Chapter 209: To the Dusk Shadow Association
6 PM, the Sunken Ship Bay Tavern.
Bright candlelight cascaded from iron chandeliers. Large chunks of pinewood burned in the fireplace, filling the air with the scent of ale and roasted meat.
Waves of raucous laughter, clinking tankards, and the tune of a lute filled the room, making the atmosphere even more boisterous than the Adventurer’s Tavern.
As the second most popular tavern in Heitai Town, the Sunken Ship Bay’s main draw wasn’t value for money, but “atmosphere.”
Not only was there music, but the bartenders’ attire was also more revealing.
It felt like all that was missing was a dance floor and a few shapely strippers.
And this wonderful atmosphere made Lu Wei instantly put all his confusion about the Feather of Balance to the back of his mind.
‘Worry my ass!’
‘Scored a free 25 gold coins, this calls for a big celebration!’
“Marcus!”
Pushing open the main doors, he immediately spotted four familiar figures.
Marcus, Urzha, Geluo, and Andrew.
They were sitting at the largest rectangular table in a corner of the hall, and none of them looked to have changed much.
“Hey! Lu Wei! Miss Bai Ya!”
Seeing him arrive, Marcus broke into an excited grin. Before Lu Wei and Bai Ya could even get close, he was already turning to the bar and shouting impatiently:
“A keg of ale! Six large tankards!”
“And three pounds of roast meat, sliced thick! A pound of sausage! Half a pound of fried potatoes!
“Oh, right, and meat pies, with crumbled salted cheese on top!”
“And to top it all off, some pickles and pickled onions!”
After rattling off the long order, it was clear Marcus was a seasoned foodie who knew exactly what to pair with drinks for a good time.
He then turned back to Lu Wei and asked with a hearty laugh,
“Lu Wei, my friend, anything else you two want?”
“No, that’s plenty.”
Lu Wei plopped into a seat, grinning widely. “Just so we’re clear, I’m paying tonight. Don’t even try to argue.”
“Nope. I already said it’s on me! I’m buying the drinks!”
Marcus waved a hand dismissively, booming, “I’ve already left a Gold Coin on deposit at the bar, so don’t even try to argue!”
“Besides, we still haven’t properly thanked you for helping Geluo get that hammer!”
Huh?
‘He already paid?’
Lu Wei was instantly overjoyed, but he put on a troubled expression.
“Marcus, you really shouldn’t have…”
“Enough of that! What’s the need for formalities between us!”
“Sigh… all right, then. I’ll get it next time.”
After just one round of protests, Lu Wei seized the opportunity to back down. The classic “I’ll get it next time” saved him another Gold Coin.
Even though he really had intended to treat them.
Meanwhile, Urzha, who was sitting across from them, glanced toward the entrance and asked curiously,
“Where are Furen and Mirana?”
“Oh, Furen’s at the Dome Pillar.”
Lu Wei hesitated for a moment. Not wanting to gossip about Mirana behind her back, he just said vaguely, “Mirana had something to do, too.”
“Damn it!”
Urzha sounded deeply disappointed. “That’s a real shame! I was planning to have a good time with Furen today!”
“It is a shame,”
Lu Wei agreed with a nod. “But there’ll be other chances.”
Urzha looked him up and down. “Are you free tonight?”
“I…”
Lu Wei’s expression grew awkward, and he subconsciously glanced at the piercing in Urzha’s ear.
Then he silently turned his head toward Geluo and Andrew.
“Geluo, Andrew, how have you two been lately?”
“Great, of course!”
The Half-Beastman was always a chatterbox. Before either of them could speak, Urzha piped up,
“Especially Andrew! He’s heading to Kalin Port in a few days!”
“Oh? What for?”
“Heh heh, let him tell you himself.”
Urzha shot Andrew a sideways glance.
Andrew just scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
“Um, I want to try and pass the Ranger’s Professional Assessment…”
“Really?”
Lu Wei was a little surprised; he remembered Andrew being only sixteen or seventeen.
“Yeah. I had my Attributes tested, and I’ve met the minimum standard for advancement, so I want to give it a try.”
Andrew’s face was flushed. He looked a little smug, but was more embarrassed than anything.
After all, in his eyes, Bai Ya was already an esteemed Mage.
And while Lu Wei might not be a Professional yet, his Power was undeniably formidable.
So, with the deference one would show a senior, he said quietly,
“Of course, I’m not sure if I can actually pass the assessment.”
“So, if it’s all right, I’d like to ask Miss Bai Ya for some pointers.”
“Huh? Me?”
Bai Ya froze, caught off guard.
Fortunately, just then, Marcus and a barman returned, carrying a large keg of beer.
THUMP!
Hefting the large oak barrel—which was taller than Geluo—onto the table, Marcus bellowed,
“Enough talk! Time to drink!”
“We’re finishing this keg tonight! No one leaves until it’s empty!”
“Right, right! We can drink and talk!”
Shooting Bai Ya a look, Lu Wei quickly chimed in, managing to bail her out of the awkward situation.
Meanwhile, Marcus had already opened the keg’s spigot and filled six large tankards, each with a thick, foamy head.
The ale glowed a honey-gold in the firelight as fine bubbles streamed up from the bottom of the tankards. Its rich, malty aroma, blended with a faint, sweet scent of caramel, made it clear this was the finest “craft brew.”
The portions were generous, too—each tankard looked to hold at least a liter.
“Let’s down this first one!”
Marcus was the first to raise his heavy tankard, his voice booming. “To friendship!”
Lu Wei followed, raising his tankard as he stood. “To fortune!”
Geluo was next. “To the ancestors!”
Andrew, though a bit shy, spoke clearly. “To the gods!”
Last was Urzha. “Beastman charge!”
Hearing such an out-of-place toast, everyone immediately turned to stare at Urzha.