Events are moving fast - perhaps even faster than expected...

You and the ghoul have delivered the frightened Brittany to her father's gothic mansion as quickly as possible.

This task was made easier by the fact that you were accompanied by a small detachment of Security Corps guards armed with hunting rifles.

However, you have noticed that panic is starting to break out among the local population on the streets due to the periodic shelling of the city (the catapults continue to fire, although not very often yet).

The shells from these catapults are primitive (stones wrapped in rags, soaked in a flammable mixture and set on fire). But there is still some damage to the city: several random passers-by have died, several buildings have caught fire and people have received burns while extinguishing the flames.

When you and your companions approach (on a local "horse") the building of a Gothic mansion surrounded by an iron fence, you see that in one place the iron bars of the fence are bent. Probably, one of the catapults even shoots to the residence of Edward Williams III.

The threat is extremely serious. You realize it.

The unification of several aggressive nomadic gangs ...

Attracting local pirates to the siege of the city ...

You remember what you managed to see when you were near the harbor: a couple of shells from the catapults hit a small fishing boat, which was quickly engulfed in flames. In addition, if you look towards the river, an attentive look can notice the silhouettes of ships that patrol the space of this vast river in the distance.

Obviously, these are pirate ships that will attack anyone who tries to break the blockade of Port Williams from the river.

"My dad will figure something out... He always handled difficult situations... These raiders are just a bunch of bloodthirsty and stupid thugs..." - there is fear in these words of Brittany.

It is as if she is trying to convince herself that everything will be okay. Probably, horrific images of the past are appearing in her psyche right now: the cruelty of the bandits, the pain, the ****. All this can happen again. Or even much worse.

You hold her hand and lead her to the gates of the mansion.

Elijah follows you holding a pump-action shotgun and mutters: "Stinky raiders... If so many gangs united, there must be a significant reason..."

You hug Brittany, who is shaking with fear, trying to calm her down a little.

"They are just bandits and savages... Why do you use the term "raiders", Elijah?" - you ask, while the girl's tears (whose face is buried in your chest) drip onto your clothes.

Ghoul grins: "It's a traditional name... In the wastelands, such bastards are called "raiders"... And to be honest, over hundreds of years of chaos, destruction and cruelty - I've seen that almost all communities were originally just such shit-eaters - raiders... Ha! Ha! It's just that at a certain point, some gangs move to a settled life, build a fortified settlement, come up with laws and begin to live a more "civilized" life! And some continue to roam, rob, **** and kill... Enough chatter, professor! Take the girl home quickly! Let her rich dad finally show that he is not the ruler of this settlement for nothing and that he can protect his subordinates!"

"Ahem... By the way, I also need to say something to Edward Williams III..." - you think, remembering the fact of the "questionable" activities of butler Richard that suddenly became known to you. A group of armed guards from the Security Corps quickly takes the ruler's daughter to a safe place inside the mansion.

You barely convince one of the remaining Security Corps guards that you urgently need to talk to Edward Williams III. It is obvious that he is currently busy planning the defense and giving the most urgent orders to the commanders of his soldiers. Only your phrase about having extremely important secret information that is important for the defense of the city helps you get permission for an audience.

The guard leads you down a long corridor.

Then - a descent down the stairs...

It is something like a basement...

Then another staircase leading down...

Some kind of bunker?

Metal doors and a guard of armed guards.

You are allowed into one of the underground rooms, but the guards continue to watch you.

You see a long table, which is littered with maps.

Along the walls - cabinets with weapons.

Pistols, revolvers, hunting rifles, shotguns…

Many of the exemplars of these weapons look worn; there is no uniformity among them - they seem to have been obtained in a variety of ways from the wastelands.

In the far corner of the room are some wooden boxes (probably ammunition).

In the large chair, at the head of the table, sits Edward Williams III. His black hair is noticeably gray. The wrinkles on his face seem to have become more noticeable due to stress. His usually impeccable gentleman's suit now looks a little wrinkled.

On his face is an expression of anger, mixed with some bewilderment, which he tries to hide.

Fist slams on the table!

"You idiots! Hellhounds... Earcutters... Gray Knives... Three fucking gangs of raiders managed to coordinate to attack MY town! And pirates to boot! Why did you let those scums get so close to the town?!" Why didn't our scouts warn us in advance?! Why didn't you notice the bastard pirates of this crud Noseless Pete on the river in advance?!"

The three commanders who control separate units of the Security Corps are **** to listen to the **** and stand silently at attention.

"Please forgive me, sir... I have a very important message... I will not take up much of your time..." - you say, taking a step forward.

It seems that the angry Edward only now noticed your presence...

"And this is you... Mister..." - he says, stroking his black mustache.

"Blake..." - you prompt.

"So, Mister Blake, I do not think that you are competent in this situation. Trust my experience - I have ruled the town since the moment I inherited power from my father. I have been ruling here for many decades and I understand how to ensure the safety of my town. Of course, now we have some temporary difficulties... However, I will solve the problems. That idiot Armstrong gave a whole day's delay! Ha! During this time, my armed units will be able to coordinate and regroup. My soldiers will take up advantageous defensive positions on the walls, and from the harbor we will be assisted by the fire of the ships' guns (some of them have ballistas, and the steamboat "Diamond" even has a gatling machine gun!). The result will be predictable: the greedy bastard raiders are too eager to indulge in plunder - so they cannot besiege the city for long and maintain the blockade. Consequently, the scums-raiders will make one unsuccessful attempt after another to storm our walls. These idiots will suffer heavy losses in killed and wounded. After another failure - they will retreat. Their leaders will quarrel with each other. And these gangs will scatter across the wastelands like packs of stinking diredogs in search of carrion! "

"Sir, with all due respect, I regret to inform you that I have learned of the treason of Richard Marley..." - you say, looking straight into his gray eyes.

Edward Williams III blinks in confusion and slightly opens his mouth in surprise...

And then he laughs!

"Mr. Blake! I am, of course, very grateful to you for saving my daughter... However, you are not at all an expert in the character of people... Ha! Ha!" - it seems that your words seem absurd to him.

"But I personally heard him say that..." - you try to explain the essence of the situation.

"My old mate Richard! The butler of the Williams family! The man who helped me from the first year of my reign! The man who participated in the upbringing of my children! Ha! Ha! Ha! This can be taken as a funny absurd joke... You just imagined it... You heard some fragmentary phrases and gave them a false meaning..."

"But, sir... I can explain to you..." - you try to appeal to the voice of reason again.

"Enough! I like humor, but now is not the time for this... I need to defeat the thugs of Gregor Armstrong... In the wastelands, he is known as Gregor the Crusher... A boastful bastard... I hope that the defeat under the walls of my town will moderate the arrogance of this boastful and impudent bastard!"

Before you have time to object, armed guards lead you out of the room.

They take you to the guest room.

Elijah is already waiting for you there. He is busy inspecting and cleaning his pump-action shotgun.

When the guards leave you alone in the room, you tell the ghoul the outcome of your conversation with the local ruler.

"Crap..." - your companion succinctly summarized the situation.

"I don't know how much time we have... Perhaps the plan of Edward Williams III is being implemented... But what if it is not? What if the siege is long, grueling and bloody?" - you are very worried about the state of affairs.

"Hellhounds... Earcutters... Gray Knives... And the pirates from the gang of Noseless Pete... What a diverse "group of friends"... I know some of them... I even worked with some of these guys for a while... Hmm... It's not so easy to unite such guys for a common goal... Sure, they all love profit and will gladly rob when such an opportunity arises... But why were they able to agree among themselves..." - Elijah thinks out loud.

You get an unpleasant feeling of some unaccounted factor. The gangs were able to agree. Of course they have some common interest in the siege situation. However, there may also be an additional consolidating factor. The mention in the requirements of raiders of a topic related to the princess... Princess Sapphire... What if these gangs were "stimulated" by someone?

A combination of interest and encouragement...

Someone who has made their move on the "chessboard"...

"Have you worked with some of the raiders?" - you ask the ghoul.

"I needed money... It was a job as a bounty hunter... Rich people from Axeman-City hired a group to eliminate someone dangerous a couple of years ago... I was in this group of bounty hunters. Also in this group were guys from the Gray Knives gang. Usually raiders are nomadic in the wastelands - but this does not prevent some of them from occasionally working for someone rich for hire..." - the ghoul tells phlegmatically, not paying attention to the impression of his words.

"But what about your beliefs?"

"I have beliefs. But that does not mean that I am an impractical idiot. To survive, I had to do a lot of shit over these hundreds of years. I think you will have to "get your hands dirty" too. Or already have…”

You recall your first meeting with people after waking up from cryostasis…

Yes, this world is an extremely cruel place, where no one can leave their conscience absolutely “unstained”.

It is already late evening…

You will probably have to go to bed soon.

But the conversation with Elijah has given you various thoughts.

The situation is getting worse and it is obvious to you that you need to leave Port Williams one way or another.

But how should you do it?

What if you try to secretly leave the city under cover of night? Or even try to negotiate with some of the raiders? Persuasion, deception or bribery… The methods can be different.

Alternative: trust the plan of Edward Williams III. You will have to participate in the defense of the city. The siege can be long and bloody. And your premonition says that the triumph of the defense is not at all guaranteed…

And another unpleasant moment gnawing at your conscience: what will happen to Brittany?

Most likely, your breakup with her is inevitable.

So, you lie down on the couch and try to fall asleep.