Bear School Astartes

”Additionally, don’t mind the nonsense that Taler spouts. Although I do think it’s beneficial for Yada to engage with you, she ultimately still has to pass on her family’s lineage. I remember that Demon Hunters can’t procreate... wait, are you an exception?”

As he spoke, Veltrest seriously confirmed with Lann.

”Alright, is this King also trying to gather intelligence now?”

Lann shook his head.

”I suppose I... also can’t procreate?”

”Is that so, what a pity.” Veltrest sighed, ”Even though you’re only the first generation of nobility, I was quite hopeful you could have a child with Yada.”

”Heh, well, you keep hoping.”

Lann answered with a forced smile.

Within the noble class, the bare and cold inheritance of lineage, bloodline, and power made Lann feel somewhat uncomfortable.

They’re really starting to resemble pimps. Even in matchmaking, the girl has to be present herself.

Veltrest, on the other hand, sharply felt Lann’s discomfort. Though his experience couldn’t quite fathom why, he swiftly shifted the topic.

”Do you know, there aren’t just people from Temeria in this village anymore.”

”Codwin, Yaden, Redania, and even to the far north in Kovir... your frequent appearances have been immediately compiled into reports. Later, for sending people over, they conceded on border trade agreements with Temeria.”

”So, you see, I actually benefited from your presence.”

Veltrest earnestly looked at the Demon Hunter: ”Do you want a share? I’ve prepared everything on my side, including the accounts which you can check yourself.”

”That’s rather negotiable, but... you’ve accepted favors from others and then pointed out their people here, isn’t that somewhat?”

Lann didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Veltrest did not dispute it, merely sighed.

”Ah, I promised them they could send spies in, but didn’t promise to hide it for them. Like the fisherman you encountered when you first arrived, he’s one of Dikoschek, Redania’s intelligence head’s subordinates.”

”Moreover, I sincerely hope you won’t reveal anything critical to them.”

”Such as?”

”Such as...” Veltrest paused, speaking softly. ”The Demon Hunter’s mutation knowledge.”

Lann’s hand, holding the wine glass, froze mid-air, though it returned to normal after a short while, considering the speed of his reactions, it was indeed a long pause.

Veltrest’s words unavoidably drew Lann’s thoughts back to the past.

Once, in the Brook Leon Great Forest, he communicated with the Grandmaster of the Wolf School, hoping for a chance to progress there.

And Vesemir, because of this, after finally acknowledging his morality and thoughts, opened the gates of Ker Morhan to him.

The mutation of Demon Hunters was seven days of unbearable pain for Lann.

Beside Lann, Veltrest’s voice continued calmly.

”According to Taler’s intelligence summary...”

The Temeria intelligence head seated beside Lann dramatically bowed slightly.

”It’s a damn honor to serve you.”

Veltrest continued speaking.

”During your absence these past months, the commissions for Demon Hunters launched by the nobility and state institutions in Northern countries have increased sixty-seven times.”

Monsters, which have long ravaged but barely approached human settlements, only killing one or two unlucky souls a year, suddenly all became greatly hazardous, needing immediate attention... It’s quite interesting, isn’t it?”

”But maybe it’s because Demon Hunters have all undergone basic education and have seen the world’s dangers, so, thus far, few commissions have been accepted. By the way, this only increases my respect for this profession.”

Taler interjected.

During the Demon Hunter’s brief silence, Veltrest put down the wine glass, looking seriously at Lann, and offered a suggestion.

”I’ve heard about your mutation process, Sir Lann. Altering, twisting, huge risks... At the inception of this surgery, Alzur and his teacher Maraspina consumed countless young lives, creating numerous monstrosities that lost their human form.”

”And with multiple nations, rather than a mere two Warlocks’ resource input, the scale of experiments is simply unimaginable... We must learn from the lessons of our predecessors and let this surgery disappear.”

”No more should die due to such twisted surgeries.”

After Lann had killed Steza previously, Veltrest had properly cared for the children abducted by Steza.

Although this was also for his political aims, it had somewhat gained Lann’s recognition.

This King still had some humanity.

And the situation from his mouth indeed seemed plausible to Lann.

... His power’s performance in the last war had been too dazzling, even terrifying.

Though Demon Hunters generally looked at it as saying incomprehensible things, people blinded by power wouldn’t remain calm like those who’ve experienced mutation and transformation.

The Demon Hunters know they couldn’t achieve even one percent of Lann’s level at that time, but do others believe that?

Might they think, it’s because other Demon Hunters’ mutation formulas weren’t done properly?

Might they believe... that they actually have the chance to replicate this power?

The destructive capability Lann displayed alone in that war had already exceeded all small northern countries.

And should those small nations succeed once, their military strength could leap and require no maintenance costs for this military power, a windfall with no loss.

For military investment, nothing could be more cost-effective.

Ideas breed ambition, and ambition tramples humanity.

”I will advise all Demon Hunters I can contact to abolish or carefully guard their respective school’s mutation knowledge.”

Lann pondered, touching his chin.

”But after all, I don’t know everyone from every school; I can only do my best.”

Veltrest raised his glass to Lann: ”As long as mutation knowledge doesn’t spread, it’s already considered saving many.”

After finishing this herbal drink he didn’t quite like, the Demon Hunter stood up and left the tavern.

While Temeria’s King, King’s Guard, and Intelligence Head remained seated inside.

Taler reached toward the cup Lann had used...

”Don’t touch it. Roche, take it to clean.”

Without turning his head, Veltrest shouted, and the loyal guard immediately complied, while the Intelligence Head smirked.

”We can already be considered friends with him; our previous contacts and approach made him have a favorable impression of us. That’s our advantage.”

”Airetusa Academy is within Temeria’s borders, and our relations with the Academy have always been good, this too is an advantage.”

”Don’t ruin your advantage just because of a tiny fragment. Do I need to teach you this, Taler?”

”No.” The Intelligence Head smiled, tipping his head to spit on the ground, ”I just want to see if you remain sober, Your Majesty... in the face of such beautiful and decisive power.”

Veltrest looked at his Chief of Intelligence with annoyance.

”I really should find a chance to have your head chopped off, Taler. Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to do that?”

”The number of times you want to doesn’t matter; what matters is you’ve rationally remained at the ’wanting’ stage.”

Veltrest’s mouth twitched at the Chief of Intelligence’s rudeness but ultimately controlled his emotions.

”How are the fishing boats and fishermen prepared?” The King asked softly. ”We can now confirm that every time he comes here, he goes to that island, then disappears for a few months.”