Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

"Gurgle—"

A dwarf took a big gulp of beer and stared wide-eyed at the forest ghost.

"You mean, we can send a message to Copperhammer and his group for just 7 copper coins?"

Lin Gui nodded: "Yes."

He then skillfully took out an envelope and a pen from the backpack at his waist and asked.

"Would you like me to write one now?"

Just then.

Ugh—!

A sharp, piercing alarm sounded.

The noise inside the tavern was suddenly shattered by a loud crash from the outside passageway!

The sound had a metallic, friction-like quality.

The rapid, repeated sounds made people's eardrums ache.

Almost the instant the alarm sounded, the atmosphere inside the tavern changed drastically.

The shock and curiosity that had been on the dwarves' faces due to the poster vanished instantly.

Instead, there was a cold, habitual solemnity.

The dwarves, who had just been drinking merrily, put down their glasses without hesitation.

They swiftly and efficiently picked up the battleaxe, hammer, and shield leaning against the corner of the wall.

Don your armor neatly and efficiently.

A dwarf with a full beard strode up to the Forest Ghost.

He looked at the human and asked.

"The leader said you're a friend of Copper Hammer? Is that true?"

"Do you know who he is?!"

Outside, the sirens continued to blare mournfully.

Mixed in with the clanging of metal and faint roars coming from afar.

The entire city of Fortified Shield was like a war machine that had been instantly activated, entering a state of high-efficiency combat readiness.

Lin Gui answered calmly:

"I brought to him the news of his brother in the cities of New Testament and Caran."

"So he was relatively friendly to me."

"As for their identities, that's clear."

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Gui looked at Xia beside him and said.

"But so what?"

"To bear a crime that doesn't exist because of one's racial identity?"

"I have always scoffed at such ideas."

The dwarf nodded in satisfaction, then pressed for more information, his eyes sharp:

"So, have you ever drunk with Copper Hammer?"

Lin Gui recalled the strange-smelling so-called "treasure" that Tongchui had kicked out from under the bed that night, and his expression became somewhat odd:

"I've had it. But the wine he kept... well, it was really awful."

Lin Gui doesn't drink often, but his liquor is truly awful.

Upon hearing this, the dwarf burst into laughter.

He jumped up and patted Lin Gui on the shoulder.

"Well said!"

"That guy's only decent drinker!"

"But his brewing skills are a disgrace to the Stoneheart Clan!"

He laughed loudly and patted Lin Gui hard again.

He immediately turned around, his face turned serious, picked up his battle axe, and rushed out the door.

The other dwarves also cast brief, friendly glances at them.

They then transformed into a series of majestic figures.

It merges into the surging tide of preparations for war flowing into the outside channels.

In the blink of an eye, the bustling tavern became empty.

Only Grom, the leader, the Forest Ghost, Shea, and Eve remained.

Shia looked at Grom curiously: "Aren't you going?"

Grom plopped back down on the bench.

He picked up a wine glass, swirled it around, and spoke with a hint of languor:

"Those bastards who crawled up from the seabed come knocking on the door of Aegis City almost every day."

"If I have to fight every time, what chance do I have of taking a break?"

"So you're taking the day off today?" Shia asked.

Grom nodded.

"right!"

"Perfect, I can give you a proper welcome on behalf of that bastard Copper Hammer!"

As he spoke, he nimbly flipped over the bar.

They carried out an exceptionally heavy oak barrel.

That's why he needs to go get it himself.

It was because of the burly, short female bartender who was originally behind the bar.

He had just charged out into battle, carrying a huge double-edged battle axe.

Grom slammed the barrel down on the table.

Then they took out several large wooden wine glasses.

They were placed one by one in front of Lin Gui, Shia, and Eve.

Each cup is almost as big as four fists put together.

Looking at the enormous thing in front of him, Lin Gui's lips twitched slightly, and his face showed bitterness.

He doesn't actually drink much.

But for some reason, any man who got along with him...

Whether it's the copper hammer or Grom right in front of them.

Or perhaps it was the group of men from the Spark Revolution.

They all seemed to be alcoholics.

In this alien world where entertainment is scarce, alcohol seems to have become the default social currency.

He also has a deep understanding of the local drinking culture.

Once the glasses are full, there is absolutely no possibility of leaving the table midway unless a close family member passes away.

Just as he was agonizing over his wine glass, a slender, fair hand reached out to him.

He was holding an equally enormous wine ladle in his hand.

Carefully empty the part of the Lin Gui cup that had been emptied due to the disappearance of the foam.

It was filled up completely again.

Lin Gui turned his head, puzzled.

No, why would you skim off the foam and add alcohol to your drink?!

And why is the object of your affections?

He saw Xia grinning foolishly at him, her eyes slightly darting around.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat, feigning seriousness, "how can such a small amount of wine be enough?"

"You...you're going to drink with me!"

After saying that, she poured a small layer of golden liquid into the wine glass in front of her.

Then she leaned over the ghost in the woods and looked at Eve, who was sitting quietly to the side:

"Eve! Would you like a drink too?"

Eve smiled faintly.

His gaze flickered between the wine glass and Lin Gui for a moment, then he said softly:

"Sure. But please pour me a little less, it's my first time drinking this."

The arrival of the two girls made Grom even happier, and he laughed heartily.

"Great! That felt good!"

As they toasted and exchanged drinks, the atmosphere at the table quickly became lively.

Grom was naturally talkative.

After a few drinks, they started talking more freely.

From the various jokes that Tongchui made in the clan back then.

Speaking of the helplessness of the Stoneheart tribe being forced to leave.

He even patted his chest, expressing understanding and sympathy for Shea's half-demon status.

"What does bloodline matter?! True bloodline is proven through one's actions!"

Shea was clearly touched by what was said.

She was already in high spirits, and now she was drinking one glass of wine after another.

It was as if I wanted to wash away the grievances and loneliness that had been building up in my heart for so long with alcohol.

He cursed and swore about his unbearable past as a wanderer.

She cried out about the various forms of discrimination she had suffered and the unjust accusations she had been made against her.

As she drank, she didn't forget to pour wine for Lin Gui.

Every time he got emotional, he would urge Lin Gui to drink quickly.

Then, under Lin Gui's resentful gaze, she poured him a full cup.

Throughout the entire drinking session, Lin Gui spoke the least, yet he was forced to drink the most.

I don't know if it was just his imagination.

Compared to Grom's rather methodical "you drink one cup, I drink one cup" approach.

Shea seemed... more interested in getting him drunk than Grom.

The frequency and reasons for her toasts.

Even Grom, who was a heavy drinker, was amazed and then joined the "battle" even more enthusiastically.

Lin Gui recalled his time in Carter's capital.

The scene where Shia and Elvia teamed up to give him "aphrodisiac powder".

His lips twitched slightly involuntarily.

Shia is so proactive in trying to get herself drunk...

Could it be that they're trying to... repeat the same old trick again?

The thought had barely crossed my mind when it crossed my mind.

thump!

Lin Gui felt the world before him begin to spin, and his head felt incredibly heavy.

Finally, it collapsed silently onto the cold wooden tabletop.

The sounds of Grom and Shia playing drinking games, a mix of rough and crisp sounds, still echoed in his ears.

In a daze, he felt himself being carried on the back of a slender yet strong figure.

After a bumpy ride, I was finally gently placed on a soft, narrow bed.

He kept his breathing steady, pretending to still be asleep.

Although he drank a lot of alcohol, most of it was spilled on Lin Gui's clothes.

Even so, Lin Gui was extremely drunk, but he still managed to keep his head clear.

Feeling the mattress beside me slightly sink, I realized someone had climbed up.

A light and unique fragrance, typical of young girls, slowly approached and lingered around his nose.

Lin Gui knew he couldn't keep up the act any longer.

He suddenly opened his still somewhat dazed eyes.

He wanted to ask, "Sia, what are you doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

However, what came into view was not the pair of cunning emerald eyes that I had expected.

Instead, they were a pair of deep, mysterious eyes, like a vortex of violets.

A face of exquisite beauty, ethereal and otherworldly, with a smile that seems to radiate a mystical etherealness.

She was gazing at him closely, smiling.

It's not Shia.

It turned out to be...

Saint Eve.