In response to Lann's question, the old witcher spoke very tactfully, but the meaning of "apprentices trained by the Wolf Cult are not so bad that they can't even deceive the trolls" was already very clear in his words.
Vesemir thought for a moment and added, “There are quite a few apprentices who got hit on the head, but it’s not a big deal.”
This way Lan En would have a clear idea in his mind, and everything would be easy without any grudge.
The three-headed troll is still roaring.
Lann patted Lambert's shoulder to calm his killing intent, stepped forward and said, "Don't kill them, I have other uses for them."
…
Trolls are a pretty happy race.
There was a legend in ancient times that trolls were creatures born from the earth and their bodies were made of rock. People believed that trolls hated sunlight and only moved at night because sunlight would turn them into lifeless stones.
However, after research, it was found that this was just a "legend". Later, people learned that trolls are also creatures made of flesh and blood, but their skin is more "natural".
Later, there were legends that trolls were degenerated giants - because of their huge size compared to humans, and the same simple abilities: strength and defense.
An adult troll is about two meters and five meters tall. It can easily lift wooden stakes or even rocks that are larger than itself. Its fists are heavier than hammers and its flesh is stronger than shields.
The most interesting thing about trolls is that they can be socialized by humans. It is said that in some villages and rivers, trolls often build bridges and live under the bridges to collect tolls from passers-by. Nowadays, many villages and towns will specially invite trolls to build bridges - compared with hiring professional craftsmen to build and maintain bridges, the tolls collected by the trolls under the bridges are much more economical.
In addition to the bridge repair troll, there are also soldier trolls, boxing champion trolls, and blacksmith trolls. They are not very smart, but they are particularly capable in some areas that require strength, and they are honest and loyal.
There was a trend among nobles and wealthy merchants to raise trolls to guard the treasury. After all, guarding does not require intelligence, and trolls are so stupid that they can't even think of "betraying their employers". Their remuneration is just food and wine, and at most occasionally chatting and singing with them.
Of course, any race has two sides. Just as there are both "crazy cats" and "knight-like griffins" among demon hunters, there are also honest guards and man-eating monsters among trolls.
In short, this is a powerful, dangerous creature that can be won over by trickery. Their military strength in the charge and their talent for infrastructure construction are what Lann wants to obtain.
That was why Lann had asked Vesemir in advance whether these trolls were the kind of ogres that fed on human flesh, and only decided to take action after receiving a negative answer.
The other demon hunters crossed their arms and prepared to watch Lann's performance. Reso moved his fingers slightly, ready to take action when Lann got into trouble.
The snake sect is good at poison, while the trolls are weak at it. The trolls have a very fast metabolism, which comes with a very strong regeneration ability. This is why such a body will use the extremely fast blood flow rate to spread the poison that enters the body to every blood vessel, and it will be "dead" in an instant.
…
"Troll, the demon hunter is not obedient." Seeing that Lann and his group did not move, the troll who had hit the leader before hit him on the head again, smashing a stone on the other's head.
The beaten troll leader scratched his head, and seemed to be venting his anger at the witcher: "The trolls don't go to the castle, and don't want beautiful stones. The witcher, don't come to the troll territory either. Let's go back to the castle!"
Listening to what these trolls said, it seemed as if the demon hunters and trolls had reached some kind of agreement not to interfere with each other.
The wolf-faction witchers looked at each other for a few seconds, then confirmed their target and turned their gaze to Vesemir.
“Don’t look at me.” Vesemir curled his lips. “At least I haven’t heard of anything like this in all my years in Kaer Morhen.”
“Is it possible,” Geralt guessed, “that this was a trick used by an apprentice to complete the trial. And then these trolls thought they had signed an agreement with the entire Wolf Clan?”
Vesemir was silent. It was really hard to say.
On the other side, Lann estimated the distance between himself and the trolls. His magic power had not recovered much yet, so it was a bit difficult for him to [Flash] at such a long distance.
So he opened his arms and made a hugging gesture to show his friendliness, and also wanted to tease these fools a little.
Lann shouted as he approached the trolls, "But trolls, the demon hunters came from the Ring of Elements, and we are heading back to the castle. If you want us to return to the castle, why are you blocking our way?"
After hearing what Lann said, the three trolls were stunned at the same time.
"Troll, the demon hunter said he wants to go back to the castle." The troll who punched the leader seemed confused by what Lann said.
"Troll, you're so stupid!" The leader troll raised his arm as if he wanted to punch back, but then he put it down as if he had muscle memory.
"Monster hunter, come from the castle and go to the Ring of Elements." The troll leader pointed to the direction of the Ring of Elements with confidence, "The demon hunter came from there, it's the castle."
"Over there is the elemental ring." The leader troll pointed in the direction of Kaer Morhen Castle, revealing a look of seeing through everything. "Monster hunter, you say one thing and do another!"
The troll known as "Giant Mama" was immediately convinced, and he flexed his palm, which only had three fingers, and said in approval: "Occasionally there is a third set!"
Seeing this scene, Lann twitched his lips. He suddenly understood why the Wolf School apprentices were able to survive without death when facing these trolls.
Judging from the conversation between the two trolls just now, the name of the leader troll is "Troll Mo", and the troll that repeatedly hammers it is called "Giant Mama". Pretty simple names.
"No, Troll, Troll Mama." The troll who had been silent all this time suddenly said, "Monster Hunter, we are indeed coming from the Elemental Ring and heading towards the castle. The direction is correct!"
This troll hadn't spoken since just now, but it seemed to be the most intelligent one among the three trolls - at least it had memories. The other two trolls also agreed with what it said, and immediately fell into a vicious circle of self-doubt.
"The Demon Hunter comes from the Elemental Ring? Why?"
Lann estimated the distance between himself and the trolls, took a few steps forward, and answered the troll's question: "Because we just came out of Old Spearhead's cave this morning. Were there still you blocking the way here at that time? Where did you go?"
Unexpectedly, when Lann said this, the three trolls on the hillside became panicked after hearing the three words "Old Spearhead", and for a moment they forgot to continue swearing their sovereignty over the territory to the witchers.
Old Spearhead has always been the top predator in the Blue Mountains. Even the trolls can defeat it with just one punch. Fortunately, the trolls are extremely sensitive to the vibrations of the ground and rocks, so in the past, as long as they heard the footsteps of the Cyclops, they would immediately take a detour, and they lived in peace for hundreds of years.
The noise caused by the Demon Hunter's battle against Old Spearhead today really scared the trolls. The deafening explosion and the series of roars and screams made them hide in their territories without even caring about them. That was why Lann and his party did not encounter any trolls blocking their way when they passed by for the first time.
At this time, Lann, who was quick-witted, could basically guess the reaction of the trolls. While the trolls were in a panic, he kept closing the distance with them, which was enough for him to use his skills to rush in.
【Flash】
Lann's body disappeared in a burst of emerald light, and then a golden light flashed behind the three-headed troll, revealing his smiling figure.
The three-headed troll was dazzled and almost jumped up in fright. Looking at the troll who was rubbing out stones like a magic trick and was about to throw them at him, Lann was not panicked at all.
He flipped his left hand, and suddenly a huge head appeared in the open space in front of him, taller than his waist. It was covered with burns, knife marks, and poison erosion. The single eye, which was larger than the troll's entire face, was wide open, full of anger and unwillingness.
It was the head of the old spearhead that Lann had chopped off before.
Even though the giant one-eyed monster was dead, it still exuded a terrifying aura, and the three trolls dropped the stones in their hands on the spot. They screamed and retreated, and they stepped on empty air and rolled down the hillside.
The golden light flashed again, and the trolls rolling on the ground opened their eyes, still seeing the head of the old spearhead with his eyes wide open. The three trolls were so scared that they almost hugged each other and huddled back, and soon they had their backs against the rock wall and could no longer retreat.
"Troll, Troll, Old Spearhead is dead." The troll named Giant Mama hid behind Troll, trembling constantly.
"Monster hunters hunt monsters, and Troll is also a monster. The demon hunter is going to hunt Troll." Troll closed his eyes in fear, but blocked the two companions behind him. "Old Spearhead has been killed, and Troll will be killed too."
Seeing the reaction of the three-headed troll, even Lann couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Old Spearhead is really useful.
Now that I'm scared enough, I can get down to business.
“哎呀，巨魔魔，你们在说什么呀？”兰恩突然笑了起来，“我是听说老矛头总是欺负你们，所以才带人过来狩猎老矛头的，我怎么可能对你们动刀剑呢？现在你们安全了，这一片地区再没有其他东西可以欺负你们了。”
说着，兰恩左手一拍老矛头的脑袋，把这颗骇人的道具收回【物品栏】。没有了头颅的震慑，三头巨魔才有胆子微微张开眼睛，听了兰恩的话之后不敢置信地重复道。
“猎魔人，杀老矛头，为了巨魔魔不被欺负？”巨魔魔似乎很难理解这句话的意思，“猎魔人，好人？”
巨麻麻也是难以置信，它偷偷地看了一眼兰恩，说道：“不对，猎魔人，说一套，做一套，偶尔还有……”
第三头巨魔突然打断，它是巨魔小队里面唯一有分析能力的：“可是，没了老矛头，确实没东西可以欺负巨魔魔了！”
这句话很有道理，巨魔魔听言瞬间开心了起来，之前的怀疑一瞬间都不复存在了：“没有东西可以欺负巨魔魔了，猎魔人，好人！”
这一连串剧烈的情绪转变过于突兀，哪怕兰恩早有心理准备，此刻也是被噎了一下。
会不会……太容易了？
“猎魔人，好人！”巨魔魔突然伸手，朝着兰恩拍过来。
这是巨魔表达友好的方式，但是实在是兰恩此刻不能够承受之重。
他眼疾手快地给自己刷了一层【昆恩法印】，当场就被打出了【爆裂之盾】的效果。三头巨魔以他为中心一起被冲击波击退了好几步，一阵惊疑不定。
“猎魔人，强壮！”巨魔魔没见过猎魔人的手段，或者哪怕它见过了估计都记不住。它还以为自己刚刚确实拍在了兰恩身上，此刻惊叹于兰恩的肉体强度，甚至竖起了大拇指。
兰恩擦了擦冷汗，强行挤出微笑，继续说道：“巨魔魔，你看我都为你杀了老矛头了，我们也算是朋友了吧？但是作为朋友，我觉得只是为你们清扫了老矛头还是不够，我想要继续帮你们的忙。”
巨魔魔惊讶地瞪大了眼睛：“猎魔人，继续帮忙？”
兰恩温和地说道：“也可能是你们帮我的忙。你们一直生活在山里面，只有石头——当然，石头都是美丽的事物。但是我有一个更多石头的地方，一个有着数不尽的石头的地方，我需要把这些石头和木头搭成桥、房子、城墙、乃至城堡。”
巨魔魔的眼睛更大了：“数不尽的石头？桥？房子？城堡？”
恍惚之间，巨魔魔体内似乎有基建之魂被唤醒了。
巨魔魔和巨魔魔之外的那头巨魔突然开始思考，不解地说道：“可是，这里也有好多石头啊。”
兰恩自信解答：“那里的石头更多，还有酒！”
“酒？！”＊3
兰恩左手一转，这次直接取出来一瓶伏特加。打开瓶塞，诱人的香味立刻就弥漫在空气中，引得三头巨魔鼻子一阵耸动。
转手将酒瓶塞进巨魔魔几乎快要不受控制的手里，兰恩左手再翻，给三头巨魔一魔一瓶各自塞了酒。
一时之间场中只剩下“咕咚咕咚”的豪饮之声。伏特加没两三个呼吸就被饮尽，巨魔魔仰面朝天狠狠地颠了颠酒瓶，发现一滴酒都倒不出来之后，索性直接把酒瓶扔进嘴里，好像嚼饼干一下“咔擦”几下吞进了肚子里面。
“猎魔人，朋友！”巨魔魔这回的声音里面满是高兴，“数不尽的石头，造桥和城堡，还有酒，巨魔魔跟你走！”
没等兰恩露出惊喜的表情，巨魔魔身后那头还不知道名字的同伴突然扯了扯它，一边嚼着嘴里的酒瓶一边含糊不清地说道：“巨魔魔，可是这里的石头怎么办？这里是巨魔魔的地盘。”
巨魔魔迟疑了。
兰恩叹息一声，知道事情不会这么容易，不过他本身就没有再节省的打算，正好一口气一起上个保险。
他再次拿出一瓶伏特加递过去：“巨魔魔，喝酒。”
“咕咚咕咚……”
“巨魔魔，我们是朋友吧？”
“当然！”巨魔魔大喊，“猎魔人，好人！朋友！”
就在巨魔魔情绪最高昂，对着猎魔人好感度最高的时候，兰恩一只手轻轻地搭在了巨魔的身上。
【随从】，契约。
幸亏自己有攒技能点的习惯，随时准备应对这种不时之需。
技能点悄无声息地抹去一个，经验值向下跳动了两位数，消耗居然不比一个忠心耿耿的随从或者对自己芳心暗许的女士多多少。
【随从：巨魔魔
性别：雄
种族：岩石巨魔
等级：1
天赋：壁垒
经验值：0／1000
生命值：8430／8600
法力值：500／500
物品栏：伏特加
技能栏：岩石血脉、快速代谢、投掷高级、建造高级
任务：无】
【共享随从天赋：壁垒】
【壁垒：生命上限增加50％】
兰恩发现自己特别喜欢这种描述简单粗暴、效果也简单粗暴的天赋。
一瞬间，他只觉得全身的肌肉开始膨胀，血液流速猛地加快起来，血管里面滚动的似乎已经变成了山崩之势的巨石，磅礴不可当。
瞟了一眼系统：【生命值：4050／4100】→【生命值：6100／6150】
好在这种感觉来得也快去得也快，紧接着兰恩就只觉得身上的肌肉重新开始收缩、放松，好似刚刚产生的力量只是幻觉。
但是兰恩知道，自己的肌肉强度已经实打实地增加了。生命值增加本身就会带来体质的提升，自己这么厚的血条多是前面的猎魔人突变和血脉觉醒带过来的，正常升级一级只附带100生命值的增强，这个天赋的共享可以说一口气给自己增加了快二十级的体质提升。
兰恩觉得自己现在真的是可以物理意义上地去跟巨魔打拳击了。
……
契约巨魔是兰恩一早就计划好的结果。哪怕巨魔魔它们同意跟兰恩走了，兰恩也还是会花费技能点去契约。
虽然和巨魔建立了交情之后，它们就会变得憨厚而老实。但是和它们建立友谊的终究是兰恩，也只是兰恩，如果带回辛特拉去，谁知道会不会因为一些误会而伤害到那里的国民——要知道巨魔再怎么憨厚，它终究是在图鉴里面被分类到【食人魔】大类里面的魔物。
所以兰恩需要给巨魔上一道保险，把他们之间的关系从“互相帮助的朋友”上升到“言听计从的从属”。也方便以后兰恩有需要的时候通过【传送】时刻把它们召唤过来当做冲锋陷阵的打手。
而在兰恩成功契约之后，巨魔魔突然觉得心中翻涌起一股从未有过的豪情。
“猎魔人，名字，告诉巨魔魔！”
兰恩挑了挑眉。确实，这还是他第一次在谈话的时候居然忘了率先自我介绍。
“我叫兰恩。”
它猛地扔掉了酒瓶，仰天大喊：
“巨魔魔，帮兰兰！地盘，不要了！！”
……
三头巨魔被兰恩暂时留在了老矛头生前居住的洞里。维瑟米尔虽然好说话，但是还没通情达理到让巨魔住进凯尔莫罕的程度。
兰恩便跟巨魔们做下约定，等到他们一行人回辛特拉的时候，再通过莫斯萨克的传送门把它们带走。临走前，兰恩还在山洞里面留下了不少的酒，足够它们开怀畅饮了。
回到城堡，第一个见到的依旧是一个鼠灰色的小小旋风。低头，希里扑进兰恩的怀里紧张地摸上摸下，担心他有没有受伤。
抬头，窗边是笑盈盈的叶奈法和特莉丝。只不过两人脸上的笑不是同一种意味。
晚餐的准备非常循序，众人围着火炉喝酒聊天。希里扑闪着水晶晶的碧眼，好奇地听着众人白天的狩猎，尤其是知道兰恩打算带三头巨魔回辛特拉的时候格外兴奋。
兰伯特一口饮尽杯中酒，朝着兰恩感叹：“我以前一直以为只有白痴才能和巨魔有着共同语言，没想到聪明人居然也能够和巨魔交流，你让我大开眼界啊。”
希里感觉这人好像在骂兰恩，立刻就瞪了过去。
兰伯特跟前一晚比起来心情大好，哈哈大笑两声根本不在意小孩子的情绪，转头朝着其他狼派的同伴拼酒去了。
莫斯萨克和维瑟米尔在则坐得很近，梳理着新学的知识：“那头首领叫做‘巨魔魔’，然后‘巨麻麻’是它的配偶。剩下的那头叫做‘巨麻麻麻’，是女儿。巨魔之间果然是存在着一定的社会化结构的，而且还是一夫一妻制……”
兰恩轻轻拍了拍希里的脑袋让她把视线从兰伯特的身上转回来，用力揉了揉。
他的注意力稍稍分散到了维瑟米尔那边，等到两位老人的讨论暂时告一段落的时候，他突然出声道：
“维瑟米尔，我想跟你说个事情，也算是征求你的意见。”
老猎魔人挑了挑眉，做出洗耳恭听的姿势。
Lan patted Ciri's head and said, "For the next period of time, I want to keep Ciri with me. One of our marshals has returned and needs to meet with Ciri to swear allegiance. I also want to go to Skellige with her to visit Uncle Easter."
The little girl's eyes lit up immediately.