Bear School Astartes

Chapter 452: 452. Golden Mountain Mahakan

The architectural style of Hein Castle adheres to the stereotype people have about Dwarves—

Sharp and rigid.

It seems these stubby fellows never consider how painful it is to trip or bump into a corner.

Its overall aura is heavy and solid.

Lann, Regis, and Ged walked into the hall where the Elder was located.

There were about a dozen Dwarves standing guard along the way.

As they reached inside the hall, there was a throne cast as an integrated part of the sharp four-tiered staircase.

A Dwarf with a beard hanging to his thighs, vibrant and dense, divided into three braids, sat atop, coldly watching the three humans walking in.

The moment Lann saw this Dwarf, he understood why he could cooperate with the Bear School.

The coldness in this one’s eyes wasn’t born of disgust or annoyance... he was very rational.

It was a kind of rational indifference.

Such a Dwarf, if approached with a cooperative mindset by the Bear School, would most likely succeed in negotiations.

”Welcome, welcome.”

Lence Ziva said the welcome words in a flat tone.

”After decades of fleeing wretchedly from these mountains, the Bear School returning is truly making our little place here shine.”

Lann’s mouth twitched slightly.

Alright, this Dwarf may have a cold demeanor, but he still has emotions.

”Your sarcasm won’t make the conversation proceed more smoothly, Elder.”

”But it makes me feel slightly better.”

Despite saying ’better’, the Dwarf Elder’s voice and expression remained unchanged.

”You abandoned the contract, leaving a mess here for decades. I’ve been sickened by it for just as long.”

Seeing persuasion was futile, Lann shrugged indifferently.

Let him be, after all, he’s cursing those Bear School old frosts, both he and Ged present don’t like them either.

Lence Ziva didn’t continue his ridicule, his sarcasm only amounted to that short segment.

”On your way here, my clansmen should have told you, I won’t be kind to you.”

The Dwarf Elder shifted on his throne and spread his hands.

”But that’s all nonsense. I feel neither fondness nor dislike for you, only mistrust because you didn’t complete the task I assigned you, nothing more.”

”Come, tell me. Why are two Bear Cubs returning to the Amel Mountains?”

”Could it be you want to revive the School?”

As he finished speaking, even Lence Ziva’s normally flat tone couldn’t help but carry a hint of mockery.

”Bullshit, I won’t busy myself to revive that inhumane School!”

Ged couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

Lann reached out to calm the somewhat agitated Ged, calmly meeting the gaze beneath the Dwarf Elder’s dense beard.

”It’s unrelated to the so-called School; we came merely in search of equipment blueprints. I guess the series of Bear School’s specialty equipment were actually designed by you?”

”You seem quite clever, young Bear Cub.”

Lence Ziva adjusted his three-braided beard and spoke calmly.

”That equipment was initially designed by my father, in collaboration with your Grandmaster Anahad, along with some meddlesome gnomes, undergoing several revisions before reaching my hands to be finalized.”

”It is equipment without equal; wearing it could make even a coward dare to clash with a dragon! For its blueprints, you’ve embarked on a deserved journey.”

Lann nodded.

Seems that even with Lence Ziva being such a Dwarf, the typical Dwarven exaggeration is inevitable.

”Precisely because of those unparalleled equipment blueprints, can we discuss business now?”

”Discuss business? With a Demon Hunter?”

For the first time during the conversation, the Dwarf Elder displayed emotion unexpectedly.

He wondered when Demon Hunters acquired the financial strength to ’discuss business’ with them?

Additionally, there was a sense of exceeding plans.

He suspiciously scrutinized Lann, finally shaking his head.

”Curious, your outfit seems freshly forged... you truly are wealthy?!”

”Yet, I don’t intend for you to merely pay and walk away with the blueprints.”

The young man’s handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly.

”I can offer a high price, if that reduces some hassles.”

”High price?” Lence Ziva smiled at the Demon Hunter, like watching a child boasting to adults with his lollipop.

”Young man, let me ask you a question: Where is the world’s largest source of gold?”

”Kovir.”

”Indeed, indeed.” The Dwarf Elder nodded and then supplemented. ”But you should add a qualifier, it’s the largest human source of gold.”

”And where is the true, world’s largest gold vein?”

Lence Ziva’s smile faded into an indifferent nonchalance under the gaze of the three.

”Let me tell you, in Mahakan. To be precise, the iron mine in that mountain is negligible compared to the gold mine — the mountain is genuinely a gold mountain! Beneath a layer of rock, pure gold lies!”

”Why has no human King dared to act on Mahakan, why is it only the Dwarven banks spread across the world, Demon Hunter?...have you pondered this question?”

Lann’s mouth twitched unconsciously at the Dwarf Elder’s description, while Regis and Ged simultaneously had their mouths agape.

If what Lence Ziva said is true, then it means...

”As soon as Mahakan is threatened, should Dwarves feel their clan is to be utterly slaughtered, we’ll release all the gold dug up over the years into the market.”

The Dwarf Elder spoke indifferently.

”By then, even your human farmers’ hoes could be made of gold! It’s no secret, hence any ruler with even a hint of foresight never thinks about leading troops against Mahakan. Because Mahakan controls the gold outflow, safeguarding the continent’s financial system.”

”Should I further explain to you the disruptive impact large amounts of gold flooding the market would have on the current financial system, clever Bear Cub?”

Lence Ziva leaned forward on the throne, staring at the three humans.

The posture hinted: Are you sure you want to discuss money with me?

Common Dwarves might lack funds, but a Dwarf Elder representing the entire Dwarven community can mobilize an unimaginable amount of gold.

With a ”snap,” Lann’s glove-clad hand slapped his forehead.

The Demon Hunter’s expression was helpless.

”Alright, give me the task, Dwarf sitting atop a gold mountain.”

”Don’t look at me like that, did you expect me to gawk like those two behind, mouths agape upon knowing your gold reserves? Your wealth means nothing to me; I only focus on what I want.”

”Now that I’ve realized my high price lacks persuasion before you. So why beat around the bush? Just spill out that mess.”

”Bear School Demon Hunter.”

Lann pointed at himself.

Then pointed at the Dwarf Elder upon the throne.

”The mess you’ve repeatedly mentioned.”

”You practically want to slam what you intend onto my face.”