Demon Hunter: School of the Wolf.

Chapter 656 The Demon Hunter's Fame Spreads Throughout the Warlock Brotherhood! Exposed!
"Iretusa will mobilize 'all' qualified warlocks and invite experts from the Wolf School and Bear School to join the expedition!"

Suppressing her inner rage, Tissaya de Veres glanced coldly at the scheming crowd below, then at Narcissus de la Roche beside her.

Narcissus de la Roch paused for a few seconds, then sighed with relief: "Novigrad Free City will fund the invitation to the Griffin School and take care of all the logistical support. I will also join this expedition."

Just say it.

The already quiet atmosphere in the Hall of Glory was now so profound, thanks to Tissaya de Veres's reprimand, that you could hear a pin drop.

This is the Warlock Brotherhood High Council I imagined… Fringilla Vigo swallowed hard, her eyes gleaming, and clenched her fists.

Although Artorios Vigo enjoys playing pranks and is an elder with a wicked sense of humor, he still knows how to prioritize.

Turning into a pig will only lead to embarrassment. Being completely ignorant will not only prevent your descendants from accomplishing anything on this journey, but may also unintentionally invite some great disaster.

therefore.

Although Artorios Vigo did not mention the "intense" clashes within the High Council, he did introduce all the forces that might be involved, and made Fringilla Vigo memorize them thoroughly.

The two most important factions are undoubtedly Tissaya de Veris's Aretusa and Narciss de la Roch's Novigrad Free City.

There's no need to elaborate on Tissaya de Veris's Aretusa. Although Fringilla Vigo received a standard magical family education, she had heard of her and had interacted with many sorceresses from Aretusa.

Narcissus de la Roch's Novigrad Free City is a powerful force with great potential and complex internal power dynamics on the northern continent.

Novigrad is a free city located in Redania. It sits at the mouth of the Pontal River—a major river whose main channel flows through four of the most powerful and prosperous kingdoms of the northern continent: Temuria, Redania, Kodwin, and Aden, and whose tributaries flow through almost the entire northern continent—making it the most important port in the north and even the entire continent.

The area has a population of approximately 30,000, but it receives twice that number of business travelers and visitors.

Novigrad is therefore often referred to by northerners as the capital of the world.

With such geographical advantages and population, it can be called the most dazzling gem in the entire northern continent.

Whoever occupies this city will enjoy countless treasures of gold and silver. And supreme wealth means supreme power and authority. One can imagine how many forces will covet Novigrad.

In fact...

Hundreds of years ago, before humans even set foot on this continent, the elves occupied this city, built plazas, and settled there.

However, when the first humans migrated here from the other side of the continent, forcing the elves to abandon their cities and live in the forests, Novigrad was also abandoned at this time.

after that.

Redania then revealed its true brilliance, a radiant, blood-red glow.

Novigrad was the capital of the Kingdom of Sumbok at the time. The Kingdom of Sumbok later evolved into present-day Redania. Finally, seventy years ago, all the conflicts, jealousy and greed erupted in an instant, igniting a war that spread across half of the northern continent and lasted for seven years.

The Seven Years' War is the name of this massive war.

At the height of its power, King Vestibo of Redania clashed with several nations on the northern continent.

The neighboring countries of Temuria, Cordwin, Humphries, Maruer, and Kangon formed the Northern League.

The war ultimately ended in Redania's defeat, with the Northern Alliance seizing the fertile valleys near Buina, Nimna, and the Ponta River. Novigrad, then Redania's capital, was annexed by Temuria, forcing Vestibo to relocate its capital to Tritorg.

Although the Seven Years' War ended, frictions of all sizes never ceased, and the walls of Novigrad were never intact for a single moment.

Until thirty years ago, during the reign of Radovide III, perhaps because the years of war had exhausted the energy of both countries, or perhaps because Radovide III was more angry with Kovir and Bovis, who were slowly breaking away from the rule of the King of Redania.

The King of Redania, nicknamed "The Daredevil," negotiated with Temuria, and the two sides eventually reached a compromise.

Novigrad became a city of freedom.

In the Free City, all officials and positions can only be elected by native residents with residency rights, free from interference from any other forces.

But there's something fishy about this negotiation and compromise.

The shadow of the Warlock Brotherhood is both subtle and undeniable.

Shortly before Novigrad was freed from the war, Narcissus de la Roch, a sorcerer from Novigrad's native land, "suddenly" emerged, published a series of groundbreaking research findings, and quickly passed the review of other sorcerers, including Hen Gedimidis and Tisaya de Veris, to become a member of the "just right" vacant Society of Talents and Skills.

Subsequently, due to his legendary experiences and Redalia origins, he was naturally supported by the citizens to serve as the magic advisor of the Free City of Redalia, a position he has held ever since.

Because Novigrad has no de facto lord, only the City Builders Alliance, which holds the highest position, influences the Free City through the City Council in a semi-covert manner.

Although Narcissus de la Roch lacks the extraordinary powers of Ban Ad Academy, Aretusa Academy, and the Risberg Civil Cooperative, he can almost be considered the uncrowned king of all extraordinary powers in Novigrad.

and……

It is said that near Novigrad, the largest higher education institution in the northern continent, Oxford University, was founded under the influence of Narcissus de la Roche.

Besides its most famous School of Narrative Poetry and Poetry (commonly known as the School of Bards), Orsonford University also has schools of Alchemy, Theology, and Applied Archaeology, which are highly applied disciplines in the field of occultism.

There is no doubt that this is the Warlock Brotherhood's attempt to explore the secular world and expand its influence.

However, it's difficult to find factual evidence to support the claim that the Warlock Brotherhood orchestrated the conspiracy.

The main cause was a series of wars during the reign of Radovid III, which was another war started by the Redanian king, nicknamed "The Daredevil," who was dissatisfied with the outcome of the Seven Years' War. Going back further, there was another Seven Years' War, which is difficult to trace back.

Moreover, for decades, aside from the establishment of Oxenforth University and his occasional appearances in the city council, Narcissus de la Roche was essentially invisible, to the point that no one knew of his influence in Novigrad until…

Nowadays!

"Ms. Vera, can Novigrey agree to Lord Narcissus's conditions?" Fringilla Vigo whispered in the quiet atmosphere.

The expedition into Doduraq was called an expedition because its scale and cost were comparable to a massive war.

Especially considering that the main force of the expedition consisted of pampered and extravagant warlocks, coupled with the cost of hiring an entire Griffin School, it was an astronomical figure beyond Fringilla Vigo's imagination.

The reason why the Warlock Brotherhood's high council meeting turned out this way is because those seemingly powerful figures in the outside world have no regard for dignity at all.

Do not!
Who would willingly turn into a pig in front of so many colleagues, juniors, and enemies?
The reason for such a sorry state is, of course, that the cost of maintaining dignity is too high, far exceeding the bottom line for most people.

At this moment, although the Hall of Glory seemed completely silent and no one was talking, the mental storm hidden beneath the calm, as perceived by her spiritual senses, was telling Fringilla Vigo that people like her who used telepathy were found throughout the entire hall.

Vera glanced at her and whispered in her mind, "He is Narcissus de la Roche."

Fringilla Vigo remained silent.

Yes, he is Narcissus de la Roche, one of the very few people standing at the very top of the supernatural world.

How could he possibly make a promise he couldn't keep in the High Council?

The "capital of the world" that the northerners talk about is actually the Warlock Brotherhood?! As a member of the Warlock Brotherhood, Fringilla Vigo, who had a slight sense of organizational identity, couldn't help but get excited.

Vera, however, turned her gaze to Tisaya de Veris, whose face was as cold as ice, and murmured worriedly to herself, "Has the situation of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers deteriorated to this extent?"

They actually need to rely on the ownership of Novigrad to intimidate and deceive people?

Vera did not believe that Narcissus de la Roch had completely taken control of Novigrad, allowing the Brotherhood of Warlocks to drain the wealth of the largest and richest city in the north.

Behind this promise, one wonders how many benefits will be exchanged.

Tissaya de Veris paid a greater price. The interests of the Warlock Brotherhood in Novigrad were mostly held by Narciss de la Roch on their behalf, but Erituza belonged entirely to Tissaya de Veris's forces.

No one knows how many people will survive after breaking into the Demon Cave of Dordurak.

What Tissaya de Veris placed on the scales was the future of Aretusa and the sorceress.

And of course, that's why.

The promises made by Tissaya de Veres and Narciss de la Roche have had an effect commensurate with their exorbitant costs.

The highest-ranking person in the entire Hall of Glory paid such a price, and the other members of the High Council only contributed one person. In reality, due to the scarcity of magical resources and the participation of the Novigrad tycoon, they would likely make some money. Naturally, no one dared to object or deliberately provoke any more disputes.

The meeting quickly reached a consensus.

Tissaya de Veres, expressionless, arranged and read out the results:
"Two high-level warlocks and eleven mid-level warlocks from the Withered Hand..."

"A high-ranking Thornbird..."

"The Pale Cult..."

"Source Matter Exploration Meeting..."

……

"The meeting time is set for the sixth day of the Soul Month in the Elven calendar, which is one month from now. The meeting place is set for Maripo in Temuria. I will ask Prince Theodoric of Maripo to lift the restrictions and set up a stabilizing device for the teleportation portal outside the city..."

"Any other opinions?"

Tissaya de Veres's cold gaze swept across the Hall of Glory from her high-backed chair.

Fringilla Vigo trembled with fear at the invisible aura of authority and averted her gaze.

Vera also exchanged a blank glance with Tissaya de Veres before quickly looking away.

“Why not invite secular nobles and the king?” a young sorcerer sitting on the north edge asked in bewilderment. “Even to save time, we could ask Temuria, or at least the Prince of Maripoli. We could hire riders like we would hire witchers…”

Before the young wizard could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a chorus of laughter.

"Is there no one in the Source Matter Exploration Group? Why did they send over a complete idiot who hasn't even grown up yet?"

Across the oak table, an old man with no hair or beard and a withered face, sitting on the south side, let out a hoarse laugh like that of an owl.

The young wizard's face flushed red from the rising and falling laughter.

"The king and nobles are all cunning foxes. Using their people to rescue Ottoran at this time, who knows which monster they will encounter and which one they should guard against? Don't make this already difficult expedition even more difficult."

The young male wizard, standing not far away, was a black-robed wizard who seemed to be from a friendly faction. He used magic to raise his voice, drowning out the laughter echoing in the Hall of Glory, and offered a way out.

The withered old man snorted coldly at this and said nothing more.

The meeting agenda continues.

However, the young sorcerer's blunder made substitutes like Fringilla Vigo even more hesitant to speak, while the high-ranking sorcerers each had a tacit understanding.

For a moment, the Hall of Glory fell silent again.

Seeing this, Tissaya de Veres was about to end the meeting: "In that case, this High Council meeting will then..."

The words have not yet fallen.

"Wait!" A young but gloomy voice rang out again from the south side of the Hall of Glory.

After recognizing who it was by looking in the direction of the voice, Tissaya de Veres frowned instinctively: "Berendir Rogrides, is there anything else you want to discuss?"

Berendil Rogrides… Vera frowned as she saw the person who spoke.

Tissaya de Veres was reminding her.

The Rogrides family, a secular duke and member of the Council of Intermediate Sorcerers, is suspected to be the mastermind behind Drakenberg's assassination of the Wolf School.

He was on the intermediate council, and he replaced... the seat of the Risberg Civil Partnership...

next second.

Vera happened to make eye contact with Berendil Rogrides.

Berendil Rogrides smiled slightly, bowed his head in a small gesture, and then looked away.

Vera immediately sensed something was wrong.

“Hearing about hiring a witcher suddenly reminded me of someone… no… a witcher…” Berendil Rogrides exclaimed in praise, “Many of you have probably heard of him too…”

“Our time is precious, not to be wasted listening to lowly warlocks play games.” Berendil Rogrides’s rambling and clownish pauses drew the ire of several short-tempered wizards.

“I’m sorry, but this is important because he is also the Crimson Fox, an apprentice of Lady Vera.” Berendil Rogrides bowed his head modestly.

Upon hearing that it was related to the blood-red fox, the grumpy wizard glanced at Vera, muttered a few words, and then fell silent.

Vera remained silent, coldly staring at Berendir Rogrides, her fists clenched under the table.

Berendil Rogrides continued, seemingly oblivious, "His name is Erin, from the Wolf School... no... the youngest Master Witcher since the birth of the Witcher, and he has several other well-known titles..."

"The Crimson Fox's genius alchemy apprentice, the King of May in Elland, the Wraith Slayer, the Great Griffin Knight, the Holy Son of Melitelli, and a title closely associated with Lady Tessia de Veres—"

Berendil Rogrides paused, his smile widening, and said, enunciating each word clearly:

"The one who...killed...gods!"

(End of this chapter)