The Witcher: Make the Witcher Great Again

Chapter 150: Both Sides Fully Exchanged Views

The night wind blew gently, carrying a distinct chill.

Lynn left the area where the prisoners were held, walking a good distance away. Bathed in the cool moonlight, he glanced back and smiled.

"Lord Regis, I didn't realize you had a bad habit of eavesdropping."

The barber-surgeon emerged from the shadows.

"Please forgive my impropriety. I simply dislike noisy environments and came out for some fresh air. But I must admit, I was curious about your early departure. However, perhaps my curiosity got the better of me. Therefore, please accept my sincerest apologies."

He bowed to the witcher.

"I accept your apology, Lord Regis. May I ask you a question?"

"Please do."

"When do you plan to reveal your true identity to us? I'm not referring to the superficial disguise of a barber-surgeon, but your deeper identity as a higher vampire."

Lynn wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.

He thought he felt the temperature suddenly drop.

But it was indeed the witcher's imagination.

Because the higher vampire's face didn't reveal any fangs.

He still maintained that gentle, benevolent smile.

"You figured it out? How did you discover it?"

Because I've read the script.

Lynn didn't answer that way.

"A barber-surgeon who dares to frequent cemeteries in the dead of night and lives alone in a remote wilderness far from human habitation is inherently suspicious."

"Of course, I have more direct evidence, like right now."

Lynn looked at the empty space beneath Regis: "You cast no shadow."

Regis chuckled.

"I thought I was well-hidden, but it seems I was discovered anyway. Witchers' observational skills are truly keen, no wonder they can become professional monster slayers roaming the world."

"So, what do you intend to do now? Hunt me, a monster, for humanity's sake? Or do you plan to spare my life and give me a chance to slink away?"

Lynn shook his head.

"No, you don't need to flee, and I won't attack you. You came to cure Duchess Anna Henrietta, and I won't drive you away."

Regis said with a hint of surprise, "I thought witchers killed monsters."

Lynn shook his head. "I can't speak for other witchers, but Geralt and I only kill monsters that harm people."

The higher vampire hesitated and asked again.

"Then aren't you worried that a higher vampire mingling among people might suddenly bare their fangs at you? Leaving clear and obvious bite marks on your necks?"

The witcher countered, "Haven't you refrained from drinking blood for many years?"

This time, Regis was truly astonished.

"You know that too? You..."

He scrutinized the witcher from head to toe.

"You look no older than sixteen at most, and witchers can only delay aging, not freely change their appearance like sorcerers."

"You don't have pointed ears or a big beard, so you can't be an elf or a dwarf."

"You... could you be one of my kind?"

"But it's strange, I don't smell blood on you."

"Are you also part of the abstinent faction?"

Seeing Regis drift further and further down the wrong path, Lynn smiled and offered an explanation.

"I am not a higher vampire, Lord Regis. As you can see, I am a genuine witcher."

He paused, then continued, "However, I know many things. You can consider me a prophet."

Even Regis, who usually presented himself as wise, was a bit taken aback this time.

He couldn't help but impolitely show a "you've got to be kidding me" expression.

Lynn knew the other wouldn't believe him.

After all, he was truly too young.

But it didn't matter.

"You have two of your kind here in Toussaint right now. To be more precise, they're in Beauclair, Toussaint's capital."

"One of them... let me think, what was her name? Oh, I remember, Orianna, a noblewoman with a peculiar collection hobby."

"And another, his name is Dettlaff."

"Am I right, Lord Regis?"

The higher vampire bowed.

"What an honor it is to meet a prophet among witchers."

Lynn put a hand to his lips and smiled slightly: "Keep it discreet, Lord Regis. I don't want to draw attention."

"You and Dettlaff are both part of the abstinent faction, so I naturally won't treat you as monsters."

"Although Orianna is a blood-drinker, she only feeds on the blood of the orphans she takes in. Without her care, those children would have long since died festering in some dirty ditch, and she has never bled anyone dry."

"Perhaps in the eyes of fundamentalists, Orianna is still a monster that feeds on human blood, a divergent being with ill intent, but in this rotten world, she's not even that bad."

"All in all, I'm glad there are no more secrets between us now. However, I think it would be best for you to find time soon to talk to Geralt. He doesn't like being kept in the dark."

The next day, everyone went their separate ways.

Palmarin, Milton, and Reynard were to set off for Novigrad.

They were actually just one of several teams.

After all, they were going to do something unsavory, so a large group wouldn't be able to move together.

Therefore, Regent Count Raymonde had divided the ranger-knights into many small teams and sent them in batches from the Theodora Pass and the Mount Gorgon Valley to the North.

Before they departed, Lynn gave them a piece of advice:

Once they reached Novigrad, they shouldn't act rashly.

They should first go to his villa in the Upper City.

If he managed to cure the Duchess's illness, he could use the speak-box to send a message to Triss, who could then relay the message to them via a portal.

Lynn didn't want them to do anything foolish, but he couldn't directly stop them, so he could only try his best to delay them this way.

Massimo really wanted to act with his knight brothers.

But he couldn't.

He had to take Lynn and the others to Beauclair to meet the Duchess. This was his promise, and he couldn't break it.

Damien had originally planned to assign them a squad of soldiers, but Lynn politely declined.

Toussaint's armed forces were barely sufficient as it was, and now with the ranger-knights heading to Novigrad, the Duchy's security would have to rely solely on the Ducal Guard.

Having Massimo lead the way was already enough.

So, the group left the pass and headed towards Beauclair, the capital of Toussaint.

Last night, Lynn had suggested to Regis that he should inform Geralt of his identity as soon as possible.

Regis readily agreed.

During their midday camp, he took Geralt into the small forest.

Not long after, a heated argument erupted from the forest.

Lynn listened intently.

He noticed that although the argument grew more intense, thankfully there were no explosions from alchemical bombs or Igni signs, nor sounds of silver swords clashing with claws.

This indicated that the situation wasn't too bad.

Massimo had intended to go and check.

But Lynn stopped him.

Soon, the two returned.

The difference was that the higher vampire looked completely normal, still maintaining his polite demeanor.

Geralt's face, however, was as dark as the weather in Velen.

"You knew all along? You've always known we were with a..." The White Wolf's aggressive questioning suddenly stopped.

He looked at Massimo hesitantly.

The ranger-knight was also looking at the White Wolf.

But soon, Massimo seemed to understand something. While muttering to himself, "Ah, look, what a perfectly shaped fir tree, just like a Toussaintois, full of excellent character," he walked away.

Geralt breathed a sigh of relief.

He was about to resume his questioning, but before he could even open his mouth, he was cut off by Lynn's smile.

"It seems you've fully exchanged views in a cordial and friendly atmosphere."

Regis also smiled and said, "Indeed."

Geralt bristled, "Whose side are you on, Lynn?"

"I always stand only on the side of truth."

He knew Geralt would react this way.

That's why he told the higher vampire to speak up sooner.

The longer it dragged on, the longer Geralt would be angry.

"Geralt, Regis is of the abstinent faction. Are you going to draw your sword?"

"He indeed doesn't have that disgusting scent of blood on him, so no, I won't draw my sword."

Lynn spread his hands.

"Then that settles it. So, we're all good friends again."

Geralt nearly choked: "You... don't you have any reservations at all?"

Lynn's forehead was covered in question marks.

"Why should I have reservations? Just because he's a higher vampire? Geralt, looking out a dirty window will only show you a dirty world."

Geralt was silenced: "You always have a point, anyway."

"Don't get emotional so easily from now on," Lynn patted Geralt's shoulder and, drawing upon lessons from his previous life, said earnestly, "It's acceptable to have emotions towards Comrade Regis, but don't let it affect your work. You must learn to hold yourself to high standards."

Geralt didn't react until they had already set off.

"Wait a minute, why are you lecturing me now?"

....

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