Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1841, 1813. Artillery Barrage
The Dicos Elevator landed in a huge cavern carved into the mountainside in the Lienia region.

Emerging from the magnificent man-made cave, you are greeted by Pelum Avenue.

Lienia is a vast lake region that is often shrouded in fog. Apart from the numerous islands of varying sizes scattered throughout the lake, the main land area is actually the region surrounding the lake.

This avenue starts from the Dicos Elevator in the north and runs south along the eastern shore of Lake Lienia.

It is an important transportation route in this region.

As Lann emerged from the crowd that normally traveled between the two areas, the first thing he saw were two large tree guardian statues on both sides of Pelum Avenue and at the entrance of the large elevator.

Adhering to Rodel's style and aesthetics, these two exquisitely sculpted statues, including their massive bases, are each seven or eight stories tall.

The wide, long downhill staircase leading to the large elevator was similar to the entrance to Rodel's city.

Completely disregarding labor time and costs, large, neatly cut stones were laid out on the field, forming the outline of Pelum Avenue.

However, it seems that only the initial section near the Dixdas elevator remains of such a neat and intact avenue.

"Hurry up, hurry up!" The donkey cart merchant in front of Lan En turned around excitedly and shouted, "I'll be doing business all over Lienia. If you run into me, I'll give you a big discount!"

With that, he flicked the reins of the donkey cart and ran down the magnificent steps.

The rest of the people who came down from the large elevator did the same, scattering like stars in the sky as soon as they arrived in Lienia.

The elevator operator was unfazed; he simply used the talisman to control the elevator again to raise the palace platform.

The massive machine operated smoothly with the supernatural power of magic and prayer, but even so, the sound of the wind it generated was enough to create a deep rumble.

“As it stands,” the fluffy ball said, standing on the Qilin’s head, grasping its horns and gazing into the distance, “is Lienia really at war? I don’t really get the feeling, meow.”

Velvet Ball is an Palico that has seen many battlefields alongside Lan En.

However, those who travel between the Altan Plateau and the Lienia region do not make it feel any tension or panic.

The attitude of these people on the battlefield made Rongbuqiu feel a little confused.

Therefore, when it saw the beautiful scene of the golden trees shining in the sky of Lienia, reflecting the magnificent starlight and moonlight, it couldn't help but have some doubts.

By this time, having left Rodel's Round Table Hall and arrived in the Lienia region, night was almost over. A pale, fish-belly light was beginning to appear on the horizon.

Lann seemed to be looking towards the distance on Pirum Avenue.

He shook his head: "What a pity, a velvet ball. Appearances can be deceiving."

"Meow?"

The Palico turned to look at its leader in confusion, but then, in the next moment...

"Oh!"

A huge, muffled explosion came from afar!

By the time the sound waves reached Lan En and his group, they had become somewhat erratic.

However, the ground tremors were still real and unmistakable.

"Meow!" The plush ball hopped a little, driven by warrior instinct. "What is this...?"

“The sound of a catapult,” Lan En said calmly, “but even just launching it makes the sound of a cannon… tsk, it must have been tampered with using magic or something.”

“The development of magic is very prosperous in Lienia.”

The sound of hooves rang out, and Lan En tugged at the Qilin's mane, urging it to move in the direction of the noise.

After walking less than two kilometers along Pilum Avenue, Lan and his group saw the source of the noise they had just heard.

It was a small camp blocking the Pelum Highway.

Sharpened wooden stakes were fixed outwards to form a chevaux-de-frise. Inside the chevaux-de-frise, simple tents were erected.

Several catapults were set up in the camp, and some junior soldiers were struggling to pull the winches to reset the catapults that had just been fired.

There were signs of cooking fires in the camp, and supplies were piled up in dedicated tents. This orderliness suggested that the camp had probably been stuck on Pelum Avenue for quite some time.

The Pelum Avenue was an important road built by the Golden Dynasty in Lienia, but now... can it be blocked at will?
Is this behavior a sign of desperation and loss of reason? Or do they simply not care much to begin with?
"Who is it?"

The sound of the Qilin's hooves was crisp on the stone road, attracting the attention of the soldiers in the camp.

A knight, smaller than Lann in size and height, trotted out from the camp beside the road.

They carried shields and guns, exuding a murderous aura.

Lan En quickly glanced at the charging knight.

His armor style was very similar to that of the Knights of Rodel.

However, compared to Knight Rodel's all-gold color, his armor and robes were mainly red and blue. The ornament on his helmet was not modeled after the branches and leaves of a golden tree, but rather bird feathers dyed red and blue.

On the small shield hanging on his left breast and on the surface of the large shield in his hand, Lann saw an emblem that resembled a 'peeping bird'.

This is a cuckoo rider.

They have been military collaborators of the Academy of Realucalia since ancient times, a time that can no longer be traced.

In other words, they're blocking this place to attack the Kalia royal family?
Thanks to Gideon Ophniel's extensive and almost encyclopedic collection of books, Lan En was able to analyze the information he gleaned from the newcomer immediately.

The sky was already turning white and bright, and the Witcher's eyes no longer emitted a faint glow under normal light.

Therefore, the Cuckoo Knight, who was no ordinary person either, immediately noticed the unique features of this border area.

The knight, who had just been holding his lance under his arm, ready to charge, now slowly slowed his horse down, and the lance shaft in his hand pointed diagonally downwards.

"Wait...you're a faded member of the Round Table Hall?"

Lan En nodded slowly.

In reality, apart from those who frequently interact with the Round Table Hall, people in the border areas at most only know that such an organization exists, and most of them cannot name everyone in detail.

After gaining Lann's approval, the knight raised his lance above his head.

This posture was not a fighting stance, so the Cuckoo Knights soldiers who were gradually surrounding them all dispersed.

Only this knight, who was clearly of a high rank based on his appearance, continued walking this way.

"The Faded Hero." The Cuckoo Knight pulled on the reins, his horse pacing back and forth. "At this time, what brings you to Lienia?"

Lan En could sense that the Cuckoo Knight was carefully examining him through the observation slit in the other's helmet.

Although the Faded Ones were stripped of their blessings and banished from the borderlands by Queen Marika.

However, to this day, the goddess has never revealed what mistakes they made. Furthermore, their achievements in the Giant War were genuine.

Therefore, among the general population, these warriors who fought throughout the war against the giants are still referred to as heroes.

"Is this considered interrogation?" Lan En asked from horseback, his expression neither humble nor arrogant. "And on whose behalf are you questioning me, knight?"

“No, this is not an interrogation, please forgive me.” The knight who came from the camp on the other side of the road stepped on the grass and said, “It’s just that Lienia is not at peace right now, and the Faded Ones cannot return to the tree. We think it is our duty as citizens of the Golden Tree to send you a friendly reminder.”

The newcomer's armor was as ornate as that of the cuckoo rider on horseback.

But he wielded a large shield in one hand and a greatsword in the other. The fact that he could easily interrupt a mounted knight suggests that he held a higher position within the Knights.

His linguistic skills also justify his position.

During the War of the Giants, the entire territory of Lienia, with its long history of magical research, united to fight against the army of the Golden Dynasty, which upheld the Golden Law.

But the situation had been stable for centuries, and war had broken out again within Lienia. The Cuckoo Knight immediately put on the hat of the Golden Tree People.

This was tantamount to simultaneously sending a veiled hint: the Kalia royal family, who were hostile to these 'people of the golden tree,' might already be suspected of rebellion.

At the same time, because the implication was so subtle, even if Lan En later discovered that it differed from the facts, it could not be used as a basis for pursuing their case.

Lan En, who saw through the Cuckoo Knight's words and hints instantly, showed no change in expression, as if he hadn't understood a thing.

“Thank you for reminding me,” the Witcher said calmly. “I came down from the Altan Plateau because of the Flame Watchers.”

“I’ve heard that they recently apprehended a thief in Lienia. I’d like to know how far along their investigation is.”

"Oh!"

Even as they were talking, the Cuckoo Knights soldiers who were busy resetting the catapults were already ready to launch again.

Then, pulling the joystick sends another bullet flying in a parabolic arc into the distance.

Just as Lann had guessed, the catapult had been enhanced by magic.

The moment the ammunition was launched, the powerful reaction force caused a large cloud of dust to rise from the catapult's base!

The projectiles flying in mid-air left behind blue-green magical trails.

Clearly, not only the catapult itself, but also the projectiles were magically enhanced.

Under the pale light of dawn, a huge blue fireball accompanied by black smoke suddenly erupted on the distant horizon.

"Oh! You're here to investigate those fire-wielding martial arts practitioners?"

Meanwhile, the Cuckoo Knight, who had become completely accustomed to the daily bombardment, spoke with a hint of joy in his voice.

“You’re in luck! Perfect timing! We have a lot to report on them. It would be wonderful to submit these matters to the Round Table Hall! You are the Faded Heroes trusted by Twofinger!”

(End of this chapter)