Bear School Astartes

”Let him leave Novigrad, or should I say let the Shapeshifter leave Novigrad?”

Dudu’s tone was somber.

Upon hearing Lann’s suggestion, Dudu, pacified by the Yakxi Rune, seemed calmed on the surface.

However, looking at the expression on the Half-Elf’s face, Lann felt that... he was now more resolute than before.

”No, we will not leave Novigrad.”

His tone was no longer that of a carefree Half-Elf, but carried the determination of one who had endured hardships and was not swayed by others.

Under this tone, the others in the room also fell into solemn silence.

”We can transform into an unknown person, even a beggar, but we will not leave Novigrad. We refuse to become Shapeshifters in the wilderness. This is what this city owes us!”

”When humans seized this city from the Elves, they simultaneously destroyed the natural environment we originally lived in. We were hunted like mad dogs, nearly driven to extinction. Only a few survived, including me.”

”Do you want to know why I’m as cautious as a startled rabbit, Sir Lann? You haven’t experienced those days, so of course you don’t understand me.”

”A wolf pack attacked me, and then I became a wolf, wandering within their group for weeks. That’s how I survived.”

”Life in Novigrad is far better than the wilderness. We don’t have to wander in the forest, finding pits under stumps to survive the winter. We don’t have to starve and be hunted like prey.”

”Novigrad has warm shelters and food. I can make a living by working, and the residents here don’t often hunt each other with bows and arrows.”

Finally, Dudu looked around the room full of silent individuals with anger.

This anger wasn’t directed at anyone, but was an anger for the plight of his kind.

They couldn’t stop the humans from invading; they couldn’t even stop the racial hatred and persecution against the original inhabitants afterward. Now they can only withdraw again and again, hoping to secure the right to survive as intelligent beings in a big city.

To become part of the gears that keep society running.

Dudu spoke through gritted teeth.

”If you want us to return to ’primitivism,’ you’re cultivating animals. Only animals pursue the primitive. We are intelligent beings! We have wisdom and emotions!”

”We are not inferior to you—neither in body nor soul! We have the right to enter civilized life and enjoy the conveniences of civilization!”

Everyone remained silent.

The people present were not racists, and they were even disgusted by racial persecution.

But undoubtedly, this must have been the first time they encountered an endangered native of the continent, conveying their ideas to a group of humans.

—Humans are cruel and greedy, strong as they may be. But on this continent, do even the last wishes for survival of native dwellers have to be crushed?

”Of course,” Lann said softly amid the silence, ”of course, you have the right to survive and enjoy the conveniences of civilization, Dudu.”

The Half-Elf turned his head towards the tall Demon Hunter sitting on a chair.

”Your refusal to leave Novigrad might be deemed unreasonable, but no one can say anything. There can be an alternative solution as well.”

”Just give up a high-profile position like Temple Guard Commander, as you said, and make a living through ordinary work.”

Lann extended his hand towards Dudu.

”If he can’t make it, I’d welcome you, having a helping hand, and I can afford an assistant’s salary, my professional manager.”

The Half-Elf hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly.

”Then... here’s to a successful collaboration, Sir Lann.”

”Just call me Lann.”

Dudu fiercely rubbed his face with both hands and turned to walk out of the room, intending to inform his Shapeshifter friend of the intelligence he just heard.

”Should I go with you?”

Geralt stood up and spoke.

Shapeshifters possess strong abilities, capable of mimicking the mutated body of a Demon Hunter.

However, they are inherently kind-hearted, unable to utilize their combat potential without a desire to kill.

Yet Dudu refused.

”No, you’d better not follow, Geralt. I’ve met Shapeler many times; Eternal Fire calls you Mutants. If you follow, it will be more conspicuous.”

After thinking for a moment, Geralt sat down again.

Meanwhile, Dudu walked straight toward the door. Between the opening and closing of the door, he had already transformed into a human male wearing a white tight top and a leather vest.

After Dudu left, the room remained silent for a while.

Racial conflict, racial oppression, racial massacre; humans employed these methods in large-scale operations when they landed on this continent.

Even today, although not as rampant as before, those native inhabitants suppressed by humans still live amidst racial discrimination.

In Codwin’s capital, Ad Calais, since the current King Henselt ascended the throne, there have been two or three massacres targeting non-human races.

Their accumulated wealth, simply because they weren’t human, became ripe for the angry mobs and vagrants to kill the wealth’s masters and divide the spoils.

Henselt said that it was ’anger stirred up by righteous men from among civilians’... but if he didn’t collect taxes accurately based on the robbery amount, this statement might hold more credibility.

Initially, some non-human races reluctantly believed, but after this incident erupted several times, scarcely any non-human races remained in that city to live or invest.

Because they all know that living there will only make them targets for future robbery.

The people in the room aren’t illiterate farmers or poor folk, so they all know this.

Ordinary non-human races are no different from ordinary humans; the hatred between races is mostly intentionally exaggerated.

To cover up the conflicts between nobility and commoners, hide the alliances and conflicts between big merchants, industry guilds, and nobles...

This is incorrect.

Lann knows this clearly in his heart.

And also...

The young Demon Hunter’s palm clenched and then released.

The wires linked to the surgically enhanced muscles, bones, and tendons, the layers of technology, made his strength exceed ordinary human imagination.

Unlike when he first arrived and couldn’t even ensure his own safety, he now possesses the power and influence that could potentially change this phenomenon!

But such a thing is entirely different from single-handedly taking down a powerful monster.

This requires a well-structured organization and the support of people’s hearts...

However, he cannot spend all his time in this world, because he is someone who made a pact with the Lady of the Lake.

He is the champion chosen by the Goddess.

If there’s something of importance, guarding the spheres’ convergence cracks with the Lady of the Lake is perhaps even more critical than the safety of the entire continent.

Because it pertains to the entire world.

And if, as the leader of an organization, he inexplicably disappears from the public eye for months on end, only to repeat this every once in a while.

Such an organization cannot stabilize, nor would it achieve great potential.

The Embers Knight Order remains effective because the individual qualities of the Ember Knights are too high, and they aren’t many in number, each having personally followed Lann across the Sodden Mountain battlefield.

But once the organization faces personnel expansion and influence growth, they cannot spread their advantages to the entire organization.

Moreover, frankly, Lann’s current position where every kingdom raises a bit of caution at the mention of him largely stems from his unencumbered state.

If he had a vast and cumbersome organization poured into by his efforts, he might not be as ’free’ as he is now.

However, these issues quickly passed through Lann’s mind one by one.

In a very short time, with Mentos’ computational power, combined with the education Lann received and the experiences gained from [Memory Deep Dive].

It’s not like he doesn’t have methods for getting things done.

It’s just that, he needs to wait for a suitable opportunity...

-----------------

Dudu handled the matter swiftly, taking about two hours round trip, and by evening, he was back in the room at the Kingfisher Tavern.

He’s already communicated with Shapeler and knows about the Mangji Brothers’ plot to overthrow him.

Truth be told, he had anticipated this a long time ago.

After all, he could never do the same things as the original Shapeler, nor could he be as ruthless as that human.

The change in personality and manner of doing things naturally invites suspicion.

Even without the Mangji Brothers, those under him eyeing the Commander’s position and hoping to climb up would notice.

Oppression is useless, even killing them doesn’t help.

Because you can’t kill them all.

”As long as someone wants to climb up, they will definitely target him. He’s too conspicuous and too abnormal.”

Dudu shrank in the chair in the room, speaking in a low tone and occasionally sipping from the cup in his hand.

”A guy unwilling to kill sitting in the Temple Guard Commander’s position, everyone knows it’s unusual after a while.”

”Thank you, Lann.” saying this, Dudu raised his cup to toast Lann sitting on the bed.

”You reminded him and left him with a job opportunity.”

”No, it’s nothing.”

Lann was playing with Rong Buqiu, the little cat, which had curled up on the bed for a nap in the afternoon and was now full of energy.

He snapped a sausage into small pieces with his hand, then tossed them into the air, and Rong Buqiu swiftly caught them in the air and ate the snacks.

The Elu Cat plays very much like ordinary cats.

”He replaced Shapeler as Commander for quite some time, lasting this long before being caught, shows he’s quite capable. I’m honored that he works for me too.”

”Regardless of what happens.” Dudu, though a bit dejected, still spoke earnestly, ”We will manage your personal assets well, don’t worry.”

Lann’s initial goal upon arriving at Novigrad can be considered completed; he found a professional manager he could trust.

Although there were many unexpected twists, it turned out decently in the end.