Bear School Astartes

The Prime Minister Tery has a dining hall, large enough to accommodate more than a hundred people dining at the same time.

Perhaps at the peak of the Prime Minister's power, this hall would be crowded, but now... the dining hall is so empty that two Ice Wolves could leisurely stroll through.

The personnel brought from the Northern Territory are dining at a long table.

Over twenty guards, more than thirty maids and nurses accompanying the young lady, and Lann was among them.

In fact, he was sitting between Alia and Jorri Kaiso, opposite the blushing and bowing Sansa Stark.

Edd returned from the Imperial Council with a gold hand-shaped badge hanging on his left chest.

This is why the position of Prime Minister is called 'Hand of the King'.

His expression looked quite unpleasant.

It was clear he had received quite a 'wake-up slap' at the Imperial Council.

But when he reached the dining table, this man with a cold and stern demeanor managed a slight smile for his daughter and subordinates.

"The kingdom's affairs are many and complex compared to the simple Winterfell, they're driving me crazy. But at this table, let's not dwell on these bothersome matters. Everyone enjoy your meal."

Lann could slightly imagine what kind of exclusion or soft knives an airborne high-ranking official might face from those beneath or his colleagues.

This is something no one can help.

Edd took the main seat.

"Lord, I think I need your assistance with something."

As Edd began to dine, Lann, separated by Alia, spoke to him.

"Could you grant me a pass that allows free access to the Red Castle? You know, I'm in pursuit of exotic plants and animals. Staying inside the Red Castle all the time, I can't explore King's Landing's harbor markets and marketplaces."

Before Lann could finish speaking, Alia, who had just taken a sip of soup, widened her eyes, swallowed down her food hard, and quickly called out.

"Dad, I want to go too! Let me follow Lann!"

Edd Stark looked at his daughter, livelier than most boys, and then at Lann, who was calmly eating, and nodded.

"Alright, Alia. It'll keep you from causing trouble inside the Red Castle."

"Lann, please take good care of her. You won the trial by combat for the Starks, the exotic plants and animals were already part of the agreed reward. I'll give you a signed pass, and after you buy something outside, you can request a receipt, and I'll reimburse you later with a total limit of one hundred gold dragons. I'll also keep what I've directly collected on hand for you."

Instead of deceiving Lann about the vague agreement with his youngest daughter, Edd offered a clear and generous response.

The purchasing power of gold dragons is higher than Oren's.

In Temeria, Lann could buy a set of qualified heavy armor for about three hundred Orens, while in Westeros, a set of plate armor along with a typical war horse's armor costs about one hundred gold dragons.

Robert's prize for the tournament, amounting to several tens of thousands, falls under the 'prodigal' level of spending.

Edd, however, made Lann feel that he was clearly a man who values rules and credibility, which summed up as a sense of traditional honor.

"It's more than enough, Lord. I'll take good care of Alia. We've actually been cooperating quite happily during the time before."

"Ha!..."

Alia wanted to laugh cheerfully but was stared down by an old nurse opposite the table, cutting short her joy.

And Lann freed one hand to push down Nymelia's wolf head, which had reached over, tongue out.

~~~~~~

Early the next morning, Alia led Nymelia and knocked on Lann's room door, eager to head together towards the gate of the Red Castle.

Lann carried the Bear School Steel Sword and Aron Dite on his back, while Alia's waist held the 'Needle'.

"Lann, I think carrying the sword given by the Lady of the Lake out would definitely cause trouble, it's too ornate! We're going to a market, after all. I've heard from minstrels about that place being mixed with fish and dragons... fish and dragons mixed?"

"It's fish and dragons mixed..."

Lann pursed his lips, patting his forehead, unwilling to admit this girl had been following him for over a month.

After acquiring the sword, Lann had tested its slashing ability while alone.

Its balance and blade were impeccable, and the feel was excellent.

But the issue, as Alia mentioned, was it was too ornate for a weapon truly meant for combat.

Just the pommel on the hilt was a three-directional three-headed roaring bear head.

The exquisite craftsmanship was undeniably expensive from a human perspective.

When unsheathing the blade, runes covering the sword surface would gradually light up while swinging, accumulating power.

The glow would fill the runes from the hilt location, and once fully charged to the tip of the blade, the next slash would directly consume the glow, doubling the slashing power!

Apart from this exaggerated practical effect, even its visual effects were quite extraordinary.

"You think Prime Minister Tery is much better? Or the Red Castle is much better? Alia, it's precisely because I don't trust these people that I keep my sword with me at all times."

While talking to Alia, Lann smiled and nodded to a passing Goldcloak, which was the King's Landing guard troop.

"You are back with your family, feeling safe. But I must tell you, Alia... keep your alertness and keen sense from 'over there', don't lose them. I don't feel a bit safe here."

Lann's words reminded Alia of her feelings in Vizima.

Though it was just one night, that night she was caught off guard, having no premonition that she would be blocked in a hotel by a cannibal leader with a group of elite warriors was quite thrilling.

The feeling as if someone saw through her every move and then pressed a sword to her throat...

That's the power of intelligence and authority.

Alia's originally bright smile gradually shrank, and as she did in Vizima, she lowered her voice and spoke quietly without turning her head.

"Have you noticed the issue here?"

"Heh, let me tell you something you don't know. The king's decision yesterday could spread throughout the Red Castle before the Imperial Council discussed it... I reckon those people knew precisely what we had for dinner last night."

Lann placed his hand on Alia's shoulder and patted it.

"You need to observe and analyze, learn to handle it, I can't always be here with you. You're aware of that."

Speaking of parting, Alia hadn't reacted as strongly as she did initially.

She was mentally resilient and already prepared in the world of magic, happy enough that Lann could accompany her for a while longer.

"I'll be careful, Lann... you teach me how to use a sword!"

"... When I say 'learn to handle', I'm not suggesting you follow me and start hacking! You're just an ordinary person. You shouldn't dream of doing what I can do, right?"

"Just learn a bit! Even though it's a bit late..."

"Alright, I'll teach you for a while, and after I'm gone, let your dad find you a teacher to continue teaching. You've still got plenty of time, no hurry."