The tavern was noisier than imagined.
In one corner, a drunken reveler loudly boasted about his youthful exploits. At the most emotional moments, he would forcefully slam the sturdy wooden table, causing bottles and jars on it to jump and clatter. A few burly men were engaged in arm-wrestling, one foot stomping on the tabletop, veins bulging, glaring fiercely at their opponents. In a dimly lit corner, a couple sweetly touched glasses, red wine accentuating the woman’s crimson lips as they passionately embraced and kissed.
The air was filled with the savory aroma of grilled food and the rich fragrance of fermented grains.
The tavern’s proprietress, a slightly plump middle-aged woman with a dark headband holding her hair in place, a long and thick braided hairstyle, and a deep blue checkered apron, skillfully weaved through the crowd, carrying trays and serving glasses of beer to the patrons.
“Lena! Bring me a glass of black rye beer! Make it chilled!”
“Lena! Another one over here! Fill it to the top! With plenty of froth!”
“Lena—”
Voices echoed, and amidst the noise, Shen Ling lowered his hat to conceal his face, silently settling in a corner of the tavern.
Two middle-aged men nearby were discussing their day’s work. One of them was angrily exclaiming, “Benson, that scoundrel! Deducted my wages! If it weren’t for me taking charge of that shortage on the second floor, the construction of the flower arbor in Central Square wouldn’t have gone so smoothly! Today, I went to settle with him, and he only gave me a few coins! Just a few coins!!!”
“He’s notorious for being dishonest. But anything brought in from outside has to go through him. Many of the materials we lack on the second floor have to be obtained from him. In terms of status, even the mayor can’t compare to him.”
“Spit! What kind of person does he think he is?” Suppressing his anger, he downed his drink, pushed the empty glass towards the counter, and said, “I won’t say more. I’ll head back. I need to figure out how to gather money to pay the workers under me.”
“No choice, I’ll lend you some for now.”
“No need, no need.” He took out a silver coin and two copper coins from his pocket, slapped them on the counter, and said, “I’m leaving. I’ll buy you a drink next time.”
Shen Ling took note of the name Benson at this moment. Suddenly, the young man sitting behind the counter asked in a clear voice, “What would this guest like to drink?”
Shen Ling glanced at the blackboard above, squinted his eyes, and replied, “A glass of light rum.”
“Blend it with clear lemon juice, soda water, and a hint of mint, add a small slice of lemon, less ice,” the young man spoke fluently, expertly mixing the proportions. He winked at Shen Ling, “Children who sneak out from home always like this flavor.”
Shen Ling smiled politely, “Thank you.”
“Wishing you a pleasant evening.” The young man quickly prepared the drink and handed it to Shen Ling.
Biting on the paper straw, not actually drinking, Shen Ling carefully listened to the surroundings.
KP: “It’s too noisy here. If you want to find out something, use Listen once.”
“Okay.”
Shen Ling clicked on Listen, successful.
KP, frustrated: “…a meaningless check.”
“It’s just luck.” Shen Ling wasn’t proud of it. He knew luck was temporary, and right now, he was just luckier than the average person.
Soon, two men sat down behind Shen Ling.
One of them said, “Is the trade list ready? I’m really troubled. I don’t know whether to ask for some seeds or some fabric. Elena complains every day about her clothes being worn out.”
“Seeds? Lily seeds? Haven’t you given up on planting lilies? The soil here isn’t suitable for lilies. Didn’t you experiment many times?”
“I know, but I just can’t accept it! Clearly, we’re both gardeners. I don’t understand why only Lisa can grow such beautiful lilies.”
“Perhaps she’s more dedicated than you. Haha, you just can’t admit that your flower cultivation skills are inferior to a little girl!”
“Shut up! How could I be worse than that little girl!” He took a sip of his drink, gloomily saying “…forget it. You’re right. Why am I arguing with lilies? My lilacs and peonies have also received unanimous praise. People need to play to their strengths! This time, I’ll go for some fabrics, get Elena a new outfit.”
“Have the outsiders arrived?”
“Don’t know,” the other person teased, “you know how Benson thinks he controls the town’s lifeline, keeping the outsiders’ business a tight secret. We’ll only find out what they’ve brought on the day of the trade. But…” he lowered his voice, “after the last failed ceremony, they might be more cautious this time. We’re all worried. This time, the outsiders may not bring as much as before.”
“That’s bad. We’re fine, but the poor next generation will have a hard time. After all, the next outsiders won’t bring trade goods for another ten years.”
After hearing their conversation, Shen Ling not only failed to uncover information about the ritual and Morena’s whereabouts but also found more mysteries. He contemplated whether to interact with them for more intelligence.
But was it really a good idea? Shen Ling began to weigh the pros and cons in his mind.
Attempting to communicate could help him gather more intelligence. Through clever rhetoric or other means, Shen Ling might uncover information about the “trade with outsiders” and what happened “ten years ago.” However, at the same time, the cost would be the deactivation of his stealth, significantly increasing the probability of being detected by the townspeople.
He still couldn’t grasp the town’s attitude towards “outsiders.” They seemed like individuals driven by self-interest, but when they mentioned “outsiders,” it undoubtedly referred to Kane and Morena, not themselves as the “sacrifices.”
While contemplating, the young man behind the counter suddenly muttered in a low voice, “It’s this late already, and Mr. Messenger still hasn’t come?”
Messenger? Wasn’t that Kane’s code name here? Shen Ling looked up at the young man.
The person next to him said, “The day of the ritual is approaching, and he’s busy. He probably won’t come to the tavern every day, right?”
“But…” The bartender took out an old pocket watch from a drawer, saying, “He left this behind. I remember him saying it’s an heirloom from his wife, with a photo of his daughter inside. If he knows he left it here, he’ll definitely come back to look for it.”
“Ah, then I don’t know. Something might have delayed him. You can hold onto it for him.”
The other man, clearly a bit tipsy, spoke with a hiccup, sarcastically saying, “Hic, caring so much about the outsiders’ things? Everyone knows, the messenger and Benson are in cahoots. Things from outside first pass through the messenger’s hands, then Benson hands them over to us. Who gets what, it’s all up to them.” He glanced at the young man behind the counter and sneered, “You have a good relationship with the messenger; you must have gotten some good stuff, right?”
“You’ve had too much to drink,” the young man wiped the glasses while smiling, “I care about every guest in the tavern. I replaced your drink with licorice because it exacerbates your cough. Does it feel refreshing and soothing to your throat now?”
The man’s hazy eyes paused for a moment, and he turned his gaze away awkwardly, coughing softly. “Uh, not bad.”
The first speaker laughed heartily, “Luther is always so considerate, haha!”
The tavern proprietress, Lena, passed by and placed a large mug of beer in front of them, saying, “Thanks to Luther, my business is thriving. This one’s on me, wishing you all a pleasant evening.”
“So generous!”
“Pleasant evening to you too!”
The group joyfully shared the beer, clinking glasses, and the atmosphere became lively again.
Observing from the side, Shen Ling lifted his head for a moment to glance at the youth called Luther. The kerosene lamp hanging from the beam emitted a dim yellow light, highlighting Luther’s features—clear and gentle eyebrows and eyes. Unlike the Western high-bridged noses and deep-set eyes, his facial features leaned more towards the East. When he smiled, his eyes and eyebrows slightly curved, making him very likable.
While Shen Ling was observing him, Luther keenly sensed his gaze. Shen Ling lowered his head without revealing any emotions.
At that moment, Luther whispered, “It’s okay, this drink isn’t expensive. Sneak away later, and I won’t tell Aunt Lena. But, it’s better to go home early. Your parents must be worried.”
Shen Ling hesitated for a moment and responded, “Alright.” Those who worked in the tavern naturally had more access to information due to the environment. Luther seemed to be astute, and perhaps, he could be a breakthrough to gather some clues. Moreover, if Luther intended to provide cover, he wouldn’t expose himself excessively through excessive communication.
kp timely reminded, “Luther is exceptionally skilled at observing and understanding people. Direct communication might expose your identity as an outsider. I highly recommend that the player relies on their own experience and abilities to interact with the NPC. However, in some situations, consider using your skills to increase the probability of success.”
kp’s advice was sound.
Shen Ling, with a calm demeanor, accepted the reality, “I will activate my skill: Charm.”
