Chapter 1435 - 1400: Intimidation

Triss did not refuse Lann’s request, or rather, she currently lacked the strength to refuse.

So she just smiled foolishly and gave Lann’s chest a gentle push, reminding him to mind the occasion.

However, after that push, the roaring bear head pendant on the demon hunter’s neck quieted down, as if it felt nothing at all.

Immediately following, without Triss’s mental defense, Lann suddenly felt his scalp itch.

This was his firsthand experience of chaos magic power entering his brain in the form of telepathy.

The warlocks still don’t quite understand the demon hunter group, even though since Lann’s arrival, research on demon hunters has grown increasingly detailed and in-depth.

But they still didn’t know that the difference between demon hunters and ordinary people lies in their ability to feel the intrusion of chaos magic power, like cats and snakes do.

This tiny characteristic and feature might even be forgotten by the demon hunters themselves, only realizing it in the face of real events.

And though Lann was feeling that slight scalp itch, he still smiled like he felt nothing at all.

However, on that level unseen by people or even warlocks, the warm and complete aura surrounding Lann seemed to be controlled by him to dim slightly.

Uncertain if it was an illusion or not, the candles created by magic throughout the hall, which far exceeded normal candlelight capabilities, seemed to flicker collectively for a brief moment.

Although the illumination resumed normalcy immediately after that hallucination-like instant, mysteriously—the atmosphere in the banquet hall—didn’t feel quite right.

Originally, a large crowd formed small circles according to relationships and familiarity. Although they kept their voices down, the words of so many people combined into a buzzing noise, full of human vitality.

But after that moment... no matter how close two people spoke, their conversation suddenly felt distant, vague, and lonely.

On the high walls on both sides, those narrow and tall stained glass windows were letting in the wind, and the white thin curtain beside the window fluttered, now under moonlight and candlelight, possessing a dreamy emptiness and an ethereal sense.

Am I dreaming now?

Many people suddenly felt a sense of dissonance in their minds, leading to this question.

And this dream-like empty feeling was continuously intensifying, as if the next moment, people would sink into a quiet, deep dream realm...

"Ugh!" *N

Several sudden sounds of dry heaving emerged in the strangely quiet environment, like a wake-up call.

Those who were still somewhat immersed in the empty feeling abruptly awoke.

They first blinked with a slight daze, then realized what was happening in the massive hall: about a dozen warlocks who had been eating, drinking, and laughing suddenly seemed impacted internally.

Their limbs flailed uncontrollably, collapsing, with the sensation of vomiting transmitting from the central nervous system to the esophagus.

Thankfully, they had eaten only a little before the banquet to maintain decorum, otherwise, it would have resulted in a mess.

Their eyes were hollow and vacant, as if their thoughts were still trapped somewhere.

The people chatting beside them were shocked, exclaiming as they avoided them, causing another round of startled exclamations.

The abruptly silent banquet returned to being noisy again.

Until several attendants and the fallen friends of those dry-heaving warlocks came over, offering comfort and support, finally giving signs of returning focus in their dispersed pupils.

Most people in attendance either didn’t notice or subconsciously chose not to notice the sudden and eerie dream feeling and skipped discussing it.

Only a few people in the whole ballroom frowned, seemingly aware that the earlier feeling was strange.

The sudden feeling came quickly and left quickly; people’s minds swiftly skipped past this sensation.

The warlocks at the banquet were frightened by the simultaneous loss of bodily control and vomiting by more than a dozen individuals at the same time.

But soon, those dozen people themselves gradually regained their senses.

And simultaneously claimed that they didn’t know what happened, as if wanting to blame their awkward state on Airetusa’s banquet food and drinks.

Yet when Margaret passed by carrying a tray of oysters and prawns, even this excuse was held back.

Finally, they just attributed it to their own physical conditions.

A disturbance arose, but it wasn’t worth getting more worked up over during the banquet.

Everyone started with astonishment but ultimately refocused their energies on more important socializing.

As for Lann, he calmly drank his sparkling wine, and the roaring bear head pendant on his neck was truly motionless now.

And his body no longer felt the stimulating intrusion of chaos magic power.

Nobody wanted to delve into the earlier incident, but that didn’t mean everyone was oblivious.

In the hall, there were countless formidable warlocks, who could still sense the mental links?

It was merely a matter of observing, nonchalantly, how this legendary Demon Hunter would react to such obscure and secretive magic, or even if he could sense it at all.

But the result was already clear.

Those warlocks’ mental linkages were plainly visible to others.

Yet Lann’s counter... no one could understand.

It wasn’t magic, and even those secret observers couldn’t confirm if anything truly happened right under their noses.

All they knew was that the probing in the realm of mental links began and then suddenly ended.

Everyone daring to invade that Demon Hunter’s body with their thoughts were struck with symptoms in an instant.

Evidence wasn’t important; the result was obvious.

This Demon Hunter wasn’t merely the ’strong fighter’ brute of legend; he had a way with magic, a way people didn’t understand.

Whether this way had anything to do with Airetusa remained unknown, but merely knowing this was enough to settle many at the banquet.

"Alright." On the outskirts of the hall, a man with a burly build, though still within the normal human range compared to Lann, muttered, looking like he wanted to spit.

But after glancing at the luxurious, immaculately polished marble floor of Airetusa Palace, he swallowed instead.

His speech didn’t cease, however, despite his imposing stature, his voice was not loud, nor was the tone rough.

"The banquet has just begun, and one of the strategies in our plan is immediately moot."

He spoke to the witch beside him.

"According to you: There’s no understanding what this is about."

"If even you can’t manage, who could delve into his mind to hypnotize him, making him temporarily work for us? Or at the very least, not interfere with our upcoming plans, merely fall asleep, Philippa?"

"I never really thought that plan was feasible." The witch said calmly, taking a sip from her goblet, "He’s a Demon Hunter; wearing Demon-Blocking Gold wouldn’t bother him much. You really should fire the advisor drafting your plans."

"Demon Hunters can use Demon-Blocking Gold?" The burly man rubbed his round, stubbly head, speaking quietly, "It’s the first time I’m hearing that! Damn, these endless little traits!"

The witch glanced disinterestedly at the burly man beside her.

She knew that Dikoschek might not fully understand all the minor traits of the Demon Hunter group, but the matter of Demon-Blocking Gold couldn’t be overlooked.

The burly man was merely acting, pretending he was someone careless.

But those who truly believed this would be in for some real misfortune.

Faced with the sideways glance from his female companion, Redania Kingdom’s spymaster—Dikoschek—remained unfazed.

The two had once shared a bed to establish a political alliance in Redania, but later he realized Philippa had lost interest in men long ago.

Supposedly, given the female warlock’s figure and skills in bed, he shouldn’t have felt shortchanged.

But every time Dikoschek thought of how Philippa could endure intimacy with someone of an opposing orientation just to solidify power, the spymaster would feel a wave of nausea.

The psychological disgust left him uninterested in Philippa’s naked, alluring form.

He wasn’t disgusted by her orientation... but was startled by such a thirst for power.

Yet in public, no one could see any rifts in their collaboration behind closed doors.

"One plan is stillborn." Dikoschek said calmly, "What’s next? I suggest we directly approach him and have an open discussion."

"You trust him?" Philippa sharply turned to her male companion, "I’m surprised you have the ability to trust anyone?"

"Otherwise, what’s the alternative?" Dikoschek showed a bored smile, "What can we do against him? Would we actually resort to the most bizarre plan? Gathering several female warlocks to keep him busy in bed for a whole night? Where to find them?"

"There are plenty of female warlocks, each wanting to bed him." Philippa coldly said words that should’ve been ambiguous and unclear. "Look at his appearance and physique, see the faces of those female warlocks in heat."

"I bet, with just a nod from him, those girls would act like they’ve taken an aphrodisiac, spreading their legs on cold stone."

"Female warlocks are easy to handle, but is he himself willing?" Dikoschek shrugged. "Look at this Duke, handling the banquet with ease. Clearly here for business."

"Usually, if you said he had countless lovers, capable of spending days in bed, I’d believe it. But this isn’t usual circumstances."

Dikoschek’s smile took on a serious note: "He doesn’t seem like a person whose mind is governed by his loins. Besides, what’s inside his pants appears quite sophisticated."

"Stop just pointing out issues, Dikoschek." Philippa threw another glance of disdain, "Vizimir didn’t send you here to talk pessimism, use your esteemed mind! Find a solution for the Kingdom!"

"Regardless, an arrow released never returns, is that something I need to explain?"