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n?Observing the city guards splitting into three squads heading in different directions, Antalya, considering Sorovo’s likely strategy, quickly deduced his intent.

n“That’s a precautionary measure,” Antalya said slowly, “It seems our temporary ally isn’t as foolish as Howard described.”

n“Did I paint him that badly?” Howard seized the opportunity to interject, “You can’t just slander people, boss. Am I the type to hold grudges?”

n“Right, right, you’re just petty,” Ali joked, a rarity for her.

n“Enough, let’s get serious. We’re on the battlefield now. Red Eye might have sentinels around; we need to stay alert!”

nAntalya interrupted Howard and Ali, “Put on your masks; I don’t want the Black Briar family from Breeze City coming to my tavern demanding people!”

nAs the squad designated for the assault took their positions, the work of dispersing the surrounding civilians began under the organization of the city guard’s third squad.

nDispersing civilians was a necessary measure; if civilians were present during a battle, any achievements would be diminished.

nMoreover, without civilian interference, it was easier to engage freely in combat, slightly increasing the chances of success.

nThe city guard’s first squad, led by Sorovo himself, formed the innermost layer of the encirclement.

nThe second and third squads created a looser surrounding ring, with Howard, Ali, and Antalya interspersed among them, ready to act on opportunity.

nUnder this seemingly calm yet secretly deadly atmosphere, nightfall slowly descended!

n…

nLorinda, Oak Street, Blossom Pub.

nBlossom Pub isn’t the only tavern in Lorinda, nor is it the sole tavern on Oak Street.

nThe street’s name originates from the towering oak tree at its head.

nNo one knows when the oak started its watch over the area, much like how people are unaware of how Blossom Pub has managed to survive.

nOak Street is one of Lorinda’s oldest roads, and Blossom Pub is its most enigmatic tavern.

nNo matter the comparison, Blossom Pub always seems unremarkable, its clientele not significantly larger or smaller than that of other taverns in Lorinda.

nIn reality, Blossom Pub isn’t mysterious.

nThe location of a safe house is among the highest secrets of a thieves group, rivaled only by the specifics of Red Eye’s whereabouts and personal information.

nThe construction of each safe house requires a substantial investment of funds, time, and manpower, but once established, they offer a wealth of intelligence and can provide cover for complex operations, making them well worth the expense.

nBlossom Pub is one such establishment, operating unassumingly in Lorinda for four years without arousing any suspicion.

nThe owner is a northerner named Carlotte, a towering figure with shoulders almost twice the width of an average person, and muscles as solid as a calf’s.

nHis height, exceeding two meters, has been the guarantee of Blossom Pub’s peaceful operation over the last four years.

nWhether dealing with unruly patrons or the local riffraff and bullies, a single glance from Carlotte is enough to instill a sense of unease.

nPeople attribute this to Carlotte’s intimidating stature, but that’s not the whole truth.

nIt’s the scent of blood that Carlotte carries with him.

nCarlotte was once the most fearsome vanguard in the Red Eye Thieves Group, always leading the charge in battle.

nAlthough running a tavern for several years provided a comfortable life far removed from bloodshed, Carlotte found it hard to forget the thrill of cracking skulls with his warhammer.

nHe was a complete sadist, delighting in killing, which was precisely why he joined the Red Eye Thieves Group.

nOnly as a bandit could he kill without any scruples!

nTing-a-ling— The half-door of the tavern was pushed open, and a figure entered, bringing with it the cool evening breeze.

nCarlotte paused his activity to glance at the newcomer.

nIt was a middle-aged man he didn’t recognize, dressed in decent enough clothes that suggested he was a somewhat prosperous farmer, the kind of clean cloth attire they would wear.

nNew faces in Blossom Pub weren’t unusual; some were members of the thieves group, others came to trade goods, and a few sought trouble or solutions to their problems.

nBlossom Pub also served a role akin to a jack-of-all-trades establishment.

nThe middle-aged man quietly found a seat and ordered a mug of coarse barley beer.

nCarlotte gestured to his subordinate to serve the drink, then stood behind the counter, casually wiping a glass. .𝒎

nThe tavern seemed quieter than usual today.

nIt was past dinner time, a period when the tavern’s business usually began to pick up, but today, only a few patrons were present.

nHad something happened? Carlotte pondered.

nHe saw the middle-aged man suddenly stand up, fiercely shove a table cluttered with mugs aside, and stagger towards him.

nAnother drunkard with poor tolerance for alcohol?

nCarlotte frowned slightly and shot a look towards the bartender.

nThis level of disturbance didn’t require his intervention; the hired hands below would handle it.

nThese enforcers were not affiliated with the thieves group and were unaware of the tavern’s connection to it.

nThey were simply hired by Carlotte to maintain order, ensuring the tavern was looked after even in his absence.

nCatching Carlotte’s signal, the bartender understood immediately.

nSetting aside the glass he was polishing, he stepped out from behind the counter.

nA call from him had several young men, who had been chatting in a corner, rise halfway and quickly step forward to block the middle-aged man’s path.

nThey didn’t lay hands on him, simply stood in his way.

nPhysical confrontation might bring complications, but this method was trouble-free.

nCarlotte wasn’t just brawn; if he were, he wouldn’t have always been the first to charge into battle and still live to enjoy life as vividly as he did now.

n“Move aside!”

nThe middle-aged man shoved one of the young men, his breath heavy with the stench of alcohol, making the young man’s face wrinkle in disgust.

nOne shouldn’t expect too much sophistication from hired muscle.

nSuch a disrespectful gesture from the middle-aged man was enough to send him into a rage.

nIf it weren’t for the boss’s presence, which made him hold back, he might have already started a fight.

n“You’re drunk!”

nThe young man grabbed the middle-aged man’s shoulders and hooked his foot behind his knee, intending to restrain his movements.

nFor someone utterly inebriated, such a simple hold was extremely effective, often sufficient to take them down in one move.

nThat was the young man’s plan: to take down the middle-aged man with a single move, then drag him to the courtyard behind the tavern to sober up, releasing him only after settling his tab.

nHowever, this time, the young man’s calculations went awry—

nhis leg, aimed to trip the middle-aged man at the knee, felt as though it had struck stone!

nHis foot throbbed with pain, yet the middle-aged man seemed unaffected, as if nothing had happened.

nHe had hit a wall!

nThis thought flashed through the young man’s mind.

nAttempting to disengage and create distance, he then saw the middle-aged man’s face rapidly enlarging in his field of vision!

nWith eyes clear and movements agile, the middle-aged man showed no signs of drunkenness.

nWith no chance to resist, as the young man tried to dodge, the middle-aged man extended his right hand, grasping his face firmly!

nImmense strength transmitted from the middle-aged man’s fingers, firmly controlling the young man’s face.

nFlexing his arm, the middle-aged man, standing his ground, pulled the young man back to him, whispering into his ear, “Tell me, where is this place?”

n“Blossom! Blossom Pub! I’m just a hired hand, someone else pays me to work, that’s all! I never meant to offend you, Magus Sir!”

nThe young man’s muffled voice emerged from beneath the middle-aged man’s palm.

nThe title ‘magus’ was merely his guess; being handled as easily as if he were a mere chick, such physical strength was not something an ordinary person possessed.

nThe young man’s first thought was of magi, that mysterious group of individuals.

nBefore you engage, you never truly know what abilities a magus in front of you might possess.

nThis is a consensus in the New World.

nThe middle-aged man didn’t speak, merely casting a glance at the young man’s companions who were petrified by his swift actions.

n“Where is this place?” He demanded again.

nThe seemingly sturdy enforcer number two took a step back, his eyebrows twitching nervously.

n“B…Blossom! Blossom Pub!”

nHaving lifted someone else’s enforcer as effortlessly as picking up a chicken, yet still questioning his whereabouts, what was this man’s deal?

nHe saw the middle-aged man nod, then casually toss enforcer number one aside.

nIn reality, the middle-aged man wasn’t much taller than enforcer number one, but with such an effortless grasp and lift, the young man was easily hoisted up.

nIt was precisely this that underscored the terrifying strength in the middle-aged man’s arms.

nAside from those odd hybrids from the Nid race, known for their peculiar abilities, within humanity, such fearsome strength could only belong to the mysterious beings known as magi.

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