Bert Territory, Bert City.
Smith Tavern, having seen off the last guest, began to close up as the owners started their end-of-day routine.
The bartender, Mrs. Smith, was a slender, not short woman, adeptly tying her hair back into a ponytail, revealing her broad forehead.
"Smith, set the chairs right, and after wiping the tables, co upstairs quickly—I think my brewed fruit wine is ready for a taste test."
Confronted with his wife's call, Mr. Smith, who was busy, stiffened.
Unlike his wife's slender build, Mr. Smith was both tall and fat, his thick arms and broad shoulders enough to intimidate anyone.
In fact, when Smith Tavern first opened, the local thugs had learned the hard taste of being knocked out cold with his punch.
After Mr. Smith managed to fight off ten by himself, Smith Tavern beca quite peaceful.
Yet, even the formidable Mr. Smith felt a twinge in his lower back at his wife's insinuation.
Was it about the fruit wine?
It was about making kneel!
Just as Mr. Smith used the la excuse of "I'm too tired today, consider this a raincheck" to placate his wife, a vision suddenly flashed before his eyes.
The vision was fleeting.
Yet Mr. Smith had seen clearly that one of his few remaining followers, no, believers from this era, had died.
To be precise, he had been sacrificed.
Sacrificed to another entity.
That entity was very cautious, shielding his vision, preventing him from seeing clearly.
However, this didn't prevent him from feeling relieved.
The other did not want to be discovered.
Neither did he.
He too had resisted this era, but after being crushed by the wheels of destiny under the guise of 'gunpowder', he gave up.
Especially after being picked up by his wife, he utterly surrendered.
As his believers dwindled, he ca to his senses.
Thus, he knew what he wanted.
All he wanted was to spend the rest of his life with his wife.
The quiet kind of life.
Of course, if soone tried to disrupt this peace, he would crush their skull.
"Should we leave Bert?
But Rachel loves it here.
Moreover, this tavern is her pride and joy…
Damn it!
I've given up everything, why must soone provoke !"
Instinctively, Mr. Smith clenched his fist.
However, just as the real wooden stool in his hand was about to splinter, Mr. Smith ca back to his senses in a very subtle manner. Three years of marriage had already made Mrs. Smith sensitive to the signs.
"Smith?"
Mrs. Smith inquired.
"It's nothing. I was just saying, if I could owe you one…"
Mr. Smith's voice tapered off.
Because of the smile on Mrs. Smith's face.
That smile was very formal, unemotional.
This made Mr. Smith understand that it was his wife's way of saying no; if he did not want sothing unexpected in his food for the next few days, it was best to agree.
"Alright, alright, I'll try your fruit wine in a minute!"
Mr. Smith gave the impression he was resigned to his fate.
Mrs. Smith imdiately bead with joy.
The formal smile vanished.
"Alright, I'll wait for you, dear!"
As Mrs. Smith said this, she walked upstairs.
Once she entered the bedroom and confird her husband was still downstairs, Mrs. Smith's expression darkened.
Just then, her forr 'friend,' known as the Lady of Sorrow, Mikhail, had reached out to her asking for help, promising many benefits.
If it were three years ago…
No!
Had it been six years ago, before she t Smith, she would have agreed without hesitation.
But now?
Impossible!
She had Smith, her own estate, and was striving to conceive their next generation—though the chances were slim due to her unique constitution, she believed, with Smith's robust health, their child would definitely be born successfully.
She hadn't expected the man she picked up casually to be so strong.
The mont she thought of her husband, Mrs. Smith couldn't help but smile.
But imdiately, her brows furrowed deeply.
As a friend of the "Lady of Sorrow," she knew well the other's way of doing things.
If she didn't help out, she might end up as a bargaining chip for the other party.
No!
Even if she went, it would still be the sa!
"I can't stay in Bert any longer!
Must leave!
Leave quickly!"
With that thought, Mrs. Smith peeked out of the bedroom and yelled down to her husband, who was dawdling —
"Ruishiu, if you don't finish what you're doing in five minutes, you're getting up fifty minutes later tomorrow morning!"
"Okay, right away!"
Listening to her husband's flustered voice, Mrs. Smith imdiately spoke again.
"By the way, I heard that Inner Bay is hosting the 'South County Swordsmanship Competition.' Shall we go see it?
I've heard about it many tis before.
But I've never had the chance to go."
Mrs. Smith knew exactly how to persuade her husband.
Indeed, it was so.
Mr. Smith, who was thinking about how to lay low, imdiately seized the opportunity.
"Of course!
I've never seen a real swordsmanship competition!
And, we've never really explored Inner Bay.
How about we leave early and treat it as a vacation for ourselves?"
Mr. Smith took the opportunity to say.
"Yes!
My dear, you've got three more minutes!"
After nodding repeatedly, Mrs. Smith reminded her husband.
Mr. Smith smiled bitterly.
However, his expression soon beca resolute, as if making a solemn pledge.
He too hoped for a child.
Not just as a continuation of theirs and his wife's bloodline.
But also...
To protect his wife!
He was always worried that, at least his wife would be safe in case of any mishap.
Unfortunately, his bloodline was too unique, greatly reducing the chance of pregnancy.
But...
It would definitely work!
Thinking this, Mr. Smith locked the door and hurried upstairs.
The night deepened further.
As the sunrise appeared once more, the captain and first mate of the 'Oriental' began to inspect the vessel again, while Old John, the chief sailor, directed sailors to load up supplies.
As the owner of the 'Oriental,' Arthur was exchanging pleasantries with Yekaterina Otto von West Berlin, who had co to see him off.
By the side of the eldest daughter of the Marquess of West Berlin stood the Guard Commander of the Marquis, maintaining a distance of two ters, providing constant protection.
"Thank you for seeing off."
Arthur said politely as he looked at Yekaterina, dressed splendidly for the occasion—he was very aware that after the recent incidents, the Marquess of West Berlin was using this opportunity to elevate his eldest daughter onto the stage of West Berlin Territory.
Of course, that included announcing to the world the alliance between the West Berlin Family and the Kledos Family.
Arthur was well aware of this.
Similarly, so was Yekaterina.
Therefore, the lady was sowhat reluctant but, for her family, her father, and herself, she still chose to approach Arthur with a disguised smile.
But the scene that unfolded next caught her completely off guard.
She stood, stunned.
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