Chapter 25 Chapter 20 The Shaking Pendant

"My dear Domo!" Charlotta Vespa seductively placed her finger on the shoulder of the Rat Man leader. "Don't you see that our alliance will be of mutual benefit?" "I only saw soldiers from the Basadoni Guild running into my sewer!" Domo Quirillo roared.He now appears in human form, but still has some features - such as the way he sniffs - that are more rat-like. "Where's that old trash?" Artemis Entreri was about to answer when he was stopped by Charlotte's pitiful eyes.The killer leaned back in his chair, contentedly allowing Charlotte to deal with a disgusting guy like Domo.

"That old bastard," she mimicked Domo's irreverent tone. "A partnership with a powerful ally is being formed now. Tama will not want to miss this powerful ally." The Rat Man narrowed his eyes dangerously. He was not used to being threatened. "Who?" he asked. "Those stinky kobolds running around in my sewers?" "Kobold?" Charlotte repeated, smiling. "Not them. They're just cannon fodder, the vanguard of our new allies." The Ratman leader pushed her hand off his shoulder, stood up and paced the room.He knew that there was a great battle in the sewers and cellars below the Basadoni guild quarters.He knew that many kobolds, Basadoni soldiers, and, according to his scouts, some other creatures were involved.No one saw them, but they were clearly powerful, with cunning tactics and a wide variety of magic.In addition, only from the fact that Charlotte is still alive, it can be known that some members of the Basadoni Guild survived.Domo suspected that all this was a coup planned by the two men in front of him, Charlotta and Entreri.They claimed that old Basadoni was still alive, but admitted that one of Domo's friends, Kaza Jordyn, was dead.Charlotta says it was an unfortunate accident, but Domo understands that it has nothing to do with luck—whether good or bad.

"Why is he speaking for the old man?" the Rat Man gestured to Entreri and asked Charlotta at the same time, with strong disgust in his tone.Domo, like most ratmen, had no affection for Entreri, because Entreri killed the legendary Ratmen of Calimport, the wily and cunning Reshita. "Because I decided to," Entreri replied before Charlotta. Charlotta gave the killer a bitter look, but when she turned to Domo again, a sweet smile returned to her face. "Artemis Entreri was well acquainted with the affairs of Calimport," she said. "He's an appropriate messenger."

"I have to trust him?" Domo asked suspiciously. "You have to believe that the conditions we provide for you and your subordinates will be the best in the city." Charlotte replied. "You have to believe if you don't accept the condition," Entreri added. "You are declaring war on our guild. And I can guarantee that this prospect will not be too pleasant." Domo's mouse eyes narrowed again, but he was humble enough and wise enough to know that Entreri should not be pushed any further. "We'll talk next time, Charlotta," he said. "You, me, and old Basadoni." After speaking, the Rat Man left under the escort of two Basadoni soldiers.They escorted him all the way to the basement, where he could try to get back to his lair in the sewers.

He had just gone out when a secret door opened behind Charlotta and Entreri, and Jarlaxle walked in. "You can go." The mercenary leader ordered Charlotte.His tone suggested he was not too pleased with the outcome. Charlotta gave Entreri another bitter look, and walked out the door. "You've done well," Jarlaxle told her, and she nodded. "True, but I failed," Entreri said as the door closed behind her. "Unfortunately." "These talks mean everything to us," Jarlaxle told him. "If we can strengthen our strength and assure other guilds that we will not threaten them, I will be able to complete the first step of my plan."

"Then Calimport can start trading with Menzoberranzan." Entreri flung his arms dramatically in sarcasm. "And all benefits go to Menzoberranzan." "All benefits go to the Dayet mercenaries," Jarlaxle corrected. "Should I care about any of this?" Entreri asked bluntly. Jarlaxle paused for a moment, considering the man's posture and tone. "There's a lot of suspicion on my team that you can't perform these tasks well," he says.Though the mercenary chief didn't sound the slightest threatening in his voice, Entreri knew the drow's temperament well enough to hear the dire undertones.

"Aren't you in the mood to do these things?" the mercenary leader asked. "Why? You will soon be the most influential pasha in the streets of Calimport. The king will bow to you and give you respect and wealth." "I'll be yawning in front of them," Entreri replied. "Yes, all of this bores you," Jarlaxle said. "Even fighting. You lose your purpose and your desires. You throw them away. Why? Is it fear? Or is it because you feel like there's nothing left to pursue?" Entreri shifted restlessly.Of course, he already knew what Jarlaxle said, but hearing another person describe the emptiness in his heart still gave him a deep shock.

"Are you a coward?" Jarlaxle asked. Entreri laughed back at the absurdity, and even wanted to jump up and attack the drow with all his strength.He knew Jarlaxle's fighting skills, and knew that he would probably be decapitated before he could strike the defiant mercenary leader, but he still seriously considered doing so.Jarlaxle then struck first, sending the killer back into position. "Or because you saw Menzoberranzan?" Jarlaxle asked. Entreri knew that was a large part of the reason.And his expression made it clear that Jarlaxle had hit a sensitive spot. "Are you scared?" Drow asked. "Do you find the sight of Menzoberranzan frightening?"

"It's discouraging," Entreri corrected, his voice full of strength and hatred. "It's disheartening to see how stupid this whole city is." "Ah, and you know that stupidity is a reflection of your own life," Jarlaxle said. "What Artemis Entreri had worked so hard for all his life, was presented to him in such a stupid form as a whole city of drow." Entreri was still sitting, hands clasped, biting his lip, getting closer to the brink of eruption. "So, isn't your life a lie?" Jarlaxle continued, still indifferently, and said a sentence that flew like a dagger to Entreri's heart. "That's what Drizzt Do'Urden said, wasn't it?"

For an instant, Entreri's stoic face was ablaze with flames.Jarlaxle laughed loudly. "You're finally showing signs of life!" he said. "A signal representing longing, but this longing is out of my heart." He sighed and lowered his voice. "Many of my partners don't think you're worth the effort," he admitted. "But I know better, Artemis Entreri. We are friends, you and I. And though neither of us would like to admit it, we are alike. The greatness lies before you, and it only takes me to You show the way, and you can get it easily." "You're talking stupid," Entreri said quietly.

"One obstacle in that path is Drizzt Do'Urden," Entreri continued without hesitation. "That's the hole in your heart. You have to fight him again on the terms you choose, because otherwise your ego won't allow you to face your life with a good attitude." "I've fought him enough," Entreri retorted, his anger rising again. "And I never want to see that guy again." "You can say you believe so," Jarlaxle said. "But you were lying, to me and to yourself. Twice you fought Drizzt Do'Urden fairly, and twice you were forced to flee." "I nearly killed him right in the city's sewers!" insisted the killer. "But his damn friends got him out." "Also, on the cliff overlooking the Mithril Hall, he also showed his strength." "No!" Entreri insisted, even losing control of his anger for a moment. "No, I beat him!" "You sincerely believe so, and because of it you are surrounded by painful memories," Jarlaxle reasoned. "You told me all the details of the first battle, and I myself watched the second from a distance. Both of us knew that you and he were equally likely to win the battle. This is your confusion. If Drizzt beat you cleanly and you survived, you'd probably be far away. And if you beat him, dead or alive, you don't think about it again. What bothers you so much It is this uncertainty, my friend. It pains you to realize that there is a challenge that is pending, and therefore this challenge blocks all other desires that you may have, whether they be the desire for great power. , or simply the need for pleasure. In fact, you can easily get both.” Entreri leaned back in his chair, his anger already beginning to turn to interest. "And this, I can give you as well," Jarlaxle said. "I can give you what you want most, as long as you admit what you want most in your heart. Now even without your help, I can continue to carry out the plan in Calimport, Charlotte A good vanguard, and my power is too ingrained to be uprooted. But I don't want to make such an arrangement. I hope Artemis Entreri will lead the way in all the affairs of the Dayet Mercenaries on the surface, The real Artemis Entreri. The Artemis Entreri I see now is just a shell of my past self, sucked away by this futile questioning of rebellious Drizzt. mentality instead of being able to focus on those skills that make you stand out from the crowd.” "Skills," Entreri repeated suspiciously, turning away. But Jarlaxle knew that he had already made an impact on the man, had shown Entreri an irresistible allure to the killer. "There's one more meeting to go, and it's the most important of all the talks," Jarlaxle said. "My drow colleagues and myself will be watching you closely to see what you are doing with the leader of the Explorers Guild, Pasha Ronning's emissary, Quentin Podew, and Wavel Tigovis Your performance at the meeting. If you behave well, I will bring Drizzt Do'Urden before you." "They will ask to see Pasha Basadoni," Entreri reasoned.He began to think about these things, and Jarlaxle knew that the fish had already bit the bait. "Don't you have a disguise mask?" Jarlaxle asked. Entreri paused, not understanding what he meant, but immediately realized that Jarlaxle was talking about a magical mask he had taken from Catti-brie in Menzoberranzan.He used the mask to impersonate himself as the archmage of the drow city, Gromph Baenre, and infiltrated Gromph's chambers to obtain a priceless treasure, the Spider Mask, which would allow him to enter the Baenre's garrison in search of Drizzt. "No more," he said roughly, obviously not wanting to recount the experience in detail. "What a pity," Jarlaxle said. "It will make things a lot easier. But don't worry, we'll arrange it," Drow promised.He bowed and turned to leave the room, leaving Artemis Entreri alone in thought. "Drizzt Do'Urden," the killer said to himself, and there was no hatred in his voice, just resignation.Jarlache had seduced him, showing him a side of his inner turmoil that he hadn't thought about—at least not really thought about.Entreri hadn't seen Drizzt since his escape from Menzoberranzan, and during that time he had tried many times to convince himself that he had nothing to do with the rebellious drow, that he didn't want to. To see that good-for-nothing Drizzt Do'Urden again. But is that true? Jarlaxle was right. It was indeed unknown which of the two of them had the stronger fighting ability.The two of them fought each other in two great battles and countless skirmishes, and fought side by side twice, once in Menzoberranzan and the other in the tunnels beneath before the Bruenors took Mithril Hall back. middle.All these encounters show that, whether in terms of combat style or combat skills, they are the out-and-out shadow of each other. In the sewers, the fight even got to the point where Entreri spit in Drizzt's face to get the upper hand, but then, that damned Catti-brie showed up with her deadly bow, and Entreri Li was forced to retreat.Entreri had been winning that fight on the cliff, but the drow had taken an unfair advantage by using his natural ability, Dark Ward.Even so, Entreri always had a chance of winning, but in the end it was his own excessive desire that kept him from defeating his foe. So, who is stronger among them?Who will win? The killer let out a long sigh, propped his chin with his fingers and continued to think.From the inside pocket of his cloak he produced a small pendant that Jarlaxle had taken from Katie and that Entreri had found in the table of the mercenary chief in Menzoberranzan.This pendant will allow him to find Drizzt Do'Urden. Over the past few years, Artemis Entreri had stared at the pendant countless times, wondering where the traitor might be, what Drizzt might be doing, and what he had been up to lately. enemies fought. The killer had stared at the pendant countless times and made various guesses, but before this moment, he had never really thought about using it. Jarlaxle's usual fluid stride added palpable energy as he walked away from Entreri.The mercenary chief congratulated silently to himself, both for his foresight and effort to find Drizzt Do'Urden, and for his cunning in planting such a powerful seed in Entreri's heart. "But that's the point," Jarlaxle said aloud as he walked into Lacky's room and saw Lacky and Kim Murray in it. "Forethought, it's always the key." The other two looked at him inquiringly. Jarlaxle smiled, signaling that they needn't think about it any more. "How is our scouting going?" he asked, pleased to see that Toze was still following the mage.It appears that Lakey has managed to turn the imp into his familiar. The other two dark elves looked at each other, and now it was their turn to laugh.Lackey began to chant the incantation silently, waving his arms slowly in some form.He gradually accelerated his waving movements and turned around, the shining cloak flying behind him.A cloud of gray smoke rose from his feet, obscuring his figure, and he seemed to be spinning faster and faster. Then everything stopped and Lecky disappeared.In his place was a human, wearing a tan tunic and trousers, a pale blue silk cloak, and a wide-brimmed hat no less outlandish than Jarlaxle's. Jean: The hat itself is blue, the brim is red, with a feather inserted on the right side, and in the middle of the hat there is a fine gold crest, with a picture of an open eye, with a burning candles. "Greetings, Jarlaxle, I am Cadri Bonardus of Caladon," said the impostor, bowing deeply. Jarlaxle noticed that the pseudo-human spoke fluent drow, a language that was extremely difficult to hear on the surface. "The imitation was perfect!" said the little ghost Tosawa in a piercing voice. "He looks so much like that old Cadley! I really want to prick him with the poisonous thorn on my tail!" After speaking, Tosawa waved his pair of fleshy wings and jumped up, using his hands and feet at the same time. applaud his master. "I don't think Cadlei Bonnardus speaks drow," Jarlaxle said dryly. "A simple spell will correct this," Leckie assured his master.Jarlaxle knew of such a spell, and used it often in meetings with various races.But Jarlaxle knew that the spell had its limits. "I'm going to look and talk like Kadley," Leckie continued, smiling at his ingenuity. "Can you?" Jarlaxle asked very seriously. "Perhaps our perceptive opponents will detect that you conjure subjects or verbs in a manner similar to our language, and thus discover that you are faking." "I'll be careful," Leckie promised, his tone revealing that he didn't like anyone doubting his abilities. "Caution may not be enough," Jarlaxle replied. "We have to make sure your work is done flawlessly, or we don't stand a chance." "If we're going to Drizzt, what do you think we're going to do?" Leckie asked. "We need a professional imitator," Jarlaxle said, causing both of his drow companions to groan. "What does he mean?" Tozawa asked anxiously. Jarlaxle looked at Kim Murray. "Baltimazvas is with the mind flayers," he instructed. "You go find them." "Baltimazfas?" Lecky said with obvious disgust, for he already knew and loathed the creature. "Mind flayers control it, and set the fee extremely high." "That's going to be expensive," Kim Murray added.He has had many dealings with the peculiar mind flayers, also known as illithids. "You get what you pay for," Jarlaxle assured the two. "How should we calculate the possibility of betrayal?" Lecky asked. "Baltimazvas and mind flayers never cut a deal, and they don't fear the drow or any other race." "Then we'll be the most treacherous of them all." Jarlaxle didn't seem to take any of this to heart. "And what about Wulfgar who was left behind?" "In Luskan," replied Kim Murray. "He's not in any important position. It's just a minor role, and he has no connection to the traitor right now." Jarlaxle pondered for a moment, gathering all the clues together. "He's actually a minor character, but he's going to be a big part of our story," he concluded. "If you go to Drizzt in the disguise of Cadderly, do you still have the power—divine power, not mage arcane power—to send them to Luskan by magic?" "I can't, and Cadley probably can't," Lakey replied. "They're a bit too much for any priest's teleportation spell. I could take one or two of them, but not four. Neither could Cadderly, unless he possesses great powers beyond my comprehension." Jarlaxle paused again and began to ponder. "Then there's no need to choose Luskan." It's not so much that he was talking to his companions, it might as well be that he was just talking out loud about his own thinking process. "Baldur's Gate, or even a village near it, would do what we need." At this point, all the plans were taking shape in the mind of the cunning mercenary chief, and it was possible to learn from Drizzt and his The friends of the group got the broken magic crystal. "Yes, this is going to be fun!" "And profitable?" Kim Murray asked. Jarlaxle laughed. "For me, they are indispensable."