A group of people headed towards the outskirts of Novigrad.

It seems because Karkstan’s alchemy often leads to dangerous phenomena like explosions and combustion, he has quite a reputation.

As a result, even the temple guards of Novigrad don’t allow him into the city. He can only rent a house in the outskirts villages.

"And that’s also why that strange person was willing to take a student who hasn’t learned much out with him."

Dandelion led the way while complaining about this Master Alchemist.

"I’ve seen people immersed in research, quite a few in Ossenford. But someone like him, who can order a little girl around without a bit of embarrassment, is really rare."

"Little girl?"

Geralt clapped Dandelion on the back and asked in confusion.

He had just finished eating a smoked fish sandwich, with crumbs all over his hand.

"Shanni is about fifteen or sixteen, I haven’t asked closely, but I don’t think she’s that old. According to new studies from Osenford University, human adulthood is best set at eighteen."

Dandelion said, not paying much attention.

"But don’t underestimate her for being just a new student at Osenford. She has ambitions, I can feel it."

"I’m not saying she wants to be an official or anything, but she has ambition in academics, or in the medical profession, you understand?"

"Then you should use accurate words, oh great poet." Lann joked from behind, "That’s called career ambition."

Compared to the three men who were really out to get things done, Triss was trotting along like a girl shopping, lively following Lann’s footsteps.

Rong Buqiu donned a fitting hooded cloak, and with it draped over, others might think he was a little dwarf.

"Well, whatever."

Dandelion waved his hand without turning back.

If she wasn’t a career-driven student, it was unlikely she would seize the opportunity to go on a study trip with an expert she met right at the start of her studies.

Ordinary students usually struggle just to adapt to a new campus, and such strong purposefulness is rare.

Ossenford isn’t far from Novigrad; it’s another important city within Redania.

But its importance lies not in the city itself, but in the same-named institution, Osenford University.

The most renowned institution of higher learning in the north.

Although Airetusa and Ban Aide are both Warlock Academies, the atmosphere of power struggles has long permeated the warlock community, even within the academies.

So in terms of social contribution and theoretical research, a group of magic-wielders surprisingly isn’t as famous as a university of ordinary people.

The Fire Divination Master and Earth Divination Master seminars that Karkstan participated in were organized by Osenford University.

While Airetusa and Ban Aide rarely have such research conferences. In their view, without spell-casting ability, one is not qualified to discuss alchemy or anything else.

Lann always felt pity for this, it seems magic also cannot enhance the intelligence of idiots.

Exiting the city gates, they crossed a eutrophic tributary of the Ponta River due to urban waste. The rough stone-bricked ground disappeared, turning into natural yellow soil.

The village outside the city, on the side closer to Novigrad, managed to build houses with bricks and lime. But the farther from the city, the simpler the houses became.

Finally turning into fully wooden structures with wooden plank low walls and straw thatched roofs.

Lann walked past those sturdy buildings, guessing: these large houses were probably warehouses built by merchants from Novigrad, to avoid the high warehouse management fees within the city.

Even though outside the city transport is troublesome, security is riskier than in the city, and they have to personally fund building the houses, undoubtedly, it still profits more than renting a warehouse inside the city.

The village outside was bustling, at least more than the scattered villages along the wilderness roads.

A large city like Novigrad cannot operate without the material support of the surrounding villages.

So in this village, there are not only common farmers and hunters but also full-time laundresses, leatherworkers, and even barbers and tailors, among other professions.

It counts as a semi-commercial, semi-farming ’advanced’ structure dependent on the city.

Dandelion seemed to have some grudge or entanglement with the village laundresses, deliberately avoiding that area while leading the way.

On the well-trodden yellow dirt path, Triss kicked away two blocking chickens, and Rong Buqiu and Geralt almost stepped on a pile of donkey dung.

Finally, reaching a more peripheral part of the village, Dandelion tilted his head to signal the crowd and headed towards the house with wooden walls and a straw roof.

The poet curled his knuckles and knocked.

However, just two taps of the knuckles on the thin wooden door, and a vigilant, irritable voice came from inside.

A girl’s voice, melodious in tone, but muffled behind the wooden door.

"Don’t bother us! Leave! We don’t owe you any money! To be clear, there’s an ’alchemy master’s gift’ right at the door, you hyenas dare to touch the door again, try and see!"

"Wow~"

"Whoo~"

Geralt and Lann, one exclaimed in surprise, the other whistled.

Both were entertained by the spectacle.

But at the door, Dandelion froze, obviously, the ’alchemy master’s gift’ mentioned by the voice inside made him feel guilty.

His hand, frozen in mid-air, dared not knock again, and Dandelion could only clear his throat, cautiously speaking.

"Sha, Shanni! Don’t scare me, it’s me, Dandelion."

The person inside the door clearly recognized it was indeed the voice of the poet.

After a brief moment of silence, the flimsy wooden door opened with a "whoosh" sound.

The sudden movement startled Dandelion, making him literally jump back.

"No! Wha... what? You just open the door so abruptly? Aren’t you afraid of what’s behind the door..."

Dandelion clutched his head in fear, but when nothing happened after a while, he stammered while speaking to the person inside.

"Stop being silly, ’senior.’" The female voice inside responded to him, with a tone filled with teasing and mockery. "Without a ’gift,’ how else should I act? Let the mafia debt collectors kick open this drafty old door?"

"I think you’re just too scared of Master Karkstan, right?"

"Nonsense!" Understanding it was a false alarm, Dandelion’s courage immediately grew, and he retorted righteously. "The great poet has faced more storms than the number of plays you’ve seen!"

"That’s too bad, I’m not much interested in plays; I’ve only seen three or four."

Dandelion, usually eloquent and making a living by it, surprisingly had nothing more to say this time.

He stepped aside, gesturing to the people behind him to enter the room.

It was only then that Lann and the others saw the girl who had embarrassed Dandelion earlier.

She had neat, short red hair, a shade lighter than Triss, but still vibrant.

Slim and tall, she wore a grass-green vest—not the voluptuous or mature type, yet still quite pretty.

Her physique paired with her face exuded a scholarly intelligence and delicacy.

"What is this?"

Shanni leaned against the doorframe, apparently not intending to invite everyone directly inside.

Her eyes glanced over at Dandelion.

"You botched the deal you arranged, and now you’re here to make trouble too?"

"Hey, you know I’m not that kind of person!"

Dandelion replied irritably.

Shanni chuckled at this, finally stepping aside to open the door wide.

As Lann passed Dandelion, he chuckled softly, "Senior?"

The poet’s face reddened instantly.

Clearly, his good relationship with Shanni was largely due to them being able to spar verbally with each other evenly.

Dandelion might seem unreliable, but he actually held a degree in seven liberal arts from Osenford University, with rather impressive logic and critical thinking skills.

Being able to banter with him was a rare feat that only a well-educated group of people could manage.

To spar this intensely, it would definitely require a sharp mind.

The wooden house wasn’t large, making it feel even more cramped when everyone entered.

Lann even had to duck and stoop to get through the door.

However, the inside of the wooden house was very different from ordinary village homes.

It was filled with a mixed smell of herbs and alchemical ingredients, and crowded with sturdy and durable alchemy vessels.

Things like metal condensers and such.

A heap of various implements piled up in one corner of the room, while a man who seemed entirely uninterested in the external situation crouched there before the devices.

When he heard many people coming in, he merely waved without turning his head.

Signaling Shanni to handle it herself.

The wooden house had only two rooms, one of which was filled with equipment, while the other simply had two wooden boards on the ground covered with straw, serving as bedrolls with two sheets draped over them.

It’s hard to imagine a female university student and a Master Alchemist living in such conditions.

This environment was basically at the level of village residents in the wild, not even considered good in this village.

However, Shanni didn’t cover it up, nor did she find it embarrassing.

"If you don’t mind, please sit."

She graciously gestured to the group, pointing to the two beds.

"Please understand, although Master Karkstan still has quite a bit of money, at this point it’s best not to take it out."

"There’s not much it can do, and it’s better not to try to improve living conditions now."

After speaking, her eyes, beneath her red bangs, scanned the group with interest.

"Dandelion, you haven’t introduced them to me yet. Are they really debt collectors?"

"What are you saying?" The poet curled his lips but still stood up, acting as a mediator to introduce both sides to each other.

"These two are Demon Hunters, hunters specializing in hunting monsters; this is Triss Merigold from Maribo, the Royal Advisor of Temeria, a famous Female Warlock."

"Look at this lineup, which debt collector could arrange such a group of people?"