NO_NAME
patreon
Chapter 370: The Bloody Banquet
🕑 Added 2024-10-20 06:39:23 +0000 UTCObjectively speaking, even Rhett had to admit that Svita was unlikely to be able to handle the responsibilities of managing the royal palace. His age, energy, and lack of strength all made it difficult for him to measure up to the task.
But human emotions are complicated. When it came to a loyal old servant, Rhett found it difficult—if not impossible—to let go.
"I've ascended to the pinnacle of the world, yet so many problems remain unsolved! I still can't resurrect Nicole, I can't stop aging…"
Rhett looked up at the blue sky, a trace of sadness in his eyes as a different kind of realization settled in his heart.
—He was still small in the grand scheme of things.
At this moment, Rhett had a strong urge for a drink.
Yes, right now, not a second could be delayed.
With that thought, Rhett's figure vanished instantly.
In the next moment, in the bustling hall of the Rattlesnake Tavern, a flash of earthy-yellow light flickered as Rhett appeared near the bar.
Several organ players were still lost in the rhythm, performing explosive music on the dance floor.
Hundreds of people filled every corner of the tavern, their laughter and conversations creating an overwhelming din.
The majority of the patrons were extraordinary individuals. Rattlesnake Tavern had become a symbol of Dark Eagle City, attracting anyone seeking a drink or a thrill.
Thanks to the promotions of the tavern's fiery proprietor and the unmatched taste and quality of the drinks, the establishment quickly gained a dedicated following, even surpassing the Nightingale Tavern, earning the favor of many extraordinary individuals.
Meanwhile, ordinary folks, lacking the funds or the strength, typically opted for the Nightingale Tavern instead.
Over time, the Rattlesnake and Nightingale Taverns developed distinct reputations: one for the elite, and the other more down-to-earth.
The extraordinary patrons in the tavern were startled by Rhett's sudden appearance. Who could teleport like that? Not even a Sky Knight or a Grand Magus could pull off such a feat, right?
Murmurs filled the room.
Even the boisterous men who had been chatting loudly fell silent, quickly behaving themselves in the presence of this Grand Magus.
Though word of the war’s conclusion had yet to spread, and few knew of the battle’s outcome or Rhett’s true strength, the scene they just witnessed left everyone in awe of his unfathomable power.
“L-Lord Rhett, on behalf of Rattlesnake Tavern, I welcome you! What would you like to drink?” The bartender, bowing respectfully, asked, “It’s been quite some time since your last visit. Recently, we’ve introduced several new premium drinks, some of which are sure to surprise you.”
Rhett didn’t immediately respond. He casually scanned the room, and everyone quickly averted their eyes or lowered their heads, no one daring to meet his gaze.
“Is there a private room? I need a quiet place.”
The bartender swallowed nervously. A quiet place in a tavern? This world didn’t have any "quiet bars"—most people thought a tavern was meant to be lively and loud.
He awkwardly said, “I’m sorry, but we don’t really have…”
“Yes, we do, of course! The lord must have a private room. Vilan, show the lord to the innermost room on the second floor.”
Before the bartender could finish, a clear and pleasant voice rang out from the corner of a wooden staircase.
Everyone turned their heads to see a striking woman with a fiery figure. She wore a tight white top and a black leather skirt that hugged her hips, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She confidently rested one hand on the railing.
It was none other than Lilith, the owner of the Rattlesnake Tavern!
One of the servers in the crowd was shocked. The innermost room on the second floor? Wasn’t that Lilith’s private quarters? What were they going in there for?
But that wasn’t his place to question. Without hesitation, he quickly walked over to Rhett to lead the way.
However, just as he reached Rhett, the lord shook his head. “I’ll go up myself.”
Before the server could respond, Rhett’s figure vanished again before everyone’s eyes.
The room erupted into hushed whispers.
It wasn’t until Rhett and Lilith both disappeared from sight that someone finally broke the silence:
“Good heavens, that’s the lord of Dark Eagle City! Could he have ascended to the Holy Domain? I’ve only ever heard that Holy Domain beings can meld their bodies with the elements. Not even a Grand Magus or Sky Knight can achieve that, right?”
Others joined in, marveling, “I don’t understand it, but I’m absolutely astounded!”
A new wave of chatter and discussion spread throughout the tavern as the patrons found their next hot topic of conversation.
Before long, a loud commotion and shouting could be heard from outside.
At first, no one paid attention. But as the noise grew louder, it became clear that something was happening nearby, perhaps from the city center.
Judging by the tone, it seemed to be filled with boundless excitement and fervor!
The curious ones immediately rushed outside to see what was going on.
Only a few minutes later, the people who had left returned, their faces full of crazed excitement. Taking a deep breath and drawing on their battle energy, they shouted with booming voices:
“Heavens! Huge news—just now, the city administration posted an announcement. Today, the final battle between the Human Alliance and the orcs ended in victory! We’ve won! Humanity has triumphed!”
“Our Lord Rhett played a pivotal role in the battle, using Holy Domain powers to slaughter countless orcs. His incredible achievements have earned him the right to found his own kingdom—he’s now the ruler of Green Kingdom!”
As the words echoed through the tavern, the boisterous crowd instantly fell silent.
And then, in a heartbeat, the quiet shattered into a wave of deafening cheers and disbelief.
“You’d better not be joking! If you are, we’ll all beat you to a pulp!” A burly man tore off his shirt, shouting.
“Scar, have you been drinking too much of the Bloody Feast? You look like you’re drunk out of your mind, spouting nonsense,” said a man with a hooked nose, eyeing him suspiciously.
Standing by the door, the small man called Scar licked his lips. True, he had been drinking Bloody Feast, but he wasn’t that drunk. At this moment, his face was flushed with excitement, and he loudly proclaimed:
“There are already people outside parading and celebrating. Rilai is right at the central square. If you don’t believe me, you can go check for yourselves!”
As soon as he said this, the faces of everyone in the tavern changed drastically. They dropped their bottles, which clinked and clattered to the floor, and rushed out the door.
In an instant, the once-crowded tavern was empty—except for the bartenders and servers.
Upstairs, in the innermost room of the Rattlesnake Tavern, the shouts of the reveling crowd outside broke the room’s quiet atmosphere.
Lilith, who had just drawn the curtains and turned on the lights, frowned and reopened the window to take a look. She gasped:
“Heavens, how did so many people suddenly gather together? Are they rioting?”
“Wait, no… I hear them chanting your name. And… is that praise I hear? Are they celebrating?!”
After saying that, Lilith shut the window again and turned around, her eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at Rhett. She then moved closer, sitting across from him and pouring two glasses of a thick, blood-red liquid. Her curiosity piqued, she asked:
“As the man of the hour, you must know what’s going on… right?”
“Oh, and I heard them mention something about orcs. Is this related to the war?”
Rhett’s gaze fell on the crimson liquid in his glass. The color resembled some of the orc brews he’d seen before, but the scent and the energy it emitted were completely different.
Orc brews were consumed out of hatred and had gradually become a ritual, offering little benefit to the body.
But this red liquid was different. Rhett’s powerful senses could detect traces of Blood Essence in it.
“Interesting. How did you manage this?” Rhett asked with a smile.
Lilith blinked her bright eyes, confused. “What do you mean? I don’t quite understand. Hey, wait, I’m the one asking the questions!”
“Ah, I’m talking about this Bloody Feast. You’ve mixed in a new kind of power. How did you incorporate it into alcohol? Was it through alchemy?” Rhett said, holding the glass by its base and bringing it to his nose for a light sniff.
“Oh, that! I discovered it by accident while cleaning the kitchen. A tiger’s heart, soaked in alcohol, completely dissolved, and that cup of wine just happened to contain some alchemical formula!” Lilith smiled proudly, licking her red lips.
“You know alchemy?” Rhett raised an eyebrow, surprised. “I don’t recall you ever mentioning that.”
“Ha! There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Lilith giggled, casting Rhett a flirtatious glance. “If you visited more often for ‘deep conversations,’ maybe you’d learn more…”
“Haha, no thanks!” Rhett laughed, realizing she was joking. “But I have some friends who might be very interested in a conversation with you…”
“Pfft, I’m not interested!” Lilith rolled her eyes. “Actually, I don’t really know alchemy. I’m a knight—how could I? The alchemy formula comes from my ancestors. But don’t even think about getting your hands on it—it’s our family’s secret! Unless, of course, the day I marry, it could be part of my dowry…”
“Well, that’s a dowry I’m not destined to receive,” Rhett said with a chuckle, raising his glass and taking a sip of the wine. The strange liquid dissolved quickly in his body.
Rhett’s eyes glimmered, sensing the impact on his spirit. Though it posed no challenge to him, a higher volume of this drink could certainly affect lower-level extraordinary individuals.
He held the glass up to the light, marveling at the curious liquid.
“Alright, I’ve answered your question. Now… it’s your turn to answer mine, isn’t it?” Lilith, her curiosity growing stronger by the second, adopted a sweet, pleading look as she spoke.
“You’re asking about the parade outside? I didn’t expect them to be this excited…” Rhett raised an eyebrow, spreading his hands with a helpless smile. “You guessed right—it’s related to the orcs. But they’ve already been wiped out.”
Pfft! Lilith had just taken a sip of Bloody Feast when Rhett’s words shocked her so much that she nearly spit the drink in his face.
Fortunately, Rhett reacted in time, summoning water elements and freezing them into an irregular ice ball, which he casually tossed aside.
“Sorry! Sorry!” Lilith quickly wiped her mouth, apologizing repeatedly. Seeing the serious expression on Rhett’s face, she stammered, “R-Really? The orcs have been exterminated?”
“Of course. I’ve ascended to the Holy Domain. Do you think I need to lie?” Rhett cast a glance at her and continued, “It won’t be long before I move my family and wealth to the Green Kingdom. If you’re interested, you can open your tavern in my capital—your brews are unique enough to become a hit.”
“I-I’d love to! Of course, I would!” Lilith blurted out in excitement, her face flushing with anticipation. “Where is your kingdom? I need to start preparing for the move!”
“There’s a notice posted at the central square with all the details. You should go check it out yourself. The Green Kingdom would be glad to have you,” Rhett said, finishing the last of his Bloody Feast with a light smile.
“Great! I’ll head over right away!” Lilith, driven by curiosity, was about to dash for the door.
“Hold on a moment!” Rhett called after her. She stopped and turned, puzzled. He coughed and asked, “Could you send a batch of all your new drinks to my castle? I’m hosting a banquet tonight, and I’d like to serve them. Of course, if you’re free, you’re welcome to attend.”
“Heavens!” Lilith clutched her cheeks in disbelief. “I… I’m allowed? Am I even qualified to attend?”
“There’s no such thing as ‘qualifications’—my mood decides everything,” Rhett said, shrugging.
Lilith gave a grateful smile. “I’ll be there on time, and I’ll bring the best drinks with me!”
Rhett nodded with a smile. “Thanks. If I come across a suitable gentleman, I’ll introduce him to you.”
“Haha!” Lilith laughed, amused, before leaving the room.
Alone in the room, Rhett reflected. This space wasn’t Lilith’s private residence but more of an office. There weren’t many personal belongings here.
At this moment, his mood was somewhat improved, largely thanks to tasting the drink infused with Blood Essence. Now, he felt even more eager to see the future of Blood Essence alchemical potions!
—If Svita could consume large quantities of Blood Essence, could it enhance his constitution and extend his life?
With that thought, Rhett’s eyes narrowed slightly. He left the room, headed downstairs, and asked the bartender for some of the Blood Essence-infused drinks before quickly departing the Rattlesnake Tavern.
Back at the Deeprock Fortress, on the first-floor hall, Svita stood observing Shaar and the new maid, lost in thought.
He noticed Shaar frequently stealing glances at Tifa. There was no way this wasn’t romantic interest!
He needed to find an opportunity to host a matchmaking event as soon as possible… but today’s banquet was more important—Master had just returned, and this banquet took precedence over all else!
Previous Chapter | | Next Chapter
![MF [MALE FOCUS] from patreon](https://leaqio.com/kistorage/8544.jpg)
