Wizard: This witcher is neglecting his duties.

Chapter 300 Research and Development of Secondary Mutations

Wayne was overjoyed upon hearing about Karkstein's research findings.

This project has been in the planning stages for several years, starting three years ago.

Because of the encounter with Cordwin a few years ago, Wayne met several capable warlocks to whom he owed a great debt of gratitude. Coupled with the rapid development of the Wayne Merchant Guild, they can now be said to have both money and manpower.

The cost of pharmaceutical manufacturing has increased by more than ten times?

What kind of problem is this? For the noble Lord Wayne, problems that can be solved with money are not problems at all.

He picked up the syringe and was surprised to find that the needle was retractable and made of meteorite iron, making it of excellent quality. It was controlled by a button and would not break or be damaged during transport. It was clearly the result of careful design, and the craftsman who made the syringe was also highly skilled.

"You've done a great job, Karkstein. I'll allocate another 500,000 euros for research funding, as well as some other formulas."

"Hurry up and develop injectable versions of other drugs as soon as possible. I'll provide you with whatever money or manpower you need."

Five hundred thousand Oren? Karkstan was overjoyed; this was a number he had never dared to dream of before.

What this warlock liked most about his boss, Wayne, was that he never hesitated to ask for money, which was much better than his stingy superior when he was researching at Banard College. Moreover, he never checked the accounts, making him the angel investor in the eyes of all researchers.

However, the middle-aged sorcerer then stroked his chin somewhat awkwardly and said:

"Boss, in theory, with such a successful precedent, the subsequent drug research should be much faster."

"However, if you want to research new Witcher potions, you need a Witcher as a research subject to try the new potions."

"Otherwise, without comparative results as research data, the research and development speed would be ten times slower, and it might take several years to develop a new formula."

"Even without witchers, a few living people as samples will suffice. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that it will be successful."

Upon hearing Karkstein's request, Wayne, who had also studied a great deal of magic, knew very well that scientific research required a rigorous attitude. This was not unreasonable, but a very reasonable request.

He hesitated for a few seconds and then said:

"Your request will have to wait a while. I will bring back a batch of death row inmates for you first. As for the Witcher, it will probably take some time. I cannot allow my companions to become your test subjects."

Karkstan stroked his beard with some disappointment, but he was already quite satisfied with receiving such a large amount of research funding. He nodded and said somewhat impatiently:

"That's settled then, boss."

"I'm going back to the lab now. I'll keep up with the research progress. I've already taught my assistant the method for making the injectable drugs. If you need to make these drugs, just let him take charge."

After saying this, the research-loving male sorcerer had no intention of exchanging pleasantries with his boss. His mind was full of his experiments, and he quickly left the council hall and headed to his research lab.

Since joining the Witcher Order a few years ago and settling down in the safe place of Kaer Morhen, there has been no useless socializing or trivial troubles. The Wayne Merchant Guild's caravans have taken good care of all my needs for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.

This simple and efficient lifestyle has made Karkstan fall in love with this place.

Even if he leaves this place for some reason in the future, the generous salary given to him by the cult will allow him to live a wealthy life.

After Calxton left, Wayne, who remained in the conference room lobby, lost all interest in dealing with miscellaneous tasks with his subordinates.

After sitting in his seat and considering how to deal with what happened in Sintra, he left the massive Kaermohan Castle alone and, using the authority of the Lord of the Locks, went to a cave about ten kilometers away from the castle.

This cave is located in a dense forest, in a very secluded location, and is protected by several powerful magical barriers. Even Triss and Vesemir, who both possess the secondary control rings, were unaware that such a place existed within the labyrinth.

Of course, as a spellcaster, if they want to cast spells within the Enchanted Barrier, they cannot mobilize the magic power within the Enchanted Barrier unless their own strength exceeds its limitations.

The fact that a magical barrier could be used to conceal the cave clearly indicates that Wayne had given him permission.

After passing through several barriers, Wayne entered a huge and brightly lit cave. The cave was filled with magically created lighting equipment and many high-end household items. Several young servants were cleaning the cave.

Upon seeing Wayne enter, a middle-aged male warlock wearing a cloak, with only his face visible, put down the book in his hand and immediately came to greet him.

He first bowed respectfully, then said with a reverent expression:

"Lord Wayne, welcome."

This is a warlock with bluish-purple demon tattoos on his face, whose appearance is basically the same as those corrupt warlocks who wreak havoc all over the world.

However, judging from his expression and actions, he was not as crazy and fanatical as a fallen warlock; on the contrary, his eyes revealed wisdom.

Wayne nodded to him and asked in a calm tone:

"Carlos, is it your shift today?"

The male sorcerer, known as Carlos, nodded, but he wasn't very eloquent and said somewhat nervously:

"Yes, Lord Wayne, this was arranged by Lord Sean. The eight of us will each take a day off and will also be responsible for guarding and maintaining the barrier."

Wayne waved his hand, signaling Carlos not to be nervous, then nodded and said:

"Don't be nervous, Carlos. We are just employees, not master and servant."

"If you work faithfully for me for thirty years, I will definitely fulfill our contract, help you break free from the control of the forces of hell, and restore your freedom."

Upon hearing this, regardless of his inner thoughts, Carlos's expression immediately filled with gratitude. He then bowed again and said:

"Thank you, Lord Wayne. We will certainly work hard for you."

Wayne nodded upon hearing this, not caring about Carlos's true thoughts, and continued walking into the cave.

This cave was his secret base where he hid the eleven fallen warlocks he captured when he destroyed Baal's clone. Yennefer was an exception; he had already returned her freedom through his subconscious.

The twelve individuals chosen by Baal, the Demon Lord of Hell, to expand the spatial rifts are among the most powerful of all fallen warlocks.

Unlike other ragtag fallen sorcerers, they were all elites whose minds had been corrupted by Baal himself using his power. That's why they continued to serve Wayne and acknowledge him as their master even after Wayne destroyed Baal's soul and will within him.

Although Wayne's hellish magic is now sealed and he cannot freely use this power, it does not prevent him from controlling these fallen warlocks.

However, as a witcher who could be considered to be of the good side, Wayne did not permanently take away their freedom. Instead, after freeing himself from some of the control over these warlocks, he signed a thirty-year allegiance pact with them as a condition for saving them.

After all, even if Wayne really wanted to give them their freedom, he couldn't do so before he had fully mastered that part of the hellish magic within him.

After walking for a few more minutes, he arrived at a spacious and bright large laboratory. Several other male warlocks dressed in different clothes were standing in their respective experimental areas, concentrating on their research, and did not even notice Wayne's arrival.

Beside them lay all sorts of corpses: those of evil spirits, griffins, water ghosts, and of course, many humans.

Besides these corpses, there were also some live specimens, who were strapped to the experimental table with blank expressions, undergoing various studies.

As a powerful master witcher, Wayne's steps are quite light. If he wanted, he could even walk up to anyone without making a sound, just like a master assassin.

Instead of disturbing the sorcerers who were conducting their research, he walked through a long corridor to the back of the experimental area, to a spacious room that was furnished like a study.

A voluptuous and slender woman with her hair flowing down her back is sitting at a desk with a serious expression, flipping through some reports in her hand.

Upon seeing Wayne enter, the sorceress didn't show much enthusiasm; her serious and aloof expression softened slightly. She nodded to the witcher and said:

"Welcome, Mr. Wayne."

Wayne's eyes first glanced at the other woman's fair and full chest, then he smiled and nodded, replying:

"Ms. Hill, it's so late and you're still working. Thank you for your hard work."

The sorceress, Sylvanas, made no attempt to exchange pleasantries with Wayne. She stood up, gestured for him to sit opposite her, and handed him the report she was holding, speaking calmly and deliberately:

"Mr. Wayne, we invited you here today because a research project you commissioned us has yielded quite mature results and is ready for experimentation at any time."

"While we cannot guarantee 100% safety, we can guarantee a success rate of over 90%."

"I hope you can arrange for a witcher to conduct the experiment as soon as possible. This will allow us to have more experimental data to improve our success rate in the future."

While listening to Syl, Wayne picked up the research report that the sorceress handed him.

At the very top of this report, written clearly in the common language of the wizarding world, is the experiment and research on the secondary mutation of witchers.

He didn't answer Hill's question immediately. Instead, he carefully reviewed the not-so-thick experimental report in his hand and used his fairly extensive magical knowledge to deduce the experimental steps and results.

He discovered that Searle and his team's research had indeed reached a high level of sophistication and was ready to yield results.

Seeing this, he felt inwardly grateful for his wise decision to take in these fallen sorcerers, while also pondering who should be the first test subject for this secondary mutation experiment.

Although the sorceress Sylvanas, influenced by the power of the demon king Baal, could not exaggerate in front of him or do anything detrimental to him, there was still a 90% chance of failure, and he could not allow someone too close to him to take such a risk.

After much thought, a candidate gradually came to mind.

Just then, Gaitan from the Cat School was about to return from Toussaint and report the latest news from the Fairy Tale Kingdom to him.

Wayne decided to reward Gaitan, this rather honest tool, with this opportunity for a second mutation.

If the secondary mutation succeeds, it can be used as bait to attract the Cat School Witchers who are about to come and examine the Witcher Order, thereby increasing the Order's attractiveness.

Anyway, he still has quite a few life-saving tools, so even if Gaitan has an accident, he will definitely be able to save his life.

This guy has been enjoying a life of luxury in Toussaint for several years; he's already been treated exceptionally well.

After making the decision, Wayne put down the report in his hand, a warm smile appearing on his face, and said in an appreciative tone:

"Truly worthy of being an elite whom Principal Margarita and Ms. Francesca both highly praise."

"Ms. Sylph, among the many sorceresses, you are one of the few who still adhere to the duties of a spellcaster and are not obsessed with power."

(End of this chapter)