The Witcher: Astartes Of The Bear School

Chapter 66: A Temporary Conclusion

Ubank had absolute trust in his hounds. His family had been dog trainers on the Skellige Isles. He had left the islands because he didn't want to continue as a dog trainer. But his skills in training dogs were undeniable. The hounds trained by his family were so prized that they could even be used as prizes in tournaments. 

The two hounds at his feet were the result of two years of training. With his command, they would even charge at a griffin! But today, the hounds had eaten and drunk normally, and their physical reactions and emotions were fine... So why had they suddenly gone out of control? 

Watching the child swimming desperately in the sea, Ubank narrowed his eyes. 

"...Forget about it. We can't afford to delay. Keep rowing." 

A mile away, a merchant ship with its lights on floated on the dark sea. 

The boat approached the merchant ship, and under the threats of blades and the curses of the thugs, the twenty or so children were herded onto the ship, crying. 

Next came Ubank and his gang of thugs. The group quickly climbed the rope ladder onto the deck, where they found many people already standing. They were armed with swords and wore high-quality armor, but there were no identifying insignias on their gear. 

A bald man wearing a mask that covered the lower half of his face and dressed in a tight leather outfit stepped out from the crowd. 

"Well, well, well." The man's tone was dripping with sarcasm as he approached Ubank, who was busy helping his two hounds onto the ship. "If it isn't the famous 'Head Eater'?" 

"You promised a big haul this time—at least eighty kids. The boss was thrilled. But now there are only twenty... Have you thought about how you're going to explain this?" The bald man's tone was ambiguous, making it hard to tell if he was mocking or warning. 

Ubank, however, remained unfazed. But the thugs he had brought with him began to stir. 

The Head Eater knew the boss of the buyers, and from the sound of it, their relationship was one where failure required an explanation? So, he was a subordinate? 

The fact that their leader was someone else's subordinate wasn't surprising or particularly noteworthy. But what made the seasoned thugs wary was that Ubank had never mentioned this to any of them! Not a single word! 

For this operation, the Head Eater had always told his men it was a simple "cash for goods" deal. But now, they were openly discussing it without any attempt to hide the truth. This behavior, at this moment, sent a chill down their spines. 

"Sir Safra, it's just bad luck. There's nothing I can do. If the boss insists on an explanation, all I can say is 'I'll do better next time.'" Ubank finally got his hounds onto the ship and shrugged helplessly. "Unfortunately, the Head Eater cover is blown after this. But we'll deal with that later. For now, let's clean up the loose ends." 

The bald man, Safra, nodded. "You're right. Let's tidy up first." 

As they spoke, the thugs Ubank had brought began to form a defensive circle. Some even drew their knives, eyeing Ubank with hostility, clearly considering taking him hostage. 

Old Hansen, no longer concerned about money, nervously scanned the area. "Gentlemen, we didn't hear anything. We'll forget about our share. Just let us go, alright?" 

Ubank remained silent, simply smiling with narrowed eyes. 

The sound of waves hitting the ship grew louder, and the atmosphere turned tense. 

The thugs, realizing the danger, prepared for a desperate fight. 

"Waste of time." Safra sneered and raised his hand toward the circle of thugs. 

Then, magical light began to flicker in the thugs' eyes. 

"A mage! He's a mage! Scatter—!" 

Before they could react, a translucent magical shockwave swept through their bodies. The combination of physical force and magical damage instantly knocked the unarmored men to the ground. 

This was the kind of devastation a fully prepared mage could unleash on ordinary people. With the right positioning, a single spell could wipe out an entire group. 

"Secure the children and throw the bodies overboard. Ubank, think carefully about how you're going to explain this." 

Safra turned and headed back to the cabin without another word. 

The Head Eater nodded indifferently, then walked to the stern of the ship. From there, he could still see the burning camp on the shore and a lone figure standing at the port. 

Ubank waved at the figure with a smile. 

The ship sailed into the distance. 

***

The chaos in the camp was gradually subsiding, not because the armed thugs had suddenly become civilized, but because anyone who dared to cause trouble was already lying on the ground. 

Some were in pieces, others in puddles. 

Lan stood at the port, his deep black eyes fixed on the distant merchant ship. 

Behind him, Phillip and his cavalry were cutting off heads as proof of their victory. 

The Head Eater had waved at him from the ship, which was now a mile away. 

That must be the buyers' ship. 

"The 'Galloping Whip', with an emblem of two horses pulling a chariot... I'll remember that, you scum." The witcher muttered under his breath. 

At a distance of one mile, a normal person wouldn't be able to make out any details of a ship at sea—maybe count the masts and sails at best. But Lan's 'Cat' potion was still in effect, and his enhanced vision allowed him to see the ship's emblem clearly. 

"Lan!" A familiar voice called from behind. Phillip approached, holding a torch. He clapped the witcher on the shoulder familiarly. 

"I really didn't expect this—I truly didn't! I knew you witchers were capable, but to think someone could single-handedly tear through... Holy hell!" 

As he expressed his disbelief and relief at completing the mission, Lan silently turned around. In the torchlight, the witcher's face, altered by the potions, looked even more grotesque and terrifying. It gave the officer quite a scare. 

But after a moment, Phillip brushed it off. He had always respected capable people, and in his eyes, Lan's abilities weren't just "impressive"—they were downright extraordinary! Even if he hadn't shown up, this organized gang of armed criminals would have been reduced to scattered fugitives. 

The witcher had truly broken them! 

The entire organization had fallen apart! 

"I'm sorry, we've been following you for a while. We saw the bodies of those three thugs... To be honest, we thought you'd gone rogue and didn't dare get close." 

"It wasn't until we gathered information from the outer camps that we realized you'd found the cannibals' hideout. We rushed over as fast as we could." 

As he spoke, Phillip's expression brightened. 

"Haha! Who would've thought the cannibals and the slavers were working together! This mission's a big win for us, and we owe it all to you. Just wait—when the lord's reward comes through, you'll get a hefty share!" 

"By the way, we figured you went on a rampage because something happened to someone. The camp's a mess now. Tell us what they look like, and we'll help you find them." 

***

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