Sir Gideon Ofnir was hunched over his desk, flipping through one book after another.
Bai Shi's arrival was the first thing to make him pause.
Sir Gideon Ofnir looked up at Bai Shi.
From beneath the helmet covered in countless eyes and ears came a slightly aged voice.
"My apologies for having Ensha guide you. He is a mute, but for that very reason, he is the subordinate I trust most."
"I hope you'll bear with me."
Bai Shi briefly swept his gaze around Gideon's study. It was overflowing with books.
There were so many that the shelves couldn't hold them all, and they were even piled on the floor.
Gideon's thirst for knowledge was truly frightening.
After bringing Bai Shi over, Ensha had immediately excused himself, closing the door on his way out."More importantly, I'd like to know why you've summoned me."
Gideon grasped the scepter leaning against his desk, rose from his chair, and walked over to Bai Shi.
"This is our first time meeting, is it not?"
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing. I thirst for knowledge and yearn to know all."
"To put it simply, I'd like to make a deal with you."
Bai Shi stared at Gideon, and Gideon looked back at him.
Bai Shi weighed the pros and cons in his mind while trying to guess Gideon's intentions.
"What sort of partnership are you proposing?"
But Gideon didn't answer right away. Instead, he asked Bai Shi a question:
"If my information is correct, you have already had an audience with the Two Fingers, haven't you?"
"What were your impressions upon seeing them?"
Bai Shi recalled the words and appearance of the Two Fingers.
Suddenly, he remembered a line Gideon says in the game.
So, Bai Shi repeated this line to Gideon:
"The Two Fingers are strange. I fear they have long since been broken."
Upon hearing this, Gideon was inwardly stunned.
He had considered that this Tarnished before him might worship the Two Fingers, treating their words as gospel.
He had also considered that he might have no real thoughts on the matter, merely following the Two Fingers' orders for his own benefit.
He had even considered that he might detest the Two Fingers, just like the Recusants.
But he never expected that, after a single meeting, he would see through to the Two Fingers' decaying core.
This was a conclusion Gideon himself had only reached after a great deal of time and observation of the Two Fingers' abnormality.
The intuition of this Tarnished was frighteningly sharp.
But on the contrary, Gideon felt a sense of gratification.
To think there was a Tarnished who thought the same as him, Sir Gideon.
Gideon had given Bai Shi his temporary approval. The answer was perfect, far exceeding his expectations.
"Oh, oh! Now that is a truly unexpected answer."
"Excellent, excellent. Since that is how you feel, we now have a basis for cooperation."
Seeing that Gideon seemed extremely satisfied with his answer, Bai Shi could barely keep a straight face under his helmet.
Of course Gideon would be satisfied; after all, he was the one who had said it in the first place.
Answering Gideon with his own words was a little surprise from a transmigrator.
"So, what kind of partnership do you want with an obscure little Tarnished like me?"
Gideon considered for a moment. Originally, he had only intended to test Bai Shi.
The partnership was secondary; the test was primary.
But since Bai Shi had so keenly perceived the Two Fingers' decaying core, a true partnership was now possible.
"I know the Two Fingers want you to defeat the demigods and claim their Great Runes."
"Then let's base our partnership on that. We'll start by targeting Godrick, the weakest of them and the one we have the most intelligence on."
"I will provide you with all the intelligence the Roundtable possesses, dispatch men to assist you, and offer aid for supplies."
"After you defeat Godrick, the Great Rune will be yours to command."
"I will also build your reputation, making your status at the Roundtable nominally equal to my own."
"Of course, I trust you know what the actual situation will be."
The terms were surprisingly good, far better than Bai Shi had expected.
"So, Gideon, what's the price?"
"You don't need to do anything special. Just put on a show with me."
"A show?"
"Yes, a show."
Gideon turned his head to look in a certain direction.
Bai Shi followed his gaze. He remembered that was the direction of the Two Fingers.
"I am aware that the Two Fingers intend to support you to challenge my leadership at the Roundtable."
"But I don't mind. I have a pursuit that is far more important to me."
"My position as leader of the Roundtable Hold is merely a tool to achieve that pursuit."
Gideon intended to play along. Since the Two Fingers wanted Bai Shi to oppose him, he would give them the opposition they sought.
"The Roundtable Hold belongs to the Tarnished. The broken Two Fingers should no longer command it with Their words."
"It would be a different matter if the Two Fingers were whole, but alas, I doubt They will ever be whole again."
"We can achieve a win-win situation. You'll gain a status equal to mine, and the Two Fingers will stop interfering with my activities."
The Two Fingers' agents had begun to subtly interfere with Gideon's operations. His spies had already spotted these agents near mission locations on several occasions.
Although his spies had not yet been exposed, reducing the Two Fingers' attention on him was no bad thing.
Bai Shi nodded. He accepted the partnership.
"Those are good terms. I agree."
Although Gideon had his own agenda, there was no need for conflict between them for now.
Still, Gideon's ambitions were grand. To think he would offer such terms just to avoid the Two Fingers' scrutiny.
Bai Shi didn't plan on letting Gideon's spies operate forever, but now was not the time.
When the time was right, he would clip Gideon's wings himself.
Bai Shi respected his will, but letting him achieve his ultimate goal was another matter entirely.
Gideon extended a hand:
"Excellent. Comrades are few and far between. I hope our partnership will be a long one."
Bai Shi reached out and shook Gideon's hand.
And so the deal was struck.
Even if this partnership was not destined to last.
"That reminds me, I still don't know your name. I can hardly build your reputation without it."
"Bai Shi."
"Bai Shi. That name will soon resound throughout the Lands Between... provided you can actually claim Godrick's Great Rune."
——
Bai Shi left Gideon's study and once again headed for the trading area.
Surely he wouldn't be led away again this time.
Along the way, Bai Shi reviewed the details of the partnership.
Gideon was providing a great deal of support for this collaboration.
After Bai Shi entered Stormveil, agents planted inside the castle would create a diversion, clearing a direct path to Godrick for him.
Not only that, but Nepheli and a few others had been arranged to assist in the fight against Godrick.
A great deal of intelligence on Stormveil and Godrick was also provided, though Bai Shi already knew most of it.
With all this, defeating Godrick and taking his Great Rune was practically guaranteed. Bai Shi couldn't imagine any way for Godrick to survive.
"Hey, you over there. Care to take a look at my wares? I've got some fine things you can't buy anywhere else."
A voice suddenly called out from a nearby stall.