The Witcher World: The Path to Domination Begins in Velen

Chapter 97 The Secret Chamber and Roche's Shock

Ron pushed open the door to the secret room, which closed behind him. The room had been modified by Erwin and was filled with bookshelves, each shelf crammed with ledgers, intelligence briefings, and old books. In the center was a heavy, long table.

Dixter's massive frame was squeezed into the armchair, next to a lean-fitting man with dark hair, neatly trimmed sideburns, and unshaven stubble on his chin, looking exactly the same as when they met at the manor a few months ago.

"This is a bit unexpected, Roach," Ron said, walking straight to the table and tapping it twice. "I'll just ask you directly, why are you here?"

Roche's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Ha, what can I do? I'm a member of the retired intelligence officers' club."

Geralt leaned against the bookshelf. "Roche, you once swore to defend one king to the death, and now you're going to assassinate another?"

"Geralt, I know this is dishonorable, but I have no better choice." Roche's gaze fell to the table, where a map of Novigrad's defenses lay spread out.

"Radovid's actions have repeatedly shown that he only cares about his own interests. When Cordwin came to ask for help, he took the opportunity to launch an invasion. I begged him to help defend Vizima, but he refused to come to my door."

His voice suddenly rose: "The war has now reached a decisive stage. I must act decisively and stop harboring illusions. Only by eliminating Radovid can Temuria be liberated."

"Isn't Radovid an ally of Temuria?" Geralt pressed.

"Only when my guerrillas support him and follow his orders will it count," Roche slammed his fist on the table, causing the ink bottle to shake slightly.

"I've figured it out. Even if we win, Radovid won't admit it, much less restore the pre-war borders. He'll just swallow up Temurian territory."

Dixter shrugged at Geralt. "Geralt, I know you don't care about these dry political issues, but Radovid poses a threat to Triss and Yennefer, and you can't just ignore that."

"Geralt may not care, but I do," Ron suddenly leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Roche's face.

"Roche, get rid of Radovid and liberate Temeria? You might fool Geralt with that, but don't try to fool me. Temeria is currently under Nilfgaardian control. With Radovid dead, the Pontal River defenses will immediately fall into chaos without a commander. The most likely scenario is that Nilfgaard will advance unimpeded. How are you going to liberate Temeria in that situation? With your guerrillas to hold off Nilfgaard?"

Roche's Adam's apple bobbed, and he silently pursed his lips.

"Or," Ron lowered his voice even further, "have you struck some secret deal with Nilfgaard?"

My intelligence indicates that Nilfgaardian military personnel have appeared alongside Baroness Maria Louise la Valedi.

—Morfan Vrij, Emhyr's trusted lieutenant and commander of the Alba Division.

Ron drew a circle on the table with his finger. "He's clearly using Louisa's position as Anais's guardian to win over the old guard of Temeria, trying to break the current stalemate in the war. As for the bargaining chip... I guess it's supporting Anais's succession in exchange for Temeria's independence? Tell me, Roche, have you accepted Nilfgaard's offer?"

Dixter's chest heaved, and he sighed heavily. "Ron, I knew you could tell. Only Roche probably thinks he's kept it a secret, but why bring it up now? I was planning to talk to him properly after the plan was finished..."

""

"A proper talk?" Ron's lips curled into a sneer. "Dikoscher, I guess when you say 'a proper talk,' you don't mean the kind where you sit down and have tea."

He turned to Roche, his eyes sharp. "I don't want to lose this ally, or rather, the ally I consider to be, just yet. As for what Roche thinks, that's for him to answer."

Geralt sighed deeply, leaned back against the bookshelf, and looked up at the copper lamp on the ceiling.

"I knew it wouldn't be that simple for me to get involved in this. Sure enough, there's a conspiracy behind the conspiracy. Ron, are you guys going to use knives later?"

"I would never help my friend kill another friend. What kind of third-rate playwright wrote this rubbish script?"

"Don't worry, Geralt." Ron's gaze remained fixed on Roche's face. "I won't put you in this dilemma. Whatever decision Roche makes today, I'll let him leave alive for your sake."

He gently tightened his grip on the sword hilt. "Of course, that means we'll be enemies the next time we meet. What do you say, Roche?"

Roche slowly raised his head, and the silence on his face finally cracked as he spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Alright, to be honest, I don't want to accept Nilfgaard's conditions, but do I have a choice? Even if Radovid wins, Temeria will cease to exist. As you said, my guerrillas can't stop Nilfgaard, so how can they stop Redania?"

He clenched his fist tightly, then released it. "My goal has never changed: to restore Temuria!!"

Everything I have was given to me by King Foltest. Whoever can help me restore my kingdom, I will cooperate with, even at the cost of everything!

"You really can't stop them," Ron's voice was surprisingly calm. "Because you don't have enough leverage to make them wary. Anyone who weighs the options a little will understand that eliminating you is far more profitable than fulfilling the agreement. But Dixter and I can help you."

"You?" A hint of mockery flashed in Roche's eyes. "A sergeant major under a warlord and a spy chief? How can you help?"

Ron tilted his head, looking puzzled. "Roche, how long has it been since you and Weiss exchanged information?"

"I've been very busy these past month or two and haven't had time to think about it. What's wrong?"

"Dikoscher, I think this can't be kept from you. You tell me." Ron leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his stomach.

Dicoscher laid his palms flat on the table, speaking as if he were reading a file he had memorized countless times.

"First of all, he is no longer a sergeant major under the Bloody Baron. Ron has officially taken over Raven's Den and, as the de facto lord of Velen, controls most of Velen. He then reorganized the old forces of Raven's Den and began a large-scale expansion of his army. According to my latest intelligence, he currently has nearly two thousand professional soldiers under his command. Note that I said professional soldiers, not the kind you just grab from the ground and give a sword to a peasant."

He paused for a moment, glancing at Roche's shocked expression. "He has his own weapons workshop, and the production of armor and weapons has overflowed to the point that he's started large-scale trade in Novigrad. With over two thousand professional soldiers plus the militia with training within his territory, if wartime mobilization is activated, he could raise an army of seven or eight thousand. Furthermore, as far as I know, his soldiers have a well-organized structure, including heavy cavalry, horse archers, scouts, heavy infantry, crossbowmen, and spearmen, as well as a small number of sorcerers for support."

"As for combat strength..." Dikoscher's lips curled up slightly, "Based on my assessment of his several operations, his standing army's combat strength has reached the level of Nilfgaard's elite forces. You should know that although Nilfgaard boasts an army of 400,000, the vast majority of them are logistical support personnel, conscripts from vassal states, and slave troops from defeated nations. The only units that can truly be called elite are a few such as the Alba Division, the Fourth Cavalry Legion, and the Seventh Cavalry Brigade of Dellani."

He gestured with his chin toward the map spread out on the table. "In addition, the Northern Gazette, Calard Winery, Calard Trading Company, and Calard Mercenary Group, which have recently emerged in Novigrad, are all his businesses. With sufficient wealth to support them, his military power is still expanding. Although I still don't know where he got his enormous sum of money, it doesn't matter anymore."

Roche stared at Ron in disbelief, as if seeing the man for the first time. "Is what Dixter said true? Am I dreaming? Just a few months ago he was a sergeant major under a minor warlord, and now his power has swelled to the point where he can influence the course of the war?"

"As expected of you, Dixter," Ron chuckled. "I don't even remember this much information myself."

Dikoscher shrugged, a sly glint in his eyes. "Don't forget, intelligence gathering is my old profession."