However, in the past few years, every child brought from the orphanage has not flinched.
Although it was inevitably accompanied by sacrifice, the vast majority of children still survived.
This expanded the number of official demon hunters under Lynn to more than a thousand.
This is the result of the extremely high screening threshold set by Lynn.
Only people of good character can perform Improved Trial of the Grasses.
This is also to prevent those who are not strong-willed and easily shaken from being carried away after gaining strength.
Lynn was on patrol when he felt that the sound box placed in the magic pattern leather bag was activated.
He left the training ground, walked to a secluded corner, and took out the sound box.
From it came the sound Fringilla.
"Syndicate lurking in Nazair reported that the Nilfgaard people are massing their troops, and grain and grass from the rear are being transported to Nazair one after another. This may be a sign of invasion of Cintra."
"Let us who stay in Cintra go to Mousesack immediately and tell him the news. He will know what he will do."
After ending the call with Fringilla, Lynn put away the sound box.
It's finally here.
First Northern War that changed the situation on the mainland...
Lynn whistled.
Not long after, a small black spot appeared in the distance.
The black spots came quickly and got bigger and bigger.
When it came to the sky above Lynn, even the sun was blocked by its shadow.
A huge shadow cast over the ground.
Along with the smoke and dust that filled the sky, a monster as big as a hill landed on the ground, causing the ground to shake.
But this monster is none other than the gryphon cub that Lynn once rescued - Deathclaw.
Now after so many years, it has long since grown up.
Moreover, because it is always fed with Water of Brokilon, Deathclaw is much stronger than similar animals.
Even though Lynn wore the fine gold armor tailor-made for him by Tyensail for most of the day, Deathclaw did not feel tired.
At this moment, even though I stood up and was almost as tall as a three-story building, when I saw Lynn, I still acted like a baby and rubbed my head against Lynn.
After interacting for a while, Lynn was riding on the back of Deathclaw.
"Let's go."
Deathclaw raised its head to the sky and screamed loudly, then flapped its wings and flew high, quickly disappearing into the distant sky.
An hour later, Lynn rode Deathclaw and arrived at Caingorn City.
Although Lynn's title is Isparaden Grand Duke, Lynn has stayed in Duchy of Hengfors longer than Isparaden Duchy.
After all, Isparaden is far away, while Hengfors has a better geographical location and is closer to Kovir.
However, Lynn is not afraid that Isparaden people will raise the flag of rebellion again.
On the one hand, in the previous battle, he had slaughtered all the Isparaden nobles who had rebelled. Not only had the remaining Isparaden nobles shared hardships before, but they also had to rely on the toll income from the Kovir caravan.
The interests of Lynn are consistent, so there is no reason to oppose Lynn.
On the other hand, Lynn recruited another two thousand standing troops in Isparaden.
The main industry is agriculture, and the average income is only half of Kovir or even lower. Isparaden, Lynn will give these Isparaden people who join the army the same treatment as Kovir soldiers, and ensure that these soldiers' weekly salaries will be paid stably on time.
Just this seemingly simple measure has successfully weakened the resistance of ordinary people at the bottom of Isparaden to foreign regimes.
Lineage? Legitimacy? Legality?
The things that are only talked about in these aristocratic circles are not talked about so much by ordinary people.
They support whoever benefits them.
Of course, if that's all it is, it's still not safe.
Because this army is composed entirely of Isparaden people, there is still a possibility of being incited.
As a time traveler, Lynn knows all too well the importance of holding the gun barrel firmly in your hand.
Therefore, Lynn assigned these two thousand Isparaden soldiers the non-commissioned officers and officers who had followed him to conquer the entire Hengfors League and were later promoted.
In this way, you don't have to worry about the knife being too sharp and hurting yourself.
Because the knife is in your own hand.
After Caingorn City landed, Lynn handed Deathclaw to the griffin breeder - this was a position specially set up by him. In addition to feeding Deathclaw, this breeder was also responsible for taking care of the griffin eggs that Lynn purchased through various channels.
Although there is a high probability that it will not be able to catch up with the war with Nilfgaard that is just around the corner, it is still necessary to form an air force.
When Lynn found Fringilla in the Duke's Mansion, the latter was supporting Cintra for the army and setting up defenses on the national border to prevent Redania or Kaedwen's invasion, while discussing with Triss, Letho, Julia and other officers who were subsequently promoted by Lynn.
After Lynn arrived, he also joined the discussion at the military meeting.
Although Lynn is a vassal of Kovir, declaring war on Lynn is equivalent to declaring war on Kovir.
But Lynn also knows how unpopular he is with conservatives as a demon hunter lord.
Especially in the past few years, Aretuza Academy and Temeria were moved to their own territory.
That "just one", His Majesty Vizimir, is extremely afraid of this.
Lynn dare not place the safety of his territory on the silent understanding among the nobles.
Because this tacit understanding is not unbreakable.
This can be seen from the massacre of France nobles by the England people during the Hundred Years' War.
Therefore, Lynn decided to mobilize the 20,000 militiamen who trained once a week to set up defenses on the national border.
The territory of Lynn, Redania and Kaedwen happens to be bounded by the Buina River (when it is east of the Kestrel Mountains, this river is also called Gwenllech).
If the enemy attacks, they will be punished by crossing the river.
Only defensive but not offensive, 20,000 militiamen are definitely enough.
Of course, just in case, Lynn also kept Fringilla and Triss.
I also asked Tissaia to help me look at it.
Although Lynn promised Tissaia that he would not ask the female students of Aretuza to join the war.
But if the war comes to your home, then you can't hide anymore, right?
After determining the territorial defense matters, we can move to the next stage, about how to support Cintra.
After some discussion, it was decided to summon three thousand standing soldiers from Duchy of Hengfors, plus two thousand standing soldiers from Isparaden, and five hundred of the best demon hunters to form a legion.
First enter Praxaeda Bay from the Braa River.
Then go south to Novigrad.
After resting at Novigrad, we finally took a boat to Cintra.
Regarding various details, everyone continued to discuss it until the evening, and then it finally came to an end.
The material supplies for the legion are stored in Skellige Isles's an Craite Clan's Kaer Trolde Harbor.
Considering the relationship between Lynn and an Craite Clan, and the fact that they are here to support Cintra, I believe an Craite Clan will not refuse.
The reason why the supplies are not transported directly to Cintra City is that the relationship between Lynn and Calanthe is not that good yet, and secondly, if Cintra fails to live up to expectations, it will still collapse at the first touch as in the original plot...
Wouldn't the supplies shipped to Cintra be a benefit to Nilfgaard people?
That won't work.
After the troops and grain and grass arrived at Novigrad, Lynn first rode Deathclaw to the an Craite Clan's territory.
After all, no matter how good your relationship with the an Craite Clan is, you should still say hello in advance.
The salty sea breeze swept over the cliffs of Kaer Trolde Harbor, blowing the an Craite Clan emblem on Captain Blyde's cloak.
The veteran who had served an Craite Clan for more than ten years squinted his eyes and scanned the surging waves under the leaden clouds.
The cracks torn by last night's storm on the cliff still smelled of fresh earth, but what made him most uneasy at the moment was the sentinel's trembling fingers as he pointed to the sky.
"Captain! Thirty degrees northeast, where is the gap in the clouds!"
The sentry's voice sounded like a taut bowstring.
Blyde took out a monocular telescope from the leather armor. The brass tube was still glowing with body heat in the palm of his hand.
At first he thought it was the young people who were dazzled - every year during the migration season, some rookies always thought the albatrosses were flying monsters.
But when the black spot in the lens suddenly tore through the clouds and swooped down, the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood up.
"Freya ah."
The monocular telescope slipped from his fingers and made a crisp sound on the granite battlements.
Blyde In this life, I have only heard of this kind of creature in the poems of bards:
The lion's body is covered with iron-gray feathers, and when its wings are spread out, it will cast a large shadow on the ground, and its sharp claws glow like steel in the sun.
"Griffin! It's a gryphon!"
Kaer Trolde Harbor suddenly went into chaos, causing ripples of panic on the city wall.
The sound of iron boots hitting stone bricks mixed with the sound of weapons clashing. When the archers rushed to the shooting platform, they overturned the wooden barrels containing arrows. The white-feathered arrows rolled down like pale wheat ears in the morning light.
Blyde's roar suppressed the commotion, "The archers changed armor-piercing arrows! The ballista fired the first round first! Wait until it gets within two hundred yards--"
"Please wait a moment!"
The sentry suddenly grabbed the captain's arm. Blyde turned to look at him and found that his forehead was covered with sweat.
"There's a person on the gryphon's back!"
The incoming gryphon did not hover in the air while looking for prey like the Forktail that Blyde had encountered before. Instead, it passed over the port below and approached the castle on the cliff in a precise straight line.
As it passed the last cumulonimbus, everyone saw it:
--The golden saddle is shining on its back, and the black cloak with the jet-black gold double-headed eagle emblem is printed on it, like a battle flag, billowing in the strong wind.
The defenders who were panicking just now fell into an eerie silence.
Blyde can feel the eyes of others waiting for instructions.
"Put away the bows and arrows!" The old captain's hoarse roar cut through the solidified air like a dull knife, "Go and ask Master Crach to ask the cook to bring out the prosciutto and mead!"
The soldiers were like frozen puppets until Blyde's bloodshot eyes scanned the crowd.
"Do you want me to whip you before you move?" Veins popped up on his forehead, and the an Craite Clan emblem on his leather armor rose and fell violently with his chest, "That beast is going to stay! Clear ten meters of space for me!"
The armor on the griffin shines brightly.
As the soldiers staggered away, the beast folded its wings and fell to the ground like a comet.
At the moment when the smoke and dust rose, a recruit was knocked to the ground by the air wave - but this was obviously the result of deliberately restraining his strength, otherwise not only one recruit would be unable to stand, but the whole group of people on the city wall would be swept away.
But at this moment, the knight riding on the back of the gryphon spoke.
"Deathclaw! If you keep messing around, you will be deprived of food for three days!"
The giant beast that was still majestic just now lowered its head and its wings folded obediently at its side.
Then from the fortress on one side of the city wall, the muffled sound of iron boots hitting the ground came.
A red-haired young man strode towards him, his chain armor bulging with his solid muscles.
"Lynn!"
When he saw the demon hunter, Crach showed a look of joy. He opened his arms and his chainmail made a clanging sound.
"Freya, I'm so happy to see you!"
Lynn jumped off the griffin's back, and he and Crach hugged each other tightly.
"Me too, Crach, me too."
Crach laughed while stroking his new beard, and suddenly caught a glimpse of the giant beast eating the decoration on the flagpole.
"I have never seen a witcher tame a monster as his mount, especially a gryphon."
"This is too long to say." Lynn flicked his finger on the back of the gryphon's ear. Deathclaw immediately spat out the decoration that had been chewed into his mouth and let out an aggrieved whimper. "But we have plenty of time to reminisce about old times, don't we?"
An Craite Clan's banquet hall was brightly lit by pediment candlesticks and torches, but there were only two people, Lynn and Crach, sitting on the oak dining table that was more than ten meters long.
The candlelight casts a swaying halo between the roasted suckling pig and apple pie, and the wooden wine glass contained dark red ripples.
The crisp sound of the silver fork hitting the porcelain plate echoed in the empty hall.
But when Lynn was using fruit wine to moisten his throat, a heart-wrenching sound of bones breaking suddenly came from the darkness.
Behind the shadowed corridor pillars where the firelight could not reach, the tall Deathclaw was tearing at a bloody cow leg.
The jagged claws can easily crush tibia.
However, as if it sensed something, it suddenly stopped eating, raised its golden pupils, and looked at Crach who looked away and tried to pretend to be calm.
Even though Crach had already learned from Lynn that this terrifying monster was the demon hunter's mount, when the young head of the Kuite family was locked by the gryphon's gaze, the knife in his hand could not help but tremble slightly.
Lynn put down his wine glass, smiled, pretended not to see Crach's embarrassment, and said nonchalantly, "I heard that Nilfgaard people launched an attack? Is Cintra still there?"
Crach was shocked. "Where did you know this?"
Lynn smiled but said nothing.
"Okay, okay, if you don't want to say it, forget it."
Crach picked up a napkin and wiped his face.
Then let's talk about the situation of Cintra:
A few years ago, Calanthe listened to Mousesack's advice and built a fortress in Marnadal Valley, leaving hundreds of standing soldiers to guard the fortress.
A week ago, Cintra suddenly received a warning from an unknown force, saying that Nilfgaard would invade Cintra soon.
At the beginning, the nobles in Cintra both the government and the public did not take it seriously and only thought it was alarmist talk.
Still Mousesack, I feel it is necessary to add more troops to Marnadal Valley Fortress.
Finally, Calanthe listened to the suggestion again and sent an additional 300 soldiers to Marnadal Valley Fortress.
And when Nilfgaard Army attacked Marnadal Valley Fortress, these eight hundred soldiers bought the most precious critical time for Cintra.
Only then did the army in black fail to overwhelm Marnadal Valley Fortress with numbers in the first place, and instead turned into a war of attrition.
And Calanthe is worthy of being the queen of Cintra.
After learning that Marnadal Valley Fortress was in danger, she asked her husband Eist Tursek to stay in the royal capital and wait for the armies of the lords from various places.
She herself immediately led thousands of kings and troops to the front line to support Marnadal Valley Fortress.
Marnadal Valley Fortress suffered heavy losses under the strong attack of the Nilfgaard Army.
Although the fortress was used for defense, the number of defenders was still too small.
Under the Nilfgaard Army's fierce attack at all costs, the defenders slowly lost control of the outer wall and could only retreat to the inner city to make the final resistance.
But just when all the defenders were about to be killed and the fortress fell into the hands of the Nilfgaard people, the king's army led by Calanthe arrived.
A fierce battle broke out between the two sides.
Cintra Here, because the queen personally leads the troops, morale is high.
Looking back at the Nilfgaard people, on the one hand, the army was exhausted from the past few days of fighting, and on the other hand, the outer wall had been captured. Many soldiers had a fluke mentality, thinking that they had actually occupied the fortress.
Even if the remaining defenders are still resisting, how long can they hold on as long as they are cut off from water and food?
Nilfgaard's soldiers never expected that Cintra's reinforcements would come so quickly.
One side was prepared to attack, while the other side was completely unprepared and had only experienced a bloody fight.
The results are self-evident.
Nilfgaard Army, who finally broke into the valley fortress, was driven out of the fortress again by the Cintra army.