Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1629 1601. Shortage of Manpower

Although the original Gaoqiu Fort was built on a mountain, it served as a military lookout.

However, the mountains in the Weiren area are not very high, and most of them do not have exposed rocks, but soft land and grass.

But after the last attack by the Knights of the White Rose, the terrain of this area had obviously changed.

Before, Lan En didn't have time to come and take a look because the time for the celestial sphere to intersect and rift was approaching.

I just heard the general process from Stuart who reported in the past.

This is the first time I have seen it in person.

"It looks like Komicus had a lot of fun last time."

Lan En whispered.

The lava-like traces come from the [Chaos Fire] in the hands of the sorcerer.

The Qilin's hooves stepped on the dark basalt, making a crisp "tap tap" sound.

Cassandra looked curious.

There are also volcanic islands in the Aegean Sea, and she has seen volcanic lava and solidified basalt.

But the appearance of basalt in a place like Velen is abnormal no matter how you look at it.

From Ikaros's perspective in the sky, it looked like a large area of ​​black tar was poured on a green lawn.

"Is this your castle?"

Cassandra asked excitedly.

High Hill Castle couldn't compare to the wonders being built everywhere on her side, but she was still looking forward to seeing the application of the magical power of this world in war.

Unfortunately, she didn't know that the first time magic was integrated with war in a practical way was two years ago, when Lan forced the Nilfgaardian army into submission.

Humans have only been exposed to chaos magic for less than five hundred years, and are still in the early stages of exploration when it comes to magic.

Not only is the development of magic itself in its early stages, but even how magic can be deeply integrated with social operations and how magic can be used more comprehensively are all in the early stages of exploration and are not perfect.

"Why? Feeling small?"

Lann joked, pretending to be angry.

Cassandra, in his arms, didn't even turn her head, knowing it was just a joke.

"It doesn't matter if the castle is small or not, I just think there are not many people."

The falconer's vision was connected to Ikaros in the sky, and his supernatural visual sense was able to penetrate the mountain covering the cave when Lan was still in Athens.

Seeing through the castle walls is now easy.

"Are there only about twenty of them?"

"Normal." Lan himself seemed calmer than Cassandra. "The number of the Embers has always been small, and now is a time of war."

When they arrived at the city, even though there were only a few people left in the castle, the Embers Knights' good strategic awareness and tactical planning allowed them to detect Lan's approach at the first moment when they were short of manpower.

As usual, we first check the identity to prevent some kind of magical deception.

Then the city gates were opened wide.

"Hello, Henwill."

After entering the castle, the stench of horse manure emanated from the stable near the entrance, but it was not strong in the cold weather. Lan En greeted his knight while rolling down.

"Welcome home, my lord."

The Embers Knight who greeted him responded with a smile.

Henwell's hair is still thick and looks even thicker than before.

If he were to stand with Gede, people would probably think that the two were from the same faction.

He was one of the ten honorary swordsmen that Lan had taken out to the Pontar Valley to compete with the Knights.

According to the "Knightly tradition" that Lincoln was obsessed with, in Lan's view it was a completely confusing division of titles and positions. He was also the first person to receive swordsmanship instruction from Lan, and then he taught it to the Knights.

At this moment, his eyes, which had turned into amber cat's eyes, were watching Lan En dismounting from his horse with a calm smile.

He must have been told by Lincoln, or simply learned lessons from the clerk's experience.

So he first saluted politely to Qilin, and then tried to guide the ancient dragon to the side to rest instead of blocking the castle gate.

This made Qilin very satisfied. He huffed and blew out hot air with white smoke from his big nostrils, and walked to the side leisurely.

Back then, Lincoln wanted to pull the harness directly on it, and Lan En deliberately watched the fun from the side. Qilin directly gave the secretary of the Knights of Embers a hedgehog head.

If it were Henwell, his beard would probably turn into a hedgehog.

Lan patted him on the shoulder, then stood in the inner courtyard of the castle, looked around the city walls, and waved hello.

And several people on the city wall also responded to him.

The more lively of the Embers Knights put their fingers into their mouths and whistled loudly after seeing Cassandra, the 'new lady'. "Are there only five of you left?"

Lan En was not surprised to see this. He glanced at Henwell and said.

The other party nodded first, and then led the person into the castle.

"It seems you have anticipated this, sir. But let's go in and discuss the details. Madam."

"Cassandra." Lan En didn't need to introduce him. The falconer raised his hand and said with the straightforwardness of a soldier. "Just call me by my name."

Henwill certainly wasn't considered big compared to Lan, but for a normal person, he was a solid guy, half a head taller than Cassandra, and his muscles were much stronger.

But at this moment, his behavior was courteous and considerate. Lan En was accustomed to his Knights, but it might be a bit of a contrast in the eyes of others.

"Will Ms. Cassandra come in with us?"

Although Cassandra said that he could just call her by her first name right away, Henwill didn't just abandon all etiquette.

"No." The falconer waved her hand and smiled evilly, cracking her knuckles. "I don't mind if someone whistles at me, but I just want to see how good you are."

Cassandra's smirk was obviously directed at the Embers Knight who had whistled just now.

"Zorn?" Henwill pursed his lips in silence, even looking like he wanted to laugh. "I knew he would get into trouble with his character, but sir?"

The Embers Knight's cat eyes turned over, Lan shrugged indifferently, and walked straight into the castle without even stopping.

He just waved his hand without looking back: "You can try your hand, but don't go too far. Let's go, Henwill."

After a short while, Lan En sat on the big custom-made chair in the castle office, and Flannel Ball sat on the small custom-made chair next to it as usual, with its tail wagging behind it.

On the way upstairs just now, Lan En took a look at the room that was originally vacated as a mutation treatment room.

The several restraint beds inside were still there, and there were even human-shaped sweat outlines left on them.

That is the oily sweat that is discharged from deep within the body during the mutation process. This phenomenon usually occurs when a virus is introduced and the body's original immune system is destroyed.

The composition of sweat discharged is therefore very complex and highly permeable, and cannot be easily washed off.

Lann sniffed, but felt nothing.

This place is different from usual. It is estimated that after the mutation, the Knights of Embers still cleaned it well and insisted on fumigating and disinfecting it.

Long gone is the smell of the subjects sweating, suffering from incontinence, and vomiting blood during the mutation process.

"Is the subsequent mutation process going smoothly?"

Lan En asked as soon as he sat down.

"I left in a hurry last time and was unable to see you all go through the mutation process."

The closed castle room was lit with candles, and sunlight shone in from the open windows on the side, but it was ultimately not enough in terms of performance.

In fact, these lights are enough for demon hunters, but the Embers Knights seem to still retain candlelight out of "daily life habits and aesthetics".

"We have done well, my lord." Henwill's beard trembled as his lips moved. "We are the Knights of Embers, and you have provided us with the best potions and care. There is no reason to fail."

"That's true," Lan En smiled, "but when I think about how I felt when I suddenly changed, I feel worried for you guys."

"The conditions are different, sir." Henwill just shook his head. "In short, all of us have become stronger."

Outside the window where sunlight was pouring in, there was a sound of footsteps and at the same time the sound of weapons being unsheathed and colliding could be heard.

Now not only Lan could notice it, Henrique also looked towards the window after his ears moved.

This is Cassandra outside 'checking the level'.

"Well, tell me where everyone has gone, Henwill."

Lan En took out the key from his pocket, turned around and bent down in the big chair, opened the safe next to the table, and took out various documents to go through them.

And with the sound of him flipping through scrolls and books, Henwill turned his attention away from the window.

"There are currently five knights in Gaoqiu Castle, and the rest are servants in the castle."

Embers Knight stood straight, hands behind his back, and began to report in an orderly manner.

The person who usually plays this role in front of Lan is Secretary Lincoln, but in fact almost every Embers Knight can also do the job of a secretary.

Each of them is very capable, and each of them is constantly learning, striving for perfection and being able to stand on their own.

"There are fifteen of us, led by Officer Stewart, who completed your previous instructions."

Lan En was still reading the documents without even raising his head, but he raised his eyebrows.

Previously, Lane handed the signet ring of the Knights to Stewart. It seems that Lincoln has given this position a special name.

"They entered Novigrad first. That night, half of the Dark Alley Gang's leaders died. Two days later, the Eternal Flame, along with acolytes, missionaries, and bishops, lost thirteen people."

"It sounds like it's quite efficient." Lan En turned another page. "What does the Eternal Fire say?"

(End of this chapter)