Bear School Astartes

The mayor is not stupid, but his weak will gives Lann’s [Yakxi Rune] a chance to exploit.

He cares too much for his gold, going so far as to count it twice in the treasury whenever he’s free.

This obsession was keenly noticed by Lann and then amplified with the [Yakxi Rune].

The more he cares about his gold, the more he takes seriously and fears the news of the Beastmen coming to plunder. This fear overshadows his reason.

Anyway, even if the Beastmen don’t come, it just means his guards are busy for nothing.

He doesn’t care about people, not even those under him; he only cares about gold.

Alfred isn’t stupid either, but he knows his power comes from the mayor.

Therefore, he would never go against the mayor; whatever the mayor asks of him, he’d do it unquestioningly, no matter how absurd.

Lann didn’t use the [Yakxi Rune] to twist the mayor’s will, although his will is very weak, the [Yakxi Rune] itself isn’t strong either.

Even for someone like the mayor, using the magic seal forcefully can only control him for a few dozen minutes at most, after which he’d regain clarity.

But enhancing his existing obsessions and emotions is practically effortless.

So Bard watched in a daze as the mayor, who usually sought trouble for him and, if given the chance, would definitely throw him in jail, was now completely indifferent.

Instead, his face was filled with worry, anxious about the potential Beastmen and his gold.

”By the way, dear Mayor of Long Lake Town,”

Lann continued speaking in a calm tone tinged with indifference, conveying a sense of apathy as if merely going through the motions.

”If you feel your guards aren’t strong enough, I noticed a passing dwarf caravan in town when I arrived. They all look adept with blades and seem to have been warriors.”

”They’re just not well-equipped, but if you provide them some arms, I think they might be willing to lend a hand against the Beastmen. After all, everyone knows those Beastmen enjoy killing more than savoring fine food.”

”Dwarves? There are dwarves in my town?”

The mayor asked in confusion while pacing anxiously, but quickly brushed it aside.

”No, that’s not important... on the contrary, it’s excellent! Dwarf warriors can each fight like ten men, and they have a blood feud with the Beastmen. Once the Beastmen come, they’ll definitely work hard! With them, my gold will be safer!”

”Yes! Alfred! Go take some gear from the armory, find those dwarves, inform them they’ve been temporarily conscripted! It’s time for the passing caravan to fight bravely for this great town!”

Watching the mayor pace nervously over his gold, and Alfred being run ragged by the mayor’s orders,

Lann said no more, turning to lead Bard away.

It took barely a few minutes of talking, and Lann and Bard were outside the mayor’s residence again.

Bard looked at Lann as if he’d seen a ghost as Lann walked with slightly rushed steps.

Not until they were a distance away did he speak with a hint of fear, ”Was that... was that magic? Did you control the mayor’s mind?”

”Calm down, Bard. That doesn’t even come close to ’mind control.’ Otherwise, why do you think I’m walking so fast?”

Only after rounding a corner and crossing a canal by boat did Lann turn to Bard to explain.

”I merely reinforced that man’s existing obsessions and fears, at best it’ll last a few hours. To truly control his thoughts... though his will is not firm, it’s not that easy either. I’m not skilled in this.”

Though, if it were an army, influencing their overall emotions might be easier...

Lann thought to himself while explaining to Bard.

Bard seemed to accept this notion, and his previous fear when looking at Lann was now gone.

Behind them came the sound of bells from the mayor’s mansion, and townsfolk looked curiously in that direction.

Meanwhile, the town guards were hurriedly gathering towards the mansion, helmets in hand.

It appeared the mayor had begun assembling the guards.

Though life in Long Lake Town was hard due to the dragon, it was also spared from wars.

All in all, there were fewer than fifty town guards, enough for dealing with ordinary crimes and maintaining order.

Now, they clomped on the town’s wooden floorboards, gathering towards the sound of bells.

Noise surged from that direction, with many townsfolk mingling and spreading rumors and news.

They said the mayor had gone mad, believing someone craved his treasures, and thus called for heightened vigilance.

The guards were told to string their bows and draw their swords in preparation for combat and dealing with invaders.

When Bard and Lann returned to Bard’s home amid the townsfolk’s murmurs, the thirteen dwarves and Hobbits were already eagerly waiting.

”How did it go?”

Sorlin asked expectantly.

”I’ve procured your gear; you can pick it up outside in a bit.”

Lann’s straightforward response made the dwarves leap with joy.

”Wonderful! I knew Lann could do it!”

Philipp shouted in delight, jumping up to pat Lann’s arm.

He usually carried a pile of small knives hidden all over his body, but now, after a river journey, nothing was left, and he felt completely unsafe.

”But don’t be too happy too soon, friends.”

Lann calmed down the naturally cheerful and lively Dwarves.

”Needless to say, you already know that with just this town’s guards, they’re practically like bread and ham in front of those vicious Orcs. There’s no way they can withstand the Orcs, let alone the fact that the Orcs will surely massacre innocents in the town.”

The Demon Hunter scanned around and finally settled his gaze on Sorlin.

”The main target for the Orcs is you, so I think, as long as you leave Long Lake Town in front of those Orcs, they have no reason to linger here. After all, your priority is the highest.”

After the previous conversation and revelations, Sorlin and Balin already knew why the Orcs were so relentlessly pursuing them.

So they understood Lann’s words.

Compared to stopping the Lonely Mountain from having another King Under the Mountain, the Orcs’ love for slaughter and destruction seemed trivial.

Even if the Orcs break into Long Lake Town and get caught up in the killing spree, the leading Orc, as long as his brain hasn’t turned into mush, would forcibly order them to leave.

”I agree.”

Balin, who had already dried his White Beard, was the first to speak out.

”Durin’s Day is fast approaching, and the earlier we set out, the better, or we won’t make it at all! Let the Orcs see us, they already know where we’re headed anyway.”

”And we can take a boat, straight across the lake to approach the Lonely Mountain. Even if they’re riding wargs, they have to follow a curved path along the lake. They won’t catch up with us distance-wise!”

Sorlin also nodded in agreement; if he could prevent the residents of Long Lake Town from being too greatly harmed due to his team, he was willing to do so.

Immediately, Sorlin started calling his expedition team together.

”Get moving, folks! Follow me outside and get ready to receive equipment!”

Sorlin seemed quite eager, calling everyone as he headed toward the mayor’s residence.

Time was of the essence, even gaining a minute earlier was worth it for him.

Seeing that Lann had already organized matters, the Dwarves were happy and relaxed.

”It’s really great, having a Wizard around saves you the trouble of thinking yourself.”

Bofur said with a laugh, casually patting Rong Buqiu’s shoulder.

”But the boss isn’t a Wizard, meow.”

The little cat scratched its whiskers as it spoke, but Bofur didn’t care at all.

”He’s mingling with the gray-robed Gandalf and the brown-robed Radagast, if he’s not a Wizard, what is he? It doesn’t matter! Haha!”

Balin also settled his old waist, relaxed, and sat back on the wooden barrel by the window.

Only Bard, who was tidying the wet clothes that the Dwarves had changed out of, alongside three children, froze upon hearing Lann and the Dwarves’ conversation, as if he had thought of something.

”You just mentioned the Lonely Mountain? Are they going to the Lonely Mountain?”

Bard approached Lann, urgently asking in a low voice.

”Yes, you heard it just now.”

Lann nodded.

”What, did you think of something? Can you tell us? There’s valuable information now.”

”No, no... I need to confirm!” Bard muttered, while patting Lann’s arm. ”Please watch the children, keep them inside, and the Dwarves inside too! I’ll be right back! Right away!”

Before Lann could react further, Bard rushed out the door.

The forceful door-slamming sound even shook a piece of dust off the beams, which fell on Balin’s nose by the window, causing him to sneeze.

”Ah-choo! Oh, what’s with him, so frantic?”

The White Beard Old Dwarf carefully patted his beautiful beard hanging down to his chest, muttering.

Lann sat down on a stool beside Balin: ”Not sure, he said he needed to confirm something.”

”The atmosphere in this town is tense, Bard holds prestige among the people and is monitored by the mayor, maybe it’s something important.”

Balin sighed deeply: ”Ever since this area was ravaged by the dragon, everyone’s life has been tough.”

”So, I want to ask you again, Balin.” Lann leaned forward, looking seriously at the Old Dwarf. ”Are you really not considering stopping here? If you truly enter the Lonely Mountain, even if the dragon happens to be gone...”

”Even if Smaug is gone, we’ll still face the Orcs’ offensive when reclaiming the Lonely Mountain.”

Balin chuckled calmly, speaking to Lann.

”No matter what, our Reconquest Expedition Team will face a daunting fate. Right?”

Balin began a seemingly unrelated topic.

”Do you know, Lann? Look out the window, besides the Lonely Mountain, you can see a Dwarf Wind Crossbow.”

”That’s it.”

Balin pointed outside, where a massive crossbow stood atop a wooden tower with four bow arms stretched out in four directions.