"Phillip, you don't necessarily have to hang yourself this time or take Anna across the Blue Mountains for treatment."
Half a minute later, Dalton returned to Karl and quietly reported the situation.
"Dalton, did it go well?"
"Lord Karl, it was just as you anticipated," he agreed without much hesitation.
"He was anxious and uneasy, but somewhat expectant.
"He said he would come to see you tomorrow alone, and entrusted me to convey his deep gratitude for your kindness."
Karl smiled and nodded, thinking that in the face of a noble's request, few commoners could refuse.
"Dalton, I'll leave the luggage and other preparations to you. I'm going to the market."
"I understand, Lord Karl. Do you want me to come with you?"
"Ahem, no need. I've been in Vizima for a while; I won't get lost."
On the road, Karl was often watched by passersby because of his outstanding appearance, especially since he was wearing luxurious clothes.
Many women—young women—when they approached him, intentionally drew near him.
There was a sparkle in their eyes, they laughed softly, and after passing by, they stopped and looked back.
Even some bold women intentionally brushed their hands against his robe.
Although these women took bold steps, no one ever dared to strike up a conversation with him.
The main reason, of course, was his clothing.
The outer layer was a long blue velvet coat adorned with golden patterns.
Inside was a woolen lining, the innermost layer was a snow-white linen shirt tied with a black velvet cravat, and the lower body was gray woolen trousers with high leather boots.
In this era, ordinary people dressed very simply and didn't have bright colors.
Furthermore, due to their own economic situation, their clothes would be more or less patched and damaged.
Karl's clothes were not only brightly colored, but the materials and decorative styles were also inaccessible to ordinary people, which was obviously either expensive or very expensive.
Therefore, without understanding, even though Karl was very outstanding, they didn't dare to rush into a conversation for fear of upsetting the other party.
Moreover, seeing Karl with something in his hand, it seemed he had business to attend to, and of course, it was impossible to disturb him.
They silently watched Karl leave before someone began to speak in a low voice.
"Sisters, which dignitary is this?"
"With such an outstanding appearance, he should have been famous long ago. Why have I never heard of him in Vizima?"
"His Majesty the King is about to hold a martial arts tournament soon. He must be a foreign merchant or noble, right? If he participates, maybe we can see him then."
"Oh~ I can't wait any longer; I want to get closer to him."
"Oh! In broad daylight, you slut, you're going into heat!"
...
Along the way, Karl's surprised looks from many women were not unexpected.
He could only sigh inwardly that sometimes being too outstanding in appearance and charm wasn't a good thing.
At least it would be more difficult when he wanted to disguise himself to evade detection; maybe he should learn from Superman and wear glasses?
He admired the scenery of Vizima, turning left and right, choosing the road entirely by feel. After passing a fork, he unconsciously approached the door of an herbalist's shop.
With a smile, he immediately stepped forward, opened the wooden door, and entered the shop.
He had been wondering where the herbalist's shop was, but he hadn't expected to stumble upon it while shopping. Wasn't this a coincidence?
In a ghostly place like Baron's Meadow, it was essentially a village, and there was only one shop selling ordinary herbs.
But people there didn't accept mutagens like Drowner brains because no one practiced alchemy there, and he couldn't find a buyer even if he collected them, nor could he sell them.
Now that he was in Vizima, he could sell the stock of mutagens and Drowner brains in his hands.
"I'm very sorry, Miss Triss, the Drowner brain you need is sold out."
"You already gave us a deposit, but the Drowned Dead mutagen and brain you ordered are not sold yet."
"Please tell me, how much longer do I have to wait to get the alchemical ingredients?"
Triss crossed her arms, her face angry, and the fingers inside her velvet gloves occasionally tapped on her arms.
The shop owner was a middle-aged man who said with a sweating smile, "Madam, please understand our difficulties."
"Without the help of monster hunters, only mercenaries hunt them, and the losses are more severe."
"Since Drowners are pack creatures, mercenaries don't want to take on such jobs, which is why the needed materials are in short supply."
"If they're not satisfied with the reward, I can increase it again. In short, I want to see the alchemical materials arrive within three days."
"Uh... Madam, it's not about the reward."
Hearing this, the shop manager looked a bit helpless, nervously rubbed his hands, and began to explain.
The sewer under Vizima was built directly on the ruins of an ancient elven city.
Furthermore, it connected the temple district and the commercial district, draining sewage from the entire city.
The sewer was dirty and complex, with many passages, and no one knew what monsters might appear.
Therefore, going into the sewer to hunt monsters was very risky.
Even if mercenaries went together, they were sometimes inevitably wiped out, or one or two lucky ones managed to escape from the monster's jaws.
No matter how high the commission, it had to be done with one's life, and the risk was too great for mercenaries to accept the job.
The alchemical materials sought by the sorceress in front of him faced such problems.
...
Creak! Ding-ding-ding! The shop door opened, and a bell rang.
Seeing that there was another customer in the shop, the boss looked at Triss with an apologetic glance, then turned away from Karl.
"Welcome, guest. Sorry, I'm not free right now. There are chairs next to me; please wait a moment."
"It's fine, I can wait. By the way, I wanted to ask if you accept Drowner brains?" Karl replied indifferently.
"Ah?! Guest, you've come at just the right time; this lady needs them." The boss was surprised and quickly said.
Hearing that someone was going to sell Drowner brains, Triss was surprised, her brows gradually relaxed, and she slowly turned around.
However, seeing this sight, her gaze lingered on the other person's face, and she saw that the black-haired man was tall and straight, with angular features.
Her eyes lit up, a flicker of surprise crossing them.
At the same time, Karl was also startled, pressed his lips together, and looked at the sorceress.
Thick, fiery red hair fell to her shoulders in loose curls, contrasting with her porcelain-white skin.
Those light green eyes were deep and intelligent, shining with wisdom and a hint of cunning.
Her face was exquisite, her nose bridge straight, her lips full, and the freckles on her left cheek added a touch of brightness, with a superficial smile.
At the moment, Triss was dressed in a fuchsia gown with a deep neckline, which only accentuated her full chest and slender waist, her delicate legs faintly visible as the skirt swayed.