When it comes to gathering talent, one must mention the Oxenfurt Academy located in the north.
That is, the world-renowned Oxenfurt Academy.
It is the only institution of higher learning in the North that encompasses numerous disciplines, boasts a strong faculty, and allows ordinary people to attend.
To use an appropriate analogy, it is the only place in this extremely backward feudal era that can be considered a university.
Much knowledge that ordinary people simply cannot access—such as alchemy, astronomy, noble studies, historical texts, and other subjects—can be learned here for a fee, all taught by quite renowned scholars.
Therefore, students who graduate from Oxenfurt Academy, regardless of their professional skills, already surpass the vast majority of ordinary people of this era in terms of broadened horizons and open-mindedness. They are rare talents.
Unfortunately, Oxenfurt Academy belongs to the Kingdom of Redania. However, due to the academy's prosperity, it has almost become a scholarly town. And because the academy houses many open-minded intellectuals and students from all over the world, it is, to some extent, independent of the Kingdom of Redania.
Even the King of Redania cannot command the students of this academy to do anything.
And for Guilliman, a lone wolf, if he wants to recruit talent from Oxenfurt Academy, the only path is likely to spend vast sums of money.
Guilliman was not in a hurry. There was still plenty of time in the future. He planned to first recruit five hundred apprentices to lay the foundation for his future Witcher legion.
Once he advanced beyond the [Saint] rank, future progress would undoubtedly become even more protracted. By then, he would need these subordinate forces to exert their strength.
Little by little makes a lot; grains of sand accumulate into a tower.
If he could have over a thousand helpers, even if each collected just a little soul power for him daily, the rate at which they gathered soul power might surpass his own.
After all, monsters possessing over a thousand points of soul power are hard to find, while drowners and nekkers with just a point of soul power are everywhere in this world.
A day later, Guilliman left Black Tern Island for the Duchy of Toussaint, leaving many Witchers to continue observing the effects of the Primarch Witcher vaccine.
About a month had passed since his last visit to this fairytale-like country.
Last time he was here, due to time constraints, he only hastily took away the equipment and research related to the second mutation, without truly enjoying himself.
This time, with no rush, he planned to have a proper, lively time in this city of flowers and wine.
Based on his previous memory, he went to the shop where he had arranged for Syanna to run her business.
It was daytime. To his surprise, Syanna's business was booming—far better than expected. Not only had one storefront expanded to three, but there was also a long queue outside.
Clearly, this shop's reputation in Beauclair had already been established; otherwise, so many people wouldn't be queuing here.
Guilliman did not reveal himself directly. Instead, he stood aside, observing how the shop operated.
Besides Syanna herself, the shop had hired two young girls as sales assistants.
They attended to each customer with soft, charming voices, leaving a very good impression. Every man who came to buy potions couldn't help but show a gentlemanly and gentle smile when faced with these pretty women.
The shop's marketing tactics were the hunger marketing and limited supply strategies Guilliman had previously mentioned to Syanna.
It was precisely because the stamina potions he provided earlier were so effective that they had recently caused a frenzy among the men of Beauclair.
Seizing the opportunity to maximize profits, Syanna positioned this potion as an extremely difficult-to-brew precious elixir, available only to a small number of people and in limited supply.
Because of this strategy, a small vial of stamina potion was sold for dozens of crowns, and it was even hard to get one.
Moreover, Syanna's methods didn't stop there. She seemed to have hired people to spread numerous rumors in the city, claiming that this stamina potion not only enhanced a man's stamina during use but, with long-term use, could permanently improve a man's abilities in that area.
Such effects were a tremendous temptation for men. Even men who didn't urgently need such stamina support would actively purchase his stamina potions for the promise of permanent enhancement.
Guilliman observed outside the shop for over an hour and inferred all this from the eagerly queuing men and the shop assistants' words.
Knowing this, he couldn't help but feel impressed in his heart. Syanna was indeed a very clever woman, no wonder she could manipulate Dettlaff so thoroughly.
Although these commercial tactics seem unremarkable and rather clichéd to a modern person,
for the commerce of this era, they have a somewhat overwhelming effect.
Selling a small stamina potion for dozens of crowns means the profit margin exceeds a hundredfold, making it far more lucrative than he had imagined.
If this business could continue, it would eventually provide him with a stable source of funds—a quite excellent venture.
What he currently lacked was talent capable of handling various aspects independently. This beautiful woman, Syanna, could be prioritized for cultivation.
After observing for a while, Guilliman did not disturb Syanna's business. Instead, he spent time alone in Beauclair, enjoying himself, eating and drinking, savoring local delicacies, and incidentally buying a large amount of fine wine to give as gifts to his friends upon his return.
It wasn't until evening, at dusk, that he returned, slightly tipsy, to the vineyard he and Syanna had purchased in Toussaint.
Upon his arrival, the dark-haired beauty Syanna was startled at first. But quickly remembering she had signed a soul contract, she very naturally switched to her role as a slave woman, preparing to serve the Witcher.
Guilliman didn't stand on ceremony either. Facing this dark-haired beauty in her twenties, possessing both the fullness of a mature woman and the tenderness of a maiden, he thoroughly enjoyed her services.
However, this service didn't last long. When Syanna sat atop the Witcher, lightly biting her lip and frowning, intending to proceed with a second extraction,
Guilliman patted her buttocks and said:
"I visited your business today. It's very good. You haven't been slacking off."
"In that case, as a generous master, of course, I won't break my promise."
"Go put on your clothes. Tonight, I'll take you to the palace in Beauclair, to the place where you once lived."
"I plan to get something from your sister. If you're interested, you can also have a chat with her."
"I don't want to kill her yet, but you can punish her a little, as revenge for the grievances you've suffered over the years."
"Of course, after I get what I want, I'll allow you to personally kill your other enemies in Beauclair."
Saying this, Guilliman gave the dark-haired beauty a hearty smile, poked her flat belly a few times with his finger, and said:
"I know this decision is a bit sudden."
"But after we finish our business later, you'll still need to serve me by bathing and dining."
"That should give you plenty of time to think carefully about how to face your sister."
"Of course, if you don't want to face her, I won't force you."
"However, after this, you'll come north with me. The next time you see your sister might be several months later."
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