[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bear-school-astartes":3,"chapter-bear-school-astartes-bear-school-astartes-chapter-987":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Bear School Astartes",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1620810,2087,"Chapter 987 - 969: Recommendation, Dudu","bear-school-astartes-chapter-987",987,"\u003Cp>After the morning exercise, Lann didn’t immediately go back to find Margaret or Tishaya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two female warlocks must have planned something last night, making him feel uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you came to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belengar rarely wasn’t tinkering away by the furnace; he was seriously looking at a list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, hands-on ironwork is his hobby, also a way for a grandmaster-level blacksmith to maintain his touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his actual job is to oversee the entire production process of Valyrian Steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including quality control of the billets, and production efficiency, etc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Lann was sitting opposite Belengar’s desk, with both elbows resting on the tabletop, hands propping up his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a small office built inside the Valyrian Steel billet production workshop, outside burly men were swinging hammers at ingots, while Belengar was working inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lann mentioned the unease he felt at Margaret’s place, Belengar leaned forward with great interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, you’re starting to feel you can’t handle it? Overwhelmed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann glanced at the old demon hunter, as the aura added by the acceptance of the Curse Fire spread out, feeling both burning hot and overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like nothing was said, yet everything was implied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belengar grinned awkwardly and pulled back his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In short, I’m quite at a loss now. A whole bunch of industrial fund gaps, even if the gaps were bridged, I’d still need to find someone to manage it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you ask me...\" Belengar said, reclining back on his chair, with a tone neither of teasing nor jealousy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Airetusa has big businesses, just open your mouth and ask, and heaps of gold coins could bury a person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\" Lann outright refused, \"I always feel, if I used to rely on them when I had no choice, now that I’m successful, still relying on them, then what’s the point of my success?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha, now you’re being stubborn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belengar mocked with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, also with a tone neither strictly of teasing nor jealousy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it felt oddly satisfying, Lann decided not to fuss with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of knocking echoed twice, the sound of the wooden door being knocked, although drowned out by the clamor of iron works, was distinctly recognizable from the noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The visitor was evidently already familiar with Belengar, as they pushed the door open before a response was heard from the office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, White Wolf. How are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann tilted his body slightly in the chair, raising a hand in greeting once he saw who entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt wasn’t expecting Lann to be here, but he quickly came to grips with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this time Lann greeted him without that damned smile, as the young demon hunter wasn’t in a good mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Lann. Didn’t expect to run into you here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt’s deep, gravelly voice sounded, complementing his charmingly deadpan rugged face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? You thought I’d die out there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could be.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two joked about death; people in the demon hunter profession aren’t that superstitious, despite often dealing with curses and the like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s precisely because they’ve seen all sorts of outlandish curses and magic, they are open-minded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Discussing their own deaths becomes a unique topic in demon hunters’ conversations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt pulled over a chair from the side, closed the door, and sat down as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now there were three pairs of cat-like eyes in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is work smooth?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reuniting with an old friend somewhat alleviated Lann’s worries, he asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To ensure Ciri’s life at Ker Morhan, the Wolf School demon hunters needed some to remain in the hidden castle to protect her and train her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the rest needed to go out to earn a living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt, ever since last time, tagged along with Belengar to Gos Velen to find work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pretty good.\" Geralt responded while knocking off dirt from his boots onto the wooden floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Velen is an ancient land, where ancient races have left divine halls, tombs, laboratories protected by mechanisms... Airetusa is generous to explorers; this place indeed suits demon hunters for the work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ancient races being referred to are those settled long before humans appeared on the continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including elves, dwarves, gnomes, half-elves, treants, etc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, Airetusa developed interest in these ancient creators’ knowledge and organized exploration missions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt is now engaged in such explorations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy would buy ancient magical artifacts or knowledge from explorers at high prices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since now the academy’s cash flow faced the dilemma of how to spend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I already wrote to Yennefer months ago... She replied, agreeing. She should be at Ker Morhan by now, taking care of Ciri’s life. No need to worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because during the Northern War, Lann was with them taking care of Ciri, and eventually seeing them safely out of the warzone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Geralt and the Wolf School buddies felt Lann had the right to know and intervene in Ciri’s current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence, after sharing his own work situation, Geralt took the initiative to tell the young man about his arrangements for Ciri.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s good, a young girl’s well-being must be overseen by mature women. We bunch of men don’t understand a thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann first acknowledged Geralt’s actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems he took my advice to heart and realized: letting Ciri grow up healthy is far more important than his excessive and deeply hidden pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Lann’s understanding of Geralt, writing a letter to Yennefer must have been quite a torment for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, Belengar, who was enjoying the show, commented on Geralt’s expression when he was just talking about ’letter writing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But at the time, seeing your expression while writing the letter, I thought you were going to challenge a dragon head-on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belengar shook his head as he spoke, half exasperated, half amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did it start again? ’Dear good friend’? I really can’t believe it, you must have stewed over it for two hours, right? And this is all you came up with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann also looked at Geralt with a strange expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking Yennefer for a favor, and addressing her as ’good friend’ instead of ’my love’... what kind of ’good friend’ travels thousands of miles to a remote castle on the edge of the civilized world to babysit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Geralt, let me confirm something...\" Lann carefully considered his words, \"Uh, have you ever asked someone for a favor before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt put both hands together, covering his face, and rubbed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, don’t say it, Lann. I’m begging you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A muffled sigh of near-pleading came from beneath the leather-gloved hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Belengar seemed to enjoy using his ’Wolf School style sarcasm’ against his own people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, ’I’m begging you.’ It would’ve been nice if you could have written that in the letter too, huh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at the reply from the Female Warlock, she also calls you ’dear friend,’ the sarcasm nearly leaps off the paper.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to Belengar, Lann immediately felt like he’d missed out on a lot of fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, it seems everyone isn’t doing too well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann patted Geralt on the shoulder, sighing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, do you have a story too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt first brushed off Lann’s hand from his shoulder, thinking someone like Lann must be having a good life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, Lann told him about his impending bankruptcy situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what, you’re going to become an ordinary Demon Hunter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt crossed his arms, looking at Lann beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Going around looking for work, getting underpaid, being spat on like a leper when passing by?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do I feel like you’re getting more and more excited as you speak?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, not at all. I’m about to cry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt’s expressionless face, honed to avoid trouble, sometimes really made it hard to read his emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in front of Lann, he could feel Geralt’s humor, which could even be called cheerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White Wolf isn’t foolish at all, the more contact he has with Lann, the more he knows that the money is not a problem for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, it can be used as a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Lann were really troubled by this money to the point of bankruptcy, he would not be joking about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt has restraint, and whether he admits it or not, he’s trying his best not to hurt others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Be it physically or mentally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Lann doesn’t get angry at Geralt’s ribbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, back to the point.\" After the joke was over, Geralt seemed to remember something and said to Lann.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, you’re more worried about who to hand over your business to, rather than the gap in money, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Does the famous White Wolf want to venture into the financial industry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a comeback for the earlier joke, Lann eased into a comfortable position on the chair, looking at Geralt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I know my limitations, I can’t handle anything too complicated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt shrugged with his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I might know a trustworthy... person?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time it was Lann’s turn to be stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really know a finance person? And why were you so unsure when you said ’person’?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know if he deals with hedge funds or anything, but he is indeed a capable merchant. Once turned a dozen packhorses into several hundredfold in Novigrad. As for ’person’...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt scratched his chin, which was surrounded by a circle of white stubble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm... have you heard of doppelgangers, shapeshifters, or mimics? Which term do you like?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann frowned slightly, speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you talking about shapeshifters? What’s a shapeshifter got to do with merchants... no, wait. You mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, not only Lann showed a surprised expression, but even Belengar put down the reports in his hand and looked up at Geralt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Geralt gave a sheepish smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The impressive merchant I’m talking about is a... uh, shapeshifter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His name is Trico Langrewenke Letot. My friends, like Dandelion, and I, for convenience, just call him Dudu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1634,"2026-06-06T10:40:28.727Z",1,"novelbin.me","f47984c7e93dcdf85278ad9b8944b8a86bed460bc6c4e44bc9ea96ef3426f002","bear-school-astartes-chapter-988","bear-school-astartes-chapter-986",1043,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbear-school-astartes-cover.jpg"]