Witcher: The Half Elf

"This is a valuable opportunity, Wayne," Tissaia began, her voice measured and persuasive.

"You must often face the burden of the witchers' tarnished reputation among the populace.

"Currently, many nobles and kings in the North are deeply troubled by the proliferation of these monsters. Common folk urgently need the expertise of professional witchers to safeguard their lives.

"Due to the limited number of active witchers, a new mercenary profession called 'Monster Hunter' has emerged. However, most of these ordinary warriors fall victim to the monsters they face, or worse, they are turned into abominations themselves by the necromantic magic wielded by otherworldly creatures."

Tissaia's gaze sharpened, her tone emphasizing the gravity of the situation. "If your newly established Order of Witchers were to take on this critical role, the people would undoubtedly come to understand that the negative perception of your kind was nothing more than a misunderstanding.

"Your order could win the trust and support of the North, allowing the witcher profession to reclaim its former respect and glory."

As the dinner approached its conclusion, Tissaia made her intentions unmistakably clear.

"Regaining respect," she added, her words deliberate.

For many old-school witchers like Vesemir, this was an enticing proposal.

Wayne listened attentively, his thoughts racing. The situation, as Tissaia described, aligned with the information gathered by the Wayne Chamber of Commerce. Across the North, the chaos caused by otherworldly monsters was growing steadily. While it hadn't yet escalated into full-scale societal collapse, it was already disrupting the lives of ordinary people.

In walled cities, the impact was somewhat contained, but the open wilderness had become perilous. Caravans and tax collectors faced frequent attacks from monsters and bandits. Merchants were forced to spend more on hiring guards and mercenaries, driving up business costs. As a result, prices soared, smaller traders were squeezed out of the market, and opportunities for monopolies expanded.

Ironically, this chaos had indirectly contributed to the rapid rise of the Wayne Chamber of Commerce, which capitalized on the instability to secure a foothold in the region's markets.

Tissaia's suggestion was logical and timely. But Wayne, ever the pragmatist, saw things differently.

"This is indeed a good opportunity, Ms. Tissaia," Wayne acknowledged with a polite smile. "However, our Witcter Order is still in its infancy. Many aspects of our operations are still being refined.

"Our numbers are limited, and the witchers we have are already occupied with existing missions. Moreover, many of these tasks require significant time and resources, leaving little room for additional commitments across the Northern Kingdoms."

He paused, his tone respectful but firm. "I must thank you for your kind offer, but we are currently unable to accept such a commission."

Wayne's words were measured, but his mind was already dismissing the idea.

The proposal might have been appealing in a world without him—where witchers were desperate for income and social redemption. Large-scale commissions like this could indeed improve public opinion and provide substantial rewards.

But Wayne's Witcher Order was no longer constrained by financial worries. With his immense wealth and the resources of the Wayne Chamber of Commerce, the order had transcended such dependencies.

Even if the Brotherhood's intentions were sincere, Wayne had no interest in seeing his order reduced to hired muscle or cannon fodder for others' agendas.

Tissaia's proposal, while well-meaning, only served as a reminder to Wayne: the apprentices within his order needed real-world experience. They had to confront humanity's flaws and the chaos of the world to temper their skills and resolve.

But entrusting such a critical initiative to external forces, especially through the Brotherhood or Northern nobility, was a risk he couldn't afford. The tragic downfall of the original Witcher Orders remained a stark and bloody lesson.

If his order were to engage in this work, it would be under his own terms and through the trusted networks established by the Wayne Chamber of Commerce.

Wayne believed in self-reliance. To depend on outsiders was to invite betrayal. Only by keeping control firmly in his own hands could he ensure the future of his order and its mission.

"Is that so? What a shame," Tissaia said, her tone carrying a subtle trace of disappointment.

"But Wayne, the chaos brought on by these monsters will not subside any time soon. Should you change your mind, you may contact me through Triss. The Brotherhood remains eager to collaborate with the Order of Witchers."

There was a fleeting sadness on Tissaia's dignified and beautiful face. As a traditionalist sorceress, she sincerely hoped to harness the strength of the witchers to stabilize the monstrous upheaval in the North while helping to restore the ancient profession of witchers to its former prominence.

Having lived for over 500 years, Tissaia had witnessed firsthand the rise and fall of the witchers. She had even shared her era with Alzur, the famed creator of the first witchers. For her, Alzur was less of a distant legend and more a peer, one of the brightest stars of their shared age.

In a sense, Tissaia, like Francesca, was a living repository of history. It was likely this shared longevity and unique perspective that had forged their close friendship.

After respectfully declining Tissaia's long-term proposal, Wayne shifted the tone of the conversation. With a polite smile, he said:

"However, Ms. Tissaia, while we may not have the resources for a prolonged commitment, we are always willing to offer our strength in more specific cases. If the Brotherhood finds itself faced with a particularly formidable monster or a dire situation where skilled protection is needed, do not hesitate to reach out to us through Triss.

"The mission of the witchers is, and has always been, to protect those unable to protect themselves. While we have often been misunderstood and maligned by the very people we safeguard, we have not forgotten our duty."

Tissaia's demeanor softened at this, and she inclined her head in understanding, her expression warm with gratitude.

After the dinner concluded, Tissaia departed alongside Francesca.

The evening had been remarkably pleasant. Despite her conservative outlook, Tissaia's centuries of experience as the headmistress of Aretuza had shaped her into a figure of both wisdom and tact. She was straightforward in her dealings—an admirable quality that set her apart from many other influential figures in the North.

Unlike the scheming aristocracy, Tissaia was someone Wayne could trust not to undermine him. Her integrity was a rare and welcome trait in a world rife with deceit.

...

The next afternoon, after a night of intimacy and comfort with the red-haired sorceress Triss—who had been yearning for such closeness during her month-long absence—Wayne contacted Syanna via a magical communicator. He issued a directive to one of the Wayne Chamber of Commerce's key managers, outlining his latest initiative.

Wayne instructed her to leverage the Chamber's extensive influence to establish a Monster Hunting Guild, using taverns in major cities across the North as central hubs. These guilds would serve dual purposes: gathering intelligence and facilitating the completion of monster-hunting contracts. Moreover, he mandated the recruitment of existing mercenaries known as monster hunters, offering them the Chamber's considerable resources and support.

Unlike any other organization, the Wayne Chamber of Commerce, with its vast network and superior logistical capabilities, would provide these hunters with an unmatched array of benefits. This included high-paying contracts, affordable and efficient weaponry and equipment, as well as basic necessities such as food, lodging, and transportation. Additionally, they would gain access to vital intelligence resources spanning the entirety of the Northern Kingdoms.

Wayne envisioned this guild as more than just a mercenary network. In the future, apprentices from the newly revived Order of Witchers would use these guilds as intermediaries, quietly integrating themselves into society. Freed from the need to haggle with suspicious farmers or unscrupulous nobles, the apprentices would be presented as professional "monster experts," seamlessly blending in with their peers while gradually developing their skills and strength.

This strategy would achieve multiple objectives: obscuring the Order of Witchers by making it indistinguishable from the broader monster-hunting community, rehabilitating the negative reputation of witchers in the North, and even replacing the term "witcher" with the more widely accepted "monster hunter."

Wayne had a long-term vision. Once the Order's research succeeded in developing mutation formulas no longer restricted to children, the guild would serve as a recruitment pool for loyal and talented individuals to join the ranks of the Witcher Order.

To ensure the success of the guild, Wayne emphasized the importance of creating a robust rewards system to foster loyalty and cohesion among its members. The guild would offer benefits and privileges unavailable elsewhere, further strengthening its appeal. Wayne, with his unique ability to traverse different worlds, could provide resources and goods unavailable in the current world, cementing the guild's dominance and ensuring its members' loyalty.

Over time, the Monster Hunting Guild would evolve into a subordinate organization of the Witcher Order. 

More importantly, elite members of the guild would eventually serve as the vanguard of Wayne's broader ambitions. They would undertake commissions in other worlds, acting as pioneers