Chapter 77: If Nothing Unexpected Happens, Something Unexpected Will Happen
As the conflict between humans and dryads intensified, the dryads living in Brokilon Forest also became increasingly hostile towards humans.
If someone disappeared in that forest, there was no need for any investigation.
Dryad arrows were even more precise and sharper than those of elves.
Hearing the witcher's words of refusal, Triss didn't get angry.
She still smiled like a flower.
"Yes and no, witcher. You know quite a bit about Brokilon, but not enough."
"Of course, you can't be blamed for this. After all, you witchers first experienced a schism, and then suffered massacres. It's normal for the lineage to have gaps."
"To be precise, the area where the dryads mainly live is the southern forest, which is the area close to Cintra, Brugge, Sodden, and Verden."
"As for the northern forest, even the dryads don't easily set foot there."
"Don't look at me like that, young witcher. The history of this forest is very long, even longer than the birth of the true ancient races of this continent."
"You don't need to worry about the dryads. They won't be angry because you step on land that doesn't belong to them."
"What you really need to worry about is what I'm about to say next."
Triss picked up her wine glass, took another sip to moisten her throat, and then continued.
"We've just discussed that Brokilon is divided into the southern forest and the northern forest."
"The eastern side of the northern forest borders Temeria, the northern side borders the Kingdom of Cidaris, and the western side borders the Duchy of Bremervoord and the Kingdom of Kaerak."
"If Kaerak's merchant ships want to reach Temeria, they have to depart from their own ports, sail north along the coast, pass Bremervoord, and then sail east to reach Gors Velen, the capital of Temeria's Velen province."
"The journey is not only long and arduous, but also because Bremervoord is a vassal state of Cidaris, and Kaerak and Cidaris have always had some unpleasantness between them."
"Therefore, Cidaris has long prohibited Kaerak's merchant ships from docking at its own ports and those of its vassal states."
"As a result, the merchants of Kaerak have to prepare a large amount of supplies, thus being forced to reduce the goods they carry, leading to lower profits."
"So, some bolder merchants will take the risk and venture along the Adalatte River."
"This river originates in the northern forest of Brokilon, flows through the Adalatte River Valley along the borders of the Kingdom of Cidaris and the Kingdom of Kaerak, and finally merges into the ocean at Kaerak City, the capital of Kaerak."
"The merchants of Kaerak sail upstream, and after disembarking at the source of the Adalatte River, they only need about a few days to walk out of the forest and enter the Velen province."
(PS: The blue line is the fixed sea trade route for Kaerak merchants, and the green line is the shortcut that Kaerak merchants are trying to develop)
Lynn said thoughtfully.
"But if nothing unexpected happens, something unexpected will happen, right? Alright, please continue."
Triss nodded and continued, "As I just said, after reaching the end of the Adalatte River, it takes about a few more days to get out of the forest."
"But it's these few days that they never manage to get through."
"No caravan that disembarks at the end of the Adalatte River has ever managed to cross the northern forest of Brokilon alive."
"The Kingdom of Kaerak also sent troops to search near the forest at the end of the Adalatte River, but none of them returned either."
Lynn raised his hand, like a good student asking a teacher a question.
"I have a question. Since the harsh reality has already shown them that that path is impassable, why don't they honestly go by sea?"
"Because of profit, little witcher," Triss smiled. "If they can open up this route through the northern forest of Brokilon, the merchants of Kaerak will gain enormous benefits. They will no longer have to depend on Cidaris and its vassal states."
"The royal family of Kaerak also strongly supports the merchants in doing so. They don't want to make concessions and compromises to Cidaris for any reason."
Lynn sighed.
"Well, it seems this is another foolish royal family that puts its own face above the vital interests of its people."
Triss blinked. "Watch your words, witcher. The royalty of this world only likes to hear sweet words, not the truth." Lynn bowed slightly.
"When a true member of royalty stands before me next time, I will definitely remember your advice, Madam."
"So, my esteemed lady, since you agreed to personally take action, it means the royal family and merchants of Kaerak offered you conditions you couldn't refuse, right?"
"Has anyone ever told you that you're very clever, young witcher?" Triss coughed lightly, not explaining what rewards the other party had offered her, but changing the subject.
"You guessed correctly, which is why I need a witcher."
Lynn understood.
Even the troops sent by the Kingdom of Kaerak hadn't returned.
Their upper echelons must have realized that the darkness lurking in that forest couldn't be solved by mortal power alone.
So they thought of seeking help from sorcerers.
Although Kaerak was nominally a kingdom, its economy, military, and land area couldn't compare with powers like Temeria.
Therefore, such small kingdoms couldn't gain favor with the vast majority of sorcerers.
Only one sorceress from the Skellige Isles was an exception.
Although she sometimes stayed in Kaerak City, the capital of the Kingdom of Kaerak, for a period of time.
But that wasn't out of infatuation with the power of Kaerak's royal advisor, but purely because she liked Kaerak City as a coastal city.
Due to her Skellige bloodline, she also loved the sea and enjoyed setting sail for distant lands.
Lynn guessed that the sorceress was definitely not in Kaerak City during this time, so the royal family and merchants of Kaerak, wanting to clear the trade route through the northern forest of Brokilon, had no choice but to seek help from Triss, the royal advisor of Temeria.
And although Triss served King Foltest.
The power of a royal advisor wasn't actually as all-encompassing as the general public believed.
The agreement reached with Kaerak was a private matter.
King Foltest couldn't possibly send troops to assist Triss.
So she had no choice but to look for a witcher.
As for why the merchants of the Kingdom of Kaerak would rather risk the great danger of crossing the forest than carry fewer goods and more supplies by sea...
Regarding this, Saint Marx of centuries ago had already commented:
When profit reaches a certain level, they can even sell the rope that will hang them.
Lynn stroked his chin and said, "I understand the general idea."
Triss blinked, looking at the witcher expectantly. "So what's your answer?"
"I'll take this contract," Lynn held up four fingers, his expression solemn, "Even the army couldn't find any trace, which means this disappearance case isn't as simple as it looks on the surface."
"I need to make a lot of preparations to ensure everything goes smoothly. Therefore, the reward I require is at least four hundred crowns."
Triss frowned slightly.
The witcher's request was somewhat higher than the price she had in mind.
She had originally planned to pay Lynn about three hundred crowns.
But the witcher actually demanded four hundred crowns from her.
However, Triss then thought that this disappearance case was indeed unusual.
And they would also need to go deep into the forest.
In such a place, who knew what kind of dangers they might encounter.
If she could have a skilled swordsman by her side at that time, constantly protecting her, then the money would be well spent.
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