That evening, after addressing the aftermath of the werewolf incidents, Deacon Ozick located Wayne near a small river, where the Witchter was engaged in swordsmanship practice, displaying a wolf-like, ferocious, and relentless sequence of maneuvers. Observing Wayne's skillful display, Deacon Ozick respectfully saluted before delivering an update.
"Wayne, the injured workers have been transported to the hospital for treatment. According to the doctor's assessment, their injuries are not life-threatening. The bodies of the two workers who sacrificed their lives have been returned to their families."
He then shifted his focus to the matter of the child Wayne had rescued. "As for the child you brought back, we've already arranged for someone to locate his aunt's house, and he is now under proper care."
However, Deacon Ozick hesitated for a moment before addressing another concern. "The workers have expressed reservations about burying the werewolf's body. They believe that the best course of action is to burn the werewolf's remains."
Upon hearing this, Wayne sheathed his steel sword, turned to face Deacon Ozick, and regarded the southerner with a serious expression. Speaking in a solemn tone, Wayne explained, making use of gestures as if enlightening someone less informed.
"Mr. Ozick, the workers may lack knowledge on the matter. Werewolves are perilous creatures, cursed with a malevolent force. Even if their bodies are incinerated, these monsters can transform into vengeful spirits, continuing to pose a threat to the workers."
"The reason I propose burying him beside my wife and request your assistance in finding the real culprit is to ensure the eradication of the monster's lingering hatred. Only through this can he find peace."
Having expressed his concerns, Wayne paused, adopting a tone of helplessness. He emphasized the unique vulnerability of lumberyards and their workers, who are in close proximity to the forest.
"People in towns are relatively safe from these dangers, but those of us in lumberyards, especially the workers here, have to reside near this forest. We can't afford the presence of another malevolent spirit—invisible, cursed, unafraid of swords, persistently seeking to take the lives of the living."
As Wayne narrated the potential threats posed by such malevolent spirits, Ozick, visibly frightened, couldn't shake the vivid image of the werewolf's formidable corpse. The creature, with a robust body exceeding several meters, razor-sharp claws, and a terrifying wolf-shaped head adorned with sharp teeth and blood, left an indelible mark on Ozick's memory.
Confronted with the terrifying reality, Ozick struggled to fathom the extent of devastation that would have occurred without the intervention of the master demon hunter. The mere thought of potential evil spirits haunting the area sent shivers down his spine, intensifying his sense of urgency.
Acknowledging the severity of the situation, Ozick pledged, "I understand, Master Wayne. I will promptly approach the managers of nearby logging factories, urging them to provide a list of loggers who might have been present near the hunter's lodge three days ago, based on the descriptions you provided. I will then invite you to assist in screening through the list."
Wayne, appreciating the commitment, nodded in agreement. As he watched Deacon Ozick depart, Wayne reflected on the use of strategic misinformation. Despite incorporating some lies, he understood that such tactics could contribute to a more favorable resolution, achieving justice in the process.
As the rumor of evil spirits spread, the logging factory managers, driven by fear, became notably cooperative. Within a few days, they furnished Wayne with a relatively accurate list.
Subsequently, with the werewolf threat eliminated, Wayne's duties at the lumberyard became relatively relaxed. Apart from occasional appearances of low-intelligence entities, there were no further monster attacks on the lumber camps.
During the periods of leisure, Wayne engaged in daily on-duty tasks assigned by Deacon Ozick, earning rewards akin to a regular job. His routine involved practicing horseback riding in the open space, foraging for herbs in the forest, brewing witcher potions, and occasionally revisiting his long-neglected archery skills. Life assumed a pleasant rhythm.
The expert-level werewolf mission proved rewarding, granting him huge experience points and an expert-level treasure chest. This achievement propelled him from level five to level six as a Witcher. His physical prowess saw a slight improvement, and a system-rewarded ability point was added to his arsenal.
Wayne (16 years old)
Occupation: Witcher
Level: Level 6 (23/600)
Ability value: 6 points
Attributes: Strength 18, Dexterity 23, Constitution 20, Spirit 23. Skills: Swordsmanship LV5, Sign LV8, Gene Mutation LV4, Gwent LV4.
Special bloodline: Elder blood (weak, unawakened) requires ten ability points to activate.
Subsidiary skills: Archery LV2, Cooking LV5, Planting LV3, Alchemy LV3, Riding LV3.
Currently, his culinary skills had reached level five, and other skills, such as mutation levels from potion consumption and Gwent card levels from playing cards, had peaked at level four. With continued effort, Wayne anticipated breaking through to level five within a month, unlocking the opportunity to select skill specialties.
However, the scarcity of ability points remained a drawback. Apart from the minimal points provided with each upgrade, absorbing magic power from the Circle of Elements represented the sole means of acquiring this potent resource.
Wayne found himself entangled in thoughts about absorbing magic nodes, knowing that it would inevitably cause damage to the space and create tiny cracks. He realized the importance of choosing his targets carefully to minimize potential repercussions.
On the fifth day of his duty at the lumberyard, Deacon Ozick approached Wayne with a serious expression, conveying that all the lumberjacks matching the provided appearance characteristics and potentially present near the werewolf hut during the incident had gathered. A total of 53 individuals awaited Wayne's questioning.
Surprised by the efficiency of Deacon Ozick and the logging factory bosses, Wayne nodded in acknowledgment. The rumors of evil spirits seemed to have prompted these businessmen to act swiftly, recognizing the potential impact on their lucrative logging operations.
Wayne expressed appreciation to Ozick for the thoughtful arrangement and acknowledged the smooth progress made possible by his assistance. Wayne commended Ozick's efforts, assuring him that Leverdon would surely praise him upon learning the truth. Ozick, visibly pleased, smiled and responded:
"It's my duty to assist you, Wayne. I'm glad we could work together to resolve this matter swiftly. If you need any further help, don't hesitate to ask. Now, the loggers are waiting in our dormitory. Shall we proceed?"
With gratitude, Wayne agreed to accompany Ozick to question the loggers and unravel the mystery surrounding the werewolf incident.
As Ozick had foreseen, more than fifty loggers, wearing various expressions of guilt, fear, or nervousness, were guarded in several dormitories. Aware of the purpose behind their gathering, Wayne refrained from immediate questioning and instead discreetly observed them, noting those who displayed particularly strong emotions such as guilt, fear, or anger.
After half an hour of observation, Wayne turned to Deacon Ozick and requested a separate room for individual questioning. Ozick promptly arranged a spacious room, implemented security measures, and allowed the loggers to enter one by one for Wayne's inquiries, preventing any potential disturbances.
As a Witcher with the ability to cast spells, Wayne didn't rely on traditional interrogation skills. Instead, he utilized the Axi sign to hypnotize those marked by him and extracted the information he needed. The process went smoothly, with Wayne successfully narrowing down the list of suspects from fifties to the dozens present at the scene.
The critical part of the operation was not the questioning itself but the identification of the culprits among the loggers. Wayne's spells allowed him to extract detailed confessions from the marked individuals, ensuring that even if they attempted to deny their crimes later, the recorded evidence would stand against them. Exhausted but determined, Wayne continued his spellcasting, eventually capturing three key prisoners.
Approximately two hours later, Wayne, resisting physical fatigue, concluded the interrogations. The three prisoners, who had been marked and detailed their crimes under the influence of the Axii Sign, were recorded and presented with the ironclad evidence of their guilt. Despite any potential protests, the criminals ultimately succumbed to the undeniable proof.
Deacon Ozick promptly grasped the situation and, with the assistance of guards, transported the three criminals and their signed confessions to the prison in Vizima City. Their fate was sealed, awaiting execution on the gallows as punishment for their crimes.
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