Volume 3, Chapter 20 – The Night Banquet and the Retaliation

“Well then, let us raise a glass to the arrival of Miss Yisi, Miss Camilla, Miss Mary, and Miss Tiffany!”

“””Cheers!”””

In the first-floor hall, lit by orange-red lights, nearly twenty adventurers sat at a single long table. On the table were small barrels of ale and several whole chickens. The aroma of soy sauce sizzling on an iron plate, the sharp scent of spices, and the rich fragrance of stew, all combined with the laughter of the adventurers, pushed the lively atmosphere of the entire hall to its peak.

After tasting a bit of the torn chicken herself and finding it good, Camilla used a knife and fork to cut away the part she had tasted, then placed the untouched portion on Yisi’s plate.

“Onee-sama, here.”

“Mm, thank you.”

Smiling, Yisi ate the chicken Camilla gave her. Suddenly remembering something important, she turned slightly and handed a blue staff, carved with a sun and snowflakes, to Camilla.

“Use this as your weapon from now on, Camilla.”

“Eh? Isn’t this your weapon, Onee-sama?”

Surprise filled Camilla’s ruby-like eyes.

“I don’t need this weapon anymore.”

The advantage of Twilight of Eternal Frost was its ability to grow. The weapon’s bonuses would increase with the player’s level, and its stats would always be at the top for that level.

For example, if Yisi was currently level 400, Twilight of Eternal Frost’s stats would automatically adjust to be the best weapon for level 400. If you were to compare it to a single top-tier level 400 piece of equipment, their stats wouldn’t actually be that different.

That was why Yisi planned to give Twilight of Eternal Frost to Camilla. Camilla could still grow in the future, while it was almost impossible for Yisi to level up any further.

Camilla was clearly unwilling to accept Twilight of Eternal Frost, her beautiful eyebrows knitting together.

“But…”

“No buts. You said it yourself, didn’t you, Camilla? Although you’re the second daughter of the Pescia family, that branch-shaped staff is just a common, low-grade item. As my sister, I absolutely cannot bear to see you suffer.”

As long as she played the “older sister” card, Camilla would definitely be unable to refuse. Yisi had already accumulated experience in persuading Camilla.

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As expected, Camilla lowered her head, blushing, and reluctantly reached out to take Twilight of Eternal Frost.

“Onee-sama, you’re too cunning…”

“Just seeing your expression now, I could eat three bowls of rice.”

“You’ll get a stomachache.”

A pouting expression.

She was simply an angel.

Yisi felt as if she could see a pair of wings sprout from Camilla’s back and an angel’s halo appear above her golden hair, which was tied with a white ribbon.

“Ahem! So Camilla is the younger sister.”

Clementine, having finished toasting with his companions, pushed them aside and sat next to Yisi. Just like in the morning, with his handsome, gentle face and his gray hair tied back like a scholar, Clementine’s appearance was quite impressive.

“Of course. Onee-sama will always be my sister.”

Camilla puffed out her chest proudly. Clementine, who disliked mature young women, averted his gaze.

“No, I don’t mean older in terms of seniority. Camilla, in both figure and appearance, is a bit more mature than Miss Yisi…”

“Is that not allowed?”

Camilla frowned. Yisi smiled and waved her hand, interrupting their conversation.

“Camilla is my father’s adopted daughter. We’re not related by blood.”

For some reason, Clementine seemed to let out a sigh of relief, stroking his chin and nodding.

“I see, I see. I’ve never met someone whose appearance is younger than their actual age. If Miss Yisi was actually older than Miss Camilla, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.”

“Don’t you only like underage girls, Clementine?”

“No! How can you define it so simply? What I admire are pure girls whose bodies and minds are both in their youth, in the prime of their innocent and romantic years!”

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“Then what about Mary? Do you think Mary is cute, Clementine?”

“Mmyaeh?”

Mary, who was sitting next to Camilla and feasting heartily, tilted her head to look at Clementine. She didn’t notice the devastating effect her curious, round mouth and wide-eyed expression had on him.

Drip.

A stream of blood flowed from Clementine’s nose.

“Too… too cute!”

“Right? But Mary is actually fifteen and already an adult, you know? By age alone, she’s actually a year older than me.”

“Ah… ah…”

As if hearing a thunderclap on a clear day, Clementine froze on the spot, looking as if he had suffered a massive blow.

“Impossible, impossible, impossible… How could such a cute girl already be an adult… Miss Yisi must be joking. She must be.”

It seems this guy really doesn’t have any improper thoughts about Mary.

Normally, one would be happier to learn that Mary was actually an adult.

Of course, it was also possible that Clementine’s obsession was just too deep.

“Guild Leader, we didn’t come to Miss Yisi to talk about this, did we?”

Ainos, following behind, had a pained look on his face. He then raised his cup to Yisi in greeting.

The devastated Clementine looked up with a sad expression.

“Ah, yes, we do have proper business.”

Wiping the corners of his eyes, Clementine placed his hands on his knees, looking serious.

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“Miss Yisi, is there anything you wish to accomplish on this trip to Antonio City? A young lady like you, not only well-dressed but also possessing considerable strength, shouldn’t be traveling alone without even a guard—but please don’t misunderstand. I simply wish to express my gratitude for you saving my companion, within my capabilities. If you are unwilling to say, I will not press the matter.”

“Our objective…” Yisi hesitated for a moment. “Our objective is to investigate the Flame Giant.”

There was no need to hide this objective. On the way to Antonio City, Yisi had already spoken with many adventurers who were also targeting the Flame Giant. All of them wanted to make a name for themselves by challenging a powerful monster.

Hearing Yisi’s words, Clementine was not surprised, but rather very excited.

“That’s wonderful! We, the Flame Conquerors, have also been planning to investigate the origin of the Flame Giant recently. We’re in need of manpower. If you wouldn’t mind, Miss Yisi, would you be willing to cooperate with us?”

“Why choose us?”

The Flame Conquerors were a renowned adventurer’s guild in the Hermion domain. If they wanted partners, even if they couldn’t get a hundred responses to a single call, there should still be more than ten adventurer teams willing to join them.

“This… Miss Yisi, you may not know, but due to the fame of the Flame Giant, many adventurers from other territories have recently come to Antonio City. Plus, Lord Hermion is only recruiting Mithril-rank adventurer teams and above. So, everyone not only hopes to find a clue and become a famous adventurer overnight, but also wants to get the bounty offered by the Count.

Right now, all the skilled adventurers in the city have been absorbed by outside teams, and because we’ve made too many enemies in the past, we don’t dare to casually recruit local adventurers.”

Yisi couldn’t help but tease.

“Aren’t you worried we’ll backstab you, Clementine?”

Clementine’s mouth fell open.

“How could that be! Pure and cute girls don’t lie!”

Ainos added from the side.

“Besides, Miss Yisi, you saved me, a member of the Flame Conquerors. If even that was part of your scheme, then we would willingly be deceived.”

“I see. You mentioned earlier that Count Hermion only requires Mithril-rank adventurers, is that right?”

“Yes. Without a Mithril-rank adventurer certificate, the Count will not allow you to enter the dried-up Antonio Lake or the Hermion Snowy Mountains, and those two places are the most promising locations for finding clues.”

Clementine bowed his head sincerely.

“I hope that you will cooperate with us, Miss Yisi. We will handle the matter of the adventurer certificate for you. If we do find a clue, we will also share the bounty with you proportionally.”

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This was a bit troublesome.

Investigating alone was her optimal choice. Teaming up with others would be restrictive. Even with the rule preventing non-Mithril adventurers from entering, she could come and go as she pleased with teleportation and stealth magic.

Honestly, Yisi couldn’t find a reason to cooperate.

“Moreover, this time the Count has also hired a magic caster completely covered in a black cloak. According to that magic caster, we will encounter countless monsters during this operation. If you wish to become stronger, Miss Yisi, cooperating with each other would be a good opportunity.”

“Many monsters?”

Yisi paused for a moment.

She was just worrying about how to level up Camilla and the other two. Since there were many monsters, she couldn’t let this chance go.

As for the person completely shrouded in a black cloak, there was a ninety percent chance it was the Fallen Angel Ariel.

What is the Fallen Angel’s goal?

Yisi had no clue.

But her course of action was set—she would investigate secretly on her own, while publicly raising the strength of Camilla’s group.

After discussing the details, Yisi and Clementine reached an agreement. However, just as the banquet was reaching its climax, a group of people suddenly appeared at the door, causing the entire hall to fall silent.

It was the group of men who had greeted Yisi when she entered the mansion that evening.

Including Lala’s lover, everyone had bluish-purple bruises on their bodies. Some had even had their teeth knocked out, and blood was flowing uncontrollably from their foreheads.

Clementine’s gentle expression instantly turned serious. He stood up and, along with the other adventurers, walked over to their comrades.

“What happened?”

The man in the lead, covering his forehead, said with a face full of shame.

“Boss, we… we were retaliated against by that group from ‘Blue Sea’.”