Chapter 60: A Request Like This, I've Never Heard in My Life
He arrived at Novigrad's harbor and took the pouch of money from the captain.
He counted the crowns inside the pouch in front of the captain.
Having ensured that all was in crowns and no silver or copper coins were added to make up the weight, Lynn left happily.
He rode Nidhogg—the black horse given to him by Istrad—through the harbor district of Novigrad in the rainy mist.
He rejected the prostitutes proffering themselves at the roadside, avoided the merchants thrusting their wagons, and finally arrived at Novigrad's central square.
It took him little time to notice several notice boards set in prominent places in the square.
"Hmm, let us see."
"Looking for a lost kitty?"
"Teaching my useless man to cease lying down?"
"Teaching kids to quit dreaming about marrying rich women?"
Lynn's lips curled.
What on earth was all of this?
But when his gaze swept downward to a new posting on a piece of parchment at the very bottom of the notice board, his face finally turned serious.
"I am Professor Hieronymus Gloger of Oxenfurt Academy"
"I need a private investigator, a bounty hunter, to help me find my missing student
Although I am only a professor and have little recompense to give, I will not be stingy with my gratitude"
"Any volunteers, report to Oxenfurt Academy at your earliest opportunity. Just say my name to the gatekeeper, and you will be admitted
Note: Be haste, the time my student has been missing has already exceeded the golden rescue time. Every passing day of delay will reduce her chance of survival by another point"
"Missing? Hmm, might as well go take a look. Though the notice doesn't promise much reward, an Oxenfurt Academy professor wouldn't try to fob someone off with peanuts, would he?"
Thus, Lynn guided his horse through the nodding guards leaning on their halberds and left the pearl of the North.
Thunder rumbled and lightning slashed across the black clouds. Lynn rode at a gallop on the country roads after leaving Novigrad.
The rain made the country roads outside the city thinly populated.
Witchers, due to their mutations, didn't get sick or catch colds.
That was the reason Lynn rode in the rain.
After several hours of continuous travel, the tall walls of Oxenfurt finally came into view.
Oxenfurt was a rough diamond, located between the Pontar and Braa Rivers, southeast of Novigrad.
The city, which was located in the country of Redania, tightly surrounded Oxenfurt Academy and was made up of narrow winding streets and timber spire houses that were painted a multitude of different colors.
The city relied on Oxenfurt Academy and its students and professors in everything.
It was full of life and noise, and nurtured the greatest minds in all the North.
There was no match for Oxenfurt Academy on the Continent. Only the Nilfgaardian Imperial Academy could be compared.
.
Lynn rode his horse at a slow pace down a busy, muddy street.
Alongside workshops, studios, stalls, and shops of all sizes.
Thanks to Oxenfurt Academy, all kinds of unusual and wonderful goods were produced and sold in those places.
They served either incredibly or uselessly useful purposes.
He passed by inns, taverns, stalls, shacks, counters, and portable grills, shops with mouth-watering food that was a feast for the eye, nose, and tongue.
Not only dishes themselves, even spices, side dishes, and seasonings were unique in the world.
It was Oxenfurt.
The wise and diligent Oxenfurters had studied the dry and valueless theories of Oxenfurt Academy bit by bit and had built such a colorful, cheerful, noisy, and fragrant magical town.
It was also a town of various entertainments.
Festivals didn't cease, holidays didn't terminate, and carnivals didn't conclude.
The streets here echoed with songs and music day and night, together with the loud clinking of wine glasses and large beer mugs.
For, as was commonly known, there was no pursuit more thirst-inducing than the acquisition of knowledge.
Despite the rector's strict prohibition against students and tutors drinking and carousing before dark.
Everyone here still drank and caroused day and night.
For, as was commonly known, if there was anything more thirst-inducing than the acquisition of knowledge, it would probably be regulations partially or completely prohibiting drinking.
Lynn rode Nidhogg.
Surrounded by revelry, he rode on.
Amidst the crowds moving along the street, hawkers, shop owners, and charlatans loudly sold their goods and services, adding to the surrounding noise.
"Squid! Roasted squid!"
"Miracle salve! Cures all kinds of spots and scabies! One shop only! Honest miracle salve!"
"Cats! Rat-catching cats! Magic cats! Ladies and gentlemen, listen to them mew!"
"Amulets! Elixirs! Aphrodisiacs, love potions, guarantee you'll be in ecstasy! One sip and even the dead will be full of energy! Who wants to buy! Who wants to buy?"
"Eminent sir, may I have a minute of your time? Allow me to introduce you to our Heavenly Father and Savior, the Eternal Fire."
Lynn continued on, passing the high "Rosebud" brothel.
The streetwalkers standing at the entrance of this brothel were clearly a step up from the one in the Novigrad docks.
"If it were Geralt, he would love this place."
Lynn said in a critical and scrutinizing manner.
But he was not going in.
Even though this brothel looked quite high-end.
"Please dismount, sir, Oxenfurt Academy welcomes only pedestrian visitors." At the main gate of Oxenfurt Academy, the lady clerk responsible for registering visitors took Lynn's measure.
Ensuring Lynn, in any case, didn't look like a student who had arrived to study.
Lynn did.
He got off his horse.
Looking at this tall, beautiful young woman who couldn't have been more than twenty years old.
"I'm here for Professor Gloger's summons."
The young woman shifted the spectacles perched on the tip of her nose.
"Professor Gloger? Oh, yes, I remember, he did order something. So, bounty hunter or private investigator, which one are you?"
Lynn did not hide his identity. Moreover, with these cat eyes, he could not hide it.
"A witcher, to be precise."
The young woman's face was that of surprise: "A witcher? I've heard tales about you, I never believed you existed. I've never met a witcher before, in person, that is."
Lynn bowed courteously to the noblewoman.
"Of course, we not only exist, but are still fighting on the front lines to protect people."
"However, madam, if you don't mind, I would rather speak to Professor Gloger."
"Besides, I heard his business cannot wait."
Then the young lady awaked as from a dream.
"Oh oh. all right. now there is just one last question."
"I'm listening, madam."
Her eyes sparkled all of a sudden.
That glance was like gazing at a cat that was exotic and handsome.
"Unbelievable, you're not carrying any infectious diseases, are you? Can I touch you?"
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