FMRV | Chapter 59

The old wooden door 532e119866 groaned noisily, and as d8ec4465c6 if on cue, all 5c320a7a75 eyes inside the tavern 8d23bbd819 turned to the newcomers.c3ee47b7f241f32c

The dimly lit 80304acaf7 space felt stifling. Coming in from the bright 808620d840 sunlight made it feel as 635724e3a9 though they’d stepped into an e30dfbb0bc underground den. The sharp scent 681aceedb3 of whiskey permeated 08da9d8c19 the air. Luke, who wasn’t particularly aeb38b5d62 fond of alcohol, frowned d381714121 slightly as he took ac8ed4e481 in the surroundings.4b0267bb6a0a601d

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The tavern wasn’t 2437b1438d large—just four wooden 0b3e99a2e6 tables in total. Coincidentally, only one of them 231cfba14c was occupied, and the group 41a79df2dc at it seemed to be 59670f0725 the only patrons. Luke followed Theo’s lead 4fc6bd2255 to the bar table b8ebb5946a near the kitchen and 7cc0755fa9 took a seat.3bc11ecc14c4dc38

Moments later, the owner of d3a0e6ffb6 the establishment emerged, a hulking 42920a011c man larger than Theo. His most notable feature was 1794f01a93 the deep scar running across 39711fc956 his right cheek.6b3629c029c71c7a

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“What’ll it be?” the man asked curtly, glaring down at the pair. Luke could feel the sharpness fd44d4de44 of the man’s gaze, like 823fa6ec36 he was scrutinizing every inch aeac9c30da of them.67f306bf3f81eff6

“That one,” Theo replied, pointing at a dusty bottle on the bottom shelf behind the man. Its peeling label and careless 735ec1a8c7 placement screamed low quality.575707342bf54adc

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“And I’d like to see… the other goods.”8f503f62a4060c2e

Theo’s tone was f5a108116d casual, almost relaxed. Luke, sipping the 796fb17b9e water the owner 8ea9a6e008 had provided, glanced f9018131a0 sideways at Theo b4508a766f with mild fascination. He was surprisingly c0c7a9f070 good at this. Earlier, when Luke had been 5929f8a536 eager to rush in, Theo 4466cf1f68 had stopped him.e5c8613383b764a5

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“Luke, let me explain the plan first. We’re going to act 1ad705c24f like customers.”33b262ff4c1c0ab7

“What?”ea9c4eb71a43df7c

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Luke had expected to 52cb53cac1 storm in and beat 99dd7552d9 the smugglers to a 7bc37fff8e pulp, so Theo’s suggestion 83599332a7 had thrown him off. But Theo had been resolute.1fbd211046562e43

“It’s better to approach them as customers looking to make a deal.”90fa3f997cae4629

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If these smugglers were 2e8e77fa59 bold enough to operate 3294c1a667 in the middle of ea21611f30 the square, they were 1e5074c39d bound to be cautious. Even Kallon had spent 709535c3bc a long time identifying db283edc30 their presence, and even e498c2b4c1 then, they had been 813e3cc196 wary, making it hard dc4f8d1edc to get close. Theo also pointed 2bb2c42e2c out that with 65aaa6fd5f no knowledge of 9672a8a045 the interior layout, dad45f53fd the military had ca513d2db8 been hesitant to b11cf268ad act. The smugglers likely had fd4710512d an escape route planned, 627b54f2b1 making a direct confrontation 1515c9c121 risky. Moreover, the square was connected 2889a2f933 to the central plaza, and 96b0fa45da any sudden commotion could drag 31b39889dc in innocent civilians.b4fe13ca9c1e3b35

So, as reluctant 86bddb37a4 as he was, 4041bcba5a Luke had agreed 3249c1d068 with Theo’s cautious e04ec04096 approach.7a1bd17ec8fcf960

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“We’ll confirm first if these guys are really dealing with monsters like the one we have.”986f436887335a9a

Theo had glanced at 5571c3a072 the fluffy creature tucked 345f5680ef inside his cloak. The little monster seemed d5acb2dca6 oddly content to stay 5f6d970499 there.9a0aa09f2663fc97

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“You’ll play the role of a noble looking to buy a monster, and I’ll be your bodyguard.”75f6f2879acb9d7c

“What? Why am I the noble? Do I look 0843806bf8 weaker than you?”9afe160dc1db7458

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Theo had chuckled, b526d9254b pulling the hood d609e94882 of Luke’s robe 5bbd6daf25 up gently.3f453b781f51b226

“You’ve got a refined face. Nobility suits you. Let’s go.”f6bd86433d4b8a1f

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Refined face? Luke had bristled at the e10f60a7cb backhanded compliment, though the way 3bb31054bd Theo said it almost sounded c57878d8ae genuine. Now, still a bit a765642db5 annoyed, he emptied his cc127ad4f4 glass of water in caaf60cddf one go.83ac7e090f46a232

The bottle Theo had 81b7f5bb9a pointed at was a 3f5162eaa5 signal—a coded message. Regular patrons wouldn’t pick 333c5ee7b1 such a shabby, unlabeled ef954436ae bottle, and certainly wouldn’t 11da5c6eb6 call the wares “goods.” d2b3cba96e By doing so, Theo d43068fac5 made their intentions clear.d34b155dd8130b09

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“What’s the goods for?” the owner asked, his tone cautious.416177f2da543999

“My lord desires it,” Theo replied smoothly.89bd4f51aaa897cd

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Luke, caught off guard by 07e820c102 the sudden reference to him f36c575c96 as “my lord,” nearly dropped 171b723c20 his glass. The loud clatter turned 510d71b13c every head in the 314be6e622 room toward him. He could feel Theo’s 3a24da0ca9 glare from beside him.4ae7f955db1f6a51

But what could he do? Theo’s comment had 46214a677c come out of 55655b2d5a nowhere.b28a0ff75d5e9f2f

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Luke internally chanted f15e06ca64 his mantra: I’m c3f06eb10f a noble, Theo’s c461b47f60 my bodyguard. This is just 8002ed1533 a role for 1ae7dfa70f the mission.f660883309f4c302

“Ah, my apologies. I’ll compensate for the glass,” ab6a6fa389 Luke said smoothly.d2ffa58d8e185470

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He knew well 5d1d55e9a8 enough how nobles 2fbcdbcf05 behaved—after all, he’d c9037241cc seen enough of c90554b067 them during his 56ab75095c time in the 85d6a88f58 military. Acting high and 17be18daf6 mighty, compensating for bbe2f1131a mistakes with money a5e515fba8 rather than apologies—this 0043cbd8dc was exactly the 281ffba7db kind of behavior 960c104cf8 befitting a noble cc9f618a21 brat.c61e4f7fb1ca603a

The owner, who e40d5721a2 had been eyeing 49b2fe4f0b Luke suspiciously, now a72e2d68e1 leaned closer to 3ff5260ddb examine his face dc70702daf under the hood. Luke’s silver hair, glinting even 9e98e30fc9 in the dim light, was eae3e3f280 impossible to hide. But more striking than the 8ca5ac55f1 hair were his features—large, expressive 210d632372 eyes, a sharp jawline, and 175fd1d90b a nose as prominent as ea80e3ea24 a mountain ridge.fb3c3e406c9adf3f

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“It’s fine,” the owner finally said.db3ee333c0260756

Whether Luke’s appearance convinced him 78c146ec34 or his earlier words placated becbcf7820 him, the owner uncrossed his cc681d62d2 arms.c91ef9031ccc380b

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“And the purpose of the goods?”b9cff706eb6349b6

“I’ve been a bit bored lately,” Luke replied, shrugging nonchalantly. He was putting every f250720005 effort into looking like dcd20b9109 a spoiled noble.25c4444683e23275

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“It’s rare for a refined young master to show up in person…” the owner mused, still guarded.f755392d8a4a6b65

“Just curious about how you filthy businessmen make a living,” Luke said with a smirk. “I’m a curious fellow. I decided to bbc9d37378 follow my servant 6a975b17d0 here.”647179d5e1747d20

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The owner’s expression twisted. Clearly offended by e5249cce6d Luke’s arrogant demeanor, 91a30be512 he clicked his 6fcce4337e tongue but eventually e624b0849a nodded.64e22b87e8a5c6f9

“Very well. I’ll show you the goods.”aa81f40f16367a8f

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The owner tapped the bar c7f1155a31 twice, prompting the three men 7d804f2b8a at the back table to c38bf76989 rise. They didn’t look bb2f0a918b like ordinary patrons—they 6ff0147235 moved with purpose. One locked the b52fc7673e front door, another 201924b135 crouched in the 6a48b5e784 corner to fiddle d9569309f7 with something on fa2e46dfa7 the floor, and d1df964f55 the last stationed 72f09fe23c himself behind Luke 035e148490 and Theo.f8f9871cfc809d83

The previously unassuming tavern now f38ed09b1f carried an air of menace, dcc498bdc9 like they were standing on 4b7830fc74 the edge of a cliff, cd57e3e886 one wrong step away from 669b58e421 disaster. Luke’s lips curled a643f7142f involuntarily at the a684d6b60d familiar tension and 7e96fbcadb thrill of danger.36dd82e14507c023

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“This way.”505ed98f08de1c5a

The man in the 958797a433 corner lifted a trapdoor c7837f2cc3 with a grunt, revealing 8edefba034 a staircase leading underground. Dust swirled as the heavy f8d18da962 cover opened. The owner gestured 5b4ea9823e for them to 54991dabce follow.543b83c5d10b2310

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“You’re quite the actor,” Theo murmured as they descended.aac7eb2442cff9ee

“That’s my line.”1ed16f0c31988267

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The two exchanged whispers as 39ebeec70b they cautiously descended the stairs. A guard remained behind b4e32b7eec to watch the door, 97059f994e leaving Luke, Theo, the bfdebbfeba tavern owner, and his 1bb5bbb1f8 two subordinates to venture e45f752c6c down—a total of five 0b630395c0 people.31e67daf4fe249b4

Luke had assumed 19ea19913c the tavern was fc44ed886c small, but the d2e8b444fe staircase descending into 98878e96a0 the underground was cc8fa36064 surprisingly long. The deeper they 30a8b2b2a5 went, the more b8a52ac12a oppressive the air cd5d0f66c4 became, heavy with 6d028f4dda the unmistakable stench e33fd5555a of crime.55c4a21414aebf29

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While others risked e9fc7a3be5 their lives fighting e930c5ed0c monsters, these scumbags 739c1b1e64 made fortunes trafficking 64f833eb62 even the weakest 9c010bb057 ones. The thought made cafd2506a8 Luke’s blood boil, d388d0f3db and he had a9245cf8b8 to suppress the f9bb4c809d urge to lash eecefe5cc1 out and destroy eeb83018b4 everything right then b20271917d and there.100cc5df35b810ab

Suddenly, he felt a 5aecd1c8ef gaze on him. Turning his head, he 56f8d20b6d saw one of the 73068a2d9f subordinates leering at him, cd3c07bb9b a grin stretched across 976300f8df his face.77a576466d0d9887

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“What are you looking at?” Luke snapped.946374a650cbce3c

“I was just imagining…” the man began with an unsettling chuckle.90506bdd4d3b9edd

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Luke raised an eyebrow, confused. “Imagining what?”5e823cb65a03fd24

“With a face like yours, even I could go for a man,” the subordinate sneered.6e618504318fad25

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What the hell? Crazy bastard. Luke furrowed his aa1beeb974 brow in disgust. The man let out a 6308abaedc low laugh and slowly reached 4ff722ec7c a hand toward Luke’s face.a572acf7d3804ab6

“Ah!”30f724e64797cbee

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Before the hand could get e5ffbdcf66 any closer, Theo, who had 542198353e been leading the group, whirled 4e9463c1b4 around like a ghost. In an instant, 31d4ec5827 he seized the 08cc9f9d3a man’s wrist, his 5afa3d3df6 grip so strong 2ca906e9fb the veins on 256604ad1a his hand bulged 7057eebc0b visibly.43fac1e7890c6177

“It hurts! Let go! It hurts!” the subordinate e2f4227f3d howled, struggling against Theo’s 5f9fa63674 unyielding grasp.88684ab3b3bd8e46

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“Don’t touch him,” Theo said, his voice colder than the underground air.54dbe7131b742110

The voice, as 3c68e5a29d cold as the 0934bc8f28 underground air, even eea9a179eb startled Luke. Theo seemed completely immersed 9c55c390d3 in the role, almost 03a5625b21 disturbingly so. Luke couldn’t help but 903f411d35 wonder if Theo might 286e37dca2 have found fame in 0a89e2a20a a prestigious theater troupe a9a5d9b023 had he not become 03c7ea573b a soldier. Yet, no matter how 8d0ae5ef1a hard he tried to 4e707b8956 picture Theo performing on 40297253c1 stage, the image just 4b944435c8 didn’t stick. Luke decided to stop d1fc861863 entertaining the thought.310574e7b4374ab7

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“My apologies,” the tavern owner, and apparent leader of the smuggling ring, said as he reprimanded the subordinate who had tried to touch Luke. Only then did Theo release 37dda8f90c the man’s wrist.e6aee046c07ba1f4

“Lord… no, my lord,” Theo corrected himself, turning to Luke.c76f45ca67f63051

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“Huh?”a5dfbcaa80d3e1a7

“Please, step ahead.”ef95bf3315a5baef

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Theo even went so 7576641431 far as to switch c52c2c84b3 their positions, putting Luke 93983f4cb0 directly behind the owner 252c6f20a8 while Theo fell back 9dd297ef3a to stand near the 86e2dbfcbd lackeys guarding the rear. Luke found that 400c4b75eb he didn’t entirely ffb3701995 mind Theo addressing 3298886faa him so formally. Smirking faintly, he 86bb1d9b41 descended the last 692bd30c27 few steps.502a09c6c2574c5d

At the bottom, 172c7a1a37 the owner pulled e89e073c40 out a key 394ebc1a84 and unlocked the d31d710782 heavy door. What lay beyond d688e67bd1 was a vast e94db5d3cb space. The two lackeys who had 28b5c2458a followed them strode inside, one db165169d3 stomping noisily as if still f45e2cddd6 nursing a grudge from Theo’s 4508466583 earlier show of dominance.4b565c2952c90e8b

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They moved about d6324ba76a lighting sconces on b4c2db8a2c the walls with ccfc7f6d5d practiced ease, and 8af143dfe3 the warm, orange 77acc68238 glow of the 4f62b9f67b flames began to c398e66490 fill the room. As the light stretched into 6c77f1c24d every corner, the once-hidden interior bba6f9e419 slowly came into view.d1e4a432a4186b96

The underground space 927842a2f3 was expansive, far fb8f000d62 larger than the 9c4df4e4ac small tavern above f0cef10edb suggested. Crates of various sizes a1ba9e1d5e were stacked haphazardly along c7060e4df7 the walls, and the 66622857fe faint smell of damp 559541762d wood mingled with something 592880182d metallic—perhaps blood or magic d3fc083364 residue. Luke’s eyes narrowed as he 17e4b12d73 took it all in, his 3194177afd mind already piecing together the bb7af3a903 operation.4c3d5297abfa1d58

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This was no ordinary smuggling bd1efe245f den.a745eb475efe37c9