Bear School Astartes

Chapter 427: 427. Speculation

It’s not about whether the Palace Steward has the power to hang the construction workers, Lann at least knows why this matter is vaguely mentioned in the announcement.

The Royal Mausoleum haunting... it’s a sensitive issue.

Narrow-mindedness and superstition have always been one of the common follies of ordinary people, perhaps these follies can never be completely eradicated, as they are as enduring as foolishness itself. The mountains of today may become the oceans of tomorrow; the oceans of today may become the deserts of tomorrow. But foolishness remains foolish.

This is a description from a book in this world, and Lann thinks it’s somewhat accurate.

Natural disasters, anomalies, ghosts, coupled with the increasingly tense international atmosphere and the resulting survival pressure... the political turmoil it could cause is not to be underestimated.

”We recently hosted two Demon Hunters, one from the Griffin School, and the other, like you, from the Bear School.”

The Palace Steward continued his introduction.

”They’ve already started handling the ghosts inside the Royal Mausoleum, but progress is reportedly not going very smoothly.”

”I will leave it at that. If you decide to take on the task, I will issue you a pass to freely enter and exit the mausoleum. But if you feel unable to undertake this dangerous task, you will need to sign a confidentiality agreement here, confirming that you will not spread the details of this task. If violated, you will be wanted by Sintra and will be hanged directly upon arrest.”

”Understood, I will take on this task.”

Lann agreed readily.

He wanted to communicate with the Demon Hunter from the Bear School, but it seems the other one is also troubled by this task.

He doesn’t want to wait until he finds the person, only to find a corpse ravaged by Demon Spirits.

”Aha! That’s great then!”

Hacksaw cheered, handing the parchment notice to the mayor.

The mayor behind the desk glanced at it, then immediately stamped it with his ring.

”At least write down the access permission for him before letting me stamp! Now it’s like I’m just a rubber stamp!”

After stamping, the mayor complained to Hacksaw.

It seems their relationship is indeed good.

The Palace Director ignored this, picked up the quill from the desk, and wrote the passage permission for the Royal Mausoleum in elegant cursive script, then stamped it with his own ring, making it the pass.

After handing the pass to Lann, Hacksaw shook hands with the Demon Hunter.

”Allow me to remind you of one more thing.”

The Palace Steward closed the distance with the Demon Hunter, lowering his voice.

”Do not leak details of this mission... The Queen values this issue very much, should I say extremely. So if rumors appear in the city...”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but the cold meaning was conveyed clearly through the Palace Director’s eyes.

Lann’s expression remained unchanged: ”I’ve done well with my tasks so far.”

”Better be so.” Hacksaw repeated seriously. ”Sir, better be so.”

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

Lann walked out of the city hall, a black smoke subtly approached him without being noticed.

Then it condensed into a person.

”This sets an invisible deadline for you, doesn’t it?”

Regis held the strap of his shoulder bag, naturally walking alongside Lann.

He had just listened in on the whole discussion beside the mayor’s office.

”Yeah, these people always imply multiple meanings in one sentence, it’s troubling.”

Lann commented expressionlessly.

Regis shrugged: ”But you still understand effortlessly, your level is probably higher than them. You just don’t want to use it.”

”True, I understand, but I don’t want to use it.”

Lann spoke while tucking the pass into his chest.

Hacksaw mentioned ’if rumors appear in the city’, that’s the hidden deadline under the task.

The explosive news of ghosts in the Royal Mausoleum can’t be kept secret for long.

The townsfolk will crazily pursue such news with the enthusiasm of ’peeping into royal secrets’, and Lann never considered medieval information management as effective.

Their loose administrative structure doesn’t have the capacity to manage information effectively.

News of the haunting will inevitably spread, the only difference is whether when rumors appear, the Royal Family’s response will be gracefully ’problem solved’ or remain silent.

If it’s the latter case, how would they channel the panic and anxious emotions of the public?

Surely the Demon Hunter who took the task is a good target.

”But that’s not our concern, right.”

Lann nudged Regis with his elbow, grinning.

”The city hall can’t even detect the nebulous form of a higher vampire.”

Times are progressing, to prevent Mages from changing their appearance with Illusion Techniques for mischief, many cities have placed detection magic in city halls and entry points.

Once traces of an Illusion Technique are detected, an alarm is immediately raised as if set on fire.

But Regis didn’t cause a stir at all just now.

Regardless of completing the task, they can come and go freely.

”What interested me in this talk is, Hacksaw seemed not fearful of the Demon Spirits themselves.”

Regis commented with interest, he consistently enjoys exploring secrets and the novel.

”His demeanor was more like worried about the detrimental impact brought by Demon Spirits... but he’s just a Palace Steward, if public opinion boils it’s not something that would be pinned on him, why the tension?”

”Power only answers to whoever grants it, Regis.”

Lann remarked calmly.

”Hmm... that makes sense, I feel like jotting it down.”

The vampire critiqued while continuing his inquiry.

”Based on this philosophical line of reasoning... aha! Do those Demon Spirits worry Queen Calanthe, the Sintra’s Lioness?”

Regis widened his eyes, cried out with slight excitement.

”Looks like it’s not just murder by those Demon Spirits, they also brought out more serious... old secrets? Really possible, expert?”

”I can only say, maybe.”

Lann nodded.

”Demon Spirits experience endless, indescribable torment. They’re full of rage, they feel mistreated, leading to resentment and envy towards the living... If it’s truly awakened Demon Spirits of royal ancestors, their wails might really reveal some destructive murmurs regarding current political situations.”

”Wow, are the rumors true?”

The vampire seems to encounter the thrilling topic of ’Royal Secrets’ for the first time, the novelty feels great. He correlates it with some rural legends.

”Rumors? I say, Regis, speak plain if you could? I’m not local, haven’t heard locals whispering those rumors in my ear.”

Hence, the vampire quietly lowered his voice.

”Those are some crude speculations regarding the current Queen of Sintra.”

”About her two miscarriages after giving birth to Princess Pavetta, infertility, and soon after widowhood.”

”One of the favorite topics of country folks, right?”