Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 506 Reunion in the Tavern: The Pirate's Melody

Beyond killing,
There is also warm wine in the human world.

There was also laughter and the sound of a zither.

In the tower of the end,

Friendship and memories,
It will never disappear.

—Notes from a Traveler in the Tower

In the mission hall of the lower level of the Tower of the End, a bustling crowd and swirling lights filled the giant portal. Countless Scourge warriors came and went, creating a scene as noisy as a small market.

Xiao Jinyan lingered in the crowd, his eyes glancing between the stalls selling alchemical potions and the shacks displaying strange trinkets, his steps becoming increasingly erratic.

"Sister, let me take a look!" he shouted, stretching out his hand as if to point something out.

Xiao Lianyin reacted swiftly, grabbing his collar and pulling him back forcefully, her cold laughter like a knife:
"Look what you've done. You've spent a bunch of points to buy weird stuff again. Stand still and don't leave my sight."

Xiao Jinyan opened his mouth, his face full of dissatisfaction: "At worst, we'll just change it again..."

Before he could finish speaking, he met the sharp gazes of Xiao Lianyin and Si Ming simultaneously. Those gazes were like two ice blades, abruptly silencing his words.

He sheepishly raised his hands, his face contorted in surrender: "Okay, okay, I was wrong, alright?"

The surrounding Star Scourges watched the siblings bickering and couldn't help but smile. In the noisy crowd, this scene seemed like a heartwarming interlude in everyday life.

Si Ming glanced at the crowded hall and casually said, "I'll go back to the Mysterious Guild first to take care of some things."

Xiao Lianyin grabbed Xiao Jinyan by the collar and declared without room for argument, "Then I'll take Jinyan to the trading market and sell those cards for points."

Xiao Jinyan looked miserable and was about to defend himself when his sister glared at him fiercely, causing him to swallow his words back.

The three quickly made an appointment: "Meet us later at the headquarters of the Mysterious Guild—the Evening Bell Tavern."

The scene shifts, and Si Ming walks alone into the depths of the hall.

The so-called "mission hall" is actually more like a small city.

Beneath the towering vaulted ceilings, dozens of streets crisscross:
The entrance to the tavern was bustling with noise, as the Star Scourge clinked glasses, their laughter and chatter mingling together.

Inside the coffee shop, several players were talking in hushed tones, with a dungeon map and intelligence manuscript spread out on the table;
There are also strange shops, with various props and mysterious cards displayed in the windows, some shimmering with an alluring glow, and others emitting an ominous black mist;
Some players even set up cloth stalls on the street, loudly hawking: "High-level cards! Low price! Come and negotiate if you want them!"

Si Ming walked leisurely among them, a slight smile playing on his lips beneath his mask.

The noisy, chaotic, yet vibrant scene made him chuckle softly.

—This is clearly the "game city" he had envisioned.

If it weren't for that incident.

Si Ming pushed open the door of a tavern with a brass knocker, and warm air, carrying the aroma of wine and music, rushed out. Inside, it was bustling with people, but the atmosphere was more relaxed than outside the main hall.

A long-eared elf girl immediately came forward, her smile both professional and sweet, and led him to a seat by the window.

She gently placed a thin menu down and said softly, "Sir, please wait a moment," before turning and leaving.

Si Ming rested his chin on his hand and casually flipped through the menu, which contained only a few drinks and snacks, making it seem rather simple.

As he was lost in thought, a slender, fair hand suddenly landed on the menu.

A sickeningly sweet voice came from beside me: "Sir, coffee? Tea? Or—me?"

Siming was taken aback at first, then chuckled, and looked up to see that it was indeed true.

The girl in front of me was wearing a low-cut uniform, and the familiar cunning in her eyes was almost impossible to hide.

She was bending over, a mischievous grin on her face.

“Liseria.” Siming shook his head.

"Hi, long time no see, you weaver of lies, Lord Si Ming."

She sat gracefully opposite her, resting her chin on her hands, her eyes looking as if she were looking at some interesting puzzle.

"The Thousand-Faced Siming is always different," Liseria teased with a smile. Siming didn't respond, but calmly asked, "What are you doing here? And dressed like that, working as a waiter?"

Liseria stood up triumphantly, twirled around, her skirt billowing slightly, revealing a daring curve at her waist.

She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is it pretty? I think it's quite fun."

Si Ming looked at her, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes beneath the mask. This woman, from Alleston to this moment, seemed to have never changed.

Liseria chuckled mischievously and lowered her voice: "By the way, our tavern also has a violinist; they might give you a pleasant surprise."

Before the words were even finished, the lights in the center of the stage came on, and a familiar melody began to play.

He's a Pirate.

Si Ming looked up and, sure enough, the two figures on the stage looked very familiar.

Calvino, with his long silver hair, holds a violin and stands as steady as a rock. The first note of the bow is like waves crashing against the side of a ship, heavy and unrestrained.
Beside him, Lilia was lithe and focused, her piano music as bright and cheerful as the twinkling stars in the night sky.

The two melodies initially stand independently, one deep and surging like a tide, the other clear and bright like starlight.

As the bowstrings intertwine, the music begins to chase and echo each other, like the sea breeze and sail ropes conversing on the deck.

Gradually, the melodies overlapped, and the power of the harmony surged forth.

The tavern, which had been filled with noise and the sounds of clinking glasses, gradually quieted down at that moment.

People subconsciously turned their heads, their eyes drawn to the stage, their expressions shifting from casual to captivated.

Calvino's piano playing was steady, like the rhythm of a ship breaking through the waves; Lilia's notes were light and lively, like silvery foam dancing on the crest of a wave.

The two worked together seamlessly, and as the music reached its climax, a war song-like melody exploded, as if the Lost One was braving the wind and waves, sailing proudly through the storm.

"Whoosh—" The last stroke of the bowstring was rapid and powerful, coming to an abrupt end, but leaving a lingering echo that reverberated throughout the tavern for a long time.

A brief silence fell as everyone held their breath until they came to their senses.

Then, the tavern erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.

The wine glasses on the table were tapped, each sound crisp and clear, as if adding accompaniment to this battle song.

The brother and sister on the stage smiled, but their eyes secretly glanced towards the window.

Calvino and Lilia bowed gracefully amidst applause and cheers.

The music had ended, but its lingering notes still rippled through the tavern like a tide.

The two slowly put away their instruments, their movements perfectly synchronized, just as natural as furling sails on a deck.

Their gazes swept over the patrons, past unfamiliar faces, and finally settled on the familiar figure by the window.

The brother and sister exchanged a glance, their lips curving into clear smiles.

They stepped off the stage with steady and composed steps, exuding the confidence and elegance that comes with the sea.

The applause in the tavern continued, but it seemed to be cut off by the silence behind them.

Si Ming sat quietly by the window, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes behind the mask gentle and bright.

Liseria lazily rested her chin on her hand, her eyes filled with her usual mischievous smile;

Calvino and Lilia walked side by side, their expressions filled with sincerity and relief;
Si Ming sat there quietly, as if waiting for a fateful encounter.

At this moment, the lights and laughter of the tavern intertwined, and liveliness and tranquility coexisted.

The pirate's harp music
Tell the story of lost waves and winds.

The smiles of reunion

It is the gentlest lamp in the Tower of the End.

—From *Memoirs of a Tavern*

(End of this chapter)