Wizards, Kings, and Little Wild Cats (Part Two)

The sun was already setting in the west.

The sky was ablaze with crimson sunset clouds, while golden sunlight streamed into the courtyard of the castle ruins.

The neatly arranged, pale skeletons were tinged with gold by the light, giving them a somewhat sacred appearance.

Wearing Black Wide-brimmed Hat, Vesemir lowered his head, gazing at the remains of his deceased loved ones that had been cleared from the ground.

The sunlight shone on the wide-brimmed hat, casting a large shadow that obscured the Witcher Master's face, making it impossible to see his expression.

The innkeeper and his wife's request was destined to be impossible to fulfill.

Vesemir was, after all, just a witcher, and had no way of identifying the deceased based on their remains.

These bodies had been cleaned and manipulated by some people, and their identities could not be determined from the location where they were found.

It was impossible for Vesemir to find the Viscount Hudson family among so many skeletons.

Even when Ailin saw the Witcher Master looking sullen, he had a sudden inspiration and tried to appraise it, but all he got was:

Name: Human Skeleton

[Type: Common Material]

[Note: This is just a pile of ordinary human bones.]

In the Witcher's Handbook's Notes' judgment...

Whether they were nobles or commoners in life, whether they were admired and remembered, or forgotten by the world...

After death, all that remains is a pile of white bones.

They're just a bunch of ordinary human bones.

Ailin patted Vesemir on the shoulder and comforted him:

"Master Vesemir, at least no children's remains were found, and very few women's remains were also found. Viscount Hudson's family must have been rescued by someone."

Vesemir snapped out of his daze, turned his head to look at Ailin's worried expression, and felt a warmth in his heart.

"If the Red-haired Elf is looking for the human couple the innkeeper mentioned, then it's probably that couple who rescued him."

"It's a pity that all the clues have gone cold now, and we don't know where to start looking."

Vesemir sighed.

There was some regret, but also a sense of relief.

In truth, after learning that this matter involved the king and the wizard, he no longer wanted to investigate further.

After all, that happened more than ten years ago.

Although Viscount Hudson had a profound influence on him, Vesemir owed him nothing.

If he were alone, that would be one thing; he could continue the investigation and seek justice for his former friend.

Unfortunately, he wasn't.

The school of thought was on the verge of collapse and was too busy taking care of itself.

He didn't want to drag Ailin into his personal affairs.

Even if, as Ailin said, the king is Kaer Morhen's true enemy and he wants to destroy the School of the Wolf, that's still true.

Ailin had a good teacher, and the destruction of his school of thought didn't mean he had to die with him.

As long as he doesn't incite the hatred and attention of the king and the wizard, Lady Vesemir can certainly save his life.

As for the Red-haired Elf's mission? And the mission to win over the elves?

Vesemir did not believe those Long-ears.

"Perhaps ending it quietly is the best option," he thought.

"Perhaps I have another method I can try."

Ailin's words interrupted Vesemir's reflections. He paused for a moment, then asked curiously:

"What method?"

Ailin did not reply immediately.

Wolf Emblem Perspective Link.

Suddenly, hazy bright spots of various colors appeared.

Cyan, blue, red, yellow... black...

Yes.

This world should have only four magical elements.

A black element has appeared in Ailin's magical vision.

Just now, when Vesemir lamented that the Witcher couldn't sense magic, he opened the Wolf Emblem and discovered this element.

This unique element evoked feelings in him very similar to those of Residue of Grudge.

The same sense of foreboding and eeriness.

Ailin believed that these mysteriously appearing elements were the culprits that allowed the spirits to appear in broad daylight.

However, seeing that the Witcher Master seemed to be lost in thought and immersed in his memories, he did not disturb him.

"Master Vesemir, I can see the elements in the air."

"What!" The Witcher Master gaped, then slapped his forehead, and said regretfully:

"Yes, the Witcher's Eye can see the flow of magic within a monster's body, so how could it not sense the magic in the air?"

"So you've already noticed the anomaly?"

"Vesemir said expectantly."

Ailin nodded slightly and led Vesemir toward the area rich in black elemental points.

Yadai Town.

The Count Burns ' estate.

What's the current situation with those castle ruins?

"There's a witcher..." Serio glanced at Soyer, who was leaning against the wall, "A witcher from the School of the Wolf, who is clearing out the ruins of that castle with an apprentice."

"The three of us went in to investigate whether any elves were hiding in the ruins."

"After that, Fago was seriously injured by the demon, so we all withdrew."

"What about the two witchers?" the king asked, unusually tense. "Did they leave with you too?"

Serio answered truthfully, saying:

"No, they should still be inside clearing the rubble."

King Haxor's face darkened instantly; every furrow in his fleshy face revealed anger and dissatisfaction.

The atmosphere in the large room became oppressive due to the king's anger.

Who is it?

"Who hired them to clean the castle?"

"Haxor demanded loudly," Hakso asked.

Damn it!

Why is the king reacting so strongly!

Could there be some other secrets hidden in this castle that was destroyed ten years ago?

Bowen's mind was in turmoil. A chill instantly ran from his tailbone to his scalp, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He instinctively turned his head to look at Serio and found that Serio was also pale and lifeless.

Just then.

"What's wrong, Haxor?"

"It's just killing a few demon spirits. Is there something wrong with that castle? Do you need my help to clean it up?"

A deep male voice from their right saved them.

When Haxor heard Soyer's seemingly concerned question, he realized something was wrong.

Before the Grandmaster of the School of the Wolf, inquire about the true identity of the School of the Wolf's Witcher employer.

This is tantamount to a provocation against the School of the Wolf.

"The plan is on track, now is not the time to tear things apart," Haxor thought.

So he took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and laughed loudly:

"Hahaha, how could that be, Grandmaster Soyer?"

"Your witcher with his apprentices must be here to participate in the fighting tournament."

"There are only a few days left in the competition, and I'm worried that their injuries will affect their performance."

Without waiting for Soyer's reply, he smiled and said to those around him:

"Grandmaster Soyer must be tired from his journey. Someone, quickly take the Grandmaster away to rest."

Soyer didn't expose Haxor's hypocritical act. He gave Haxor a deep look, then pointed at Serio and Bowen:

"Let those two take me there."

Haxor paused, then stopped smiling.

He exchanged a blank glance with Soyer, then nodded and said:

"Serio, for the next few days, take your team and protect Grandmaster Soyer."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Bowen and Serio outwardly feigned reluctance but inwardly both breathed a sigh of relief.

Misjudging the king's opinion of the castle ruins nearly led to disaster.

"Squeak~"

The door, carved with intricate patterns, was closed.

The room fell silent.

"Damn Witcher!" The quiet lasted only a moment before being broken by an angry growl.

"As long as we follow our plan, these witchers will surely die a horrible death, Your Majesty!"

Jens offered a word of comfort, and then, as Haxor calmed down, he curled the corners of his mouth and said:

"However... Your Majesty, you are truly heartless..."

"I heard that Grandmaster Soyer once saved your and your mother's lives, and now this is how you repay him..."

"Smack!"

Haxor seemed to have been touched on a sore spot, and slammed his thick hand on the table.

Bloody gravy splattered from the silver plate, startling the male servants on either side who immediately rushed over to wipe it clean.

"Jens, are you provoking the kingdom on behalf of Ban Ad Academy?" Haxor roared.

"Clang!"

The guards beside him also drew their longswords and pointed them at Jens.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I only heard about this news. Judging from your reaction, it must be false."

Jens was clearly not intimidated; he merely took a step back as if frightened, but his eyes remained mocking as he looked at Haxor.

Unlike witchers, wizards also lose their fertility during the process of awakening their magic.

However, due to the randomness of the awakening of magic, and the fact that he is no different from ordinary people, or even more superior after the modification.

Their relationship with the secular world is much closer than that of the Witcher with his strange Cat Eyes.

This was especially true for the aristocratic class.

After the magical awakening, which is full of chance, ordinary people often abandon those gifted children out of fear of the unknown.

The nobles would send their awakened offspring to Ban Ade or Aretuza and support them with large sums of money.

Due to the high costs of learning and research for wizard apprentices, they often go further and more smoothly than their commoner peers.

Their infertility also fostered a more amicable relationship with the heads of noble families.

Therefore, behind every high-ranking mage is often a prosperous family.

For example, Jens, who often contradicted the king.

He is not only the vice-principal of Ban Ade, but also the eldest son of the patriarch of the Felan family, whose titles are distributed across three kingdoms. The family's power is comparable to that of the royal family.

There are many male wizards with noble status like those at Ban Ade Academy, and even one or two members of royalty, but their talents are all relatively ordinary.

Therefore, in folk tradition, both wizards and witchers are synonymous with mystery and the bizarre.

However, within the upper echelons of the Northern Kingdoms, the two groups held vastly different statuses.

So even though he was the king of Kedwen, Haxor could only suppress his anger and descend the steep, uncomfortable steps.

"Still in the mood for jokes? It seems the ruins of the Hundred Fruit Garden castle won't be affected by these two witchers?" he probed.

Jens shook his head.

"There will be problems, and you still have the leisure to joke about me here..." Haxor was furious, his fat trembling, and he was about to curse.

"It's too late." Jens walked to the window, opened the blinds, and looked out of the manor.

"Although the Hundred Fruit Garden is not far from here, given the speed at which demon hunters hunt demons, even if we send people there now..."

"The demons in the ruins should have been mostly killed. Even if a few remain, it doesn't matter."

"But..."

"But what?" Haxor asked quickly.

"However, the ruins are no longer important. The location has been pinpointed to between three towns, so even if we send troops to search bit by bit, it won't take much time."

After a pause, he lowered his head and pondered:

"Moreover, it is already difficult to understand that Melekh's Ring of Grudges has been able to lock onto its target for nearly ten years."

"Based on past research..."

"I don't care about that thing called Melissa or Mesco, just tell me directly, when can we find them?"

Haxor interrupted loudly.

Interrupted from his thoughts, Jens looked in the direction of the sound.

King Kedwen, who was extremely obese due to overeating, was stuck in his seat like a grumpy wild boar.

A hint of disdain flashed in Jens ' eyes. He stopped trying to explain and went straight to the point:

"Based on the number of troops you've sent, it will take at most three days. If you could add more men, perhaps one or two days would be enough."

Without waiting for Haxor's response, magic surged and his lips moved slightly.

"Bang!"

An orange portal suddenly appeared in the center of the room.

The sudden change in space brought a gust of wind that blew the silver plates, wine glasses, and cutlery on the table onto Haxor.

Then, without even glancing at Haxor, Jens left through the portal with another wizard.

After the two wizards left, Haxor, covered in bloody gravy, should have been angrily cursing loudly.

But he didn't.

Instead, he calmly accepted the pure white silk handkerchief that the male servant beside him tremblingly handed him, and carefully wiped the stains off his face little by little.

It's as if the previous rage and irritability were just a performance.

"Your Majesty, Wizard Jens is just a bit eccentric; it shouldn't mean anything about Ben Ade..."

Haxor raised his hand to interrupt his trusted servant's words of comfort, and said casually:

"Jens is eccentric, but don't the wizards of Ben Ade know that?"

"They sent Jens as their representative to contact me, wasn't that just to try and suppress the monarchy?"

"Bang~ Bang~"

Before he finished speaking, the servants and guards in the room were so frightened by the king's blunt words that they all knelt down in fear.

"Get up."

Haxor shook his head.

He tapped his thick index finger on the black oak table, pondered for a moment, then tilted his head and asked:

"Philis, have my Little Wild Cats arrived in Ben Ade yet?"

Philis's trusted male servant leaned closer and said:

"Your Majesty, they just arrived this morning."

"Because the hotel refused to let them stay, they chopped off the owner's hands and hung them on the door, causing a great deal of chaos in the city."

"Ha! Those Little Wild Cats have caused me trouble again..."

Haxor chuckled, seemingly unconcerned about the bloody events that had occurred in Ban Ad City, which had nothing to do with him, the King of Kedwen.

"Since they're so excited, let's find them something to do."

"Philis, have someone inform them that the School of the Wolf apprentices are all accepting commissions at the Hundred Fruit Garden."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Philis acknowledged the king's order and was about to leave.

Suddenly remembering something, he turned around and asked, "Should we warn them about the innkeeper's matter?"

"No need, that's Ben Ade. The Little Wild Cats may not be the brightest sometimes, but they're not stupid."

Philis nodded and left the room.

"Bang!"

The door was closed gently.

Haxor gazed at the blood-red sunset outside the window and whispered:

"You've ruined my plans, so you'll have to pay the price first."

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