Lann said softly: "Of course, Chappelle, I won't hurt you."
The voice was gentle, like coaxing a child, and even Triss shuddered.
After saying that, Lann turned his head to Kolgrim. "Thank you for your help, Kolgrim. I suspected something, but I had no proof. Now there are no secrets between me and 'Chappelle', and we can communicate with complete frankness."
He didn't boast about knowing the secret from the start, nor did he defend the Doppler. Instead, he thanked the witchers of the Viper School, thus avoiding their first meeting becoming awkward over a misunderstood favor.
'Chappelle' glanced timidly at the witcher blocking the door, then at the sorceress. Not knowing what to think, he ran on his thin legs towards Lann, as if that would give him some security.
"Okay, since you insist." Kolgrim shrugged.
With this misunderstanding resolved, Lann invited the newcomers to sit down.
He first introduced Triss to the four witchers.
After Lann's presentation, it was the visitors' turn to introduce themselves.
"This is Letho, our current school leader."
The bald giant standing in the middle stretched out his hand to Lann: "I am Letho of Gulet, thank you for helping Kolgrim. If it weren't for you, we would have lost a partner."
"I am Lann from Cintra." Lann smiled and shook his hand. "No witcher passing by would have let things continue."
Kolgrim pointed at the witchers behind Letho. "This is Serrit, and this is Auckes. They are good companions, like brothers to me."
Lann shook hands with the two witchers, accepting their thanks for saving Kolgrim.
Serrit and Auckes were similarly dressed, both wearing roughly stitched leather armor, with some steel elements on the shoulders and gauntlets. Kolgrim is a little better off, with more elaborate armor on his body, probably modified by himself during the journey using the blueprints he carried.
The three witchers of the Viper School had a very distinctive style: robust bodies, of average height, always fully armed but with extremely efficient equipment, like snakes ready to hunt at any moment.
However, their leader, Letho, was very different in appearance.
If Kolgrim and the others were vipers, Letho was an anaconda, and a poisonous one at that.
If it weren't for his insignia, Letho could have passed for a member of the Bear School, or rather, a bear. He is as wide as his two companions put together, and his upper body is clad only in a leather vest. His exposed arms are almost as thick as Lann's two legs put together.
Letho's later achievements will also be shocking. In order to revive the school, he will accept the commission of the Emperor of Nilfgaard, lead his two companions to the north, and then act separately to single-handedly assassinate King Demavend III of Aedirn and King Foltest of Temeria, paralyzing half of the North.
As Lann and the witchers looked at each other, Kolgrim began to explain the reason they were there.
"Since the destruction of our school base, we have developed a technique to track our comrades. As I sailed south from White Orchard, I discovered that they were nearby. And coincidentally, they were also heading north."
Letho nodded. "The Emperor of Nilfgaard knew that we wanted to rebuild the school, and he has been trying to win us over and make us work for him."
"Before Kolgrim returned, a sorcerer contacted me, saying that he had orders from the emperor to attack you to prevent you from reaching the northern meeting at Hagge Castle. But then the orders changed, and they wanted us to capture you alive."
Letho scoffed, apparently finding it ridiculous. "Nilfgaard destroyed our school and now wants to recruit us with promises of help to rebuild our school again. We did not accept, and the Emperor's people have been watching us, restricting our exit from the empire. We have been wandering around Nilfgaard without being able to settle down, until we met up with Kolgrim again."
"I heard Kolgrim speak of your power and your promise: of the Order of Witchers, of the future of Cintra, and of the Elder Blood. That is why I wanted to see you in person and verify what you said, Lann of Cintra."
After Letho finished speaking, Kolgrim also laughed. He added: "I told Letho about the promise you made to us, and Letho told me about the Emperor's mission. Isn't that a coincidence? So we accepted the task of facing you, followed that sorcerer to the north, and even passed through several portals..."
In Lann's memories, Letho did not appear in the North until six or seven years later, when for various reasons he accepted the Emperor's mission to assassinate the king. He did not expect that because of him, Emhyr would begin contacting these Viper School witchers so early.
After explaining the cause and effect of their appearance, Letho and the others also began to talk about the purpose of their coming tonight.
"Are those things you said to Kolgrim true?"
Lann nodded without hesitation. "Since you have taken on tasks related to me, you should have a general idea of my situation. Although I have become a witcher, I am the one who holds power in Cintra. All national commitments made by me are absolutely effective."
"And our princess Cirilla, she is the unexpected child of Geralt, is now under protection in Kaer Morhen. It can be said that Cintra and witchers are now inextricably linked. Cintra is the natural home of witchers and fertile ground for future development. It is the witchers' religion. The destined place of revival of the group."
"I am from the Gryphon School, and I have also gained the school's full support. The Wolf School has fought alongside us for a long time. We also have the help of two sorceresses and a druid, and there is now a sorcerer's apprentice receiving education in Aretuza."
"In other words, if you join us, we'll have a military nation as our base, three sorcerers to support us, and we'll gather witchers from the Griffin, Wolf, and Viper schools. In the foreseeable future, we might even add a sorcerer and the witchers from the Cat School."
Lann spoke with passion and sincerity. Although much of what he said was exaggerated, the witchers present did not know this.
From Lann's point of view, everyone present except Kolgrim maintained an impassive expression, but his keen hearing could detect their accelerated breathing.
"The force you control... is greater than Kolgrim informed me." Letho said. "At that time, he didn't mention that you had sorceresses by your side."
"The Viper School has now reached the North, and it doesn't plan to return to Nilfgaard in the future. If you allow, we will temporarily stay with you to verify what you said. If the order can really be revitalized in Cintra, then the Viper School will become the power of Cintra."
Lann stretched out his hand and shook it with Letho. "Kaer Seren was also attacked by mages, and I have the responsibility of reviving my school. I am glad that I finally have companions on my journey."
This was the first time Lann had gained the full support of a witcher school for Cintra.
The viper and the lion, in this temporary mansion in Novigrad, made their first pact and began to walk together.
"I also heard from Kolgrim about the Wild Hunt and your relationship with them. We'll talk about that later. There are more important things at hand right now." After basically confirming to join Lann's camp, Letho said: "You're in a bind. Those who want to deal with you have united."
"We just attended a war meeting. There was a sorcerer named Rience, three gang leaders from Novigrad, a ruined noble named Olgierd, and someone you'd never imagine: Caleb Menge of the Eternal Fire."
...
Letho detailed Rience's secret meeting with Lann, including all the plans and details of the operation, and even the information they had gathered on each person.
Lann was surprised that Rience had gathered so many people. With Vilgefortz and Nilfgaard supporting him, he had really accomplished something.
Lann may be safe thanks to his cards up his sleeve, but Chappelle will surely be buried.
Chappelle had a serious expression. "Because of the way I do things, there have been many voices against me within the Eternal Fire, but I never thought Caleb Menge would go to such extremes."
At this time, the effect of the Dust Moon bomb had passed, and Chappelle had returned to being the security officer of the Eternal Fire.
Lann, curious, asked Chappelle about his situation. At least Lann wanted to know his real name.
"I have forgotten it." Chappelle's answer surprised Lann. "I have been Chappelle for too long, and Chappelle's memory and personality have been affecting me. I have long forgotten my name. But this is not bad, I will be Chappelle in the future."
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