Bear School Astartes

”Excellent, excellent,” a voice said.

Cassandra stopped walking and looked at the person emerging from the small hut in the camp.

The man before her was groomed as neatly as a seagull. His light brown hair was combed forward, and he wore a surprisingly well-fitting deep blue robe with several conspicuous gold stripes running diagonally across it. His slender neck and wrists were adorned with numerous bangles and ornaments.

These items were not cheap, indicating he was a wealthy man.

And it was well known that there were few wealthy people on Kefalonia Island.

The man walked over to the still-living archer and looked down at the person writhing and convulsing on the ground. Then he drew a short sword from his waist.

As naturally as slicing into a roasted chicken, he placed the short sword under the archer’s throat and gave a steady pull.

A pool of blood gushed from beneath the severed skin, and the convulsing body fell into a deathly stillness.

The man, as if in disdain, pinched the short sword with a few fingers, and gently placed it on the ground.

”Even for a mercenary, slitting the throat of someone you’ve worked with,” Cassandra said, cold and guarded as she watched his actions, ”what you did is a bit too cold-blooded.”

The man nonchalantly dusted off his hands, which were not dirty: ”They weren’t working ’with’ me, but ’for’ me.”

”Working for you? You weren’t hired by the One-eyed People... uh, who are you?”

Saying this, Cassandra awkwardly scratched her head, causing her braid to sway on her left shoulder.

Marcos had told her these were the One-eyed People’s subordinates, and that’s why she had come and taken them all out, but now it seemed... had she killed the wrong people?

When she acted, she generally didn’t give people a chance to speak, or even a chance to notice her.

And now, having killed them all, she realized she had made a mistake.

”I am Erpinuo, from Kira.”

The man answered calmly, seemingly unconcerned about the fate of his ’former’ subordinates.

Kira? Cassandra thought. That’s the gateway to Delphi, where the renowned Oracle resides.

”From your skills just now, you seem like an excellent mercenary. Interested in earning a large sum of drachma?”

Cassandra listened to his words, then noticed his fanatical gaze on her exposed arms. She raised her head, looking down her nose at him somewhat disdainfully.

”I’m not going to bed with someone for money. Besides, you are too old; trust me, you couldn’t handle it.”

Erpinuo raised an eyebrow. ”Oh, don’t misunderstand. What I want has nothing to do with your body, at least not in that way. I offer you payment in exchange for a head.”

”Assassination?” Cassandra retracted her disdainful gaze and nodded, ”Now that’s indeed a mercenary’s trade. Let’s hear it.”

”A Spartan general, renowned and respected. People call him the ’Spartan Blood Wolf.’

Erpinuo said unhurriedly.

”You’re asking me to kill a general leading the Spartan army?”

”A general is still a person, and any person can be killed. And I have prepared a large sum for his death.”

”Hmph, well said.”

Cassandra snorted confidently. This struck a chord with her; she had confidence in her skills and strength, and her Spartan education in youth made her somewhat arrogant at times.

”So, are you planning to take this job?”

”Just tell me where he is.”

”Across the sea, in the most coveted lands of the Greek World.”

These suggestive words made Cassandra narrow her eyes.

She looked past Erpinuo’s shoulder and gazed eastward into the sky.

She thought of the shadow of naval warfare and the endless stream of Athenian fleets she saw from her rooftop, fleets continuously sailing to Corinth Bay to reinforce Athens’ defense... Megaliss?

The ’Blood Wolf’ is in Megaliss?

Erpinuo, this man who felt like a snake, seemed to see through Cassandra’s thoughts and confirmed them.

”In the tug-of-war between Sparta and Athens, the narrow lands of Megaliss are the land connection. Athens hopes these ports can complete its naval stranglehold near Helas, while Sparta hopes this land can serve as a bridge to Attica, allowing their indomitable land forces to advance unimpeded.”

”The Blood Wolf is a good general, that’s undeniable. But he’s blocking my way, harming my business, so I must eliminate him.”

”Blocking your way.” Cassandra showed some curiosity, ”That’s too vague. How exactly does he hinder you?”

”Hinder me? Please, the entire Greek World is at each other’s throats. Failing to clear your own trouble will get you cleared. Take a guess; what are you, a frog at the bottom of a well?”

In the face of Erpinuo’s sarcasm, Cassandra was quite candid and open: ”Kefalonia.”

I admit I’m not knowledgeable, so what?

This ’sincerity’ obviously left Erpinuo unable to continue his mockery.

”Well then...?”

Finally, Erpinuo extended his hand to Cassandra. His hidden gaze swept over her strong arms, making Cassandra feel as though a snake were crawling over them.

But for the reward, a prosperous life, and the vast world beyond Kefalonia, Cassandra, after a brief contemplation, gripped Erpinuo’s forearm.

The two grasped each other’s forearm and shook up and down.

It symbolized friendship and the reaching of a mutual agreement.

”I’ll take the job, but I need to finish up with the One-eyed People’s business first,”

Cassandra said decisively before turning and leaving, appearing efficient and resolute.

Erpinuo, meanwhile, stood still, amidst the blood of his subordinates, watching her departure.

His eyes were not filled with lust when looking at Cassandra, but the desire he felt seemed almost indistinguishable from it.

Only after the Aegean beauty completely faded from view did he reluctantly avert his gaze.

Not long after, several men armored in steel arrived and naturally began to clean up the situation for Erpinuo.

The craft of ironmaking, in fact, had been explored by the Greek World since the time of Leonidas, but the production and quality left much to be desired.

There was much room for improvement.

Yet, on these individuals, their armor did not appear at all scant.

They wore sleeveless steel cuirasses, leather combined with steel plate skirts, steel greaves and vambraces, and helmets made with menacing faces.

”Go tell everyone, I’ve found Cassandra and according to the plan, I’ve lured her out from that impoverished place,”

Erpinuo instructed the silently standing armored soldiers behind him without turning his head.

The armored soldiers took notes on a papyrus scroll, then put it away.

They did not act immediately but leaned close to Erpinuo’s ear to quietly report some information.

Initially as cold as a reptile, Erpinuo’s expression gradually became intrigued during the briefing.

”A new demigod bloodline? Right on Kefalonia? This is truly...”

”Should we first confirm?” The armored soldier cautiously suggested. ”We’ve been misled by rumors many times. Announcing to everyone without confirming would affect our credibility, wouldn’t it?”

”Indeed, we are, after all, the intelligence gatherers in the organization, and making mistakes wouldn’t look good.”

Erpinuo nodded without expression.

”I remember we came with a rather famous mercenary on the ship?”

”’Shining’ An You, she’s got some skills. Currently staying with the One-eyed People, heard she wants to take on a small job in Kefalonia.”

”Then let her kill that demigod bloodline. How much money do the One-eyed People have? I can pay three times more. If she succeeds, then the target is undoubtedly a fake.”

After giving the order, the armored soldier began to carry it out.

And Erpinuo muttered to himself.

”I hope it’s not a fake. The ’Eye of Order’ and ’Bloodline Cultivator’ need to improve relations, and a demigod bloodline... Tsk tsk tsk, those fools will be thrilled to death.”