Veltrest left the dark waters with his guards on horseback.
Roche followed closely behind the King. Once they were far enough from the village, he slightly quickened his pace and spoke softly.
"Your Majesty, the power of the Demon Hunter is always a hidden danger."
Earlier today, the characteristics of the Demon Hunters had already become mandatory reading for Temeria’s nobility.
Steza, though second only to the King in the kingdom, had his manor and defenses like sieves to the Demon Hunters.
No one had cared about the Demon Hunters before, primarily because of their low social status. Secondly, no one truly believed they could achieve such feats when serious.
No one could ignore a force capable of forcibly killing Count Steza.
Even across the entire continent, he’s considered a count among the nobility!
Roche never disliked the Demon Hunters from the beginning, as he himself came from humble origins.
For Lann, who chopped through Steza Manor for a group of children, he had both recognition and respect.
But ultimately, he was a ruthless patriot.
In principle, no one would dislike a hero who stands up to tyranny.
However, in reality, he couldn’t watch a single overpowered individual exist within Temeria.
But Veltrest did not have the same concerns as his subordinates did.
Even though he was the master of this country, with the information and focus he possessed clearly illustrating the disadvantages of an uncontrollable powerful warrior.
He merely rode on, expressing his thoughts without looking back.
"The times are changing, Roche. Especially quickly lately."
"Before today, everyone on this continent didn’t know that someone mastering basic magic, along with top warrior skills and qualities, could single-handedly slaughter a grand noble’s manor fortress. Because no one had ever done it!"
"Warlocks mastering magic prefer to seize power amidst court intrigues, Druids and priests distance themselves from worldly affairs, and Demon Hunters mostly adhere to a principle of neutrality, rarely entering towns."
"You’ve seen the data too, Roche. Before Lann, there were only two notorious instances of Demon Hunters slaughtering humans. Geralt of Livia, known as ’The Butcher of Bravican’... Heaven, what a wonderful time that was, dubbed a butcher just for killing seven thugs at the market. The Demon Hunter we were just drinking with, cut down over two hundred people just last night!"
"The other was known as ’Ilo’s Cat,’ whose achievement was slaughtering a small village. Interestingly, both sought to earn rewards from Yada’s curse, but one died, and one profited."
Roche listened silently.
He had always been aware of his position; he had wisdom, but not much. The role of executor suited him more than that of a schemer.
Veltrest was a wise and mighty king. When he made decisions, Roche wouldn’t interfere.
"The times have always been changing, Roche. It’s just that they’ve changed too slowly, sometimes even regressing, making people like you, who don’t have access to vast information, fail to notice it."
Veltrest continued his reflection.
"Humans have been on this continent for just over five hundred years, during which we discovered Chaos Magic Power, leading to those who mastered magic and those who were ordinary."
"Over five hundred years, these two groups have opposed and compromised with each other, creating the current situation of kings and warlocks."
"People thought historical changes ended, seemingly stabilizing. But for the kings and those who genuinely affect national operations, the pulling, compromising, disputes, and changes never cease."
"Can you believe it, Roche?"
Veltrest turned to look at his loyal warrior.
"Just four years ago, when Geralt came here to lift Yada’s curse for me, it was the first time I saw the existence of Demon Hunters. At that time, I even had to consult Triss to understand who they were."
"But now, just four years later, a Demon Hunter has done such a significant thing in Vizima!... The change of times is like the flow of the Ponta River."
After lamenting the changing times, Veltrest turned to Roche and said.
"I need you to urgently purchase a batch of antimagic gold and equip it on the Palace Guard. Also, find some rogue mages to give the soldiers some training on counter strategies. At least they should know how to deal with fireballs, lightning, and hypnosis."
"Your Majesty, the Trade Department has already urgently listed antimagic gold in military procurement supplies. Isn’t sending me a bit redundant?"
The King shook his head.
"The Trade Department is the Trade Department, but I’m not looking for large-scale stockpiling. For business negotiations, the Trade Department is useful, but you know better how a warrior gets the equipment he urgently needs."
"Understood, I’ll take care of it once I’m back."
Roche no longer argued.
As Veltrest rode, he glanced at the gentle ripples on Vizima Lake, narrowing his eyes.
"Hurry, Roche. Soon, all antimagic gold on the market won’t be at today’s price."
The rate at which antimagic gold prices increased depended on how quickly Lann’s ’Hunting Marquis’ story spread.
Lann watched the King’s entourage depart.
He led Bopai to the lakeside of Vizima Lake, preparing to give it a good wash.
This dark cloud-striding mare would occasionally nudge Lann’s chest with its head.
Alia was in the inn’s room, preparing to reattach the plate armor components Veltrest had sent over to the superior Bear School Armor.
This was merely an assembly task, and not having a blacksmith’s skills wouldn’t be an issue.
In Bopai’s saddlebag, everything was accounted for, even the missing or damaged parts had been replaced with uniformly new and expensive ones.
Lann marveled at the meticulousness of Veltrest’s Palace Steward.
He began drawing water from the lake, pouring it over Bopai.
"So why did Veltrest bring you along too?"
Lann spoke while brushing the mane, speaking to the figure nearby.
Sitting on a rock by the lake, Belengar, who had bandages wrapped around his arms, stomach, and thighs, was sipping on ’Swallow.’
It was a magic potion Lann had given him, likely because his own stock had been taken by Veltrest.
Hearing Lann’s question, he replied with a cold joke.
"Maybe because he couldn’t find my parents anymore, after all, I’m hundreds of years old."
Seeing Lann awkwardly standing while brushing the horse’s back, Belengar let out a cold chuckle before continuing.
"Alright, alright... the guy probably thought that any Demon Hunter could have skills like yours. Who dares let you into the city?"
"To be honest, little bear cub. What did your school add during your mutation to create someone like you... a Demon Hunter?"
While saying the words "Demon Hunter," Belengar’s tone carried some uncertainty.
Lann remained silent, and Belengar thought he was just safeguarding the school’s secret recipe or had a resistance due to the pain experienced during mutation.
He smiled indifferently.
After a brief silence, Lann calmly asked.
"So the money you saved up doing menial work in Vizima is all gone?"
"What else?" Unexpectedly, Belengar reacted with remarkable ease to the question.
"When I picked up the sword again for those kids, I never even dared to think about surviving. Now, being able to enjoy the breeze and sun here, I have no complaints."
"I transported those children, although unknowingly, it’s still my crime. Losing some money to wash away the guilt in my heart, that’s the real gain. I’m a Demon Hunter; as long as I don’t fight in the wild, I can live for hundreds of years, my body as strong as a young man’s... losing money is just that, losing it."
Belengar’s nonchalance differed greatly from their first meeting when Lann pinned him against the wall.
Back then, his heart was filled with resentment toward his identity as a Demon Hunter.
Perhaps it’s the experience of sacrificing oneself for a noble cause that changed him.
After smiling at him, Lann seemingly casually mentioned.
"Then earn money elsewhere, do you have an interest in... accepting my employment?"