Bear School Astartes

Chapter 412: 412. Professional Manager

To Lann, Philixia’s question seemed quite simple.

Mentos is a human learning device from the Interstellar Era. With its help, Lann’s learning ability is at the level of interstellar humans.

Magic is indeed miraculous, but so far in this world, no one has heard of using magic to make themselves smarter.

The intelligence of mages ultimately comes down to a matter of innate talent.

Philixia has talent, which is why Tishaya allowed an apprentice to join the group, but she still couldn’t compare to Lann’s kind of role.

After receiving some free tutoring, the female sorcerer apprentice happily went about her tasks.

Earlier, when she took out a book from her small backpack, Lann noticed that inside, there were tools like small scissors and a razor for hairdressing.

This caused Lann to feel a bit of incongruity.

After all, just moments ago, he was discussing with Philixia the differentiation and regeneration of human cells, and how to precisely control the acceleration of biological tissue growth.

These topics, even in a modern world, belong to high-level fields.

Yet, this apprentice talking about such topics also earns money by cutting hair with ’quaint’ methods like razors and scissors at other times...

Though he had been living here for quite some time, the magic world can still make Lann feel a sense of wonder in its unintended, small places.

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There was still some time before Philixia’s application would be approved, and Lann happened to receive a notification around this time.

It said that the armor he custom-ordered was finished, but the person delivering it was not from Tuer Butcher’s master blacksmith shop, but from Giancardi Bank.

Lann found this a bit strange, but still made his way down to Airetusa’s lower levels.

The luxurious and magnificent Airetusa, even its corridors are built wide and bright, with none of the darkness and dampness of a medieval castle, despite being built on the sea.

The female apprentices they met on the way no longer greeted Lann with a bow, as they did when with Margaret.

On the contrary, their eyes were so passionate that it made people uneasy.

Airetusa forbids apprentices from leaving the campus to enter Gos Velen.

These girls were all repressed.

That’s why the student Margaret was looking for back then was so easily deceived by the Cannibal Race.

In the end, most of these apprentices dared not do anything to Lann, only shoving and teasing each other before leaving.

The academy’s overall decoration is luxurious on the upper levels, since that is where the wizards’ governing bodies hold meetings, in Gastang Palace.

The lower levels are also luxurious as they are used to receive guests and royal envoys in the Luoxia Palace.

But the middle levels are relatively simple, though still better than ordinary castles on the continent; they are where the students’ dormitories and classrooms are located.

When Lann arrived at a reception room in the Luoxia Palace, the dwarf banker with a full red beard, Shilton Giancardi, was already seated there.

”Aha! Lann, my friend!”

Upon seeing the Demon Hunter enter, the dwarf bounced up like he was on springs, greeting him enthusiastically.

Due to stereotypes about the dwarf race, Lann even found it hard to distinguish whether this was business politeness or the unique naturally sociable nature of the dwarves.

”Hello, Shilton.”

Lann shook hands with the dwarf.

”But why are you here? Isn’t this armor supposed to be...”

”Haha, the armor is here! The craftsmanship and design are truly splendid!”

Shilton patted the box beside him, pushing it towards Lann.

But the weight of the armor inside and the carpet on the floor prevented him from moving it.

The dwarf banker wasn’t embarrassed; he just continued speaking cheerfully.

”You must have a good relationship with Tuer Butcher’s master blacksmith shop. They came to the bank to settle the account only after finishing the armor, which is quite rare, so we chatted a bit. Then, snap...”

Shilton patted the box containing the armor.

”I said you are my important client, and it just so happened that this task was handed over to me, so I brought it to you.”

”Thank you.”

Lann politely thanked Shilton, who split his red beard into an amusing gap, which was his smile.

The Demon Hunter lifted the box beside him with one hand, causing the dwarf to let out a soft ”wow”.

With a ’click,’ the lock of the box opened, and with just a glance, Lann recognized it as a qualified set of high-level Bear School Armor.

He had worn it for a long time, facing many enemies with it.

He closed the box and set it aside.

”This armor is as high-quality as ever,” Lann curiously asked. ”But this is just a deal of less than a thousand Oren, why did the process go through you?”

Shilton Giancardi is the manager of Giancardi Bank in Gos Velen. For just a small transaction of settling accounts, he might not even know.

”Oh, I’m no longer the manager.”

The red-bearded dwarf cheerfully said something that shocked Lann.

”Oh, don’t get me wrong, it was my initiative. The clan will be sending someone over in a few days to take over. To be honest...”

”Compared to being the manager of a city’s bank, I value the Valerian steel business more!”

Shilton looked at the stunned Lann with eyes full of confidence.

”Hey, don’t look at me like that, Lann. You must understand, one’s energy is always limited. If I want to make a great impact in the Valerian steel business, I can’t focus on the banking side. To be an excellent banker, I wouldn’t be able to take care of our steel business. One must choose, right?”

After speaking, the dwarf proudly pointed at his chest with his thumb.

”Now, I’ve made the choice without hesitation, decisively like a great hero! Feels amazing! Haha!”

”Wow...” Lann opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say, ”You certainly are decisive.”

”Haha, so stop standing there like a fool, come! Shake my hand, our cooperative relationship will become even tighter in the future! I’ll be the operations director for Valerian steel, a professional manager, and also the liaison between the chamber of commerce and the bank.”

Lann was pulled by the excited and naturally sociable dwarf, shaking his hand vigorously twice before it ended.

Finally, it was Shilton who brought the conversation back, snapping Lann back to reality.

”As for why I personally delivered the armor, it’s because I heard about your difficulties from one of Tuer Butcher’s master’s apprentices.”

”You’re a crucial figure in our chamber of commerce, solving problems for the main employer is a professional manager’s job!”

Shilton rubbed his hands, as if he had already entered the working state of a professional manager.

”You want to get a blueprint for a set of advanced armor, and this blueprint was designed by the dwarves and gnomes of the Amel Mountains. That about sums it up, right?”

”It’s not just one set...” Lann reflexively wanted to correct this inaccurate statement but stopped as soon as he started. ”Well, what you said isn’t wrong.”

”Oh, you should’ve come to me for this sort of thing long ago!” Shilton enthusiastically slapped his thigh, shouting.

”If you’re talking about pure forging or blueprints, our Giancardi Clan isn’t proficient, but if you’re talking about dwarf and gnome clans, whom else would you consult but us?”