Chapter 1433 - 1398: The Banquet Begins

Even though the Luoxia Palace is already so crowded, the academy still arranged a room for Yennefer, the youngest member of the council, at the fastest speed for the pre-dinner preparations.

This type of large formal banquet comes with preparation processes that are dauntingly complex. Starting in the afternoon, like Yennefer, is actually quite late.

Time for fitting and makeup is always insufficient.

Thus, only the three men were left idle now.

Geralt appeared a bit sullen, yet occasionally showed a smile of happiness.

Dandelion roamed around, his cherry-red clothes making him look a bit flamboyant, as he wandered to explore and spread rumors.

Lann took some time, found a quiet spot, and first went to the Crystal Cultivation Laboratory.

Upon arrival, he discovered that Philixia had indeed followed the data he provided to complete the "Lariman Organ," which was already placed in the organ preservation jar.

Immediately, the Demon Hunter took away the super organ for his next enhancement surgery, and after securing it, he sealed the entire laboratory.

Reciting the password and setting the gesture, a brief golden magical glow appeared on the door of the Crystal Cultivation Laboratory, then naturally faded away.

The entire crystal cultivation project was proposed as a groundbreaking experiment back when Tishaya was still the dean.

Although it’s within the academy, the old-fashioned mage’s caution still had Tishaya personally enchant this laboratory, even if it’s usually unused.

Now that the sealing array was opened, anyone wanting to forcefully enter through this door would have to first excavate the entire laboratory from Sandy Island’s cliff.

Such a feat is indeed possible by some, but it’s practically impossible to do it silently.

Security facilities, given enough time and energy, can be breached—there’s no lock that can’t be broken.

The key is for the security to emit an alarm that calls for help when it’s damaged; notifying others promptly is the ultimate measure of security.

After securing this experimental project, Lann then silently descended through the secret door in the busy environment, reaching the inner part of Sandy Island, into his secret grotto.

"Hey ho!"

The small, fluffy figure was holding a bulging package, looking like it was organizing items and equipment.

The Qilin, on the other hand, was aimlessly electrocuting fish at the small dock below.

"Meow?" Rong Buqiu’s pink nose twitched, set down the big bundle, looked back, and immediately bounced up joyfully, like a suddenly puffed-up ball of fur.

"Boss! You’re back, meow!"

Rong Buqiu sat in front of Lann, facing up meowing, while the Demon Hunter bent to rub its head.

The Qilin at the small dock below, bored, glanced at the man and cat playing above, then electrocuted another fish, crunching it in its mouth.

"We weren’t separated for that long." Lann scratched Rong Buqiu’s chin, the kitten enjoying it by tilting its head higher. "By the way, how’s High Hill Castle?"

Although he could have asked Triss and Geralt before, since Dandelion, though a trusted friend, wasn’t involved in the whole matter, Lann did not find it convenient to ask.

Now, asking Rong Buqiu was just perfect.

While speaking, Lann pulled out two large stacks of sandpaper from the alchemy pouch at his back waist, handing them to Three-Floral Kitten.

"Oh!" Rong Buqiu’s eyes lit up, "New ’Fire Paper’! And unfamiliar tools! ’Thunder Paper’?"

Two hunting tools whose production method learned from Yan Nan’s Crow Hunters, capable of imbuing weapons with fire or lightning.

The production method wasn’t particularly difficult, but there hadn’t been time before.

On his way back this time, Lann refined a small batch using fire oil, strong liquor, and Qilin’s hair as raw materials.

Although the Yan Nan Hunters’ original version wasn’t highly difficult to make, the Healing Church’s methods always felt eerie.

A seemingly soft and sticky three-colored furball cat is, in essence, a fierce enthusiast of combat and practice.

Thus Rong Buqiu was quite happy to have the useful hunting tools replenished that were about to run out.

It jumped up holding two stacks of ’Fire Paper’ and ’Thunder Paper’: "Now even if we encounter something as bizarre as that Terror Tyrannosaurus! I won’t be afraid, meow!"

...and it also bore a bit of a grudge.

After a careful trot to its bundle to place the tools properly, the Elu Cat responded to Lann’s question.

"When we left, all the mutation personnel had already passed the most dangerous phase, meow! No need to worry!"

Rong Buqiu sat on the ground, lifting a hind leg to scratch its neck.

"Though Lincoln is really still unwilling, he’s been training extra hard with Miss Maria, meow! Perhaps when we head over again, he might have learned ’Acceleration Technique’ by then, meow!"

"It’s a pity..." the cat sighed regretfully, "I should focus on learning Fighting Spirit first, but ’Acceleration Technique’ always seemed pretty cool, meow!"

"Don’t worry." Lann comforted Rong Buqiu, "You’ve already enhanced your bodily control considerably by first learning swordsmanship and breathing techniques with me, and you’ll be quick at learning the next things."

After a playful time between the Demon Hunter and Elu Cat, Lann called the Qilin playing with electric fish below up.

The cross-world traveling trio began to converse again.

"Whoosh?"

’So you think trouble might be coming tonight, yes?’

The Qilin’s large nostrils exhaled moist, warm air. The New Continent Ancient Dragon spoke through the mutated "Yakxi Rune" link.

"Shrrr!"

’Seriously flawed brain, causing trouble before those powerful women?’

In the last confrontation with the "Fog Nest Master" Terror Tyrannosaurus, Tishaya and the others pulling the maritime typhoon inland to the mountain’s strength amazed the Qilin.

So now it complains, someone dares to intrude into Airetusa.

The Rong Buqiu also tilted its head, looking at its boss in puzzlement.

"No one would be foolish enough to break in." Lann shook his head helplessly, "I’m just afraid that someone with a certain identity might sneak in... no, telling you all this is too complicated."

The Elu Cat and Ancient Dragon sat side by side, nodding dumbly.

They truly didn’t understand these things.

Lann rubbed his chin, making arrangements in a simple and straightforward manner.

"Watch tonight and see if anyone lands on Sandy Island through unusual channels."

Gastang Palace, located at the top level, serves as the meeting place and has a magic-prohibiting array, intended to keep the Great Mages’ heads cool during meetings, preventing them from losing their tempers.

But because Gastang Palace is on the top level, the array’s range doesn’t actually cover the lower levels.

However, to demonstrate the solemnity and formality of the meeting, the warlocks still refrain from casting spells arbitrarily during the meeting.

So at this time, if anyone wants to cause trouble or do something, the least noticeable method is instead the old-fashioned, clumsy way.

"Huff?"

’Come by boat? Then should I just ram my head into them and be done with it, huh!’

The Qilin shook its long and sturdy neck with great momentum, the pale mane flickering like flames.

But Lann and the Rong Buqiu both gave it a sideways glance.

"Have you forgotten how many ships are rocking back and forth out on the sea right now, meow?"

The little cat sighed as if lamenting the Ancient Dragon’s intelligence.

"Are you going to ram all of them, meow?"

"Let’s wait until we confirm they’re landing, and then also see what they’re doing after they come ashore." Lann instructed, "If they’re up to no good, stop them and notify me."

"Understood, meow!"

"Huff!"

The big and small both nodded, and Lann felt a little relieved.

After he came back this time, his information processing ability quickly gathered and analyzed intelligence.

The abnormality in international circumstances and atmosphere had already caught his eye and been noted in his heart.

At this juncture, he believed, whether through rational analysis or instinctive feeling, that the Wizard Assembly is a good point for igniting conflicts, to kick off the events.

When the conflicts have become unavoidable, everyone wants to be the one to take the initiative and attack, rather than passively accept it.

And Lann wants this Wizard Assembly to proceed smoothly.

The Northern Wizards have a high level of political influence, which is not the same as the South.

The collective decisions of this group of wizards can sway and influence the kingdom.

At such an imperfect juncture, even though Lann himself bears hostility toward Niflgaard, he doesn’t want it to erupt now.

According to Lann’s analysis, the purges and accountability driven by Niflgaard’s defeat in the last war have not yet ended and are far from causing maximum damage.

Those with political motives are looking to use this chance to achieve their goals.

The external pressure at this time would only help them.

Lann prefers to use this Wizard Assembly to suppress the rash behaviors of those foolish and impatient kings, urging them to wait a little longer.

The situation is changing, and with strategic patience, the scene may be entirely different after waiting a bit longer.

Unfortunately, those kings lack the courage to wait, and there are quite a few who are ready to recklessly abandon caution.

Waiting with a determined mindset for the situation to shift is much more valuable than impulsive action driven by hot-headedness.

Lann imagines that something is likely to occur at tonight’s banquet.

Though he remains uncertain about who would lose patience and act first, or to what extent the situation would be escalated.

Before confirming anything, he and Airetusa are not suitable to appear overly sensitive.

It’s like a ’terrorist attack’; the damage caused by the attack itself is trivial to the overall target of the attack.

But if the entity being attacked loses its temper and becomes irrational because of it, the resulting damage would far exceed that caused by the attack itself!

Nonetheless, no matter how things unfold, Lann feels he is fully prepared.

"High Hill Castle, Gos Velen’s factory area, Airetusa... heh."

The Demon Hunter put on the attire Margaret chose for him, his mouth calm yet full of interest.

Nerves adjusted to a point of being aggressive while maintaining a composed and stable equilibrium... he’s even a bit eager to see what will transpire tonight.

"Let’s go, dear."

And by the young Demon Hunter’s side, the ever-enchanting Female Warlock took his arm.

Lann’s smile transformed into something appropriate and gentle, perfectly adapting to the current soirée atmosphere, without a trace of the earlier dangerous vibe.

After dusk fell, Lann, Margaret, and Triss joined the vibrant procession heading towards the venue of the banquet, within the main building of Airetusa Academy.