Mice dominate the dungeon

George pushed open the wooden door of the cottage and stepped into the somewhat cold home.

At this time, Mary should be on her way home with her children.

"Merry is really something, she won't even add firewood to the fireplace!!"

Although George complained, his expression was gentle.

He knew that his wife, Meryl, was meticulously budgeting every day to support the family, especially with winter approaching in the Black Forest town!

He added the extra charcoal he had dug out from the dungeon to the fireplace along with some dry firewood.

The dying embers clung to the new firewood, burning the rough edges and forks of the wood, gradually turning it from brown to ash, still carrying wisps of bright yellow light.

The intense heat spread through the fireplace, bursting out when it reached its limit, caressing George's frozen face and driving away the lingering chill in the room.

As usual, George went to the cupboard, reached for the wine in it, and was about to pour himself a glass when he remembered he had something to do that night, so he quietly put it down.

I substituted the wine with a cup of Black Forest specialty bitter tea.

George sat quietly in his chair, sipping his slightly bitter hot tea and gazing out the window.

He was thinking about how to bring up the topic of "Dardo" with his wife and children.

As darkness fell, a soft sound came from the Joestar house as the door opened.

A middle-aged woman wearing a linen petticoat and a wool robe walked in.

Wearing a linen headscarf and carrying a wooden basket, Merry slowly walked into the house.

As soon as Mary entered the house, she felt a warm current envelop her body, and then she saw her husband sitting at the table.

"You're back." George turned to look at his wife, then asked with a hint of doubt, "Why didn't Johnny come back with you?"

"He went to visit his friends, he should be back before dinner," Melly said with a hint of helplessness.

"That brat's been fooling around again..." George frowned.

Just as Mary placed the basket she was carrying on the table, she suddenly noticed that in front of her husband was a steaming cup of bitter tea, not the usual spiced wine.

Knowing George's habits, Mary asked, "Honey, is there anything to do tonight?"

"Hmm..." George paused slightly, finished his bitter tea, and said, "It's a small matter. Let's talk about it when Johnny gets back."

Mei didn't ask any more questions and turned to go to the kitchen to start preparing dinner.

Before long, the small house, which was originally filled with warmth, was filled with the rich aroma of cooking food.

This made George, who was exhausted after a long day, swallow hard.

Just as I was about to get up and go to the kitchen to have a taste, the door opened again.

He was a boy of about ten years old, tall and handsome, with striking features. Most notably, he had blond hair and deep blue eyes.

In contrast to Meryl's simple attire, the boy was dressed in a striking blue and white outfit.

He is George's son, Johnny Joestar.

Johnny hung the scarf on the coat rack behind the door, then greeted George:

"Father, I'm back."

Johnny, who was going through a rebellious phase, did not have a good relationship with his father.

George, who had just lifted his buttocks, sat back down in his chair and said coldly, "Get ready to eat."

Fifteen minutes later.

A steaming hot dinner has been laid out on the clean table.

Creamy sauce with roasted fresh mushrooms, pan-fried potato pancakes, and a small plate of oatmeal bread.

Johnny prayed at the dining table and was about to enjoy the food when he was interrupted by his mother.

"Your father has something to say," Mary explained.

Seeing his wife and son looking at him, George pursed his lips and asked:

Have you guys run into a guy named "Dardo" lately?

After thinking it over carefully, Meryl shook her head and said, "I've never heard of that name."

Johnny shrugged and shook his head.

Upon hearing their responses, George's brows furrowed, and his expression became somewhat grave.

"What does this person look like? What are his features?" Seeing her husband's strange expression, Mary asked. "We might have run into him, but we just don't know his name."

George was stumped by his wife's question!

Although he met Dardo, he never saw what the other looked like.

In the end, George could only vaguely describe what he thought: "A stranger, a professional adventurer, with a clear voice, not very old, probably around the same age as Johnny."

Both Mary and Johnny recalled their own experiences, but ultimately maintained that they had never encountered it.

Upon receiving the clear reply, George felt a mix of joy and sorrow.

The good news is that Dardo did not go looking for his wife and children.

Sadly, the problem still lies with myself...

"What happened?" Mary seemed to sense George's unease.

George forced a smile and said, "It's nothing serious. It's nearing winter, and some adventurers are short on money, so they might do something extreme."

"If you encounter that adventurer named 'Daldor' later, ignore him and leave immediately."

After seeing that he had fooled his wife and children, George indicated that it was time to have dinner.

Johnny and Merry began to enjoy the food in front of them.

George looked at the delicious-smelling dinner on the table, but despite his initial hunger, he found himself unable to eat...

Dardo's situation has once again reached a dead end.

For a moment, George didn't know what to do, so he poured himself a glass of spiced wine.

As he watched the dark red liquid being poured into the glass, George suddenly remembered a tavern!

The Last Cup and Tomorrow's Debt

He confirmed Dardo's existence there last time; perhaps he could get some help from there!

After dinner, George resisted the urge to go to the pub and waited until the clock struck 10:35.

George made an excuse, put on a decent-looking outfit, and quietly took out a bag from a hidden spot in the study floor tiles!

This bag contained the wealth he had accumulated over the years through countless hardships as an adventurer.

200 gold coins!

George took out 150 gold coins, keeping only 50 for household expenses.

Although he was reluctant to part with the 150 gold coins, he knew that the information on "The Last Cup and Tomorrow's Debt" was extremely valuable, especially since it involved an adventurer of the Emerald level.

But he was willing to spend all 150 gold coins to figure out and resolve this matter!

He is now in a very dangerous situation.

If an Emerald-level adventurer really wanted to kill him, it would be infinitely easier for him than killing a mine rat!

A blow comparable to one on a different level of life!

George knew the difference between money and his life...

Especially now that I have a wife and children!

As George stepped out of his house, he clutched his purse tightly, refusing to even put it in his inner pocket, as if only by holding it could he feel at ease.

We walked through the chilly residential area and headed towards the center of the town.

Although it was late, the street where "The Last Cup and Tomorrow's Debt" was located was bustling with activity. The shop's lights were bright and dazzling, and even the chill seemed to be lessened here.

The door that should have been parallel to his life was slowly pushed open.

Compared to his previous restraint and timidity, George was much more composed this time.

If he were simply a bronze adventurer, George would definitely care about the opinions of other adventurers.

But he is now being targeted by 'Dardor', and even in the most famous tavern in town, there is no adventurer with Emerald-level strength to be found!

When the pressure exceeds the normal level, it will naturally disregard things weaker than that level!

Arriving at the familiar bar, I looked at the incredibly beautiful female bartender.

George slowly sat down in the chair and greeted him politely:

Good evening, beautiful lady!