Unexpected Gains

Is it Fragment of Ad Gaes's Gate, or Guiding Stone of the Gate of Adegas?

Or perhaps some new components of the Grand Gate?

The intense emotions brought on by the call of fate left him restless and his mouth dry.

This unusual sound even transcended the howling Wolf Emblem and was sensed by the female elf in the deep darkness.

She cast a spell to summon a bright orb of light, her brow furrowed as she warily surveyed her surroundings.

Everything before them resembled that of any sorcerer's laboratory.

Formalin, ether, and alcohol, along with magic—these various scents still linger in the air even years after Thomas Maurice abandoned this laboratory, seemingly pickling the cold walls with their aroma.

Dusty bottles and jars, Distillation Kettle, kilns, and a cold steel bed radiating a chilling aura.

Suspicious dark brown and turbid yellow hues remained on the bed.

However, none of these are the most eye-catching.

An experimental instrument with its outer shell filled with root tubes, resembling the Iron Maiden (a type of torture device), stood on the ground, looking extremely out of place with the overall atmosphere of the laboratory.

However, apart from this, there were no other traps or mechanisms, nor were there any monsters lurking in the corners that suddenly awakened and pounced.

This is their final destination—the laboratory of Thomas Molu's Second Mutation.

Ada Emin's brow furrowed even more.

"What's wrong, Ailin?"

There's clearly nothing here.

Why are your Mental Fluctuation so contradictory, sometimes restless like a beast in heat, sometimes indifferent like a stagnant pool?

She couldn't sense fate, at least not the guidance fate was giving her at this moment... Ailin immediately realized this.

However, something seems off.

The last time I was alone in the Passerlon Forest when fate called upon me, let's leave that aside for now.

However, when Yennefer's brother was taken into the School of the Wolf on the outskirts of Vengerberg, the call of the Accident Law was unexpectedly felt by everyone around.

What's going on?

Is it that there are differences between destinies, and that the Accident Law and the fragments of the Gate of Ade Gais are of different levels?

Or perhaps fate itself has a personality, truly controlling everything and meticulously avoiding Ada Emin?

Ailin took a deep breath, suppressing the throbbing emotions within her that rose and fell with the call of fate:

"The scene here is just as I remember it; there should be hope for Soyer."

"That's good." Ada Emin looked doubtful, but ultimately nodded slightly and skipped over the part.

The two walked into the laboratory, where more details were revealed to them.

This is a very well-equipped and valuable laboratory with a wide variety of experimental facilities. Many of the layouts can be found in Drakkenberg, the laboratory of Ronnie Dickinson Brotherhood of Sorcerers Senior Council Member.

It's important to know that Ronnie Dickinson's status and power far surpassed Thomas Molu's, and Drakkenberg's inhuman race laboratory was essentially part of the Rissberg Civil Conglomerate.

Research equipment in such excellent condition is worth at least a million Oren, and it must be the most suitable for Second Mutation research.

Thomas Morru paid a heavy price in his research on the mutation of Witchers and his search for an "antidote" to turn his son back into a normal person.

Of course, now it all benefits Ailin, the Witcher whom Thomas Morru hates the most.

Further inside, besides the experimental equipment, there were four iron cages in the corner.

However, the prison doors were wide open, and the prison was empty.

On the blood-stained platform outside the cage, there was a mummified corpse with its hands bound and its expression one of extreme pain.

"Do you know how to use all these devices?" Ada Emin asked curiously, gently stroking the dusty Distillation Kettle with her right hand.

"I know some, and I can learn the rest as soon as possible," Ailin replied casually, sensing the direction guided by fate. "If there were any experimental records, that would be even better..."

Before he could finish speaking...

Ailin confirmed that the place his destiny was pointing to was on the stairs of the second floor of the experiment, he suddenly noticed that Ada Emin had stopped behind the Iron Maiden -shaped device.

"The experimental records haven't been found yet, but there's Kilometer Scope and Recording Crystal here..."

She waved to Ailin, then walked toward the Kilometer Scope while giving a brief introduction.

Ailin looked up at the direction of fate on the second floor, but didn't rush to follow. After looking around, he squatted down and searched three places in the laboratory before turning back to walk towards the female elf.

The Kilometer Scope was the prized invention of Otolan, the leader of the Rissberg Civil Conglomerate. By consuming some precious materials, it could transmit sound over long distances, assist in long-distance transmission, record video, and other functions.

In the future, the improved Kilometer Scope will become the most commonly used magical tool for sorcerers.

However, since it had only been around for a few years, both the Kilometer Scope itself and the materials consumed in its use were extremely expensive. Long-distance transmission and telepathic communication also placed very high demands on the user, which seemed to be beyond Thomas Maul's means, especially since he had casually abandoned it.

Ida Emin was probably so surprised for that reason.

"We are still missing three Recording Crystal." She picked up two crystals from the cushion next to the Kilometer Scope and looked at them. "These two are number one and number five. We are still missing number two, three and four."

"What you're looking for might be hidden inside these crystals. Let's search..."

Before he could finish speaking...

She saw three identical crystals lying quietly in Ailin's outstretched palm and immediately shut her mouth.

The three crystals are engraved with the Elder Speech two, three, and four respectively.

"What you saw in the prophecy."

This is a statement, not a question. The Kilometer Scope is cleverly positioned, only visible after turning a corner, and the circular stand holding the crystal is only visible upon close proximity.

Even though she had guessed it, the female elf's tone still betrayed her surprise.

"I have overestimated you enough, but it seems I still underestimated your prophetic talent."

Those who can be called prophets are one in ten thousand in the Northern Continent.

If someone can foresee a dozen or so static images a year, most of which are meaningless, they can already be considered a seasoned Master of Prophecy.

Someone like Ailin, who could not only extract the key information of the Second Mutation but also remember the locations of the two Recording Crystal clearly, must have created a series of continuous, information-dense images.

This is a skill that only the Prophetess Ithlinne Egri Ap Aevynne could master.

Even more terrifying is that Ithlinne's father is the legendary elven healer, astrologer, and prophet Aevynne, while Ailin's parents are one a simple-minded swordsman and the other completely ignorant of prophecies.

With such talent, why become a witcher...?

What a waste of talent!

Ada Emin thought for a moment, then asked, "Besides the Dimeritium Bomb, are you interested in taking on other commissions?"

With a blank expression, Ailin, who was trying to figure out how to brush this off, subconsciously asked, "What request?"

"The prophecy says that after Sadia's return, the Free Elves have changed, and we need the guidance of someone who can dispel the fog."

"Aren't you also good at prophecy?"

"Not all prophecies are the same, and the person who dispels the fog is vastly different from another person who dispels the fog."

Ailin was about to refuse when he heard this, since he knew nothing about prophecy. The only reason he knew about the crystal was because he had undergone Second Mutation many times in his previous life.

Of course, this is in a game.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he changed his words:

"We are allies, and I am willing to help even without compensation."

"However, I understand nothing about prophecy, and I'm afraid it might cause trouble."

"I can teach you, for no cost." Ada Emin's eyes gleamed.

"Then I can give it a try." Ailin, who had just gotten another new skill for free, answered readily.

Whether or not he could learn divination was not important to him, but this was a good opportunity for him to interfere in the affairs of the Free Elves.

"We can talk about prophecy later. Let's first see what's stored in the Recording Crystal..." Ailin changed the subject.

Ada Emin nodded, picked up the first crystal from the red cushion on the round platform, and placed it on the gap near the center of gravity of the Kilometer Scope.

"Buzz~"

The Wolf Emblem hummed.

At the center of the three Kilometer Scope arranged in a triangle, a black-and-white male wizard—Thomas Morru—suddenly appeared, wearing pince-nez glasses and sporting a hooked nose.

Then.

A deep voice began to echo in the vast laboratory.

"On the 18th of the month of Yorl, in 1102, I embark on the greatest project of my life, far greater than any of my research to date, because this research is intimately connected with my son and me."

"Fifteen years ago, I was attacked by a monster in the forest. A demon hunter came to my rescue and saved my life. At the time, I didn't know that the price he paid for saving me would be the future fate of my son."

"If I could turn back time, I would rather lose my life than hand my only son over to the Witcher. But the day the Witcher took my son away, I swore I would restore him to his original state."

"After years of research and preparation, I have finally created a device today that allows me to study mutations. If a merciful God can help me, I will be able to find a way to reverse the mutations and allow Geralt to return to his normal life."

Thomas Morru's illusion vanished, and Ida Emin glanced at Ailin before silently placing the second crystal.

"Observation number 22: Despite the use of significantly excessive amounts of toxic substances, the subjects showed no signs of poisoning..."

Because of the differences between the original story and the real world, and the many differences in traps and buildings along the way, Ailin, who had hoped to gain some new content, lost patience when she saw that the content of the second crystal was the same as in the game.

"Observation number 30: The mutation did not occur immediately, but rather appeared after a period of time..." Thomas Moru's deep voice still echoed.

Seeing that Ida Emin had already placed the third crystal on the Kilometer Scope, Ailin was about to listen to this part and then find an excuse to stop and search for the Object of Destiny.

"... For the mutation to be completed, appropriate mutation induction must be continuously applied..."

Thomas Maurice didn't even finish his sentence.

A cold, impersonal System Notification suddenly sounded.

[Ding! Do you wish to spend 48 Experience Orbs to unlock Xenogeneic Mutagenesis?]

"Um?!!"

Ailin, who was somewhat absent-minded, immediately snapped out of it.

The requirement for Experience Orbs, which had already been reduced from 100 to the limit of 50 through "Sorcerer's Memory," has been further reduced by two more Experience Orbs through Xenogeneic Mutagenesis.

And that's not all...

"The target's condition isn't good, but I've found a way to make the mutation less painful and exhausting..."

[Ding! Do you wish to spend 46 Experience Orbs to unlock Xenogeneic Mutagenesis?]

"... I used a mutation inducer as a base and added proteins from mutated Giant Centipede eggs..."

[Ding! Do you wish to spend 44 Experience Orbs to unlock Xenogeneic Mutagenesis?]

"Putting them in a glass container will prevent the centipede eggs from growing larger and keep them small..."

"The eggs themselves are quite amazing; after they mutate, they emit a dazzling luster..."

[Ding! Do you wish to spend 13 Experience Orbs to unlock Xenogeneic Mutagenesis?]

Almost every sentence reduced the requirement for an Experience Orbs, and Thomas's increasingly deep voice only made Thomas's heart race with excitement.

Because of Soyer's serious injury, Xenogeneic Mutagenesis is a skill that he must level up to a very high level in the next two days.

Furthermore, the rescue of Hen Gedimidis necessitates the acquisition of Experience Orbs for the "Beast Roar: No-Fly" skill.

The nearly two hundred Experience Orbs that seem like a lot are actually not very useful at all.

Now, just a few words from Tomas Morra can reduce so many demands; every word is worth its weight in gold!

Just as Ailin was delighted by the Xenogeneic Mutagenesis, the rate at which the demand for Experience Orbs decreased slowed, but it did not stop.

"Observation 58:... There is a method to combine a certain mutation inducer with specific ingredients to transform it into another mutation inducer..."

[Ding! Do you wish to spend 10 Experience Orbs to unlock Xenogeneic Mutagenesis?]

"In addition, I also discovered that the mutation inducer injected today brought the research subject to the brink of death. Then he suddenly woke up and his strength was quickly restored. Of course, he wasn't fully recovered, but it's already quite remarkable that he came back from the brink of death."

[Ding! Do you wish to spend 7 Experience Orbs to unlock the Xenogeneic Mutagenesis?]

[Ding! Do you wish to spend 1 Experience Orbs to unlock Xenogeneic Mutagenesis?]

"Several years of experiments, research, and hard work have all come to naught! I cannot achieve the goals I set for myself."

"The sudden effects I induced in the test subjects had no effect on Geralt."

"I originally wanted to 'cure' his witcher nature and restore him to a normal life, but instead it made his mutation more severe, further enhancing his speed and strength, and making him further and further away from humanity."

"It seems my son is destined to be a witcher for life. I have failed. It's time to abandon this place and go home to Lydia. She might even be willing to take me back."

"I'm leaving the formula and the mutation inducer here. Let them fade away, just like I'm finding my son's dream."

Thomas Maurice's vision slumped to the ground, dejected that the experiment had failed to achieve his expectations and that he had failed to mold his son into the way he wanted him to be.

On the other hand, if Ada Emin hadn't been there, he would have needed to control his expression.

Ailin was so excited he almost shouted it out.

In less than half an hour, I earned forty-nine Experience Orbs for free.

Even when the Evil God descended, the Experience Orbs weren't this plentiful.

"What a pity," Ada Emin said, removing the last crystal from the Kilometer Scope. "Not a single piece of useful information was found..."

"No! It's very useful!" Ailin instinctively denied upon hearing this. "I'm almost a master of Xenogeneic Mutagenesis..."

"Bang!"

The Recording Crystal falling to the ground and chipping.

Ada Emin: "?"