Lan En was pleasantly surprised when he heard this: "That's great. But according to you, such advanced technology also has strict confidentiality measures. Wouldn't it cause trouble for you if you teach it to me?"
Prince Ofir waved his hand nonchalantly: "It's very expensive, and there's no way to popularize it in the army on a large scale. At most, it can be used to strengthen the guards, so most of the time it can only be regarded as a reflection of the strength of the nobility. Moreover, many alchemists will use this technology to trade after learning it, so there's nothing worth keeping secret."
Prince Ophir showed a sincere look: "Please don't refuse this, Lan. The 'Magic Infusion' technology alone cannot express my gratitude to you. Please accept it!"
Lann returned a sincere look: "Since you insist, it would be impolite for me to refuse. Thank you, Your Highness!"
…
In order to obtain Prince Ofir's "thanks", Lane and his crew need to return to Oxburgh.
But before leaving, Lann still had some other matters to deal with in Novigrad and to make plans for the future.
Two days later, in Novigrad Square, in an abandoned underground bank vault.
This was originally the territory of the Ghost Face Gang, which was affiliated with the Hawthorne family. However, because this gangster family started a riot a few days ago and caused various losses to Novigrad, they have now become a rat crossing the street that everyone wants to kill.
All the properties of the gangster family were also confiscated. This abandoned underground bank vault was one of the properties of the Hawthorne family. It was converted into an underground casino some time ago and now it has been transformed into a small underground meeting room by the Eternal Flame.
All the furnishings in the room had been cleared out, leaving only a round conference table in the middle, with only two people sitting on one side of the table.
One was wearing a plain cloak with his face buried in the hood; the other was wearing an open waistcoat with a chest covered in tattoos.
They are Francis Beran, the "Beggar King" and leader of the Dark Alley Gang who manipulates all beggars, orphans and vagrants, and Carlo "Machete" Varese, the leader of the Black Gold Society who unites most of the non-human races.
They seemed to be waiting for someone.
Apart from the table, the only decoration left in this underground meeting room were dozens of candlesticks. Now they were all lit, making the basement as bright as the ground.
Machete seemed to enjoy this kind of environment: "This is the place to talk. The scene that the warlock created before was more like an underground organization than ours."
The Beggar King uttered a light “huh”.
Machete laughed loudly, not caring about the Beggar King's cold attitude: "Come to think of it, I saw that when there was a riot in the city before, you also sent people to help eliminate the Ghost Face Gang. Did that Lannister also come to find you?"
The Beggar King touched the back of his neck and nodded silently.
They wanted to talk about something else when they suddenly heard footsteps coming from the underground passage.
The sound of footsteps indicated that there were quite a few people coming and they were moving at a fast pace. Soon, another group of people entered the conference room illuminated by candlelight.
The first person to come in was Chapelle, who was very familiar to both Machete and the Beggar King. The security officer of the Eternal Fire had changed into a silver necklace today.
Standing next to him was a blond knight. The Beggar King had seen him before, and Machete could more or less guess his identity after seeing the iconic lion emblem on his breastplate.
"The Lion of Cintra." Kandao chewed on this title that Zoltan had mentioned to him many times. He couldn't help but think of the snake-faction witcher who sneaked into his house that night as if he was in an empty space, and he felt very afraid.
Following behind them were several temple guards and Cintra cavalry, who were obviously their escorts. One of them was a red-eyed warrior wearing light armor, which was particularly eye-catching.
The Beggar King and Machete frowned at the same time. They were invited by Chapelle to participate in the meeting, but they had no idea what the topic was.
When I saw Lann appear, I started to wonder:
Why does the Count of Cintra continue to be involved in Novigrad's affairs?
"Thank you very much for your help during the Ghost Face Gang riot. Novigrad is happy to have 'friendly citizens' like you." Chapelle said his thanks coldly, "Thank you very much for taking the time to come here today."
Machete looked at the soldiers behind Chapelle and Lane and curled his lips. He suddenly missed his bathhouse, where he usually liked to hold meetings because they were "honest" enough and no one carried weapons.
But who made it possible for the Eternal Fire to arrange the meeting today?
"We didn't expect that Hawthorne's son would be even crazier than him. What he did does not represent us." Machete said confidently. He did not let down his guard because of Chapelle's thanks.
The Beggar King pulled his hood down again. "Just tell me what's going on, Monsieur Chapelle. We are not the kind of people who beat around the bush."
After seeing the two's reactions, Chapelle nodded, but suddenly directed their attention to Lann: "Although I invited the two of you today, the one who actually presided over the meeting was not me, but Mr. Lannister."
As he spoke, Chapelle sat down, but not in the main seat, leaving it empty for Lane.
This action again stunned the two leaders of the underground world.
The security officer of Novigrad and the Eternal Flame vacated the throne in his own territory for a foreign count?
Lann smiled, but did not really sit in the main seat. Instead, he and Chapelle sat on the left and right sides and said:
"You two, some of you have met me, and some have not. So I would like to reintroduce myself: I am Lann of Cintra, Lann Lannister Rhaanron."
"The reason why I've come all this way today is mainly to thank you for standing up during the previous riots." Lann said with a smile, "So in return, I want to do you a favor."
What qualifications does this Lannister have to represent Novigrad to thank them for "standing up"? The two leaders of the underground world were stunned again. They looked at Chapelle, but found that his face was normal and he didn't seem to think there was anything wrong.
Things started to become a little complicated.
"First, Mr. Beilan." Lan En turned his gaze to the Beggar King first, "We have met before."
That was not a good memory for the Beggar King.
"'News from the North converges in Novigrad, and news from Novigrad converges in the Beggar King.' I still remember this sentence clearly." Lann smiled, "What surprised me even more is that your sources of information seem to be no longer limited to the North."
The Beggar King shook his head. "I know what you are planning. You want us to help Cintra resist Nilfgaard, right? You think too highly of us. I am just gathering information from the merchants. That is all I know about the south."
Lann spread his hands. "Please don't refuse yet, Mr. Beran. Like I said, I'm doing you a favor. I'm definitely not a selfish person."
"You make a living by intelligence, but in my opinion, your way of obtaining intelligence is too loose and too passive. I want to help you make it more refined and systematic."
Lann said, "Right now you are only getting information from the merchants and travelers who come to Novigrad to do business, and understanding the outside world. Why not turn the passive into the active?"
The Beggar King laughed and said, "You want me to be the ears of Cintra? Let's not talk about why I want to share the current news with you. Do you know who my people are? Homeless beggars, orphans and vagrants, why should they listen to you?"
Lan nodded. "What I want are the homeless and beggars. It's just right for them to blend into the merchant team of Nilfgaard. I believe that not everyone chooses the current life. Having a job to feed themselves is also what they want. And..."
Lann pretended to reach into his bosom, but actually took out a purse from the [Inventory], threw it on the table and said, "I will support them so that they can get two jobs. And when Cintra is restored, I will give them a home. Is this reason enough?"
Machete had been listening nearby, and couldn't help laughing when he saw Lann throwing the money bag: "That's a nice thing to say, but is it just based on this bag of crowns?"
The Beggar King also looked displeased: "Lannister, are you insulting me or my people?"
Lan En was stunned for a moment, then realized that the two people in front of him had misunderstood each other.
So he stood up and untied his purse.
A handful of sparkling diamonds just flowed out of the purse. This was a friendly sponsorship from the Mirror Master.
The machete's laughter was gone.
Give money to the poor and shelter to the homeless.
Looking at the silent Beggar King, Lann continued, "I have heard some rumors that the Beggar King is actually a man of noble character. If you feel that 'accepting funding' hurts your self-esteem, you can understand that I want to hire those poor and wandering people through you and give them jobs. And their wages will be temporarily deposited with you by me."
原著里面，乞丐王曾经无偿地帮助过很多危难之中的人。在猎巫运动时期，他曾发动人手协同特莉丝将隐藏在诺维格瑞的所有术士撤走，前往和平的中立国家。
他的身份是一个地下黑帮的领袖，但是他的品格却不是单纯的黑色。而且这个人确实是有着能力的，对于目前的兰恩来说他的能力也是能够发挥作用的。
“那我能够获得什么呢？”
“把那‘北境的消息汇聚于诺维格瑞’变成‘大陆的消息汇聚于诺维格瑞’，这还不够吗？”
乞丐王伸手接过钱袋，好像收拾落在桌上的芝麻一样用双手勺起桌上的钻石。
“你不怕我拿了你的钱跑了？”
“我很想说我‘用人不疑’，但是不管你还是我估计都不会相信这种小孩子话。”兰恩指了指一旁的沙佩勒，“所以永恒之火会作为我们合作的见证人。”
他又指了指跟着自己一同进到地下室的凯亚恩：“我的代言人也会留在诺维格瑞监督我们约定的履行。”
红眼的猫派猎魔人朝着乞丐王露出和善的微笑。而已经被猎魔人摸进房间绑走过一次的乞丐王丝毫不敢轻视他。
看着乞丐王答应了自己的提议，兰恩接着又转身向着砍刀。
这个矮人在看到那一大袋钻石以后已经跃跃欲试了。
眼见得兰恩再次伸手入怀，这次却不是掏出钱袋，而是掏出了……一沓纸？
砍刀疑惑地接过来，满脸失望；但是在看清楚那一沓图纸上面的东西之后却渐渐地变了眼神。
“这个是玛哈坎钢剑？不对，结构更复杂……玛哈坎符文穿刺剑？也不对……”
虽然砍刀不是职业铁匠，但是矮人血脉里面回响的打铁声和生长环境的熏陶依旧让他不可避免地学习到了大量的锻造基础知识。此刻看着兰恩递过来的这一沓图纸，他是越看越心惊。
“不对不对不对，这种锻造风格，有点像是‘流放登陆’时期之前的设计，是失传的东西……”
“不仅仅是剑……还有铠甲，还有护胫，是套装！”
砍刀猛地抬头，兴奋地涨红了脸。哪怕从一个商人的角度，他也知道自己手里握着的东西有多大的重量；如果落到铁匠的手里，那只会比现在的他更加不堪。
“兰尼斯特……兰尼斯特伯爵，你把这些东西给我是想要委托我做什么？”
感谢镜子大师的馈赠。
哪怕之前有镜子大师帮助度过了猎魔人突变，兰恩都没有在想过上面这句话，但是这句话此时此刻却真真切切地从心底浮现了出来。果然只有当一个人彻底离开，他才会获得感激。
“我希望和玛哈坎成为朋友。”兰恩低声道，“这些图纸你可以理解为是见面礼，我手里还有更多。”
砍刀大笑：“你想要见霍格长老？”
玛哈坎是矮人的居住地，而霍格长老是他们的实际统治者。和很多奇幻小说一样，矮人是大陆最大的武器制造商。
而在这方世界中，玛哈坎的矮人还有着天下第一的重步兵。在后世的南北大战中他们将派出过志愿军协同人类作战，严丝合缝的步兵方阵不但多次正面抵御住尼弗迦德铁骑的冲击，甚至还有余力迎着重骑兵军团前进！
兰恩想要尝试着提前获得他们的支持，获得更多的军事力量。
因此他才会有现在的举动：“我想把这些图纸当做辛特拉和玛哈坎友谊的开端，只求和长老见上一面。至于之后的事情还要细谈。”
砍刀挠了挠胡子：“我没有办法回玛哈坎，像我和卓尔坦都是这种情况。不过我认识的人比他多，倒是可以帮你把这个意思传到尚在玛哈坎的同伴。”
砍刀的话语倒不是推脱。玛哈坎是一个及其封闭且保守的地方，但是年轻的矮人又都向往自由。因此便有了这样一种风俗：在一个矮人五十岁生日之后，他可以离开玛哈坎在人类文明中体验一年。不过要是他没有在365天期满之前回来，他就会被从氏族名册上永远除名。
如今兰恩认识的砍刀、卓尔坦、亚尔潘都是已经被氏族除名的矮人。但是规矩是死的，感情是不灭的，他们还是可以联系上以前的亲人和朋友，为兰恩牵线搭桥。
哪怕矮人不欢迎人类访客，但是有这些来自镜子大师的失传盔甲锻造技术应该足够分量作为敲门砖了。
砍刀如获至宝地把这些装备图纸收起来。
“那么。”兰恩拿出一瓶陶森特产的红酒，“我觉得这个时候需要干杯。”
大有收获的两名地下首领自无不允。
矮人似乎不是很喜欢葡萄酒，乞丐王倒是很喜欢。
“说起来。”乞丐王摸了摸怀里的钻石突然说道，“之前永恒之火的赫梅尔法特主教曾经建议过让永恒之火和诺维格瑞的所有地下势力组成一个联盟，他还打好了大致的框架，不知道他现在怎么样了？”
“他死了，和迦勒·曼吉一起。”沙佩勒冷声道，“我们也不会是联盟，只是各取所需。我会允许你们存在的原因只是因为你们没有打扰市民的生活，甚至有效地帮助了最底层的人。”
乞丐王听到沙佩勒毫不客气的话却没有生气，反而摘下兜帽笑了：“你确实变了很多。”
此间结束，乞丐王和砍刀也没有和兰恩二人再寒暄，他们公事公办地很快离开。
随后是沙佩勒，他这次过来主要是起一个牵头作用，之后还需要再去城内巡逻、安抚群众。最近传播信仰的效果出奇得好。
很快这个地下会议室就只剩下了兰恩他们的人。
“有事？”凯亚恩突然看到兰恩转头向自己，奇怪地问道。
兰恩点点头。
今天把黑帮的人安排完，他在诺维格瑞的事情就解决完了。之后就是要把欧菲尔王子带到牛堡去，然后顺便跟维兹米尔二世交付欧吉尔德的任务。
对，欧吉尔德除了镜子大师之外还有一个一鱼两吃的另一个任务，兰恩得把这个经验弄到手。
去完牛堡，就朝着哈吉要塞一路进发了。
但是诺维格瑞很大，还有一些兰恩看中的东西还没有带走，因此兰恩想要趁着这个机会再好好嘱咐凯亚恩一些注意事项。
“这个城市里面，还有很多奇异的种族和有着特殊能力的人类，这些都是我想要收服的。包括能够自主进行梦境占卜的卜梦人、和沙佩勒一样的其他变形怪、甚至是小地灵、魅魔等等。”
兰恩面色严肃：“如果你碰到了他们，在他们没有伤害别人的前提下，我希望你能够代表我去释放善意，而不是为了赏金什么的草草杀掉他们。在我的眼里，他们的价值远远超过那几十、几百个克朗。”
凯亚恩脸色有些纠结，但还是应了下来：“你跟我以前见过的王子、贵族什么的都大不一样，你似乎特别喜欢这些乱七八糟的东西……不过贵族都有点奇怪的癖好。你的意思我也懂了，你放心好了。”
兰恩却摇摇头：“凯亚恩，你是知道我的猎魔人教团计划的，我想要的远不止这些。猎魔人如果想在辛特拉建立根据地，那么势必要把猎魔人被污蔑掉的名声重新擦干净，我现在正在做这件事情。”
“而诺维格瑞是北方最大的城市，这里的消息会传遍整个北境。我希望你可以在这里猎魔人重新塑造形象，扭转世人的偏见，哪怕仅仅只是很小的一部分。”
听到兰恩的话，凯亚恩的脸色微微有些不自然：“其实猎魔人的名声大多都是被我们猫派败掉的。”
狮鹫学派的兰恩笑道：“我当然知道，所以我希望让世人看到一只不一样的猫。”
凯亚恩想了想，对于兰恩之前要他对非人种族手下留情的要求他能够思考一会就应下来，但是对于现在这个打破偏见的期望他却实在信心不足。
“这会很困难，兰恩。猎魔人的名声不仅仅是因为我们自己的迷失，术士、贵族、政治家也在推波助澜、落井下石。不然你们狮鹫也不会落得这种下场。”
兰恩心里有数：“所以这回我拉了永恒之火下场帮忙，有他们在你的行动会顺利很多。而且，我还有另外一个助力……”
凯亚恩闻言露出好奇的神色。
……
诺维格瑞城，南边的院落里，福克森剧团中。
演员们正在热火朝天地排练剧目。剧团蒙遭大难险些解散，哪怕有着永恒之火的慰问，但是对于想要尽快回归正轨的他们来说还是杯水车薪。
慰问金不过能够让他们维持基本的生活不至于流离失所，但是想要恢复往日的鼎盛却远远不够。
失去了大量演员的剧团老人甚至还建议他们就地合并到其他剧团中去，但是最后剧团的当家明星依芮娜·瑞那德力排众议，尽可能地保留了剧团的所属人员。
不仅如此，由于在之前暴乱中挺身而出的表现，依芮娜还被推举为了福克森剧团的团长。
当兰恩和凯亚恩来到这里的时候，剧团正在训练新入团的实习演员。不远处还能看到大家在排练新的剧目。
几乎一半的演员都做骑士打扮，穿着雄狮纹章的戏剧用铠甲，挥舞着木剑在高声颂唱台词。不远处还有不少孩子在嬉戏打闹，其中的孩子王有着一头金发。
“我可是被雄狮丢出去过的人！”这句话让他获得了剧团内所有孩子的羡慕和拥护。
凯亚恩刚好听到这句话，没忍住笑出了声。
依苪娜看到鹤立鸡群的兰恩登时眼前一亮，随口给身边的人交代几句之后就小步跑了过来。
看着眼前这一大堆跟猴版自己一样的演员，饶是以如今兰恩的表情管理都不免地有些羞赧。
“依芮娜女士，虽然我资助你确实是想要你帮我打造几个剧目，但是现在这一些……”兰恩指了指正在排练的演员们，“实在是让我有些‘过于惊喜’了。”
在几天之前，兰恩就借着找嘟嘟的理由来过剧院，并且运用钞能力帮他们度过了难关。戏剧这种艺术形式既能够上升到王室宴会又能够下沉到街边广场，而且还能够手段巧妙地往里面夹杂私活，作为宣传手段简直不要再合适。
兰恩在平定暴乱的时候就已经在心里计划着将这个剧团收于麾下，而福克森剧团对此也是求之不得、一拍即合。
对于兰恩的反应，依苪娜捂嘴轻笑：“这些本来就是原先计划好的剧目。辛特拉、泰莫利亚、瑞达尼亚，您无论到哪里都能留下值得赞颂的事迹，您简直就是诗歌和戏剧天生的主角。其他地方我不知道，诺维格瑞一半的诗人和剧院都要感谢您养活了他们哩。”
兰恩轻笑一声。
寒暄过后，依苪娜进入正题：“您今天过来是想要分享一些传闻之外的故事，以此丰富我们的剧目吗？”
就社交而言，依苪娜很聪明。兰恩资助剧团之后肯定是有利所图，而剧团能够干什么呢？唯有演戏，按照投资人的要求编写剧本然后表演。
但是依苪娜主动说出是兰恩提供故事帮助剧团丰富剧目，事情就从剧团帮助兰恩变成了兰恩帮助剧团，交流起来就很舒服。
兰恩最喜欢和聪明人交流。
目前大陆上愿意为猎魔人宣传的艺术家很少，最出名的就是杰洛特的挚友丹德里恩，“白狼”的绰号这么声名远扬有九成的功劳都属于他。
而兰恩此刻，也跟依苪娜开始讲述他所知道的那些曾经波澜壮阔的猎魔人的故事。
猫派背刺狼派再被背刺的连环背叛故事、狮蝎学派的无赖在陶森特获得启迪从此献身宗教的励志故事、狮鹫学派先驱屠龙之后却被人类的贪婪害死的悲伤故事，还有更多猎魔人不为人知的荣耀与心酸的传说……
这些充满转折、极具张力的故事让依苪娜听得如痴如醉。
“但是这些故事都缺少成为‘压轴戏’的必要因素。”虽然故事都很好，但是依苪娜却给出了反对的专业意见，“它们能够让人唏嘘，却难以让人欢乐并且为其自发讨论。我们需要发生在身边的故事，或者足够有代入感的故事。”
依苪娜的眼中爆发出神采：“那些能够在街边、酒馆传播的故事才是最好的故事。爱情与刀剑是永恒的主题——比如说您。”
“很快就会有发生在身边的故事了。”兰恩一指凯亚恩。
在经过一系列后续的讨论过后，兰恩和凯亚恩的题材将会成为今后福克森剧团的主打。
以兰恩的“骑士公主”、“灭国战斗”、“复国旅途”等题材作为台柱子压轴；凯亚恩则在城里则时不时地完成委托即时地给剧团提供素材，努力塑造出“我们的好邻居猎魔人”形象和相关的故事。
走之前，兰恩还特地叮嘱凯亚恩：“不要在乎钱，遇到贫困的家庭就尽量免去酬金。我给你留下的钱足够你挥霍很久，不够就找沙佩勒或者联系我要。”
“我们以后要都这样？”
兰恩想了想：“至少现在要这样。”
“那如果有人赖账、甚至敲诈我什么的怎么办？”凯亚恩是知道这个时代刁民有多不可理喻的。
兰恩表示早就有了准备：“‘兰尼斯特，有债必偿’。去找沙佩勒，他会按照异教徒来处理。”
猫派猎魔人听到这里突然有些期待了，要不要去主动找个无赖什么的练练手？
而看着凯亚恩突然变得跃跃欲试的表情，兰恩颇为头疼地揉了揉眉头。
其实就选择上来说，留下某个更为沉稳的蛇派猎魔人在诺维格瑞会更加稳定一点。比如寇格林姆。
但是他们不乐意，只有被【随从】面板契约的凯亚恩才愿意接受自己的请求，也只有【随从】做任务的时候会分润给自己经验。
不过凯亚恩本来就是理智派的猫，还有【随从】面板、永恒之火、剧院团帮自己一起照看他，应该不会出什么意外……吧？
不知道等自己下次来诺维格瑞，猎魔人在这里的名声会变成什么样子。
兰恩摇了摇头，准备动身前去处理自己在瑞达尼亚的最后一件事了。
……
两日后，牛堡。
辛特拉铁骑滚滚而来，于学院城的外城停下。
恍若昨日复刻，迪科斯彻穿着颜色艳丽的丝绸衣服在城门口等待，在兰恩到达的同一时间迎了上来，显然他早就接到了兰恩一行人行踪的消息。
“跟上次比起来，你身后的人似乎少了几个。”迪科斯彻看着兰恩身后的骑兵。
兰恩面色严肃：“他们获得了军人的结局。”
在和野猪军对冲的时候，有辛特拉骑兵牺牲。
“我很遗憾。”迪科斯彻礼貌性地低头默哀两秒。
随后他又看向队伍里面新出现的雷索等人，目光故作好奇：“但是似乎也多了不少新的面孔？”
兰恩点头：“我一个伯爵，收几个追随者很合理吧？”
迪科斯彻看着猎魔人们的琥珀蛇瞳，笑了：“当然。”
兰恩顿了顿，也露出了好奇的神色，突然说道：“这回怎么没有见到菲丽芭女士？”
确实，此刻迪科斯彻的肩膀上面空空如也，天空中也不见飞禽的身影。
迪科斯彻露出惊讶的神色：“兰尼斯特伯爵知道菲丽芭女士？你们见过面？”
演起来了啊。上次菲丽芭和兰恩之间的事情上不得台面，算是秘密，双方都很有默契地没有往外说。
但是别人不知道，迪科斯彻能不知道吗？而且兰恩和菲丽芭的条件里面本就是把“让迪科斯彻帮忙”加进了要求里面的。
“我和她有没有见过面，你不知道？”
“兰尼斯特伯爵还是不要说我听不懂的话了。”迪科斯彻说道，“但是如果你想要拜访菲丽芭女士的话，现在不太方便。她没有跟着国王陛下一起来牛堡，而是在崔托格宫廷。毕竟你知道的——国王不在，顾问必须得要坐镇后方。”
兰恩挑了挑眉：“看样子陛下对菲丽芭女士信任有加？”
迪科斯彻笑起来：“当然。”
两人边走边聊，迪科斯彻又把兰恩引回了之前他所居住的待客厅。
惯例地沐浴更衣，洗去一身的风尘。不过想到一会要见维兹米尔二世，兰恩突发奇想：
“米尔瓦，进来一下。”
兰恩话音未落，女侍从就冲了进来，显然在屋外等待已久：“伯爵大人，需要我服侍您沐浴吗？”
兰恩脸黑了黑：“我给国王准备了礼物，你派人去集市上给我买些用于包装的东西来。”
米尔瓦一脸失望地又退了出去。
没过一会，敲门声响起，女侍从把兰恩想要的东西带了回来。
完成这些之后，兰恩挥手赶走脸上更加失望的女侍从，转手从【物品栏】中取出两个东西，开始给自己准备的礼物做起了装饰。
国王似乎真的很在意牛堡的学术发展，直到日落黄昏，他才等到空闲派出管家来接见兰恩。
他依旧烤着火，儿子作为酒侍侍奉在侧。
唯一不同的是，周围作为侍卫的骑士比之前多了一半，而且看着兰恩的眼神更加戒备了。
威严、气度的国王，紧张、戒备的骑士，屋子里面的两种人形成了鲜明的对比。
小王子拉多维德处在状况外，他在兰恩进门之后眼珠子一动不动地看着对方，不知道心里在想些什么。
“欢迎回来，兰尼斯特。”维兹米尔二世抬起头，马上就看到了兰恩手里拿着的礼物，“这是？”
“在诺维格瑞看到的艺术品，我偶然得到了它，据说是伊佛瑞克家族的收藏。”
兰恩笑起来：“我不敢私占您名下的财产，所以就将它带了回来打算物归原主。”
Vizimir II shook his head. "It's hard for you to say 'gift' so euphemistically. Originally, this kind of thing should be handed over to the butler, but things have come to this - Rado."
The prince heard the king's call and stepped forward to take the long, flat package from Lann's hand.
“Is this a painting?”
"Yes."
Facing the king's question, Lan nodded. This is a painting, a painting brought out from Everec Manor, a painting made by Alice.
It is also a vehicle through which the soul in the painting can travel.
Radovid's eyes were full of curiosity, but he still had to observe etiquette in front of his father, so he had to put the painting aside for the time being.
Vizimir II suddenly thought of something and waved his hand, and a butler came forward. After hearing the king's whispered order, he hurried out and returned with a painting a moment later.
"This painting is called 'The Lion and the Brave Redanian Soldier' and was presented to me by a painting teacher from Niubao." Vizimir II smiled. "It shows you and my soldiers fighting against a monster that suddenly appeared on a transport ship - you seem to call it a dragonfly monster, right?"
Lann paused with a smile on his face and took the painting. It was indeed a reproduction of 90% of the way he and his group fought against the dragonfly monster at that time. The only difference was that the Redanian soldier in the painting was passionate and now jumped off the boat with a determined look on his face.
initiative.
"The brave Redanian soldiers used themselves as bait to lure the monster out of the water and protect the merchants on the transport ship. The relevant poems and literary works have spread throughout Oxburgh." Vizmir said meaningfully, "I like this painting very much. So I give it to you as a return gift."
This was obviously done by the poets and artists on the ship at the time. Lan admired their artistic attainments in his heart and bowed slightly to Vizimir II: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Vizimir II raised his chin slightly, ended the greetings, and got down to business.
"I heard about what happened in Novigrad. I didn't expect such a big mess to happen. It turns out that a religious organization cannot really manage a city. I plan to take Novigrad back from the Eternal Flame."
Vizimir II looked Lann in the eye and asked, "Lannister, what do you think?"
It would be a miracle if you could take it back. After your son comes to power and until your death, the city will still be filled with eternal fire.
And why do you always ask me about things happening in your country?
Lann said calmly: "I may have misunderstood... I always thought that Novigrad was the territory of Redania. Now it seems that this is not the case?"
There was silence for a while, until Vizimir II chuckled and said, "You are right."
But he quickly straightened his face again: "How do you get along with Chapelle?"
Lann sighed. "It's awkward. He's very cold and arrogant, and he won't listen to you. He only provided information in response to your instructions, but he was unwilling to send soldiers to help. As a result, I had a direct conflict with Olgierd and lost a lot of manpower."
At this point, Lann showed his genuine regret: "They are all warriors who fought against the Nilfgaardians. I didn't expect them to die in a place like this."
The confrontation with the wild boar army and the subsequent monster strength of Olgierd caused Lann to lose a lot of manpower. Lann only brought out such an elite team, and one less death was one less.
But how can there be no deaths in war? Especially those who are destined to fight on the battlefield.
"I'm sorry, they died for me," Vizimir II consoled him, "I will pay their pensions."
Lann shook his head. "They are my people, and I should take care of their affairs after death. If you want to have mercy on them, I just hope that their stories can be remembered by people. The dead should not be forgotten."
Vizimir II did not comment on Lann's request.
"Where is Olgierd? Is he dead?"
Indeed, the body was not intact.
Lann shook his head: "I killed his wild boar army, but I just drove him away."
Vizimir II remained calm, but Prince Radovid frowned deeply.
"Why? I thought swords had no eyes."
Lann said sincerely: "No matter what he did, he is a noble after all, and he is your subject. Even if he committed a crime, he should be judged by you. I have no right to lynch him. So I only killed his wild boar army and ensured that he would not cause you trouble as before."
"Where is he now?"
"In the hands of the Nilfgaardians."
Vizimir II was stunned.
"With your eyes and ears, you must know that the previous riot in Novigrad was caused by the Nilfgaardians. Olgierd reached an agreement with them. The last time I saw him, he seemed to have sneaked onto a Nilfgaardian ship."
Lan was outraged: "He's a traitor!"
Radovid, who had been listening, looked confused and didn't seem to react to what Lann said.
Vizimir II closed his eyes in pain: "The Everec family, after the founding of the country... I didn't expect that they would turn to the south now."
“Imran!”
Hearing the king's angry shout, the royal butler in the house immediately stepped forward.
"Go and call Count Dijkstra over here. I want him to draft a document immediately to announce it to the whole nation. The evil deeds of the Everec family must serve as a warning to everyone!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The system prompt sounded at this moment——
[Mission - Fairness and Selflessness - Completed]
Lann gave a hidden smile.
As if he was really angry about the betrayal of his hero, Vizimir II took a long time to calm down. Then he looked at Lann and said softly: "Lannister, thank you for helping me discover this cancer in time."
"We are friends, this is what I should do."
The prince obediently poured wine for Lan at his father's suggestion, and both the host and the guests were in great joy.
"The trip to Haji Fortress is on the agenda, and I'll be leaving in a few days. Do you want to come with me?"
Lann had spent nearly a month in Novigrad, and now the day of the Northern Talks was approaching.
Haji Fortress is located at the border of the four major countries in the north. If we set out from Niubao now, we can arrive there a few days before the meeting starts.
"Don't bother you, we plan to go on our own."
"Okay." Vizimir II did not try to persuade him to stay. "But be careful on the road. According to my intelligence, things are not peaceful recently."
Lan asked doubtfully, "The southerners are attacking again?"
"No, I heard there are many more monsters." Vizimir II shook his head, "Water ghosts, ghouls, and other things. Those dirty things that have been in the forest for years have also run out, and the city guards in many places have begun to ask for help."
"But I heard that there seem to be a few more demon hunters in your team? If you add yourself, then there's probably nothing to worry about."
The king joked, "If possible, I would like to borrow a witcher from you."