Bear School Astartes

The commander looked at the two soldiers beside him, attempting to move his arm, but found it unable to budge.

Glancing back again, all the nearly hundred soldiers behind him stared at him with resistant yet helpless eyes.

All these expressions and emotions were because of the person opposite them... just one person.

Every one of them knew how heavily guarded and well-equipped this mansion was.

And precisely because of this, someone who had killed their way out from inside was even scarier than a living dragon!

—The people in the mansion could kill seven or eight dragons together without breaking a sweat!

The commander was now quite certain that his subordinates would rather knock him out on the spot than let him say anything "nonsensical" here.

These nearly hundred people still wished to see the sunrise tomorrow.

Lann slowly lowered the hand reaching for his sword; he had already assessed the situation across from him.

These were just pawns pushed over in the chaos to check on things.

In the night and firelight, the Demon Hunter turned his head slightly, looking to his side.

The commander opposite him followed his gaze.

A beautiful red-haired woman in tight leather clothing was approaching from a distance.

Her expression was serious, and she clenched her fingers discreetly.

When she was still over twenty meters away from the opposing sides, Triss loudly declared her identity.

"I am the Royal Advisor, Triss Merigold! Tonight's upheaval is my responsibility to handle!"

She didn't mention under whose orders she came, just stated her identity.

The Royal Advisor usually only has execution and advisory authority, rarely that of issuing commands.

This oversight would usually be immediately detected and questioned by the commander.

But now, realizing the situation was beyond his expectations, the commander naturally accepted the directive.

As long as he accepted the command, the greatest blame wouldn't fall on him.

"What a blessing! Madam, what a blessing! We headless flies finally found someone with ideas!"

This time, the commander easily broke free of his subordinates' hold, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to the Royal Advisor.

The Female Warlock paid him no mind, just nodded gently. Then she looked at the blood flowing from the mansion, swallowed nervously, and walked directly up to Lann.

"You... you have... Count Steza..."

"He's dead, over there."

As he spoke, Lann tilted his chin slightly toward the direction of the Count's corpse.

Compared to Triss' visibly anxious mood, Lann was very calm.

After all, he had just smashed this noble person's head into an oval shape.

Triss pressed her lips together until confirming the deformed face indeed belonged to the once incredibly powerful Count.

She still had a sense of disbelief.

Such a person whose slightest cough could shake Temeria... just died so suddenly?!

Rising from beside the corpse, Triss took a deep breath and commanded the commander.

"You are not allowed to enter, nor should you let anyone else in. Keep the scene intact, understood?"

"Your will!" This chapter was uploaded by the team at M|VLEMPYR.

Receiving the order, the commander, feeling as though he had received an exemption slip, breathed a sigh of relief and answered loudly.

Then, he ordered his nearly hundred subordinates to disperse sparsely outside the mansion's walls.

Though practically useless, they still showed the right attitude.

After dealing with the security force, Triss hurriedly pulled Lann to walk away.

On the surface, it looked as if they were going to find a secluded place to discuss confidential matters.

But in reality...

"I'll open a portal, still outside Vizima where you arrived before. Go quickly, Lann! Don't even go to Airetusa, just leave Temeria!"

Triss tugged on Lann's hand, now tingling with the prickling sensation like waves, but the tense situation could dull any desires.

"I thought you really came under orders."

Lann nonchalantly inquired.

"Orders? A high noble only below the King in this country was approached by a solitary Demon Hunter in a single night! Slaughtered like a dead dog! Who could foresee such a thing? Who would dare issue orders while the King is away? Frankly, the royal court is already in complete chaos now!"

"Then it seems that you're taking a big risk on this trip, Triss."

"Indeed, I also feel the risk is too great."

Triss suddenly turned, looking at the calm Lann, an inexplicable anger welling up from within her.

"For you, for a Demon Hunter I've known for less than a week, I actually mingled into the matter of Steza's sudden death in such a mess without any orders!"

"I am a Female Warlock! My extraordinary abilities grant me an extraordinary position! I could have watched everything unfold coldly, unaffected by it! Whether Veltrest won everything or Steza took the throne, they both needed the Royal Advisor!"

"But now... but now..."

"Sorry, Lann. I know very well that my being here is prompted by my own moral urge; I hate slavery, I can't stand by indifferently. Yet seeing you, I can't help but feel angry. Even knowing that even if I lose everything now, I shouldn't blame you, I just can't help it."

Faced with Triss's anger, Lann pressed his lips, showing understanding.

"Your status and power are rare possessions, I can understand that feeling... oof!"

As Lann spoke, Triss's angry yet beautiful eyes suddenly leaned close.

As if to bite him discomfortingly, their lips met all of a sudden.

Perhaps due to anger, Triss's behavior was unusually assertive.

She was the one holding Lann's head tightly, and she was also the one who pushed Lann's head away harshly.

"Hah—since you understand, get out of Vizima and leave Temeria! You troublemaker!"

Lann was still savoring the fierce yet sweet first kiss when Triss pushed him away.

With a wave of her hands, a portal opened in the air.

On the other side of the portal was the sight of dark waters.

"Before you go, tell me, Lann. Did you find those children?"

While maintaining the portal's magic power, Triss asked seriously.

At this point, Lann's expression also became serious.

"They are with a Demon Hunter who got involved, in the mansion's basement. I didn't bring them out on the spot; you can take them on behalf of the royal court."

Hearing that the children hadn't been moved south, Triss lowered her head, sighing with relief.

But hearing Lann's suggestion afterward, she bitterly smiled.

"I've already taken great risks tonight, do you even realize the trouble you've caused? Those children and that Demon Hunter may..."

"Just go ahead and do it, Triss."

Without waiting for Triss to express her concerns, Lann interrupted her lightly.

The Female Warlock hesitated, looking at Lann about to step into the portal.

"Wait! Did you find something out?"

"Inference." Lann's back extended a finger. "A reasonable inference based on current situations."

Before the Female Warlock could clarify this cryptic statement, Lann asked another question.

"Given what happened, when will Veltrest return?"

"About... will return via portal, around noon tomorrow."

"Faster than expected, but not a bad thing. When the King returns, you can directly say we are friends, Triss."

Triss was bewildered, but there was already no time to ask more, she could only watch Lann walk into the portal.

Tonight in Vizima, none shall sleep.