NOVEL WEB Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Chapter 16: The Perfect Balance of Morality and Utility
As Elder Allen led Lan out of the tavern in Oreton, the rain had finally ceased, though the heavy clouds still hung low in the sky. Allen's face looked grim, as though he had just lost everything at a gambling table. Yet, when he turned to face Lan, he immediately adopted a cordial and eager demeanor.
It was a contradictory feeling.
The village wasn't large; it took only a few steps to reach their destination. It was a house that was slightly better than the average in the village. The wooden stakes forming the foundation were higher, keeping it further from the damp surface of the water, and the walls of the wooden house were visibly sturdier than those of the surrounding homes. This was the elder's residence.
However, to be honest, Lan had little expectation.
"This is my home. We can add another bed inside, and you can rest here from now on," Elder Allen said, opening the door and inviting Lan in.
The interior matched Lan's expectations. There were just two connected rooms: one served as a living room and bedroom, and the other as a kitchen and storage area. The so-called bed was merely a heap of straw mixed with rags and cotton, covered with a slightly more intact piece of cloth serving as a sheet. This was already the bed used by the elder and his wife; the additional bed he mentioned wouldn't be any better than this.
Had Lan just arrived in Velen a short while ago, he might have found it inconceivable to rest on such a "bed." But now, after surveying the humble surroundings with his cat-like eyes, he nodded in acceptance.
It was simple, but at least it was clean. Fresh, vibrant flower garlands hung from the wooden walls, representing the faith in the goddess Melitele. This also indicated that the lady of the house was a diligent and caring individual.
What more could one ask for in Velen?
Earlier in the tavern, Lan had reached an agreement with Elder Allen. In the name of the so-called "sacred traditions" of the witchers, the Bear School would provide compensation. However, Lan patted his tattered cotton armor, indicating that monetary compensation was unlikely; everyone was struggling these days. But he had no issue putting in some hard work.
Oreton was a fishing village, and the entire village relied on the nearby lake for their income. The noble class hosted chariot races here merely to utilize the location, and it was impossible for villagers to take advantage of the opportunity to sell goods to the nobles or receive financial assistance. To make a living, they had to labor.
But the harsh ecological environment of Velen meant that the lake was home not only to sellable fish but also to man-eating drowners and water hags. These monsters severely limited the fishermen's working areas and hours. For instance, fishing at night was akin to feeding the monsters, which directly restricted the village's income.
Typically, there weren't frequent fatalities, and with the current scale of their fishing grounds, the villagers could barely avoid starvation, so they didn't feel the need to hire a witcher to deal with the monsters.
However, Lan's arrival brought a turning point to the situation.
Earlier in the tavern, his glowing cat eyes had calmly met Elder Allen's gaze.
"You're a rare knowledgeable person in this village," Lan began with a compliment before continuing. "According to market prices, a drowner's right ear is worth three Orens, and the head of a water hag is worth five. Do you agree?"
With his pipe clenched between his teeth, Elder Allen's murky gaze suddenly became shrewd, instinctively wanting to negotiate a lower price. Nobles cared about prestige, the church valued piety, and everyone cared about money. This saying was practically a universal truth. Haggling over prices had become second nature.
But when Elder Allen cast another glance at Lan's glowing eyes, the certainty and calmness within made him hesitate to play tricks. He could only nod, stunned.
"You're right, master. But… how does this relate to what you called 'compensation'?"
"Of course it's related!" Without letting the village elder finish, Lan cut him off bluntly. "The Grandmaster sent me to provide compensation, which is 'discounted hunting'. During this time, you'll cover my food and lodging, and my hunting results will only charge one-third of the market price. A drowner will cost one Oren, and a water hag one and a half. Think about it, elder, one-third of the cost…" Lan's tone was calm to the point of being cold, yet it somehow sounded enticing to Elder Allen. In this process, Lan hadn't even used any magic; he simply spoke.
"In less than two months, your village's fishing grounds could double in size. And if luck is on your side, you might even find a few drowner nests and clear them out. With the expanded fishing grounds, you could sustain yourselves for three to four years—think of how much that would be worth!"
"Gulp—" Not just Elder Allen, but every fisherman in the tavern felt the temptation of doubling their fishing grounds was too great; their eyes grew wide with greed.
"And all this can be achieved as long as you meet the conditions to receive the 'compensation.'"
"What conditions?!" "No change to the price for killing monsters, and we can negotiate!" The onlookers didn't even wait for the elder to speak before eagerly asking questions.
Lan turned to them, and even under the dim glow of his amber cat eyes, the villagers were filled with excitement.
"My one-third hunting fee must be paid upfront, no delays or deductions. Also, your village must ensure the livelihood of the two victimized families." Lan shrugged as if it were of little consequence.
"After all, the so-called 'compensation' is largely for the families of those two victims; your village is just a bystander in this."
This simple request wasn't even close to being a problem. The upfront payment he demanded put a bit of pressure on the village's already strained cash flow.
This was also why Elder Allen had a long face when Lan couldn't see him. But under Elder Allen's authority, it wouldn't be an issue for every household to scrape together something; after all, if the fishing grounds expanded, the entire village would benefit.
Thus, the agreement was smoothly reached, and Elder Allen even expressed gratitude and respect for the generous compensation from the witcher master by inviting him to stay at his home. This would serve as Lan's residence and dining place for the time being. Elder Allen went out to fetch some straw for bedding, while his wife was reportedly nearby picking raspberries and berries to supplement their food.
Inside this clean little house, only Lan and Mentos remained. Just as he thought of this, a neutral voice echoed in his mind.
"I must admit, sir. A first-rate merchant creates demand. Safe practice targets, stable provisions for food and shelter, and income… regardless of whether your plan is motivated by morality or utility, in terms of results, you've gained far more than I could have devised."
"Yes that's right," the young man replied modestly with a smile.
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