Chapter 76: How Can You Do Good Politics With a Sorceress Like This?
Triss took a sip and set down her wine glass.
A pair of eyes as beautiful as sparkling gems kept appraising the witcher.
"You're much younger and much more handsome than I imagined. You should... have only just finished the witcher trials not long ago, right?"
Her tone was tactful.
She was clearly trying to avoid offending the witcher as much as possible.
Lynn, on the other hand, frankly admitted directly.
"Yes, Madam, this is my first year starting my witcher career. Also, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask a question first."
Triss grinned, finding the handsome young witcher somewhat endearing. "Getting straight to the point—is that your personality, or are all witchers like this?"
Lynn thought for a moment and said, "I think it's probably my personality. I'm used to taking care of business first."
"Since you put it that way." Triss crossed one leg, encased in a high-heeled boot that accentuated the curves of her long leg, over the knee of the other.
"Lord Vimme Vivaldi should have already told you my identity, right? After all, I didn't ask him to keep it a secret."
Lynn nodded, looking directly into the sorceress's eyes. "Yes, Lord Vimme indeed didn't conceal your identity."
"Then you know who I am."
"Compared to the identity of a royal advisor of Temeria, this house is indeed a bit shabby."
The smile on Triss's face widened.
She put down her leg that was resting on her knee, sat up straight again, and deliberately leaned back,
placing her hands behind her head, displaying the dangerously alluring curves of her chest.
She didn't ask what question Lynn wanted to ask.
Of course, she could probably guess one or two things.
However, she didn't continue down Lynn's line of thought.
Instead, she posed a question to him.
"A royal advisor of Temeria appearing in a neutral, free city—young witcher, what do you think is the reason?"
Lynn rubbed his chin and said, "Well, it certainly can't be to seize Novigrad."
Triss chuckled.
"Why would you think that?"
Lynn said very seriously, "If King Foltest of Temeria really wanted to control Novigrad, he should have sent an intelligence chief to this free city, not a royal advisor."
Actually, there was one more sentence Lynn didn't say.
That was—
It wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, but almost all sorceresses had failing grades in politics.
Including the ambitious Philippa Eilhart and Keira Metz, who was also a royal advisor alongside Triss.
The only exception was Francesca Findabair, one of the five core members of the "Chapter of Gifted and Talented" within the Lodge of Sorceresses.
This sorceress's political acumen could rival that of Queen Calanthe of Cintra and Queen Meve of Lyria and Rivia.
As for the other sorceresses...
Especially Philippa Eilhart.
She was a typical example of someone with more ambition than brains.
This woman would not only be inextricably linked to the death of King Vizimir the Just of Redania in the future,
but also to the deaths of King Demavend of Aedirn and King Foltest of Temeria.
Although Philippa actually only hoped to use a regicide to eliminate King Demavend of Aedirn.
This way, Aedirn would fall into chaos, and she could then seize the opportunity to establish a state controlled by sorceresses in Aedirn.
However, what Philippa didn't expect was that the regicide had deceived her.
He wasn't the muscle-headed tool she thought he was.
He not only assassinated King Demavend but also used the funds and assistance provided by the Conclave of Sorceresses to assassinate King Foltest.
Philippa subjectively didn't want King Foltest to die, but she indirectly contributed to his death and the collapse of the Northern situation.
Ultimately achieving a lose-lose situation for both the North and the sorceresses.
Honestly, being able to mess things up this badly was a talent in itself.
Anyone else, with even a little bit of sense, wouldn't have done this.
What was even more incredible was that even in The Witcher 3, with her eyes gouged out, Philippa still hadn't changed her ways.
She actually tried to meddle in the Nilfgaardian court.
It could only be said that she brought it upon herself.
Triss looked at Lynn with some surprise.
Lynn's answer was somewhat unexpected.
Generally speaking, warriors like witchers, with their limited understanding, usually couldn't distinguish between a royal advisor and an intelligence chief.
But with just that one sentence, Lynn had already shown that he was different from ordinary people.
He truly understood politics.
Indeed, if King Foltest needed to contend for control of Novigrad, he wouldn't send a royal advisor but an intelligence chief.
To say that Triss was good at conjuring fireballs with her bare hands was true.
But if you asked her to establish an intelligence network and a spy network, then forget it.
As a royal advisor, she wasn't actually able to participate in all major military and state affairs. All she could provide to King Foltest was magical services and assistance.
Triss sat up straight again, abandoning her previous teasing posture, and said seriously.
"You're right, in that case, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. The reason I wanted to see you is indeed because I have a contract here that requires hiring a witcher."
Lynn nodded slightly. "Then, what do you need me to do?"
A dangerous word escaped the sorceress's cherry lips: "I need you to accompany me to investigate a disappearance case."
"Disappearance?" Lynn frowned. "Please tell me more details."
"Certainly," Triss paused and said, "First, do you know Brokilon?"
Lynn began to recall the content he had seen in the Kaer Morhen library.
"I know. Brokilon Forest is a vast primeval forest surrounded by the kingdoms of Cintra, Brugge, Sodden, Verden, Kaerak, Cidaris, and Temeria."
"It is inhabited by dryads, pixies, sylvans, and various other creatures, but for humans, Brokilon is very dangerous."
"The only stroke of luck is that the dryads living in Brokilon usually shoot two to three arrows as a warning before killing humans who stray into the forest."
"Wait, the disappearance case you're talking about, it can't be that someone disappeared in Brokilon Forest, right?"
"If that's the case, then I can only regretfully decline."
Women were okay.
But if it was a man who disappeared in that forest, he could basically be considered dead.
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