Chapter 152: Tavern farce? Douguo provocation!
Flame Bee Pavilion, a tavern in the southern district of Orario with a crimson bee as its signboard.
The mead here, like a ruby, burns the throat with its potency, perfectly suiting the tastes of adventurers.
As the sun set, Arthur followed Bete through the door.
The dim yellow light immediately enveloped them, casting a hazy veil over every patron in the establishment.
The two walked leisurely to the bar and sat down. The stern-faced dwarf barkeeper served two glasses of mead, then busied himself wiping drinkware.
After downing a glass of strong liquor, the spicy, burning sensation made Arthur let out a long sigh of relief.
"Hmm, this wine is indeed good, it suits your style."
Bete, who had also finished his drink, snorted softly and raised a hand, signaling the barkeeper for a refill.
At this moment, Fou scurried onto the bar, pointed a paw at the sparkling water listed on the menu, and let out an arrogant whimper from his throat.
Arthur tapped the bar with his finger: "Hello, another sparkling water, please."
Once all the drinks were served, he swirled the crimson liquid in his glass and asked directly.
"Tell me, what did you want to talk about, calling me out specifically during our standby period?"
The usually boorish Bete seemed somewhat flustered at this moment. He raised a hand and vigorously rubbed his silver-gray fur, his gaze evasive.
"Tsk, I wanted to ask about Moon Call's…"
Bang!
A loud crash of chairs and tables abruptly interrupted him, and the tavern instantly fell silent.
All the patrons' gazes whipped towards the right.
A Little Person was seen unconscious on the ground, bleeding from his nose. Two tables of adventurers stood up consecutively, glaring at each other, and the air froze to an ice point.
The next moment, obstructive tables and chairs were overturned, and the sound of shattering plates mixed with the screams of the waitstaff.
Arthur, behind the bar, narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping past the white-haired youth dodging and weaving in the center of the commotion, and landing on another group of people.
They wore uniform attire, with conspicuous badges on their shoulders featuring a golden bow and a radiant sun intertwined.
"That emblem is… the flag of the Apollo Familia."
Bete glanced to the right, swirled his drink, and scoffed disdainfully.
"A bunch of troublemaking nobodies, it's common in taverns."
Indeed, as he said, the surrounding patrons, far from being afraid when they saw a fight break out.
Instead, they each grabbed a bottle and hammered it on the table, drunkenly cheering, effectively forming a ring in the center of the tavern.
"Troublemaking? Given the Apollo Familia's notorious reputation, I'm afraid this is just the beginning."
Before Arthur finished speaking, the situation in the arena changed abruptly.
A tall youth with tied-back brown hair suddenly joined the fray, throwing the previously dominant lanky man away with just one hand!
He didn't stop, his figure flashed, and he appeared before Bell, launching a merciless, violent knee strike!
The inexperienced Newbie hastily defended, but was sent flying backward, overturning several tables before landing on his back, twitching in pain.
"Hiss—Hyacinthus!?
The Apollo Familia's 'Light's Favorite Child'!
That's a Level 3 First-Class Adventurer!
Tsk tsk, the Newbie and his companions have hit a wall."
The boisterous tavern instantly quieted down, leaving only suppressed whispers.
Hyacinthus, the sole victor in the arena, scanned his groaning companions on the ground, then proudly raised his head and smirked contemptuously.
"Hmph, it seems I also slipped a bit."
"The sin of harming my companions is very grave. Now, receive your retribution."
Saying this, he advanced with a cold smile, approaching the incapacitated Bell.
"Hmph!"
An undisguised sneer came from the bar.
Everyone in the tavern looked over, seeing Arthur and Bete still sitting there.
"Noisy nobodies, you've made my drink taste bad. All of you, get out!"
The rude tone, sharp beast eyes, and distinctive silver-gray fur—'The Brutal Wolf' Bete Loga!
The newly promoted Level 6, First-Class Adventurer of the Loki Familia!
The patrons' eyes immediately cleared, their faces turning pale, even their breathing stopped.
Only Hyacinthus elegantly brushed aside his long hair, completely dismissive.
"How uncouth. I thought the Loki Familia was something special, but it turns out they don't even leash their hyenas."
Arthur slowly put down his drink, turning his head to look at the somewhat tipsy Bete.
"Your turn, or mine?"
Before he finished speaking, the werewolf had vanished from his seat!
The next moment, he appeared before Hyacinthus like a ghost, his leg bringing up a cold moonlight, like a blade, sweeping upwards from below!
Hyacinthus, struck squarely, immediately rolled his eyes, and like a kite with a broken string, he flew backward, smashing through the tavern window, and disappearing from everyone's sight.
"Oh, it seems I also slipped a bit."
Bete shook his leg, wobbled, and walked back to the bar.
The patrons blocking his path scrambled out of the way, terrified of becoming the next target of his 'slip'.
Arthur, still seated, raised his glass from afar and nodded in acknowledgment.
"That move was good, constantly changing. Your understanding of Moon Call hasn't gone astray."
Bete grinned, revealing his defiant fangs, and was about to order more bar snacks.
Creak—!
The old wooden door let out an ear-piercing screech as a figure stumbled and crawled in.
"Mr. Arthur! Mr. Bete!" Raul was drenched in sweat, his voice distorted. "Captain's orders… All, everyone, return to base camp immediately!"
…
Twilight Manor, main courtyard.
The Loki Familia, which usually only gathered all its members for expeditions, now had all its male members assembled here, and the atmosphere was tense.
Arthur and Bete, led by Raul, arrived late and took their positions at the front of the line.
Finn, with a serious expression and his hands clasped behind his back, scanned everyone with sharp eyes, finally landing on the two of them, giving a barely perceptible nod.
He wasted no words and announced loudly.
"Time is short, I'll only say this once!"
"The girls from our Familia were bullied outside. Do you, still have any questions?"
This sudden statement first stunned the men present, and then, a towering rage ignited in everyone's eyes.
The air in the courtyard seemed to ignite, stiflingly oppressive.
Gareth, fully armed, stepped forward, his battleaxe propped on the ground, his voice like a muffled thunder.
"The Guild does not allow the entire Familia to leave Orario. Therefore—"
"In ten minutes, gather at the southwest city wall. Those who disobey, get out of the Familia!"
"Yes!"
Amidst the thunderous roars, all the male members turned decisively and rushed towards the dormitories.
Weapons, armor, healing potions… bring everything you can!
This is war!
Arthur, who needed no preparation, watched the agitated backs of his companions, his brow raised.
"Didn't Loki and the others go on vacation to the port town of Meren?"
Finn's expression was calm, but his eyes remained cold.
"Things are not quite as you imagine, Anqi."
He signaled Anqi, who had been waiting nearby, to step forward. Anqi's expression was dark, and she explained with eyes full of resentment.
"It's the Kali Familia from Dou Country. They not only injured Alicia and the others, but they also… they took Lefiya hostage!"
Arthur's gaze darkened: "Dou Country… Kali Familia… Are Tiona and Tione their targets?"
"It seems someone wants to find out what happens when you make an enemy of the entire Loki Familia."