After reaching an agreement with the administrative officer Peter, Wayne promptly purchased and moved into the new house in New Vizima City. Joining him in the spacious residence were his two friends, Geralt and Jaskier, each allocated a separate room.
Prior to their move, Wayne briefed Geralt and Jaskier about the Godling Lala's family. Geralt and Jaskier expressed goodwill towards the demihuman race, ensuring they would not harm the little Godling.
The druid elder Keinster, following nearly a week of recuperating, saw his health return to a robust level. Formally bidding farewell to Wayne, the old man prepared to undertake the three-year-delayed task of establishing a new druid ring in the forest by Lake Vizima. After discussions with Wayne, he decided to leave Vizima City together when Wayne headed to the lumber's camp.
On the eve of leaving Vizima City, Wayne adhered to the agreement and spent five hundred Oren. He carefully selected a gemstone earring from a city jewelry store and sent it to Keira's mansion as her birthday present. Although he had contemplated giving the sorceress the gold pocket watch, the intricacy of the craftsmanship made it a medieval masterpiece, revealing certain details that could be potentially problematic.
Keira, however, seemed indifferent to the value of the gift. Upon Wayne's visit to her mansion, the sorceress, elegantly dressed, engaged in adult games throughout the night. Even the poor maid Maisie was unwittingly drawn into the activities when she brought them supper. Exhausted after two hours, she succumbed to sleep once again.
The following morning, as they parted ways, Keira, now in an elegant long dress, not only forgave Wayne for missing her birthday party but also presented him with an expensive bottle of wine.
Wayne, holding the valuable bottle of wine, bid farewell to Geralt, who also wore a complex expression, and then, after packing his belongings and donning his equipment, mounted his steed Lucifer. He left Vizima City alongside the old druid keinster.
…
Lake Vizima, situated in the Izmina Valley, is the largest inland lake in the Kingdom of Temeria. Serving as a crucial water source, it connects the tributaries of the Pontar River, supplying abundant freshwater and fish to Vizima City and its surrounding communities.
The lake's rich resources have facilitated the city's ability to support a substantial population. The widespread irrigation of lake water and the nourishment from rainwater have given rise to a large swamp area, fraught with dangers, surrounding the immense lake. Additionally, an expansive forest has flourished.
This region, with its stable ecological structure, houses various wild animals, spirits, and ghosts, each occupying distinct territories.
However, since a year ago, the situation has changed slightly.
The establishment of the new Vizima City created a substantial demand for timber. Driven by economic interests, numerous logging farms, both large and small were established around the primeval forest, leading to a surge in loggers cutting down trees in groups.
These logging camps had a significant impact on the ecological structure of the virgin forest, causing many wild animals to be displaced from their habitats. In a struggle for survival, these creatures invaded the territories of others. The resulting chaotic environment prompted previously hidden monsters in the central area of the forest to attack loggers who disturbed them.
Following the route provided by Leverdon, Wayne rode continuously. Upon entering the primeval forest, the druid elder Keinster officially parted ways with Wayne. Expressing gratitude for saving his life, Keinster shared the approximate location where he intended to build the druid ring and then disappeared into the forest.
Looking at the direction Keinster left, Wayne suddenly thought, could it be that this old man established the druid camp in the Vizima Forest in the plot of The Witcher more than ten years later.
Riding for another half-hour, Wayne eventually reached Leverdon's logging camp. The sprawling lumberyard employed hundreds of lumberjacks, consisting of both humans and dwarves, with a few elf lumberjacks in the mix. The workers had been at the site for a while, evident from the extensive clearing of the forest that left an unsightly scar, resembling the bite marks of a giant beast.
Observing Wayne approaching on horseback, a middle-aged man wearing a long robe, with an anxious expression, hastily walked up to him. He scrutinized Wayne for a few seconds before speaking with a Southern accent.
"Excuse me, are you Wayne, the witcher?"
Wayne dismounted with a kind smile, nodding in confirmation, "Yes, I accepted Leverdon's commission and came here."
The middle-aged man visibly relaxed, giving Wayne a slight salute and introducing himself, "Welcome, Wayne. I am Ozick, the deacon appointed by the respected Leverdon to manage the daily affairs of this logging camp. Leverdon has written a letter to inform me that you are a formidable fighter who can assist us in resolving the current challenges we face. He instructed us to collaborate with your efforts."
After a momentary hesitation, Ozick saluted again and made a sincere request, "Although it might be presumptuous, Wayne, can you begin working now? Three of our loggers went missing this morning, and it's been two hours. They are all formal workers from Vizima City, with wives and children, serving as the breadwinners for their families. If you can locate them, you'd be saving three families. I hope you'll consider my request."
Ding! Task triggered: [Looking for the missing lumberjack], Expert level.
Accept/Decline
Wayne furrowed his brow. He hadn't anticipated receiving an expert-level task immediately upon arriving at the worksite.
Wayne saw no reason to refuse the task. Mentally accepting it, his expression shifted from the initial kindness to a more serious demeanor. Addressing Ozick, he said, "Of course, it's my job Ozick. Please take me place where the incident took place and provide me with any information you have. Time is of the essence. Every second of delay diminishes the chances of the three workers surviving."
Observing Wayne's professional and serious attitude, Ozick's respect for him deepened. However, the person on the opposite side was a friend of his boss, and he looked like a teenager, completely different from the mercenaries in his impression. If something went wrong, he would definitely not be able to explain it to the boss.
After a brief moment of consideration, and with safety in mind, Ozick hesitated and asked, "Wayne, do you need me to gather a group of loggers to accompany you? Although they aren't soldiers, they're strong workers and might be able to assist."
Wayne, picking up the master-level silver sword that had never tasted blood, and pairing it with the steel sword given by Vesemir, didn't outright reject Deacon Ozick's offer. Instead, he replied seriously, "I don't need it for now, Ozick. I have to investigate the situation at the scene before making a decision. This primeval forest is filled with dangers, and sending a large group might result in more casualties."
Observing the continued hesitance on Ozick's face, Wayne offered a faint smile and spoke in a calm tone, "Don't worry about my safety. Despite my youthful appearance, more monsters have met their end under my sword than you can imagine."