Chapter 282: None of you do unnecessary things, right?
The continent that everyone has stepped on is actually not as big as they think. The so-called "southern" and "northern" are actually just divisions based on the land that has been explored by existing society.
To the east of the Northern Kingdoms and the Nilfgaardian Empire, there is a rolling mountain range called the "Blue Mountains" that clearly separates them from the other half of the continent like a dividing line. And if an adventurer spends more than a month and is long enough to cross the Blue Mountains, he or she will have the opportunity to come into contact with a completely unfamiliar country - Zerikan.
Zerikan is also called [Serikania,] this is a country that is very unfamiliar to people from the north and the south, but it is a bit legendary. Legend has it that there is a desert climate like a steamer, and poisonous insects as big as cattle can be seen everywhere on the road; but there is also an extremely prosperous human civilization and advanced alchemy technology.
Zerikan can produce the most expensive spices and the strongest longbows - Milva and Lann's current bows are from Zerikan; [Dragon Dream] and [Demon Dust] are also spread through Zerikan's traders. To the north, Zerikan is most famous for her female mercenaries, who wear clothes made of lion fur and have tattoos on their faces. They are unrivaled on the battlefield and in bed.
As far as Lan knows, there was a group of demon hunters who followed Anahad, the founder of the Bear sect, to leave the cult and live in the north during the schism of the cult; subsequently, Ivar Evil Eye, the founder of the Snake sect, and Anahad When the conflict broke out, they left the Bear Faction and followed the Snake Faction to the south; in the end, they left the Snake Faction because they were inconsistent with Ivar Evil Eye's ideals, and traveled over the mountains and across the Blue Mountains to Zerikan.
They also founded a school called the [Manticore] School.
Faced with Lan En's inquiry, Saskia recalled it for a moment and nodded immediately: "The manticore school of demon hunters is also a story that my father once told me, but they seem to have disappeared now. Since I can remember I haven't seen them since."
"But it seems inappropriate to call them 'Demon Hunters', because they have transformed into mercenaries. It is said that at the beginning they were responsible for providing protection to the caravans crossing the desert. Later they After being valued by Queen Zerican, he was incorporated into the Royal Guard, specifically to provide protection for the royal caravans and envoys."
These words made both Kolgrim and Geralt raise their eyebrows. It sounded like this The demon hunters are still the best.
"But it seems that about a hundred years ago, they took over the task of escorting Prince Zerikan to the marriage, and sent out 90% of the demon hunters of the school. As a result, they encountered a monster while passing by the Flame Mountains. The entire army was wiped out by the fire element that was more than ten meters high."
Kolgrim and Geralt showed incredulous eyes, what is the concept of the fire element that is more than twenty meters high? This can destroy a small country!
"Later, the manticores who failed in their mission were ignored by the royal family. In addition, Zerikan began to open up safer maritime trade routes, so they could no longer live in Zerikan. It is said that they are now gathering in the west to start again. I started hunting demons for a living." Saskia finished recalling and nodded confidently, "My father gave me a test on this part, so I can't go wrong."
Kolgrim and Geralt looked at each other and sighed. The decline of the demon hunters seems to be destined. The aloof griffon school and the manticore school, which is the royal bodyguard, have finally reached this ending, which makes the two demon hunters sigh.
Lan thought for a moment and asked Saskia: "In addition to hoping to build a harmonious multi-racial country, I am also committed to reviving the Demon Hunter Order. If possible, Saskia, can you help contact me? A friend or other acquaintance in Zerikan allowed me to get in touch with the Manticore School?" "
No problem! I have always thought that the concept of the Witcher is very great - drawing swords for those who cannot fight, it is simply More knights than the knights in the north!" Saskia nodded excitedly, "It seems that many demon hunters have strayed off track, but with Lann leading them, they can definitely recreate that noble cause!"
Kolgrim He muttered a few words, "We have to collect money, and the only ones that are so noble are griffins." Then he was pulled by Geralt and fell silent.
Saskia herself has been taught magic, and has a unique way to contact friends in Zerikan and even believers in dragons. It's just that the mountains are long and the road is long, and it's unknown when this news will be spread over and back again.
But it's always good to have hope, and this is also the first time Lann and the others have a hand that can reach out to Zerikan. Lann even hoped that Saskia could contact her golden dragon father, but unfortunately she was rejected.
"It's not that I don't want to, but I can't contact my father myself." Saskia spread her hands, "His willingness to stay in Zerikan for decades to raise and teach me was already the limit. Now I don't know him. Where have you gone? For the sake of peace, he didn’t leave any contact information for me.”
I understand, it’s Jin Long, the nanny who longs for freedom. He is worthy of being the ruthless man who was able to spend a night in the big bath with Geralt and the other four.
Lann stopped pressing.
…
Sakia then chatted a lot with everyone, fully satisfying the demon hunters’ curiosity about the dragon race.
Until the moon reaches the top of the mountain, everything is silent, and only this house in the entire town of Ferenc still has lights.
Lan sat aside with Mahakam ale, sipping it like a sip of wine, quietly watching his confidants chatting and discussing. His strangeness quickly caught Geralt's attention.
"What do you seem to be waiting for?" Bai Lang's intuition was particularly sharp.
Just at this time, there were footsteps outside the house, and Lan chuckled: "I'm waiting."
The door was knocked, followed by the voice of the Cintra guard: "Your Excellency, Vavřínek Ferenc. The clan leader is visiting."
"Invite him in quickly, this is the Ferentz clan, and he is the master." Lan said loudly.
Having said that, as the host, Vavznek came in very quietly, not at all the same as when they first met.
Thinking about it, it is understandable that anyone will become restrained after seeing Lan standing on the shoulders of the ice giant.
"Duke Lannister." Vavznek saluted slightly towards Lan.
"Vavznek, have you finished handling the matter?" Although the Ferentz clan chief was very restrained, Lann was still the same as when they first met, "I'm sorry for what you experienced during the day, that is something that no one can do. An unacceptable tragic accident."
"It's fortunate that you showed up to help, Duke Lannister, otherwise I can't imagine what would have happened." Vavznek said sincerely, "When I knew that humans came to Mahakam for help, At that time, I had sworn that unless there was grass growing in my butt, I would never give them any help - but now it seems that I can't save my butt." Vavzinek made a joke, which made him
slightly Feeling a little more comfortable, Lan also showed a polite smile.
When he saw Patriarch Vavzhnek looking at the room of demon hunters and attendants in a cryptic manner, he said openly: "
With how busy you are now, you must have important matters to discuss when you visit late at night." Lann Waving his hand, "No matter what we do next, the people in this room will be involved. I trust them just like I trust the sword in my hand, so you don't have to worry about anything." "Okay, I trust you,
Lance Duke."
Vavznek nodded in agreement and said in a deep voice: "I believe you have already guessed my request. It may be dangerous, but I still have to say it-" "I want to ask you to help slay the dragon
. , I want you to kill Kelturis."
...
Unsurprisingly, during the day, Vavznek looked at Lann and the ice giant with too hot eyes, and he made no secret of his hostility towards the dragon.
"A few centuries ago, we dwarves had a war with Kelturis. The place where it now nests was once the territory of our Ferenz clan, so our clan also sent the most warriors in that battle."
Vav Genek clenched his hands: "Of all the clans, we have paid the most. But just when Kelturis was about to die, Brovar Hogg stopped us. He signed an agreement with the Red Dragon on his own initiative, Let it clear away the monsters so that Mahakam can free up more dwarf labor for mining. In exchange, those who support the red dragon are still us who are closest to the red dragon." "
We, Ferenz! Lost our territory, lost We who have lost our dignity as warriors and ultimately have to worship this red dragon, Ferenz!" Vavznek gritted his teeth, "Brovar said that this is the best choice for Mahakam, let us do it for the sake of the ethnic group Sacrifice... He is the great elder, but I am also the patriarch and elder of the Ferenz clan!" "
Now that Kelturis has lost his mind, I have no patience to wait for Brovar's solution." Waff Genek pleaded sincerely towards Lan, "I know you are here for help, Lord Lannister, and now we are doing the same thing. You have the ice giant, if you help us kill Keltur Reese, the Ferentz clan is willing to send half of its people to support Cintra!"
Familiar lines, half of the people again. I don’t know if there is any particularity about this quantifier in the dwarf clan. “Half” is the greatest sincerity.
However, half of the people of the Fuchs clan were due to shrinking resources, and giving up half of the people could just help the clan tide over the difficulties; as for the half of the people of the Ferentz clan, they were the number of people they used to support the red dragon, and the red dragon was gone. They could just be freed up to support Cintra.
Everyone in the room looked at Saskia intentionally or unintentionally, which made Vavznik feel strange. However, Xiao Longnu's expression did not change. She had an appointment with Lan En.
Lan tapped his index finger on the table, looking thoughtful, and after Vavznek's nervous gaze, he finally gave an answer.
"I sympathize with what happened to the Ferentz clan, and I am deeply disgusted by the atrocities committed by the red dragon Kelturis." "
But before taking action, there are some things I still hope to be clear about. Intelligence is always the most important thing in a battle. Important." Lann stared into Vavznec's eyes, "For example - why did Kelturis suddenly become so violent and start attacking the Ferentz clan regardless of hundreds of years of agreement?" "Chief
Vavznec , you didn’t happen to know that the red dragon was pregnant and laying eggs some time ago, so you poisoned it and secretly smashed its eggs, right?" Wavznek became visibly panicked
.
...
Needless to say, the reason Lan knew this was because the same thing happened in the original history.
At that time, Nilfgaard invaded the north, and the kingdoms of Lyria and Rivia fell. Queen Meve retreated to Aedirn to seek help, but was given a lead ring of friendship by King Demavi as if she was being kicked. Go to Mahakam and seek help from the dwarves.
Queen Miwe, who was traveling in the mountains, happened to encounter the scene where the red dragon was ravaging the Ferentz clan. After sending a few soldiers to drive away the red dragon, she took Vavznek to hunt the red dragon. request. It turned out that the red dragon's rage was due to the Ferentz clan's sneak attack.
At that time, the red dragon was already pregnant and laying eggs, and the Ferentz clan was worried that the birth of the baby dragon would increase the burden of supporting the clan. It happened that their centuries-old hatred for the red dragon had not been eliminated at all, and it was burning like ignited gunpowder. stand up. So they secretly poisoned the food offered to the red dragon, and then sent warriors to smash the eggs while the red dragon was in colic.
Unfortunately, they underestimated Kelturis and did not administer enough poison. As a result, the red dragon, who lost his beloved son, angrily killed all the dwarves who entered the lair, and brought his anger to the Ferentz clan.
...
To be fair, Lann has no objection to the behavior of the Ferentz clan. His own territory was occupied by doves, and after a lot of young people died, he had to feed his enemies for hundreds of years. Lann asked himself that if he was the one who encountered this kind of situation, he would definitely seize every possible opportunity to kill that enemy.
The only problem with the Ferenzi clan was that they didn't measure the strength of the enemy and ourselves accurately enough, and they took action rashly driven by hatred. So in the end, a big problem occurred and innocent clan members died tragically in large numbers, and the reinforcements who were kind enough to help them were also involved.
But now Lann has more to think about. After all, this kind of behavior of "smashing the dragon egg in front of the mother dragon" was too intolerable for Saskia. The little dragon girl, who had always had a normal expression before, could no longer keep her expression straight after hearing Lan's words.
With a "click" sound, the corner of the table was crushed by Saskia.
Kolgrim was also greatly surprised by Lann's words: "That red dragon is actually a female?"
Lann glanced at Saskia who was gritting his teeth and Kolgrim who had a look of surprise on his face, shook his head and said nothing.
Vavznek showed a bitter smile and asked in disbelief: "How did you deduce these...?"
Lann shook his head: "Otherwise, I really can't think of a person who has been at peace with Mahakam for hundreds of years. Why did the female dragon go crazy suddenly?"
Vavznek suddenly felt a little cold, and when he looked up, he met Saskia's angry eyes. The feeling of being targeted by an apex predator made him shiver involuntarily, and he quickly explained to Lan:
"Duke Lannister is right... that was actually our original plan, but now we have A little problem - we just observed that the red dragon may be pregnant, but it hasn't had time to lay eggs yet."
The feeling of being targeted by predators immediately dissipated, and Vavznek felt as if a big stone had been lifted from his heart. It's easy to walk away.
(End of chapter)