The Witcher: Grinding Experience Starting as a Wolf School Witcher

Chapter 48 Timber Merchants, Upstream Targets

Slay the kobolds and obtain 25% of the kobold mutants!

Slay the kobolds and obtain 25% of the kobold mutants!

[Wolf School Witcher Swordsmanship Experience +1!]

[Quin Sign and Aard Sign experience +1!]

Arwen held his sword across his chest, took out an oilcloth from his pouch with his left hand, and wiped the blood off the silver sword.

After calming his breathing slightly, a deep voice came from his mouth.

"Get down, it's alright now."

The middle-aged man in green carefully climbed down from the thick poplar tree in front of him.

He patted his backside and came towards us, a relieved smile appearing on his weathered face.

"Oh, kind traveling knight, if it weren't for you, I would be dead here."

As he spoke, he bowed and kicked the kobold corpse lying on the ground.

"My name is Theodore Reed, a merchant with the Cordwin Timber Association. May the gods bless you."

After wiping the silver sword, Alwin raised his head slightly, revealing a pale, ferocious face beneath his hood, along with his beast-like vertical pupils.

"You...you are...a Witcher!"

The timber merchant took a step back, a look of fear on his face.

Arwen sheathed his silver sword, drew his dagger from his waist, squatted down next to the kobold, and used the knife to pry open the latter's teeth.

The kobolds' teeth are very hard and can be used to make small weapons or sold as decorations.

"What's your name again?"

"Theodore...Theodore, Mr. Witcher."

The timber merchant was rambling incoherently.

As Alwin pried open the kobold's teeth, he said, "Judging from your appearance, you've met witchers before, so you should understand our rules. I went to great lengths to save you."

The timber merchant paused for a moment.

He could see it clearly from the tree; in just a few breaths, the two ferocious monsters lay dead on the ground.

How much effort can be expended?

"Gagaga!"

The raven landed on the hilt of the greatsword on Arwen's back, tilted its head, and waited quietly for Arwen to deal with it before it was time to eat.

The timber merchant looked at the giant sword and swallowed hard.

As a traveling merchant, he must have some knowledge and be able to recognize a few characters.

The booklet "Freaks" clearly states that witchers only care about money, are cold-blooded and ruthless, and will face merciless retaliation if their rewards are not met.

Now that he is all alone again, if he continues to talk nonsense like those unruly country folk, it would be like leaving his body in the wilderness, a loss that would outweigh any gain.

He subtly moved the bag hanging from his waist behind him with his right hand.

"Respected Witcher, as you can see, we haven't had time to transport all this timber back. I'm also short on funds. Why don't you do me a favor and help me out?"

Alwin remained silent, continuing to put the teeth he had pried off into his pouch, the stench of blood filling the air.

Sweat beaded on the forehead of the timber merchant. After hesitating for a long time, he finally took off his money bag, opened it, and revealed the metallic sheen.

"That's all I have."

Arwin stood up, glanced around, and saw that they were all copper coins.

The timber merchant said, "At market price, a dog-headed man like this is only worth 70 ducats."

Dukat, as Vesemir had mentioned, was the exclusive currency of Cordwin.

"Ha, do you think I'm that easily fooled?"

"80! Good heavens, those two are already 160 Ducati!"

"Isn't your life a bit too cheap? I drank a bottle of magic potion."

The timber merchant gritted his teeth, "90 ducats. For the sake of all the devils and demons, this is my bottom line. This is all the money I make transporting this timber!"

"Do you have any crowns?"

"Yes, it's worth only 25 and a half crowns if you convert it to crowns, but I can only give you 25. That's all I have."

Alwin frowned. "I remember one crown was worth five ducats."

The timber merchant said, "Those are all old calendars from which year? They've been devalued for a long time now, 1 crown can be exchanged for 7 ducats."

"Transaction successful."

Arwen removed his gauntlets inlaid with silver ingots and extended his hand.

The timber merchant paused, grasped the former's hand, and felt a tingling sensation in his palm—a unique tactile sensation resulting from the Witcher's mutation.

He immediately took out 25 crowns and placed them in Alwin's hand with a pained expression.

Arwen carefully put away Kron, marking his first official demon-hunting commission.

The raven summoned its mare, landed on the ground, and used its beak to peck a wisp of flesh from the kobold's wound, quickly swallowing it.

The timber merchant stared at the overturned carriage, spitting as he spoke.

"Those damned bastards, those sons of bitches, not only did they abandon me and run away, but they even rode off with my steed."

He glanced at Arwen's mare, and a fawning smile immediately spread across his face.

"Witcher, in consideration of our pleasant transaction, could you please help me take this carriage to the town ahead? It's not far, only five miles away."

"A small town?"

"Yes, Baihe Town, the territory of Baron Baihe."

"A small town is a baron's territory?" Arwen scoffed.

"Hehe, you don't know this. There is a mine in the territory of Baron White River that is rich in various metals and gems. Every year, it supplies a lot to Marquis Louis-Pold Lindenbrog of the Upper Lands. He is a big favorite of the Marquis of the Upper Lands."

The term "Upward Landmark" is mentioned in the "New Account of the Kingdom of Cordwin" and refers to the name used to delineate the territory of Cordwin.

The northern kingdoms have not yet fully expanded their territories as they have in The Witcher games; there is still much wilderness to explore. Of course, the most important task is to seize territory from the elves and dwarves.

Cordwin is now divided into Upper, Lower, and Westbound Marks, the Lakeside Marks to the east, and the central Royal Domain.

The territory of Cordwin, which is closest to Kaer Morhen, is the uphill target.

Alwin stretched out his hand, his purpose self-evident.

Give me the money.

There's no such thing as working for nothing.

The timber merchant's face suddenly darkened. Kadwin, who had been so enthusiastic when inquiring about the situation, now wore a different expression. He muttered, "A cunning fox, a miser!"

"50 Dukat, which is equivalent to 7 kronor. That's the most I can go. Any more than that and I'll lose everything on this trip."

Alwin was both angry and amused as he watched the former jump up and down in frustration.

"Give me five coins, and tell me about the surrounding area. When we get to Baihe Town, give me directions to the inn."

Upon hearing this, the timber merchant immediately beamed with joy and rubbed his hands together.

"No problem, you're so kind."

Arwen stepped forward and gripped the bottom of the overturned carriage with both hands. The power brought by the [Giant Bloodline] spread through his arms, and with the strength of his waist and abdomen, the thousand-pound wooden carriage was steadily righted.

The timber merchant was completely stunned by what he did.

If he and his buddies were to do this, it would take them at least half a day, and by then it would be dark. In this primeval forest, who can say that some terrifying monsters won't appear?

The timber merchant immediately felt that the five crowns were well worth the price.

The two gathered up the fallen wood and headed towards Baihe Town.