Bear School Astartes

Everything else fell into place naturally.

Or rather, ever since Sorlin expressed his willingness to share the treasures in the Lonely Mountain, there were no more dissenting voices in Long Lake Town.

The townspeople were already feeling their lives were too difficult. Since they were at rock bottom, how could anything that followed not be an upward climb?

What could be worse than their current lives?

Thus, the mayor expressed his ’welcome’ to the Dwarves, declaring his stance.

The townspeople, nearly overwhelmed by the promise of the Lonely Mountain treasure, forgot all dangers and urgencies, whether it be dragons, orcs, or any other threats.

The atmosphere of joy and celebration permeated the square, as the summoned townspeople applauded, cheered, and loudly praised the King Under the Mountain and the mayor.

Amidst this jubilant atmosphere, Bard felt out of place, as if he were in another world.

But the celebratory mood abruptly ended when a burst of light exploded in the sky.

Bilbo pushed aside the large man blocking his view and looked up at the sky, initially thinking Gandalf had arrived.

After all, whenever the Old Wizard set off fireworks during festivals in the Shire, it was pretty much this kind of commotion.

But immediately he realized that, besides Gandalf, there was another ’wizard’ here, and it was currently neither a holiday nor a festive day.

Something was amiss!

Following the glaring white light in the night sky came the sound of a low and far-reaching horn.

The horn sounded gloomy and heavy, drawing all eyes on the square to the guards.

In front of the mayor’s residence was a high observation post, and although most guards were incompetent, they were at least aware of basic common sense.

People were looking at the guards in the observation post, assuming the sound came from them.

Years of peaceful living had left people unable to discern whether the horn’s sound came from far or near.

But the guards above looked down with similarly bewildered and helpless expressions.

One of them spread his hands, indicating he really hadn’t done anything.

But in the next moment, a black arrow blended into the night’s colors sliced through the air and pierced sideways into the neck of the guard who was lazily without a helmet and neckguard!

With a slight ’puff,’ the arrow shaft lay across the guard’s neck, and blood streamed from the neck wound and out of his mouth.

Small, sharp, and hard objects like arrowheads penetrate flesh with little resistance, often making hardly any noise.

But in front of all the townspeople, the guard standing at the observation post suddenly slumped, his upper body leaning straight downward, crashing down!

From more than five meters above on the observation post, the guard fell headfirst, shattering his skull upon hitting the square.

Silence reigned for a brief moment... then ”Ah!!!”

Screams abruptly erupted!

The vision of a happy future in people’s minds, at this moment against the harsh reality, seemed fragile and thin like soap bubbles in a basin.

The townspeople suddenly went into a frenzy, while the mayor, standing on the steps, looked panicked.

”Guards! Guards!”

He turned his head everywhere, unsure of what he was searching for, but still tremblingly shouted louder.

”Defend! Defend! Protect me!”

Lann’s application of the Yakxi Rune on the mayor had some effect after all.

The mayor’s orders prompted the small number of dozens of guards to don full armor, rather than the usual gear for maintaining public order.

To maintain order, just carrying a spear and perhaps a stick or longsword was enough.

But now, several guards were carrying shields.

Upon realizing the danger was imminent, and the enemy had bows and arrows, these shield-bearers instinctively raised their shields. They hurriedly and noisily fastened the straps of their helmets and neckguards.

Within their limited military training, they blocked the few narrow entrances of the square.

It’s not that they were particularly responsible, but after panicking, anyone who’s not a fool would understand the importance of guarding the entrances.

And from the winding lanes outside the square came bursts of red firelight and heat.

Several townspeople burst forth ablaze, rolling on the ground to extinguish the fire on them.

The flames were quickly dispelled through rolling and removing clothes, but behind the townspeople, orcs followed.

In the firelight behind them, the fierce and ugly orcs appeared even darker and more brutal.

Their coarse and bizarre weapons stabbed into the backs of fleeing townspeople before the guards at the square entrance who were defending with shields.

The orcs squinted with pleasure and, gazing at the guards shivering at the horrific scene ahead, grinned maliciously.

”Hold on! Hold on! Damn it!”

The mayor shouted tremblingly, and his body instinctively began to retreat toward the manor behind him.

”Dwarves! King Under the Mountain Sorlin! Hold back the orcs! If we can’t get through today, forget about the treasures in the Lonely Mountain!”

”Guards! Fight bravely! Defend our home! Remember! I swear to stand with you to the death!”

Having said this, the mayor’s bulky body entered the manor’s door, and his assistant Alfred squeezed through after him.

The last greasy-haired man with uneven shoulders took advantage of the moment before his head fully entered the room, shouting loudly in indignation.

”I, Alfred, shall live and die with the townsfolk! Live and die!”

As soon as the mansion’s door closed, Alfred’s face changed immediately.

The mayor headed towards a candlestick inside the mansion, raised his hand, and pulled down, opening a secret door with the sound of machinery interlocking.

The path inside the secret door led downward to reveal the water surface and a boat already moored at the secret dock.

This boat was much larger than the fishing boats used by the townsfolk and was filled with gold, silver, and jewels.

Not just gold coins but exquisitely crafted wine cups and pots made of gold and silver, artworks with Elven artistic patterns, gold bars, gold statues, among other treasures...

Under the blaze shining on Long Lake Town, these gold and silver treasures on the boat were even more dazzling and brilliant than the fire itself!

”Oh, I really wish I could stay to protect the town, I really do. But I can’t, Alfred, it’s such a pity.”

The mayor spoke while continuously heading towards the boat.

Alfred followed closely alongside, as usual, serving him.

”Yeah, such a pity. But it’s not your fault, the town is doomed, no one can save it.”

”Right, you’re right,” the mayor nodded, as if he had made this difficult decision under Alfred’s persuasion.

”The town is definitely done for, what we can do is protect this gold. We mustn’t let these precious treasures fall into the filthy hands of beastmen! This is our top priority! Quick! Load the boat!”

Once on board, people could see through the gaps in the floorboards the panicked movements on the square above and hear the helpless cries.

Bard couldn’t afford to care about disputes with the dwarves at this time; he encouraged the townsfolk to arm themselves from the arsenal or forced them, in their panic, to take up arms and protect themselves.

The dwarves also began to support the guards holding the entrance, fighting against the beastmen trying to storm into the square.

”Oh, I really wish I could save more people, but look at them, they lack compassion and courage...”

The mayor lamented sarcastically.

”Exactly! You’re absolutely right!” Alfred also grabbed an oar and started rowing. ”They’re so insignificant, they don’t understand your well-intentioned efforts. If you ask me, they’re not worth even a gold coin!”

”But our boat is too slow, sir! We are overloaded with too much cargo, we need to throw something off!”

Alfred was rowing hard, and the mayor looked around.

”Yes, Alfred, we’re too heavy.”

Before the uneven-shouldered sycophant could react, a hand pushed him from behind; he plunged into the icy cold lake water with a splash.

The mayor didn’t even spare him a glance, merely took up his oar and began rowing vigorously.

And now on the square, nobody was really concerned about the mayor and his crony.

Rapidly armoring up and grabbing weapons, Balin stepped forward and tugged at Sorlin, who had just cut down a beastman with Orcrist.

”We can’t get tangled up, Sorlin!”

”What did you say? It’s too noisy, I didn’t hear clearly!”

Sorlin shouted, not daring to turn his head, as diverting attention on the battlefield could be fatal.

Balin had to continue shouting close to him.

”I’m saying we can’t keep going like this! Sorlin! Remember what Lann told us? His plan isn’t over yet! We can complete it!”

Sorlin’s shoulder-length hair was soaked with beastman blood, becoming wet; he roughly scratched his head, taking a moment to recall.

Yes, Lann had told them about the current situation.

He said the beastmen primarily came to capture dwarves, and if they could leave the town in front of the beastmen, then the beastmen would certainly not continue lingering in the town, indulging in killing.

Because the importance of this dwarf expedition team was far beyond what a town like Long Lake could compare.

And now the chaotic situation, coupled with the imminent deadline of Durin’s Day, demanded that they move quickly.

As long as they left, the town would be safe, and they would arrive in time for the secret door of Lonely Mountain to open.

Not far away, several beastmen rushing from the direction of the Bard family suddenly staggered forward as if punched in the back of the head.

Following this, a boomerang spun in the air, returning to the hands of Rong Buqiu who jumped up to catch it.

”Quick, keep moving! I’ll cover meow!”

Bofur and Ouin held the more severely injured Qi Li’s leg, while the three children from the Bard family followed behind, and Philipp carried a large bundle of crude weapons Bard had taken out earlier, guarding ahead and behind with Rong Buqiu.

Originally wielding a longsword, fighting alongside the guards, Bard heard a familiar cry and turned to see his youngest daughter.

Although Rong Buqiu was in front and Philipp behind, making it safe, the horror of the journey and the grisly sight of townsfolk corpses were too much for her, causing her to sob continuously.

No one could blame her; the situation was too explosive for a little girl, indeed for adults too.

”Clear the way! Make way!”

Bard shouted, and the guards blocking the entrance to the square adeptly moved aside.

Although unsure why, many townsfolk continuously ran over from outside the square, truly bewildering how they survived such dire circumstances.

Yet the guards had gained experience in letting townspeople into the defense line; Bard’s shout was more an expression of his anxiety and relief.