The Witcher World: The Path to Domination Begins in Velen

Ron took the letter, read it carefully, and then silently placed it back on the table, his fingertips lightly pressing the paper.

"The time and place were clearly written down. I thought it was just a little mouse, but I didn't expect there to be a surprise later. I started to regret not sparing its life back then."

He looked up at Erwin, his eyes serious. "Where did you find it?"

"The bandit leader's bedroom," Erwin adjusted his glasses.

"There was a hidden compartment under that table. I pried it open and found these letters inside, and this was also there."

He pulled out a small, bulging leather bag from his pocket.

Ron reached out and took it, pinched out a coin, flipped it on his knuckles, and caught it in mid-air, letting it coolly settle in his palm.

The obverse is engraved with the sun symbol of Nilfgaard, and it is in very good condition, as if it just came out of the mint.

Ron raised an eyebrow at "Florin".

"Several hundred," Erwin added, his voice low and heavy, as if something was weighing on his mind.

"Ha, a bandit's den actually has so much Nilfgaardian currency hidden inside. They couldn't have accumulated it themselves, could they?"

"Oh right, I also searched the bandit leader's belongings. This dagger he had was a standard-issue weapon from the Nilfgaardian army."

The belt buckle was also the kind issued by the army. This man wasn't a deserter at all; he was deliberately removed from the military and made a living doing dirty work.

Ron tossed the coin back into the bag with a soft thud.

"Is there any information in the letter that can verify the recipient's identity?"

Erwin shook his head.

"No, I have checked all the letters and items repeatedly. The writer was very careful; there was no signature or closing, and the meeting places for the various transactions were different."

In addition, I examined the writing style, which was standard military communication format, with its sentence structure, vocabulary, and his familiarity with the slave trade process.

I suspect the other party is a Nilfgaardian army officer, and of a high rank, but it's hard to say exactly who it is.

Ron didn't respond, remained silent for a moment, and then asked something else.

Why did the military get involved in the slave trade?

Erwin seemed to have been waiting for this. He cleared his throat, tucked the wooden board back under his arm, and freed his hands to gesture.

"The fundamental purpose of Nilfgaard's war is different from the petty squabbles between the northern kingdoms. The northern kingdoms fight to plunder, cede territory, pay reparations, demand ransoms, and then call it a day."

The Nilfgaardians launched the war despite long supply lines and domestic opposition; they weren't just there for a quick visit.

Their aim is to completely conquer our lands. Nilfgaard has a skilled and efficient war process that allows them to turn conquered territories into imperial provinces and colonies.

War is also a business, requiring substantial financial backing; merchant guilds, trading companies, and high-ranking nobles are the investors.

The land in the occupied territories was sold at low prices to nobles, merchants, and trading companies. These people were both investors and the main force of the colonization. They built manors, developed mines, set up workshops, and established trade routes.

He held up one finger, its knuckles thin and bony.

"These all require people, a lot of people. Hiring workers? Too expensive. The Nilfgaardians have obviously done the math. Capturing people from the north and transporting them to the south costs only a third of the cost of hiring workers. They just cramm them into the mines and let them work until they die. No wages are paid, no compensation is provided. When they run out, they just capture another batch."

He pushed up his glasses with another finger.

"Therefore, the slave trade was not a small business for a few officers to make extra money; it was part of Nilfgaard's external wars, and the frontline officers were the main force involved in the slave trade."

"But military regulations and government orders prevent them from showing up directly, so each war zone has to employ a few deserters, bandits, and local bullies as their agents."

They helped them with arrests, transportation, and money laundering, while the officers provided shelter and equipment. The one we killed was the black glove on Willen's side.

Erwin's voice lowered, so low it seemed to be forced from his chest, carrying a pent-up frustration.

"These Nilfgaardians always have the word 'civilized' on their lips, the legitimate rulers of the empire, the light of civilization. They always think that the northerners are uncivilized barbarians."

I don't think they're much better. They put on a civilized facade, but when they go to other people's land, they burn, kill, loot, and kidnap civilians to engage in the slave trade. Don't be fooled by their serious demeanor."

Ron didn't reply, but simply nodded slightly.

Erwin took a deep breath and brought his voice back to normal.

"The problem right now is that if the person who made the contact arrives at the location and finds no one there to meet them, they will definitely become suspicious if this goes on for too long, and will most likely send someone to investigate. We have two options."

He held up one finger, and the finger stopped in mid-air.

"Go to the meeting place, kill the person. According to the contents of the letter, this handover is not just about money."

The ship that made contact also brought a batch of equipment: longswords, shields, chainmail, and various bows and crossbows—all the things we currently lack most.

"We can seize it and use it to arm our own troops. The people behind it are bound by military discipline and are involved in the shady business of slave trading, so they can't directly send regular troops to retaliate. Sending a few private soldiers or bandits won't pose much of a threat to us."

The finger hovered in the air for a moment, then slowly withdrew.

Article 2

He didn't continue.

Ron looked into his eyes, without urging him, just looking at him.

"Say it," Ron said.

Erwin remained silent for a long time.

"I understand if you don't want to confront the Nilfgaardian military, then let's relocate, take everyone with us, and find another place to settle down."

After those words were spoken, the room fell silent.

From afar, outside the window, Karl's commands for training the new recruits could be heard, mixed with the clanging of metal clashing.

Ron stood up

The chair leg scraped against the ground with a short, sharp screech. He walked up to Erwin, reached out and pressed his hand against Erwin's shoulder, the hand resting on Erwin's thin shoulder.

Erwin's shoulders visibly slumped, but this time he didn't flinch.

"That won't do," Ron said with a smile, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

"They've come all this way, bringing equipment and money. Wouldn't it be extremely impolite of us not to reciprocate their hospitality?"

He turned and walked towards the door, stopped at the door, and turned his face to the side.

"Erwin, you know the location in the letter. You lead the way."

"I'll go and gather the men."

The sound of footsteps descended the stairs, sinking deeper and deeper, gradually fading into the distance.

Erwin remained standing there, reaching out to push up his glasses. The monocle tilted slightly on his nose before straightening again.

Then he looked down at the bag of florins and the stack of letters spread out on the table.

He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

"Barbarians," he muttered to himself, his voice very soft, as if speaking only to himself, "we are the barbarians."

He gathered the letters, tucked them into the wooden board, turned, and quickly followed them out.