Already at the tavern, we sat at the bar, where Selene and I ordered a beer to kick off the evening. The conversations among the other patrons were crucial, providing valuable insight into the social climate, city rumors, political tensions, and the daily worries of the locals. It helped us understand the city's situation from a different perspective—one that didn't come from Selene's or Dalia's family. I activated the recorder on the supercomputer (my ears act as microphones), and somehow, we'd find a way to save every conversation. (If Neo analyzes everyone he sees, then I should do the same right now).
I scanned everything: names, surnames, ages... Hundreds of data points and numbers appeared before me. I honestly don't know how Neo can process so much without getting dizzy.
As the night went on, Selene and I kept drinking and chatting, until three men at a table started shouting at each other. Selene got up to break up the argument between the merchants. It didn't help, in my opinion—when the guild's administrator tells you to shut up, you probably should. But of course, that's just my opinion, for whatever it's worth. One of the men stood up and grabbed Selene's hand. Another made a disgusting pelvic gesture. Selene slapped the man holding her and he muttered:
— Drunk #1 — "I think I'm gonna have some fun tonight," — as he reached toward her chest.
I couldn't let that happen. I stood up, ready to act—but I didn't have to. Selene electrocuted him with a stun charge that left him frozen in place. Three or four tables of men got up to defend their friend, pulling out knives and daggers. Selene backed up, bumping into my chest.
■— "I know you can handle them…" — I said.
— Selene — "Love, let's just go. I don't want anyone getting hurt." — she replied.
— Drunk #2 — "Listen to that whore and leave before we kill you." — one of the troublemakers barked.
■— "Excuse me, my good sir," — I said, rolling up my sleeves.
— Drunk #2 — "What's your problem, you piece of shit?" — he shouted, drawing a knife from his belt.
― Tavern Owner ― "Miss Selene, come behind the counter. These guys fight all the time. The guards will be here soon." — the owner called from behind.
Among the insults and slurred shouts from the other drunkards...
■— "Silence!" — I roared, my voice so deep and forceful it made the glasses on the tables vibrate.
I didn't use insults. I didn't need them. The sheer power in my tone froze the air and made everyone gulp in unison, as if judgment itself had descended on the tavern.
■— You think you're men because you yell and gather like hyenas? It's funny how much you scream to hide how pathetic you are. So fragile, a little authority breaks you. And yet you dare call yourselves Men. —
One step was enough—silent, but firm—and they stepped back. Not out of fear of me, but because for one brief moment, they were forced to face their own cowardice. It wasn't my shout that made them tremble—it was the mirror I held up to their wretched selves.
The first one lunged at me with a dagger, but missed. I moved like a matador, just shifting to the side, positioning myself to land a punch square on his jaw. He dropped like a sack of flour.
The room froze for a second. Then, three more men rushed me with clumsy threats. I dodged their attacks effortlessly—blocking one with my palm, shoving another with my shoulder, tripping the third with a simple sweep. It was like dancing through their rage. One smashed into a chair, another onto a table, the last one tumbled across the floor, dropping his knife.
While I kept dodging attacks, I noticed a young man in the back—different from the rest. He was holding a book with a peculiar title: "Grimoire of Fire." If it was what I thought, this guy could burn down the whole tavern. He was murmuring a spell, focused on his magic, completely unaware of the chaos.
I walked toward him calmly, as if nothing could touch me. When I reached him, I extended a hand with a wry smile and said:
■— Enjoying the read? I know how to read too. — I snatched the book with ease.
The young man, startled, reacted too late. Still, he shouted:
— Young Man — Die, bastard! Fire attack! —
A small, fiery sphere—trembling and pulsing like a heart on the verge of collapse—began spinning slowly between his fingers, casting reddish flickers that danced in his blazing pupils. The air filled with a faint crackling, like the magic itself couldn't decide whether to explode or fizzle out. It was unstable and weak.
I stepped forward unhurriedly, placed my hand under the fireball, and—without blinking—crushed it inside my fist.
The sound of the flame snuffing out was louder than any scream. The look in my eyes and the calm with which I did it were enough to make several men step back, their faces twisted in disbelief. Some began to sweat profusely. Others—literally—wet themselves.
— Drunk #3 — I ain't fighting that guy! Keep your damn money, Orlan! — one yelled before bolting out the door.
The chaos turned into a parade of cowards fleeing the scene. I turned to a man in the back, next to Teodoro. According to my scan, his name was Orlan. That name rang a bell. I searched the supercomputer and remembered—he was the same guy Teodoro had mentioned when we first arrived in the city.
― Orlan ― Looks like you caught me. —
■― I think Teodoro owes me an explanation. —
After calming everyone down and rearranging the tavern's tables and chairs, Selene treated the remaining guests to a round of beers—on Orlan and Teodoro's tab. Then she and I sat at the same table as them.
Orlan watched me with a mix of surprise, respect, and a bit of fear. Selene sat by my side, composed, with a subtle smile. Teodoro seemed more worried about numbers than knives.
― Orlan ― I admit I wasn't expecting such a... let's say, explosive entrance. —
― Selene ― Why don't we move to another room, Mr. Orlan? — Her voice sliced through the air like a sharpened blade—firm, leaving no room for argument. She stood gracefully, and with just one look at the crowd, everyone shrank into their seats. Suddenly, everyone found their food very interesting. No one said a word. No one heard a thing—or pretended they didn't.
The tavern owner led us to a back room with two sofas and a coffee table.
― Selene ― Orlan, for Tolmas' sake, remind me again—sometimes I forget—what kind of insane nonsense are you telling your men that makes them act like that!? What the hell were you thinking?! Is spying on other businesses, stealing ideas, and creating unfair competition not enough for you? Where's your sense of honor?"
The scolding was brutal. Selene didn't raise her voice, but every word hit like a spear. Orlan barely lifted his eyes. Teodoro and I stayed completely silent.
― Selene ― And you, Teodoro. Don't you know how to stop your partner from doing something idiotic? Be grateful my husband wasn't hurt."
(Husband? (ಠಿ_ಠ?) 🤨)
In the end, Orlan laughed—but his smile didn't reach Selene's eyes.
■― I hope that after my wife's scolding, you take it as a warning not to play with people like that. — When I said "wife," Selene turned her head sharply and gave me a look I couldn't quite read—maybe annoyed, maybe not, maybe pleased. Who knows.
Silence thickened the room. Teodoro coughed awkwardly. Selene held my gaze for a few seconds before continuing.
■― Excuse me, dear. — I interrupted. —Forgive me, Mr. Orlan, would you be so kind as to consider a hypothetical idea—a passing thought? —
― Orlan ― Of course, Mister... — He gestured, waiting for my full name.
■― Hunt. Just Hunt. —
― Teodoro ― I'm guessing you two aren't actually married yet. —
― Selene ― Teodoro, do me a favor—shut up. —
(Thank god she actually likes me.)
― Orlan ― So what kind of idea do you have in mind, Mr. Hunt? —
■― If I may boast, I passed the merchant guild exam. I don't have contacts or capital yet, but I have a proposal. I want to be your business partner. —
― Orlan ― Interesting. And what do you bring to the table? —
■― In the short time I've been in this beautiful city, I've noticed some... shortcomings. Lack of hygiene, food preservation issues. I have ideas and solutions. But I need support to mass-produce. —
― Selene ― Hunt, if I may. — She lifted her hand to stop me. — You weren't at the guild today, but rumors never sleep. Can you tell us what happened, Mr. Orlan? —
― Orlan ― Selene, my dear, you barely know me. I'm never absent. Today, a scholar visited the guild. A mathematician with new ideas—
He took a sip of tea from the table.
― Orlan ― New mathematics. Especially ones applicable to business. ―
― Selene ― You wouldn't happen to know this scholar's name? ―
― Teodoro ― Something like Gunter or Janet or whatever. — Orlan turned to his partner, then stared at me for a long while.
― Orlan ― Selene... clever little fox. Who would've thought that girl running around the guild would become the administrator—and marry a great scholar. ―
― Teodoro ― So that means... ―
― Selene ― Then you'll listen to my dear husband's proposal, won't you? ―
I coughed…
(Yup, guess I'm officially husband-ranked now. Not complaining—she's smart, beautiful, and sharp. Definitely made the right call.)
― Selene ― Hello? Hunt, darling? ―
■― Yeah, heh… As I was saying, to achieve my goals, I need a large company. I have two options: start from scratch or partner with someone. So, I want to buy a majority stake in your company. ―
― Orlan ― In 40 years as a merchant, I've never heard something so bold. ―
Without saying a word, I opened a small portal to the subdimension and dropped a 1kg bar of pure gold into my hand, then gently placed it on the table. The sound of metal hitting wood filled the room.
― Teodoro ― So much gold! — he said, practically drooling.
― Orlan ― Impressive... But it's still not enough to buy my empire. We're talking over 150 gold coins. I see you also have the ability to create an alternate pocket dimension. ―
I opened another portal above the table and let another gold bar fall.
■― Selene, love, could you help me count how many gold coins are on the table? ―
― Selene ― 144 coins, darling. — Orlan gulped, and Teodoro was left speechless.
Another bar. Selene shot me a deadly glare.
― Orlan ― I don't see 160 coins yet. — I dropped another gold bar, and Selene gave me a look that could kill.
■― Should I stop... or keep going until the table breaks? ―
The phrase hung in the air. Silence fell, broken only by the echo of the last gold bar.
― Orlan ― I see money isn't a concern for you. But what does my company gain, besides the gold you clearly have in excess? — He leaned back in his chair, waiting for my answer, as if my next words would determine everything.
■― Your company gains access to technology that doesn't exist, to transportation no one's ever seen, to ideas your competitors won't get until it's too late. You gain security, power, growth... ―
― Orlan ― Many young men come to me with those same promises. What do you have that they don't? ―
■― This is just a glimpse of what I can create. — I pulled out the little notebook Sena had given me. — This book is the key. Inside are the plans for the first printing press in this world. With it, we'll distribute knowledge like loaves of bread. Your company won't just sell goods—it'll sell the future. ―
Orlan took the book, flipped through a few pages, and raised an eyebrow. Teodoro leaned in to read silently, and his expression slowly shifted from doubt to awe.
― Teodoro ― This... this could change everything. Mass production of books. Education. Propaganda. Technical manuals... ―
― Orlan ― (after a long pause) ― Alright. I'll make you a deal. If you win, I give you my company. If I win, you lose your gold, your plans, and your chances. All or nothing. ―
■― Deal. But before we play for the grand prize, why don't we strip each other of some gold? Just for fun. — I couldn't risk losing the printing press designs to a coin toss.
I dropped 30 gold coins on the table. Selene leaned in toward me and whispered, frowning:
― Selene ― You've lost your mind... What are you thinking? ―
■― Trust me. — I said aloud, without taking my eyes off Orlan.
― Orlan ― As you wish. — He dropped 40 coins on the table.
Teodoro threw the dice. Orlan and I each held up fingers to guess the result. I activated rapid thought, scanned every angle of the dice, and discovered they were rigged. I let Orlan win until he had all my coins. (Selene was furious but said nothing.)
■― Well, the coins are gone. Let's go for the big prize. Heads or tails.
I reached across the table to grab one of his coins.
■― Mind if I pick this one? It's my favorite. ―
― Orlan ― Better take this one. — He handed me one from his pouch.
As I stood up, I activated rapid thought again—so intense that Neo lost connection to the supercomputer.
■― Ready, set, go. — The coin shot into the air, and when it landed, I quickly covered it with my hand.
■― Selene, your call. — I smiled.
― Selene ― Heads... no, tails.
I revealed the coin in a way that made it obvious to Orlan I had rigged the flip. Silence. Orlan closed his eyes for a moment—then burst out laughing.
― Orlan ― By the gods... This bastard. Fine. It's yours. I can't believe you pulled that off without magic. ―
― Teodoro ― You're replacing me with this asshole?! After everything we've done together?! — He stood abruptly. — He cheated! — he yelled, drawing a dagger. — What are you doing, you old fool?! That company was supposed to be mine! ―
Without hesitation, he lunged straight at Orlan.
■― Orlan, look out! — I jumped in between. The blade pierced my side—but it wasn't a simple stab. The dagger had a hidden mechanism that released a burst of compressed air inside me. I felt the dull explosion in my guts, like something tearing me apart from the inside.
― Selene ― Hunt! — she screamed. — Damn you! Bastard! — Her voice trembled with fury and tears.
― Orlan ― You son of a bitch! — He punched Teodoro so hard he dropped like a sack of bricks.
― Orlan ― Tavern keeper! Bring me a rope! This man just tried to kill me!"
The tavern owner ran in, scanning the scene—until he saw Selene, covered in blood and pressing a cloth against my wound. He shifted focus immediately, rushing to help Orlan restrain Teodoro, while Selene, eyes brimming with tears but hands steady, never stopped treating me.
― Orlan ― Call the guards. This bastard just tried to murder me. ―
■― What a... dramatic way to close a deal, huh? ―
― Selene ― Don't joke now, please... Not after this. ―
A fog of unconsciousness surrounded me. Words faded as quickly as they came. I couldn't tell what was real and what was a nightmare's echo. But one thing was clear: my whole body ached worse than it ever had since arriving in this world.
(#■― Bro, you busy?#)
(#●― Nah, just chilling with Dalia. Kinda sleepy. What's up with you?―#)
(#■― You know me. Mr. Calm and Cool. Except... I just got stabbed. Mind swinging by the tavern? Please.#)