Demon Hunter: School of the Wolf.

Chapter 670 In this world, anyone can disappear, right?
Cannibalistic bio-oil... what kind of special potion recipe could a witcher create...?

Although Berendil Rogrides had learned some alchemy in Ben Ade, it was only a little.

Agostino Austin's disdainful look tempted Berendil Rogrides to mock him for making excuses for the Silver Eagles' incompetence.

But the name Laurel Silver Eagle itself represents a high level of achievement, a high level of achievement in the field of alchemy.

A very simple truth.

The Silver Laurel Eagles are a transcendental organization closely associated with the Redanian royal family. Under the current constraints of the Warlock Brotherhood and the Novigrad Covenant, warlocks are not permitted to be openly conscripted into war.

If that's the case, why would a king of a kingdom go to such great lengths to maintain a relationship with the Silver Eagle of Laurel?

You should know that warlocks are very expensive.

The cost of hiring is secondary; the main expense is experimentation, knowledge, and personal growth.

The cost of training a high-level mage from scratch is enough to build half a regular knightly order.

Why did the kings of Redania spend so much money? Was it simply because the origin of the Silver Eagle Crown was closely related to the Redanian royal family?
impossible.

The reason the Redanian royal family was willing to do this was, of course, because the Crowned Silver Eagle could bring more value, and it also required the Crowned Silver Eagle to demonstrate considerable value.

In situations where involvement in warfare is impossible, only the field of alchemy can offer such value.

therefore.

The Silver Laurel Eagles possess a remarkably high level of alchemy, and most of their members are alchemists, making them almost a purely alchemical organization.

Magical fragrances, anti-aging potions, antidotes, and a whole host of other highly practical potions are considered extremely valuable in the Warlock Brotherhood's evaluation system and are sold to almost every wealthy nobleman's estate.

Agostino Austin's assessment of the carnivore bio-oil made Berendil Rogrides frown thoughtfully.

“We’ve arrived, Berendil. Tell me about the fulcrum you spoke of…”

Agostino Austin carved a door in the bare stone wall and walked straight in.

Inside was a dilapidated, secret room, but it showed signs of use.

Berendil Rogrides immediately realized that he was certainly not the first "guest" to enter this secret room during the short few days of the conference.

It is highly likely that the reason why Laurel Silver Eagle chose this dilapidated residence was to secretly meet that person.

"On Thaned Isle, who could warrant such caution from the Silver Eagle? Even more so than someone who imitates the Witcher's potions..."

A thought flashed through Berendil Rogrides' mind, and he gave Agostino Austin a meaningful look.

"Is the quality of the ghoul bio-oil very high?"

Instead of immediately answering Agostino Austin's question, Berendil Rogrides asked with great interest.

“I don’t recall any members of the Rogrides family having any special talent in alchemy,” Agostino Austin scoffed. “You are more of a merchant family than a family of mages, though, when it comes to selling alchemical tools.”

“Duke Rogrides prefers the title of nobleman,” Berendil Rogrides said with a chuckle, “Consider it satisfying my curiosity, Your Excellency Agostino Austin, the ‘Laureate’ Alchemist.”

Agostino Austin thought for a moment and did not refuse: "It's hard to explain to you clearly, but you just need to know that the Witcher named Erin developed the Carnivorous Oil and the Ghost Oil that was limited to Temuria. Neither of them were made using our usual alchemical methods."

“That’s…that’s…”

Agostino Austin hesitated for a moment, as if pondering a specific word to describe it: "That's a different system of refining techniques."

Another system? Berendil Rogrides was even more confused.

He could imagine the differences in alchemy, such as its extremely high requirements, the discovery of unique processing methods for materials, and the infusion and modification of magic, but he never expected that Agostino Austin would give such an evaluation.

Another system? What the hell is that? Can't ghoul bio-oil be a magic potion?

“You don’t understand alchemy, so it’s hard to describe the process to you,” Agostino Austin could guess what Berendil Rogrides was thinking from his expression, but he showed considerable impatience with the layman’s doubts.

“Could it be Vera?” Berendil Rogrides didn’t care, but instead thought of another possibility, “Hasn’t there always been a theory that both the carnivore oil and the ghost oil are the work of the Crimson Fox, but it’s just too rudimentary?”

"The effect is also to hunt monsters, but compared to the Verdant Sigh, it's too crude and inadequate... Hmm..."

"higher……"

Berendil Rogrid paused, then thought of an adjective.

"Humph~"

Agostino Austin gave a dismissive snort, as if to say, "An amateur is an amateur."

“If I hadn’t done in-depth research, I might have thought the same thing,” he said seriously, no longer mocking. “In fact, I thought the same thing before the king gave us the task of making a copy.”

"But alchemical techniques don't lie."

"Lady Vera's alchemy is skillful and elegant. I was fortunate enough to witness it once when a top bard was playing an elegant melody of the ancient elves on a yew wood lute."

"And the components of the cannibalistic biological oil... most of the components of the cannibalistic biological oil are not rare, and the alchemy process should be very crude, not sophisticated."

"I think the refining difficulty is probably not too high, but in terms of style, it is more direct and crude, but very efficient. It's like a primitive man randomly mixing herbs, but the magic and the materials are so harmonious, as if he has seen through the intrinsic connection and reaction between magic and these materials and found a shortcut."

"Just like...just like..."

Agostino Austin frowned, once again caught up in a rhetorical dilemma.

"Like the Witcher?" Berendil Rogrides interjected thoughtfully.

Agostino Austin paused, muttering to himself the metaphor of Berendir Rogrides, glanced at him unexpectedly, and nodded:
"Yes."

"Like a witcher, with a clear objective, advance preparation, and a single, decisive strike..."

“No orthodox alchemist who has studied carnivore oil would mistake carnivore oil or ghost oil for the work of Lady Vera.”

"I find it hard to believe that the Witcher was trained by Ms. Vera. His methods are completely different from Ms. Vera's."

Berendil Rogrides shrugged and joked, "There's a rumor that Vera only taught him for a month."

Agostino Austin remained silent.

"You believe it?!" Berendil Rogrides was extremely surprised, his voice becoming sharper.

Agostino Austin glanced at him: "I have to believe that this is the most likely reasoning."

"To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that ghoul oil is, as you said, too 'crude,' and it wasn't the work of a witcher, it would definitely cause a sensation in the Brotherhood of Sorcerers." "In fact, the war between Aden and Cordwin seems to have triggered an explosion in the number of water ghosts and ghouls. I'm sure that we, the Silver Eagles, are not the only ones researching ghoul oil now."

"The Warlock Brotherhood's sensation was only a matter of time."

Berendil Rogrides looked closely into Agostino Austin's eyes to make sure he wasn't joking.

It wouldn't be difficult to cause a stir within the Warlock Brotherhood.

The emergence of any cult from any corner, or the report of an unlucky sorcerer with no background using humans for experiments, can cause a sensation in councils at all levels. In fact, to appease the secular nobles who are also protesting on a futile basis, they can condemn and discuss countermeasures for a month or two.

But the academic sensation is different; it's a rather serious and rigorous term.

Because that would mean that the sorcerer who caused the sensation was even qualified to be "given a name," just like the "Laureate" Alchemist Agostino Austin.

Those are top masters who are extremely rare in the entire industry, you can count them on two hands.

It's impossible that Agostino Austin wasn't aware of this.

"He's serious!"

Berendil Rogrides felt a momentary daze upon seeing Agostino Austin's unwavering gaze.

Even Berendil Rogrides fell silent.

for a long time.

"So...he's a genius?"

Berendil Rogrides choked out a sound that even he found strange.

"More than just a genius..." was Agostino Austin's reply. "He's practically an alchemist from another world, a being from the convergence of celestial bodies."

The room fell silent for a while.

“No wonder the Crimson Fox would take a witcher as an apprentice,” Berendil Rogrides muttered to himself, then sighed with a mixture of regret, cruelty, and a touch of excitement, “What a pity…”

Agostino Austin knew what Berendil Rogrides was talking about and responded sincerely, "It is indeed a pity."

Despite possessing such extraordinary talent, he was not a sorcerer but a witcher, and he inadvertently offended the Rogrides family and Radovid IV.

“It’s such a pity,” Agostino Austin sighed again.

If it weren't for the fact that the witcher named Arryn had offended Radovid IV, he would have quite admired him and wanted to meet that strange witcher alchemist.

but now……

It seems there's no chance now, and it's unlikely we'll have another one in the future.

Berendil Rogrides and Agostino Austin tacitly avoided mentioning cannibalistic bio-oils and alchemy.

Agostino Austin waved his staff, summoning two unadorned high-backed chairs, and nodded to Berendil Rogrides.

After Berendil Rogrides sat down, he said softly, "The Witcher may have a promising future, but it must be said that he is not important in the expedition to Dordurak."

“That’s not what you said at the conference,” Agostino Austin said sarcastically again.

Berendil Rogrides shrugged: "I can't very well confront Tessaia de Veris, the owner of Xenide Island, in front of everyone on Aretusa's territory."

After he finished speaking, the secret room was quiet for a while, but Agostino Austin did not seem surprised by the chilling words in Berendil Rogrides' joke.

“Tessia de Veres…” Agostino Austin said calmly, his face expressionless, “Excuse my bluntness, but I don’t think the Rogrides family has any right to utter such arrogant words as you just spoke, besides…”

"Although Redania has had some friction with Lady Tisaya, everyone knows the upright woman's personality; her hatred lies with the Witcher, not the sorceress."

"otherwise……"

"Are we supposed to blame the noble servants of the goddess Meritelli, or start an even bigger war against Temuria?"

"On the contrary, we respect Ms. Tissaya and admire her integrity."

"With Hen Gedimidis and Ottoran missing, Lady Tessaia should have seized the opportunity to take control of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, or at least put on a show."

"But now, everyone can see that the lady is serious. The cost of this expedition to Aretusa will be even greater than that of Narcissus de la Roch in Novigrad. If they are not careful, Aretusa will suffer heavy losses."

"To be honest, putting aside the Rogrides family and our Silver Eagle Laureate, would Henry Gedimidis and Otolan themselves have gone to such lengths for Aretusa, who was in a similar situation?"

"Lord Henry Gedimidis might, but Ottolan absolutely cannot..."

Berendil Rogrides listened quietly to Agostino Austin's long speech with a smile in his eyes, and then asked softly:

"In that case, I should be in the water dungeon on Shanede Island right now, not in the secret basement of the Silver Eagle of Laurel, shouldn't I?"

Agostino Austin remained silent.

“Let’s be more direct, Mr. Austin,” Berendil Rogrides said, his smile fading. “The reason I’m here is because neither the Laurel Silver Eagles nor the Rogrides family are satisfied with the status quo.”

"To be honest, Aretusa really paid a huge price for the expedition to Dodurak."

"I don't know if Ms. Tessia de Veris is related to the disappearance of Hen Gedimidis, Ottoland, Ben Ade, and a whole bunch of high-ranking wizards from Risberg."

"Of course, it's definitely not on the surface."

Berendil Rogrides raised his hand to stop Agostino Austin from speaking.

"But no one can deny that Aretusa benefited the most from this."

"Who knows what the only female sorceress in the Association of Talents and Skills is capable of? I wouldn't doubt her even if she said she could destroy the world."

Berendil Rogrides shrugged, then stared intently at Agostino Austin, his brown pupils seemingly burning with a raging fire.

"Of course, that's not important. The Rogrides family doesn't care about the lives of Henry Gedimidis and Ottolan."

"The important thing is that this is an opportunity, an opportunity to reshape the world order, my dear Lord Agostino Austin..."

Berendil Rogrides paused for a moment, then said quietly:

"If Henry Gedimidis and Ottolan can both disappear, then why are Tisaya de Veris, Narcissus de la Roche, and Born Drummond...?"

"Why not?"

(End of this chapter)