Bear School Astartes

Lann could not alleviate the pain of these patients, although he very much wanted to.

But the Grey Blood Disease and the various peculiarities of Yan’an itself left him powerless against the anguished cries of these patients.

Under Lann’s observation, it seemed the suffering of these patients wasn’t merely on a physical level that could be solved by administering painkillers or hallucinogens.

If it were so simple to solve the problem, the clergy in the research hall surely wouldn’t request hunters to assist them in their work.

Especially elite hunters like Maria.

”Lady Maria?” Adeline, who was helping with carrying things in the research hall, took a moment to speak to Lann beside him. ”The senior clergy surely treat her with more courtesy than they do you. Don’t mind it.”

The Blood Saintess said with a kind smile.

”Even though we’re just ordinary hunters outside the direct jurisdiction of the church, Lady Maria’s teacher is none other than the [First Hunter] Gremman!”

”Even if one doesn’t look at Lady Maria’s own outstanding performance and elegant demeanor, just the connection alone would make anyone treat her with more courtesy... although she might not care at all.”

Adeline seemed to end with a bit of a complaint.

But when the clergy carrying things ahead called out, the enthusiastic Blood Saintess quickly nodded to Lann and hurried along.

The information Lann obtained from this idle talk only left him mulling over a name.

[First Hunter]... Gremman?

The Demon Hunter had never heard of this name and only knew vaguely about the title [First Hunter], as the founder of the hunter profession in Yan’an.

Yet inexplicably, though unfamiliar, Lann felt he had some familiarity with this [First Hunter]... somehow.

Instinctively, Lann touched his neck.

When the sensation from Smaug gauntlet reached the skin on his neck, he was startled at the subconscious action he made.

This was nearly extraordinary under his body’s self-control.

Unless... he really felt he had vivid memories of some unremembered moment.

Lowering his hand, Lann squinted as he looked at the hand that had unconsciously touched his neck, shook his head, then put it down.

But the information was still too sparse. He only had the name of the rumored [First Hunter]; he didn’t even know the appearance or characteristics. Even if he had seen them somewhere before, how could he match them?

Shaking his head, he marked the strange sense of familiarity, storing it in Mentos’ database to be monitored by the bio-intelligence.

Under the dim kerosene lamp light, Lann could only judge the time of day through the colored glass high up in the research hall.

Maria returned to the research hall at dusk, near nightfall.

And this female hunter born of Blood Nobility requested Lann to end his first day’s work as a Yan’an Hunter after returning, with the reason being ’more manpower allows shifts and rest.’

But Lann cocked his head as he looked at the blood-red pupils beneath the triangular hat, realizing that this was the female hunter’s wariness at play.

Truth be told, as long as there are [Blood Vials] around, hunters just have to inject themselves, and even severed arteries would heal in the blink of an eye; broken bones could snap back into place with a ’clack-clack’ sound.

The mental exhilaration, as if life force was continuously replenished into the body.

It’s a bit hard to want to rest, and previously young Henrik actually didn’t need rest after injecting himself; it was just that daytime came, hunters should return to the shadows before the residents, so he went home according to the rules.

So the term ’rest’ among Yan’an Hunters generally refers to ’taking a shot of [Blood Vial].’

It’s only hunters who serve the Healing Church and can gain extra rewards from hunting who indulge in such luxury.

Like Adeline, the Blood Saintess, their blood production is ultimately limited.

Yan’an Hunters could get a timely supply, while other Yan Nan People might have to wait a long time for a single vial.

These precious Holy Blood wouldn’t be extravagantly used in whole bottles and is often stored or mixed with alcohol for a minor indulgence.

If a hunter finds a beastified patient’s collection during a hunt, it’s considered theirs.

Lann furrowed his brows but ’took a step back’ under Maria’s gaze.

He nodded, then walked towards the research hall’s gate.

Seeming to heed Maria’s request and preparing to leave for a rest.

Watching that tall and strong figure gradually fade away, Maria pressed her triangular hat, finally letting out a breath through her cold, thin lips.

”Phew~”

Her eyes deep under the brim of the hat.

Lann could sense Maria’s combat level from the daily pace and rhythm. But couldn’t Maria sense his level?

As Lann followed her while briefly patrolling the research hall, Maria felt the fine and soft hairs on the back of her neck stand on end!

It was precisely due to the immense pressure coming from behind, causing the firearm hidden under her shoulder cape to accidentally show during the walk.

Maria only felt the breathing of the tall man behind her, resembling a Sumeru descendant, was alarmingly steady.

Although the steadiness caused his breathing to not objectively be loud or deep.

But for someone with Maria’s advanced level and sensitive senses... she felt every breath Lann took seemed to pull at the surrounding air within a two-meter radius!

It was precisely because it stirred more air that those less aware felt the terror of this breathing neither here nor there!

This kind of intense breathing is rare even among the fierce and terrifying beasts of Yan’an!

Moreover, combined with Lann’s performance when he met Maria, it only made this Blood Nobility a bit more cautious.

But now this situation... is exactly what Lann wanted.

The Demon Hunter who walked down the stairs outside the research hall’s door did not seem aimless, as if temporarily displaced, not knowing what to do or where to go.

In the twilight of Yan’an, Lann glanced around slightly, as if confirming his direction and target.

He descended the stairs without pause, weaving his way through Yan’an’s congested and chaotic streets.

Mentos provided real-time route guidance on Lann’s retina and finally stopped at a fork in the road.

Where Lann stood was atop a dirt slope, which flowed down to meet a cobblestone path.

At this moment, the sun, perpetually muddied for some unknown reason, cast its light down upon Yan’an.

The city had transformed from daytime bustle to silence, one could even call it deathly quiet.

For Yan’an, the coming of darkness was unmistakably a signal.

A dangerous signal.

——If you don’t want to die, go home.

So at this time, those who could remain calm and wander the streets of Yan’an were generally not ordinary people.

In the deserted silence, Lann idly kicked at the withered weeds on the side of the dirt slope with his toes, and his ears twitched lightly.

Then his eyes moved from the ground to the crossroads of the dirt slope and the path below.

Simultaneously, he began to move slowly, heading downwards.

As he approached the crossroads, another set of footsteps faintly echoed from not far behind.

Lann, as if unconcerned, continued forward down the slope along the path.

But the footsteps behind paused for a moment, then hesitantly called out.

”...Lann?”

Upon hearing Henrik’s young voice, the Demon Hunter feigned puzzlement and turned his head, just in time to see the same-dressed Hunter approaching from behind.

”Ah, it’s Henrik!”

The Demon Hunter put on a relieved expression.

Through the Son of the Emperor’s innate negotiation skills, Lann’s performance was exceptionally natural.

He vividly portrayed the relief of seeing one of the few familiar faces in a strange and complex city.

”What a coincidence! I’m feeling a bit dizzy right now!”

He shrugged, speaking as if by chance.

But in truth, there was nothing coincidental about it.

Through the initial encounter and conversation in Old Yan’an at night, he knew in advance the range of Henrik’s nighttime work.

Later, when Mark was acquainting him with Yan’an, Lann casually and briefly inquired what tasks a new Church Hunter recruit like him would be assigned.

Mark had emphasized, still guessing that the Church was lowering standards to replenish manpower needs, that’s likely why he was recruited at this time.

So, it was unlikely he’d be doing work that seasoned Church Hunters did, and would probably do work similar to regular Hunters first.

That is, ’filling the gaps left by elite Hunters being diverted, suppressing the threats of routine beastification patients occurring in Yan’an.’

From Lann’s understanding of Henrik... his good friend had just become a Church Hunter, and although he also recently became a Hunter, he was more experienced than Henrik.

Henrik would naturally prefer to form a team in Yan’an night, looking out for each other.

Just like his future team with Gascogne.

Even if it meant taking care of Mark for a few days to let him gain some experience?

Of course, Henrik would do that.

Thus, Lann only needed to choose a crucial path they both must pass and wait.

The reason the Demon Hunter did so was actually because he wanted to take this time to chat casually with Henrik.

And the truly useful information and intelligence required only a few words.

”Lost again?” Henrik first scrutinized him coldly, but then asked out of concern, ”Didn’t I ask Mark to look out for you? Daring to wander on your own in Yan’an after only being here a few days, you’re really bold.”

Lann gave a slightly awkward but not overly flustered smile.

”I remember the general direction, but a few forks confused me.”

Then, Lann vaguely mentioned some landmark locations, making it easy for Henrik to figure out where he ’got lost.’

In just a few sentences, the route was clarified.

However, what Lann truly wanted to inquire was hidden within the small talk after clarifying the path.