Bear School Astartes

”Is it because... of the Squirrel Faction?”

The Demon Hunter speculated based on limited observations, as he had only been back for a day.

”The Squirrel Faction, huh.” Margaret chuckled lightly, pressing her forehead, while Tishaya, sitting next to her, sipped the blood-red wine from her silver cup.

”It’s considered the Squirrel Faction, I suppose. They have already spread to the Velen Region. On the roads outside Gos Velen, two merchant teams have been found dead in the wilderness recently, their wagons shattered and thrown to the roadside.”

”Considered?”

Lann asked with interest.

Holding her glass, Tishaya continued the conversation, explaining calmly.

”Because it’s obvious that the Squirrel Faction was sponsored and incited by others. They are a problem, but not the root cause.”

”The root cause is: the world is going to be chaotic again.”

It’s been quite a while since the battle of Sodden Mountain, nearly two years.

Although Lann traveled through the Celestial Sphere Convergence Rift, causing his perception of time to become muddled, Mentos would automatically adjust the timeline upon return, so as not to leave him completely in the dark.

Tishaya continued speaking calmly; she had seen many big storms in her life. Although recent years had brought some grand occasions that refreshed perceptions due to the era’s development, she was not surprised.

”Since the first war between the North and South, the Niflgaard Empire has, for the first time in history, truly bordered the countries of the Northern Territory. Friction and tension are only natural.”

”You also said it’s natural.” Lann leaned back in the armchair, changed to a comfortable position, and listened attentively. ”Then what does this current situation mean?”

”Now there’s a rumor that the Niflgaard Emperor—Enshir of Enriss—did not approve of the large-scale invasion at the time, and that the attack on Sintra was actually the result of his domestic opposition, acting independently and disobeying orders.”

Tishaya did not immediately respond to Lann but rather seemed to start a new topic.

”It’s actually hard to verify if this news is true, but everyone knows: if Niflgaard had won the battle of Sodden Mountain back then, the Emperor would have only rewarded and honored the participating armies.”

”But there is no ’if,’ they lost.”

Lann calmly sipped the red wine from East of East, produced in Toussaint, which is also a vassal state of Niflgaard.

”I personally tore apart their army.”

Tishaya nodded and raised the wine glass in her hand towards Lann as a gesture of respect.

”So after the battle of Sodden Mountain, this news quickly spread, suddenly indicating that the Emperor actually did not want to go to war. All previous actions were acts of disobedience by his marshals. Then heads started rolling, the guillotine saw continuous use.”

”This is no ’rumor,’ but a fact.”

”There were eight formal executions, and countless informal ones. Many reputable officers died inexplicably, and many officials suddenly retired.”

”Enshir really purged his subordinates harshly.”

Purging is a good method.

Lann’s eyes lowered, and after a brief thought, his education and experience allowed him to understand the situation.

Military defeat was already destined, so as a mature politician, one must accept reality and strive in defeat to gain maximum benefit and mitigate losses.

Taking this opportunity to legitimately purge the military forces, rooted and tangled from various factions, and placing his own people, increasing control over the army, is a choice highly beneficial to the Emperor.

”But this process requires time.” After a moment of silent thought, Lann continued.

”If successful, of course it is beneficial. But during this process, how to maintain military cohesion and combat effectiveness, all requires time to harmonize. The newly placed officers will have to fight to truly exercise management.”

”So...” Following this thought, Lann continued to delve deeper.

The Niflgaard Emperor needs time, and time can be compressed not only from himself but also delayed from the enemy.

If the enemy slows down, it’s equivalent to oneself speeding up.

It’s much simpler and more convenient to trouble the enemy than to speed oneself up.

”Thus, Niflgaard funded and incited the Squirrel Faction, letting these non-human races make trouble in the North to buy time for mastering the army.”

No longer using interrogative sentences, Lann had already seen through the context.

Due to historical reasons, namely the problem of the Celestial Sphere Convergence, the humans of the north and south of this continent are actually of different kinds.

Northern humans landed nearly five hundred years ago, while southern humans had arrived on the continent long before.

The only certainty between them is that humans are ultimately humans, but the rest... people cannot even confirm whether they came from the same Otherworld.

And compared to the five hundred-year period, which is not particularly long, especially in the eyes of long-lived races like Elves and Tree Spirits, it is not considered a long time.

Southern humans had cleaned their surroundings much earlier.

As of today, within the heartland of the Niflgaard Empire, people there even consider water nymphs, nymphs, and tree spirits as creatures from fairy tales, rather than real beings.

Adding to this is the cruel treatment of non-human races by the Northern humans over the past five hundred years.

Elves, some dwarves, some half-elves... their hatred for Northern humans far surpasses that for the South.

Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that the Southern Empire is hated simply because they too are humans.

After all, the events of the past five hundred years are more recent and deeply felt to them.

And once they receive funding and support from the South, it is almost obvious who these non-human races will direct their full fury towards first.

”That’s why the situation is getting more and more tense, anyone slightly sensitive can feel it.”

Margaret shook her head and said.

”The Squirrel Faction ambushes merchants outside the city, or looks for opportunities to ambush any passing humans. Then the humans in the city are filled with anxiety, growing more fearful of the elves and dwarves in the city. Once this fear gets out of control, it will turn into a slaughter impulse.”

”And the elves and dwarves in the city are also growing more afraid. Once their fear reaches its peak, they’ll begin to think ’better to harm others before being harmed’, and join the Squirrel Faction outside the city.”

Lann shook his head with a furrowed brow, ”A vicious cycle.”

”Yes, but what can be done?” Margaret rubbed her forehead in distress, ”The mayor has complained to me many times, saying that the proportion of dwarf craftsmen in the Valerian Steel Workshop must be reduced, or it will cause dissatisfaction among humans.”

”Many people say that non-human races are taking away human jobs and wealth.”

”But if the proportion of dwarves is truly reduced, won’t the dwarves be afraid? What if they see this as a precursor to violence against them?”

Lann’s brow furrowed even deeper.

”Are the conflicts now... even uncontainable within the workshops?”

”It’s not that intense yet.” Margaret waved her hand, drained the Eastern red wine from the silver cup in one gulp as if venting.

”Thanks to the Valerian Steel business, both dwarf craftsmen and human craftsmen can earn money.”

”As long as they can still earn a satisfactory wage, who would stir up trouble so easily?”

”But even just considering Gos Velen as a single city, outside of the Valerian Steel Workshop, the atmosphere is a bit tense.”

”And Temeria is already a well-known country for being tolerant towards non-human races.”

Margaret didn’t spell out the situation completely, but it was enough.

Since the atmosphere in Temeria has reached this point, what’s it like in other countries that are already very harsh to non-human races?

Within Redania, the radical Eternal Fire Church is almost ungovernable, and indeed, no one wants to control it. Because this church is the strongest supporter of the monarchy.

The Codwin Kingdom, with its notorious ’Wild Boar King’, wishes he could seize all the wealth of non-human races within his borders.

The Yadian Kingdom also experiences, from time to time, citywide massacres targeting non-human races.

”This time back, aside from getting myself a new set of armor, I don’t have much else to do.”

Lann filled his cup with wine, then reached over to fill Tishaya’s and Margaret’s cups.

”If you need me to step in, just say the word.”

Margaret withdrew her silver cup from Lann’s hand, relief showing on her face.

”That’s great, dear. But first... can you help me handle all the documents on the table?”

Tishaya calmly took back her silver cup, sitting with dignity and propriety.

However, the Demon Hunter glanced back, seeing a desk cluttered with a mess of papers.

It appeared chaotic... and indeed, it was both chaotic and plentiful, but given his abilities, handling it was as effortless as reading a novel.

”But...” Lann turned his head to the composed and modest former dean, raising an eyebrow, ”Tishaya, how can you resist the urge to handle that pile of stuff?”

Tishaya wrapped one arm around herself, supporting her chest, while lifting the wine glass to her lips with the other, smiling.

”Forgive me, Lann. I’m quite curious to see how you handle that pile, the thought of it helps me restrain myself.”

”You now have... um, an hour and a half. Go process those documents.”

Beside them, Margaret brushed her golden hair away from the wine-stained corner of her mouth, glancing at the clock in the room with a smile.

”Is there a timer on this?”

Lann felt a sense of absurd amusement, but stood with his wine glass and headed towards the desk.

”Time is precious, young man.” Margaret spoke with a bewitching tone, her voice alluring as if penetrating the heart. ”How do you think I arranged the remaining time?”