Bear School Astartes

The guards holding spears, ready to interrogate Bard, were directly stifled by Lann’s preemptive questioning.

If an ordinary person spoke to the guards like that, the guards certainly wouldn’t appear accommodating.

But the key is, Lann’s demeanor and appearance were too... In short, not within the realm of ordinary people.

On the way to the town hall, Lann asked Bard some questions about the mayor without any context.

This mayor was very much like Lann expected: greedy, authoritarian, bullying the weak while fearing the strong, hesitant and cautious, and most concerned about gold, most of which was obtained through trade with the Woodland Kingdom.

This didn’t surprise Lann.

After all, although this region once prospered, after Smaug’s massacre, only two settlements of intelligent creatures remained.

The Woodland Kingdom in the Dark Forest, and this town of Long Lake.

Gold wouldn’t appear together with fish when fishermen are fishing; to seek gold requires trade and dealings.

In other words — the Elves are the financial backers of the town’s mayor.

”Sir, may I ask who you are...?”

Sniffling from the cold, the guard was now at a loss before Lann.

On one hand, his hair reeked of oil, his body carried the unpleasant smell of a hangover, making him look disheveled and anxious. In front of Lann’s refined appearance, he felt completely ill at ease, wanting to find a crack to hide in.

On the other hand, it’s no secret that the mayor profits from trading with the Elves.

The townsfolk live a hard life, while the mayor’s manor hoards a fortune like a miser... this is also why the mayor strictly manages the arsenal.

He’s quite aware of how much he is hated.

Lann is called ’Yadanisil’ by the Elves, meaning: a human with Elven beauty.

This guard had never seen such a person in his life; he naturally assumed — this must be an Elf coming to discuss matters with the mayor.

The guard’s boss is the mayor; the mayor’s bosses are the Elves.

Facing the imposing Lann, the guard naturally lost most of his confidence.

”I have business with your mayor. Please report to him, sir.”

Lann spoke politely in terms of wording, but his tone was firm, carrying an unquestionable authority.

This fitted the bill perfectly.

Which financial backer doesn’t speak in this manner?

The guard was completely overwhelmed in terms of demeanor; he helplessly looked at another guard standing at the door as well.

Yet that guard stood straight as a textbook soldier, eyes forward.

Clearly expressing a look of ’Luckily, it’s not me involved; offering high prayers.’

”Hurry up, sir. I don’t have time to waste here.”

Lann looked down at the helpless guard, adding to his psychological burden.

Immediately, this guard sniffled, rested his unsteady helmet with his hand, and turned to push open the door behind him.

But with a creak, the door opened from the inside first.

The guard leading and preparing to enter made a smooth turn and naturally resumed his original post.

Whether willingly or unwillingly relieved halfway, the guard felt liberated and unaccountable in front of the extraordinary Elf.

And the person who came out from the door made Lann instinctively step back two steps.

It’s not because the other was overwhelmingly authoritative...

This person had the stature of a typical human, with glossy, partitioned hair wearing a cloth cap. Clad in black, somewhat hunched with uneven shoulders, his face dotted with acne.

These are common details; his complexion was even slightly better than the townsfolk.

But there was a patch of mustard yellow stain on his shoulder... Lann had absolutely no desire to know what that stain was.

”Who is making a fuss in front of the town hall? Don’t you have work, huh?”

Upon exiting, this person twisted his uneven shoulders, looking around fiercely.

Felt like a snarling Chihuahua.

”Doesn’t the mayor need rest? It’s already afternoon; do you realize how tiring being busy all day is? Luckily, there’s me, Master Alfred!”

He greatly enjoyed the feeling of lecturing the guards to the point where only when Lann moved, casting a shadow completely enveloping him, did he snap back.

”You are called Alfred?”

Lann calmly asked.

”It’s Master Alfred! Master! Get it? You fish-catching pauper...?!”

Without turning around, Alfred habitually cursed, but before the word ’pauper’ was finished, he had already turned around and, upon seeing Lann, swallowed it back.

Staring stunned, he instinctively swallowed his saliva and the foul words, finally putting on a flattering smile.

His process was seamlessly smooth.

”Ah! Who might this esteemed gentleman be...?”

Almost unintentionally, Lann revealed the hilt of Aron Dite at his waist.

After adjustments by Lady Galadriel, this sword had an aesthetic style more emblematic of this world’s Elves.

For instance, the smooth and luxurious arc-shaped patterns.

The Alfred before him had clearly seen the Town Mayor’s treasures, including the silver candelabras and gold plates from the Elves. He didn’t understand art, but the resemblance in the styles of the patterns was unmistakably from the same source.

”Take me to see the Town Mayor, I’ve wasted too much time, both on the road and here...”

The ambiguous and aggressive words finally dispelled Alfred’s last doubts.

He bent over obsequiously, wearing a servile smile while gesturing to invite him inside.

”Wait? Bard? How come you...”

”He came with me, stay away from him.”

”Oh! Of course, sir! Of course!” Alfred said through gritted teeth, his mouth twitching when facing Bard. However, as soon as he turned his back to Lann, he seamlessly switched to a fawning smile.

This was indeed a rather impressive skill.

Bard seldom received such treatment in Alfred’s presence.

So, although he was slightly nervous earlier, he now pretentiously adjusted his collar.

”You think cozying up to an Elf makes you somebody, Master Bard.”

Showing a smile towards Lann’s back, Alfred shifted his face instantly, speaking quietly to Bard behind him.

”You better still know who runs this town!”

”Of course, it’s the Town Mayor,” Bard feigned innocence, saying, ”Unless it’s you, Master Alfred?”

”Besides the Town Mayor, it’s me! Do you have any objections?”

”No! Of course not! But, pardon me, I must now accompany this Elf to see the Town Mayor. Please step aside.”

Bard raised both hands, indicating he was innocent and harmless, sidestepping Alfred to follow behind Lann.

The foundations of Long Lake Town, being rock, limited the size of the Town Mayor’s residence. Lann, with his long legs, took a few steps and saw the Town Mayor seated behind a desk holding a tray.

His sparse golden hair combed from the sides to the middle in a futile attempt to cover his bald head, looking all the greasier for it.

His figure was rotund, with two thin, small mustaches.

His clothes were bright and luxurious.

”Hmm? Who are you?”

The Town Mayor, originally eating from the tray with juices splattering, raised his head inelegantly.

At the same time, he shouted outwardly, ”Guards! Alfred! Who allowed you to let people in? If anyone could enter the Town Mayor’s office, how would I maintain my authority? How would I work in peace, tirelessly serving the greater populace?”

”My goodness! I’m so exhausted, can’t you all save me some trouble?”

I didn’t see anyone who’s tirelessly eating mushroom-juiced lamb testicles with brandy.

Lann ridiculed internally while continuing to walk, moving closer to the desk from the shadow of the bookshelf.

Once his figure fully emerged from the shadow of the bookshelf, the Town Mayor’s voice abruptly stopped.

Clearly, he perceived that he was encountering someone wealthy.

”Uh...” He hesitated, then pulled his lace kerchief to wipe the mushroom juice off his mouth.

”Oh, this noble Elf, welcome to Long Lake Town!”

He carefully probed, ”Is there a problem with the wine we shipped to Woodland Kingdom? Will this affect our gol... uh, friendship?”

Yet, Lann was not here to argue over commercial issues.

Lann’s naturally lowered left hand had prepared a Magic Seal, hiding the cold white magic glow within his clothes.

”This is unrelated to wine, Mr. Mayor. I’m here to remind you that a group of Beastmen has arrived in this area. They have passed through Woodland Kingdom and are coming here to seize your wealth and slaughter your people.”

”Seize my wealth, how...”

Undoubtedly, the latter part about ’slaughtering the people’ wasn’t nearly as significant to the Town Mayor as the former.

But it didn’t make sense, did it? The Beastmen would’ve bypassed Woodland Kingdom without doing anything, only to come to this remote backwater to plunder? And specifically target me?

How do they know I have gold?

Reasonably speaking, the explanation Lann provided contained numerous holes.

Yet, the Town Mayor’s already foggy eyes suddenly dilated, then refocused.

”This... this is too dangerous! Too dangerous! Beastmen! A bunch of murderers, robbers, burglars! How can they come to my town!”

While Bard, who had followed, was bewildered, his eyes flitted between Lann and the Town Mayor, filled with surprise and confusion.

Though the Town Mayor was corrupt, Bard didn’t recall him being so foolish.

Nonetheless, reality was such that the Town Mayor began loudly calling for Alfred.

”I’m here! Honorable Mayor! Your assistant Alfred!”

”Stop dawdling! Hurry! Make sure the guards are vigilant, protect my gold! Without this gold, how will my poor townsfolk survive?”

”Winter is coming, perhaps townspeople may starve to death, and now Beastmen are coming, more might die. But this is better than losing the gold! The gold must not be lost! Do you hear me? It mustn’t be lost!”

Alfred was equally baffled, having arrived just after Bard, immediately tasked with such matters.

Completely unable to grasp how the conversation suddenly turned to Beastmen.

Hadn’t those fellows vanished from this area long ago?