Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1848, Section 1820: Monitoring the Son of Platinum
“We have many bishops and martial monks who have successfully crossed Nymgford in secret and reached Galid.”

The flame-wielding martial arts cultivator who was summoned appeared to be an official. After his superior asked him a question, he began to give a report with a relaxed demeanor.

"According to the reply, they have begun teaching General Rataen's Red Lion Legion our fire techniques."

"Thanks to the knowledge we had previously passed down from the snow-capped mountains, and with our people going there to provide on-site guidance, the Red Lions Legion has made rapid progress in learning."

“Hmm,” Arganti said with satisfaction, then turned and asked, “What about the Flame Chariots? How many have reached Galid?”

“There aren’t many.” The fire-wielding martial arts cultivator giving the report shook his head. “The fire chariots are quite large and heavy. They’re either transported or driven by the charioteers themselves, but they’re quite noisy when they’re in operation.”

"It will be very difficult to cross Ningmgford silently. After all, Stoneville City is still under the jurisdiction of Gevya. The Golden Clan is deeply entrenched."

Aganti frowned, his fiery red eyebrows furrowing. After a moment, he said decisively, "Then let's just not ship it. Send the blueprints over! Have the bishops already in Galid help the Red Lion Legion build it on the spot."

"Give us the blueprints directly?" The Flame Martial Arts cultivators widened their eyes, somewhat unsure.

But Yagangti was adamant.

"If we want to deal with [Crimson Corruption], we need fire! And it has to be fierce fire!" The leader of the Watchers said resolutely. "Only firepower from the flame chariots is strong enough! And ordinary soldiers can operate them. Let's do it this way, and give the blueprints to the Red Lion!"

"We are the ones who prepared for war in advance. Since we have the advantage of being prepared, we must maximize it! Is being stingy like we're about to fight?"

“Understood.” The Flame Martial Arts cultivator immediately responded, “Then… in the prayer book you gave to that Faded One, what were those important prayers that should have been given to the Red Lion Legion?”

Aganti waved his hand dismissively: "Remove the restrictions on sending messages to the bishops and teaching prayer. This is a critical moment where time is of the essence; what does a permit represented by a prayer book matter?"

Prayer books are equivalent to a scripture in the faith, and the power to teach and interpret scripture has always been one of the most important powers in religious activities.

It is common for religious groups to fight each other to the death over this right.

Therefore, no religious group that does not want internal strife or want to maintain order would delegate this power to just anyone.

Therefore, normally, although the bishops of Galid also know those fire prayers, without that prayer book, or the individual pages in the prayer book, no one can teach others according to their own understanding.

Previously, the fire prayer they taught to the Red Lion Legion was only taught after they had sent over scattered pages of the book.

But now, as the head of the watchers, Yaganti is clearly forced to act expediently due to the urgency of the situation.

"Also, you make a trip." Yaganti instructed the martial arts cultivator beside him with a serious look in his eyes, "Go to the Kalia royal family's stronghold. Princess Lani is not here, and the one in charge should be that mountain demon blacksmith."

"We've been helping the Kalia royal family fight the cuckoos here for so long, it's time for them to reciprocate. If it weren't for Lord Lakad... Kalia, hmph."

At this point, Yagangti's tone was low and dangerous, just like the look in his golden eyes.

"That faded one is a problem. When the time comes... kill him!"

The Flame Martial Arts cultivator accepted the order and withdrew. After waiting for some time, around noon, he emerged from the makeshift camp and headed north along the lake.

The royal fortress of the Caria is located on the north side of the western shore of the great lake of Lienia.

At the same time that the fire-wielding martial arts cultivator who delivered the message left the camp, on a distant hill...

"Did you see that clearly? A ball of fluff?"

In the dense woods on the hill, Lann leaned against a tree trunk and asked the calico kitten perched on a branch above his head in the shadows.

"Mmm!" the Palico responded energetically, its big, watery eyes fixed on the campsite on the slope. "Is that it, meow?"

At that altitude, the Flame Watchers' camp was just grass. There should be even less water on the higher hills.

However, this forest must have been nourished by other water systems, as it grew tall and dense, with shadowy shadows suggesting that something was hidden deep within.

Lan En just took this time to go up and take a look; there are four clock towers there.

However, it seems that it was built not long ago, and there is no one to ring the bell. It is unknown what the Kalia royal family was doing building a bell tower in this desolate place.

The velvet ball had secretly come out with Lan En that morning.

While he was meeting the Flame Watcher, the kitten was also hiding in the distance.

After all, while not everyone can know every faded figure in the Round Table Hall like the back of their hand, if that faded figure possesses the 'qualification to become king,' then their fame is quite different.

Lan En, a faded being with the potential to become a king, had never been known before, but now he suddenly appeared in front of them.

This situation would only provoke the Flame Watchers who are to be investigated.

"Thank you for your help." Lan En reached out and scratched the chin of the kitten that was sitting obediently on the branch. The plush ball purred contentedly. "Keep an eye on them for me these next few days. If anything happens, use this to let me know."

As he spoke, Lan En took out a music box-like iron box from his alchemy leather bag and handed it to the velvet ball.

This is a relatively new research finding from Aretusa, which allows for communication within a certain distance, much like a walkie-talkie.

It can be considered a product of technological advancements spurred by the Northern Wars.

This time, Margarita provided Lann with the equipment for experimental use, which can also be regarded as a test in a battlefield environment.

Furthermore, Margarita tuned the frequency of this communication box to the cone-shaped crystal in Lan En's hand, making it directly compatible for use.

"No problem, meow!" The fluffy ball took the communication box with its little paws, looking very confident. "Back in the New World, when I was tracking prey, I had to keep moving around, and I could chase them for days at a time, meow!"

The velvet ball adjusted its little helmet and gave Lan En a thumbs up.

"Tsk, still thinking about the old days, acting like you're so old." Lan En chuckled teasingly. "It's yours now." The velvet ball watched from there, while Lan En prepared to return to the town in front of the academy gate.

On one hand, I wanted to take a look at the prayer book in my hand, and on the other hand... it was just to make an appearance.

He needs to reveal his location so that those in the shadows will feel at ease and begin to act.

The Witcher looked at the makeshift camp on the distant slope where flames and black smoke were still rising. He then circled around the woods and headed toward the small boat he had previously moored by the lake.

But since it was already noon, when Lan En returned the way he came, he ran into a group of people that Tops had mentioned before.

That was a team of Platinum Sons.

Tops said there are two kinds of Platinum Children. One kind is characterized by its legs gradually disappearing as it gets older. The other kind is the 'speechless frog'.

Looking at it, Lan En realized that he had probably encountered the latter type.

"Wow~"

A group of five or six Platinum Sons stood by the lake, wading through the water and mud, watching Lan En warily as he suddenly appeared.

They really can't talk, and they look like frogs.

Its skin has a metallic silver-gray texture, its head is large and flat, its eyes are completely black, it has no bridge of nose, only two small holes, and below is a mouth. Due to the shape of its head, its ears are not visible.

Overall, it looks almost like an alien from a science fiction movie, and it is visibly different from normal life forms.

However, on the other hand, the description of Tops that 'they envy normal, healthy life'...

"I mean no harm, nor am I your enemy." Lan En slowly raised his hands, indicating that he did not want to draw his weapon.

At the same time, he tilted his head uncertainly: "By the way, can you understand what I'm saying?"

The other party's alien-like appearance made Lan En unsure of what to do.

The reason Lan En stepped forward to face this group of Platinum Sons was that his ship, which he had tethered here and covered with branches and other things, was about to be discovered by them.

So, in order to keep the vehicle he borrowed from the fishing guy, Lan En decided to come out and negotiate.

During this process, he was also observing the Platinum Sons opposite him.

Apart from their heads and skin color, their body shape is similar to that of ordinary people, except that their limbs are disproportionately long and thin.

Facing Lan En, the five or six of them silently gripped their weapons.

Lan En couldn't read any expression from their alien-like faces.

But their grip was hardly a 'grip,' but rather a tense, clenched grip on their weapons. Their stance was haphazard, their steps unsteady…

Lan En could tell from various signs that this seemed to be a group of amateurs who didn't even know how to handle weapons properly.

Furthermore, their weapons themselves appeared strange and were not well-made.

Were they temporarily thrown into the battlefield?
There are generally two possibilities in this situation. One is that the Kalia royal family is short of fighting power and is sending these completely inexperienced Platinum Sons to the battlefield.

Secondly, the Cuckoo Knights and the Magic Academy, as enemies, were pressing too hard and too fiercely, forcing the Platinum Sons to join the Kalia royal family's camp and fight for their future.

However, Lan En didn't quite believe that an outsider forced into the battlefield could be so fanatical about war.

The Sons of Platinum were not blessed; they died and that is that. They will not have the ease that the people of the Golden Tree had when facing war.

Finally, the footsteps of the Sons of Platinum echoed across the mudflats.

Their faces were expressionless, but their hands, gripping their weapons, were very carefully placed in front of them. This gesture completely negated the advantage of weapon length; its only benefit was probably psychological reassurance.

A group of five or six people, led by the Platinum Son who was holding a long spear wrapped in cloth, moved away from the location of Lan En's hidden ship with trembling steps.

And just as he said, Lan En slowly approached his boat on the lake from the side, keeping a distance.

The two sides seemed to be very restrained and tacitly went around in circles.

They each proved that they truly had no ill intentions towards each other.

After the expressionless but tense Platinum Sons took a few more steps back, Lan En began to remove the camouflage from the small boat and prepared to row away.

With a 'plop', something landed in the mud at Lan En's feet.

The Witcher tilted his head, looked at it, and picked it up.

It was a four-toed bird claw that had been air-dried.

In border regions, three toes are considered unlucky, while four toes are considered lucky. Therefore, a four-toed bird's claw can be seen as a gift similar to a lucky rabbit's foot.

Lan En glanced at the Platinum Son, who had stopped cautiously in the distance.

The Platinum Child, who was standing on the expressionless head that resembled an alien or a frog, holding a long, cloth-wrapped spear, pointed to the bird's claws and then to the open mouth.

"Does that mean it's edible?"

Lan En smiled, picked up the bird's claw from the mud, rinsed it in the lake water, and then waved it at the other person to indicate that he understood.

(End of this chapter)