The kingdom of Temeria was a rich capital that excels in trade in various minerals that have been cultivating near mount Mahakam. It can be said that it was one of the wealthiest kingdoms in the north making in a big fat in the eyes of Nilfgaard.

Here in the center of Temeria’s map lies the Vizima surrounded by outposts and cities making it an important trade route in Temeria. It has its soldier and called themselves the order of the flaming rose.

This group doesn’t belong to any affiliate kingdoms; they only belong to the temple to serve. That’s why when the other kingdom starts capturing of non-human wantonly, the Temeria kingdom was one of the few that prohibit its implementation, making the capturing of non-humans ban in here.

But there still criminals trying to find a loophole in the system to catch non-human and sell them to the black market for few coins.

That is to say, Vizima was not completely clean and has its rotting side.

The four arrive at the Vizima after 1 week of traveling non-stop. They avoided the main road and choose roads that infested with monsters to avoid the chase of northern soldiers.

They look at the gate leading inside the temple with relief.

“We can only bring you here, take care of yourself”

The two elves were prepared to leave when-

“Wait,” she said telepathically

“What is it?”

“Do you have an informer here?”

“Why do you want to ask?” the two elves became vigilant immediately.

“Zoltan, give them the letter”

Zoltan pulls out a letter from his pocket and hands it over.

Curious, one of the elves grab it.

“Thanks for everything”

“Hmm, you guys are decent, thanks to your help. If you need help, you can find me in the quarter district.”

Zoltan then turns the horse and approach the gate.

The elves look at each other.

“Shall we open it?”

The other elf just shakes his head.

“Maybe it’s one of the leader’s order, better deliver this.”

“Good, I’ll wait for you here then.”

-

As Zoltan and Joan enter inside, they saw many non-human being tended by the sisters of the temple in the street. The non-human look distress and hungry. Zoltan just shakes his head and gallops the horse forward.

“So we're here, going to tell me your plan?”

“Going to find Yarpen, a friend of mine.”

“Yarpen? Is he the one with having anger issue and has a permanent frown on his face?”

“Well, kinds of”

“Right, I remember him.”

“You do?”

She nod.

“2 years ago, when we are on our way here to the temple, we met him on the way during our travel. We were in the middle of our journey, suddenly we were ambush by the Scoia'tael on our way.”

“Hmm, I heard of it. Yarpen was having a fit of temper for weeks when he found out he was delivering stone in his cargo, heh poor sod drunk himself to death after that!”

“How is he?”

“Don’t know, last I heard he’s been chasing debtors around to collect money”

“You’re not angry?”

“To what?”

“Scoia'tael?”

“Why would I be angry? The son of bitch will outlive anyone, if the elf can put him to the dirt then fuck me as he always boasts of his title the dragon slayer.”

“I didn’t know Yarpen was capable of that”

“Hah, like I wouldn't believe either, but I would bet on his arse that he was the toughest block I know. I saw him how he fight and he's tough. So if that son of a bitch died in the hands of elves, well I'll just maybe visit them for a little chat.”

Joan just chuckles. She knows even Zoltan didn't say it, he was very protective and loyal of his friends so she doubts he will only chat with them when something happens to Yarpen.

They made their way to the district but stop shortly. Two dwarves were currently guarding the entrance to the quarter area where the non-human are living.

“What business do you have here?”

“Can’t you see I’m bloody dwarf?”

“Were not blind mate, but too many were forcing they’re way in here, the quarter was already full and we cannot allow more people inside, very sorry lad.”

Zoltan just grunt

“Fine, look for Yarpen Zigrid, tell him Zoltan came for a visit”

The dwarf nod

“Wait here!”

Then he called another dwarf to convey a message. The dwarf messenger looks in their direction and nod.

-

After 20 minutes pass, a familiar dwarf ride toward them

“Zoltan!”

“Yarpen you bastard, it's nice to see your ugly face!”

“Haha, and you're rude as ever.“

Then he looks at the young girl riding in front of Zotlan and startled

“You are-”

“It’s me, Illyah, we met before”

Yarpen eye became bright but narrow when he looks at them both.

“Zoltan, I didn’t know your taste on your woman can be so…strange.”

“She’s not my woman you idiot, she has problems and I’m just helping her”

“Right…the helpful Zoltan" Yarpen scoff

“Let’s no talk here, we have been on a journey for a week to get here and we're tired.”

“Follow me then”

Yarpen nods to the dwarf guards as they let them pass.

-

They arrive outside a tall worn house with scrappy bricks on the walls, mold starts to cover some part of the house. She looks around and found the other house was the same; old and worn out making the place very gloomy.

“Come into my humble home”

Zoltan climb down the horse and bring her down next with him

As they enter the room, beer mugs were scattered everywhere, there was a remaining bottle of dwarf spirit on the wooden table. Joan frowns as she smells the reek of alcohol in the air.

“Take a seat wherever you like, what do you want to drink?”

“What do you have?”

“Beer”

“Give me one”

“Water?”

“Uhh” Yarpen scratch his bald head and look around

“I…I don’t think we have that.”

“You have a beer but you don’t have water?”

“Hey were dwarf, and drinking dwarfen spirit was enough to fill our belly.”

She just sighs

“Do you have a female companion here?”

Yarpen look at her strangely

“Well, occasionally when the time calls,” he mutters in a small voice

“Can you call one right now?”

Yarpen was startled and look at her upside down

“Why kid? You're too young to enjoy it and I didn’t think you sway that way”

She sighs exasperatedly

“I need to pee, and I need a woman to help me. Got it?” she enounces every word

The two became silent looking at each other with bulge eyes

“A-aye w-wait going to call one right now!”

Yarpen hurriedly exits the room like his butt was on fire.

Zoltan put her down on a wooden chair on the dining table.

“Thankfully we have woman elf on our journey or I don’t know what to do with you” Zoltan mutters

“Haven’t you change me?” she asks curiously

“Gods, no. I and Dandelion decided to hire one of his special friends to take care of you. But I have forgotten about it because I’m focused on escaping at that time.”

“Well, now I know why I stink too much.” remembering how the elf was reluctant to approach her during bath time make sense now.

Zoltan just shrugged his shoulder and grab a beer and drank a mouthful. He sighs in a relaxed manner and sits beside her.

“What's your plan now that you’re here?”

“Dunno, maybe wait for the war to end? Look for a job temporarily? We need to eat after all.”

Joan nods trying to think of a way to gain money. Then she suddenly thinks of a criminal syndicate hiding here in Vizima.

According to the script, two years from now, in the original storyline, these criminals will attempt to attack the Kaen Morhen, led by a Salamandra's leader to steal a formula that can transform humans into mutants.

“How about I offer you a job?”

Zoltan eyes became bright

“What is it?”

“I’ll tell you later together with Yarpen, this was a big operation after all.”

“Well, if what you’re going to do involves heavy orens, I’m in”

“Excellent”

-

Later, Yarpen brings a middle-aged woman, her face was not much, but she can see the alluring figure with large breasts and thick hourglass figures. Zoltan did a double-take and look at the woman upside down curiously.

“So you saying you want me to take care of her?” the woman frowns at the child sitting on the wooden chair.

“Don’t worry about orens, you’ll get your pay”

“I sure hope so” she mutters

“Can I talk to you for a minute, Yarpen?”

“What is it, little girl?”

“Tell the woman she can start her work tomorrow, right now I got to talk to you in private.”

“Well, okay,” Yarpen told the woman she can go back tomorrow morning for work.

Before she left, she sent a flirty blink at Zoltan before Yarpen closes the door. Zoltan just coughs and scratches his beard. Yarpen look at Zoltan and chuckle

“Hehe, be careful of her Zoltan my friend, that woman can “eat” you alive.”

Zoltan snort

“You dirty mongrel, can you see we have a child here?”

“No need to worry about my sensibility, stop talking about that woman and let’s talk about business.” She said dully

“Okay, what business is that?”

“Want to get rich?”

Yarpen narrows his eyes

“What kind of job”

“Killing”

“Innocent?”

“Nope, just a bunch of non-law abiding citizen”

“Details”

“Salamandra”

Yarpen eyes suddenly shook and look around. He locks the door tightly and makes sure the window was close.

“Don’t ever utter that name here!”

“Why?”

“Because they’re dangerous!”

“I don’t think Yarpen the dragon slayer will cower hearing the name of criminal syndicate”

“You don’t understand”

“You mean they controlling the Vizima behind? Some of their members where high-ranking officials? That they have rouge mages on their organization?”

Yarpen bulge his eyes and look at her in wonder

“Although I heard rumors…how did you know about that?”

“I have information”

“You must have a good informant then”

“Yes”

Zoltan looks at Joan strangely but didn’t say anything.

“So…you said you can make us rich? How?” Yarpen eyes became calculating

“Simple, I can give you the location of every Salamandra hideout, even their main members. You don’t need to worry about mages, I already ask some help”

Yarpen gasp again in admiration.

“Is the news reliable?”

“Want to bet?”

“Sure, if you win I’m going to lick the ground like an old goat cleanly, but if I win, you’re going to tell me who your informant is, I want to know him personally”

“Sure no problem. let’s bet then!” she said cheekily

Zoltan just shook his head knowing Yarpen will lose. So he starts to imagine the stubborn old Yarpen licking the ground. He can’t help but chuckle at the image.