Bear School Astartes

Chapter 377: 377. Church Agent

”Sir, can you actually speak to me properly?”

Lann stood outside a door lit by a warning lamp, talking to the person inside the room.

His words seemed to touch some taboo, causing the man inside to mock him sarcastically.

”Ha! All outsiders have bad intents, and you still expect the city folks to speak kindly to you? Oh, my lord, do you also want me to open the door so you can share this safe room with me on this hunt night?”

The man inside ridiculed.

”Outsiders bring plague; you should ’enjoy’ this hunt night properly! Hick!”

Lann scratched his cheek expressionlessly.

The ’enthusiasm’ of the Yan Nan people was something hard to refuse no matter how many times one experienced it.

”If you dare speak to me like this again, I’ll smash your warning lamp and splash a thick layer of monster blood on your doorstep.”

As the young man’s calm voice sounded again, the caustic laughter from inside the room abruptly stopped, as if a duck had its throat twisted.

”You! How dare you... I...”

The sense of superiority in ’I’m safe, you’re not’ during the hunt night collapsed instantly, triggering the Yan Nan man’s fear of the hunt night.

”I’m not here to ask anything from Yan’an, nor do I owe you anything. I’m not like those outsiders counting on Yan’an for rescue, sir.”

Lann spoke lightly with his arms crossed, yet his plain tone made the person inside the room dare not be disrespectful anymore.

”I’m just passing by; you can’t expect a passerby to uphold a high moral standard in a foreign city, can you? The world isn’t that good yet.”

Lann paused, giving the man inside time to process his emotions.

”So, can you answer my question properly?”

”Y-yes, sir.”

Calling an outsider ’sir’ was evidently against his will, as his tone still struggled when saying ’sir’.

But that didn’t matter; Lann wasn’t aiming for a good relationship, just for answers.

Soon, amidst the psychological barrier causing stammering, the man pointed Lann towards the cathedral.

The road conditions in Yan’an were so complex that even though the cathedral stood high there, and Lann possessed the athleticism to climb rooftops, finding the road was just impossible.

The architects of Yan’an were indeed exceptionally skilled.

After asking his questions, Lann turned and left. He wasn’t petty enough to lure beastly patients in front of another’s door just because of some insults.

Mostly, he just kept his distance.

A few steps away from the foul-mouthed man, another house was on the opposite side of the alley.

Most windows had dimmed, yet one still had its warning light lit.

As he passed by, Lann knocked on it.

”Mister or madam inside, if you can’t endure tonight at home, you can go hide at Oton Chapel, where there’s ample incense.”

A surprised female voice came from inside the room.

”Oh? Sir, why would you... no, thank you for the notice. I thought you were one of those...”

Lann understood her meaning.

”I’m not a born killer, ma’am. And I wouldn’t be mad at you just because you live somewhat close to someone who insulted me, understand?”

”Ha, understood, my good sir.”

The voice inside relaxed, carrying a habitual flirtatiousness.

”Meeting a kind-hearted person at this time is truly rare. Oton Chapel, is it? Got it. Thank you for letting me know. The incense consumption tonight indeed scares me a bit. After the hunt night, if you’re interested in patronizing my business, I’ll offer you a good discount.”

As she mentioned ’business’, her tone turned ambiguously suggestive, sparking imagination.

Prostitute?

Lann whistled silently.

How rare it was, amidst the eerie and abnormal Yan’an, for Lann to feel a wave of relief upon encountering someone with a conventional occupation.

It seems the obsession with blood hasn’t fully monopolized every Yan Nan’s desire; some old perverts still have other entertainments.

It was unexpected for Lann, to feel relaxed seeing a familiar profession in a foreign world.

After receiving directions, Lann finally arrived at the cathedral’s staircase.

The staircase was wide and high, accentuating the cathedral above in its grandeur.

The cathedral’s entrance was equally large, easily allowing those giant Sumerians to pass through.

With its gothic design, the cathedral appeared elaborate, ostentatious, and sacred.

Lann possessed no architectural expertise, so without hesitation, he approached and pushed open the heavy door, creating a gap wide enough for a normal human to enter.

No patrolling Sumerians nor rampant beastly patients guarded the cathedral’s entrance.

This granted it the rare tranquility amidst the hunt night.

Yet this peace itself felt abnormal among such clamorous chaos.

Lann’s boots clacked crisply against the marble steps.

This sound echoed through the cathedral, seemingly timeless and desolate.

Upon entering the cathedral’s vestibule, two rows of peculiar statues stood on either side.

With distorted limb proportions, their heads resembled hollowed-out walnuts, holding ornamental golden spears.

Were these monsters the Healing Church’s blood source? The Ancient God?

No, unlike. As the primary faith object, the Ancient God should occupy the cathedral’s most dominant, conspicuous location; these were just gatekeepers.

Nonetheless, these gatekeepers were enough for Lann to briefly grasp the Healing Church’s belief.

Unlike Meretelli faith in the Magic World, the Healing Church seemed indifferent to embellishing its faith’s appearance.

The bizarre Ancient God was allowed to display in its strangeness, as believers who’ve tasted blood therapy wouldn’t forsake its pleasure just because of odd-looking statues.

Upon reaching the cathedral’s hall, Lann saw the most conspicuous sculpture on the altar.

A headless woman with angel wings, in the gesture of pouring water from a bottle.

Its meaning was unclear.

Yet right in front of this statue knelt a frail figure in white robes, huddled while reciting some prayer. Only a small candlestick stood beside.

Amidst the cathedral’s echoing architecture, the prayer blurred in sound, preventing even the demon hunter’s extraordinary senses from fully discerning it.

Only intermittently did Lann catch a few phrases.

”Pursue the sacred blood. But, mortals must beware...”

”You, so young and weak, must constantly be wary of the blasphemous monsters whispering softly, enticing you into the abyss. Mortals must beware...”

”Once the reverence is lost, none shall lament for you anymore.”

Lann’s expression turned stern, his pace unchanged as he walked towards the church agent.

”So...”

The calm voice resonated through the cathedral.

”You, the Healing Church, actually know that blood can spawn monsters. Right?”

”And yet you continue to promote [Blood Therapy] across Yan’an, merely warning people to ’stay vigilant,’ and after that, entirely ignore the blood’s risks... is that right?”

The sound of steel being unsheathed emitted from Lann’s waist, crisp and cold.

The prayer abruptly ceased.

The agent maintained his kneeling posture as he turned, his eyes beneath the pure white hood fixed on the intruder.