Chapter 994 976 Gaoqiu Fort

Chapter 994 976. Gaoqiu Castle

"Bury a box of Oren coins in the ruins of the castle? I'm not telling you that, Geralt. Your colorful and thrilling career as a witcher has given you this little imagination?"

Geralt didn't change his expression in the face of Lan En's sarcasm.

Normally, he would be okay even if the villagers spit on him when he was taking jobs, but now it was even worse.

Sure enough, Lan En, who was making fun of Geralt, suddenly lost a lot of fun when he saw that he didn't refute or stab him.

"Okay." The young witcher shrugged.

"Remember, I am actually a duke with a legal appointment?"

At the very beginning of the Battle of Sodden Hill, Haxo, the Steward of the Palace of Cintra, gave Lan an appointment.

The coat of arms on it is rigorous and legal, demonstrating its unquestionable legitimacy.

His appointment ‘Lane of Cintra is, from the date of his appointment, a legitimate duke recognized by Queen Calanthe of Cintra’.

Mentioning that war, as well as Haxor, Lann and Geralt's voices became a little lower.

But Lann is slightly better than the emotionally sensitive Geralt.

After participating in the war, he traveled to the New World. The sincerity and enthusiasm of the people in the New World, as well as the magical and vast nature, healed his body and mind.

So Lan En just sighed and recalled it for a while, and then returned to normal.

"The land of Cintra was not brought back during the post-war negotiations, and Nilfgaard could not spit it out. Now both the north and the south are exhausted physically and mentally, and no one wants to break the peace after this disaster."

"Foltest, on the other hand, placed my knights in Temeria under the name of the 'Expatriate Knights of Sintra', with a castle as their base."

"This is to win over you."

Geralt said calmly. Although he is just a demon hunter, he has actually been involved in many palace and political events. Many people are interested in his swordsmanship and want him to participate in a banquet or meeting. to erase someone's neck.

Therefore, having seen a lot of things, they have more insight into the appearance of things than ordinary people.

"It's also to appease you."

It is natural to win over this unparalleled force that can run rampant in a big battle involving hundreds of thousands of people.

Foltest was even jealous of the other northern kingdoms because of Lane's connections in the Temerian province of Velen.

But on the other hand, no one wants another war now.

A major battle involving hundreds of thousands of people is unprecedented, and now the domestic economies of many countries show no signs of recovery at all.

After all, too many people have died. In an agricultural society, this sudden decrease in human resources is simply unacceptable.

Foltest was also afraid that Lan En would provoke the Nilfgaard Empire, which was temporarily submissive and peaceful, because of his fiefdom.

"Yes."

Lan En nodded and said bluntly that he had thought of everything Geralt thought of.

"That's why he gave a castle to me and my knights. That place is called Castle Highhill."

But accepting this castle does not mean that Lan En is really at peace with Nilfgaard.

Is it possible for a classical militaristic slave-owning empire to expect that it would stop when it gets better during its expansion?

It can't be stopped, but if there is even the slightest thought of 'stopping', don't look at the fact that Emhyr Emres is the emperor of the empire now. Known in awe as "the white flames dancing on the enemy's grave".

But even he would die if he dared to have such an idea.

The whole empire will let him die.

Because without expansion, militarism will collapse. Anyone who does not want to expand is the internal enemy of the entire empire.

This is a precious period of peace, but Lan En believes that the Nilfgaardians will not live in peace forever.

This was also the reason why he let Menno Kuhorn go in the first place.

Sooner or later they will face off again.

"The Knights of Ember accepted Temeria's logistical support and financial support."

Lan En said while stroking Qilin's mane.

"I originally ordered them to accept this in order to prevent Foltest from panicking. For a small knight order with only more than 60 people, that is a lot of money."

"But now."

Speaking of this, Lan En looked a little embarrassed.

Now he has to temporarily withdraw the less urgent funds of the Knights to make up for the holes in his own capital chain.

"Oh, so this is your method?"

Geralt also laughed and complained to Lan En.

——

The Velen region is not only filled with wet, muddy swamps and miasma-filled woods. In the south of this area, there are also rugged and winding mountain peaks.

These peaks are not high, and the highest Bald Mountain is only over 500 meters above sea level. However, the huge oak trees growing on Bald Mountain are very conspicuous.

I heard that a nightly banquet is held every year under the huge oak tree on Bald Mountain. The theme of the banquet seems to be about the three witches in the folklore of Willen, and the scene is very lively.

The ancient castle that Foltest granted to the Knights is far away from Balder Mountain.

It was originally a military outpost built on a mountain, gaining military advantage through its condescending terrain.

"squeak!"

On the skyline where the mountain peaks meet the sky, a gryphon with swollen hair is flying in a circle, while a sharp cry comes from the bird's beak.

Geralt was riding a carrot, and Lan En was riding a unicorn. The flannel ball was looking at the sky curiously on Lan En's shoulder.

They all stood in the shadow of the woods downwind.

The two witchers slightly raised the brim of their hoods and looked at the griffin that vented its vigorous energy by calling.

This griffin was very young, and its quills were thick, and its feathers were black with a hint of gray.

Its strong body was even enough to grab two armored soldiers and fly into the sky.

But it was not a strong opponent for either Lan or Geralt.

"Royal griffin, a young and irritable bachelor who has not found a partner to spend his life with."

Under the shade of the tree, Lan summarized the characteristics of this griffin in a few words.

Geralt agreed with Lan's observation.

"It will fly away when it gets annoyed. There is no need to entangle with it."

The conclusions of the two witchers were correct. The young griffin patrolling the territory flew away on its own after a while.

The two continued to walk up the mountain.

Velen's mountain should be called a "hillside" because, apart from being rugged, it is not very high.

The height difference of dozens or hundreds of meters slightly away from the damp water vapor on the ground, the air becomes fresh and the humidity is suitable.

The flowers and plants are more colorful than on the flat ground.

There were only rotten wooden bridges on several streams flowing down from the mountains, but now they are replaced with obviously stronger and newer ones.

"It seems that your knights are quite adapted to living here?"

Geralt's pupils contracted and turned on the demon hunter senses to track the traces.

"They are all very powerful." Lan En didn't seem surprised, "Of course they will adapt."

In fact, if every member of the knights has a high subjective initiative, and they also discuss and decide collectively.

Then in front of such a team, there will be very few environments that cannot be adapted.

From the moment the Embers Knights were born, they have always had the trend of taking Lan En as a role model.

Even Lincoln, as a subordinate commander, was still a little kid at first, but later he imitated Lan En intentionally or unintentionally in his words and deeds.

They have now moved into a mountain castle in the Velen area, and they have not let themselves be abandoned.

Along the way, the two witchers clearly saw the traces of the team's training, as well as the maintenance and repair of the road in their spare time.

This made Geralt feel confused, after all, he had never seen soldiers repair anything except those who were given engineering orders.

Soldiers are roughly equivalent to bandits with strong combat effectiveness.

This is the norm and common sense of the magical Middle Ages.

Improving the environment and repairing facilities around the garrison. Even the Knights are a bit too strict with themselves, right?

But Lan En seemed very natural. After all, he did this when he led the Embers Knights before.

Unconsciously, under the effect of role models, the Embers Knights are developing in a way that Lan En feels familiar and at ease.

The mountain is not high, and it is easy for Radish to walk along the repaired mountain road, and it is even easier for Kirin as the party that is slowed down.

When the two witchers waited on the mountain and looked west, they could vaguely see the huge oak tree crown on Bald Mountain. They also happened to see a military fortress with a main body made of rocks above their heads.

Lan leaned over on horseback and grabbed Geralt's shoulder, preventing him from getting any closer.

As expected, the next moment

"Swoosh!"

A crossbow arrow shot out from the firing hole on the outer wall of the fortress.

According to the parabolic trajectory given by Mentos, the landing point should have passed by Lan and then stabbed into the ground next to the unicorn's hoof.

But Lan's left hand suddenly became blurred for a moment, and then when his left hand stopped again, the crossbow arrow was already circling in his hand.

"It's still a magic-blocking gold arrowhead. Ha, good vigilance."

Lan's fingertips rubbed the arrowhead and chuckled. Then he raised the crossbow arrow and raised his voice towards the castle.

"It's me! Can't you find another way to detect the illusion next time?!"

There was silence in the castle at first, and then a short but strong cheer broke out.

The abrupt cheer even scared Geralt.

"Please forgive me, my lord."

After the cheers, a voice with a smile and excitement came from the firing hole.

"You are always coming and going, busy, but we have to check meticulously!"

"Slow down," Lan said with a pout, taking off his hood. "It makes me look like an enemy."

After the hood was put down, Lan's hair "flowed" from the hat like mercury, and his face was also revealed.

The main body of the castle is similar to the crow's nest where Lan went to Governor Velen.

A thick wooden door five or six meters high opened from the inside.

Lan patted Geralt on the shoulder, then took the lead on the Qilin and walked into the castle "click click click".