After purchasing the book, Ranni's doll grew noticeably quieter.
Wayne observed her floating beside him, holding a large book with two hands and turning the pages with the other two. Her delicate little face was expressionless, her jewel-like eyes moving slowly over the text, giving her a rather serene appearance.
Seeing this, he didn't disturb Ranni any further and instead went on to attend to his own tasks.
Wayne had several matters to address upon his return to Vizima, including the rescue efforts for nonhumans led by mercenary group, overseeing Syanna's shop, and managing the affairs involving Letho and others from the Viper School.
It had been nearly three months since his last visit, and he presumed that each of these endeavors had developed significantly in his absence.
Wayne's first stop was the stronghold of the mercenary group in Vizima—a modest house near an inn in the temple district.
Over the past few months, the activity around the stronghold had visibly increased. People came and went frequently, and there was a stable outside with about a dozen horses tied up neatly. A few mercenaries armed with swords guarded the entrance, lending the stronghold an air of respectability.
As Wayne approached, a man and two others immediately came forward and greeted him with respectful salutes.
Wayne recognized the bearded man as one of Julia's squad leaders, a Coviri with an impressive beard.
The man, clearly accustomed to Wayne's presence, greeted him in a tone that was surprisingly polite given his rugged appearance.
"Wayne, welcome," he said. "Would you care to come inside for some tea? Our leader isn't in Vizima today; she's due back tomorrow afternoon."
Wayne felt a twinge of disappointment but understood. As their operations expanded, Julia's responsibilities would naturally keep her traveling beyond Vizima. This was to be expected.
"Very well, I'll pass on the tea for now," Wayne replied with a nod. "When Julia returns, please have her visit me at my house. I have something to discuss with her."
The bearded man nodded, his demeanor courteous and obliging; no request from a benefactor like Wayne would ever be refused.
After leaving the mercenary stronghold, Wayne headed directly to Keira's mansion.
This wasn't because he was eager to indulge in a closer exchange with the sorceress, but rather because Triss had mentioned before he left Kaer Morhen that Keira had something she wished to discuss with him.
Naturally, he didn't refuse the invitation from his former lover. Upon arriving at Keira's mansion, Maisie, the young maid, quickly opened the door for him.
In the few months since they last met, Maisie had grown into a more mature and beautiful young woman, now standing nearly 1.75 meters tall, half a head taller than the petite Keira.
Wayne had known her for almost three years, watching her grow from a girl into a young woman of twenty. He couldn't help but feel the weight of time's swift passage.
Maisie, too, was delighted to see the witcher again. She eagerly led Wayne into the hall, soon returning with a cup of warm black tea and a plate of exquisite snacks.
Her cheeks glowed with a warm, happy smile.
After serving the tea, Maisie didn't leave. Instead, she stood just half a meter from Wayne, her eyes lingering on him.
Wayne took a sip of the black tea. It was at just the right temperature and tasted well-prepared. He waved to Maisie, gently pulling the hesitant girl to sit beside him. In a soft tone, he asked, "Maisie, when will Keira be home?"
With a faint blush on her cheeks, Maisie avoided Wayne's gaze, focusing instead on the pastries on the table as she replied in a quiet voice, "She should be back soon, Wayne. I've already sent someone to inform Miss Keira. She's been looking forward to your visit and will surely be here shortly."
Wayne nodded, studying Maisie thoughtfully. After a moment, he took a large pouch from his space bracelet, containing five hundred Oren gold coins, and placed it in front of her. Smiling warmly, he said, "It's been nearly half a year since we last saw each other. These coins are a gift from me. Save them in the bank as a guarantee for your future."
Maisie's eyes widened in surprise, looking at the heavy bag of gold coins with evident bewilderment. She shook her head, her hands waving in protest as she said, flustered, "No, Wayne! Why would you suddenly give me money? And so many gold coins—that's too much. I can't accept them."
Wayne chuckled, taking her hand in his, pulling her closer to him. Though Maisie was only twenty, her hands were slightly rough from years of work.
"Don't be nervous, Maisie," he reassured her. "I've been fortunate lately and wanted to buy you a nice piece of jewelry as a gift. But I thought that, given your modest nature, a valuable piece might attract unwanted attention. A bag of gold coins, on the other hand, is practical. This is my way of showing appreciation—you can't refuse."
After a brief pause, he added with a playful smile, "After all, you brought me a lot of happiness in our time together, didn't you?"
Maisie looked up, meeting his eyes with gratitude. Tears welled up slightly as she nodded, moved, and then, in a quiet tone, asked, "Wayne, why are you being so kind to me all of a sudden?"
Wayne smiled at Maisie's question but didn't elaborate. He simply patted her hand and said, "There's no particular reason. The North may not be so peaceful in the future, and as my friend, it's only right that I help you where I can."
In truth, he hadn't planned on giving Maisie such a sum. But after meeting her again, remembering the closeness they once shared, he decided on a whim to offer her the money. With his current financial standing, it was hardly noticeable.
Thanks to Vivian's introduction, Wayne knew that the Wealth Bank of the Goddess of Wealth offered an annual deposit interest of around 3%. With his fortune of 1.8 billion orens, he earned about 54 million annually—approximately 70,000 to 80,000 orens per day.
This kind of wealth was enough to rival centuries-old noble families, yet for a witcher, it was merely the result of sitting back and letting his money work for him.
Wayne wasn't withholding more wealth from Maisie out of stinginess. As an ordinary girl with no extraordinary abilities, a sudden excess of wealth could do her more harm than good. Being a maid, she couldn't stay by Keira's side forever; eventually, she'd face the world on her own.
Even Keira, with her powers, might not escape the dangers of the Witch Hunters without his help. For a mortal like Maisie, life was even more precarious. In a world filled with magic and uncertainties, most lives were like drifting leaves, unsure of where they'd end up.
Just as Maisie sat beside Wayne, perhaps savoring the romantic moment, the sound of light footsteps echoed from the courtyard.
Wayne didn't push Maisie away; he calmly picked up his tea and took a sip.
When the owner of the footsteps—Keira, dressed in a striking red and blue gown—entered the living room, Maisie quickly stood up, flustered, her gaze momentarily flickering to the large bag of gold coins on the table.
Keira raised her brows at the sight, her expression subtly shifting. As a royal advisor, she may have appeared petite and delicate, but there was a distinct strength in her demeanor, especially when dealing with her longtime maid.
She glanced between Wayne and Maisie with a half-smile, her gaze lingering on Wayne as she said in a slightly teasing tone:
"It seems I may have interrupted something, Wayne."
"What are you two up to? Something… secret?" she asked, feigning a look of suspicion.
The sorceress's comment left Maisie on edge, but before she could respond, Wayne waved a hand to stop her.
Without a hint of tension, Wayne stood and approached Keira. Casually, he retrieved an ornate gem necklace—a lavish piece featuring seven large gems set in gold—from his space bracelet and placed it around her neck.
The gesture immediately softened Keira's expression. She conjured a mirror with a flick of her fingers, admiring the radiant jewelry and her own reflection. Any lingering concerns over what she might have interrupted seemed to vanish.
The three then gathered around the table. Wayne set out some delicacies he'd brought from Middle-earth and, as he explained the gift to Maisie, invited the two women to taste the exotic foods from another world.
After a few rounds of elven wine, Maisie discreetly excused herself, leaving Wayne and Keira alone in the living room. She went to the bath to prepare hot water, following Keira's usual routine.
With Maisie gone, Wayne turned his attention to Keira. Gazing into her sky-blue eyes, he asked in a relaxed tone:
"Keira, Triss mentioned you have a commission for me."
"Tell me what it is. If I can help, I'd be glad to."
Keira finished her wine, brushed a stray lock of silver-white hair from her face, and smiled, her hand reaching to touch Wayne's chin with a playful glint in her eyes.
"Why the rush to talk business, Wayne?" she asked. "It's nearly nightfall. Are you sure you're planning to go home tonight?"
Wayne took her hand, holding it gently, not shying from the closeness. He smiled and replied, "I'm just curious. With your skills, it's rare you'd need anyone's help."
Keira's smile widened, and she leaned closer, pressing a lingering kiss to Wayne's lips before murmuring, "You've certainly come a long way, Wayne."
"You've grown strong—and quite charming," she teased. "I might even regret letting Triss take you from me."
Keira kissed him again, deeper this time, a hint of longing evident as she finally pulled away. Regaining her composure, she continued:
"This mission is quite dangerous. I'm not certain I want to take it on, so I'd like your thoughts before deciding."
Wayne raised his brows, intrigued but unfazed. With his current strength, few things in the world presented a real challenge.
"Go ahead," he said calmly. "Tell me about it, and I'll help you if I can."
Keira's expression shifted, growing serious. After a brief pause, she began:
"It's fairly straightforward, actually."
"You're aware of what's happening in the Kingdom of Kaedwen."
"Recently, the Brotherhood of Sorcerers posted a bounty. It seems that a powerful undead creature has emerged from the mists of another world. This monster can resurrect the dead to serve it, and it's gathered about a thousand corpses from the cemeteries of Ban Ard.
"It even led these undead in an attack on a small town near the mists, killing most of the townsfolk and adding them to its growing horde—now nearly two thousand strong."
"So, the Brotherhood has issued a bounty for the creature. Anyone able to defeat this undead beast and disperse its army will be richly rewarded by the Brotherhood and may even be nominated as a reserve member of the Supreme Council."
"For most young sorcerers, it's the opportunity of a lifetime."
Keira's eyes gleamed with ambition as she continued:
"I want to give it a try."
"But I know my limits. Without protection from someone I can trust, this task would be impossible."
"And you, Wayne, are the only one I trust. Your strength and skill against monsters are exactly what I need."
"If you agree to protect me, I'd feel safer with you than with a hundred mercenaries."
...
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