Chapter 26: Plans can never keep up with changes
A few days ago, the elves who stepped on the trap had recovered from their injuries, and the Phantom Troupe was allowed to leave freely. It was only because Angouleme wanted to participate in the summer festival, and Victor chose to stay for a few more days because he could get many free assistants to help collect herbs as long as he gave some guidance.
So on the morning of the second day of the festival, the troupe's journey to Vizima started again. They would go by land to Elland City first - it is located in the east of Vizima. It used to be a principality, and now it is a vassal principality of Temeria.
The ones who led them out of the forest on foot were Silan Isnilan, the deputy commander of the Flying Harbor Squirrel Party, and Toruvel Aip Cecil, the leader of the Herb Camp.
As for the reason why the troupe changed the original plan and did not go to the Flying Harbor to take a boat, but took the land route instead, it was very simple.
"Yesterday, that bastard Loreto suddenly blocked the area around the floating port and sent an armed search team into the jungle. His intentions are unclear. It's best not to approach the floating port from land now.
Lord Iorphis also rushed to the front line overnight, so I can't come to see you off. Sorry." Xilang explained with an apologetic look.
Bernard Loreto, the guard commander of the floating port trading station, Victor often heard this name during his visit to the camp.
In the eyes of the elves, he is a hypocritical and despicable racist, a villain who accepts non-human races on the surface but actually exploits them.
"Although the land route is not as comfortable and fast as the water route, the city of Elland has the largest Meliteli Temple on the continent. I remember that the high priestess there, Ms. Nannik, also has a deep research on herbs.
You can go and visit. I have wanted to go there for a long time, but unfortunately that city is not friendly to non-human races." Toruweier introduced Elland with a brisk pace and calm manner, as if it had nothing to do with Victor's attack last night.
"Thank you, I'll go check it out, but is it okay for you two officers to come and see us off? Iorveth can handle it alone?" Victor responded calmly, with steady steps, as if he was not the one who suffered the inhumane round-robin battle last night.
"It's okay, Loreto has never gotten an advantage in the jungle. Although I don't know why he made such a big fuss this time, it is inevitable that it will end in failure." Xilang, who took over the conversation, had a slightly proud look on his handsome face, and his words revealed his absolute confidence in Iorveth.
"I guess it's because of the giant octopus! This thing is infesting the Pontar River, and the trade of the floating port will definitely be greatly damaged.
Hey, how did you make such a big monster? Can you control it?" Angouleme was playing with eagles along the way. He didn't seem to care about this, but he interrupted unexpectedly.
Victor smiled slightly when he heard this. He didn't expect that this silly girl Angouleme would be useful. She actually asked the question he wanted to ask for a long time. He had long wondered how the Scoia's Party made the giant octopus, but he couldn't ask it out loud when facing Iorveth because of the tacit understanding between smart people.
As a friendly guest, he would not explore the secret of Iorveth making the giant octopus, just as Iorveth had never asked why his elves who were good at jungle combat would step on the crude bear trap set by Victor one after another.
When asked by Angouleme, Xilang's expression became a little embarrassed and a little coy. He hesitated for a while before saying: "I'll tell you privately, the giant octopus actually has nothing to do with us, and we don't know where that guy came from.
It's just that its appearance obviously intimidated Loreto, so we don't deny this misunderstanding."
Hearing this unexpected answer, Victor turned his head and looked at Toruweier questioningly.
She nodded, indicating that it had nothing to do with the elves, then smiled and changed to a teasing tone: "What? Our 'Master Demon Hunter' is interested in slaying demons and exorcising demons?"
Hearing this, Victor did not hesitate: "I'm not, I'm not, don't talk nonsense, a monster of that size, it is estimated that at least a high-level wizard must be in charge, and a real Demon Hunter Master must be arranged to deal with it. An apprentice like me will die."
Xi Lang sneered: "It sounds like good news. It's not easy for that bastard Loreto to find a high-level wizard and a Demon Hunter Master to help."
Victor did not respond. In his judgment, if Loreto is really a bastard as the elves said, then the damage to the floating port trade will definitely be a disaster for the non-human races living in the city.
So whether it is for humans or non-humans, the boy does not think this is good news, but unfortunately some things cannot be explained clearly.
...
Evening-Beautiful sunset-Floating port forest border──
When the farewell is about to begin, Xi Lang. Isnilan obviously didn't intend to hide it anymore. After apologizing to Victor, she pulled Angouleme aside to talk quietly. However, seeing the girl's hawk-like behavior while talking to him, the leader estimated that his future was bleak.
When the boy was watching the youth drama with great interest, Toruweier patted his shoulder from behind.
Turning to look at each other, she had beautiful eyebrows, and her black eyes were charming and deep under her smooth forehead. Without hesitation or shyness, Toruweier naturally reached out her hand and groped the boy's face for a while, then said with a smile: "Look carefully, I did drink too much yesterday."
In the summer evening, the warm breeze blew on my face, and the faint fragrance swayed.
Originally, I was expecting the female elf to say some reluctant words, but I didn't expect this answer. Victor laughed out loud and complained in a light mood: "Don't you know that some words should not be said?"
The female elf smiled like a flower.
"Actually, I didn't leave after yesterday's event. I stayed outside the tent, waiting for you to go in and get someone to save you." Toruwei's voice was frivolous and sweet.
Shaking his head, Victor chuckled: "That really disappoints you. I didn't let you show your skills."
The female elf held her waist with her left hand and touched her ear with her right hand: "I am really surprised. Although I have heard that the witcher's physique is strong and even the sorcerer can satisfy it, I didn't expect that you, as an apprentice, can achieve this level..."
The setting sun, this scene, suddenly made Victor want to tell a joke, so he said: "One of my predecessors, Eskar, once told me that we exercise our physique in order to find opportunities to reverse the situation in a one-on-three disadvantageous situation and defeat the opponent in the fight."
Puchi, hearing the other meaning in the words, the female elf laughed and shook her life Victor smiled and asked: "In a one-on-five situation, why do they have props?"
"To save their lives and to escape."
"But what if it is unavoidable?"
Victor answered fluently: "With adequate sleep, combined with potions and breathing techniques, witchers can achieve amazing results, although the outcome cannot be guaranteed to be a victory."
Toruvier chuckled: "You are really good at telling jokes. It seems that I shouldn't have blocked your mouth last night."
The female driver was so powerful that Victor was choked by the subtlety of this sentence and coughed violently. The sound of his violent coughing not only interrupted Toruvier's possible subsequent pursuit, but also attracted the attention of Angouleme and Xilang.
So, it's time to say goodbye.
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