The Witcher: Make Witcher Great Again

Chapter 146: Someone should step on the accelerator when the car goes out of control downhill

"We could be in big trouble."

One of the bandits muttered as he scraped the dried excrement between the flagstones with his spear.

"I heard that a large number of knights-errant have been summoned to Beauclair and are marching out in large numbers. It must be that our affair has been exposed, and those tin cans with only honor and chivalry in their heads are planning to come and surround us."

Another bandit took up the conversation, "Yes, everyone knows that those knights are very tolerant of any injustice. If they knew that the missing persons case that has caused such panic in the Duchy was caused by us..."

"Don't worry," the third bandit waved his hand nonchalantly. "Those knights-errant didn't gather in Beauclair just because of small-time characters like you and me."

He yawned. "The story goes that the Duchess is dying, and they're going to swear allegiance to their new master."

Another robber asked, "Who?"

The third robber said immediately.

"How should I know? Besides, it's none of my business. Why do you think so much? Just follow Master Filibert and do your work honestly. It's all fine and good. Master Filibert will hold us up even if the sky falls. What are you afraid of?"

At this moment, the alarm bells in the vineyard suddenly rang violently.

Making an unsettling and tense clanging sound.

The three robbers felt like they were bitten by a flea on the buttocks.

He jumped up immediately.

They looked at each other, quickly ran to the only watchtower in the manor, and shouted up.

"What happened?"

“There are people, lots and lots of people!”

The bandit who spoke first climbed up the watchtower and looked in the direction pointed by the bandit on guard.

But I saw hundreds of torches standing in the open space just outside the main entrance of the vineyard.

The firelight made their armor gleam.

He was so scared that he almost fell off the watchtower.

"See what I said? They found out and they came to attack us!"

The third robber quickly waved his hand, signaling the latter to shut up.

"Shut up your damned mouth! Damn it! If Lord Philibert hears your discouraging words, he will chop off your head before those fanatical knights-errant can do anything."

……

"A large group of Duchy Guards, as well as several Knights Errant and their armed squires? How the hell did they find out?"

Philibert put his helmet on his head with a curse and put his sword back into its scabbard.

His mind was racing:

Maybe I should escape through the back door now, before they get in!

No, if I wasn't there, that mob would be dispersed in the blink of an eye, and I wouldn't be able to run far...

and many more……

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came into Philibert's mind.

Since they had not yet attacked but were shouting first, this might mean that they were not sure that they were the ones selling slaves.

Or maybe it's their damn chivalry at work again.

But no matter what the reason.

This may be his only chance to turn things around.

Philibert immediately called over one of his men.

Tell him to call the other bandits in the manor and bring all the crossbows hidden in the manor.

They lay in ambush under the courtyard wall, waiting for his order.

Then they fired arrows at random.

As long as the leader can be killed, the people outside can be temporarily repelled, giving them a chance to escape.

……

The order was passed down, and after all the bandits under his command had made all necessary preparations...

Filibert then rode on horseback, accompanied by several bandits disguised as servants, opened the manor gate, and leisurely walked out. "Captain Damien, Sir Palmerin, Sir Milton, Sir Reynard, and this... I'm sorry, you are..."

Maximus introduced himself to the other party in a solemn and loud voice.

"I am Maximus Norris Macrinno, Sir Philipbert Witton. Long time no see."

Philibert said sarcastically, "It's Sir Maximus. It's been a long time since we last met. But I'm disappointed that you haven't become addicted to alcohol and narcotics like your father."

Damien's eyelids twitched, and he was about to scold, but was stopped by Maximus.

He knew that the other person had this kind of personality since childhood.

And Maximus, just like when he was a child, did not bother with the other party.

Don't beat around the bush with the other party.

He held out the piece of cloth stained with rose wine and asked, "Sir Philibert, do you recognize this?"

Philibert didn't even bother to look at it.

"Maximus, have you been hit on the head with a mace? You just picked up a piece of cloth and asked me if I recognize it? I know where you picked it up from."

Philibert's attitude became increasingly arrogant.

He didn't even add the proper respectful title.

His face was full of disdain and arrogance.

"Sir Philibert, I believe you should be aware of the recent cases of missing persons."

"This was found in a caravan that was attacked the day before yesterday. There's a lingering smell of rosé wine on this piece of cloth. And as far as I know, rosé wine can only come from one place, and that's..."

Before Maximus could say the name of Casteldaccia Manor, Philibert angrily interrupted him and changed the subject.

"Maximus, don't go too far! Don't forget who took you in when your gambler father lost this vineyard to my father, so that you wouldn't have to wander around!"

"You don't even think about repaying me, and you actually dare to bite me back with such a vile method. You are so ungrateful!"

"Captain Damien, and all the knights, is it because you believed this man's instigation that you gathered at my door?"

"Just a piece of cloth torn from some country bumpkin? You want to slander a knight who swore allegiance to the Duchess? Slander me—Sir Philipbert Wetton, son of Sir 'Whitecheek' Cooper Wetton?"

Philibert was filled with righteous indignation and anger, as if he had really been wronged.

But his anxious little eyes, which kept opening and closing, revealed the truth.

His heart is far from being as innocent as he appears on the surface.

Palmerin rode his horse forward two steps and spoke for Maximus.

"In the Principality ruled by Her Royal Highness the Glorious Duchess, no innocent good person will be wrongly accused, nor will any evildoer be let off."

"Sir Philibert, if you are truly innocent, let us go in and search, so that we can clear your name."

Philibert snorted coldly.

"Sir Palmerin, I'm being polite to you because you were deceived by that despicable guy Maximus, but please don't go too far."

"If Her Highness the Duchess were here, she could certainly search."

"But why should I let you into my house?"

Damien couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

Before coming here, he still had doubts, worrying that there was a possibility that Maximus had made a mistake.

But after arriving, he saw how Filibert treated Maximus and how he refused to let them in to search...

He knew that Philibert was most likely hiding something.

"Sir Philibert, I, Damien de la Tour, am under the orders of the Regent, Count Raymond, to investigate the case of missing persons. I have the authority to search every inch of land within the Duchy, including the knight's estate."

"If you refuse to cooperate, you will be ignoring the laws of the Principality and the orders of the Regent. You must think carefully about this."

Philibert's face flushed.

"Captain Damien, if Her Highness the Duchess knew that the knight who swore allegiance to her and was loyal to her had suffered such a great humiliation, she would be heartbroken."

"Since you have found me guilty, I demand a trial by combat! My designated target is you, Maximus!"

(End of this chapter)