Chapter 41: A Lie
Since they already realized that the monster they would be killing was likely a plague spirit, Lynn and Geralt took away the ready-mixed specter oil and spread it on the silver sword blade with care and evenness.
Having the sword oil appropriate for the monster on the sword could do more damage.
This was also common sense for the witchers.
Assuming the Witcher knew in advance what he was working with, he would then mix the corresponding sword oil and apply it to the sword.
Naturally, if they were to do it improperly, not only would they fail to replicate the effect of the sword oil, but it would also activate opposite effects.
The two began consuming potions after applying the sword oil.
The abandoned mine was black as coal.
So the Cat potion, one that would give Witchers vision in areas of darkness, was definitely a necessity.
And then Petri's Philter.
Both Lynn and Geralt had given it the last time when they were fighting the grave hag.
One that would enhance the signs.
On spirit creatures like specters, signs and silver swords were on par with each other.
Mainly the Yrden sign.
The Yrden sign was almost miraculous for all specters.
And then there was the Tawny Owl potion.
Employed to speed up the healing of vitality and magic.
With a couple of bottles of potions, Lynn's face became colorless instantly, his blood vessels became apparent, and his veins were swelling.
There was also a little stinging sensation coming from his body.
This meant that the toxicity the potion had accumulated was at the upper limit even the Witcher's body could barely tolerate.
If he continued consuming potions, even a Witcher would not be safe.
But Lynn observed Geralt and found the White Wolf's symptoms were far less serious than his own. Apparently, to the other side, the toxicity of those potions had not reached the upper limit.
And that was true indeed.
Given the invisible dangers in the abandoned mine, even supposing there was a consideration to let Lynn gain some experience, the White Wolf still took an extra bottle of Wolf potion to improve his physical agility and a bottle of Thunderbolt potion to improve his muscular power in order to ensure security and fault tolerance.
Finally, the two checked the alchemy bombs strapped around their waist.
Just as they were about to continue, suddenly Lynn and Geralt both looked back in the direction of the mine they had come from.
A carefully litened step was moving in that direction.
Specters would not have steps.
Lynn and Geralt looked at each other.
So they did not draw out their swords, but just kept glaring at the mine they had just come from.
A bit later, Thor produced a smoldering torch.
When he looked at Lynn and Geralt's repulsively ugly faces from the potion, he was frightened so much that he almost dropped the torch in his hand.
"Master Witchers, what happened to your faces?"
Lynn didn't answer, but instead threw a question at him: "Thor, why are you here?"
The one who came was Brouver's son, the dwarven captain Thor who led them to this mine.
Thor concluded dryly: "I have come to save the two masters."
Lynn glared at Geralt.
Geralt looked at Lynn.
Finally, Lynn negotiated with Thor: "I don't get it."
"You don't have to get it. You merely need to be aware that you can get five hundred orens for free without moving a single finger."
In these words, Thor took out a money pouch and threw it at Lynn.
But the latter did not catch it.
He threw the money purse onto the ground, and the coins inside rang against each other, making a piercing sound.
Sensing the atmosphere was not fit, Thor gulped and continued.
"Listen, two masters, I myself have deep admiration for Witchers, so I dared to approach you to remind you that the beings inside are far more beyond your imagination."
"Naturally, I am not insulting the two masters, but if you can be paid for not risking, why not take the risk?"
Lynn stroked his chin with his fingers and continued, "Perhaps because the terms that the elder proposed are four thousand orens and an acutely sharpened Gwyhyr sword."
"And what you proposed to me is barely five hundred."
"Damn it," Thor was obviously a bit on edge, "For the sake of the plague, Master Witcher, the elder has tricked you. You will not be getting one coin."
He spoke in a tone of temptation, like the devil, that echoed across the empty mine.
"Want to know why? Because you will be dying here. As long as you die, the elder won't be giving a single copper."
Lynn spoke strangely: "Thor, I remember the elder is your father, isn't he?"
After a brief pause, Lynn's next words surprised Thor to the point of almost staring his eyes out.
"Why do you plot against the elder? Just because he did not welcome you with special care?"
Thor's eyes wandered around, and he did not even dare look into Lynn's eyes.
It was sure that this was an act of guilt.
"I. I don't understand what you're saying?"
Lynn didn't intend to let him go, but instead belligerently asked: "No, you understand. Of course, you understand what I'm saying. You took the money to let us go, and that's also conspiratorial, isn't it?"
Thor's expression finally darkened: "I was going to talk to you nicely. Damn mutants, why can't you just take the money and leave? Why must it be so humiliating!"
"Finally lost the role of a good guy?" Lynn smiled. "Actually, even if you don't tell me, I can probably deduce something."
"Despite the fact that I don't know why you want to overthrow your father, if the matter in the abandoned mine is not solved, it will destabilize the elder regime sooner or later, so you want to pay us to go away."
"But Thor, you must be knowledgeable about professional ethics, shouldn't you? You should have heard a saying as well, being loyal to your mission and meeting your trust."
Thor seemed to take offense, his face flushed with anger.
"Shut up! You slut! Don't you understand who you're speaking to?"
"Consider what you're saying—professional standards, fidelity to your cause, remaining faithful to your trust?! Deserving?! I said it twice, take the money and leave me alone! I won't say it a third time!"
Faced with Thor's threat, Lynn was unmoved.
"Nobody behind your back will conspire against you, whoever it is, or if you are the mastermind, those conspiracies against Brouver will be unsuccessful."
"If you leave right away, Thor, at least you'll get to pack your luggage and escape Mahakam alive."
Thor drew back a step and rapidly drew out the battle axe from his belt.
"You asked for this, you scoundrel! I shall kill you and your companion. Your deceit will not serve you, for I possess a turtle stone!"
Lynn grinned.
Turtle stones were mythical.
Just as dimeritium was the sorcerers' nemesis, turtle stones were used to deal with Witchers, according to legend.
As long as you possess a turtle stone, even the most ferocious mutants will not be against you.
This is a lie!
Dimeritium would actually prevent sorcerers and Witchers from casting spells.
But the turtle stone was entirely a rumor.
He had no idea why there were so many people who believed this awkward rumor.
Lynn did not want to cast a sign on Thor.
He did not plan on drawing his sword and battling Thor's axe directly.
He simply dodged the axe blade that was being swung at him and subsequently delivered an uppercut to the other person's chin.
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