Night fell, and the Wind Moon Tavern was still a bustling scene of noisy excitement.
The malty aroma of ale mixed with the greasy smell of grilled meat, spreading wantonly through the warm and rowdy tavern hall.
Drunks loudly boasted about their daytime adventures, and the clinking of glasses never ceased.
At a relatively secluded round wooden table in a corner of the tavern sat two people who were completely out of place with the surrounding festive atmosphere.
Graves wore a plain gray-brown linen cloak, covering his originally conspicuous black suit and silver mask entirely, leaving only a cold, hard jawline exposed.
Across from him, Sid was a completely different sight.
She had changed back into her slightly worn deep blue diviner’s robe, her hood covering most of her face, revealing only a few mischievous chestnut strands of hair.
She held a large mug of foaming ale in her hand, sat with her legs crossed in an extremely unladylike manner, one foot resting on the edge of the bench, drinking until her cheeks were flushed, occasionally letting out several vulgar laughs that lacked any feminine grace.
“Bitch, you still have the nerve to sit in front of me and drink?”
Graves gritted his teeth and lowered his voice, the veins on the back of his hand gripping the huge wooden mug bulging.
If it weren’t for that silver-haired woman who could restrict him with a contract, he would definitely smash that smiling, beautiful, yet extremely punchable face with the butt of his gun right now.
Sid not only showed no guilt but leisurely picked up a salted peanut from the plate and tossed it into her mouth. She let out a loud burp and poked Graves’ almost untouched mug with her greasy finger.
“Oh, Senior, during leisure time, you should enjoy yourself.”
She smiled and raised her glass to clink against Graves’ cold cloak edge.
“Who are you putting on that deadpan face for? Those three annoying guys have turned to ashes; no one’s going to bother us. Since we’re here, have a few more drinks…”
“I have no interest in drinking with a waste who can kneel and surrender at any moment.”
Graves slapped her hand away, his voice as cold as a Siberian wind.
“And I’ve told you countless times, don’t call me Senior. It makes me sick.”
“Oh, Senior, don’t be so bitter and resentful.”
Sid propped her cheek with one hand, her squinting eyes flashing with cunning light, smiling like a fox that had successfully stolen a chicken.
“Let bygones be bygones.”
“What betrayal? That was just serving different masters, unavoidable. Now we’re in the same boat, we should love and support each other. Come on, bottoms up.”
“Who the hell is going to ‘love and support’ you in a place like this?!”
Graves was so angry he nearly flipped the table.
He took a fierce gulp of ale, forcing down his pent-up frustration and murderous intent.
“I’ve struggled in the Night Owl for over ten years, finally clawed my way to the position of a Third-Range Gunman, and then because of you bitch meddling, not only am I now a hunted traitor by the organization, but I also have to rush to the Royal Capital to be that woman’s free eyes and hands!”
Just last night, Ailiya had simultaneously issued the latest, indisputable orders to both of them through the mental link.
The order was extremely simple—leave immediately, head to the Royal Capital, lie low and await orders.
“Tsk, this is a rare good opportunity.”
Sid dropped her playful demeanor, her eyes instantly becoming shrewd and realistic.
“Compared to staying in the organization, constantly on guard against being stabbed in the back by your own people, serving that lady, though nerve-wracking, at least you won’t be casually used as cannon fodder.”
She tried to recall Ailiya’s eternally icy face, then added uncertainly:
“I mean… maybe not.”
“You received the order too, to leave for the Royal Capital immediately.”
Graves lowered his voice, a hint of schadenfreude in his eyes behind the mask.
“Pack up your fraudulent gear. Don’t hold me back. If you get in the way of my shots during a fight because you’re cowering, I definitely won’t avoid your head.”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry, Senior, go ahead and shoot.”
Sid took a casual gulp of ale, about to tease him further.
“If you can hit me, that is.”
Thump!
A heavy, massive wooden mug suddenly slammed down without warning onto the empty seat at their table.
The force splashed most of the drink onto the wooden table.
“Sid! You sly girl, finally showing your face back!”
Accompanied by an extremely hearty, rough, ear-splitting laugh, the Storm Swordsman Balke, reeking of alcohol, swaggered over and pulled out two empty chairs, plopping down like a small mountain.
He had just finished a round with his teammates, and from the corner of his eye, he spotted his diviner teammate in the corner. He immediately swayed over with his mug.
“Big Boss!”
Sid switched states in an instant.
The cunning and slyness of a Night Owl spy disappeared without a trace, replaced by an obedient, lively, even somewhat naive diviner demeanor.
She smiled and greeted him proactively, her voice even a few octaves sweeter:
“I heard you took that noble young master out for training? Made a lot of gold coins, right?”
“Don’t even mention it. That blond kid almost drove us crazy.”
Balke waved his hand with lingering fear, grabbing a piece of grilled meat from the table and stuffing it into his mouth, mumbling indistinctly:
“But Lady Elsa did pay pretty generously.”
“You’ve been mysterious these past few days, disappearing without a word. If that private job is too dangerous, don’t take it. Our squad isn’t short of that money.”
“Just a boring little commission to find a lost pet for a merchant outside the city. I just finished and came to meet up with you guys.”
Sid lied effortlessly without batting an eye, her tone so sincere even she believed it.
Balke nodded carelessly, not probing further.
He had unconditional trust in his teammates.
He raised his mug to drink, but his sharp eyes, which could see in the dark, naturally fell on the silent figure sitting across from Sid, who had been keeping his head down.
Graves deliberately suppressed his aura and used his linen cloak to cover most of his face and mask.
Balke squinted slightly, his rough hand unconsciously moving to the sword hilt at his waist.
“This brother…”
Balke burped, frowning, his eyes filled with scrutiny and caution.
“Have we fought somewhere? Your build and that cold aura… look very familiar.”
Graves’ hand holding the mug stiffened slightly, his eyes behind the mask turning extremely sharp.
He casually leaned back, putting some distance between himself and Balke, replying in a hoarse, indifferent tone:
“You’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m just a wandering traveler who works for money.”
“Impossible! I remember people I’ve fought with very clearly!”
Balke slammed the table, about to press further.
Just as the atmosphere was about to become tense, Sid’s eyes darted.
“Oh! Big Boss, you’ve had too much to drink!”
Sid was quick-witted, immediately grabbing Balke’s hand that had already touched the sword hilt.
She affectionately filled Balke’s mug with ale and shoved it into his hand, while using her small body to cleverly block his probing gaze.
Then, she wrapped her arm around Balke’s thick arm, pointing at Graves as she started spinning a wild story.
“Familiar or not, you’ve killed so many monsters and bandits outside, you think everyone looks like an enemy. Don’t scare my Senior!”
“Senior?”
Balke was taken aback, his wariness slightly easing.
“A Senior from your diviner lineage?”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Sid nodded frantically, putting on a serious face and starting to fabricate.
“He’s a Divination Master I met while traveling in the south years ago. His divination accuracy is terrifyingly high! He happened to pass through Fengyue City on business, so I specially invited him for a drink and to catch up.”
“He’s just a bit reclusive and doesn’t like to talk. Don’t mind him, Big Boss.”
As she spoke, Sid kicked Graves hard in the shin under the table.
Feeling the slight pain in his shin, Graves’ mouth twitched.
Divination Master?
I’m a Third-Order Shadow Assassin who blows heads off with a magic gun, and you want me to pretend to be some damn fortune-teller?!
But seeing Balke’s still suspicious eyes, Graves had no choice but to swallow his anger.
He stiffly raised his head, coughed dryly, and tried to make his voice sound hoarse and full of mysterious pretentiousness.
“Ahem… Hello. The stars… guided this mortal encounter.”
This improvised line was so cringey that Graves wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
But—
Balke actually believed it.
“Oh—so you’re a Senior Diviner!”
He slapped his forehead in sudden realization, then burst into laughter ten times more enthusiastic than before.
“No wonder I felt this brother had such a deep aura. A true master! My apologies! I knew Sid’s friends couldn’t be ordinary people!”
In Balke’s mind, diviners were all eccentric, eerie characters.
Sid was already quirky enough, so her Senior being gloomy and aloof was perfectly reasonable. No problem!
“Since you’re Sid’s Senior, you’re a friend of the Wind and Moon Squad!”
Balke raised his huge wooden mug with great gusto and clinked it hard against Graves’ untouched glass.
“Come on! Meeting is fate! Bottoms up!”
Graves glanced at Sid, who was desperately holding back laughter with her shoulders shaking wildly, took a deep breath, raised his mug, and downed it in one go.
“Speaking of, Sid.”
Balke finished his drink and casually asked:
“Want to take on a few commissions with the squad? Don’t let our small size fool you—we’re the strongest team in Fengyue City!”
“No, no, Big Boss.”
Sid quickly waved her hand in refusal, seizing the opportunity to naturally bring up the topic.
“Actually, I’m leaving Fengyue City early tomorrow morning. My Senior came specifically to take me to the Royal Capital for further studies. There’s an extremely important seminar at the Diviners’ Association there, and we’ll miss it if we go late.”
“To the Royal Capital?”
Balke’s smile froze instantly, his voice rising an octave.
“Huh? Didn’t we agree that you’d stay in Fengyue City for a while after this trip? Why are you leaving all of a sudden? What’s so good about the Royal Capital? It’s full of nobles who eat people alive!”
“Oh, it’s a rare opportunity.”
Sid softened her voice, blinking at him.
“No, no, the Royal Capital is too dangerous. You’re a girl…”
Balke was about to ramble on.
Suddenly, Sid reached out and firmly grasped Balke’s calloused hand, her eyes sincere enough to drip water.
“Big Boss, come with me. You’re so skilled with your sword; with you around, I won’t be afraid.”
“I… I still have to lead the squad…”
Balke’s face immediately flushed, and he started stammering.
“Just for a short while. Misi and the others can handle things themselves.”
Sid pressed on, leaning forward slightly and giving Balke a tight hug.
“Please, Big Boss. Without you, I really don’t dare to go to the Royal Capital.”
Feeling the warm, soft touch in his arms, Balke’s brain completely short-circuited.
He awkwardly patted Sid’s back and finally sighed like a deflated balloon.
“Alright… fine. I’ll go with you to the Royal Capital. I’ll stay with you for a while.”
Watching this extremely eye-stinging scene, graves, peering through the gap between their bodies, looked at the swordsman who was usually as rough as a bear but now completely tamed by a little woman, and let out a very disdainful snort.
Hmph. Men.
Falling for such a low-level honey trap. How foolish.
The next morning.
Balke carried a huge backpack stuffed with all sorts of adventure gear.
After bidding farewell to the tavern landlady Sise, who looked helpless, and under the watchful eyes of his teammates, he stepped out of the Wind Moon Tavern’s door.
Sise leaned against the doorframe, elegantly blowing out a smoke ring, her tone casual but with a hint of worry hidden in her eyes.
“Take care, you brainless brute.”
“I’m not going to meddle in your personal affairs anymore. Remember to get back quickly after you’re done. The tavern roof still needs fixing.”
“Don’t worry, landlady! I’ll be back soon!”
Balke waved his hand.
But just as he stepped out of the tavern, Misi, Sailin, and Brenda had already lined up in front of him, looking extremely serious.
“Big Boss! Didn’t we agree to form an adventure team for life?”
“How could you be so easily lured away by Miss Sid?!”
Brenda spoke first, her tone full of grievance.
“Exactly. This guy is seduced by beauty and forgets loyalty.”
Misi bit a blade of grass, arms crossed, his eyes contemptuous.
“Hey, hey, don’t say that.”
Sailin shook a mug of ale in his hand, teasing.
“After all, Big Boss still has his own life’s big events to pursue. As his brothers, we can’t stop him from chasing happiness, right?”
Balke looked at these three dramatic teammates, veins bulging on his forehead.
He took a deep breath, then suddenly rushed forward and locked all three heads tightly under his thick arms.
“You bastards, pretending to be all profound here?! I’m just leaving for a while, not going to die! What’s with this farewell scene?!”
“Ow, ow, ow! Big Boss, we’re sorry!”
The three screamed in unison.
After a brief scuffle, Balke released them.
He patted Brenda’s sturdy back and nodded at Misi and Sailin.
“Alright, all of you get back to taking commissions. When I come back, if I see you’ve starved, I’ll tie you up and beat you.”
With a simple goodbye, under the barrage of whistles and teasing from his teammates, Balke stepped onto the carriage that Sid had arranged, his face slightly red, waiting at the tavern entrance.
At the same time, the Kastian family’s carriage rolled smoothly through the streets.
Inside the carriage, Lady Elsa was resting with her eyes closed, while Leo excitedly pressed his face against the window, watching the receding street scenes.
As the carriage passed the Wind Moon Tavern, Leo’s sharp eyes caught sight of the Balke squad messing around at the door.
He instinctively wanted to lean out and greet them but caught a glimpse of a mysterious masked man and the hooded diviner beside Balke.
“Huh? Isn’t that Uncle Balke’s team? The one in the hood—isn’t that their elusive diviner, Sid?”
“What are they all doing together?”
Leo scratched his head.
“And that masked Mr. G…”
Across from him, Ailiya’s ice-blue eyes, through the gap in the curtains, calmly swept over the familiar figures at the tavern entrance.
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