Bear School Astartes

Erpinuo walked into his villa, kicked off his expensive leather slippers, and relished the cool touch of the white marble floor.

Erpinuo entered his study, which was complete with busts and plush armchairs. On one end was a fireplace, and the other opened to a colonnade facing the garden.

This structure ensured that the Aegean heat was not too overwhelming, while allowing the fragrance of flowers and grass to be enjoyed.

He poured himself a glass of wine mixed with iced water and carried the ceramic cup to his desk.

The desk made of smooth white wax wood held his writing tablets and chosen currency. But he took just one step forward before freezing in place.

On the desk lay a helmet in the style of a Spartan General, facing him directly, the red plume spread out like a peacock’s tail. Half the helmet shimmered with brass luster, while the other half was covered with dried blood.

”The ’Blood Wolf’ of Sparta is dead.” A voice emerged from the shadows of the columns.

Upon seeing Cassandra, Erpinuo gasped. She approached him with an unyielding expression.

Battle-hardened, Cassandra exuded an even more intense Spartan fierceness.

The situation was undoubtedly far from good.

A blood-stained mercenary stood aggressively before an unguarded merchant.

But Erpinuo was no ordinary merchant. He squinted slightly at Cassandra and smirked.

He retrieved a bulging money pouch from the desk drawer and threw it in front of Cassandra.

”Well done, as promised, here’s the payment.”

The action was straightforward, and the sound of the pouch hitting the desk was heavy yet melodious.

Cassandra could tell it was filled with high-quality Drachmas, likely amounting to hundreds of coins!

This could even buy a cow in a city like Athens!

She cautiously examined the pouch and then lifted her gaze to Erpinuo.

”You think I’d haggle with you?” Erpinuo spread his hands, saying, ”Come on, it’s not every day you meet someone who killed their own father. Although...”

”Nikolaos wasn’t your biological father; such a pity indeed.”

Cassandra’s pupils briefly dilated in shock.

”How do you know?!”

Aha, the mercenary took the bait.

Erpinuo smiled covertly.

”I love comedy and all forms of art, truly. There was once a famous general who, upon hearing a word from an Oracle, turned and threw his own child off a cliff... Family drama classic for all ages.”

”How dare you turn my life into entertainment!”

”No, not entertainment.” Erpinuo quickly gestured defensively over his chest, ”It’s a form of art.”

”You’ve truly found amusement in the most unreasonable places.” Cassandra lowered her voice. ”Perhaps next time when I thrust the spear into your chest, you’ll laugh aloud?”

”Don’t be angry, mercenary, listen to my explanation.” Erpinuo raised his cup and took a sip of wine. As his vision blurred, he quickly glanced toward the colonnade.

His gaze met with a guard who was looking back at him, who soon realized the situation indoors.

The well-trained guard silently turned and entered the backyard of Erpinuo Villa, setting his mind at ease.

The backyard had Divine Guard stationed constantly for protection. These were the finest soldiers in the Greek World, equipped with the best standard gear.

They may not be able to kill a demigod, but using their lives to buy time for Erpinuo to escape should be entirely feasible.

Indeed, in a matter of a breath, the guard who ran to report returned with two fully armed Divine Guards.

The Divine Guards wore luxurious full-iron armor, with their faceplates carved into the visage of a wise old man, their helmets adorned with black-purple plumed crests not belonging to any city-state.

Their skill was undeniably exceptional among ordinary people.

Two armored figures climbed down the porch like human-sized spiders, quietly stepping onto the ground, their short swords aimed at Cassandra’s back kidney area.

”Marla! I’ve had enough of your provocations and snake-like words!”

Cassandra clenched her fists, the muscles rising under her skin defined her forearms.

”I should cut off your tongue right now!”

With Cassandra’s fury, the Divine Guards behind her acted simultaneously!

The silent short sword thrust was blocked by a glowing broken spear as if the wielder had foreseen this moment!

The spear intercepted the short sword, and Cassandra’s right hand, amidst the screech of leather and metal, drew Nikolaos’s battle sword.

As the sword was drawn, it sliced open a wide gash in the Divine Guard’s stomach.

Iron armor crafted by human hands couldn’t match the divine artifacts forged with artifact fragments.

The hand holding the short sword weakened abruptly due to the large gash.

Cassandra’s broken spear deflected the short sword, its blade skimming across the opponent’s neck on the way back.

Blood from the abdomen and neck mingled on the same marble floor.

To counter potential divine artifact defenses, Cassandra’s habit dictated that she preferred to expend effort on one enemy to ensure maximum damage in one go.

Another large Divine Guard wielded a heavy shield to press close to Cassandra.

Upon seeing this, Erpinuo immediately recognized this as his best chance to escape.

The exquisite desk and wine were shoved aside forcefully.

He made to flee through the study door.

Sunlight outside the study was splendid, filtered softly through vines on the wooden grid top.

Everything seemed to go as planned.

The Hawk Trainer might be angry, but she couldn’t harm him.

He was to be a member controlling the Divine Teachings of the Greek World, how could he be taken down by a frog from Cephalonia’s well...

”Boom!”

Erpinuo still wore a confident look.

But his body flew backward in a fierce impact.

A boot with iron plate attachments kicked Erpinuo’s stomach.

The merchant, kicked strongly, crashed against his study’s bookshelves before he could slide down, his temporarily dysfunctional body swept by a gust.

Scattered papyrus and parchments were lifted by the flowing air.

Then, a large hand wearing iron-clad gloves grasped Erpinuo’s entire head from the side and pinned it against the bookshelf.

The composed expression disappeared completely, replaced by pain and panic on the merchant’s visage.

He couldn’t help but panic.

Because the hand gripped his entire head with hardness and strength suggesting imminent crushing!

”Nice to meet the stranger who wants my life.”

With a ’crack’, paired with Erpinuo’s scream, the boot with iron plates stomped on his shin.

The once straight leg bone transformed into an outward ’V’ shape.

Lann gazed down at the gasping Erpinuo.

”We haven’t finished discussing Cassandra, and I too have some questions, why hurry to leave, friend?”