Chapter 136: Desperate Lands Breed Desperate People
Soft sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a gentle morning glow across the bed, creating a sense of peace and comfort.
Lynn sat up in bed, stretching languidly.
At that moment, a pair of arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
"Rest a little longer, please?"
The sorceress's gentle voice was honey-sweet, almost melting his heart.
He wanted to, very much.
But he couldn't.
So he could only say with a helpless tone,
"My good brother promised someone. Yesterday, he stayed another day to prepare supplies, but today he really should leave. I don't want my good brother to become a man who breaks his word."
Triss was a clever woman. Hearing Lynn say this, she didn't act petulant anymore.
"Alright then, but before you leave, here."
"This is..."
Lynn watched as the sorceress took a beautifully crafted longbow from her lady's purse.
"I asked a master bowyer from Kovir to make this especially for you. All the materials are from Kovir. Try it?"
Lynn took the longbow from Triss's hands.
The experience instilled in him by the master-level Phoenix Archery allowed him to know with a casual touch that this was a rare and excellent bow.
The best bows came from the cold far north, because only the far north grew the vellen wood that even master bowyers praised—the most perfect material for making bows.
And now in Lynn's hands was a bow made of vellen wood, crafted by a master bowyer, a top-quality bow that any archer would dream of.
"Thank you."
Lynn gently kissed Triss on the forehead.
Without being polite, he accepted it.
The royal advisor of Temeria, who should have been composed, now smiled foolishly like a girl in the first bloom of love.
She grabbed the collar of the shirt the witcher had just put on and pulled him back onto the bed.
"I think your witcher companion won't mind waiting another hour for you."
...
Two hours later.
After saying goodbye to Triss, Lynn went downstairs and found Geralt already prepared.
Geralt joked, "I thought you wouldn't come down until noon at least. What's the rush?"
Lynn glanced at him.
"If you're not in a hurry, I could stay until noon tomorrow. It's not me who made a promise to someone anyway."
Geralt laughed heartily.
There was a hint of admiration in his eyes.
Lynn had just tasted the sweetness of the sorceress, yet he could still firmly remember his task and not let his lower head control his upper head. That was good.
Then, the two exchanged a few more jokes.
Afterward, they bid farewell to Kassia and Berengar, mounted their horses, and left Novigrad, heading south.
...
Velen, the poorest province of Temeria, was a place no one went to even in peaceful times without bandits and deserters.
Sparse swamps, poor villages, and rude country bumpkins were probably the only impressions people had of this place.
Unless absolutely necessary, people would rather take a detour.
"Baron Vserad is truly not a worthy lord."
Two days had passed since the two of them left Novigrad and crossed the bridge connecting the north and south banks of the Pontar River.
Just across the river, Velen on the south bank was in stark contrast to the scenery on the north bank belonging to Novigrad.
Velen's poverty even far exceeded that of Kaedwen, where discrimination and prejudice were rampant.
As a province, Velen might not be the largest in Temeria, but its area was definitely among the top.
There were a large number of trees and other resources within its borders. If properly developed, it might not be impossible to prosper.
But Vserad adopted a laissez-faire attitude of neglect and indulgence.
Completely ignoring the people living in dire straits.
Hearing Lynn's sigh, Geralt remained noncommittal.
Unlike Lynn, he didn't know much about politics.
Moreover, in his opinion, in this world of comparing who was worse, those who didn't wage war and didn't torment their people could already be considered enlightened and benevolent lords.
...
As the last rays of the sun fell on the earth, Lynn and Geralt finally arrived at Midcopse village, where Geralt had agreed to meet the knight from Toussaint.
Like other villages in Velen,
this village, from the inside out, also exuded shocking poverty everywhere.
When the two arrived at the open space in the center of the village, they were somewhat surprised to find a large group of ragged, sallow-faced villagers gathered there.
"Sir Knight, please spare us, we beg you!"
"I'm so scared!"
"We don't need your help!"
Surrounded by the villagers was a knight wearing shining full plate armor.
On the helmet he wore on his head was also inserted a proudly upright feather.
"I know everyone lives in the shadow of bandits, whether it's robbery or murder!"
"Don't worry, I, Massimo Norris Maclino, a ranger knight of the glorious Duchess Carolina Roberta, will eliminate the thugs for you and restore your freedom."
"Don't be afraid, folks, my work will be over soon, and those villains will be brought to justice."
However, the knight's bold words did not reassure the villagers.
From the expressions on their faces, it could be seen that they were even more worried.
The knight also noticed this.
And just as he was about to say a few more encouraging words, he suddenly saw two witchers squeezing through the crowd from the back to the front.
His eyes immediately lit up.
"Master Geralt, you've finally returned! Hmm? Could this one also be..."
He noticed that the young companion who came with Geralt also had cat-like eyes.
Geralt nodded and said to him,
"Massimo, let me introduce you. This is my comrade, my brother."
"Lynn, I'm sure you can see, as you thought, he is also a witcher."
Massimo said happily,
"Excellent! With the help of two witcher masters, the glorious Duchess will definitely be saved this time."
"Come, come, don't just stand outside, quickly come inside and let me properly entertain the two masters."
Inviting Geralt and Lynn into the house behind him, the knight loudly repeated to the villagers still gathered in front of him,
"Don't worry, folks, I'll soon clear out those lawbreakers!"
The villagers looked at each other.
In the end, they had no choice but to leave helplessly.
But Lynn noticed that the villagers' gazes towards the knight were not of gratitude, but of fear and dread.
...
Lynn followed behind Geralt and entered the house.
He scanned his surroundings.
Compared to other places, this house was much more spacious and clean.
It should be the village elder's house, temporarily lent to Massimo to live in.
Massimo followed behind the two witchers, closed the wooden door, took off his helmet, revealing a young face full of chivalrous enthusiasm.
(End of this chapter)
....
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