Bear School Astartes

Early the next morning, still in her pajamas, Dean Margaret ran to her office under the astonished gazes of many students.

With a ”bang,” she flung open the office door, panting heavily from running so fast.

The delicate silk pajamas, soft and smooth, heaved up and down with her heavy breathing.

As Margaret brushed aside a strand of golden hair from her eyes and looked into the office.

Lann, sitting on a large chair behind the desk, was categorizing the last document neatly.

The stacks of neatly organized files on the desk almost made Margaret think her teacher had teleported back last night.

Shaking her head vigorously, Margaret hurriedly walked toward the desk with a worried expression.

”Where is the a-45-e file? That’s the reply for Redania’s spy chief, Dikoschek, and it needs to be sent out immediately. This sly old fox won’t miss any chance to drag the academy into war!”

”That fat pig will surely report us to King Vizimir if the reply arrives even a bit late!”

In a panic, the dean reached to rummage through the pile of documents.

Seeing his carefully organized files about to be scattered, Lann’s mouth twitched, then he discreetly pressed down on Margaret’s hand.

To the female Warlock’s bewildered expression, he nonchalantly pulled out a sheet from the stack with seemingly no distinguishing marks and handed it to her.

”The a-45-e file.” Margaret took it dazedly, while Lann remained calm and unruffled.

”In the reply, I refuted the three fallacies he made in his letter to us and threw back the two accusations at him. I also reiterated that Airetusa will not act rashly. Furthermore, I emphasized the management authority over the warlock group held by the Talent and Skill Association and the Warlock Supreme Council, as well as Airetusa’s loyalty to the decisions made by both councils.”

The Talent and Skill Association, also known as the Wizard Association, along with the Warlock Supreme Council, were two management organizations set up by the Warlock Brotherhood to oversee the warlock community.

Tishaya is now a member of the Wizard Association, representing Airetusa.

Back when the Warlock Brotherhood sought to ensure the prestige of these two organizations, they nearly killed all the warlocks who refused to join.

This even included Rafad, the ”Pure White,” who held the highest power in Temeria at the time.

The Demon Hunter spoke unhurriedly, with a diplomatic rhetoric nearly flawless, so much so that even Margaret, with her deep family background, couldn’t find any fault.

The female Warlock blinked, watching Lann, who had dealt with all the paperwork overnight without showing any signs of fatigue.

This Warlock with extraordinary talent in incantations and magic power suddenly doubted whether she might indeed be... a little... not too smart at management?

After confirming that all the work she left had been efficiently finished, Margaret looked at Lann with an expression as if she were seeing her own teacher!

Lann recognized that look all too well; it was the same one she had when Tishaya scolded her.

”Hmm... do you have a teacher-student romance inclination?”

Lann suddenly quipped from his chair.

”Actually, I wouldn’t mind some role play.”

Margaret’s face, rarely, flushed a bit, then returned to her big-sister demeanor of world-weariness.

”Don’t flatter yourself, young man. I can only play when I feel like it. But...”

After saying that, Margaret patted the almost fully-covered table of documents, leaned over, and kissed Lann on the cheek.

”Thank you, dear. Yesterday, I almost thought I’d sleep to death.”

”It’s nothing.” Lann got up from the large chair. ”There are plenty of documents dealt with this time; it should be enough to ease your work until Tishaya returns to the academy.”

Margaret couldn’t help but cover her mouth as she looked at the Demon Hunter standing in front of her like a mountain.

”In my groggy state yesterday, I didn’t notice... you’ve grown this much taller again?”

”Don’t worry.” Lann instantly understood Margaret’s implication, reassuring her. ”This is about the limit; my bones have finished developing.”

For a typical Interstellar Warrior, the height after skeletal enhancement is basically their final state.

But if Primaris Space Marine technology were added...

Lann didn’t mention this to Margaret.

After all, the three surgical procedures for Primaris Space Marine, with their reinforcement organs, seemed to involve highly advanced technology.

For instance, the ”Tendon Coils,” also known as ”Inner Steel.”

They can enhance tendons with mechanical wires, enabling them to contract with amazing force and increasing overall strength, while simultaneously adding another layer of internal defense to the body.

The punch strength of a normal Interstellar Warrior is about five tons, but these battle-hardened Superman Warriors can use skill and equipment to deliver damage far beyond the raw numbers.

The basic strength of a Primaris Space Marine, however, is significantly greater due to the ”Tendon Coils,” reaching about ten tons.

In Lann’s memory, these things originally appear as a bundle of metal wires resembling plant roots.

During surgery, these metal wires are implanted into the chest cavity by prying open the shutter-like closing ribs of the Interstellar Warriors, then grow into the tendon positions throughout the muscles.

Essentially, it’s a high-tech metal machine with a self-replicating program.

This is a surgical organ currently unavailable to Lann, who can only cultivate biological tissues.

”Get some good rest in the coming days, Rita.”

Lann reiterated to Margaret.

”You need to recover well. I think the Warlock Brotherhood will soon have to make a statement regarding this war. The kings won’t allow such a powerful group of warlocks to merely watch from the sidelines.”

”You’re right.” Discussing this topic, Margaret forced a smile.

”I just want to protect these apprentices who haven’t graduated yet... at least they shouldn’t be on the battlefield.”

”I hope so.” Lann didn’t say much else, just consoling in a low voice.

But he very well understood an essential concept: The one who can suffer more losses in a war is the one more likely to win.

A simple fact is that mobilizing all the men to kill results in greater numbers than mobilizing only half.

And as the war escalates, this catastrophe created by humanity itself will largely be beyond the control of humanity.

Lann and Margaret fell silent in the office for a while.

As the war begins, an atmosphere of malice and heaviness, willing or not, had already seeped into every corner of society like mercury spilled from its container.

Soon after, a message came from outside the office. It was Shilton Giancardi visiting to discuss matters regarding the Valerian Steel Merchants Association with the shareholders.