After Letho finished speaking, Kolgrim also laughed.
He added: "I told Letho about your promise to us, and Letho told me about the emperor's mission. Isn't this a coincidence? So we took the opportunity to take on the task of dealing with you, followed the warlock all the way north, and even passed through several portals..."
In Lan's memory, Reso made his debut in the North six or seven years later. At that time, he accepted the emperor's dispatch and began to assassinate the king for various reasons. He did not expect that because of him, Emhyr had contacted these snake hunters so early and went north.
After explaining the causes and consequences of their appearance, Reso and the others also began to talk about the purpose of their visit tonight.
Snake pupils faced lion pupils: "Are all the things you said to Kolgrim true?"
Lann nodded without hesitation: "Since you have accepted the mission related to me, you must have a general understanding of my situation. Although I have become a demon hunter, I am the one in charge of Cintra now. All the promises made by the country will definitely take effect if they are spoken by me."
"And our princess Cirilla, the unexpected child of the wolf-faction witcher Geralt, is now under protection in Kaer Morhen. It can be said that Cintra and the witchers are now inextricably linked. Cintra is the natural home of the witchers and fertile ground for their future development. It is also the place where the witcher cult is destined to revive."
"I am a griffin, and I have the full support of the school. The wolves of Kaer Morhen have long fought alongside us. We also have the help of two sorceresses and a druid, and there is also a warlock apprentice receiving education in Aretuza. If you join, I can also bring you to the cat school in the future."
"That is to say, if you join us, we will have a strong military power as the foundation, three spellcasters to assist us, and a collection of demon hunters from the three schools of griffin, wolf, and snake. In the foreseeable future, we can also add a warlock and a cat school."
Lane was passionate and heartfelt.
Although there is a lot of water in what he said now, the Snake Faction on the opposite side doesn't know it.
From Lan's perspective, everyone in the Snake Clan except Kolgrim remained calm, but his keen hearing could detect that their breathing was getting heavier.
"The power you possess... is greater than what Kolgrim conveyed." Leisuo said, "At that time, he didn't say that there was a sorceress by your side."
"The Snake School has now reached the North, and has no plans to return to Nilfgaard. If you allow us, we will stay with you for the next period of time to verify what you said. If the school can really be revitalized in Cintra, then the Snake School will become Cintra's strength."
Lann stretched out his hand and shook it with Letho: "Kel Siren was also attacked by warlocks, and I also shoulder the responsibility of revitalizing the school. I am very happy that I finally have a companion now."
Reso's palm was almost half the size of Lan's, and it was a solid and powerful hand. This was also the first complete school of demon hunters that Lan had officially secured for Cintra.
The snake and the lion reached their first agreement in this temporary manor from Novigrad and began to move forward side by side.
"I also heard from Kolgrim about the relationship between the Wild Hunt and you. We will discuss this in detail later. Right now, there are more important things."
After basically deciding to join Lann's camp, Reso said, "You are in trouble now. The people who want to deal with you have united now."
"We just finished a combat meeting. There was a warlock named Reens, three gang leaders from Novigrad, a ruined noble named Olgierd, and someone you would never expect - Caleb Mangi of the Eternal Flame."
…
Reso explained in detail to Lane all of Rience's secret combat meetings, including not only all the combat plans and details, but also the intelligence they had collected about each person.
Lane was surprised. He didn't expect that Reens could create such a big scene. With Viggofortz and Nilfgaard working behind him, he actually managed to accomplish something.
If he really succeeded, he might be fine because he had the trump card to protect himself, but Shapet would definitely be doomed.
Shapet's face was heavy. "Because of the change in my style of doing things, there have been many voices against me within the Eternal Flame, but I never thought that Caleb Manji would go to this extent."
At this moment, the effect of [Moon Dust] has passed, and Shapet has transformed from a shapeshifter back into the security officer of the Eternal Fire.
Lann asked curiously about his situation. In the original book, he appeared as Shapet, and no one knew how many years had passed.
At the very least, Lane wanted to know what Shapet's real name was.
"I have forgotten it." Shapet's answer surprised Lan. "I have been Shapet for too long. Shapet's memory and personality have been affecting me. I have long forgotten my name. But this is not bad. I will be Shapet from now on."
If [Shapeshifters] are to be classified, they are [Remnants]. Although their combat power is not as strong as other [Remnants], their unique shapeshifting ability can be said to be a gift from nature, even to the point of making people shudder.
Strictly speaking, shapeshifters are not monsters, but a non-human race. However, their abilities are too terrifying for humans, so they have been hunted on a large scale. Humans hate shapeshifters far more than other monsters.
You know, the ability of shapeshifters is not only to change appearance, but also to copy memory and personality. Therefore, after they transform, they will become senior schizophrenia patients, and the part of their mind that is a shapeshifter will constantly intertwine and confront the personality of the copied object.
Folklorists, religious scholars, and mystics have reached an unprecedented consensus on the attitude of shapeshifters, and they even claim that shapeshifters will plunder the souls of the people they shapeshift. However, in fact, most shapeshifters are kind by nature, and their shapeshifting abilities are mostly used for self-defense rather than fighting.
For example, "Shapet", who for many years has been using his kind shapeshifting nature to fight against the cruelty and cold-bloodedness of Shapet, eventually emerged as a security officer who was both iron-blooded and had a bottom line, making Novigrad's attitude towards magic and non-human races more and more open, and making Novigrad more prosperous.
In a sense, it was a great success. He was also the best-performing shapeshifter known to man. Many shapeshifters, even if they imitated powerful people, could not live as them for long.
Few people show kindness to the shapeshifter. Geralt is one of them, and Lann is the second one Chapelle meets.
It was not known whether it was because of Lann’s previous declaration of fairness towards non-human races and monsters, or because he had just vouched for himself in front of the four monster hunters, but even after turning back into the security officer of the Eternal Flame, Chapelle seemed very friendly towards Lann.
"Now that we know his plan, why don't we take action first? This will eliminate both your and my enemies at the same time." Chapelle suggested, "I will go back and gather my people to take down Caleb Manji first; Lan, you will take people to kill Olgierd and the warlock and eliminate the crisis. If you don't have enough people, I can lend you some guards."
The snake demon hunters turned the disadvantage of the enemy being in the dark and us being in the light into the enemy being in the light and us being in the dark, and Shapet wanted to use this opportunity to directly try a thunder strike. However, Lann had a different opinion on this.
Lane said, "Don't you think this is a good opportunity?"
Chapelle was stunned.
The political thinking accumulated over the years quickly made him react. He looked at Lan's face and began to speak uncertainly: "You mean..."
Lan nodded: "Can you guarantee that Caleb Manji is the only one who has a problem with you? If you take down Caleb Manji, there might be a second or third one. Why not take this opportunity to catch them all and completely eliminate the trouble.
I even feel that Caleb Manji is here to help you. He can help you completely master the Eternal Flame and even the entire Novigrad. Just get rid of him so hastily? No, you should let him play a greater role! "
The current situation would make any politician ecstatic, but Chapelle hesitated.
At this moment, it was the shapeshifter in the human skin who spoke: "This will kill or injure many believers of the Eternal Flame."
Lan was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted and changed his direction to persuade: "Do you think someone like Caleb Manji can still call himself a believer of the Eternal Flame? His existence is a defilement of the Eternal Flame!
It is better to suffer a short pain than a long one. This is not only for your own survival, but also for the future stability and harmony of the Eternal Flame and Novigrad. If these cruel people with ulterior motives continue to rely on the Eternal Flame, who knows what they will do in the future, and how many innocent citizens and believers will be killed and injured. "
This reason convinced Chapelle, but he then raised another question.
"According to Caleb Manji, he may have already suspected that I was a shapeshifter and was just waiting for an opportunity to expose me. If this is true, then he is invincible."
兰恩却胸有成竹地笑了：“对于这个，我有一个不错的应对办法。”
他和沙佩勒嘀嘀咕咕一阵，还指了指特莉丝，让好奇的女术士也加进了他们的对话里。
很快，他们交流完毕。
沙佩勒的脸上出现了敬佩的神色：“不愧是你啊兰恩，我现在明白你是怎么能够在尼弗迦德的铁蹄下保住辛特拉的了。”
兰恩谦虚一笑。
“你帮助了我很多，兰恩。这一仗过后，我在永恒之火的位子上就能够坐得更安稳了。”沙佩勒由衷地说，“我会报答你的，辛特拉会成为诺维格瑞最好的朋友，比瑞达尼亚还要好的朋友。”
兰恩笑道：“我以为我们早就是朋友了。”
沙佩勒冰冷的脸上露出变形怪的单纯笑容。想了想，他提出最后一件事情。
“我们借着敌人的计划排除异己，这没什么。但是我不想把无辜的市民卷进来。兰恩，我不是政治家，而是诺维格瑞的安全官、永恒之火的信徒。”
兰恩脸皮抽了抽，这变形怪和宗教头子到底融合出了个什么东西？
兰恩想了想，问道：“你想要怎么做？”
沙佩勒说道：“我想提早做出一些预防措施。在不打草惊蛇的情况下把黑帮暴乱的影响降到最低。”
之前一直听着两人的谈话，对于政治不怎么敏感的蛇派众人都没有出声。但是此刻他们突然敏锐地察觉到自己可以出力了。
寇格林姆上前一步，他用征询的目光看向雷索，看到对方微微点头同意。
“我们去刺杀这三个黑帮头子就好了，很容易的。杀了他们，暴乱自然就起不来了，对吧？
里恩斯跟我们这些‘合作伙伴’的联系都很薄弱，只要在计划发动的前一到两天干掉这些黑帮头子，就能够让地下势力群龙无首，到时候永恒之火的人再入场重整秩序，就能够轻易平息混乱。”
蛇派猎魔人的眼睛里面闪着兴奋的光：“为了保护市民而除去恶徒，这种刺杀任务可不多见。我们甚至可以少收一点钱。”
计划就这么定下了。
兰恩给沙佩勒制定计划，帮助他在永恒之火信徒的面前掩饰变形怪的身份，并且铲除异己。
蛇派提前一天的时间出动奥克斯、瑟瑞特、寇格林姆，分别去刺杀乞丐王、霍桑、砍刀，完成之后再时刻关注黑帮的动向。他们的出场费由永恒之火来付。
而兰恩则带上雷索，去一起对付野猪军和里恩斯。
这个配置，兰恩觉得单刷一个小国都足够了。
众人对于这样的计划都没有异议。
沙佩勒对于蛇派四人很忌惮，在计划敲定之后很快就离开了。
而兰恩，则需要蛇派四人再帮个忙。
……
“你跟我说，这是猫派的猎魔人？”
雷索手里拿着一个玉质的小雕像。
这是一个浑身**、张牙舞爪的人型生物，他好似被剥了皮一样，每一根肌肉纹理都清晰可见。
寇格林姆他们三个也凑了上来，四双蛇瞳大眼瞪小眼，尽是不可思议。
雷索说道：“还是说，我对【化器封形术】有什么误解，被封印的雕像其实并不是被施法者本来的样子？”
“不，这就是他本来的样子。”
兰恩叹了一口气，从【物品栏】中取出从地下实验室中取出的术士笔记，交予蛇派的几人。
蛇派的几人早就不知道变成猎魔人多久了，而且他们亲身面对过针对猎魔人的刀和剑。此刻随着术士实验笔记的翻阅，他们深深地共情了。
“我不喜欢猫派的人，但是如果能够救他的话，我也希望自己可以出一把力。”雷索严肃地对兰恩说道，“需要我们怎么帮助你？”
兰恩解释道：“一会解开【化器封形术】的时候，他肯定还会挣扎，我需要你们一起帮我控制住他不要让他反抗，以便我之后的手段施展。”
“这很简单。”雷索点头应下。
此时众人已经来到一个偏远的空地，避免一会可能会爆发的战斗在城中引起骚乱。
兰恩将玉质雕像放于地上，左手拍地布下【亚登法印】的紫色魔法阵。
视线中有紫色沙漏的标记开始不断跳动，兰恩并没有给雕像挂上，他现在只需要法阵发挥减速的作用，又不是要杀人。
随后兰恩后退几步，走出法阵范围。
蛇派四人早已分布四角站位，见此也各自拍地，布下一个相比较兰恩稍微小一号的【亚登法印】，尽可能地将迟缓动作的魔法影响范围扩大，同时又不会波及到周围的战友。
一切准备就绪。
兰恩朝着特莉丝点点头，女术士接到指令，开始念诵魔咒。
混沌能量在玉质雕像上面开始逸散，在月光的照耀下，一个黑影逐渐开始膨胀，从不过一掌大小的石像中解放，恢复人型。
在重获自由的那一瞬间，剥皮人就原地跃起，找准了包围圈的空隙就想往外冲。
却不料在同一时间就被紫色的光华攀附上身，整个人变得好似一个腐朽老人一般迟涩滞缓。
“怎么可能！”特莉丝惊呼出声，“【化器封形术】才刚刚解除，为什么他能不受到任何的负面影响，立刻就能够投入战斗？”
“或许法术解除的痛苦和他以前遭受的那些痛苦比起来，根本不值一提。”
雷索皱着眉头看着眼前的人型生物，他浑身就好像一个被剥了皮的橘子，身上的肌肉纤维乃至骨头缝隙都隐隐可见，却不流一滴血。
可以说光是看到这样的一个人出现在自己的面前，身上都会有种感同身受的隐隐作痛。
尤其同为猎魔人，那种感受更深。
“抱歉了伙计，但是你还需要忍一下。”雷索叹息一声。
粗壮的手指灵巧地掐出法印，念力冲击顿时倾泻在剥皮人的身上，把他打回了【亚登法印】的法阵中心。
另外三人见此也一起释放【阿尔德法印】，从四个角源源不断地朝着中心释放风暴，把剥皮人压在地上动弹不得。
“没有……正义……或是邪恶。”哪怕在现在的这种情况下，剥皮人还是在单调地念叨那句话，“只有……痛苦最真……”
那双猩红的赤瞳在黑暗中闪闪发光，精准地在人群中分辨出了兰恩，他咧开暴露在空气中的牙床，露出择人而噬的疯狂。
兰恩深呼吸一口气，又回想起了术士笔记上面记载的内容：
【如我所猜测，狩魔猎人是很棒的能量集合体！如果有恶魔困在这么精良的身体内，一定会成为死神再世，而且一切受我掌控！那将是从未出现过的伟大个体！】
按照那个术士的实验笔记所说，实验者最后应该是召唤了异界的恶魔附身在了剥皮人的身上，那座在实验室中的雕像和六芒星法阵或许就是召唤并且供奉恶魔的道具。
而被恶魔附体的猎魔人则爆发出了惊人的力量，把术士杀死，却没有办法离开密封的地下实验室，因而一直被困在那里。
捕捉关键词：异界、恶魔。
意识沉入【物品栏】，左手一翻，一面平平无奇的镜子就出现在了兰恩的手中。
这是一面在路边的小摊小贩上叫卖，都绝对卖不出一个克朗的镜子，但是就在它出现的那一刻，剥皮人在法阵中的挣扎就这么停止了。
因为这面镜子的主人叫做：镜子大师。有记载以来唯一一个不需要附身、能够以肉体穿梭世界的异域恶魔。
兰恩伸手示意，让蛇派猎魔人们停下手中的念力冲击，随后他一步一步朝着剥皮人靠近。
没有了【阿尔德法印】的压制，剥皮人却再不跑了，此刻他只是蜷缩在地上，好似一只猫咪一样不住地瑟缩发抖。
兰恩一步一步地走进，猫咪也抖得愈发得厉害。
特莉丝惊诧地看着兰恩手中平平无奇的镜子，这又是兰恩从哪里获得的魔法道具？
剥皮人的反应让兰恩很满意，这说明镜子大师的镜子确实对比他低级的异界恶魔有着威慑作用。
但是这还不够。
他在紫色魔法阵外面驻立许久，等着蛇派猎魔人的法印消失，随后走进自己的法阵中，左手抓住那颗被剥了皮脑袋，强行把它从怀里掰了出来。
“看好了。”兰恩把镜子凑到对方眼前，一字一顿地说道，“滚出这具身体！”
剥皮人毫无反抗之力地直视着镜子，因为他根本没有眼睑。
“啊！啊啊！！”
剥皮人终于开始说出有史以来的第二句话，虽然只是尖叫的拟声词，但是也让兰恩大喜过望。
一不做二不休，他直接“啪”得一声把镜子直接拍到了剥皮人的脸上。
这一下好像终于冲破了那只恶魔的心理防线，众人的脑海中突然一齐响起了一声凄惨的哀嚎，声音似猫。
是心灵感应的魔法！
紧接着，一股股浓浓的黑雾从那具被剥了皮的身体中喷涌而出，快速地在半空中凝聚成一只黑猫的形象。
It rushed around in the [Yaden Seal] in a panic, colliding with the purple magic circle nearly a hundred times at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
It only takes a blink of an eye.
Lan, who was standing by, could only barely see a black cat appear in the air, and then a black shadow faster than the wind kept flashing in front of him. The purple magic circle turned into light spots all over the sky and dissipated in the air.
Finally, accompanied by a shrill cat howl, the black fog completely dissipated into the air, and it seemed that it had returned to its own world.
With a plop, the skinned man fell on his back to the ground like a dead tree, motionless.