Chapter 1493 - 953: Night Watcher Guides_2

Chapter 1493: Chapter 953: Night Watcher Guides_2

"We are standing at a historical crossroads, Count Raymond. The future holds two paths: either rallying the world’s power under the guidance of the Night Watchers to grasp the faint and elusive chance against the impending doom of the Void.

"Or... complete destruction and dissolution, and after our deaths, if lucky, we might become one of those purple monsters, continuing to destroy others’ worlds."

He concluded unyieldingly and decisively.

"And if, I say if, we really manage to survive this apocalypse under the banner of the Night Watchers...

"Then, who else but the Night Watchers will lead us out of the abyss, forge a new era, and reshape the world?

"They will become the indisputable sole leaders of this world, writing the new order, new rules.

"This is not a prophecy; it’s the cold and ruthless deduction made based on power, efficiency, public support, and reality."

Alfred’s words were like a heavy hammer striking in the silent restaurant.

The flickering firelight in the fireplace danced in his deep eyes, creating a somewhat heavy atmosphere.

Count Raymond’s usual shrewd smile had long disappeared, replaced by deep contemplation.

He slowly picked up his wine glass but did not drink, merely gazing at the deep red liquid within.

As if searching for the safety anchor of the Golden Bird Family’s ship amidst the vast and cruel future landscape depicted by Alfred.

He thought about these questions and reflected on them.

But he wasn’t as resolute as Alfred.

Or rather, not as passionate as the other side.

Perhaps it was the merchant’s nature at play; although he had considered the future, he was mostly driven by self-interest.

What’s the future of the world, doomsday and such, what can be done?

They’re just a Commerce Association, doing their own part is enough.

The appearance of the Night Watchers itself has already indicated that future changes are boundless and unpredictable.

Who could have imagined that such an existence as the Night Watchers would grow to become a behemoth capable of challenging the world single-handedly within merely twenty years?

Many years ago, his worldview had already been reshaped.

Although he hadn’t mingled deeply with Alfred before, they conversed at various social gatherings, and he occasionally heard some rumors about Alfred, that border noble.

Through communication among nobles and casual talks between friends, there were almost no secrets among nobles.

So, was Alfred like that before?

Or was the Alfred from last month like that?

What changed him, leading him to such firm support for the Night Watchers, even more steadfast than himself, who is deeply tied to the Night Watchers by interest?

How many people like this are there? And how many such people is the Night Watchers influencing?

The mountain winds outside the window seemed to become more piercingly cold.

Count Raymond set down his wine glass, lightly tapping his fingers on the smooth tabletop, making a subtle thud-thud sound, breaking the brief silence created by the crackling of the fireplace.

The merchant-like smile on his face faded, replaced by a mix of worry and shrewd seriousness.

"Lord Alfred, I understand and respect your trust and choice regarding the Night Watchers."

Raymond’s voice was low and clear, "I did not come here to shake your stance—in fact, our fundamental interests align in combating the Void.

"The Golden Bird Family’s merchant fleets, mines, exploration teams also need safety, need order and stability."

He paused, looking sharply at Alfred: "But trust does not equal blindness. Especially when we are in this kingdom, whose complexity far exceeds our initial imagination.

I came this time with some... information collected by the family intelligence network that is not so reassuring.

The possible consequences it points to differ completely from the ’collapse of order’ or ’peasant uprising’ those relics in the Royal Capital lament about, and even more unsettling."

Alfred furrowed his brows slightly, leaning forward, showing importance: "Oh? Please elaborate, Count Raymond. Your intelligence has always been precise."

This is the Commerce Association’s behind-the-scenes controller, and not just within the country, not even just in this continent.

"Thank you for your trust," Raymond nodded slightly, "First, regarding the ’Adventurer’s House.’ You said it accepts tasks, maintains Night Watcher structures, has loose systems... These are superficial. But have you truly understood its functioning? Observe deeply everything it brings, not just power?"

Alfred pondered for a moment and candidly said: "My focus has been more on its military and order-maintaining functions.

"It efficiently absorbs and manages civilians who gain power, avoiding chaos. My second son, Wilson, leads an adventure team on the Tariel Continent, establishing new outposts, accumulating many merits and experience for the family.

"Regarding deeper operations... To be blunt, I consider it a governance method within the Night Watchers. As long as the results are beneficial, the details need not be scrutinized."

There were similar organizations to adventurers before, but they were called Mercenary Corps.

They mainly served in warfare and maintained some order, handling moments when troops were stretched thin, or used as cannon fodder.

Fundamentally different from adventurers now, so for the whole world, the Adventurer’s House is rather novel.

But compared to other changes brought by the Night Watchers, this novelty is negligible.

"Beneficial results?" Raymond’s mouth curled into a chilly arc, "In the short term, yes. But long term? Lord Alfred, do you know what I’ve seen?"

He didn’t need Alfred’s answer and directly threw out the core information.

"I see density. The density of the Adventurer’s House. They are like mushrooms in a post-rain forest, no, more like a meticulously woven giant net!

"They not only inhabit major cities but also delve into every medium-scale town, even numerous large villages!

"They exist in the form of taverns, inns, guild residences; their distribution’s density far exceeds the peak periods of the Night Patrol Legion’s established outposts. What does this mean?"

Alfred’s expression finally turned grave.

He hadn’t specially focused on this ’density’ problem before.

It’s true that the Adventurer’s House is widespread, but in every corner, he hadn’t quantitatively assessed it.

As a commercial giant, Raymond’s intelligence network’s sensitivity to ’nodes’ far surpasses Alfred, the border lord.

"Does it mean the Night Watchers’ tentacles have penetrated the kingdom, no, the gathering places of the whole world?"

Alfred asked in a deep voice.

"Exactly!" Raymond’s voice carried a hint of chill, "And this is just the physical presence. They also hold a weapon seemingly insignificant, yet indeed powerful—a newspaper."

"Newspaper?" Alfred nodded, "I am aware. It contains pioneering news, monster illustrations, material prices, and... some stories and commentary.

"I read almost every issue, capable of timely understanding a lot of external dynamics, especially concerning the Void threat and Night Watchers’ actions. It’s quite helpful in stabilizing public sentiment and disseminating information."

"Quite helpful?" Raymond leaned slightly forward, eyes fixed intensely on Alfred.

"Of course you would feel it helpful! Because you are of high status, broad views, and numerous information channels; for you, the newspaper is an information supplement and sieve.

"But have you ever considered what it means for a farmer in a remote village, a young adventurer who just gained power, or even those literate ordinary guards in your castle, to have this newspaper regularly sent to the Adventurer’s House, almost freely distributed or sold at very low prices?"

Alfred furrowed his brow tightly; he seemed to grasp the core of Raymond’s words but felt somewhat vague: "Does it mean they can obtain external information? Broaden their horizons?"

"It means the sole information source! Or more precisely, it is the most authoritative and ’correct’ guidance they can access."

Raymond’s voice was unwaveringly decisive.