Bear School Astartes

A good number of people at the Kingfisher Tavern had already started drinking in the afternoon.

In villages or small towns, you wouldn’t see many people like this, as most people still had work to do.

But in Novigrad, they were already having fun sharing tables in the tavern.

People in the tavern were shouting about some horse race and also the familiar sounding Anger Fist competition. Merchants were discussing business and news.

Triss still did not wear a hat or have her hair covered, standing out from ordinary women.

This proudly showcased her identity as a Female Warlock.

People with some knowledge in the tavern knew: this was a witch.

If they were superstitious, they would avoid looking at Triss, fearing that a glance at the witch would bring a curse.

And those more familiar with supernatural powers also wouldn’t look much. Although, Female Warlocks were generally charming, with alluring figures and beautiful faces.

But what was equally evident was their unpredictable temper and extreme self-centeredness.

It’s not that there are no ordinary men favored by Female Warlocks, maintaining intimate relationships.

However, typically, these men show signs of a thrill similar to being ”drained by a Female Night Demon” at first, but often fall into emotional distress.

In an intimate relationship where the female partner is entirely self-centered, ignoring her male partner’s feelings, and holds an overwhelmingly dominant position... for most men, this emotional distress is not outweighed by physical pleasure.

They would rather have a less stunning ordinary female partner than endure this mental anguish.

So, over time, although the allure of the Female Warlocks has not diminished, and has even flourished with fashion trends in clothing, cosmetics, and more.

Except for some fearless young adventurers who want to try something new, few men are willing to establish stable intimate relationships with Female Warlocks.

Most are just for casual one-night stands to meet physiological needs.

Thus, even in men’s freely spoken intimate topics, Female Warlocks have always been maintained at a respectful distance.

Of course, from Lann’s perspective...

”In an intimate relationship, always in a weak position”?

He truly couldn’t understand what that meant.

”Let me think...”

Triss walked ahead of Lann, like an exuberant girl, with magic not only extending her life and beauty but also giving her an enduringly optimistic and lively ease.

The glances in the tavern, attracted to her enchanting beauty only to quickly avert in panic, didn’t affect her mood at all.

”Are we going to Dudu’s house now? You Demon Hunters always have to do on-site investigations, right?”

”Yes, you’re catching on quickly, Triss.”

Lann nodded casually, walking out of the Kingfisher Tavern with the Female Warlock.

The door opened to Master’s Square, and leaving the square, the closely packed three-story buildings of Novigrad made the roads appear narrow.

Sometimes, a few strings of triangular flags were hung between the buildings on either side of the street.

Dandelion had already mentioned to them Dudu’s address on the way back to the city, so Lann and Triss didn’t have a hard time finding it.

This area should count as the wealthy district of Novigrad; not only do all the windows feature high-quality, seamless, bubble-free glass, but even the wooden doors were neatly cut and nailed together with patterned iron frames.

And actually...

”I think Dandelion only needed to give us a street number; the house number doesn’t really matter.”

Lann, standing on the street, complained to the Female Warlock beside him.

The house in front of them was quite conspicuous.

Although this district is for the wealthy, it isn’t physically separated from impoverished areas.

In the empty space between the houses, there was a small fountain, which many poor city residents used as a water source, treating it as a well.

The neatly clean stone bricks around the fountain had become dirty and muddy due to the repeated splashing while fetching water.

Mud oozed from the gaps between the stone bricks.

The wealthy residents couldn’t seem to stop this activity, but they could at least keep their houses clean and tidy.

But one of the houses had its door splashed with red liquid, which Lann’s Demon Hunter sense told him was paint.

However, most ordinary people would probably think it was blood from something.

The methods of debt collection by gangs didn’t seem to differ much by region.

”The door is locked.”

Triss stepped forward and pushed the door. The paint had long dried, and the lock was intact.

Lann positioned his tall body in front of the door, and his palm hit the spot where the door latch was.

Soon after, a faint red glow of fighting spirit flashed in his hand, and with a ”bang,” a crisp and clean thud sounded.

The spot where the door latch was fastened was forcefully pushed out with a palm-sized hole, and the rest of the door merely shook slightly, without even a crack appearing.

Immense power was precisely controlled.

And when the door opened unimpeded inward, Triss then saw the structure of the latch inside.

Solid steel mechanical grip, with remnants of magic on it.

It would have been easier to break the entire wooden door than to destroy the lock.

Geralt might not have even opened it using Alder’s Rune until he was out of breath.

But in the face of Lann’s muscular strength, there was no difference between the two.

There is no unbreakable lock in the world, only the size of the commotion it makes.

Breaking into doors often requires carry it out discreetly, without drawing attention, making ’breaking doors’ a technical skill.

But when the Niflgaard people massacred Sintra, didn’t they smash down even city gates with crossbow cannons and trebuchets?

Lann and Triss entered without showing any emotion.

”A pale red light on your hand? Rita didn’t mention this, is it a new trick of the Demon Hunters?”

Triss teased as she looked at Lann.

The young Demon Hunter was indifferent.

”Just technology from the Otherworld, nothing to do with magic, it’s related to the body. Rita hasn’t seen me use it.”

”So what you’re saying is...” Triss’s eyes lit up, ”I know you better than Rita?”

Lann didn’t say anything further, he underestimated the competitive nature among Female Warlocks.

This interior design is not much different from Triss’s villa structure.

Three floors, apart from the walls, the floors and stairs are made of wood.

Bookshelves filled with books and cabinets with fruit trays and wine bottles are placed against the wall, making the room look not at all spacious.

Apart from a bit of dust, it seems Dudu hasn’t become hysterical or panicked due to business bankruptcy.

Everything in this house shows no signs of venting anger, it’s just been unoccupied for a while.

”Most people who suddenly go bankrupt due to accidents don’t have this level of composure.”

Lann walked over to the cabinet, took the wine bottle on top, unscrewed the glass cap and sniffed, then looked at the fruit tray beside the bottle.

If he were a normal merchant who went bankrupt, the wine bottle should have shattered on the wooden floor.

”Livia cherry wine, smooth taste, he really knows how to enjoy life.”

The sharp sound of glass friction, Lann screwed the cap back on the bottle again.

”Nothing strange about that.” Triss also walked around the house observing, ”Though he’s a Shapeshifter, earning money is meant for enjoyment, isn’t it? Shapeshifters know how to live too.”

”It’s a pity when Dudu left, he didn’t seal it properly, the alcohol has evaporated heavily, it’s undrinkable now.”

Lann smiled at Triss’s remark.

”Considering the extent of alcohol evaporation and the dryness and hardening of the fruit trays... two days? Did he come back midway while hiding from debt?”

Entering investigative mode, Lann showcased the common occupational habits of Demon Hunters.

He began investigating while whispering to himself about his findings.

After determining the target’s recent active time, Lann started to activate his Demon Hunter senses.

Soon, a bright red footprint was highlighted on the originally empty floor.

At first glance, Mentos marked out rough data based on the footprint information.

”The height matches that of a Half-Elf, but the footsteps are heavy and solid, with boots instead of barefoot with hairy large soles... this looks more like a Dwarf’s footprint.”

Lann crouched down, his gloved fingers rubbed over the wooden floor, making a scraping sound.

Triss also leaned in, but unfortunately she didn’t have the same vision, so she could only analyze based on Lann’s words.

”For a Shapeshifter, you needn’t doubt what form he changes into.”

”Indeed.” Lann’s gaze followed the footprints, raising them towards the stairs.

”Let’s see what Dudu came back to get after changing his appearance.”

Under his cloak, Lann’s hands instinctively brushed each other, dusting off the floor as he prepared to head upstairs.

But just as he lifted his foot, before it could land on the first staircase, his form halted.

His hooded head turned backwards, Triss was puzzled.

But seconds later...”Boom!”

The initially ajar door was kicked open.

Four or five figures swaggered into the house from the doorway.

Most of them only wore a leather vest on their upper body, leaving their chests exposed, their arms and chests covered with workmanship not-too-great cheap tattoos.

Lann even spotted a few magic runes, but they were just appearances, lacking any technical depth.

He guessed this person thought magic could grant him power.

”Ha~Tea.”

The leader wore a small cloth hat, snorted twice as he entered, then tilted his head and spat a mouthful of green phlegm.

At the same time, he glared ferociously over at Lann and Triss.

”Look, look at this good life!”

He spoke with a slight stutter, grinning with a mouth full of yellow, rotten teeth, approaching the two, allowing his entourage to swarm into the room.

Though Dudu’s house was sizable, removing the furniture, it suddenly became cramped with so many people squeezing in.

”The fa-famous Dudu Bieberwitt hasn’t arrived, but welcomed two strangers instead.”

”Imagine, you must be the lackeys that half-sized Dwarf hired to fetch something! What are you here for? Money? Jewelry? Stocks?”

”Whatever it is! Now! Take us to it!”

Lann and Triss exchanged a glance, quickly comprehending the situation.

These gang members were waiting outside Dudu’s house all along, they would not give up on their ’collection.’

But the problem is... Lann is certain that just before coming in, there were no signs of these people around.

How did they know someone arrived at Dudu’s place so quickly and came after them?

This took less than five minutes.

And under the hood, Lann’s nose twitched slightly.

He tentatively asked aloud.

”Let me confirm, good sir. Is the beggar outside your man?”

As soon as these words were spoken, Lann noticed the gangsters’ eyes change.