Bear School Astartes

"Honestly, no matter how you mess with this face of yours, it looks good, even if it's dirty, it has its own aesthetic charm."

Outside the crowd, Philixia used Bopai's body as a barrier, began pushing the bewildered Lann to squat down, then brandished a razor above his head.

"Your hair... oh, I can't bear to touch it! This silver is so beautiful! How about just trimming the sideburns a bit? Just having signs of trimming will show you're taking this signing event seriously. This will give merchants and bankers great confidence."

Before Lann could respond, the razor that had earned the female sorcerer apprentice quite a bit of pocket money was already touching Lann's sideburns.

With a few swift moves, the slightly messy sideburns were neatly trimmed.

Philixia finally released Lann from squatting.

The young man, still somewhat confused, stood up: "Wait... at least tell me what's going on. Is Giancardi Bank becoming Airetusa's partner?"

"Not quite, but close enough."

Philixia had Lann raise his arms horizontally, frowning as she scrutinized his entire armor attire.

After a moment, she pressed her temples with her index and middle fingers. Lann knew she was beginning a telepathic conversation with someone.

This technique is considered moderately difficult among apprentices. The fact that Philixia can use it so quickly and steadily in such a noisy and chaotic environment shows her proficiency in magic is pretty decent.

Shortly after Philixia sent out her telepathic message, Lann felt the conical crystal in his alchemy pouch begin to glow.

Then, the advanced Bear School Armor on him started to ripple in the air, as if submerged in water, leaving behind refractive waves.

A silk-satin tight dress replaced the position of the armor.

"Who's casting the spell?"

Lann stretched his arms and legs, asking Philixia without any astonishment. Because the weight of the armor still hung on him, indicating that the person casting the spell merely placed an illusion over the armor.

Philixia took her fingers off her temples: "It's the principal's illusion technique. She completed the targeting spell through the items on you and is now waiting for you in the bank's hall."

"Is Tishaya here too?"

"No," Tishaya, the master, is still at the academy, but she'll be monitoring the signing event throughout."

After receiving the answer, Lann raised an eyebrow, gaining some understanding.

Tishaya is never hesitant about traveling with Margaret, as it emphasizes to the outside world that Airetusa now has two top-notch female warlocks.

However, during formal exchanges with the outside world, she exercises restraint.

She understands her student well; Margaret is not someone interested in power. But she cannot let the outside world mistakenly believe that the former and current principals of Airetusa are vying for influence.

Only Margaret alone can attend major occasions.

In other words, this implies Tishaya perceives this signing event as a significant occasion.

With significant implications, and she has to participate... Comprehensive of everything, Lann concludes that the bank signing event can only be about one project.

— The commercialization of Valerian steel.

"Is the commercialization process of Valerian steel this fast?"

Having understood, Lann obediently allowed Philixia to pull him into the crowd, squeezing towards the bank hall.

Besides being a female sorcerer student with a clean background, Philixia also dabbles in Tishaya's crystal cultivation project. Her insights are more informed than many in the academy.

"Fast? It's far from fast," Philixia pushed forward, saying with effort.

Seeing this, Lann took a step forward, and the crowded wave of people in front parted like a gentle stream.

The assembled crowd, unable to see who approached, only felt a wild force being imposed on them, resulting in a continuous chorus of complaints and exclamations.

No longer needing to exert herself, Philixia spoke fluently.

"The principal has blown up twelve Thousand-Mile Telescope crystals just to release the news about Valerian steel, and that's four entire sets!"

"In this short time, the news of this new steel has traveled north to the Giant Dragon Mountains behind Kovir and south to the heart of Vikvaro in Niflgaard."

"The military procurement departments of every nation have sent inquiry letters to Airetusa. If the quality of this steel is proven true, it will undoubtedly be included in their procurement lists. Merchants who believe in this news have gathered here from around the world, while those who don't believe will only be able to lick crumbs with their tongues once the meat is devoured after this."

"I read a few merchants' minds just now; this novel product unseen in the market can earn them thrice the transportation cost alone! And if they secure a regional exclusive contract... tsk tsk tsk."

The apprentice witch from a small merchant family clicked her tongue continuously, seemingly envisioning a river flowing with boiling gold right before her eyes.

This explained the enthusiasm outside Giancardi Bank that even the cold sea breeze couldn't suppress.

As they neared the bank's entrance, Lann heard what sounded like advertising proclamations amidst the chaotic noise.

The student seemingly hired three or four announcers from Gos Velen City to continuously introduce this unprecedented steel to the crowd throughout the signing event.

"This was found in Airetusa's Grand Library, guided by an uncontrolled wishing spell—a long-lost alchemical formula reportedly dating back to the dawn of humanity's arrival... "

"Not a natural mineral! Man-made synthesis! Unlimited production! Unlimited potential! ..."

"Stronger than steel! Deep as night, light as a breeze! ..."

The phrases Airetusa provided were enticing, likely polished by a poet, even with some rhyme.

Nowadays, if prophecies aren't even rhymed, nobody believes them.

Truth be told, if the formula wasn't something Lann personally brought back from another world, he might have been tempted himself.

Upon squeezing to the core of the crowd, they faced a wall of city guards.

The city hall had specially deployed a large number of guards to maintain order for this signing event.

As Lann approached the inner circle, the soldiers, already overwhelmed, were preparing to stop him.

However, from behind them, Margaret, wearing a thin green dress in the dead of winter, walked over with a smile.

She slipped her arm around Lann's and naturally guided him inside.

At the entrance to the bank hall, a wooden stage had been temporarily set up. Velvet-red drapery, flower wreaths, and other decorations adorned the stage, making it solemn yet lively.

Maintaining her smile, Margaret and Lann walked together towards the signing table on the stage.

Her palm brushed Lann's arm ambiguously.

"I missed you, Lann."

"...This is a serious signing event, Rita."

"Well, during this serious signing event, I missed you, Lann."