26: Dinner (thanks to Chimai for the recommendation)

"Just say what you need to say."

Arthur spoke up as they walked out of the castle.

Vanka didn't hold back and told her young master everything that had just happened.

Arthur smiled faintly upon hearing this. "I think Catherine is just concerned about you. It has to do with her past experiences."

"She used to be dedicated to helping girls in distress, just like you."

Her young master's words made Vanka even more confused. She asked, puzzled, "Why would she think I would suffer by your side?"

"Uh..." Arthur weighed his words carefully. "It's complicated. You'll understand later."

"In short, she didn't mean any harm, nor was she trying to humiliate you..."

"Humiliate me? No!" Vanka shook her head like a rattle drum. "She humiliated you, and that's not right! I don't like her."

Arthur patted the girl's head. "I won't ask you to forgive anything, but you should talk to her. Also, don't let it interfere with your work."

The little maid nodded. "I understand. Business is business, and personal matters are personal. Don't bring personal grudges into work."

"Who taught you that?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Miss Anna. When she's free, she teaches me to read and also how to do my job well."

"Very good, keep it up."

---

As soon as Arthur stepped out of the castle, Philip immediately came over.

He held his saber in his arms, his face beaming with excitement. "Boss, your sword."

"If you're here, then who's protecting Old Joe? Is he alright alone?" Arthur asked.

"No worries," Philip explained. "The boss paid the bill before he came, and Old Joe just stayed to count the goods."

"And the owner of that shop, hearing it was for you, offered to help transport the goods to the warehouse."

"In that case, come with me. We'll go meet Olaf. I heard he's from the same hometown as you?"

Philip's smile froze, but he quickly returned to his usual cheerful demeanor.

"Yes, that son of a bitch is from our village, and two of his subordinates are also from my hometown."

Realizing he had sworn, Philip quickly apologized. "Boss, I'm sorry, I'm just a rough man."

Arthur waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind.

"Your sword."

"I heard Catherine say you didn't enter the castle because of this sword. If you like it, it's yours."

Philip was both surprised and delighted, and quickly declined. "Boss, you think too highly of me! My swordsmanship is like a monkey show."

"You should give me a harpoon and a shield instead; those are easier for me to use."

Arthur smiled at his words and took the saber.

"Oh, right, Boss. Old Joe asked me to give you this." Philip pulled out a small bottle.

"What is this?" Arthur asked, looking puzzled.

"Poison refined from giant centipede venom. Old Joe said you might find it useful. Just a tiny drop can make Olaf and his subordinates sleep forever."

Looking at Philip's guileless expression, Arthur knew he had no idea how outrageous what he had just said was.

He could only smile wryly and accept the bottle of poison. "You certainly think things through."

Philip puffed out his chest proudly, like a loyal dog that had been praised.

---

Unlike the boisterous Red Hook Tavern, the Jumping Frog Tavern was much more civilized.

There were no noisy sailors here, no prostitutes singing and dancing on long tables, and certainly no mercenaries fighting at the slightest provocation.

Most of the patrons were city guards, soldiers, and artisans.

Arthur was very satisfied with the place Bard had chosen.

An Imperial Knight like Olaf appearing at the Red Hook Tavern would surely cause a disturbance.

The wealthy west was mostly controlled by merchants who worshipped the Goddess of Wealth, Waukeen, and firmly held the empire's economic lifeline through trade routes and seaports.

The defeated old nobles, however, retreated to eastern Amn, where they still worshipped Mother Earth, Shanteya, and secretly contended with the merchants by relying on the grain produced from fertile lands.

Therefore, the residents of the east and west disliked each other, but fortunately, there was the central Amn as a buffer zone to alleviate their conflicts.

Before entering the private room on the second floor, Arthur took a deep breath and adjusted his emotions.

In a trance, he felt as if he was back to the days of socializing with leaders and various dignitaries.

As soon as he entered, he enthusiastically walked towards Olaf, who also stood up to greet him, the two as familiar as old friends who hadn't seen each other in years.

"Are you all settling in well?" Arthur asked the Imperial Knights after they were seated.

"Quite well, just a bit lacking in fun," Olaf said with a laugh. "People here go to bed at eight in the evening. Where we come from, four in the morning is bedtime."

His words immediately caused a burst of laughter.

This was clearly a taunt, implying that the people of eastern Amn were unsophisticated country folk who didn't know how to enjoy life.

Bard, as the organizer, was about to make a few witty remarks to salvage the situation, but Arthur spoke first: "Perhaps you just haven't found the right place. Wolf Den City is very big, and outsiders can easily get lost."

"Tomorrow, I'll have Bard arrange for you all to experience the real nightlife here."

"However, gentlemen, make sure you find the right path..."

At these words, the laughter abruptly stopped.

Only one young man was still giggling foolishly, but under Olaf's gaze, he quickly suppressed his smile... "Relax, everyone, relax!" Bard suddenly said loudly. "Drink as much as you want tonight, pick any girl you want, all on Evil Wolf Earl!"

He raised his glass. "Let's toast to the great Lord of the Evil Wolf!"

However, no one responded. Olaf stared coldly at Arthur, and his subordinates did the same.

Arthur calmly picked up a glass and poured himself a drink, then raised it and said, "To the great Lord of the Evil Wolf!"

Olaf suddenly burst into laughter, and the other Imperial Knights followed suit, one after another.

He grabbed his glass and said, "To the Supreme Council and the Lord of the Evil Wolf!"

"To the Supreme Council and the Lord of the Evil Wolf!"

The echoing shouts resounded through the private room.

---

"Who's there? Sneaking around." Outside the tavern, the Orc called out warily into the shadows. "Come out! You don't want me to come find you myself."

Philip jumped down from a wine barrel at the sound, nervously looking around.

Unlike the Orc, he didn't have darkvision, so he couldn't see what was in the shadows.

Airo emerged from the shadows. She glanced at Philip, then her gaze fell on the Orc.

The large brute instinctively made her feel danger, which was why she had been hiding in the dark.

"You startled me, it's one of us." Philip recognized Airo and quickly said, "We're all on the same side."

The Orc stood in front of the tavern's back door and asked, "You know her? Who is she?"

"And who are you?" Airo retorted.

Even the usually oblivious Philip sensed the tension and quickly tried to mediate. "Gentlemen, we're all the Boss's subordinates, there's no need for this, is there?"

"Are you Arthur's new recruit?" Airo asked again.

The Orc replied coldly, "That's right."

Only then did the female rogue release her hand from her hand crossbow. "I'm like you. I need to see him urgently right now."

The Orc's expression softened slightly, and he moved aside to let Airo in.