The Kingmaker System
Chapter 173 - 172. Learning New Things (2)

Chapter 173: 172. Learning New Things (2)

The night air was quite chilly but I guess it didn’t affect me or my companion too much, we walked down the street passing by those who were returning to their homes.

"It’s midnight," Roan reminded me and I hummed.

We were currently heading over to a place where I’d get clues about the real culprit. It wasn’t a good thing to make conclusions based on conjectures but, I had learned to trust my instincts more than my brain.

I was a strategist but it wasn’t hard for me to change style and try something impulsive if my gut gave me a sign of danger.

After all, the sixth sense was superior than our occasional misleading thoughts.

We crossed the street and entered the alleyway, the dark and winding paths went on and on like spiderweb before I stopped in front of a tavern that was nestled between the cheap prices inns.

"You remember what I told you, right?" I asked.

"Yes, I won’t make any unnecessary movements, nor will I react to anything unless it’s a danger for you." He repeated the brief words of warning that I had given to him before leaving Ryujin mansion.

"Good, let’s go inside."

The tavern despite the sparse populace outside was a contrasting picture. It was thriving with people playing music, chattering, laughing and drinking. The barmaids tittered around in revealing uniforms attending to the wild crowd while taking their share of tips from the drunk customers.

"It’s quite lively." Roan mumbled.

I knew it would be hard to approach the person whom I was here for directly, there were two ways, one, I would say the codeword and get an entry or second, which I didn’t want to do.

"Next bet!"

"Ripley versus our champion Liben!"

The crowd had gathered around one particular table where there was a game being played. It was basically a game of strength, arm wrestling between the brutes who usually frequented this place.

There were a lot of travelling mercenaries and assassins who would exchange information or collect important intel in such a place. It was a sort of information guild as well but also a small branch of an illegal guild master.

I ignored the crowd, but felt eyes on me as I moved towards the counter and the large man with cheery expression and huge grin looked at me.

"Welcome folks, what can I get for you?" He asked in his loud, throaty voice.

"Beer," I answered.

"All right, coming right up!"

I watched as he poured me the drink in a large mug and then placed it in front of me.

[Defender of Divine Glory condemns underage drinking.]

I wasn’t going to drink it, I just wanted to start a conversation.

"Are you new to this town?" The bartender asked.

"Yes," I answered, "you can say that."

"Then, are you here for some business?"

"Yes,"

"Are you a merchant? Or mercenary?" He asked.

"You can say I’m a merchant." I said and he laughed.

"You sound mysterious, besides, you can’t drink that with your mask on." He pointed out and I smiled.

Currently, the lower half of my face was covered up with a black cloth while my entire body was draped in black outfit.

"I’ll drink it in some time," I said and decided to approach the subject, "I heard that you serve meals for your customers too."

"Yes, we do serve some light meals. What would you like to eat?" He said and pushed the sheets of paper to me.

It was the menu with a list of some simple dishes that could warm a person or simply be used as a quick bite. But, what I wanted wasn’t on the list.

"Hm... Strange, what I want isn’t on the list." I spoke meeting the eyes of the cheery bartender.

"Really? Then, I guess we can’t serve it."

I smiled, "You can,"

"Huh?"

"I said you can, it’s your special dish." I prompted pulling out a small pouch.

I let him have a glance at the gold coins that were inside making his expression to freeze for a moment before he laughed again.

"Special dish, huh? Well, it’ll take time to be made till that time why don’t you wait?" He said pocketing the pouch with a swift motion.

"Sure, I’ll wait here." I replied and he quickly made his way towards the door that was behind the counter.

I exchanged a brief glance with Roan who was sitting at a distance and picked up my beer and walked towards him.

"Here, for you." I said placing the mug down on the table in front of him.

He pulled the mask over his face down before he took a sip of the drink.

"Do you think it’ll work?" He asked.

"It should, money and beauty usually works for me."

"Was there really any need to use beauty in it?" He asked and I smirked.

"I should acknowledge my assets, shouldn’t I? And you, my boy should learn new things everyday about me and also about yourself and the world."

"You’re narcissistic." He whispered making me smile.

"I call it self love."

"It’s called self-obsession."

"Just drink, jealous boy."

"Who the hell are you calling jealous?!" He hissed.

Despite our little banter he wasn’t raising his voice which was quite good, he knew when to keep control.

"My, my!" I turned my head and saw a barmaid with curly blonde hair looking down at me with her oversized chest nearly resting over my shoulder while her cleavage was shoved onto my face.

"Why aren’t you drinking something, young man? Are you new? Do you want a recommendation?" She asked batting her eyelashes.

"Not quite," I answered turning my head.

"Oh, my! Are you shy, young man? Maybe it’s your first time here but, you can get various kinds of drinks here, you know? You just have to give the right price." She said throwing a wink and Roan coughed choking on his drink.

The barmaid chuckled and Roan nearly yelped as another barmaid with short, puffy red hair wrapped her arms around his shoulders and asked, "Are you jealous?"

"Since you two seem new, we will give you special first timer discount." I felt the blonde woman’s hand slowly go down my shoulder.

The two women seemed like sirens who were trying to lure their prey and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

"I’m sorry, but I’m here only for a little work." I said as I clasped her wrist and gently got myself out of her grasp.

"Work? What kind? Information? Assassination?" She asked.

"Secret meeting?" The redhead piped in.

"It’s none of your business," Roan said as he unwrapped the second woman from his shoulders.

I could see that he was trying his best to keep clam despite his cheeks being completely flushed.

"Oh, my! Why are you so secretive? There’s no secret in this place that we don’t know." The blonde winked and I looked at her.

Her blue eyes held mischief and a condescending look which made me shake my head.

"Even so, stay out of the things that you cannot control." I said making her pout.

"Aw, come on!" She wrapped her arms around me again making me sigh.

"Oi, brats. Get off!" I suddenly felt the kick at the back of the chair where I was sitting.

It made me jump a little in surprise while the woman yelped loudly near my ear making me feel as if someone had scratched their nails on the board.

I turned my head to see a large man with barrel sized chest and thick meaty arms state down at me with a condescending glare.

"Iber! That’s rude!" The redhead scolded.

"Shut it, Kina. You know these kind of puny brats won’t satisfy you or Leila so, come play with us instead." The man named Iber said.

"That’s right, now that our boss is here, were going to sweep all the money again." One of the two lanky men behind him said.

Kina scoffed while the blonde, Leila shook her head.

"Fine then, if you win all the bets today then, I and Kina both will be your prize." Leila announced.

Iber laughed loudly, "Really?! Then I’ll defeat every single man here, you two be ready to have a fun night!"

I rolled my eyes and looked at the counter hoping to see the bartender but he still wasn’t back yet.

Iber and the ladies left our table and I sighed a breath of relief as my personal space was empty again.

"Hear ye! Hear ye! All the folks here!" The announcer shouted as he stood stop a table.

"Our reigning champion Iber here has suggested an interesting competition," he gestured towards the huge man who grinned triumphantly.

"In tonight’s arm wrestling match whichever man is the ultimate winner will be granted a night in the arms of our beloved beauties Kina and Leila."

The two maids sent flying kisses and winks at the gathered crowd making them shout even more loudly.

"Bo-Both of them together!"

"Heaven!"

"I’ll be in heaven if I win!"

"For that you’ll have to die first, idiot." I muttered as I heard the foolish people shouting, blinded by lust.

After hearing the prize for the victory everyone started participating and betting with more enthusiasm and one by one, I saw the men losing against Iber.

"He will take them both to bed tonight." Roan spoke up and I looked at him.

I didn’t pass any comment as I turned my eyes away while feeling Roan’s gaze boring holes into the side of my skull.

I gave him a side glance and saw his eyes darting between the line which was growing shorter and shorter as the people who were being lost were drinking to ease their sorrow.

I heard Iber laughing proudly as he defeating his opponents with ease.

"Is there no man in this place?"

Roan’s thoughts were screaming through his eyes and I couldn’t help but sigh deeply. He was a grown man all right, he should have his share of fun.

"Go and try your hand if you’re so desperate, Roan." I spoke up.

"Eh? Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes,"

"Thank you, Master!" He grinned before he shot up from his chair and made a beeline towards the place where the competition was going on.

I once again looked at the bar counter but the bartender was still missing.

"How much time does it take for him to get it done?" I muttered.

"Argh!" I heard Roan’s grumble before I turned my head to see him in an intense moment.

Both his and Iber’s biceps were bulging and it seemed as if the match would end up in a tie but in another swift movement Iber slammed Roan’s hand down claiming the match.

I sighed and shook my head watching Roan lose.

"I’m the winner!" Iber announced in an ear shattering voice.

"Now, time for my prize!" Iber smirked looking at Kina and Leila.

"No, you didn’t!" Leila said crossing her arms at her chest.

"What?"

"Yes, there’s still one man here whom you haven’t defeated."

"Huh? But I’ve defeated everyone!"

Kina and Leila wagged their forefingers with coy smiles before I saw their heads turn and along with them every single person’s eyes turned and found home on the sole person who was detached from that whole commotion.