Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Chapter 179 The Forest Meeting

Chapter 180 The Forest Meeting

"Boss! Two kegs of the best beer, and a keg of the strongest liquor!"

Hynek burst through the door, yelling, and tossed his greatsword into the corner with a dull thud. He wiped the sweat from his face, turned to Peter, and grinned. "Mr. Brunswick, this meal's on me!"

"Wow, what a generous customer!" The tavern owner and the surrounding patrons whistled.

Barrels of liquor were rolled to the center of the long table, and the clinking of glasses began to rise and fall. Flames danced in the tavern's fireplace, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasting pork and the sour smell of beer, mixed with the scent of spirits.

Peter and the others now sat on oak benches, watching the group of men who had been at each other's throats not long ago enjoying drinks and conversation.

Hynik's men were initially a bit reserved, but after a few rounds of heavy drinking, they gradually loosened up.

Kubinka, holding a wine glass, leaned closer to Blackbatos and nudged him with his elbow: "That backhand grappling move just now was brilliant! Where did you learn it?"

Black Bartosh took a sip of ale. "I learned it in Italy."

"Damn it, I've wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Vatican my whole life, but I've never set foot on Italian soil."

On the other side, Adel was having a drinking contest with the tomcat, Carter. Each held a one-liter beer mug, tilting their heads back and gulping it down, the beer dripping down their chins and soaking their clothes. János, standing nearby, egged them on, tapping the table with the hilt of his knife to keep the rhythm.

Eric is demonstrating a new sword-wielding stance to the drunkards; Jerry the Rat and Robert the White Hair are drinking with Michael and Hurt, Jessica's henchmen, amidst singing and laughter.

"Another one!" Hynik shouted, holding up his empty glass. His face was flushed, and his voice was even louder. He also used a dagger to toss a piece of cheese into his companion's open mouth three meters away.

As the banquet progressed, the men became more familiar with each other, and it must be said that alcohol was a catalyst for breaking down the barriers between them.

The revelry continues.

Peter had already noticed a familiar figure missing from the crowd, and leaned closer to Jessica, whispering, "Where's Henry?"

Jessica put down her glass and drew a circle on the wine-stained wooden table with her finger: "Catherine is working at a tavern in Kutenberg and is having some trouble. Henry volunteered to help her."

He thought for a moment, "That kid is pretty skilled, he should be fine."

Peter also recalled that it seemed that Catherine, the tavern maid who worked there, had disappeared, and that women were being killed one after another in the city. Catherine thought she was being watched, so she sent a message back.

Henry happened to want to go into the city to find clues to save Hans, so the "Fifth Law" quest was triggered.

"Indeed, with Henry's abilities, infiltrating the city is no trouble at all."

Peter nodded in agreement.

At this moment, the clearly drunken Hynek leaned closer, his reeking of alcohol, and asked, "Lord Brunswick, you say you are a knight seeking redemption. So, how do you intend to redeem this damned world?"

The tavern suddenly became quieter, and many people pricked up their ears.

Peter slowly drank the wine in his glass, feeling the warm liquid slide from his throat into his stomach.

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"Redemption is not charity," his voice clearly reached everyone's ears, "but giving people a choice so that they can stand up on their own."

Hynik stared at him for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, slapping Peter hard on the back: "Well said! Much better than those priests who have God on their lips all day long!"

"For that damned redemption!"

Hynik raised his rough wooden cup, beer splashing onto his stained leather armor.

"For Lord Brunswick's victory!"

The group raised their glasses and clinked them together. They had now reached a consensus to use this pseudonym to refer to Peter.

"For the Bohemian life we ​​live in."

Peter nodded slightly, his fingers gently swirling his wine glass as he drank with the others.

A drunken Hynik jumped onto the table next to him and began to sing an old Bohemian folk song.

At first, he was the only one singing, but gradually, more and more people joined in, and the rough singing shook the dust off the beams.

In this chaotic era, in this lawless land, people from different backgrounds temporarily lowered their guard.

The clinking of glasses, hearty laughter, and the sincere yet slightly intoxicated singing all wove together to create this special night.

Peter took the glass of wine from Jessica and joined in the rare burst of noise.

"We need to get down to business tomorrow," Jessica said, leaning closer, her voice still clear.

Peter nodded, his gaze still fixed on the jubilant crowd, and said, "It's time to talk."

The morning light of the next day shone through the cracks in the tavern's bedroom, casting dappled shadows on Peter's face.

He was slightly hungover from drinking too much yesterday, but he still insisted on getting up, washing his face in the bucket downstairs, and then starting his thousand sword-swinging practice in the morning light.

With his current skill level, the proficiency he can gain from basic sword-wielding exercises is negligible.

But this persistence is his attitude towards life—the foundation determines everything.

Black Bartosh, Eric, Carter, Jerry, Robert, and others also got up early and started busying themselves with their own things.

As the sun rose high in the sky, Jessica and the drunkard finally awoke from their hangovers.

After everyone had eaten some bread, salted meat, and pea soup to fill their stomachs, Peter did not discuss business in the tavern but instead invited them to go into the woods together.

A crowded tavern teeming with bandits is no place to discuss secrets, and the same applies to a poorly soundproofed wooden bedroom.

The meeting was held in a clearing deep in the forest. Jessica's men sat neatly on fallen tree trunks, while Hynik's men stood or squatted scattered about, like a pack of wild dogs ready to pounce.

What are your thoughts on the current situation in Kutenberg?

Peter, as the meeting's moderator, first raised the agenda.

"Perhaps we should wait for the right opportunity."

Jessica's voice was as steady as his posture. "The nobles are preparing for a gathering, and I have accepted the invitation. You, sir, are also here by invitation. Perhaps we should wait and see how the meeting goes; acting rashly might jeopardize the negotiations."

Hynik scoffed, spittle flying in the morning light. "Wait? Wait until those Sigismund bastards burn our village to the ground?"

He kicked away a pebble at his feet, which rolled into a puddle of muddy water, splashing up murky water.

"That old fox, Yobst, if he hadn't driven us out of Sukhdor, my Drunkard Legion wouldn't have been discovered by the army, and so many brothers wouldn't have died in battle..."

"But he is currently the only nobleman with the power to confront Sigismund."

Jessica interrupted him, "Although I also dislike him, I have to admit that we still need him to unite the nobles."

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Peter listened quietly as an ant crawled across his boot, which he gently brushed away.

"So we're just going to sit here and watch those sons of bitches run rampant?"

"That's not necessarily true."

Hynik took a step forward eagerly. "Do you have a good idea?"

Peter bent down, picked up a twig, and drew a circle on the ground.

"I came at the invitation of the Marquis of Jöbst, but I don't think the noble council will produce any results."

The twig gestured outside the circle, "How can a group of people with differing interests possibly formulate a unified strategy?"

Hynek was overjoyed.

"When we left Sukhdor, Jöbst said he was preparing to reach a peace agreement with Sigismund to wear down the Hungarians," Jöbst said with some concern. "He also warned us that if we disrupted his plans, we would bear the consequences."

"Peace will survive if we seek it through struggle, but it will perish if we seek it through compromise."

Peter shook his head and said, "Yobst's kind of compromise will not bring peace."

"So what are your plans?"

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