Bear School Astartes

Chapter 450: 450. Dwarf Patrol Team

After resting for a night at Heinkawei Castle, the three of them set off again.

They followed the mapped-out route.

The mountain peaks within the range were continuous, making them feel like they were climbing wave after wave amidst the sea.

The path calculated by Mentos offered them the highest probability of finding the secluded Dwarven settlement in the Amel Mountains.

His calculations proved efficient and useful.

On the second day after they set off again, they discovered traces of their journey’s target in the pristine snow.

While the high altitude of the Amel Mountains ensured the snow never melted all year, the exposed rocks and soil meant the surface wasn’t completely white.

Hence, Lann and Ged did not need to prepare for snow blindness.

At this moment, two Demon Hunters and a higher vampire crouched on a high position of a slope, looking down.

”Whew~ Found them.”

Lann let out a casual little whistle.

Below their line of sight, a team of short and sturdy figures was walking methodically along the mountain path.

They were all clad in white cloaks, almost camouflaging with the snow.

However, as they moved, some distinct hues were revealed beneath their cloaks.

These were the forged metal gray, the varnished crossbow wooden handle, and the reflective processed leather...

”Their entire armor is solid plate armor, shiny and bright. They are definitely not Demon Hunters; I bet there’s fine cotton armor inside to keep warm. Look at the texture of those crossbows, solid and strong! Though small in stature, outfitting in such gear isn’t cheaper than a knight!”

Lann’s ”Spirit Vision” allowed him to see many details.

On the other side, Regis sniffed with his eyes closed and spoke leisurely.

”Oh, the scent of spirits, the smell of metal shavings, body odor... who else if not dwarves?”

The superior senses of a higher vampire were nothing short of supernatural, surpassing even Demon Hunters.

Ged looked at the two who each had their own insights, while he knew nothing.

At this distance, regular Demon Hunters’ hearing didn’t work well, and due to the low temperature, the diffusion efficiency of gas molecules hindered the sense of smell, rendering it ineffective.

”Alright, whatever you say is true.”

He tucked the hem of his cotton armor further into his chest, crouched on the ground and wriggled twice, sniffing.

”So what do we say next? Follow their tracks?”

Regis joined him in turning his gaze to Lann.

The young man looked at the dwarf patrol team below, frowned, and pondered slightly.

The traces of a dwarf patrol team were too easy for a Demon Hunter to track.

He could easily follow these dwarves to their resting stations or track them all the way to their settlement.

But after a moment, Lann still shook his head.

”We came here to find the blueprints for Grandmaster armor, either ask this group of dwarves for help, or at least pay them for business. Showing up directly at their mountain settlement without a greeting, what kind of approach is that? Unwanted guests?”

Lann nodded his chin towards the other two.

”If I appear in your bedroom unannounced, saying I want to talk to you, how would you respond?”

”Well, I think we could indeed have a talk.”

”I would first draw my sword, put on a Quen Rune before speaking.”

Their responses came swiftly, without hesitation.

”And there you have it.” Lann spread his hands, then stood upright and took a step forward. He slid down the snow slope.

”You gotta make friends by saying hello!”

His voice lingered on the slope, but he was already out of sight.

Regis and Ged exchanged glances, then shrugged helplessly and followed down.

”Peng Ke, look up!”

Among the five-member Dwarf Patrol Team, one dwarf carrying a head-sized hammer on his back was scanning beside him during the patrol when his usually calm eyes suddenly widened, and he yanked the leader’s cloak!

The dwarf named Peng Ke bore a large and heavy crossbow on his back.

He turned his head and saw three figures sliding down the snow-white slope.

He instantly grabbed the crossbow on his back and aimed it.

”Stay alert! Stay alert!”

The dwarf leader shouted loudly, his saliva spraying into his long flying beard.

The five dwarves, aside from the leader’s crossbow, also had two hand crossbows.

None of them carried shields, all equipped with two-handed warhammer or double axes.

The high-standard armor, customary among dwarves, gave them the confidence to adopt such weaponry.

They resembled small iron blocks, charging into the enemies and spinning around like steel gyroscopes with blades.

The dwarves of the patrol team loosened and tightened their grips on their weapons, their breath gradually growing heavier... This was the physiological phenomenon caused by elevated adrenaline before entering combat.

Severe cases might even tremble, causing accidental triggering of the crossbow and firing arrows.

Fortunately, before the dwarf patrol team could react further, Lann stopped.

”Hiss!”

Sliding down the snow slope, Lann was half-lying on the snow, and to stop, he only needed to exert force around his waist to stand up.

”Stop there! Don’t move!”

Peng Ke raised his crossbow to his side face and angrily spat towards Lann, his breath turning into dense fog on the snowy mountain.

”Otherwise I’ll use this arrow to poke a hole in your face!”

”Calm down, buddy.” Lann opened his hands indicating he was not threatening nor hostile. ”I’ve already stopped.”

Lann’s keen awareness of the subtle atmosphere among a group once again proved helpful.

His perfectly timed expression, tone, and actions did not further elevate the nervousness of these dwarves, who suddenly encountered strangers.

Following closely, Regis and Ged did the same thing, spreading their hands and standing on either side of Lann.

The situation stalemated for a while, but this was no bad thing. It was time deliberately left by Lann.

The startled dwarf patrol team used this gap to relax their nerves slightly and settled their breathing.

At least now they wouldn’t accidentally pull the trigger.

”I am a friend of Shilton Giancardi.”

The young man tossed a piece of paper that had been wedged between his fingers, already written by Shilton in their previous meeting.

”Who the hell knows whose friend you are!” growled one of the dwarves, ”Stand back. Stay still, let us see.”

However, the leader Peng Ke, after calming his excitement, surveyed the three from head to toe.

Then, without touching the note that Lann threw out, he was the first to loosen his hold on the trigger.

”Calm down, Bulin...” This time, he took a closer look at Lann and Ged, then hesitated.

”They might indeed be... friends?”

He sounded slightly uncertain.

And Lann noticed that his gaze primarily swept over the Roaring Bear Head Necklaces around the two Demon Hunters’ necks.