Valley of Nine Beneath the Sansidore River

Aristo shouted for Ailin to "come quickly," but before he finished speaking, he leaped down the steep slope that was two people high and came directly in front of Ailin.

"Uh... Ailin, are you training apprentices right now?"

Aristo glanced at the training field.

Ailin nodded, led him to a secluded corner, and asked, "Was it Thomas Moru who confessed, the Second Mutation, or the lab?"

"The laboratory," Aristo said excitedly without keeping anyone in suspense, "As you arranged, Ms. Ida Emin first discovered the location of the laboratory. Just as you said, it's in Toussaint, in the ruins of what was once known as the Valley of Nine, where the Sansidore River flows through."

The Valley of Nine is located near Beauclair, the capital of Toussaint. It was once a valley where elves lived.

However, many years ago, during what is said to be the last royal court of the elves, the magic of the unyielding elves altered the celestial phenomena, causing the Sansidore River to change its course and flood this valley.

Of course, there is also a theory that it was an atrocity committed by a human archmage in order to completely exterminate the elves.

But regardless of the explanation, the Valley of Nine has become history, submerged at the bottom of the Sansidore River.

Having experienced this Second Mutation in the game, Ailin naturally knows the keywords: Beauclair area, Sansidore River, and the ruins of the Valley of Nine.

However, he had already compared them.

The real-life plot may have some connection, but the terrain is completely different from that in the game.

Take Kaer Morhen, for example.

The Ancient Sea Fortress is completely different from the one in the game.

This isn't because the differences only arise after the Ancient Sea Fortress in the game have been destroyed; rather, the most basic layouts and structures are completely different.

This is not a thing.

Similarly, the locations of Killer Lake, Old Spearhead's Cave, and the Circle of Elements are all completely different.

This is why, even though Ailin knew the keywords Beauclair, Sansidore River, and Valley of Nine, he didn't search for them on his own but waited for news from Ada Emin.

Beauclair is the largest city in Toussaint, and Sansreddo is no gentler than Pontal, and much wider than Pontal upstream.

If you try to find it based on these few characteristics, you'll probably never find it, even if you search forever.

"What's the specific address?" Ailin pressed.

"I've already explained everything in detail. Lady Vesemir said it only takes a few portals to get there," Aristo said. "Now Vesemir and Ms. Ida Emin are in the castle hall, and they asked me to ask you what your plans are."

Logically speaking, now that the coordinates have been found and we can teleport there directly, we should at most notify Ailin, who proposed the plan, and then take immediate action.

However, for some reason, both Vesemir and Ida Emin insisted that Ailin make the decision.

"What about the Second Mutation?" Ailin asked instead of answering.

"Not yet," Aristo shook his head. "Ms. Ida Emin used some radical methods to get information out of her as quickly as possible."

"Thomas Molu needs some time to recover, but there's been a breakthrough in the next two weeks."

Ailin nodded. "Let's do it today then. After I've finished explaining some things to Fred and Ernie, we'll set off."

"Then I'll go and inform Vesemir and Ms. Ida Emin to see if they want to make any further preparations."

With that, Aristo turned around and walked out rather impatiently.

After taking a couple of steps, he suddenly stopped, hesitated for a moment, and said:

"Ailin, can your so-called Second Mutation really cure Soyer?"

"Never mind, forget I said anything," Aristo, dismissing his own words before Ailin could reply. "You should arrange things for them as soon as possible. I'll go and inform Vesemir and Dante. They'll be waiting for you in the castle hall."

He finished speaking.

Aristo walked towards the castle without looking back.

Ailin watched Aristo's departing figure and sighed inwardly.

He knew that Aristo didn't want to put too much pressure on him, and the same was true for Vesemir and Dante, the two Witcher Master of the School of the Wolf.

After learning of Soyer's situation, the three Witcher Master who remained in Kaer Morhen were even more concerned about it than he was.

Moreover, because they didn't have a ban like Ailin's that forbade them from going to the dungeon, they had been living in the dungeon for a while until Ada Emin kicked them out on the grounds that they were interfering with the torture.

Even so, after sending Vesemir to question him once, the three of them, like Vesemir, never appeared in front of him again, seemingly afraid of putting too much pressure on him.

Ailin took a deep breath.

If it weren't for these deeply moving human relationships, who would be willing to stay in Kaer Morhen, risking their lives to plan and scheme?

Wouldn't it be better to be a nobleman of Ard, a knight of Arland, and a holy son of Meritellie?

To be honest, he somewhat understood why Geralt, Eskel, and Lambert would go to great lengths to return to Kaer Morhen every winter in the original story.

Back to the training ground.

"Ailin, what does Master Aristo want with you?"

Ailin turned his head in response to the sound.

The one who asked the question was Fred, who was slightly out of breath, his face showing barely concealed excitement and joy.

Around him, in the training ground that was originally barren and full of dry sand and gravel, a lot of weeds suddenly sprouted up, and the closer to the center, the denser they were.

After seven days of instruction and training, the first Witcher was finally able to cast "Warcry: Primal Tongue".

However, Fred himself had already encountered what appeared to be a natural elemental encounter with the Leshen, so it's not surprising that he was the first to master it.

only...

Fred's "Warcry: Primal Tongue" seems to differ somewhat from his, or at least previously Ailin's, original Primal Tongue.

[Title: The Primal Tongue]

[Type: Beast Roar]

[Learning Requirements: Introduction to the Path of the Beast Roar, mastery of "Beast Roar: Berserk"]

[Passive Effect: Maintains the power flow of "Beast Roar: Primal Tongue" daily, can]

1. Slowly increase perception attributes.

2. Reduce hostility from low-intelligence creatures.

[Active Effect: Consumes energy to enable the Howler to perceive the thoughts of low-intelligence creatures and transmit simple commands.]

[Note: Are you sure the Path of the Beast Roar isn't the Path of the Druid?]

The original Primal Tongue has an active effect similar to the Axii Mind Sign, which can influence the minds of animals and monsters and communicate with Mother Nature.

However, Fred's version seems to have undergone a change.

He can influence the growth of surrounding plants through the Primal Tongue.

It has a strong sense of déjà vu, very much like the vines that grow from the Leshen.

Ailin glanced at the excited young witchers and apprentices around him and said:

"Some matters concerning the alliance with the elves..."

The Second Mutation, Thomas Maurice, and Soyer's affairs are all classified and cannot be discussed in public.

So Ailin casually changed the subject.

"I see." Fred nodded, but it was clear he had no interest in it.

Noticing the expression on Fred's face, Ailin glanced at the witchers and apprentices around him, paused, and nodded in agreement:

"You really do have a talent for 'Battlecry: Primal Tongue '."

"Keep practicing. Once you're more proficient, see if you can try controlling the plants within the War Cry's area of effect."

"Like the Leshen controlling vines?" Fred asked curiously.

Ailin glanced at the lush weeds on the ground and nodded. "With a little effort, we should be able to achieve it."

"Um!"

Fred nodded vigorously, a happy smile appearing on his young face that he hadn't shown in a long time.

Having been appointed captain by Ailin, and with his strength rapidly rising to the same level as Ernie and Klar thanks entirely to Ailin's help, Fred has been under a lot of pressure these past few days.

He now represents more than just himself.

Instead, it refers to Huus, Bont, and even the three Witchers from the Ailin batch, who are currently still at the Temple of Melitele and bedridden.

He didn't want to tarnish their reputation because of his own actions.

Now, through his own efforts, he has surpassed other young Witcher and become the first to learn "Warcry: Primal Tongue," earning praise from Ailin, which finally allows him to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Fred has done a good job; he has already mastered the trick of the Primal Tongue," Ailin said loudly to the other witchers and witcher apprentices. "You all need to ask him more questions and make sure you all master the Primal Tongue as soon as possible."

"The first few people to master it will have a surprise waiting for them."

The young witchers and apprentices around them immediately became excited.

"Surprise?!!"

"Commander, what's the surprise?"

Ailin smiled mysteriously, "It will definitely be a surprise that will satisfy you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the young witchers and apprentices rushed into the training ground, surrounding Fred and bombarding him with questions about the tricks of the trade.

Fred was momentarily flustered, but his overall demeanor was completely different. His facial features were relaxed, and he no longer had the gloomy look he had a few days ago. It was as if he had returned to the time before Ben Ade's Apprentice Combat Tournament.

Seeing this, Ailin smiled with relief.

The impact of the Drakkenberg incident did not end completely after leaving Redania and after Huus and Bont were out of danger.

On the contrary, that was just the beginning.

Ailin could empathize with Fred's embarrassment a few days ago without even having to think about it.

Even if Ernie and Klar didn't have any other thoughts, their former apprentices had now far surpassed them.

That sense of inferiority and awkwardness is hard to hide.

Moreover, not to mention Fred, who is only thirteen or fourteen years old, Dante also seemed to be in a slump when he came back this time.

Upon returning, he had a long talk with Fred, and then handed Fred over to Ailin.

At that time, Master Dante looked listless and had a blank look in his eyes.

However, Dante was beyond Ailin's ability to counsel him. After all, he wasn't really one of them anymore, and he was too busy to care about such things.

Huus and Bont will likely face the same problem later on, and Fred's example serves as a case study.

Ailin never cared about the talents of the Monster Hunting Legion' members.

Because Heart Essence Fluid and Purification Spirit can quickly boost attributes, and Combat Points can enhance skills.

Ailin could train an ordinary person who knew nothing to become a warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men.

What he cares about is loyalty.

Huus, Bont, and Fred will be the most reliable core of the future Monster Hunting Legion, and they deserve some resources.

However, Fred 'Leshen, gained from his encounter with the stag spirit, allowed him to stand out among the witchers, so Huus and Bont really need to put in more effort.

With the matter concerning the Monster Hunting Legion settled, Ailin didn't intend to linger any longer.

He turned his head and instructed, "Mary, I'm leaving things here in your care. I should be back soon."

"Always bossing people around!" Mary muttered, then glanced around furtively and asked, "Where's the owl? Isn't she coming with you?"

"Philippa has something to do today," Ailin said softly. "Besides, she's different from you; there are some things about the School of the Wolf that she can't know."

Today was indeed the perfect day.

Philippa Ehrert suddenly received a contact request from Aretuza, canceling today's training plans; otherwise, he wouldn't have had time to watch Fred and the others train.

At that moment, Philippa Ehrert was probably in his room, fiddling with Scrying Mirror.

I wonder what news will come from Aretuza?

Has the situation in Kedwen changed?

Upon hearing this, Mary's soft lips curved into a satisfied smile, and she waved her little hand, "Go on! Go on!"

"I will keep an eye on them for you."

Ailin smiled, glanced at the bustling training ground again, and walked towards the castle without looking back.

——

Castle Hall.

Are you sure you don't want to go?

Beside the fireplace, an elf dressed in a pale yellow dress with an emerald green belt around her waist brushed aside the vermilion hair that had been covering her forehead.

She is an elven sage named Aida Emin, an expert in Ion Siddi and skilled in mind magic.

"I'm not going," Vesemir said wearily, staring at the door without turning her head. "Soyer needs my help and doesn't have time to go out."

"Do you really think that Second Mutation can save Soyer's life?"

Ada Emin glanced at the embarrassed Vesemir, Aristo, and Dante, the three Witcher Master of the School of the Wolf, and telepathically spoke to Vesemir:

"Although he is Child of Miracle, he is not that miraculous."

"No one can learn a new skill from scratch and then improve it in a short period of time."

"The Xenogeneic Mutagenesis is not like divination; even beginners have the opportunity to glimpse the threads of fate."

"Thomas Molu may be an absolute madman, but he has gone far enough down the path of Genetic Mutation."

Vesemir remained silent, and Ida Emin knew the answer.

"It's time to let go, Vesemir," she whispered with pity in her eyes. "Rather than die in obscurity and suffering, give him a swift and glorious funeral..."

"Squeak~"

The door was pushed open, letting in a sliver of sunlight that interrupted Ada Emin.

"My Child of Miracle has arrived," Vesemir, taking a deep breath as she looked at the dark figure backlit by the sun. "He will bring us miracles, just as you have come because of him."

Ada Emin's eyes showed even more pity.

"What I want is for the Child of Miracle to fulfill his prophetic duty, but you actually expect him to create miracles."

"Vesemir, the Child of Miracle is simply someone born of a miracle."

"You're asking for too much..."