, having grasped the implications, chimed in.
"But we've always had a good partnership."
"Yet the north has thawed. Transporting goods from the White Peaks to the Underdark can now be accomplished directly through the Leadstone Mountains, traversing the vast Steedgrass Prairie without checkpoints or transportation hassles, thereby saving considerable time and costs—your route has become obsolete."
Lynn quickly replied. The Leadstone Mountains contained entrances to the Underdark and lay within the northern wilderness, bypassing the territory of Santir Fortress and significantly reducing complications. Count Karyel merely sensed the chaotic competition among various factions in the north, believing others were encroaching on his business, unaware that even the commercial routes had fundamentally changed.
"Yet how could the Gnomes sell weapons directly to a malevolent race like the Drow?"
"If they can sell to you, why not sell to the Drow? Furthermore, selling to the subterranean races while watching the Drow and Gray Dwarves tear each other apart is hardly unusual. Inciting conflict among evil factions has long been celebrated as a heroic act recounted by bards, does it not? It allows one to profit while undermining evil and, incidentally, tricking a vampire—why wouldn't they pursue such a course?"
Lynn's words dripped with sarcasm, leaving Eirich furrowing his brow in discontent. From the perspective of the righteous factions, even if they refrained from inciting conflict, the Drow and Gray Dwarves would annihilate each other. Maintaining a balance to prevent them from causing trouble for other races was a perfectly reasonable action. However, when such sentiments emanated from Lynn's lips, it felt as though their actions were being called into question.
This assessment left him thoroughly irked.
Before he could voice his frustration, a resounding crash echoed from outside. The group hurriedly surveyed their surroundings; the stone blocking the doorway remained unmoved, yet figures flickered atop the high rock walls.
Laughter emerged from behind the tapestries on the wall, revealing that those outside had discovered a hidden passage, allowing them to enter and take position on a small platform high upon the rock wall.
A Drow priestess appeared, her dark skin contrasting with her white hair, clad in spider silk armor. One hand gripped a serpent-headed whip while the other held a severed head. This unmistakable Drow priestess garb sent a shiver down Imory's spine. Yet, the high-standing priestess seemed unconcerned with the adventurers' presence. She whistled casually in greeting to Count Karyel before discarding the head at his feet.
It was the head of a vampire, clearly indicating that Karyel's subordinates had met their demise at her hands. While Karyel set traps for the adventurers, he had not anticipated that this moment was also a trap laid by others.
"After all that talk, such a tedious exchange. I find myself curious: do you truly believe you still have any hope of survival?"