Bear School Astartes

”To deal with targets that are small and agile, so much money was spent to form a special unit...”

Lann spoke with a half-smile.

”Should I be proud of the Niflgaard Empire’s reaction?”

”You indeed should be proud,” Geralt replied in his deep, hoarse voice. ”After all, before you, they would at most arrange for a warlock to deal with the enemy’s warlocks on the battlefield.”

”They probably regard Demon Hunters as another group, besides warlocks, that could potentially influence the overall course of battle with just a few.”

”That’s not necessarily a good thing,” Ged said uncertainly, scratching his chin.

Lann responded emphatically, ”This is definitely not a good thing.”

Afterward, the three Demon Hunters released the innkeeper’s family, who were locked in the storage room, and took most of the food from the inn.

The inn’s location wasn’t particularly strategic, yet it was the only one along this path, so even the Niflgaard’s patrol squads would rest here.

Niflgaard’s logistics would ensure the survival of this inn, just as the Sintra Royal Family once funded this place.

Then, the three Demon Hunters stripped the magical equipment from the corpses.

Lann believed there should have been an item on that mixed-blood female mage that could amplify lightning power, but unfortunately, the out-of-control magic had destroyed everything on her.

But nonetheless, they had completed the extermination of this special unit, fulfilling Hacksaw’s commission.

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

When the three of them returned to the refugee camp, the people there were already up and moving.

Due to hunger and cold, nearly forty people had died last night, but on the faces of everyone here, no emotion could be seen.

They had become numb.

During the day, they could make fires, but they still had to avoid attracting attention with the smoke.

One can only say that when pushed to a certain extent, humans can indeed unleash their potential.

Before the war, most of the foods consumed by Sintra’s refugees were not much different from those of the northern countries.

But in these conditions, they learned to dig vents in the ground and use the residual heat from ashes to cook their food.

These methods were rudimentary, but at least these people were striving with all their might for survival.

When Lann, Geralt, and Ged returned, they, as always, received eager and reliant looks from the civilian refugees.

An emotionally overwhelmed woman even stumbled over, grabbing Ged and Geralt’s hands, choking as she thanked them.

It seemed that these two Demon Hunters had helped her family before.

Under her lead, many other emotionally overwhelmed refugees, reliant on the Demon Hunters, also seemed to want to come over.

Geralt and Ged were a bit flustered, comforting them for a long time before they quickly extricated themselves.

When they saw Hacksaw, the former Royal Steward was sitting on a tree stump, leisurely eating food.

His serious demeanor made it seem as if he were still at court.

The heavy steel scepter rested against the stump, and the young scribe who never left his side followed behind.

As the three Demon Hunters approached, they nodded towards Dandelion and Ciri, who were eating together in the distance.

Due to concerns that Hacksaw might reveal Ciri’s identity, although there was a certain tacit understanding, Geralt still advised his poet friend to keep the little girl away from Hacksaw.

As the leader of the refugee group, Hacksaw also seemed to acquiesce to this.

However, Ciri, thinking of those who served her in the castle since childhood, would occasionally glance over.

”Aha, friends. It seems your hunt was enjoyable?”

Hacksaw greeted the three, using his steel scepter to stand up after placing his wooden bowl on the tree stump.

”The process was smooth, and the loot was great. Overall, it was indeed good.”

Lann, serving as the Demon Hunters’ liaison, approached Hacksaw to speak.

”So, Bordeaux master, would you mind telling me in detail?”

Hacksaw gestured ’please’ while the young scribe behind him, nibbling on bread, quickly placed the bread in his mouth, readying his hands with paper and pen to record.

Lann glanced at the scribe, who was at most fourteen, and then detailed their nearly three-hour operation and its results.

”One person had magical equipment worth over six hundred Oren... truly no expense spared. Isn’t that right, Bordeaux master?”

Lann nodded subtly, ”But it seems you’re not surprised. I thought such special units, not yet seen on the battlefield before, would make you...”

”Make me dumbfounded, astonished, and panicked?”

Hacksaw smiled and asked back.

”Master, one’s capacity for endurance has a limit. After being shocked by more intense situations and emotions, very few things can frighten me now.”

”But regardless, you esteemed masters have cleared the way for our scouts’ route, and we should continue moving towards the border.”

Lann looked around, ”Speaking of dispatching scouts to explore... I don’t seem to see Mr. Stuart.”

”He has already set out with the scouts, as the first wave of pathfinders. He will find tonight’s resting place.”

The Demon Hunter narrowed his eyes slightly, ”But we just got back now?”

Along with the information about eliminating that special unit, it had only just returned now.

This meant that Hacksaw had sent his son out without any information at all?

Hacksaw seemed to understand what Lann meant.

”Whether or not your information has arrived, and regardless of whether you found that squad, we need to move today.”

He spoke calmly.

”So, scouts definitely need to be sent out, no matter the situation. To forge a path for more people.”

He spoke as if his son were not among them.

Lann looked at him and unconsciously touched the back of his neck.

”Understood,” the Demon Hunter nodded, pursing his lips, ”When do we prepare to set out?”

”We’ll take the morning to let everyone eat something warm first, and then carefully advance during the warmest noon. After walking for about three to four hours, people will be exhausted, and it will be time to camp and rest.”

At this pace, this group of a thousand refugees would be lucky to cover twenty kilometers a day.

But there was no other way. Considering the cold weather and the refugees’ nutrition intake, they had already put in a great effort.

After confirming the departure time, Lann, along with Geralt and Ged, headed over to Ciri and Dandelion.

They, too, had to pack up and prepare to leave together.