Wild Hunt, Any News?

As soon as the question left his mouth, Ailin regretted it.

"Do you want to take me down the mountain?" Mary smiled, then shook her head and sighed before he could answer. "Going down the mountain with me would only be a burden. Staying in Kaer Morhen, I can do more for the legion..."

Mary paused, her beautiful, deep blue eyes fixed intently on Ailin:

I want to help you.

The girl's voice was firm yet complex, like a summer stream that could always find a channel to flow through solid rocks.

Ailin awkwardly averted his gaze, his mouth slightly open, but he found that his throat was so dry that he couldn't utter a single syllable.

"You'd better get ready quickly, don't forget anything, I'm going to find Master Aristo."

Mary smiled and said something without waiting for the witcher's reply, then turned and followed the path Vesemir had taken, heading towards the main castle.

"Thank you... thank you, Mary."

The girl hadn't walked far when she suddenly heard the boy's voice behind her. A smile appeared on her lips, and she turned around, revealing two shallow dimples.

"You're welcome... and... be careful..."

"I will wait for you to come back in Kaer Morhen."

Watching the girl's departing figure, Ailin sighed softly, lost in thought.

Since Mary has taken the initiative to hand over the reins to Master Aristo, Ailin Witcher Company doesn't need to worry about swordsmanship, signs, or potion-making anymore.

then.

Ailin was about to glance around the training ground, hand over Zhou Bi's final reward— the Nekker's Purified Spirit and Essence Fluid —to Ernie, then go back to pack up before meeting up with Vesemir and leaving.

But unexpectedly...

Before Ailin could even begin to search, Ernie and Karal, along with the other Monster Hunting Legion members, approached.

"Commander, are we planning to go down the mountain?" Ernie was pushed forward by the crowd, his expression slightly nervous.

Ailin could tell at a glance what these people were thinking.

"You want to go together?"

This is a certainty, not a question.

Ernie and the others nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with expectation and pleading.

They all knew that if they didn't seize this opportunity...

By the time Ailin returns from his business down the mountain, it will probably be close to the time when the heavy snow closes the mountain and the School of Witchers return.

Even if half of the apprentices pass the Trial of the Mountains by then, they still won't be able to descend the mountain until spring.

Ailin nodded upon hearing this.

Now the question is...

Should we bring his "army" down the mountain to rescue the dwarves?

Ailin originally planned that he and Vesemir would ride straight to Fergen, rescue Horton, and then return.

After all, the more people there are, the easier it is to expose their whereabouts.

Two witchers and seven or eight witchers are definitely not the same.

Kedwen is currently at war and is therefore very sensitive to small armed groups in the rear.

Moreover, the relationship between the nobles of Kedwen and the School of the Wolf is now very delicate.

More importantly, the strength of the Witchers is crucial. Once discovered, it would be difficult for Ailin and Vesemir to protect too many people in front of a large force.

But now, looking at the legion members in front of him, with whom he had spent a month and had become close again.

Ailin thought for a moment, then with a thought, sent an appraisal over.

[Name: Ernie]

Loyalty: 100

[Attributes: Strength 16 (+7), Agility 10 (+2), Constitution 14 (+3), Perception 18 (+10), Mysticism 7.5 (+2)]

[Skills: School of the Wolf Two-Handed Sword LV3 (1/1000), Ice Lance Spell LV2 (7/500), Quen LV2 (4/500)...]

Since the Nekker's Purified Spirit and the Heart Essence Fluid of the Ghoul could be used as weekly rewards for the apprentices, all the members of the Monster Hunter Army Legion under Ailin's command naturally filled up the quota.

Twenty portions of the Nekker's Purified Spirit grant ten points of Perception, and twenty portions of the Heart Essence Fluid of the Ghoul grant five points of Strength.

In addition, these demon hunters who have just passed the Trial of Grasses and the Trial of the Mountains are in a period of rapid attribute improvement. In the six months that Ailin was away, their average attributes have increased by two points.

Even though Ernie had the best mutation effect from the Trial of Grasses among the members, the other Witchers were similar in attributes due to the Purification Spirit and Essence Fluid.

In addition, everyone has a swordsmanship level of LV3 and a magic sign level of LV2.

Compared to six months ago, the strength of the Witcher Company members has more than doubled.

This level of combat power far surpasses that of ordinary peasant soldiers, and is at least comparable to that of ordinary people who have honed their martial arts skills since childhood. If he were to go down the mountain and become a demon hunter, he could survive.

so...

"It seems... it's not impossible..." Ailin thought to himself.

Moreover, thinking about it now, the problem of a large number of people being exposed is not difficult to solve.

With the Cat Eye Potion, one can ride a horse and remain at night...

The purified mirage pearl can conceal its presence...

Even if discovered, they can still use the Axii sign to interfere with memories.

No!

No need for Axii!

Even if we get caught, so what?

No country in the Northern Continent has ever prohibited multiple witchers from crossing its borders.

Moreover, since they haven't even broken ties yet, and are currently engaged in a fierce war with Ard, would Kedwen really dare to take the initiative at this time and spare energy to deal with the School of the Wolf located inland?

He and Vesemir would worry about hidden plots and schemes from nobles and sorcerers.

With most of their fighting force devoted to the war, aren't the male sorcerers and nobles, who are now internally weakened, afraid of retaliation from the most powerful witch-hunting school in the entire Northern Continent — the School of the Wolf?

Of course.

This is just the worst-case scenario.

A few years ago, when Kedwen launched his war to exterminate the elves, there were also witchers from the School of the Wolf traversing the battlefield, eliminating Ghoul.

In just a few years, the commoners and nobles of Kedwen were not deeply affected by the rumors that slandered the Witcher.

They don't need to be so cautious.

After thinking it through, Ailin did not immediately agree.

"I can take you down the mountain..." he nodded, "But this trip to Ard to rescue the dwarf blacksmith will be tiring and dangerous..."

Before he could finish speaking...

"We're all witchers, who's afraid of danger..."

"Yes, yes..."

"Even if it's tiring, it's still better than staying in the godforsaken Kaer Morhen..."

Upon hearing that they could descend the mountain, the excitement in the eyes of the group of witchers was almost overflowing.

Danger?

Do you think these witchers are afraid of this?

Besides, with the leader, the Blue Death, the youngest Witcher Master, Drowner Killer Ailin around, what monster can't be dealt with?

Surrounded by excited witchers, Ailin was bombarded with flattering words and oaths, making his ears ring.

"Alright, alright, let's get ready then," Ailin shook his head helplessly and made arrangements, "Meet in front of the main castle at noon, and then we'll set off."

The demon hunters immediately cheered.

At this moment.

Mary led Master Aristo along the main path.

Ailin exchanged a few words with the bearded Witcher Master, nodded gratefully to Mary, exchanged a glance, and then left with the members of the legion.

Ban Ad.

"This can't go on any longer, Master!"

A wealthy man, dressed in luxurious clothes, stood in a hall of Ben Ade Academy, his right hand tightly gripping the gemstone ring on his left finger, loudly accusing the woman.

"Three times!"

"In the past month, my caravan has been stranded on the road three times because of those damned water ghosts!"

"The lost goods, plus the impending penalties, have wiped out half a lifetime's savings..."

"Yes!" Another middle-aged man with a large belly couldn't sit still any longer. He struggled to stand up from his seat and loudly added, "The wheat farmers are afraid to go to the fields, for fear that some monster might suddenly jump out from some corner."

"Livestock such as chickens, cattle, and horses were either killed or suddenly disappeared, resulting in heavy losses..."

"The amount of grain and fodder being requisitioned from the front lines is increasing. In just a few months, a major famine will definitely occur in Ban Ade..."

Since the city's food supply was at stake, even the middle-aged male sorcerer in black robes, who had been sitting at the head of the table in silence, could no longer simply listen in.

He rubbed his temples listlessly and looked at the middle-aged man:

"Hasn't the academy already distributed its stockpile of Silver Fork to the surrounding villages?"

"It's simply not enough, Master!" The middle-aged man said with a worried expression. "I heard from the people below that those water ghosts have suddenly become thick-skinned, and those Silver Fork can only be used two or three times before they become unusable."

"Many Silver Fork broke as soon as they were inserted into the water ghosts, resulting in the deaths of many people."

"Nobody dares to use these Silver Fork to drive away water ghosts anymore..."

The middle-aged wizard fell silent upon hearing this.

The research report on the Water Ghost, which has become increasingly difficult to deal with in recent months due to the Conjunction of the Spheres, was presented in the dean's office just a few days ago.

How come the consequences have become so serious before they even had time to come up with a solution?

"Honorable Druid Sorcerer."

The elderly man, who was sitting quietly with his silver-white hair combed back, waved his hand.

The two wealthy businessmen, who were in agitated, immediately fell silent.

The sorcerer known as the Druid Sorcerer immediately straightened up in his high-backed chair. "Count Pascal, what is it?"

"Druid Sorcerer, we respect the contract that was made when the city was founded, and we will give up the vast majority of the city's profits in exchange for the protection of the wizards."

"We have had a very good relationship for nearly a century."

Count Pascal looked solemnly at the Druid Sorcerer:

"Now, the city of Ban Ade and the surrounding villages, large and small, are in trouble. The voices of merchants and workshop owners protesting and complaining can be heard every day outside the council gates."

"If the college doesn't take any effective action soon, the situation will probably become very ugly when it comes time to collect taxes at the end of the year."

He finished speaking.

The atmosphere in the entire hall seemed to freeze instantly.

"You are threatening the Academy!" Druid, who was sitting upright in his high-backed chair, suddenly leaned forward aggressively, his eyes narrowed, and his gaze was filled with a fierce light.

In an instant, he transformed from a refined scholar into a venomous snake waiting for its chance to strike.

"I dare not..." Count Pascal sighed and stood up under the sorcerer's gaze. "The king died in Ban Ade. Apart from the war, the other effects are just hidden."

Pascal gazed intently into the wizard's eyes, which seemed to glow with a faint magical light:

"We are one, Druid Sorcerer."

"The king died in Ban Ade, the Conjunction of the Spheres erupted in the city center, and now the inexplicably rampant and increasingly powerful water ghosts..."

"We'd better do something quickly, otherwise we'll be kicked off those chairs before the year-end tax collection time even arrives."

The wizard remained silent.

The voice of the heart is the same as the words spoken; Pascal spoke the truth.

In fact.

As the male wizard in charge of the city of Adelaide, even if he didn't care much about worldly affairs, he could still vaguely sense the complex atmosphere in the city after the day the king died.

But.

Where in the college can we find extra staff to spare...?

"Don't worry, Pascal, the Academy will protect the interests of every ally." A gentle yet firm male voice suddenly came from the side.

"Dean!"

"Lord Henry Gedimidis! Good day!"

"Good day! Master Henry Gedimidis!"

The three foreign merchants and nobles immediately placed their right hands on their chests and bowed in greeting.

Henry Gedimidis waved his hand, his eyes weary but his face gentle as he smiled at Pascal:

"It is an honor for Ben Ade College to have the Nash family as an ally."

The elderly man with a full head of silver hair immediately bowed, flattered. "Not at all, it is the honor of our Nash family to serve the academy and Moyuanheng Gedimidis."

"The academy is already aware of the unusual outbreak of water ghosts and is currently researching how to eradicate it," Henry Gedimidis nodded. "However, this will take time."

Pascal hesitated for a second upon hearing this, glancing at his companions on either side:

"We will do our best to fight for it in Parliament..."

"That's not what I meant," Henry Gedimidis gently shook his head, interrupting. "A complete cure will take time, but the academy can first arrange some manpower to expel the water ghosts from the severely affected areas or the vicinity of key locations."

"That would be wonderful, Your Excellency Gedimidis!" The two wealthy merchants nodded excitedly.

However, Pascal did not immediately agree. Instead, he glanced at the expressionless Druid wizard beside him, frowned slightly, and hesitated before saying:

"Won't this have any negative impact on the academy?"

"If we can really find a cure, we can still buy some time..."

Henry Gedimidis laughed heartily:

"Pascal, this is Ban Ade! Don't think that some mere water ghosts or monsters can run rampant in our territory!"

"You should go back now and explain the situation to the members of the council, and compile a list of the most severely affected areas."

"Our people will arrive this afternoon."

Henry Gedimidis's confidence seemed to have infected the three people.

"Then we'll go back and wait for your good news," Pascal said with a sigh of relief.

"Go!" Henry Gedimidis maintained his gentle smile.

"Squeak~"

The tightly closed door was opened.

The sunlight streaming in looked slightly unnatural, with a faint bluish tint.

Pascal had already stepped out, but seemingly affected by the strange light, he suddenly remembered something.

He looked up at the sky, then glanced back at Henry Gedimidis, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

However, seeing Henry Gedimidis's gentle smile, he ultimately said nothing, nodded in acknowledgment, and left.

Smack!

The gate is closed.

Henry Geddimid immediately stopped smiling and frowned slightly.

"Dean, you wanted to see me?"

Henry Gedimidis nodded:

"Wild Hunt, any news?"