Chapter 132: I Remembered an Old Friend
Giving meat and wine to the trolls, Lynn's goal was naturally to befriend them and win them over.
As everyone knows, humans have the most tricks up their sleeves.
They always say one thing and do another, sometimes even a third thing.
In comparison, non-human races are relatively more straightforward.
But that's only in comparison to humans.
Even the long-lived elves and dwarves, even though they live longer than humans, their wisdom doesn't necessarily grow with age.
They can also be blinded by the so-called slogan of "freedom."
And trolls are the kind of creatures that are so stupid they wouldn't even think of betraying.
They are the best choice for bodyguards and guards.
Lynn would definitely have times when he could use them in the future.
Therefore, having a good relationship with them could only bring benefits, not harm.
In the following days, the witchers in Kaer Morhen castle, having nothing else to do, also joined in the work of repairing the castle.
Of course, Lambert's complaints were indispensable.
But complaints were just complaints.
What needed to be done still had to be done.
And so, time slowly passed.
...
Mid-February, the ice and snow melted.
The warm wind blowing from the southern pass swept the snowflakes away without a trace.
This year's ice and snow melted faster than in previous years.
Outside the valley, it was already a scene of vigorous vitality and the flourishing of all things.
Inside the valley, Kaer Morhen castle had taken on a completely new look.
Many of the missing parts on the city walls had been refilled.
Other places had been reinforced.
Although it would still take some time to fully repair,
it didn't matter.
After all, the contract Lynn signed with them was until the winter of this year (1251).
And Kaer Morhen would be snowbound every winter.
That is to say, in reality, the dwarves would not leave until this time next year... which is the spring of 1252 (although the dwarves were delayed for a few months, the agreed-upon compensation would not be reduced by a single crown).
There was still so much time, enough to renovate and reinforce the entire Kaer Morhen.
The dwarves didn't leave, and Vesemir also stayed.
Not only him.
He also asked Eskel and Lambert to stay with him.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Yarpen and Zoltan.
But the dwarves' work still needed the guidance of professionals.
This castle was after all the witchers' stronghold, not Mahakam.
As for Lynn, Geralt, and Berengar, they traveled together.
Leaving Kaer Morhen together.
While still at Kaer Morhen, when Berengar's injuries healed and he could get out of bed, he also joined in the renovation work.
However, he intentionally or unintentionally kept a distance from everyone.
Everyone chose to remain silent about this out of understanding.
Even Lambert, who used to always complain about Berengar's absence, closed his mouth after Berengar truly returned to Kaer Morhen.
Although the dwarves were boisterous and uninhibited, they didn't bother Berengar when they sensed the atmosphere.
Previously, Berengar had agreed to accept Lynn's recruitment.
Now that Lynn was leaving Kaer Morhen, he naturally followed closely behind.
No one spoke on the way, it was very silent.
If it wasn't a long journey, it wouldn't matter, but Novigrad was far away. Wouldn't it be stifling to not speak at all?
So Lynn took the initiative to break the silence. "Geralt, have you thought about where to go? If not, why not come with me to Novigrad?"
Lynn was now so poor that he only had money left.
And once Berengar's blacksmith shop opened, the money from forging equipment alone would be enough to support the three of them witchers.
Wasn't that better than running errands for troublesome commoners?
Although the witchers' tradition didn't explicitly state that witchers were not allowed to do business,
tradition did mention that witchers should make a living by hunting monsters.
But trees die when moved, and people live.
Witchers were almost extinct, so why cling to tradition and not let go?
Perhaps Geralt himself didn't care.
But Lynn really didn't want to see his good brother risk his life for the meager income of half a crown for a drowners' head.
There was no other way before.
But now it was different.
The enchanted pouch contained the treasures divided from the elven ruins, as well as the wealth Prince Adreian had plundered from the people over so many years.
He dared not say anything else.
But at least pulling his brother up was something he could do.
"No, thank you for your kindness." Geralt glanced at Lynn and had already seen the other's intentions in his eyes.
He shook his head and said regretfully, "But I already promised someone last year, and it wouldn't be good to refuse."
"Can you tell me what it is?"
Lynn didn't intend to pry into other people's secrets.
It was just that he was really bored right now.
Chatting for a bit could make the time pass faster.
What's more, what if Geralt needed help?
"Of course, there's nothing I can't say. Do you know the name Carolina Roberta?"
"The duchess who rules Toussaint?"
This time it was Geralt's turn to be surprised: "You know that too?"
Lynn nodded.
However, he didn't know much about this name.
He only knew that Carolina Roberta was the grandmother of the future ruler of Toussaint, Duchess Anna Henrietta, and Sylvianna, who caused chaos in Beauclair.
Besides that, he didn't know.
It wasn't that he couldn't remember things, but it wasn't written in the script.
Where would he know it from?
"What task did the duchess give you?"
Lynn suddenly inexplicably thought of an old friend and the romantic affairs that would happen between him and Carolina Roberta's granddaughter in the future.
So he joked, "It can't be that she wants a witcher to find a prince on a white horse for her granddaughter, right?"
"Yes, a prince on a white horse," Geralt joked along, "I think you're quite suitable, Lynn. Both your looks and figure, the ladies will definitely scream when they see you."
"Although your steed is a black stallion, who says a prince can't ride a black horse? Just change your attire, and who would recognize that you're not a prince?"
"If it works out, don't forget to pay me the reward."
Lynn winked at him.
"Alright, then I'll reward you with an estate as payment. If you have a vineyard that produces wine, you won't have to exchange drowners' heads for food anymore, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
The two talked and laughed, and for a moment the air was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
At this moment, Lynn noticed that Berengar, who was following them at a distance, had a tense face.
As if this joyous atmosphere had nothing to do with him.
"Berengar, why aren't you smiling? Do you think it's not funny?"
"Hahaha." Berengar made a flat, robotic sound.
Lynn immediately covered his eyes.
"Damn it, this guy couldn't have been brought by Vesemir from the School of the Bear, could he?"
(End of this chapter)
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