The Plan Falls Through

Five minutes.

This is the duration of the Cat Eye Potion's effect.

Moreover, this time cannot be extended by drinking large amounts of potion, because the Cat Eye Potion is highly toxic.

It is several times stronger than Killer Whale.

During the Trial of the Mountains, Ailin and Huus drank many bottles of Killer Whale liquor without experiencing any unusual symptoms.

But "cat's eye" is different.

After swallowing the second bottle of Cat Eye Potion, Ailin felt his heart sink, and he experienced occasional dull stinging pains, as if he was already overwhelmed.

At this point, Ailin knew that his limit was two bottles of "Cat's Eye" in a row.

Unfortunately, Ailin couldn't find another effect of the potion during its ten-minute duration.

"It seems that to verify the critical hit rate, we still need a monster."

He sighed, and, facing the sunlight streaming into the cave, headed towards the lair of the Rock Troll.

Due to the high altitude, the snow accumulation near the Rock Troll's lair is very thick.

Two days have passed, and the snow here has risen above Ailin's knees, forcing him to move forward slowly, one step at a time.

"... Big Stone... Little Stone... the troll smells a strange smell... the troll smells a strange smell..."

Just after turning a corner, a familiar voice came over.

"Looks like that Broken Stone is guarding the passage again today," he thought.

Then, take out six pieces of rotten flesh from your inventory.

Instantly, a unique stench of decay filled the surroundings.

At the same time, Little Eye, Broken Stone, appeared around the corner ahead.

As soon as it saw Ailin, it immediately started shouting and yelling.

"... Big Stone... Little Stone... The bad apprentice is here again today... The bad apprentice is here again today..."

Obviously.

The Broken Stone didn't recognize Ailin.

The mountain winds did not carry the stench of rotting flesh into the Rock Troll camp.

However, he could understand if he didn't recognize that.

If it weren't for the obvious difference in height between the Big Stone, Broken Stone, and Little Stone.

Ailin couldn't tell which was Big Stone, which was Broken Stone, and which was Little Stone.

In his eyes, Rock Troll looked pretty much the same.

"Bang!"

The Rock Troll's dark, thick fist slammed into the small head of the Broken Stone.

The loud noise made Ailin's forehead throb.

"... Ouch... The Big Stone is bad... The Big Stone Broken Stone..."

The Broken Stone with both hands, its massive body threatening to tilt and roll.

However, after glancing at Ailin with those Little Eye, they swayed twice before standing firmly in place.

"... This Broken Stone... This good Witcher... This good Witcher... This Broken Stone deserves to be beaten..."

The Big Stone slammed heavily against the Broken Stone's little head again.

"The Big Stone actually recognizes me!"

Ailin was flattered.

"... Ouch... The Big Stone is bad... The Big Stone Broken Stone..."

The silly scream rang out again.

This time, however, the Broken Stone couldn't bear it. It howled and rolled around on the snow.

Only then did Ailin notice.

Although the Rock Troll camp was also covered with snow, the ground was very flat and solid, as if it had been frequently crushed by some heavy object.

"Thump~ thump~ thump~"

As the Big Stone slowly approached, its two tiny nostrils twitched twice in a surprisingly human-like manner.

His gaze immediately locked onto the several pieces of dark, rotten flesh in Ailin's hand.

"... A good person, the Witcher... A gift from a friend..."

Rock Troll can speak Common Tongue, but it's generally difficult to discern their intonation.

But Ailin could tell from his actions that Big Stone was asking if the rotting flesh was a gift for his friend.

He nodded, placed the rotting flesh into the Big Stone, and said:

"This is a gift from a friend!"

Sometime later, the Broken Stone quietly rolled to the pile of stones in the corner of the camp and began to tumble over.

There are many piles of stones in the Rock Troll's camp, but this is the very place where Big Stone found the ruby rough last time.

It might be a place specifically for storing things they consider valuable.

A small pile of stones next to the Broken Stone trembled and then stood up; it was also a Rock Troll.

It was probably awakened by the noise from the Big Stone and Broken Stone.

After seeing Broken Stone turning over the pile of stones, Little Stone squatted down beside him and helped turn over the stones.

"... Broken Stone... Witcher friend... A return gift..."

After accepting the rotten flesh, Big Stone immediately turned around and called out. Seeing that Broken Stone was already looking for something, he turned back again and looked at Ailin.

But after waiting for a long time, the Broken Stone was still rummaging through the pile of stones.

The Big Stone grew impatient, turned around, and stomped hard on the frozen ground, making a "thump-thump" sound.

"Bang!"

Another heavy blow landed on the Broken Stone's head.

"...Silly Broken Stone ...Witcher friend... Return gift... Witcher friend... Return gift..."

This time, however, the Broken Stone didn't howl; instead, it sat down on the ground in disappointment.

"Bang!"

The ground trembled slightly.

"... Good stones... are all gone..."

The long, vague sentences have become short sentences, and the Broken Stone seems genuinely disappointed.

"Bang!"

Big Stone kicked the Broken Stone aside and squatted down to search through the pile of stones again.

The Little Stone trembled at the sight and dared not move. However, when it saw the rotten meat placed next to it, its mouth watered and it reached out to grab a piece.

"Smack!"

With a soft thud, the Big Stone punched down the Little Stone's outstretched "hand".

The Little Stone was in so much pain that it rolled around on the ground howling in agony.

Something was wrong; those six pieces of rotting flesh seemed to be the trigger for conflict within the Rock Troll family... Seeing this, Ailin was about to refuse to return the gift.

He delivered the rotten flesh to increase his favor with the Rock Troll, making it easier to ask them for blood and complete the quest.

Not for the trolls' treasure.

The ruby that Big Stone gave him is still at his residence.

Vesemir showed it to him.

That stone was indeed raw ruby ore.

Unfortunately, although it looks dazzling, it is not a magic gemstone, and its purity is not high, so it won't sell for much money.

"Big Stone, no need to look for it anymore. This is just a gift between friends, no need to return it."

Upon hearing this, the Big Stone paused, then picked up the six pieces of rotten flesh and walked towards Ailin.

"... Witcher... friend... I can't accept a gift without a return gift..."

The Big Stone handed six pieces of rotten flesh to Ailin, then turned back as if disappointed, not daring to look at the pieces of rotten flesh in his hand.

Ailin was stunned, holding several pieces of rotten flesh in his hands. He never thought that there could be gifts that couldn't be given away.

Moreover, the Big Stone Rock Troll seems a bit off.

Rock Troll are intelligent, can understand human speech, and can speak Common.

However, the social etiquette of humans exchanging gifts is clearly something that Rock Troll, would not know.

The Big Stone even knew the true meaning of human friendship.

"Thump~ thump~ thump~"

The Big Stone slowly walked towards the camp, its footsteps carrying a sense of loss.

Ailin's plan to gain favor through rotten flesh was on the verge of collapse before it even began.

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