Chương 31: Continuing the cleanup
Obtaining another new ability filled Wayne with joy. Glancing at the bearded dwarf, Horton, who unwittingly brought him this stroke of good luck, Wayne toyed with his refined iron battle ax a few times. With a smile, he remarked:
"Horton, though I fancy your axe and pipe, I don't smoke, and axes aren't my expertise. So, how about a deal?"
Upon hearing this proposal, Horton instinctively covered his empty purse and asked innocently, "What deal, witcher?"
"First off all, I don't have a penny to my name," Horton stated matter-of-fact. "Cleaner than the ass of a dwarf on a horse. If you still want to continue playing cards, I'll have no choice but to pull out the gold tooth from my mouth and join you for another round."
Hearing the dwarf's straightforward response, Wayne was momentarily taken aback. Placing Horton's pipe, gemstone ring, and fine iron battle axe in front of the dwarf, he pushed them in his direction. In a persuasive tone, Wayne suggested, "I'm quite fond of Gwent, and I'm willing to assist you dwarves in popularizing the game. However, without my own deck, it's challenging for me to convey its enjoyment to others."
"How about this," he proposed, "I'll return your belongings, and in return, you give me half of your Gwent cards. What do you think?"
Upon hearing Wayne's proposition, Horton immediately reflected a conflicted expression. The pipe, the axe, and the gemstone ring were cherished possessions that had been his companions for many years, making him understandably reluctant to part with them. On the other hand, the Gwent deck in his possession had been earned through considerable effort, each card acquired in hard-fought games against fellow dwarves.
After deliberating for more than ten seconds, the dwarf ultimately chose to retain his beloved belongings. After all, while cards could be won anew, the sentimental value attached to his possessions was irreplaceable.
Horton was quite straightforward. After making the deal with Wayne, he didn't resort to any tricks but instead directly handed over half of his Gwent cards. The collection comprised over 40 cards, including two relatively rare ones.
During this era, Gwent cards were still in their early stage, with limited varieties and no distinct factions such as Nilfgaard, Skellige, Scoia'tael, or monster camps. The game had not yet undergone the extensive development and categorization seen in later years.
While the Gwent cards were still in their early stages with basic rules, the gameplay was relatively complete. The battles across the entire camp added unexpected fun, making it an enjoyable pastime.
A few hours later, as Toruviel led a team to clean up the underground pond and organize guard assignments, she was astonished to discover the half-elf witcher, whom she held in high regard, engaging in bets across the camp with the small card gadgets that dwarves likes to play. Men, women, and children alike were drawn into this card game.
The most exasperating thing is that this guy is highly skilled and very lucky. In just one afternoon, he managed to empty the pockets of numerous residents fond of gambling. He even secured victory to the point of winning some personal belongings from the gamblers, nearly stripping the pants off one unfortunate opponent.
Toruviel couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. If she hadn't intervened in time, those disgruntled gamblers might have resorted to actions that would have caused even greater embarrassment for her.
Wayne himself realized that he was getting carried away, but he couldn't be entirely blamed for it. He discovered that upgrading the Gwent card level and obtaining the luck attribute didn't require the prolonged and dedicated effort of mastering skills like swordsmanship and magic sign. Instead, proficiency increased only through wagering against others and winning.
From his afternoon experiment, Wayne deduced that defeating an ordinary person who had no understanding of the game and merely made up numbers wouldn't lead to any improvement in the Gwent card level.
However, if Wayne emerged victorious against a skilled Gwent player, he could gain one or two points of proficiency based on their expertise. Unfortunately, repeatedly winning money didn't contribute to proficiency growth like accumulating points did. It appeared that proficiency rewards could only be obtained by securing victories in the card game.
Upon achieving his goal through these tests, Wayne scratched his head with a feigned apologetic expression. He turned to Toruviel with a sincere look and said:
"I apologize, Toruviel, I just learned this new game, and I'm a little carried away. This game is very interesting, maybe you should also take time to learn it, it will exercise your thinking ability and make you sharper."
"As for these personal items, you can take them back and return them to your residents. Just let them know you purchased them from me, and they'll likely be even more appreciative."
However, the female elf frowned slightly upon hearing Wayne's words. She then took out a hundred ducats from the pocket on her belt, handed them to Wayne, and said, "Just do as you said, Wayne. But I won't take these things for nothing. You won them fair and square; you deserve them."
Wayne shrugged indifferently at Toruwell's actions. Moving away from the topic of Gwent cards, he talked directly about business. "Even though my companion Geralt is injured, I will continue to assist you in cleaning up this ruin."
"Of course, if I'm the sole person handling the cleanup, I'll have to be more meticulous, and it might take a bit longer. I hope you don't mind," Wayne assured.
Toruviel, being quite sensible, recognized the need for a witcher after observing the morning battle situation. Without a witcher's assistance, accomplishing the cleanup with the elves and dwarves under her command would likely require significant sacrifices.
As for the consumption of time, there is no need to worry. since the lifespan of non-human races, in general, is longer, and time isn't as urgent a matter for them.
The following day, Wayne restocked his supplies and resumed his work, spurred on by Geralt. To ensure Wayne's safety in battle, White Wolf even temporarily lent him his silver sword.
This silver sword was adorned with countless inscriptions and had a special metal alloy incorporated into it. In comparison to ordinary steel swords, it was light, sharp, and exceptionally robust.
It's said that Geralt considers this silver sword his most valuable piece of equipment, surpassing even his armor or mount. Before each battle, he carefully weighs his options and only opts for the silver sword when he's certain it's necessary.
In ordinary circumstances, he's reluctant to take it out at all, keeping it well hidden. During battles, White Wolf is exceptionally cautious, ensuring the sword doesn't get chipped or damaged. The cost of repairing the sword is often higher than his task rewards.
Reflecting on the expression in Geralt's eyes as if lending his wife to someone else when he lent the sword, Wayne wanted to laugh, but was also moved.
Despite their relatively short time together, the witchers of the wolf school held strong values of love and righteousness. Though not bound by blood, their camaraderie surpassed that of brothers.
In a harsh and unforgiving era, having a group of sincere and loyal companions was undeniably heartening.
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