Bear School Astartes

Chapter 461: 461. Ancient... Creatures

”I choose to trust Regis.”

Lann and Dilaf stared intently into each other’s eyes, motionless.

Any hint of hesitation or rigidity from either would be keenly sensed by the other.

What follows would be doubt, mistrust, and then the conversation would collapse.

Fortunately, neither of them showed any of these suspicious emotions.

Lann emphasized once again.

”I trust Regis’s abilities and loyalty to friends, but that has nothing to do with you, high vampire, Mr. Dilaf.”

Saying this, Lann stood up from the ground and patted the dust off his cotton armor jacket.

”I think I already know how to deal with you.”

Regis stood aside, slightly bowing to him.

However, the posture was more of a casual jest and tease between friends than a ceremonious salute.

Regis wasn’t someone to carry airs; his gentle conversation was more impressive than his manners.

”Oh! I’m deeply honored by your trust.”

”Enough!” Lann put on a deliberately impatient face, waving his hand as if shooing. ”Don’t speak in an ostentatious tone; your voice isn’t suited for it.”

Although Ged still had doubts on his face, he also walked over, and the three of them began discussing outside the mine on how to handle the high vampire in the cage.

”We can’t kill him, and Regis also can’t commit murder against his kin, turning into a killer.”

Lann crossed his arms and set the tone for this small meeting.

”Moreover, reinforcing the suppression array left by Anahad... Even putting aside the cost of gathering materials, we also know the Dwarves at Hein Castle wouldn’t want it happening every few decades. They wouldn’t recognize it as a completed task.”

Regis stood to the side, still clutching the strap of a shoulder bag, like a rural tax collector.

He didn’t look too worried since he probably already knew Lann’s attitude towards Dilaf.

Ged clicked his tongue and scratched his freshly shaved chin, looking conflicted.

”Okay, there’s only one workable option... Although we Demon Hunters often let harmless monsters go during tasks, a high vampire... Well, I must say, my worldview has been shaken.”

Lann reassuringly patted Ged on the shoulder.

”The world is changing, and getting faster. It’s better to adapt sooner than later.”

”You don’t need to comfort me; I can adjust myself. I said, you’re the leader; what’s decided by you stands.”

Ged waved his hand nonchalantly, indicating he was okay with it.

That signaled the three of them had reached an agreement.

Lann nodded and, after glancing into the mine, said.

”Then we’re left with one option—let Dilaf go.”

Ged and Regis both nodded.

But Lann looked at Regis seriously, his tone shifting.

”But I won’t let him go just based on empty words, you understand, Regis?”

Regis frowned.

”What do you mean?”

”Through your telepathy, you saw Dilaf is a good person; I trust you, so I don’t doubt it. But you’ve also seen he wiped out an entire village in a fit of rage.”

Lann stated calmly.

”The people in that village deserved their fates, but surely innocents were also harmed. Dilaf’s actions were driven by anger rooted in his moral compass, and he’s been chopped up and imprisoned, suffering for over a century due to them. I consider him as having been punished and serving his term, which isn’t up for debate.”

”The only issue is: we must ensure he won’t retaliate against those who imprisoned him.”

”The Bear School is understandable; Anahad disappeared long ago, and Heinkawei has been vacant, not a rat in sight.”

”But what about Hein Castle with the dwarves? They hired us to handle the task; we can’t release a vengeful killer upon them; it’s unreasonable in logic and emotion.”

”Dilaf doesn’t want revenge! He’s a good person!”

Regis explained, frowning.

But Lann continued in a calm yet cold tone.

”Promising words are hollow, and your knowledge of him is limited to the telepathy of today. Regis, ’good person’ can’t serve as assurance; I need an effective measure to ensure Dilaf wouldn’t do such things.”

Regis’s expression turned complicated like never before.

Since Lann met this gentle and kind high vampire, it was his first time seeing Regis with such a look.

He knew Lann was right; ensuring an ex-convict couldn’t retaliate against their captors was crucial.

He even had a feasible plan in place to ensure Dilaf wouldn’t harm Hein Castle in the future.

But it was this plan that caused his current dilemma.

”He looks like he just swallowed a huge chunk of blue cheese raw.”

Ged remarked on Regis’s expression because even Lann had never seen it before, let alone him.

”It’s not like swallowing blue cheese raw...” grumbled the young man with Ged, ”he looks more like tightrope walking on the mouth of a bubbling active volcano.”

After a long time, Regis finally seemed to have made up his mind, taking a deep breath.

”Exhales~ you’re right, Lann. My plan is like tightrope walking on a volcano, dangerous, deadly... Even for a creature like me.”

”Care to share?”

Lann asked probingly, only to see Regis respond with a bitter smile.

”I’ll take Dilaf to meet an ancient... creature. That being holds absolute authority over us, and if it speaks, we have to carry out everything word for word without exception. Just imagining disturbing its peace makes me shiver.”

”Makes even your high vampires shiver? What is it...”

Ged’s curious question was cut off by Lann pulling his shoulder back.

”No, Ged. Don’t ask.”

Lann’s voice was soft yet firm, dousing Ged’s curiosity.

The young man’s understanding of this world wasn’t broad, but it was deep. He had already encountered several beings from its deeper layers.

If the creature Regis mentioned was one of them, it was best not to dig further.

After pulling Ged back, Lann turned back to Regis.

”You’ll see that creature, then what?”

”After that, I’ll see to it in front of that creature that he swears never to retaliate against the dwarves of Hein Castle and the Bear Demon Hunters for over a century of imprisonment. Rest assured, under its witness, even the most audacious among us wouldn’t dare break the oath.”

”In that case.” Lann nodded, ”I’m fine with it; let Dilaf out.”