Bear School Astartes

"Thank you for your help, Maria."

Lagging by a couple of steps, Adeline finally caught up behind the Female Hunter, clutching her heaving chest as she expressed her gratitude.

The name made Lann cock his head slightly, using a blink to mask the dilation of his pupils caused by shock.

Not only does she look identical to the doll Lann brought from the now-abandoned Hunter Workshop, but the name... also matches the one that suddenly appeared on the doll’s hairpiece earlier.

As Adeline spoke, she rolled up the sleeve on her arm and drew out a test tube of blood, handing it to Maria.

Only then did Lann notice that beneath Adeline’s uniform, her arm was fitted with a device resembling a retention needle.

In Lann’s homeland, the retention needle is used in hospitals for patients requiring large volumes of intravenous fluid or blood transfusions daily; it’s a needle left in the blood vessel.

The needle enables the avoidance of daily pricking which burdens the body.

Once the fluid infusion or blood extraction is complete, simply clean the exterior interface of the retention needle and affix a sterile adhesive to stabilize it.

Yet, due to advances in technology and materials, Lann recalls that standard retention needles are soft tubes that remain in the blood vessel without causing damage.

However, the retention needle on Adeline’s arm clearly aligns with the current technology in Yan’an.

A metal needle is inserted into the arm vein, connected externally to a syringe made of metal and glass.

Simply drawing the syringe functions as a blood extractor.

This seems to be the process by which the Blood Saintesses of the Healing Church produce the "Holy Blood."

The Female Hunter called Maria glanced at the test tube of blood cradled in Adeline’s hands.

She waved dismissively, "You don’t have to be so polite, Adeline."

"I was originally supposed to protect the Research Hall, but instead, I’m the one who arrived late this time."

Maria’s voice, like Yan Nan Hunters at work most times, was calm to the point of sounding emotionless, bordering on icy.

The gentle whisper of her voice akin to a dream murmur.

Yet, as a Female Hunter, her voice carried a slightly softer tone.

"Should I also owe you a thank you?"

Lann spoke in a low voice beside her, glancing toward the direction where the white-robed clergy had already vanished from sight.

"You interrupted me earlier, but I suppose you had your reasons."

"No, you don’t have to thank me. It was you who promptly subdued the patient for me," Maria first lifted her head to answer Lann’s initial question.

Then she turned to gaze in the same direction as him, her tone lowering, "Regarding the reason... did you see the forced grin on his face earlier? Wasn’t it jarring?"

"If something makes him show that kind of grin, I can hardly deem it good."

"Moreover, Adeline mentioned on the way here that you were almost persuaded by her, so I decided to speak sooner. A foreign hunter arriving isn’t a major issue in Yan’an."

"I almost got persuaded by her?" Lann looked bewildered as if he himself was unaware.

But upon glancing at Adeline... she was brimming with a confident smile.

"Hmm." Lann scratched his chin, swallowing the words he initially intended to say, "I was indeed persuaded by her."

"Then this vial of blood is yours!" Adeline smiled, handing the freshly drawn test tube of blood to Lann while blinking, "This is blood not recorded by the Church."

"..." Lann pursed his lips, while he had no desire for Yan’an’s blood, rejecting outright seemed deliberately too much now.

So after expressing gratitude, Lann accepted Adeline’s blood.

However, he didn’t place this vial of blood into his Alchemy Pouch.

Last time, the fragment of the Spiral Sword was silently devoured by the Muddy Stream·Destruction; thankfully, nothing serious happened.

Yan’an’s blood... whatever he says, he won’t let his Greatsword come in contact with even a hint.

The previous slayed "Spider Rom" was at least a superior being brought forth by Master William. An artificial superior being.

And back then, his Greatsword was merely "Muddy Stream."

Just a block of Valyrian Steel.

Yet even then, when the second phase captain of the New Continent Expedition Team attempted to remold it, it naturally began to emit Dream Realm power, influencing and mentally pressuring the Blacksmith.

The current Muddy Stream·Destruction is almost akin to a small Extinct Dragon, enhanced further by Flame World’s "Wedge-Shaped Stone Disc."

Who knows what it would turn into after ’consuming’ the Holy Blood from Yan’an?

After begrudgingly accepting the blood, Lann told Maria that although he decided to become a Yan’an Hunter, he truly wished to be like her, guarding the Research Hall as a Hunter.

According to Simon’s theory, the scope of investigation between the two awakeners should not overlap, best for obtaining the broadest intelligence in this Nightmare.

The recent large hunt planned by the Healing Church with unknown objectives is what Simon has been investigating. Almost every capable hunter will be dragged into this affair.

Since he has decided to start with the grey blood disease, staying in the Research Hall would be more convenient.

"Oh, this is indeed curious."

Maria’s voice floated in like a dream, ethereal and light, as the Female Hunter raised her head, causing the swan feather on her hat to quiver gently.

Her wine-red pupils glanced at the Demon Hunter, and a soft chuckle escaped her lips.

"As a hunter, doesn’t one yearn for the blood-soaked kill?"

"Doesn’t the sight of tearing the prey’s flesh open and letting its blood gush forth give you pleasure?"

She spoke with playfulness while shaking the half-cape on her left shoulder.

Its blood-red lining barely visible, as dangerous as it is beautiful.

"Or is your true intention not to be a hunter but to become a scholar? Like those who are cold-hearted in pursuit of knowledge?"

As Maria spoke, her words carried a cold cynicism, while her delicate, snow-white chin raised slightly, nodding toward the clergy.

Hunter, Scholar.

These are the career paths within the Healing Church.

But simultaneously, in Lann’s eyes, individuals of these paths have a certain degree of mental issues.

And as a native of Yan’an, Maria surprisingly shares this view with him.

"Please don’t say that, Maria," Adeline shook her head. "You always harbor prejudice against the clergy and other hunters. But I believe everyone is dedicated and good for the Church."

"They are merely too devoted."

Maria’s lips curled into an indifferent arc, "I would prefer if what you say is true."

After speaking, she turned toward Lann, her eyes, inherently noble as a Blood Noble, surveyed him from head to toe.

If it were an ordinary person, they might feel a sense of shame under such a gaze.

But Lann remained standing confidently.

His silver-white hair and mesmerizing face exuded a commanding yet frank nobility.

Whereas the Blood Nobles of the Yanyan Region have a luxury that seems worn after indulgence, proud yet weary.

Maria’s pale hair was bound in a simple ponytail, tucked under her tricorn. Her simplicity set her apart from her kin.

But traces of special bloodline still lingered.

When she stood beside Lann, it was as if they epitomized the two meanings of "noble."

"I would be happy for someone to help. Recently, a hunting mission needs me elsewhere. Your task shouldn’t be difficult."

"I’ll speak for you in the Church, however..."

Breaking off, Maria glanced at Lann from beneath the brim of her tricorn.

This time, there was a wary scrutiny in her blood-red eyes.

Initially, when Lann stepped up to quell the turmoil, Maria was grateful and appreciative.

But soon after, Lann, as a foreign hunter, peculiarly sought to take on the task of guarding the Research Hall.

This act, suspiciously deliberate, quickly dissolved Maria’s admiration, sparking a natural resistance.

Lann understood Maria’s attitude but didn’t care much.

Though this Female Hunter resembled the doll he encountered in the "future" Yan Nan Hunter Workshop, it meant little.

She must be the prototype of that exquisite doll.

She’s beautiful, elegant, naturally attracting admirers.

Furthermore, those placing a doll in the abandoned Hunter Workshop must be from Yan’an.

Many among them are often mentally unsound.

Even from the doll, one can clearly sense the morbid obsession and infatuation.

Yet in a group of maddened individuals, one extreme case may statistically appear normal.

So Lann finds it coincidental, yet his primary focus remains assisting Simon in uncovering the nightmares’ secrets.

His body lacks Yan’an’s Holy Blood, having no ties with the Ancient Gods or the higher beings here.

He cannot be certain, as Simon suggested: whether at the end of that night of hunting that burned Old Yan’an, he too would trace back.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!