Bear School Astartes

Chapter 82: 82. Whistle

Mentos’s bad news was deadly.

Extracting useful memories from ten thousand years’ worth sounded like a foolish endeavor akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.

But if one wanted the enhancement surgery to be perfectly successful, there was no choice but to continue on this path.

Considering Mentos’s estimation, Lann needed to take into account personality stability and brain capacity when receiving memories.

This made taking time to recuperate even more essential.

Even if a Demon Hunter used up their entire few centuries of life in ”memory exploration,” it would likely yield minimal results.

Upon receiving good news followed by bad, Lann first nodded to Alia to comfort the startled young girl.

He then remained silent for a moment, his mind spinning.

Then he spoke again with Mentos in his mind.

”Let me ask a question first, Mentos.”

”Please go ahead.”

”Does the Human Union’s education law dictate what children must learn and what they cannot learn?”

The bio-intelligence’s tone stalled, seemingly not expecting Lann to ask such a question.

Yet it had the education law deeply embedded within its base system all along.

Thus, it responded fluently.

”The Human Union’s education law specifies certain mandatory subjects and prohibits the spread of some illicit knowledge. The detailed directory is...”

A long list refreshed on Lann’s retinas, resembling a waterfall of data.

The human eye could hardly keep up.

Lann pinched the bridge of his nose and said helplessly.

”Let’s simplify it, Mentos... Are [Combat] and [Biochemical Knowledge] considered learnable subjects? Can academic achievements in these two areas serve as credentials for me to take academic tests and thereby increase my bio-intelligence’s permissions?”

Lann’s thinking was straightforward.

Those undergoing body enhancement surgeries were often warriors, so there was no shortage of memories related to [Combat].

And due to the inherent characteristics of this gene seed, [Biochemical Knowledge] had also flourished among generations of Interstellar Warriors, and was a personal goal as well.

Retrieve something from the memory ocean spanning ten thousand years as study material.

Then pass an academic proficiency test to gain advanced intellect permissions, unlocking more computational power limits until Mentos could turn the chaotic memories into a searchable database.

Then he could study, test, and upgrade more efficiently...

Wouldn’t that create a virtuous cycle!

”Ehh...”

Even with a significant computational load, Mentos’s voice still displayed a hint of astonishment.

This BUG, when placed upon it, was largely inexploitable.

”The [Combat] project is a Human Alliance Military Academy project, not available without connecting to a military school. [Biochemical Knowledge] is classified under the medical department and scientific development department and is not open without registration.”

The so-called ’registration’ might just require ticking a box or notifying someone within the network environment of the Human Union.

But for Lann... Human Union’s big network? Give me a local network and I’d be happy for a lifetime!

Yet, a nimble mind plays its own games.

Lann: ”[Combat] being regulated is normal. But what about [Spectatorial Combat], or say, [Ceremonial Combat]?”

Judging by that Interstellar Warrior’s appearance he recalled, Lann couldn’t believe he wouldn’t engage in spectatorial combat.

That guy had even trained ”aesthetic sense” into his bones!

Based on what was newly learned about the genetic seed’s inheritance traits, likely eighty percent of the Legion called [Sons of the Emperor] were masters of combat arts!

Mentos: ”...These two projects are more often classified as sub-projects of [Performing Arts] or [Ceremony], and are indeed not restricted.”

”Then, my current mode of my intellect is [Extraterrestrial Survival], residing in a hostile and unfamiliar alien environment. By self-learning [Biochemical Knowledge] through extremely high aptitude, I ensure my own survival and development. Is this scenario unacceptable to the Human Union?”

Mentos was silent for a while, seemingly searching for relevant articles of the education law within its logic.

”...The [Extraterrestrial Survival Mode] manages to bypass the knowledge dissemination restriction clauses stipulated in Article 74, Subsection 5 of the education law; the learning permission for [Biochemical Knowledge] is granted to the subject.”

For some reason, Lann felt he could hear a toothache in the tone of the bio-intelligence.

He figured it must be an illusion.

Alright, the learning strategy for the foreseeable future had been clarified.

And he had obtained a reasonable explanation for his current impulse to perfect himself.

The genetic seed’s implantation had come to a satisfactory conclusion.

The genetic seed had only been installed in his body for less than an hour, yet the increase in toxin resistance was already absurdly high.

Lann felt that as the genetic seed continued to blend with his body over time, significant changes should manifest even prior to implanting any other enhancement organs.

For instance, the amount of magic power stored in his body.

The magic power storage of a Demon Hunter, unlike a Warlock, primarily depended on their physical strength.

Except for the Griffin School, most schools didn’t have the magic power reserves to cast two Magic Seals consecutively.

Just like Lann’s last overdraw.

Even though it had been less than an hour now, Lann felt as if his magic power was being replenished.

This feeling usually only arose after using a Magic Seal.

And it had been a long time since he last used magic power.

This was newborn magic power filling up the enhanced limit.

The changes brought by the genetic seed to the body required lengthy observation.

But first, Lann decided to tidy up the room a little.

”Phew—Alia, come over and lend a hand.”

Lann exhaled deeply, intoxicated by the sense of accomplishment that came from achieving a goal through hard work and effort.

He rose from the bed, handed a broom from the corner of the room to the little girl.

He then began to gather his surgical equipment and the inn’s furniture that he had moved aside.

He hadn’t forgotten why he had specifically left Airetusa to come to the Silver Swan Tavern for the genetic seed implantation.

He wanted to stay inconspicuous.

The bloodstains on the floor weren’t significant, thanks to the [Swallow] stopping the bleeding in time. Lann planned to order some oily dishes later downstairs.

Then pour the oil over the bloodstains to obscure them, covering them with dust and carpets.

The ceiling would be handled similarly, though on the bed he would have to pay a bit more for cleaning and tell the owner he accidentally cut his hand.

”You followed our plan, right, Alia? Good. Any abnormalities downstairs?”

While moving the furniture, Lann asked Alia if they had attracted any attention.

Although the young girl came from a high noble lineage, she wasn’t the least bit finicky when it came to work.

She swept quickly with the broom.

”Cough, cough! No, nothing at all. Just like you said, it was just an ordinary day at the Silver Swan Tavern. Nobody knew that a Demon Hunter was performing mysterious alchemy upstairs on this seemingly normal day.”

”Mundane inconspicuousness serves as better cover than isolation... as long as no traces are left behind.”

Lann reinforced his opinion to the girl once more.

In preparing to implant the genetic seed, the magic potions were the element into which he invested the most effort and left the most traces.

But even at Airetusa, Lann appeared to be preparing it for future combat.

Before long, the inn room had been completely restored to its original state, except for a lingering heavy scent of blood.

The bloodstains and scent on the bedding could be explained away with Lann’s bloody hand.

Both the Demon Hunter and the girl relaxed.

”Everyone at the inn behaved normally? Including that team of Skellige guards?”

In the name of caution, Lann asked the girl for confirmation once more.

Alia nodded naturally at the first half of the question.

”Everyone behaved very normally. That bartender who was great at storytelling even offered me a buttered and caramel-beer. With the meal he served, I was completely stuffed. But...”

At this point, Lann nodded absent-mindedly, but in the next moment, the girl’s words caused his amber cat-like eyes to suddenly shrink to a slit!

”Skellige what? This is just a tavern. How could there be guards? At most, punks or hooligans?”

What are you talking about...?!

No... guards?!

Lann couldn’t extricate himself from the sudden flurry of thoughts before a melodious and mysterious whistling sound echoed from the hallway outside the door.