Chapter 54: Wolfman's Secret

Chapter 54: Wolfman's Secret
The next day, Nubo and Maril arrived at the Stoneprint Merchants' Guild to express their gratitude to Cissy and the others. After careful consideration, they decided to leave Nocksida and move to Monas City in the Principality of Floresk to start a new life.
Originally, Nubo believed that even though the Chamber of Commerce of Foster stated that they would no longer bother them, there was hardly any possibility for small businessmen like him in Novoxida to develop and grow... It would be better to follow Cisse's suggestion and establish a caravan to the Swamp of Sorrow in Monas City.
So, Xisi wrote a letter introducing himself and asked Nubo to deliver it to Harvey West. Before leaving, Marier told Xisi that she carefully recalled everything that happened before she fell ill, and there was only one thing that was somewhat special - she attended a gathering recommended by her neighbors... However, she wasn't very interested in what the mentors said at the gathering, so she only went once.
……
With the advice of the half-elf ranger, Sisai changed into ordinary coarse clothes and headed to the small inn in the northern district that Maryl mentioned. Unfortunately, for three consecutive days, she gained nothing.
Xisi, the half-elf and the dwarf discussed the potential danger of Nokexida.
"It is also possible that Marierl's perception was distorted and she did not go to that small inn..." the half-elf archer thought for a moment, normally there would be some clues if there were any problems.
"There is another possibility, that your presence as a stranger there has raised the other party's alert." The old dwarf also expressed his opinion.
"So what should we do?" Sisyphus had no other options at the moment.
"Let the Stone Printers' Guild disclose this information to the Nockside City Hall," Gillhis said. "In case any issues arise in Nockside, their losses would be the most direct."
"This is the only way. I hope it will get their attention."
That afternoon, Xisi and others were packing up their belongings, ready to leave Nokesida and continue their journey. At this moment, a servant came to report, "There is a captain from the guard camp outside looking for Knight Xisi."
Xisai arrived at the entrance of the manor where the Stoneprint Chamber of Commerce was located and saw the captain of the garrison camp. This young man had golden hair and a handsome face, but the bandages wrapped around the hilt of his sword indicated that this captain must have exceptional swordsmanship.
"Vincent, Vincent Wolf, Captain of the Noxia Garrison's First Squad." The man extended his right hand to Ciss.
"Ciss Ace, Knight of the Kingdom of Phoresk."
Then, the two of them sat down in a pavilion near the manor garden.
"Don Quixote, can you tell me the previous incident in detail again?"
"Certainly," Don Quixote said cooperatively and recounted the events in full detail. Vincent listened while jotting down some key points in his notebook.
"Thank you very much!" Vincent stood up and was about to leave after hearing the entire incident.
"Captain Vincent, do you happen to know Luke Wolf?"
"Luke?! Where did you see him? That idiot..." Vincent's demeanor changed completely when he heard Luke's name, appearing extremely angry.
"May I ask who you are to Luke?" Cesar produced the ring that Luke had given him.
"I am his younger brother..." Vincent took the ring and glanced at it before returning it to Sissi. "So, tell me, what do you want?"
"I want to know if there is anyone else in your family who has the same illness as Luke," Sissi said sincerely. "I promised Luke that I would cure him."
"Do you really want to know?!" Vincent said jokingly, "This is not the place to talk, meet me at the water mill by the North Bank River here at midnight."
Sic returned to the guest room and told the half-elf and the dwarf that he would be staying in Nokisida for another day.
"About Luke's matter," said Sisi to the half-elf ranger, "Vincent invited me to the riverside mill late at night..."
"Do you need us to come with you as well?"
"He must have chosen a remote location in the middle of the night because he doesn't want everyone to know about something." Caesar shook his head, "Even if he has issues, I am not afraid."
"Hahaha, good job, good job," Gago Stonehammer praised, "Young people should have such an unstoppable momentum."
"I am just confident in my defense," Sise modestly said, "I believe I can hold on until you come to rescue me... Haha."
……
At midnight, Xisi came alone to the watermill mentioned by Vincent.
The moon shone high, casting a bright silver cloak over the watermill and the nearby houses. The gentle breeze carried the unique scent of the river... Under the moonlight, the flowing water slowly turned the wheel, and the mill by the river appeared like a dynamic oil painting, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Knight Cervantes, you really came!" Just as Cervantes was immersed in the quiet night, a voice came from beside him.
Cervantes turned around, and under the moonlight stood a tall and muscular werewolf. "Vincent?"
"You're not surprised at all?" said the werewolf, showing his claws. "Did you get the news from Luke? It seems that Luke is in trouble..."
"Don't be impulsive! I'm not an enemy, Luke is not dead..." Sisero still didn't draw his sword, but opened his hands to show friendliness.
"Speak up about what happened between you and Luke, I have my ways to discern the truth. If you tell me a single lie... I will tear you into pieces."
Sisi then recount the encounter she had with Luke in Ximu Town in great detail...
"You really are quite naive... hmm, Knight," Vincent couldn't help but mock Cissie after listening. "Well, alright, what do you want to know? For Luke's sake, I will patiently tell you what I know."
Vincent told Cisse what he knew about the situation.
There are basically two types of werewolves on the Nord Continent: one is natural, meaning they are born as werewolves. These werewolves are extremely fierce and powerful, and they have the ability to transform into humans. They usually use this shape-shifting ability for deception, and most people cannot recognize them when they take on human form. Werewolves are very formidable warriors because of their extremely fast attack speed, keen sense of smell, and incredibly strong recovery ability, making them even more dangerous and difficult to kill.
Another type is the acquired type, most of which are cursed and lose their sanity to become ravenous killers on moonlit nights, reverting to human form during the day. This type of werewolf, plagued by the curse, can never return to human form for their entire lives unless the curse is lifted, otherwise they will forever bathe in blood like a natural werewolf.
"Are you born this way? So you can remain rational?" Cici asked strangely, "Luke is cursed later? No..."
"The statement above, whether right or wrong, makes sense," Vincent said, "In fact, most werewolves who can maintain their sanity are 'born this way,' but there are also exceptions... and those born from curses also have the opportunity to remain calm and clear-headed."
"So you mean, whether innate or acquired, as long as the inner strength is strong enough, one can remain rational..."
"The same thing can be seen as a curse by some people, while others consider it a blessing," Vincent couldn't help but sigh.
"So how much do you know about the curse of your family?" Xavier asked.
"Our ancestor was named Daniel Wolstenstein, a baron. During an outing, he met a woman who later became his wife. If it were a fairy tale, the story would end here, and they would live happily ever after," Vincent smiled and continued, "In the years of mundane life, the relationship between the baron and his wife grew increasingly tense. The sweetness disappeared, leaving only mockery and taunting... Soon after, the baron's wife fell ill, but the baron continued to indulge in a life of excess, showing no concern for his sick wife in bed."
"Then, Lady Baroness cursed Baron... No, that's not right! A normal mother wouldn't curse her own child if she didn't have feelings for the Baron."
"Baron and Lady Baroness were just ordinary people," Vincent revealed the source of the curse, "Lady Baroness's sister was a person with magical talents, rumored to be a member of a mysterious society at the time... and then Baron and his descendants were entangled with this curse."
“有这个什么组织的信息吗？”西塞连忙问道。
“我查过，那么多年过去了，应该湮灭于岁月中了吧。不过我记得她们的徽记，明天我找人给你送过去。”文森特似乎想起以前的一些事情，“卢克这种性子如果能够解除诅咒，当然是最好的选择……”
"Well, then I'm ready to go back..." Caesar said joyfully, the curse on Luke's body finally showing some progress. "What about you? Are you going to continue strolling around naked under the moonlight?"
"I am disgusted! What do you mean by being naked?" Vincent exclaimed angrily. "Are you blind? Can't you see the fur on my body? Forget it, I won't waste any more time here with you. I'm going to find those suspicious guys."
The closer the Beicheng District is to the riverbank, the better the air quality and the cleaner the environment. On the contrary, the environment here is quite poor. After crossing a narrow and turbid stinky ditch, Xisi saw a dense cluster of low and short shanty houses. This is the slum where the laborers and their families live.
As soon as he entered the slum, Xisi frowned. Most of the houses were in a state of disrepair, creating a continuous stretch of dilapidation. Sewage flowed out of the drains, polluting the ground, while piles of garbage scattered messily in the dark and narrow alleyways. The air was filled with a stench that was indescribable, a combination of the smell of fish, human waste, and animal excrement.
这里与干净整洁的富人区比起来，简直地狱与天堂的区别，脏乱都不足以形容，连溪木镇都不如。
“需不需要帮忙？感觉一个晚上都看不完。”西塞看着一望无垠的棚屋，直接询问文森特。
"Forget it! Look at your size, you must be clumsy and bound to make a mess... " Vincent declined Caesar's kindness. "You should go back and rest early. Aren't you leaving Naxos soon? Wishing you smooth sailing."
……
Weston returned to the Stone Imprint Guild and found the Half-Elf Ranger and the old Dwarf still awake, seemingly waiting for him. His heart swelled with warmth as he thought about the clumsy and inept old York who couldn't take care of himself.
(End of this chapter)