Bear School Astartes-Chapter 846 - 829: Rules and Goals

Centered around Pericles’ residence, his advisory group was continuously active, building momentum for Alcibiades to enter the political arena, and rushing around to contain the plague.

But all this had little to do with Lann and Cassandra.

The two of them were actually neutral parties within the larger context of the Peloponnesian War era.

They both had their own connections on the sides of both Athens and Sparta, and occasionally offered help, but it was limited to that.

Only Phoebe, recently, seemed to have become busier because of these matters.

"I have to help Aspasia!"

The healthy brown-skinned girl, holding a wooden bowl, used barley bread to scoop up all the pickled olives and oil inside before stuffing her mouth with large bites.

Lann watched with great interest as the busy little girl finally had time to take a bite of food after running around for a while. Cassandra sat on the other side, crossing her firm, well-shaped legs.

"You’ve become an indispensable ’big shot’, Phoebe?"

"Ugh... not really."

The barley bread was so dry that Phoebe had a hard time swallowing it.

"I’m just following what you taught me. I’m the head of a group of orphans now! I have to think about earning food for all these mouths! When kids open up to eat, they have big appetites."

"Only by working for Aspasia can we earn so much."

"But it’s also very dangerous, Phoebe."

Cassandra rested her elbow on her crossed leg, supporting her chin with the back of her hand, and spoke seriously.

"You yourself are still just a child. The situation outside is very chaotic right now, and the plague is rampant..."

"Don’t worry, Cassandra," Phoebe said casually.

"The plague can’t catch up with me! I can run on the roof like the wind! And I remember what you said, this disease spreads through tiny creatures. I have very little physical contact with others, even small animals."

"...Okay, adventurous spirit."

Cassandra pinched her forehead and gave a wry smile, as this adventurous spirit was obviously something Phoebe learned from her.

"We gather intelligence for Aspasia; we’ve heard about all the corners of Athens. After all, who would care about a street urchin too hungry to move on a street corner during a secret conversation?"

Phoebe eagerly shared her small team’s activities, proudly and enthusiastically.

After all, this was a small team she, a little girl, had put together.

"Sometimes we even sneak into other people’s homes to steal things like papyrus and clay tablets. Aspasia said they are very useful... though sometimes we get caught and beaten."

Phoebe’s expression fell a bit as she said this.

"Just last month, a boy was badly beaten and died."

"Is that why you’re eager to learn combat skills?" Lann nodded knowingly.

"Yes!" Phoebe said firmly, "Teach me how to use a sword, Lann!"

"I can teach you how to fight, but let’s leave the swords aside."

Lann looked Phoebe up and down.

The weapons of this era were often just tied to the sword guard with a single leather strap at the waist, leaving the blade and tip exposed.

For warriors fighting solidly on flat ground, this method of carrying a weapon was no problem.

But for Phoebe, who frequently climbed and bent, it was... not suitable.

Especially to ensure agile movement, she likely wouldn’t wear good armor.

When climbing a wall, the bent knees could directly clamp a short sword behind them...

"I should just teach you some punches and kicks."

Lann shrugged and said.

Phoebe pouted, "But fists can’t hit armored enemies!"

"Then add this."

Cassandra took something off her left wrist and tossed it to Phoebe.

The little girl fumbled to catch it; it was a wrist guard-like item. The little girl moved the mechanism inside a bit, and a sharp blade sprang out with a ’swish’ sound.

The force of the mechanism alone seemed enough to pierce into a body.

"What is this...?"

"A Sleeve Sword," Cassandra gestured. "Take it for self-defense. It’s a very concealed tool."

"What about you?"

"Lann has already taken it apart. He knows the blueprint of this thing, so I’ll just make another one later."

"Woohoo!" Phoebe was thrilled playing with the small item. "Thank you, Cassandra!"

"Just remember, the blade should be on the back of your hand. Otherwise, when the blade springs out, it might cut your fingers off."

The Hawk Trainer offered ’user instructions’ for the girl’s new equipment.

"Of course, of course," Phoebe brushed it off absentmindedly. "Isn’t it something you can tell at a glance? I’m not a child anymore, no need to nag."

"Wow... click!"

The mechanism of the Sleeve Sword was initially simple, so Phoebe quickly put it on her hand, sliding the blade in and out.

"This weapon really complements punches and kicks!"

"Yes, it complements punches and kicks, powerful enough to... kill."

Lann watched joyfully as Phoebe played, but then said in a deep tone.

The deliberate emphasis on the last word made the intelligent young girl realize a different meaning, so Phoebe slowly withdrew her hand and the smile on her face faded as she looked at the Demon Hunter.

"If surviving is impossible, then stealing and gathering information... these actions can be understood, Phoebe. In the pursuit of survival, they are beyond reproach. But..."

Lann looked seriously at the little girl.

"I have taught you skills so you and those street children no longer need to steal to survive, instead, you learned to fight, learned the technology of taking life."

"With these skills, your ’reasons for living’ are unjustified, Phoebe."

"Now, you might even change from burglary to home invasions, robbery, murder."

"You know where I stand on these matters, and you know, by teaching you these skills, I also consider myself responsible for your actions."

"... You know what this means, right?"

Looking into Lann’s eyes, Phoebe bit her lip and nodded.

It meant: if they really committed the acts the Demon Hunter spoke of, the Demon Hunter would ’discipline’ them.

Imagining such a scenario, Phoebe shivered in the scorching 40-degree environment.

"Set rules and goals for those kids, Phoebe."

Finally, Lann advised this shrewd, kindhearted, and adventurous little girl.

"Establish an unbreakable rule for them, let their goals be higher than ’barely surviving’, ’unscrupulous survival’."

"You brought them together because you saw street orphans being bullied and acted out of kindness and empathy. Don’t let yourselves become bullies."

In the end, Phoebe left, seemingly deep in thought.

It seemed she should be able to make her organization of street children more organized in the future.