Bear School Astartes-Chapter 87. First Arrival in Vizima

The demon hunter’s internal dialogue did not affect the barge’s journey.

As the surrounding waters grew increasingly dirty and the smell became more pungent, most of the barge passengers began to rise from the messy, crowded deck to prepare their belongings.

The dirty waters signified the approach of a large settlement.

Vizima had arrived.

The barge slowly approached the dock, located in Vizima’s Temple District, or more aptly called the "slums."

The passengers on board, clutching their goods, pack animals, or family and friends, started pouring onto the dock en masse.

As if taking one more step might make the boat take them away again for free.

Lann never really understood this mentality, so he leaned against the railing at the bow, waiting until the crowd dispersed before moving.

Under the hood, his cat eyes flickered, and the demon hunter reached back to push aside a large black horse’s head.

"Neigh—"

Bopai’s saliva sprayed to the side in a mist.

"Haha, sir, aren’t we getting off the boat?"

Alia was excited on Bopai’s back.

This was her first time riding a warhorse alone, even if it was only from the middle of the boat to the bow.

Incidentally, this was also her first time on a boat.

"You’re lucky Bopai is good-tempered; otherwise, if he shook his waist, you’d fall into the water."

Alia tilted her head to look at the waters below the ship, where, being already in the city limits, a nauseating and sticky rainbow-colored oil slick floated on the surface.

Distinguishable and indistinguishable trash from daily life washed against the hull with the tide.

The little girl let out an "ugh" and obediently grabbed the saddle.

Because of the crowd, Lann decided not to mount the horse but to lead Bopai and Alia off the ship.

Back at Airetusa Academy, when Margaret learned Lann had never been to Vizima, she supplemented his knowledge.

So Lann knew that where he was currently located was indeed the Temple District.

Only a few steps from disembarking.

However, Lann had already observed the entire dock environment with his peripheral vision.

Observing the battlefield environment is a skill every warrior must learn.

And after several continuous memory surges, each memory’s owner was a top-notch combat master.

These memories directly elevated Lann’s battlefield observation skills from knowing nothing to mastery.

With Lann’s current battlefield observation and analytical abilities.

Even if he were put in Bordeaux’s position back then, while in terms of brute strength, he might not yet rival a centenarian demon hunter master,

using just his insight and analytical experience, he could achieve a complete annihilation of the law enforcement team.

"Six small gangs, each with five enforcers, each sporting snake tattoos... they belong to the same gang, and judging by their order, they’ve existed for some time, a gang with regulations."

At the dock, besides the sweaty porters, there were accountants responsible for accounting and management, and a few men with unpleasant expressions were scanning the area.

They had longswords or spiked clubs at their waists.

These were likely dock gangs.

"At most, they have crude melee weapons. It seems the city’s unwritten rules maintain that the level of street fights avoid ’military-grade weapons.’"

Bows, crossbows, and armors are considered military-grade.

In a new city, the more information you gather, the better.

Lann pulled down his hood, trying to cover his cat eyes and silver hair, as he headed towards the dock’s exit gate.

Soldiers were also stationed at the gate.

City entry tax certainly wouldn’t spare the port.

Lann’s outfit was quite suspicious, but this was Vizima, Temeria’s capital.

The number of people entering the city daily was staggering.

It’s unrealistic to expect every city guard to be professionally ethical.

So Lann simply flicked a silver coin, leading the horse into the city under the guards’ indifferent gaze.

Entering through the gate was the true Temple District.

The dilapidated streets revealed at least four or five ragged beggars or vagrants on just one street within sight.

Women dressed flamboyantly, swaying their hips and exposing large patches of skin stood at the doorways of small houses.

Whenever a new batch of people entered from the dock gate, they repeated these actions, hoping to earn something.

One must admit, the aesthetic trends of the medieval magical era were at least in tune with those of the homeland world.

These women in the flesh trade often wore tight vests on their upper bodies, revealing their waists and backs.

On the lower half, the better-off wore stockings.

The less fortunate wore tight boots made of fabric.

The goal was to accentuate their leg shapes.

As Lann walked past them, although he was a young demon hunter full of hormones, he felt no desire rise.

Because their bone structure, skin, and muscle texture... appeared a bit twisted and abnormal to Lann, who was at the moment wary of memory surges.

Perhaps slight deformities from harsh living conditions, perhaps natural-born.

In any case, it made him uncomfortable.

Occasionally, he passed one or two elves with pointed ears, well-defined bone structures, and handsome faces, which slightly eased him.

"Mentos, hurry up with the interception algorithm!"

On one hand, he urged the A.I. to perfect the interception algorithm for memory surges.

On the other hand, Lann prepared to use his willpower to forcibly resist the gene seed’s impulse for perfection.

"Sir, something in your bag is glowing!"

As Lann struggled with his pathological mindset, Alia’s lowered voice suddenly reached his ears.

His cat eyes glanced to the side.

The little girl tightly held onto the alchemy pouch, cautiously leaning from the horse’s back.

She angled the pouch’s opening towards Lann.

Though inexperienced, she knew that even in this world, magic was rare.

She didn’t know what was in Lann’s backpack, but in the slums, it’s best not to let too many people see something glowing.

Lann encouragingly patted Alia’s frail shoulder, and the little girl smiled broadly.

The alchemy pouch was hung at the demon hunter’s waist.

He wore a coarse cloak with a hood that didn’t reveal the pouch’s brightness.

His fingers entered the alchemy pouch, and Lann deftly found a crystal.

The only thing on him that could emit light was the communicator Margaret gave him before he left.

"Hello? Hello! First communication test, can you hear me?"

The sensation of having someone speak directly in his mind was very peculiar.

At least for Lann, despite not changing his pace even when leading the horse, his eyebrow arched involuntarily.

From the other end of the conical crystal came a female voice.

"Wow! Margaret is so generous; this communication crystal isn’t cheap, yet she even added a layer of [Language of the Heart] at the last minute? ...Looks like you’ve been quite charming to her lately, demon hunter."

"Hey! Keira! It’s my magic power being used now. If you’re going to chat idly, why not tell him a place first and then talk with cheap words?"

This was another female voice, somewhat girlishly charming but also with a mature sister’s decisiveness.

As they spoke, Lann had generally figured out the use of the conical crystal.

Speaking in the mind might cause inexperienced people to output a bunch of useless garbage instantly.

But for Lann... he had experienced it numerous times in his memories.

The efficiency of information transfer in future wars would terrify ancient generals.

"Ladies, as the second lady said, precious magic power shouldn’t be wasted on long-distance chatting. Just give me an address."

"Uh..."*2

Surprised voices came from the other end.

It seemed they didn’t expect that someone they thought only capable of simple tricks could start joining [Language of the Heart] in just a few words.

"I have a property in the Temple District."

After a stunned silence, the second voice was the first to respond, giving Lann an address.

"Understood, I’ll be there shortly."