The next day.
The study in the lord's mansion in Brochilon Town.
Lann sat behind the desk, with House and Milva standing beside him. In front of him sat the old butler Ens and the servant Levin.
Levin Brot, who was born in Brokilon, had not been with Lann since he went to Skellige. This attendant had strong diplomatic and domestic skills, so Lann left him in his hometown to help Ens for training.
At this moment, Levin, who had been working with the old butler for a long time, was reporting to his sworn master.
"Ms. Yuna has been integrating the work of the blacksmiths since arriving in Cintra. Yesterday, after receiving the armor you brought back from Mahakam, she has been counting the quantity, verifying the quality, and adjusting the size of some armors. It is expected that the preliminary work will be completed in three days and the soldiers can start training in uniform."
"During this period, I have tried to communicate with the ladies of Brokilon Forest. They still rejected the proposal to share the Brokilon Spring to treat the wounded, and refused to send archers to supplement the troops. Currently, they only accept a few people, including you, to receive treatment when they are injured."
Lann rubbed his head and said, "Forget it. After the dryads left the forest, their small number can only play a limited role on the battlefield. With the druids in the Oak Land and the field doctors in the Bull Castle, the treatment of the wounded is more or less guaranteed."
"When I have time later, I will go talk to Esna in person."
The old butler Ens, listening to Levin's well-reasoned report, nodded slightly in his heart.
"Where are my 'lion group' members? Have you followed up on their recent situation?" Lan asked immediately.
Levin, who was also a member of the lion group, was well prepared: "House and Milva, and Bill, who you subjugated from Skellige, the three of them have been following you, sir, needless to say..."
The two servants standing behind Lann heard the slight envy in Levin's words and raised their eyebrows proudly.
"Ms. Alice has been accompanying Her Royal Highness the Princess for some time, teaching Her Royal Highness art courses while continuing to paint. In addition to artworks, she has produced a large number of posters and illustrations, which have been placed and posted all over the town according to your instructions. The generals who go out to fight also carry at least one poster with them."
"Those... trolls have been helping with city defense and building construction since they came to Cintra, which has increased our efficiency several times. However, sometimes there are some minor conflicts due to 'communication', but they are all under control, as you have seen yesterday, sir."
"When 'Lady' Nanomi first came, she caused a stir among the townspeople. After all, her race is rather special. The Wolf Faction's Demon Hunter Master paid attention to her for a while, and then personally announced to the people that she was harmless. However, this lady likes to run deep into the Brokilon Forest. Recently, I heard that she passed through the forest and headed towards Soden. She seemed to be exploring some elf cemetery..."
"The above are the members of the pride in Cintra."
"Mr. Kaiyan in Novigrad often sends back letters saying that he has made a lot of friends. Judging from the news that Mr. Zoltan brings back from time to time, Mr. Kaiyan has become a little famous in Novigrad."
"When Ace first arrived in Aretuza, he communicated with us through Ms. Triss. But recently he started writing letters, and it seems that his life has improved a lot. Those letters are just one-way reports to you, and we dare not read them."
Lan nodded and picked up the letter that Ace had sent back from Aretusa from his right hand. He was the farthest chess piece that Lan arranged and was in the most dangerous situation. But he had always completed his tasks well and was also the attendant who had provided Lan with the most experience.
God knows how he did it.
The second is Kaiyan, a cat-faction demon hunter in Novigrad. He used the power of the system to cure the other party's cat-faction ancestral madness. Coupled with the publicity campaign helped by a drama troupe, a lot of good reputation has indeed spread from Novigrad, the "capital of background".
Although it was a drop in the bucket, it still injected a bit of positive energy into the messy reputation of the demon hunters. The experience that Kaiyan provided to Lan was second only to Ace.
Next is the female night demon Nanomi. She doesn't like to fight and likes the forest as her home. Her living habits unexpectedly make her get along well with the tree spirits. Some of the tasks she receives also look very strange...
I just don't know why she is looking for the elf cemetery. Lan En thought about it and didn't pay attention to it. An old woman who is thousands of years old can take care of herself. With the constraints of the system, there is no need to worry about the other party doing something bad to herself.
Alice stayed in Brokilon before Lann left for Mahakam. On the one hand, it allowed her to spend more time with Ciri; on the other hand, as the only soul in the painting on the continent, she could also provide solid protection for Ciri who had been exposed.
There is no need to elaborate on characters like the ice giant Jotun and the red dragon Keltulis.
And Svanrej is the most special. Although Lann took him in as his [servant] in order to save his life, it would have a bad impact if it were made public. The outside world only thought that Lann really used the magical power of the ancient blood to save this relative.
Lann tapped the tabletop with his index finger knuckles, thought for a moment, and then ordered, "A group of soldiers will come from Mahakam later. You must make good arrangements for them. When the next group of merchants goes to Mahakam, bring a few paintings by Alice with them as gifts."
"Yes." Levin immediately recorded Lann's instructions.
"Don't be nervous." Looking at the servant's serious expression, Lann couldn't help but smile, "Well done, Levin."
The affirmation of the Lord of Oaths made the young man excited. As the grandson of the mayor of a small town on the border of Sintra, he never thought that his life would be like this.
Before Lann could say anything else, he suddenly heard a noise coming from the corridor outside the door.
Then he heard someone suppressing his excitement and whispering "Your Majesty".
"Lan, can I come in?" A steady voice came from behind the door.
Hearing the familiar voice, a heartfelt smile immediately appeared on Lan's face.
"certainly."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stood up from his chair. The old butler Ens had already walked forward and opened the door, revealing a fully armed man who seemed to have just been fighting against the waves on the boat.
Outside and inside the door, all the people of Cintra could not help but salute the man and shout:
"His Majesty."
Because he is the husband of the Queen of Cintra, the lover of the lioness, the former king of Cintra, and the man who now sits on the throne of Skellige again - Ester Tursek.
All the people of Cintra have mixed feelings towards him.
In fact, from a strict legal point of view, as Calanthe's husband, Ester also has the right to inherit Cintra, even though he is a foreigner. Many small countries on the continent have been usurped in this way.
Historically, the kings of great powers would always send their second sons and daughters abroad for marriage, and then the marriage partners of those children would unexpectedly "die of illness". It was not uncommon for the great power to gain a new vassal state.
It's just that Easter is not a person obsessed with power. In order to prevent chaos within Cintra, he had long since given up this power.
At this moment, the man on the sea hugged Lann with relief, and then looked at the people of Cintra in the room, feeling filled with emotion.
"It's been a long time since we last met, everyone. Some of you I've been with before, and many of you are new faces. I'm very grateful for your continued struggle. My love knows your loyalty above the sky where the three lion flags are flying, and I will definitely bless you."
"But I am no longer the king of Cintra. I am not qualified to lead the lions." East patted Lann's shoulder. "You can bow to me. After all, it is a courtesy. But your spine can only bend to the blood of my love. Only..."
The hand that East was pressing on Lan's shoulder suddenly paused, and then he couldn't help laughing: "... Only two people can bear this honor. Only the male lion, and the lion cub."
The originally solemn atmosphere in the room became much more relaxed due to East's liveliness.
In fact, he didn't need to emphasize too much. Although the Cintra people's reverence for Easter had not diminished, when he stood with Lann, everyone would still pour more loyalty to Lann.
However, with his statement, the people of Cintra felt a lot more at ease.
"Uncle, when did you come? Is the battle going well on the front line?" Lann greeted East with a smile, "Why did you come...wait a minute."
Lann suddenly remembered something and tapped his head in annoyance: "Is everyone here, waiting for me?"
Easter nodded and chuckled, "Yes, I just came back through the portal in Mossak to prepare for the meeting. Everyone else is already in the conference room."
"I'm too lazy to sit down and then stand up again, so I'll just be a herald for a while and come find you."
"Everyone is waiting for you - the Lion of Cintra."
There was infinite emotion in those words.
Lann hurriedly followed Easter out, walked through the corridor, and came to the largest reception room in the mansion.
…
The reception room of the lord's mansion had long been transformed into a military conference hall by Mossak and Marshal Visekid. A huge stone table was placed in the center of the hall, and on it was an exquisitely crafted map sand table, marking the current situation in the North.
War chess pieces carved in the style of the coats of arms of various countries were scattered on the sand table, and there were whispers of discussion around the long table.
When the door opened and the figures of East and Lan appeared, the atmosphere in the entire hall suddenly became solemn, and everyone turned around. No matter who they were or what position they came from, they had to salute and greet Lan at this moment.
"—Lord Lannister."
The sound echoed in the hall.
There was only one exception.
Ciri was sitting in the main seat surrounded by the stars, smiling at Lan. She restrained herself from running over as usual, and raised her chin slightly:
"Lane, come to my side."
So Lan strode forward and stood in the main seat with Ciri under everyone's proper gaze.
This made Easter's eyes blurry, the two people there reminded him of his past with Calanthe.
No matter how others felt at the moment, Lann looked around the stone table, looking at the power he had collected during this period of time -
Among them were his most staunch supporters, the Cintrians. The representatives attending the meeting were Mossak, Ens, Marshal Vissekid, and several deputy generals led by the Marshal.
The Skelligers were as steadfast as the Cintrians. Their representatives were Easter, Kratz who came with Easter, the blacksmith Yuna who heard about the war meeting and came to listen, and the druid masters from the Oak Ring of the Archipelago. The patriarchs of the other archipelago families were still fighting on the front lines.
There were also witchers and warlocks. There was only Cohen from the Griffin School, and only Gerd from the Bear School. Letho and Kolgrim from the Snake School came, and Vesemir and Geralt from the Wolf School were the representatives. The only warlocks were Triss and Yennefer, and they were all here.
Finally, there was the Dwarven Volunteer Army, represented by Yarpan, Gabor, and Petrit, but they all stood obediently behind Colonel Barclay the Dwarf, who had just passed through the portal to attend the meeting.
Of course, there are other forces that have not yet arrived but can also be counted in. Lann calculated in his mind, such as the Free Corps from Kovir and the United Kingdom that he had just parted with.
"Well then." Lann's dark golden lion eyes swept over these people, and everyone responded to his gaze with various emotions.
As he took a breath and lifted it up from his chest, his voice involuntarily became steady and majestic.
"Let's get started."
…
Adar eep Darcy's arms were bent behind his back at an almost extreme angle.
His last memory was seeing the Lion of Cintra outside of Rivia, and he never regained consciousness for some time afterwards.
The strange magic skills mastered by the lion and the herbs made by the witcher with amber snake eyes worked together on his body, leaving him with no chance to think.
Now there were finally no herbs or spells to cast on him, but the severe pain was lingering on him all the time. A man and a woman, rude guards in armor, bent his arm almost to the point of dislocation and dragged him forward.
Although it was painful, Duke Darcy felt relieved. He knew that it was time for Cintra to need him. His future fate would depend on his performance.
Acting is the area in which he excels as he is well versed in political schemes.
His brain, which had not been working for a long time, began to work quickly, but before Duke Darcy could finalize his plan, the two guards took him into a hall and threw him to the ground.
Duke Darcy raised his head with difficulty, but the two guards did not give him the right to look around freely. He was soon roughly held by the neck and his gaze was diverted.
Right in front of them, as expected, stood the lion of Cintra, and the lion cub that the whole of Nilfgaard was looking for - Cirilla Fiona Iren Rayann.