Chapter 100: Meeting at the Bar

Back at Lar's house, Aunt Sally informed me that they hadn't returned yet. Looking at the sky, it was already close to dusk. The bar should be at its quietest time, so why hadn't Lar and the others come back yet?

Curious, I rushed to Rogue Bar. As soon as I opened the door, a wave of heat hit me, almost making me flee. Damn! What's going on? Is today a holiday or something? It's already this time, and it's still so lively? I frowned and walked in. The bar was still bustling with noise, the shouts and calls like countless pile drivers at a construction site, deafening.

I pushed my way through the crowd, finally spotting a few familiar figures. There was no choice; just like in a Star Lord movie, Doug's loud voice stood out like a firefly in the dark, even in the noisy bar.

However, to my surprise, besides Doug and Gelf, there was another familiar person—Marten, the assassin who had teamed up with us to hunt the Countess in the Tower. What was he doing here? He was talking animatedly with Doug and the others, his face flushed, and his mug of ale swinging excitedly.

The most un-assassin-like assassin and the most barbaric barbarian indeed made a perfect pair.

"Hey, where are the others?"

Enduring the noise and the mix of alcohol and sweat, I approached them and loudly asked.

Although my voice was like a small boat in a storm, insignificant in the bar, it still managed to catch their attention.

"Lar is over there."

"The boss is over there."

To my surprise, both Doug and Marten turned to me, answering in unison, then stared at each other in shock, as if they had just realized they knew each other. It was quite a comical scene.

"Alright, you guys have fun."

I patted their shoulders and didn't want to stay a moment longer. I immediately headed towards the second area of Rogue Bar, where most of the druids and paladins gathered. Their gentle and polite nature meant this area wasn't as noisy as the first, but it was still packed, with some people standing in groups, whispering and laughing, giving it a festive atmosphere.

After a quick look around, I soon spotted Lar and the others. As expected, Druv and Ihana were sitting with him. I had this idea when I saw Marten and Doug together.

"Hi, everyone." I approached and greeted them with a smile. The three of them stood up immediately upon seeing me.

"Wu, you're here." This was Lar.

"Dear Wu, it's good to see you again." This was Druv and Ihana.

I smiled and looked at the three of them, who were glancing at each other, unsure of what to do. After the scene with Doug, I had expected this.

Besides these three, there was also Sarc, the paladin we met on the fifth floor of the Tower, sitting with his teammates. Although there were no seats left, the table was still spacious. Soon, a waiter brought over a chair and a golden, low-alcohol ale for me.

Lar and Druv clearly hadn't expected everyone to know each other. I was also curious about their relationship. After a while, amidst everyone's laughter, I finally understood the whole situation.

My relationship with Lar was undeniable. After being rescued in the Blood Wilderness, he taught me combat skills, becoming both a teacher, a friend, and a benefactor. Lar was also my future father-in-law. Druv and Ihana, on the other hand, had formed a deep friendship by slaying the Countess in the Tower. Of course, we never mentioned the Evil Cave incident, as it wasn't a proud moment for either side. Let it be forgotten in the river of history.

Lar and Druv had known each other for a long time, having trained together in the camp. Their relationship was good, and Druv, who had advanced a few months earlier, was considered Lar's senior. As for Sarc, although he was also a trainee, he had little interaction with Lar. However, with Druv's introduction, they now got along well.

"I heard you made a big impression at the magic training camp this morning. Now, the other trainees, mercenaries, and career changers all regret not going to the training ground, missing out on a valuable experience."

Lar, sitting next to me, patted my shoulder enviously. News spread fast in Rogue Camp, especially in the bar, so it wasn't surprising that Lar knew.

"Indeed! I'm a bit regretful too. If I had known, I would have gone to the training ground, no matter what. I can't believe I missed such a rare opportunity."

Druv added, his character being more disciplined and self-restrained, speaking with a serious tone that made me feel a bit embarrassed. In terms of experience, I couldn't compare to him, a career changer who had taken every step carefully.

"Not really, I was just lucky. In terms of experience, how could I compare to you?"

"Ha, Wu, no need to be modest. Everyone's experiences are different, so there's always something you don't know or something unique. Especially for a lone wanderer like you, you're one of a kind in the entire Rogue Camp, and your experiences are invaluable to any adventurer."

After saying this, the usually serious Druv looked around furtively before lowering his voice. "Of course, except for Lady Sharna. But I doubt anyone would have the nerve to ask her for advice."

Seeing the top career changer in Rogue Camp, with high prestige, speak so cautiously about Sharna, I realized for the first time how terrifying she was in others' eyes, despite her playful and mischievous demeanor towards me.

"Oh, really? Then I'll share my experiences with you when I have the chance. Just don't laugh at me!" I took a sip of ale, licking the foam from my lips. Although we had spent some time together in the Tower, we had only discussed tactics and outcomes, not personal experiences.

"Really? We should definitely talk about it one day."

Druv said happily, not feeling it beneath him to learn from me, showing his practical nature. As for Lar, I had already shared a lot with him and the others, including the story of Xiao Xue, except for the bug amulet.

"By the way, it's almost dusk, so why are there still so many people?"

I looked around, noticing the crowd was not decreasing but increasing.

"Of course, Lady Kasha has already assigned the groups. Everyone is about to go to their posts, so they're having a good time before they leave," Lar said matter-of-factly.

After hearing Lar's words, I fell silent, watching the people around me drink ale, laugh, and sing, hugging each other. But who knew what they were thinking? Most of them didn't have the confidence we did. How many would survive this monster attack, and how many would disappear forever? No one knew their future, so they lived for the moment.

"You're right, we should be grateful, shouldn't we?" I said something vague, but everyone nodded in agreement, raising their glasses and finishing their ale in one gulp.

"By the way, Uncle Lar, didn't you say you were looking for partners? Could it be that Druv and the others are also stationed in Vitas Village? That's quite a coincidence!"

"Exactly."

Lar snapped his fingers and said happily, "And Druv is the leader of the Vitas Village group. Isn't that a coincidence?"

"Oh!"

I was surprised but then realized it made sense. Not only because of Druv's 18th-level paladin strength, but also his steady and reliable character, which made him a fitting leader. If not for their small team size and slightly weaker overall strength, they could have easily joined the special action team.

As for his assignment to Vitas Village, I could only say it was a coincidence. This way, almost all the people I knew were concentrated in the same village. Fate, indeed.

"By the way, where's Sister Sharna? Has she returned?"

Thinking of familiar faces, I suddenly remembered her.

"Lady Sharna hasn't returned. She's training alone in the cemetery. Few adventurers can train there, so she might not have received the notice and will miss this battle," Druv said regretfully.

"Yes, if Lady Sharna were here, she could probably join the special action team on her own," Ihana, who had been listening quietly, said with stars in her eyes, as if already seeing Sharna's heroic deeds. I didn't expect the gentle and steady Ihana to be a fan.

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End of Chapter 100