Lann and his cavalry left the theater and continued to clear out gangsters along the way and rescue the citizens of Novigrad.
When the people whose lives are hanging by a thread are rescued, the first thing they see when they look up is the emblem of a roaring lion with its head held high and a pair of sparkling lion eyes.
No one knows whether these will cause any other impact in the future.
Soon, Chapelle, who had solved the problem of the coup by Gal Manji, led the temple guards to officially enter. They met Reso who was coming towards them halfway, and after learning the specific situation, they quickly launched the rescue work.
It took a whole day for the chaos to be basically quelled. With the intervention of the official orthodox forces of Novigrad and the covert help of the Beggar King and Machete, the Ghost Face Gang no longer had the strength to resist.
Although the main culprit has been killed, the little ghosts are still difficult to deal with. There are still many members of the Ghost Face Gang hiding in the alleys. The Eternal Fire has issued a wanted order and mobilized all forces in the city to arrest all suspicious persons.
Even the stake in Novigrad Square was used again.
Three days later, the Eternal Flame sent a bishop to Novigrad to give a brief official explanation of the situation:
"Our city was invaded by evil pagans. They sent evil spirits to possess Caleb Manji, bringing out the darkness and meanness deep in his heart. But under the light of the Eternal Flame, our security officer Mr. Chapelle saw through the enemy's plot, protected us, and crushed the enemy's invasion.
The thug riots in the casino, women's branch, and fighting arena were also the result of the incitement of pagans. Because they were often in filthy places, the evil spirits of pagans easily occupied the dark brains of these people, causing them to become crazy and confused. Everyone should know that there are no gangs in Novigrad, and the so-called gang riots are nonsense!
The underground toads in Novigrad are also a conspiracy of pagans! They wrapped the poison in candy shells and poisoned so many innocent girls and believers of the Eternal Fire!
Mr. Chapelle protected us! Thanks also to the Lion in Flame, Lord Lannister of Cintra - and his fellow witchers. In the land shrouded in eternal fire, they were able to detect sin in time and make the evil spirits nowhere to hide. "
Regardless of what the citizens thought deep down, they ultimately accepted the statement.
In the end, Chapelle took the lead in donating a batch of gold reserves and all the silver of the Eternal Flame to comfort the citizens affected by the riot and help the city restore order as soon as possible.
In this regard, Chapelle said: "Everything is guided by the eternal flame."
Lann also sent some soldiers from Cintra, as well as Milva and Levin, to help boost reputation and comfort the citizens.
These were scenes that could not be seen in other places in the North, and many merchants and politicians from other countries were amazed and admired the achievements of the Free City.
…
Did a single Ghostface gang really wreak much havoc in Novigrad? No.
The chaos only looked scary, after all, it was the gangs that were rioting, not the soldiers who were breaking into the city.
Most of the victims were honest local citizens, travelers who were too late to react, and homeless vagrants on the streets. Merchants from other countries, large organizations, and wealthy nobles living here were almost unscathed, and they could even make a fortune in the name of "rebuilding the city."
On the other hand, the reputation of the Eternal Flame has increased among the citizens after this battle, and the faith of the believers has become even stronger.
Temple Island.
In a residence previously prepared for the king, Chapelle watched the chaotic energy emanating from Lann's body and chatted softly about the recent situation in Novigrad.
"I'm sorry for not putting the blame on Nilfgaard for this disaster. I originally thought of 'Black Sun Pagans', but now Nilfgaard's merchants have occupied a large market share, and I can't drive them out. But I will adjust their tariffs and try to transfer their interests to Cintra."
Lan nodded to show his understanding. "Driving the enemy's merchants out directly is the most brutal and unskillful way. Now it's good. After all, this is the Free City. And the merchants from Nilfgaard will also bring intelligence from the Empire. We can also mix sand into their caravans. Their presence is necessary."
Chapelle nodded and continued, "The Eternal Flame will purchase a batch of silverware later, and if possible, I would like to order a batch of [Moon Dust] from you. Some alchemists want to compete for this order, but I plan to make this a trade order for Cintra. What do you think?"
Lan thought for a moment and said, "It may take some time before I can supply you with the goods."
Chapelle didn't care: "I also need some time to prepare."
As he spoke, he touched the silver chain around his neck, feeling uneasy.
"Can this thing really make me immune to damage from other silver objects?"
"No, what are you thinking?" Lan glanced at him. "It can only temporarily suppress your ability to transform with chaotic energy, fixing you in the image of 'Chapelle' so that you won't lose control on the spot. It also has a little illusion. But if you are injured by the silver, you still have to find a deserted place to recover as soon as possible."
This silver chain is a magical item that Triss made in the past few days. For this purpose, she also took a lot of Chapelle's blood and body tissue for research, which scared the shapeshifter a lot.
But even so, the effect of this silver chain was still not enough to satisfy Chapelle. Especially when he thought that the Eternal Flame would order a batch of special silverware in the future, he sighed even more.
Lann comforted him, "If anything happens, you can contact Kaiyan in time. Triss has been making magic props for communication recently. If there is an accident, he will come to save you. But if you go far away, you must take him with you. This small communication prop has a limited range of use."
Chapelle nodded gratefully.
That's right, Lann decided to leave Kaiyan in Novigrad for the time being to serve as his eyes here.
Although they had not been together for a long time, under the influence of the [Follower] panel, Kaiyan's position was not a concern for the time being; and in the eyes of other forces, they did not know that Kaiyan was Lann's man. Chapelle even wanted Kaiyan to join the Eternal Fire Sect as a personal guard to conceal his identity.
At the same time, Lann also planned to let Kaiyan return to his old job as a demon hunter in Novigrad: accepting commissions and sharing his experience through the system.
You know, this is the first city in the North, and there are countless missions coming. Lann was even worried that Kaiyan might not be able to absorb all the experience alone and wanted to send more people, but unfortunately he didn't have any other demon hunters [followers], so he had to give up for the time being.
"Remember to equip Kaiyan with a better set of armor, and build it according to the drawings he provided."
Chapelle nodded as a matter of fact: "I will hire the best craftsman in Novigrad."
After finishing the above conversation, Chapelle left. He has been very busy recently.
When the surroundings became quiet, Lann took a deep breath, and the chaotic energy surged throughout his body again, and his mana began to decrease continuously.
In front of Lann, a man in a nomadic slanted-breasted robe had his eyes closed. His body twitched and twisted with the energy in the air, and a jade-colored shell gradually climbed onto his skin, and his body became smaller and smaller.
But in the end, his body's transformation stopped at an extreme point, and he immediately swelled back to the size of a normal person. As the magic failed, his body began to bleed continuously, directly waking him up from his coma.
"Lannister!"
The man who was cast a spell by Lann was naturally Olgierd. You can see that his robe is now soaked with blood, and has even scabbed and dried up, turning into a hard shell.
Lan En had been using the [Transformation and Sealing Technique] that he had been practicing for three whole days.
What better way to increase spell proficiency than through hands-on experimentation?
However, in the past, because the failure of the [Transformation and Sealing Technique] would cause irreversible physical damage to the person being cast, or even endanger his life, this kind of spell practice on humans was expressly prohibited.
But Olgierd had no such moral problems at all.
Seeing the experimental material awaken, Triss suddenly appeared beside her. She skillfully cast a spell and made Olgierd fall into a coma again.
"Your magic has progressed very quickly these past few days," the sorceress confirmed. "Perhaps tomorrow, or even today, you will be able to master your spells."
Lann smiled confidently: "I think it will succeed next time."
Triss nodded in agreement: "I believe you."
With Triss guarding the captives, Lann knelt on the ground and meditated for a while. After his magic power was restored, he began to chant the spell again and cast magic on Ogierd.
The ancient blood brought a magical physique that exceeded that of ordinary magic sources. Violent magical fluctuations emanated from Lann's body. Under the influence of chaotic energy, Ogierd's body underwent another drastic change, constantly twisting in the direction of the jade carving.
At this moment, Lann suddenly heard a sound like a holy sigh in his ears. The system panel opened in front of him, and a burst of light flashed from the [Skills] column.
Lann seemed to have a feeling in his heart, and he opened the panel with his consciousness with great anticipation.
只见在【战斗】【炼金】【法印】【二次突变】【上古之血】这五个界面之外，突然凝聚出了一个全新的技能界面——
【魔法】
此刻，上面只有一个孤零零的技能。
【化器封形术】：把被施法者包裹在玉质外壳内，并缩小至变成可以握在手掌中的“雕像”。该法术可能会给被施法者带来严重的身体损伤，程度按照技能效果而定。（1／1）
自己刚刚学会的法术居然被系统收录成了技能！
而紧接着，这个孤零零的技能又光芒一闪，再看的时候赫然变成了：【化器封形术（2／2）】
【魔潮】也能够作用在这技能上面，赫然把这个技能的等级又往上面推了一级！
惊喜过后，兰恩很快就平复了自己的心情，开始归纳总结技能被系统收录的变化。
首先，被系统收录的技能可以获得明显的熟练度加成。兰恩只需要心念一动就能够自如地施展，就好像是肌肉记忆一样。不存在什么状态不好念错了咒语导致施法失败的意外情况。
随后，兰恩也注意到了技能背后原本（1／1）、现在（2／2）的标注。这意味着兰恩不能够用技能点给这些魔法技能强行升级，看起来只能够通过自己的练习来继续提升这个魔法的上限，毕竟它不是系统自己出产的技能。
不过哪怕如此兰恩也是很满足了。毕竟这是意外之喜，赚多赚少都是赚。
系统的变化和兰恩的心理活动都是外界所不知道的。
此刻，特莉丝看着欧吉尔德变成了一具玉质的雕像，高兴地一把抱住兰恩。
“成功了，兰恩！你成功了！”
兰恩摸了摸那一头火焰般的红发，轻轻吸了一口气。
“是啊，成功了。”他说道，“那么就可以继续之后的事情了。”
现在，兰恩还留在诺维格瑞的理由就只剩下了最后一个了：
镜子大师的委托、【石之心】系列任务的最后一环：【婚姻回忆】。
兰恩需要带人进入伊佛瑞克庄园、找到欧吉尔德的妻子、带回象征着欧吉尔德爱情的紫玫瑰。
但是现在欧吉尔德已经物理意义上地“在兰恩手上”了，所以兰恩决定直接把欧吉尔德带过去甩在他老婆面前，效果应该是一样的。
只是这里面还有一个问题——伊佛瑞克庄园是不折不扣的BOSS战。
前面就说过，欧吉尔德在黑魔法上面有着得天独厚的天赋，甚至连镜子大师都是他误打误撞之下主动和对方建立的联系。
也是因此伊佛瑞克庄园里面密布了由黑魔法的【唤魔术】召唤来的异界恶魔以及异维度生物，除此之外还有很多其他外界根本见不到的魔怪。
可以说伊佛瑞克庄园的内部是自成一个世界。
这可是现实世界，兰恩可没有自信如玩家一般去单刷这个地方，甚至兰恩觉得带上自己全部的辛特拉铁骑都说不定会葬在庄园里面。原计划他是希望获得永恒之火的帮助来拿下这个任务，实在不行就摇杰隆和莫斯萨克过来临时帮忙。
不过现在，他有了其他的选择。
雷索、寇格林姆、奥克斯、瑟瑞特、凯亚恩，四名蛇派猎魔人加一名猫派猎魔人一起被兰恩叫了过来。
此刻他们聚集在兰恩的房间内，听着他解说自己此行的目的，以及在伊佛瑞克庄园内可能会遇到的危险。
特莉丝也在一边旁听，她也想出战帮忙，却被兰恩委婉地拒绝：
“庄园内的怪物都神出鬼没，术士贸然进去很容易在还没反应过来的时候就被近身，防护罩估计也没什么作用。这种场合还是更适合猎魔人。”
为了做好万全的准备，兰恩又在神殿岛待了大半个月的时间，由沙佩勒出资并且提供人手，按照寇格林姆寻找到的蛇学派装备蓝图以及凯亚恩自带的猫学派装备蓝图，为几位猎魔人从头到脚进行了一次装备大升级！
因为凯亚恩获得的是最基础的猫学派套装蓝图，所以他的装备最早完成。
此刻他以白色的汗衫为内衬，外面是轻便的皮甲背心，背心里面有做金属材料的简单加固，但是不多；裤子、长靴都是皮革所制，只有在手套和护腕上面在皮革的基底上加铸了增强拳击力量的铆钉和格挡轻型武器的钢条。
突出的就是一个灵巧轻便，整体重量甚至比一些雇佣兵的穿的皮甲还要轻。
但是凯亚恩很满意，最重要的是他又有了自己的钢、银猫首双剑。
蛇派的铠甲锻铸稍微麻烦一点，它的蓝图更加高级，很多炼金工艺和符文材料的加铸需要回去找莫斯萨克才能够完成，在这里只能够完成最基础的原型锻造。
蛇派铠甲和兰恩初次见到杰洛特时对方穿的那一身有点相似，但是也仅仅是外貌相似而已。就材料上而言，这套铠甲用了细锁子甲为底，绵密的金属在保证防御力的同时又能让着装者保持完备的灵活性。
除此之外，上身铠甲的肩膀处还额外有三层肩甲从上往下依次加固，侧腰两边有皮革缝纫，胸部要害更是加铸了钢板后又用皮革裹鞣，两条绑带横贯其上使得更加贴身。另有特质的匕首袋从肩膀往前挂下。
特莉丝也在永恒之火的宝库里面发现了不少品质上等的绿宝石，给蛇派的双剑和盔甲做了基本的毒素附魔和抗性附魔。
这么长的时间除了打造装备的时间，也是给了几位猎魔人熟悉新装备的时间，按照自己的战斗风格进行一定的改装。
寇格林姆的蛇派套装进行了墨绿色和深棕色的染色，并且适当地进行了肩膀和腰腹金属加固，看上去就好似一条丛林毒蛇。
奥克斯和瑟瑞特选用了岩灰色和沙棕色，这是两条沙蛇，同时他们缩减了肩甲，增加了臂铠的厚度。
雷索没这么花里胡哨，他没有给自己的新甲染色或者加铸，甚至还丧心病狂地做了减法。他取消了手臂部分的全部设计，照例将两根粗壮的胳膊露在外面，形象上面反而更贴近凯亚恩。
按照他的说法，这样活动起来更加方便。
一切准备就绪，猎魔人们最后检查了一边身上的炸弹、魔药、毒药、剑油等等装备，便在一个清晨离开了诺维格瑞。
留下辛特拉的众人目送他们离去。
“希望伯爵大人尽快回来……嗯？你怎么了？”
只见豪斯咬着牙，紧握双拳。他的异样很快引起了另外三名侍从的注意。
豪斯狠狠咽了一口气：“要六位猎魔人一起出动的地方，甚至伯爵大人为此准备了这么久，那该是怎么危险的地方？明明我们才是伯爵大人的侍从，应该时刻跟在伯爵大人身后，为他而战、为他而死的。现在跟在伯爵大人身后的却变成了这些……新来的猎魔人。”
他摩挲着腰侧银剑剑柄上栩栩如生的狮首雕刻，咬牙道：“我不能接受！”
莱文安慰道：“伯爵大人不是跟我们说了吗？他要我们趁着之前暴乱的影响还在，在城市里面多宣扬辛特拉的名声，这是更加重要的政治任务。”
米尔瓦也点点头，她对于不能跟随兰恩而去也很遗憾，但是对于兰恩的任务却一丝不苟。
豪斯摇摇头：“我对于任务没有意见，只是我不能接受……不能接受我‘无法守护大人的后背’这件事情，伯爵大人现在的战斗我们已经很难介入了。之前在牛堡的那次是这样，这次还是这样。”
“可是我们已经是‘狮群’的一员了，你肯定也能够感觉到自己的提升。”米尔瓦说道，“我现在的力气比那些大个子的男人都大，只要这样继续下去，总有这么一天我们能够超过那些猎魔人的。”
豪斯依旧沉默不语，他还是觉得还不够。
他低头看着狮首银剑，作为最早跟随兰恩的侍从，他知道这柄剑是兰恩从一把猫派猎魔人的银剑改铸而来的。
猎魔人……
只要成为猎魔人，是不是就可以摆脱现在的困境了？
……
牛堡，伊佛瑞克庄园。
凯亚恩已经来过一次这里，再次前来可以说是轻车熟路。
几人骑的都是最好的战马，不过半天多一点的时间就来到了位于牛堡地区边缘的伊佛瑞克庄园。
明明是下午，但是庄园却被一片阴云所笼罩。一开始众人还以为是天气的问题，但是当实力出众的他们极目远眺的时候却能够发现在远处的树林中还是能有阳光的照射。
这片阴云是以庄园为中心向四周扩散的。
庄园的围墙很高，估计当初建造者设计的时候有点想要往城堡的方向上靠。众人一边观察一边沿着墙根前进，摸索过一路的壁草和各式爬山虎，很快就发现了一个巨大的墙壁缺口。
From time to time, a chilly wind blew out from inside, rustling the surrounding bushes and other overgrown herbs. Looking inside from the gap, one could also see a faint white mist covering most of the manor.
"Okay." Kolgrim shrugged. "I now believe what Lann said. This manor is the kind of place where you can be sure there is dark magic at a glance."
Kaiyan nodded. "When I came here before, I heard that the villagers would sneak in when the owner of the manor was away and try to steal some property, but those who went in never came out. Later, there were still homeless people and thieves who wanted to try their luck from time to time, but they never came back."
The cat-faction witcher was attracted by the depth of the manor when he first came here, but he was on a mission to awaken Vlodimi at the time and was unable to explore it as he wished. Now that he came here again, he could hardly suppress his excitement.