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TWL Chapter 446: The Lion Moves in Silence
🕑 Added 2025-06-08 04:51:36 +0000 UTCWhen Lann left Kiyan behind in Novigrad, he gave him two instructions: First, to take on contracts in the most prosperous city of the North
When Lann left Kiyan behind in Novigrad, he gave him two instructions:
First, to take on contracts in the most prosperous city of the North and, in cooperation with the local opera troupe, help spread a good reputation—to improve the public image of witchers.
Second, to use Lann’s memories from his past life and have Kiyan visit all sorts of non-human races and intelligent monsters in Novigrad, with the goal of eventually bringing them into Cintra’s fold.
After all, Novigrad was a bustling trade city-state that operated largely independent of political authority—an ideal place to keep people hidden.
Lann reflected on the reports Kiyan had sent back.
Dopplers and succubus were already known to him—nothing surprising there. But 'Oneiromancers' were a different story. In his past life’s game, they were a special, magic-related profession.
Much like the 'psionics' who had recently arrived from Nilfgaard with mind-reading abilities, Oneiromancers were another type of people shaped by chaotic energy.
Although they hadn’t developed spellcasting powers under the influence of this chaos, they possessed an early-stage magical trait—prophecy. Oneiromancers could receive metaphoric visions from their dreams, enabling them to foresee parts of the future.
“You didn’t kill all of them, did you?” Lann asked cautiously, watching the overly excited Kiyan.
Kiyan gave him a baffled, helpless expression.
“Didn’t you specifically tell me to always understand the full story before taking action? That’s been seriously hurting my efficiency on contracts,” Kiyan complained. “Lann, I’m telling you, witchers aren’t supposed to care about all this nonsense. We do whatever the client says.”
“If we know how much we’re getting paid, where we’re going, and who needs killing—that’s enough!”
Lann shook his head. “That’s not how future witchers will operate.”
Kiyan muttered something under his breath about 'griffin instincts' before resigning with a sigh, “Fine, you’re the one running the order now, so whatever you say goes.”
“All the ones I mentioned—I didn’t kill. The doppler I met was just a thief, and the succubus had taken up a side gig in a local brothel. I let them both go. As for the Oneiromancer, there was no way I was going to kill her. I figured she’d be your type~”
Lann nodded approvingly. “Did you try making contact with them?”
“What do you think a doppler or a succubus would do when they see a Cat School witcher?” Kiyan shot back. “As for the Oneiromancer, she’s doing just fine in Novigrad—actually, she’s kind of wealthy. If we want to recruit them, it’ll probably take you—the Lion of Cintra—showing up in person.”
Lann understood. Looks like he’d need to pay Novigrad a visit himself.
In any case, he needed to discuss Redania’s political situation with Chappelle. While he was there, visiting a few unusual talents wouldn’t hurt.
“So, did you run into anything especially difficult over there? Any contracts you couldn’t complete?”
“Couldn’t complete?” Kiyan cried dramatically. “Ever since you used Elder Blood to heal me, I’ve become ridiculously strong! And while I was working in Novigrad, I could feel myself getting stronger by the day.”
The Cat School witcher brimmed with confidence. “No offense, but right now, the only people in the entire order who could definitely beat me are those two senior Griffin School guys you used to train with!”
He meant Jerome and Keldar.
But Lann chuckled softly. “You sure it’s just those two? What about Vesemir, Letho, or Gerd? And have you actually fought Geralt and the others yet?”
Kiyan, who had just been brimming with confidence, suddenly faltered.
“Focus,” Lann reminded him.
Kiyan calmed down and mentally reviewed his recent experiences.
“To be honest, there wasn’t anything I couldn’t finish. I’ve even killed vampires and ekimmaras. At most… there was one contract I just refused to complete…”
He paused to think. “That one actually came from Chappelle himself. He said there was a place just outside Novigrad called the Devil’s Pit. It used to be a quarantine zone for plague victims and those with contagious diseases. So many people died there that it supposedly became haunted, and he wanted me to go clean it up.”
"I'm not going there... What if there's still bacteria or remnants of a plague? That’s not something you can solve with a sword or a Sign..."
But Lann’s eyes suddenly lit up.
This was precisely one of the powers he hoped to gather.
Within this so-called Devil’s Pit was a powerful potential ally he could recruit, as well as a major boost for witcher strength—second only to the Second Mutation itself.
After a moment of thought, Lann decided to bring some help along.
...
“Is Vesemir around?”
At the new headquarters of the Witcher Order, a vast construction site was beginning to take shape under the hands of architects and laborers—a foundation for what would become a grand future stronghold.
Eskel was overseeing the work nearby. Hearing the question, he turned around and spotted Lann.
“How’s your day going, Grand Master?” the Wolf School witcher chuckled. The scars on his face gave his smile a kind of rugged charm.
Workers nearby, upon seeing Lann, all gave respectful nods. Lann returned the gesture and offered a few words of encouragement, chatted briefly with the overseer, and only then answered Eskel.
“Don’t call me that. Any one of you knows more about witchers than I do,” Lann said, shaking his head.
Eskel shrugged. “Then what can I do for His Grace the Duke?”
Lann let out a sigh at the sarcastic jab. “For a moment there, I thought I was talking to Lambert.”
Eskel laughed and took a playful punch from Lann on the shoulder. Clearly, he had been in good spirits ever since the order’s reconstruction began.
“I’m looking for Vesemir—or rather, all of the Wolf School members,” Lann said seriously. “Where are they?”
“Lambert’s off drinking with his Cat School buddy. Honestly, I think he’s considering switching factions.” Eskel grinned and shrugged. “As for Geralt and Yennefer... who knows. Once those two are together, they vanish for ages.”
“Vesemir’s in a similar situation,” Eskel added with a sly smile. “You know, Lady Mignole is planning to settle down in Cintra.”
“Oh?” Lann blinked.
He actually knew about this already.
After all, Lady Mignole was still a countess. A few days ago, a herald had informed him of her arrival at the border.
But reportedly, the countess had wanted to handle some private matters and purchase a residence in Cintra before meeting him. Lann had been too busy and completely forgotten about it.
Now it seemed she was the busier one.
“She was planning to meet you first,” Eskel remarked wistfully. “But from the looks of it…”
Lann gave a small laugh. “Seems like I won’t be able to avoid that meeting after all.”
Looking at it now, Eskel might be the only Wolf School member still diligently working to support the witcher cause.
“So what do you need us for?” Eskel asked.
Lann smiled. “I’ve found signs of a missing Wolf School member. But he’s in some danger. I think you’ll want to be part of the rescue.”
...
As the largest trade city in the North, Novigrad had long-established long-distance teleportation arrays.
But witchers typically avoided such long-range travel. Fortunately, when Lann first awakened his Teleport skill, he’d marked Chappelle with a tracking rune.
With a flash of several glowing motes, six witchers landed atop the Temple Isle of the Eternal Fire.
Lann, Vesemir, Geralt, Eskel, Lambert, and Kiyan.
And in addition, there was Yennefer—who had come along at Lann’s suggestion and at Geralt’s insistence.
When Triss found out that Lann wanted a sorceress to accompany them, she had also wanted to come. But Yennefer’s departure already left Mousesack one mage short, and the pressure on magical research had skyrocketed.
In the end, Triss had to give up.
“Lann! And Kiyan’s back too! And Geralt!”
In the Eternal Fire’s council chamber, the doppler Chappelle welcomed Lann with a warm embrace. At Lann’s introduction, he then greeted the rest of the Wolf School witchers, whom he was meeting for the first time.
Geralt had actually met Chappelle once before, even earlier than Lann had, so they were at least vaguely familiar with each other.
“Relations between Cintra and Vizimir II have been tense lately,” Lann cautioned Chappelle. “Please keep our whereabouts confidential for now.”
The Eternal Fire’s regent—whose true form was that of a doppler—nodded solemnly.
“There will be major upheaval in Redania soon. I’ll explain the details to you later,” Lann added, gesturing toward the Wolf School witchers behind him. “But for now, there’s something we need to take care of first.”
Chappelle listened intently, but his expression gradually turned puzzled.
Wait a minute... according to the rumors, the Devil’s Pit only housed a single wraith. So why bring such a large force all the way from Cintra?
What kind of wraith would require six witchers—including the Lion of the North himself—and a sorceress? Did it pose a threat to all of Redania?
Once Lann finished explaining the truth, Chappelle fell silent.
