PDLP Chapter 157 Conflict
Chapter 157 Conflict
The surprising news that Caesar intended to purchase the dead vipers spread quickly from Geralt like wings, and spread around the camp at an alarming speed.
Before long, mercenaries began to arrive with vipers to sell. However, even so, the number of vipers that Caesars could collect was pitifully small.
In just a few days, the dead viper became a hot commodity. Several major factions, all eyeing it covetously, engaged in fierce battles for it. Meanwhile, most mercenaries in the camp chose to trade the viper's body with the magical forces for high-level alchemical potions.
Faced with this situation, Caesars couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. He didn't have enough high-level potions to exchange, so naturally, it was difficult to receive a large number of vipers. Since he couldn't obtain them through purchase, it seemed that he had no choice but to hunt these dangerous creatures himself.
The morning sun gradually grew stronger, rising slowly, its warm rays casting a shadow over the lush meadow. The crystal clear dew on the grass blades, caught by the sunlight, gradually began to evaporate and disappear.
At this moment, the mercenaries gathered around the tents, ready to depart. Each of them looked serious as they carefully inspected their equipment, ensuring every protective measure was in place and foolproof.
At that moment, Caesar's gaze suddenly fell on the "Sword and Rose" mercenary squad. Their attire was striking—each wore a sturdy leather helmet, and crucial areas like their legs and arms were protected with an additional layer of soft, tough leather. This undoubtedly greatly enhanced their defense, but it also compromised their flexibility.
The tent area was several miles from the rift in the earth, but all the grass between them had been harvested to make it easier to spot vipers.
Caesars set off with the mercenary team. The other mercenaries all looked nervous, but Geralt kept talking.
"Geralt, judging from your sharing of your snake hunting experience, it seems like you hunted the viper alone!"
“It’s all thanks to everyone!”
Geralt looked at the people around him and spoke with a guilty conscience.
"He didn't kill a single viper, he just helped out from behind every time!" Clarice spoke, glaring at Geralt.
"Kassus, don't underestimate Geralt's strength. This old fellow is actually quite timid. He's been a mercenary for decades, always doing odd jobs in the mercenary team. You can count the minor injuries he's suffered on one hand, and he's never suffered a serious injury!"
Clarice's revelation of Geralt's past shocked even Caesar. Reflecting on the past, Caesar suddenly realized he hadn't seen Geralt fight. It seemed that besides doing some cooking, he wouldn't mind anything worth a silver coin. He would take anything he could carry.
Geralt didn't refute, he just smiled happily, as if getting a minor injury was a great honor.
"Geralt, you only drink the worst kind of wine, so you must have saved a lot of gold coins, right?" Caesar looked at the old mercenary and asked with interest.
"Brother Caesar, I never save gold coins!" When Geralt answered, he also looked at Clarice deliberately, as if he was worried about something.
"All the old man's gold went into women's pockets. Even though Geralt appears to be a well-behaved man, he has a woman and a daughter!"
Clarice struck again, which made Geralt's old face turn slightly red.
"So that's how it is! Geralt, you are really good at hiding things!" Caesar said with some amusement.
Geralt was clearly embarrassed, his wrinkled face flushed. He lowered his head silently and walked forward quickly. Only Clarice knew that he had a wife and daughter; the rest of the mercenary group was unaware.
"By the way, the current purchase price for a live viper isn't ten gold coins, right?"
When we were in Redstone City, Vitas Trading Company offered a price of ten gold coins. Now that vipers are so difficult to catch, Caesar estimated that the price must have risen sharply.
"Now each viper, regardless of size, is thirty gold coins. This is the unified purchase price among all major forces." Geralt answered from the front.
Caesars felt that this old guy was just a chatterbox. The question he asked Clarice was answered by the old mercenary who was eight or nine meters away.
"Such a high purchase price is equivalent to giving gold coins to Master Caesar. Saint Paul, get out to work and find the viper. Don't let it bite you to death!"
Kaisas patted the backpack behind him, and the little black snake poked its head out from inside, sniffing the air. It twisted its body, followed Kaisas's arm, and landed on the ground where only grass roots remained.
"Caesars, vipers are not that easy to catch!" said Clarice.
"You are melee professions, and I am a magician. It is easy for me to catch vipers!" Kaisas said with a smile.
Although Clarice didn't quite believe it, she didn't refute Caesars or say much. In her opinion, what Caesars said would be verified immediately.
More than ten minutes later, the black magic snake that was exploring the way ahead issued a warning. Geralt, who was not far from him, also stopped and began to search carefully for the viper.
Caesars quickly walked over to the black snake and looked forward, following its raised head. Five meters away was a coiled viper, no thicker than an arm, its scales matching the color of the ground, making it highly deceptive.
Kaisas took out a cowhide bag, and the mage's hand quickly stretched out, gently grabbed the viper basking in the sun, and then stuffed it into the animal skin bag.
During the entire process of being caught, the viper did not struggle at all and everything seemed very easy.
"Kaisas, why didn't the viper struggle when you caught it? Other magicians catch vipers this way, but they will escape when they struggle violently, or they will suddenly attack!"
Geralt was very surprised, watching the thirty gold coins fall into Caesar's pocket.
"I'm a dark magician, and the other magicians are mostly fire magicians. Fire and darkness are two opposite magical energies. It would be strange if Viper didn't struggle!"
"Why are they all fire magicians?" the old mercenary continued to ask.
"There are also magicians of other elemental systems, but their number is very small. Compared to the attack power of spells, fire magic has the highest attack strength. But I think ice magic is the most powerful, with super strong control ability, and can kill hundreds of people at a time!" Kaisas explained.
"There's an ice magician? Captain, have you heard of it?"
Geralt was clearly suspicious this time, and he asked Clarisse. He had been a mercenary for thirty or forty years, and had never heard of an ice mage.
"I haven't heard of it either!"
Clarice's answer surprised Caesars, who was a little confused. However, he copied the battle footage of his ancestors and would show it to them later.
"During the break, I'll show you some ice magic. Now, hurry up and catch some vipers. They're worth thirty gold coins each!"
At this moment, the distance to the earth fissure was within reach, and Viper's figure emerged quietly like a ghost. Many mercenaries, armed with spears and clubs, began a hunting operation.
Amidst this chaotic scene, Caesars appeared to be at ease. The small black snake before him, like a nimble hound, alerted Caesars the moment it spotted the viper. Caesars, with a simple lift of his finger and the magic of his hand, effortlessly slipped the viper into his hide pouch. However, just as everything seemed smooth sailing, an unexpected turn of events struck.
Suddenly, a wizard's hand, with lightning speed, snatched up the defenseless little black snake. Caesars, alarmed, turned to look. He saw a wizard, about fifty years old, stuffing the little black snake into a magic steel cage.
Seeing his beloved pet robbed, Caesars was instantly enraged, his eyes nearly spitting fire. He quickly pulled out the Death Staff from his bosom and stared intently at the magician, who was only ten meters away. He roared, "Old bastard, let go of my golden-eyed black snake!"
This magician, from the Magic Guild, was a formidable force, a high-ranking wizard. His figure was slightly gaunt, as if a single gust of wind would tip him over, yet his hawk-like eyes revealed a fierceness. His lips were thin, revealing at first glance that he was no good, and certainly not someone to be trifled with.
"Whatever comes into my hands is mine!"
After capturing a golden-eyed black snake, the magician smiled obscenely.
"Your life is mine, old bastard!"
Caesars looked at the greedy man with a cold expression, having already decided not to waste any more words with him. For such a greedy and reckless fellow, only the most ruthless and decisive measures could bring him the punishment he deserved.
Kaesas swung his staff, and in an instant, the elemental curse descended silently upon the greedy man like a ghost, followed by the fatigue curse and the language curse. These vicious curses entangled the target like a thorn in the flesh, causing the body to gradually become heavy and weak, and the mind to become dull and confused.
After completing a series of curses, Caesars didn't stop, but instead began to cast various buff spells on himself. As the magic light flickered, layer after layer of protective barriers appeared around him, and his strength, speed, and other attributes were greatly improved.
At that moment, a faint sound of footsteps could be heard in the distance, and a robed figure appeared in sight—also a magician from the Magic Guild. Caesars knew that this was just the beginning; it wouldn't be long before the second and third magicians would appear, and judging by the situation, more reinforcements might arrive later.
The magician who had snatched the black snake stared at Caesar sharply. Noticing Caesar casting a buff spell on him, he instantly understood his intentions. His expression changed, and he frantically attempted to activate a magic shield to ward off the incoming attack. However, no matter how hard he tried to sense the magical elements around him, he found nothing. Furthermore, even the elements within him seemed to have completely lost contact, completely unresponsive.
Just as the terrified magician was about to call for help from his companions, he was shocked to find his throat was tightly gripped by an invisible hand. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't utter a single sound. Despair enveloped him as he watched Caesars, smiling, slowly approaching him. Each step seemed calm and composed, as if the person standing before him was not an enemy, but a close friend he had known for many years.
With steady, powerful steps, Caesars slowly approached the other man. His broad, thick shoulders hunched slightly, as if carrying boundless strength. He stretched out his smooth, white hands, tightly grasping the cold, hard bars of the magic steel cage. His knuckles turned pale from the excessive force.
He took a deep breath, then exerted all his strength, desperately tearing at the seemingly indestructible magic steel cage. Each tug was accompanied by the tense muscles and the crackling of bones. His eyes remained firm, filled with determination and fighting spirit, determined to demonstrate his immense strength to everyone.
At that moment, a sharp, aching sound, teeth-grinding and ear-piercing, suddenly rang out. The once incredibly sturdy magic steel cage began to warp and deform, groaning under the weight. From this narrow space, a small black demon snake slithered out like lightning, its fangs gleaming coldly, its eyes revealing ferocity and fury, clearly poised to deliver a fatal blow to the magician who had captured it.
However, Caesar's reaction was as fast as the wind. He reached out without hesitation and caught the little black snake accurately.
"St. Paul, don't be impatient!"
Caesars soothed it softly, his tone gentle as if he were treating a rare treasure. Then, he placed the black snake on his shoulder and calmed it down.
Then, Caesar turned to look at the frightened magician, whose face was pale. He quickly made a move, grabbing the other's wrist like an eagle's claw, and with a little force, he forced the other to loosen his grip and forcibly took off his ring.
After doing this, Caesars did not stop, he took action again. This time he directly grabbed the collar of the magician's gorgeous magic robe and pulled it hard. With a crisp sound, the magic robe broke and he took it off easily.
But no one expected Caesar's next move to be even more astonishing. He suddenly thrust out both hands, firmly grasping the magician's arms, and then exerting force from his waist, sending his entire body spinning. The magician was like a weightless scarecrow, being swung through the air by Caesar at high speed.
Suddenly, Caesar let go of his hand, and the magician who intended to snatch the golden-eyed black snake flew out instantly, flying to the place in front where there were more vipers.