"In the melee, he single-handedly defeated fifteen knights from three other squads."
"In the mounted jousting tournament, he made all his opponents cower before even fighting. His strength... far exceeds any ordinary warrior you've ever seen."
Geralt listened to Foltest's description with an unreadable expression, but his inner confusion and surprise were palpable.
This display... sounded very much like his own state at times when facing powerful enemies, forced to drink decoctions or potions that drastically increased his strength.
But the young man before him had clear eyes and normal skin tone, completely lacking the signs of toxin buildup from long-term use of potent alchemical concoctions.
"An ordinary person possessing strength comparable to that enhanced by mutations and potions? This defies logic," Geralt thought to himself.
But he was accustomed to not jumping to conclusions easily, so he merely nodded slightly.
He spoke in his usual low, calm voice: "Sounds impressive."
Seeing this, Foltest nodded with satisfaction: "I hope you two can cooperate."
"Witcher, your professional knowledge and experience, combined with Mr. El's strength, might just create a miracle."
"You can exchange information about that creature with each other. You can discuss the specific details yourselves."
The meeting was brief and direct. Karl could feel the probing beneath Geralt's scrutinizing gaze.
And he, too, was full of curiosity about this Witcher whom he had long known but never met.
After all, the other party was a living, breathing person, not a virtual character controlled in a game.
The two walked out of the council chamber one after the other; cooperation seemed to be a foregone conclusion.
But between them, there were clearly many mists that needed mutual probing and understanding...
Leaving the King's council chamber, Karl and Geralt walked one after the other down the corridor leading to the temple district laboratory.
The atmosphere was slightly silent, with only the echo of boots striking the flagstones.
Geralt's cat-like eyes subtly observed Karl ahead of him.
He was accustomed to evaluating partners before cooperating, especially such an unconventional fighting force highly anticipated by the King.
"Mr. El, the King called you a champion."
"This kind of Martial Arts Tournament is usually a place for noble scions to make a name for themselves." Geralt's voice was low and steady, as if he were just making casual conversation.
His words carried a hint of subtle probing.
He didn't have much fondness for the noble class, as it often meant trouble and political entanglements.
Karl didn't turn around, his voice frank: "Just call me Karl, Lambert."
"As for noble status... it's very new to me."
"Not long ago, I was just an ordinary villager working in the fields, occasionally hunting with a crossbow, or clearing out a few Drowners."
This answer made Geralt's amber pupils contract slightly.
A villager? What kind of villager possessed the ability to crush an entire squad of knights? This was even more... unusual than he had expected.
His curiosity intensified. A person who had just shed his commoner status and gained power and position.
Why would he voluntarily get involved in such a clearly suicidal, dangerous mission? For honor? Money? Or something else?
Geralt didn't ask out loud, merely burying the question in his heart, intending to continue observing.
Karl's straightforward attitude, however, improved his first impression of the young man quite a bit.
At least he wasn't like those nobles who were accustomed to playing with words and false pleasantries.
"I've seen many young men die trying to make a name for themselves."
Geralt finally just replied calmly, making it impossible to tell if it was a warning or a statement of fact.
"I've also seen people dragged into swamps by Drowners. Some risks are worth taking." Karl curled his lips, answering just as calmly.
During their conversation, they arrived at Triss's laboratory. Karl pushed open the door, generously gesturing for Geralt to enter.
Inside the laboratory, there were still some traces of his previous conflict with Keira.
But more prominently, there were various magic tomes, alchemical tools, and papers filled with notes.
Karl walked directly to a table where the dossier obtained from Foltest was spread out.
As well as the information Triss had compiled about the Vampire Bird during this time.
"This is all the information we currently have about that palace and the lady inside," Karl said, pushing all the documents towards Geralt, without any reservation or hesitation.
"Including the last returning information from that knight squad, though it's very fragmented."
"And Triss... my partner, a sorceress, she consulted ancient texts to find the common weaknesses of the Vampire Bird."
Karl specifically clarified Triss's identity to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
Geralt, however, looked at Karl with some surprise.
Sharing crucial intelligence so easily—such candor was rare in the world of deceitful commissions.
Karl's trust quietly raised his evaluation of this collaborator by a few points.
He silently took the dossier, quickly and carefully browsing through it, his sharp eyes catching every potentially useful detail.
"Hmm, agile, sharp claws, paralyzing venom—that aligns with what I know," Geralt thought to himself.
"Screech... can stun and kill ordinary people, I never knew that."
"Silver weapons cause effective damage, correct."
"Moon Dust? In an invisible state, it can still be observed. As expected of a sorceress, she even has channels to gather this kind of information."
...Just then, the laboratory door opened again, and Triss walked in.
Her face was flushed with the excitement of a successful experiment; she seemed eager to share something with Karl immediately.
But she instantly spotted the stranger in the room, especially those distinctive cat-like eyes.
"Karl, I succeeded... Oh? And this is?"
Triss instantly reined in her outward emotions, becoming more reserved and polite.
Her gaze lingered on Geralt for a moment, scrutinizing.
Then, she naturally walked to Karl's side, her posture intimate and clearly stating their relationship.
"This is Lambert, an experienced Witcher. The King hopes we can cooperate on Princess Adda's matter," Karl introduced, then turned to Geralt.
"Lambert, this is Triss, my partner, and a powerful sorceress."
"Many of the materials you see here about the Vampire Bird are thanks to her research."
Triss nodded slightly at Geralt, her smile appropriate but maintaining a distance: "Mr. Lambert, I hope these materials will be of some help to you."
Her attitude was friendly, purely out of politeness to Karl's partner.
Geralt keenly sensed the powerful magical fluctuations from Triss; his medallion was trembling at that moment.
He was indeed momentarily struck by Triss's beauty, but more so by a cautious respect for a powerful sorceress.
He was very aware of the boundaries that needed to be maintained when dealing with sorcerers.
Especially when their partner was right beside them, and about to become his temporary comrade.
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