Joining Forces

Wayne observed Julia's reaction with a hint of admiration for her decisiveness and prudence. She was intelligent, driven, and sensible enough not to overstep—qualities he valued in a subordinate.

Standing up, Wayne took a bottle of fine red wine from the cabinet, poured a glass for both himself and Julia, and said calmly,

"There's more to it than just this, Julia. I have a much larger vision that requires an army of mercenaries loyal only to me."

"This mercenary force will be distinct from the small groups you currently manage. I envision a dedicated army, trained solely for combat."

"My plan is to build a force of 20,000 mercenaries within three years."

"Within a decade, I want that number to grow to 50,000."

"I want this force to become the largest mercenary army in the North and, eventually, the entire continent."

Wayne's calm tone belied the audacity of his words, leaving Julia across from him so stunned that she nearly choked on her wine. A mercenary army of 50,000 seemed like a far-fetched idea—unheard of even among the most powerful forces in the Northern Kingdoms.

Even Kaedwen, known for its mercenaries, had mercenary groups with numbers only in the thousands. The most powerful group in Kaedwen barely approached 10,000 members. Managing an army of 50,000 mercenaries would be unprecedented and would undoubtedly alarm the Northern rulers, as such a force could disrupt regional power balances and challenge royal authority.

For mercenary groups over a few thousand, many were led by royals or served as agents for powerful nobles to ensure they stayed within bounds and posed no threat to ruling powers. Any kingdom's ruler would sooner eliminate a potential threat than let it grow unchecked.

Julia wiped the wine from the corner of her mouth, working to stay composed. If Wayne weren't her benefactor and an influential figure, this tough and shrewd mercenary leader would likely have voiced her disbelief. But, forcing herself to see it as a well-meaning but impractical ambition, she put on a diplomatic smile and replied earnestly,

"Wayne, your plan is certainly ambitious and worthy of great effort."

"But there is one small matter to consider."

"In most Northern kingdoms, lords and nobles don't allow mercenary groups larger than a thousand men to exist. Even groups with only a few hundred members often face restrictions, are denied entry to cities, and are blocked from receiving contracts or commissions."

"Unless you could secure some special permit from a ruling king, a mercenary group of 10,000 or more is unlikely to be tolerated. It would be difficult to maneuver such a force without raising suspicion."

"At that scale, spies from neighboring kingdoms would constantly monitor the mercenary group's movements, and keeping it under wraps would be impossible."

Julia spoke with careful diplomacy, maintaining a respectful smile and wary of offending her benefactor. The last thing she wanted was for Wayne to insist on charging ahead recklessly, regardless of the complex realities they'd face.

Wayne observed Julia's response and couldn't help but feel impressed by her eagerness and decisiveness. She was indeed at a crucial juncture in the development of the mercenary group, and Wayne's financial support was something she could not afford to lose.

Listening to her concerns, Wayne remained patient, showing no sign of dissatisfaction. He appreciated her realistic perspective, recognizing that she wasn't just a "yes" person; she had her own mind and insight. Her words only reinforced his initial plans. Calmly, he offered some reassurance, then briefly explained his vision for establishing a powerful, far-reaching mercantile enterprise.

Looking at Julia with a composed gaze, he concluded, "In the not-too-distant future, the Wayne Chamber of Commerce will have a foothold in every major city and town across the North, and each outpost will be protected by its own armed guard."

"With hundreds of outposts and caravans, even a mercenary group numbering in the thousands would appear inconspicuous. These troops will safeguard our assets and follow my directives exclusively—they won't be sold to fight other people's wars."

"This is a grand, long-term vision, and your role, Julia, is pivotal."

Wayne paused, then continued, "But the choice is yours. If you prefer to focus solely on your current work with the non-human races, I'll respect that. I can find someone else to fill this role."

Barely had Wayne finished when Julia interjected with fervor, "I'm more than willing, boss—I want to take on this responsibility!"

The young mercenary leader's excitement was evident in her flushed face and slightly bloodshot eyes. For someone like her, the chance to lead a force of thousands and potentially leave her mark on history was an irresistible opportunity, worth any sacrifice.

Even if she doubted whether such an ambitious vision could fully materialize, the lure of something so monumental was too powerful to resist. If what Wayne promised was real, it would make her life meaningful beyond her wildest dreams.

Wayne nodded approvingly, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Her commitment was just what he'd hoped for. "I'll discuss the finer details with you soon," he said. "For now, focus on selecting trustworthy members with strong leadership potential. These individuals will eventually command teams of dozens, even hundreds."

"You must secure their loyalty—through binding contracts, the right balance of incentives and discipline, or financial rewards. Ensure they remain loyal to our cause."

"But don't rush; you'll have plenty of time to cultivate this loyalty."

As he spoke, Wayne tilted Julia's chin up, meeting her eyes with a subtle smile and adding in a quiet, entrancing tone, "You should know that I possess extraordinary power—abilities that few can even imagine."

"If you serve me faithfully and produce results that meet my standards, I'll reward you with the very thing mortals dream of—longevity. You'll have strength, vitality for centuries, a power beyond mortal reach. You'll be able to rise above, becoming someone beyond your wildest visions."

...

After the enchanting Julia left, brimming with dreams of the future, Wayne headed to a shop in Vizima, where he met with Letho and the other Viper School Witchers, who had recently settled into a stable life within the city.

Following a thorough discussion, the Witchers agreed to travel to Kaedwen to undertake the mission, with the plan to return together to Kaer Morhen once it was completed. With arrangements made, Wayne returned to Keira's mansion by dusk, finding only Maisie, the maid, and a few other servants at home. Keira had yet to return.

Noting that there wasn't quite enough time to begin any serious projects, Wayne decided to prepare a feast himself. He cooked a table full of delicious dishes as a gesture of gratitude for Keira and Maisie's enthusiasm the previous night.

However, what Wayne hadn't anticipated was that Keira would return with another guest—a sorceress he'd met a few times before: Margarita.

As the two sorceresses entered, Margarita's eyes lit up at the sight of the lavish spread Wayne had prepared. She let out an excited squeal, practically glowing with delight, as she hurried over to Wayne, wrapping him in a warm embrace and planting a kiss on his cheek. Her voice was filled with genuine joy as she exclaimed:

"I must be the luckiest guest tonight, Wayne! For the past two years, every meal I've had has reminded me of your cooking, and I've missed it so much."

"To think I'd get to taste these dishes again tonight—it's like a dream come true!"

Embraced by Margarita's soft warmth, Wayne shot Keira a look of surprise. Keira, in turn, gave him a knowing, playful smile, which only made him chuckle internally. 

He gently patted Margarita on the back and responded warmly, "Welcome, Margarita. It's been too long."

"Keira didn't mention you'd be joining us today, or I'd have prepared even more dishes just to celebrate."

Margarita's smile broadened, and she turned, taking Keira's hand and pulling the petite sorceress—who was a good half a head shorter—closer. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke to Wayne.

"Kiera told me that she is going to participate in this bounty mission and that you'll be her ally, providing protection along the way," Margarita said.

"She had actually invited me to join earlier, but without qualified warriors to protect us, I felt the mission would be too dangerous, so I was hesitant."

"But now, with a powerful Witcher like you joining us, I have no reason to decline. For this mission, we'll form a team together to help Keira hunt down the undying creature from another realm."

Wayne raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't expected Keira to recruit Margarita as an ally.

After all, Margarita wasn't just any sorceress. According to what's known in the game lore, Margarita is among the few sorceresses noted for her kindness and integrity. She isn't power-hungry and is even willing to make sacrifices for her students. She's one of the rare sorceresses who would avoid manipulation or scheming just to secure a position on the Supreme Council.

With her assistance, Keira's chances of success on this mission had significantly increased.

Once everyone was seated at the table, including Maisie, who took a spot near Wayne with Keira's nod of approval, they enjoyed the food and cheerful conversation.

Wayne, with a grin, turned to Margarita and asked jokingly, "Margarita, I imagine it must have taken quite an effort for Keira to enlist your help?"

Margarita, enjoying her meal with a delighted smile, held a slice of cream cake and took hearty bites. She didn't seem to mind that bits of creamy frosting fell onto her exposed collarbone. After finishing, she licked her fingers, casting a playful glance at Wayne before responding with a big smile.

"Keira is one of my most promising students, and I admire her character, so I only charged her a modest 5,000 orens for this job."

"You can imagine, though, that she wasn't the only one who's tried to recruit me."

As she spoke, Margarita winked at Wayne and added with a smile, "Time is indeed magical. Only in young sorceresses like Keira and Triss can we still see that kind of sincerity and sense of duty."

"When sorceresses pass their first hundred years, many of their treasured qualities seem to fade away," Margarita said thoughtfully. "A lot of them end up becoming the very people they once despised."

Wayne nodded, understanding her words. Margarita was clearly not as carefree as she appeared. She likely saw through more than most, perceiving things with a clarity that came from a lifetime of experience.

After all, Margarita had lived nearly two centuries, and with that long a life, even a straightforward person would gain a deeper wisdom. Moreover, as the headmistress of Aretuza, her intelligence and emotional insight had to be considerable; otherwise, she wouldn't have earned such a position.

To retain her kind and noble character after all these years showed just how remarkable she truly was.

The dinner was delightful, and Wayne's cooking had only improved with three years of honing his skills, leaving them all nostalgic for his past creations. After Maisie excused herself, the three delved into discussing details of the upcoming mission, eventually agreeing to depart on the morning of the third day.

Later that night, after two hours of studying magic, Wayne decided to unwind with a hot bath. However, while he was lying back, enjoying the warmth, Keira and Margarita unexpectedly entered, dressed in loose bathrobes and laughing together. Spotting Wayne, they cast appreciative glances his way and, with mischievous smiles, began to quietly discuss his "impressive performance" from the previous evening, their playful words causing Margarita to burst into laughter.

Caught a bit off guard, Wayne quickly covered himself with a towel and remarked with a chuckle, "Ladies, this isn't exactly the most ladylike topic. Perhaps you could give me a moment to finish?"

To his surprise, Margarita's smile only widened as she stepped closer. Without hesitation, both sorceresses approached him, with Margarita reaching out to lightly touch his shoulder. "Oh, Wayne, where's your courage? Are Keira and I not a sight to admire?" she teased, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

She added, "Keira agreed to a little request of mine for this mission. I've always been curious about the strength of a Witcher, though I've no desire to find out with those gruff, ugly brutes. But you, Wayne—well, you're just right for me." She raised an eyebrow, her voice softer but with a playful edge. "That is, if you're up for it."

The invitation was clear, and Wayne could hardly refuse the allure of the two sorceresses.