Bear School Astartes

Stuart’s scout squad returned around noon, bringing rumors and news from the road.

”We can head northeast.”

The knight, who was even younger than Lann when he first entered this world, reported calmly while devouring rough and dry food.

In the process, he even accidentally ate a strand of black-gold mixed hair near his ear.

”To the west is the coastline. From the shadows, we saw that the Niflgaard people are frequently moving their troops in that direction. I estimate they are on guard against King Bran of the Skellige Islands’ raids.”

”The late King Tursic was King Bran’s brother, and now the old man, having lost his brother, is already burning with anger. Rumor has it that he even wants to raid Golden Pagoda City by following the river.”

”If King Bran didn’t have such a temper, he wouldn’t be able to suppress the other families on the Skellige Islands.”

Hacksaw poured a cup of water for his son, allowing him to wash down the food in his throat.

”Cowards would be despised by the islanders, so for his own prestige, King Bran must retaliate. Moreover, the relationship between the brothers was indeed quite good.”

He was well aware of such royal family affairs, as he used to be in charge of them.

By explaining these things now, he mainly aimed to make things clear to the listeners. To prove that his actions were logical and trustworthy.

At least, the merchants and mercenaries beside Lann nodded in strong agreement.

Given this, heading northeast to leave the Sintra battlefield became the main direction.

From this point on, they’d rely on the scouts’ intensive deployments, gathering information and road conditions, to safeguard their journey.

It’s foreseeable that this would be a grueling task that felt worse than death.

But observing Stuart, he seemed ready to calmly accept his father’s assignment as always.

”I have a question.”

Lann raised his hand from the side, and all eyes turned to him.

Because Lann’s gaze was on Stuart as he spoke, the young knight knew Lann was addressing him, so he continued to eat while raising his head toward Lann.

At this moment, apart from Hacksaw, no one cared much about etiquette.

”This morning, we just took out that special squad. They were indeed, as we speculated, a group of highly skilled elites.”

On hearing this, the others seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, they were capable of easily wiping out six horse-mounted search teams. Having them lurking nearby made them wish they could sleep with one eye open.

Now that they’re dead, that’s excellent news.

But Lann continued to speak with an even tone.

”This is not just a good thing, everyone.”

”We’ve eliminated the threat wandering around us, providing security for our upcoming movements. But at the same time, we’ve briefly exposed our presence.”

”That elite squad was not just any patrol or security squad, and even the most basic patrol or security squad needs to periodically report to the military central command.”

”Previously, they only intercepted those small teams sent out to search for supplies, at most thinking there were refugees here. But now, dying here indicates there’s a force here that can be deemed a ’threat’...”

As Lann narrated, the previously relaxed looks in people’s eyes shifted to tension.

Just a moment ago, these people were smiling, even grateful to Lann for clearing nearby threats.

But the next moment, upon knowing this act of clearing threats might bring bigger dangers, they cast blameful looks at Lann.

Everyone understood that it was imperative to act, as no one could leave without eliminating that special squad.

Yet human emotions wouldn’t be suppressed by rationality.

Their fear of the Niflgaard Army made it natural to blame the person who attracted their attention.

Lann’s expression didn’t change due to others’ reactions.

Frankly...he had anticipated the entire process.

He just didn’t care how these people viewed him; he always did what he wanted.

”You’ve been in this battlefield longer than I have. I want to hear your opinion, Mr. Stuart.”

”How long do you think it will take for the news of that elite team being annihilated to reach the Niflgaard Army? This is crucial for our itinerary planning.”

To avoid being surrounded by the troops deployed by the Niflgaard people, they had to leave this area before the army realized.

Stuart chewed his food more slowly, clearly contemplating seriously.

”We once defeated a Niflgaard patrol. It was nearly two weeks before their army reacted in that case. After all, the situation was chaotic, and the Sintra Border was not without wandering monsters. The smell of war blood would attract a large number of monsters.”

Two weeks of response time was indeed commendable for an invading army on foreign soil.

”How did you handle those bodies?”

”Very clean.”

Stuart nodded and then added, ”Considering they were an elite unit, let’s increase their reporting frequency by one-third...no, directly by half! That means one week.”

”Within a week, we must leave this area!”

Stuart finished the remaining food in his hand in a few bites, stood up, and headed towards the warhorses.

”Thank you for your help, Demon Hunter Master. We will find a way out.”

To increase the marching speed, relying on these refugees, who couldn’t even get enough to eat, to quicken their pace was unrealistic.

So, the scouts would have to work overtime to find easy and safe paths.

This also meant that scouts going out would be more exposed, greatly increasing the risk of being discovered by the Niflgaard people.

In fact, the twenty horses brought back by Lann and the others last night were all dispatched by this morning.

And now, only eighteen had returned.

In one morning, two cavalrymen had already died outside.

Beyond the woods, though it was a bright day, the Niflgaard people used their army to turn it into a life-consuming abyss.

There wasn’t much to be said.

Surviving in the warzone was a race against time.

Moving before being discovered meant survival, moving before being surrounded meant survival...

Otherwise, they would have to fight hard, and then there would be casualties.

Who could guarantee they wouldn’t be the next casualty in a sudden skirmish?

Even for a Demon Hunter, amidst the tense and chaotic large-scale battle, a stray arrow could kill you just as easily.