Bear School Astartes

”Well, I have to admit.”

Lann couldn’t shake off Alcibiades, even though he kept a cold face from start to finish, his pace consistent.

So he could only sit beside the other and speak helplessly.

”Although you look lustful and impatient, you still manage to maintain boundaries well. You didn’t touch me inappropriately, nor did you make me feel disrespected... Damn! It leaves me with no reason to hit you!”

”Ah! Principles, clear logic, well-educated in logic and morality! This makes you even more attractive, my dear!”

Alcibiades said with undulations in his tone.

Lann felt that someone like him would never lack companions in any era. He could amazingly turn smooth talk and make it not annoying at all, just cheerful.

”I enjoy physical pleasure, but I rarely give up the pursuit of mental harmony in the process.”

Alcibiades tugged at his luxurious cloak, using a flirtatious tone to utter serious words.

”Except when the other’s skills are indeed... commendable, like the courtesan of Corinth. Otherwise, I still prefer my companion to share the joy with love.”

”Before that, you could consider me a sweet-talking gentleman.”

Lann raised a palm, signalling to stop.

”But I don’t think I could ever fall in love with you for your efforts, so you might as well stop while you’re ahead.”

”Don’t speak so absolutely, dear.”

Alcibiades nudged Lann by his side with an elbow, his smile casual and generous.

”There’s pure and noble love between men, and I’ve proven this point to quite a few skeptical gentlemen. Perhaps with our future interactions, you can also broaden your, uh... taste’s richness?”

”Anyway, I’ve said my piece, and if it’s for nothing, that’s your own concern.”

Lann reminded him expressionlessly.

And Alcibiades gladly accepted.

”You can evade my affections all you want, which makes it even more exciting for me, just like Socrates. He was like a slippery cat that couldn’t be caught in front of me. But that’s precisely what makes you gentlemen so attractive.”

On the streets of Athens, more and more people were glancing over while passing by.

Or simply stopped and stood.

Alcibiades was already a well-known charming and rakish young man in Athens, tantamount to a top celebrity.

And now, beside him sat a man with even greater allure in terms of looks.

This was certainly a scene to draw attention.

Lann felt a bit uncomfortable, while Alcibiades was quite used to it.

But that’s how he could change bed partners every day, right? Alcibiades quickly noticed Lann’s discomfort, getting up first and leading away from the crowd.

Avoiding the predicament of being surrounded.

If things stopped at friendship, he would undoubtedly be a considerate and enthusiastic person.

”Do you not know your reputation? It seems you don’t care at all about what you did in Megaliss.”

Alcibiades tilted his head and said.

”In the battle of Megaliss, two mercenaries’ names spread among the people, [Hawk Trainer] and [Son of the Giant God].”

”And it’s kind of funny because [Deceiver] Icarus declared confidently when undertaking the mission for Pericles that this battle would make him famous worldwide.”

”What a pity, I was very optimistic about him.”

Lann gave him a fleeting glance.

”But Athens was defeated in Megaliss, why do you seem not to care?”

”Because there’s nothing to care about, Lann. This is Athens.”

Alcibiades said, opening his arms as if to embrace the entire city, towards Lann.

”Even now with Spartans besieging outside, even if Athens were to fall immediately, the spirit and culture of this city could be passed down a thousand years, two thousand years. And Sparta? People a thousand years later might just think of it as barren land when passing by.”

”Those who only know how to kill don’t last long.”

Though his words seemed to belittle the Athenians fighting on the battlefield, Lann realized: this feckless guy, Alcibiades, was indeed a politician and strategist worthy of textbooks.

”Alright, let’s set aside these tedious matters of political and war situations, let’s talk about you.”

Alcibiades stood with one hand on his hip, the other outstretched to Lann.

”When you took the task under the statue of Hermes, does it mean you want to conduct business in Athens?”

”First let me clarify.” The Demon Hunter immediately declared. ”I won’t sleep with someone for money, especially not men!”

”Of course, of course!”

Alcibiades looked quite pained.

”Didn’t I say already? As long as you’re unwilling, you can consider me a sweet-talking gentleman. How could I do anything like that? Forcing someone to kiss me through business? That’s just tasteless! I never do such things!”

”I really do have a troublesome matter on my mind that might require your help.”

”Let’s hear it first.”

Lann crossed his arms, eyeing this notorious libertine of Athens cautiously.

”This trouble is concerning Phidias, that renowned sculptor in the Greek world, have you heard of him?”

Alcibiades pinched his chin with one hand, tilting his head as he asked.

”Not really. I don’t know much about the art of sculpture.”

”Let’s put it this way: that towering and magnificent bronze statue of Athena is made by him, as is the Athena statue in the Parthenon Temple.”

Then Lann raised an eyebrow, realizing what a big shot this Phidias was.

This was someone capable of creating wonders of the ages.

”Go on, what’s bothering him?”

”He personally feels that lately, there seem to be some mysterious people spying on his life. Because of this, he hasn’t stopped complaining to everyone. And recently he’s become rather paranoid.”

Alcibiades explained with precise wording.

Lann thought this issue didn’t seem very serious, so he scratched his cheek and said lightly.

”Could it be admirers or something? He’s an artist famed throughout the Greek world, surely there are admirers, right?”

”Who can say? But it’s not like Phidias hasn’t encountered fanatical admirers before; some even think his hands are blessed by gods. Yet he seems more uneasy now than that time.”

”Wait a minute, does this mean... is this his commission? Or are you making the commission on his behalf?”

”I’ll pay for this task, a high price.”

Lann’s expression turned strange upon hearing this.

”You two... are so ’close’?”

”Oh, don’t worry, Lann. Phidias, like you, is not quite comfortable with love between men. I got to know him through doing a favor.”

Alcibiades spoke at ease.

”Some ladies who once shared happiness with me are now left alone. So I asked Phidias to use his exquisite skills to replicate some of my ’good stuff’ in marble to comfort those poor ladies.”

Saying so, he proudly thrust out his waist.

Lann was speechless, giving him a deeper understanding of the romantic lives of Athenians.