Bear School Astartes

Chapter 97: 97. Gift

The innkeeper seemed to have seen nothing, and turned around to leave.

Gant Odim naturally sat next to Lann, behaving as affectionately as if they were old friends.

But unfortunately, the Demon Hunter’s attitude remained indifferent.

”Judging by your attire, I always thought you weren’t very well-off.”

Lann’s acidic remark said in a flat tone would have been enough to anger any normal person.

But Gant Odim, whether from a mindset or a more fundamental perspective, could hardly be considered normal.

”These days have indeed been tough, but you’re a big client, Lann. If I can strike a deal with you, it’s worth any treasure.”

”I’m flattered, Glass Boy... Let me be sure, this is a ’request’?”

After receiving the affirmative reply, Lann raised the red wine on the plate, toasted the other party, and drained it in one gulp.

After drinking, Lann wiped his mouth and prepared to speak again.

At this moment, trying to get away was unrealistic; as long as the other party didn’t want him to, he wouldn’t escape even if he turned into a dry bone, it was better to go along with his wishes.

”When you left before, I thought I’d run into trouble on the way to Vizima, but you only appear now... so what I’m about to encounter is the real trouble that can make you sign a contract with me?”

”If I say yes, would you stop?”

The creature with a human face revealed an enigmatic smile, and as Lann gave an indifferent chuckle, the smile grew wider.

”It’s dealing with people like you that makes life meaningful, Lann. Those who evade risks, always choose the optimal solution, yet end up failing spectacularly at the end, bore me to death!”

”For your courage alone, I can let you ask one question.”

Lann raised an eyebrow.

”It doesn’t count as a contract?”

”It doesn’t.”

”Anything goes?”

”Anything goes.”

In the inn, the fireplace light flickered, and a creature capable of manipulating reality turned into an answering machine for Lann within the scope of ”one question.”

Power, money, strength, longevity... It seemed all desires could be distilled into a question at this moment and input into this answering machine, then receive an answer.

Half of Gant Odim’s face was hidden in the shadows, and the flickering firelight made it unclear whether the smile on his face was a sneer or just a smile.

”I originally wanted to ask you who’s behind this slave trade incident. But after thinking it over, I decided against it.”

Lann propped his chin up with his hand, tilting his head to meet the other’s gaze.

From start to finish, those deep secrets never swayed his heart.

Power and wealth were not as satisfying as disposing of the mastermind behind the scenes.

”Oh? Why not?”

Gant Odim asked pleasantly.

”Because I don’t know how to phrase this question. I’m not clear about the structure of this criminal organization, so it’s very likely my question wouldn’t target a specific person.”

”It’s a complex and tight-knit chain of organization; if my wording isn’t clear enough, you could just give me a few buyer names, a few thug leaders’ names — they, to some degree, can be considered part of the organization’s ’mastermind’. But you might cleverly avoid naming the key person who built the entire trade relationship.”

Lann’s tone was calm and flat, as if he had already seen through the verbal trap set by the other.

”To ask a question that hits the key, I need to know key information. But if I already have that key information, why would I risk asking you?”

”Splendid logical analysis.”

The self-proclaimed ”merchant” clapped enthusiastically.

”So, are you going to pass up this opportunity?”

”No, what I want to ask is — what are you, really?”

...

The moment Lann asked this question, everything except for him and Gant Odim came to a halt.

Everyone in the inn maintained their poses from the previous second, apples that fell from trays suspended mid-air, and the fireplace flames, along with the shadows they spawned, froze in a grotesque form.

Even though Lann was mentally prepared, he couldn’t help but lean back in his chair, eyes wide with shock.

The shabbily dressed bald merchant just looked at Lann, silent for two seconds.

Though it was only two seconds, in the frozen time, Lann felt his sense of time had completely unraveled.

”No, you don’t want to know.”

The other shook his head gently.

In their stare, Lann felt for a moment that the other’s eyeballs turned into a deep pure black.

”I’ll spare you this time, Lann. You’re not yet qualified to explore the nature of an ’entity’ like me, at least not now.”

”I’ll answer your previous question, as you guessed, I’ll give you the name of a thug leader. Ubank, head of the Cannibal Camp, a Skellige man. He commands dozens raiding children across Velen Land, coordinating ships, smoothing relationships, surely deserving the title ’mastermind’.

”I should also be leaving, I’ve left a gift in your room.”

As he spoke, he stood up. In the still time, he whistled, walking towards the door to exit.

”I have a hunch, the time we’ll sign a contract won’t be far off.”

With a ”pop”, the apple hit the ground and smashed, and the clamor in the dining hall resumed.

Lann sat dumbfounded in his chair.

A long while later, his shoulders suddenly slumped down.

”Oh my god... Time stop?!”

He shook his head helplessly and carried the plate back to his room.

Feeling more and more bleak being watched by such an ”entity”.

Upon entering the room, Alia was lying limp on the bed.

The chores assigned to her today were truly heavy, and the usually lively Stark was now completely worn out.

Lann placed the tray on the table, his cat-like eyes scanning around. free we\bnove(l).com

”Alia, did someone send anything here?”

The young girl was struggling to get out of bed.

”Send something? Oh! Yes, just as it got dark, a hotel attendant delivered a book. Didn’t you buy that?”

”Finish eating quickly, where’s the book? Show me.”

Alia began to wolf down her food, while Lann followed the direction of her pointing finger.

He found the target under a pile of clothes.

”’Business Principles, and How to Exploit Them’?”

A seemingly ordinary hardcover tome, authored by someone with a lengthy name, bearing the honor of being a ”Lifetime Professor of Commerce at Osenfort University.”

Was this Gant Odim’s gift? A book on business knowledge?

After frowning for a moment, Lann casually placed the book on the table, deciding not to touch it again.

”Alia, after you finish eating, pack up, we need to change locations.”

Lann knew he didn’t have such a broad perspective as the other, so the best strategy was to stay away.

Though the young girl didn’t understand why, she very much acknowledged her role as an attendant, so she quickly stuffed in two more mouthfuls and began to pack up.

But then, just as Lann started to gather clothes, he suddenly stopped what he was doing.

His cat-like eyes narrowed slightly, gazing towards the door.

Right on cue, a knock sounded at the door.

Lann pulled his hood over his face, ready to ask who was outside.

But before he could speak, there was a ”bang!”

The wooden door exploded open!