Chapter 707: Feast of Divine Wine, Failed Resignation, Within the Plan, Small

"How come those guys are all blocking the front of the Familia?"

Chanisi stood at the window with a frown, gazing at the dense crowd outside the residence, and couldn't help but ask the confidant beside him.

The Feast of Divine Wine is the Soma Familia's grand banquet, but it is also the day for dumping large quantities of inferior Divine Wine to the public. Chanisi had been busy receiving major clients recently, so he hadn't paid much attention to the Familia's side.

"Lord Chanisi, they are all peripheral members who have come to participate in the Feast of Divine Wine."

The confidant answered the Regiment Commander's words.

"Ho, this year's peripheral members are actually somewhat impressive; so many of them actually managed to scrape together the entry ticket money for drinking?!"

Chanisi said in a great mood. In the distant past, the Feast of Divine Wine was a brewing technique exchange meeting, but now it has become the day he collects the Familia members' wealth.

Drinking tickets cost money; wanting to drink the latest model Divine Wine brewed by Lord Soma requires bidding, which makes far more money than normally selling Divine Wine.

Of course, if Divine Wine were sold normally to the public, it would only be slightly expensive, not unaffordable. However, to better control the Soma Familia, Chanisi chose hunger marketing on ordinary days.

Only on the day of the Feast of Divine Wine would the supply of Divine Wine be opened up, satisfying the hearts of those drunkards in the Familia who had thirsted for a year.

"Uh, Lord Chanisi, it's not like that."

"Hm?"

"Some bastard spread the word that this year's Feast of Divine Wine is free to participate in, and everyone who shows up can drink a small cup of Divine Wine. This caused those peripheral members and some other drunkards who caught wind of it to swarm to our residence's front door before dawn even broke."

The confidant explained somewhat embarrassedly.

"Ha? Free participation in the Feast of Divine Wine? Those wine-soaked fools must be delusional. No money but still want to drink — do they think this place is a charity hall handing out alms to beggars?"

Hearing that the guys crowded outside were all penniless, Chanisi's face directly darkened. Divine Wine is his tool for controlling the Familia, and simultaneously his tool for crazily extorting money. Wanting to drink Divine Wine without money is like stealing money from the vault of the miser Grandet.

"You didn't tell those guys the real situation?"

Chanisi narrowed his eyes at the confidant.

"I did, but those guys don't want to leave. Someone is even spreading in the crowd that perhaps with enough people, Lord Chanisi you might show mercy beyond the law and allow them to participate in the Feast of Divine Wine for free once."

"Hmph, a bunch of rotten drunks, thinking quite beautifully."

Chanisi snorted coldly, but didn't care too much. The Official Members he controls all possess Falna, while the guys squeezed outside are all those without Falna. What can ordinary people do against those who possess Falna (power)?

The answer is: anyone who dares to rebel against superiors will be ruthlessly suppressed. The bottom-tier people on the periphery getting a beating is light; the severe ones might even be directly killed off.

Of course, before they assault the Familia residence, killing is not allowed. Orario has its own set of rules. Familias that kill indiscriminately will suffer the Guild's scolding and punishment; severe cases might even be defined as a Dark Faction, and it's possible they'd be jointly attacked and annihilated by other Familias.

The Soma Familia isn't a very powerful Familia, but its methods of extorting brewing money and amassing wealth by any means are quite formidable. Once a reason is found, it's possible they'd be ruthlessly forced to cough up gold coins by other Familias. Chanisi is relatively cautious on this point.

"Pass the order down: have the guards watch the Gate well, don't let those poor rotten drunks mix in. The Feast of Divine Wine only receives guys with money in their pockets.

Of course, if the guys outside dare to assault the Familia residence, then no need for courtesy either — give me a ruthless suppression of those guys."

Chanisi instructed the confidant, then stopped caring about the matter of that large ticket of penniless drunks gathering outside. Investigating clearly who incited such a large ticket of people to block the door — none of that existed. Simply because this person looks down on general people from the bottom of his heart.

"Lord Soma."

Liliruca arrived at Soma's room.

"The rations wine I prepared for the Feast of Divine Wine this time is all over there."

Soma pointed at the pots of wine water in the room that hadn't been bottled yet and said.

Liliruca didn't hesitate, took out Miach's Divine Wine addiction cure potion, and poured it in bottle by bottle.

Soma's specially made wine water mixed with Miach's Divine Wine addiction cure potion, and a rich wine fragrance wafted out.

The taste doesn't compare to Divine Wine, but it also has a unique scent. The wine body is blue-green, somewhat like absinthe.

After bottling, they were carried out box by box.

Some already won-over Soma Familia members, like Chandra and such, came over to help.

"Chandra, Ede, what are you doing?"

Chanisi passed by, saw them, frowned, and asked.

"Regiment Commander Chanisi, this is Lord Soma's intention — to have us divide a portion of the Feast of Divine Wine's rations wine for the people outside to drink."

Chandra explained a sentence in place of the Pallum girl, and this remark made Chanisi click his tongue in displeasure, directly running to Soma's room.

"Lord Soma, you don't manage the household so you don't know the price of goods. This year's brewing material prices have risen again. You distributing the wine water you spent money painstakingly brewing to the peripheral members outside — isn't that chilling the hearts of us Official Members who are loyal to you and painstakingly earn brewing money for you?"

This is Chanisi's habitual PUA god rhetoric. Although he treats Soma as a tool god, on the surface he still puts on a respectful attitude to speak.

"Chanisi, sorry."

Soma didn't refute, directly apologizing.

And the meaning of this apology has multiple layers.

However, Chanisi didn't hear it.

"Then I'll go have Chandra stop the behavior of moving wine out."

"No, Chanisi, today, just today once."

However, this time Soma refused him, saying somewhat persistently.

"Hm, alright then. However, the Divine Wine..."

"The Divine Wine is still left to your arrangement."

Chanisi bowed slightly, then left the room.

"Lord Chanisi?"

The confidant leaned over to inquire.

"Lord Soma is just a child; occasionally he still needs some willful wishes satisfied."

Contempt for the god in his heart, but because he has to use the other party, he has no choice but to coax him.

"Forget it. Since Lord Soma wants to give those guys outside a bit of rations wine, then give it. Less chance of those guys possibly ending up with unclear heads, and then doing something like assaulting the Familia residence."

The Soma Familia residence's Gate was opened, and a handcart loaded with special wine liquid mixed with Divine Wine addiction cure potion was pushed out from inside.

The drunkards besieging outside looked over, and upon seeing the handcart loaded with box after box of what should be wine, these people's gazes instantly heated up.

"Lord, please be kind, give us a sip of Divine Wine to drink."

However, with Chandra's group standing guard around, no one dared to rush in and commit robbery.

"Today is the Divine Wine Banquet. Suma-sama, in his benevolence, bestows the 【Rational Wine】 upon you all for drinking. Everyone present may come here to receive one cup, but each person gets only one cup."

Liliruca's shout from atop the handcart made the crowd of drunks besieging outside cheer, shouting long live Suma-sama.

"I told you, coming over here to try our luck was right, wasn't it?"

"Too bad, that's not Divine Wine."

"Hah, free booze is already not bad."

"Mm, that looks pretty good, it's good wine."

Cup after cup of Rational Wine was claimed; those who finished drinking smacked their lips, found it not enough, and queued up again.

"You've already received yours."

"Ah, my lord, please, have mercy, just give me one more cup, one cup is all I ask."

The speaker did not get his wish; Chandra dragged him out and kicked him in the butt with one kick, sending him flying directly.

Everything proceeded according to plan in an orderly fashion; Broly and Bell mixed among the wine distributors, utterly unremarkable.

When the time reached 7 PM, the true Divine Wine Banquet began inside the Soma Familia Headquarters, and all participants had to first pay an entry fee of 300,000 Valis.

Chanisi stood on the high platform, holding his wine glass, spouting useless drivel — how the Familia had developed well this year, thanks to everyone's hard work earning money, allowing even better-tasting Divine Wine to be born from the gods' hands, and so on; in short, just encouraging everyone to work even harder to earn money afterwards (by any means, whether fraud, deception, or killing and looting in the Dungeon)……

"Let us together make our bond with the god (Divine Wine) even more perfect!"

Inside the Soma Familia, a bunch of people kissed up to the Captain, cheering aloud.

They all raised their cups and drank down the new wine, named 【Rational Wine】 by Suma-sama, which they could drink freely after paying the entry fee.

"Lord Chanisi, there's something I want to say here."

Just as the Divine Wine Banquet entered its second stage, the auction of the latest Divine Wine, the Pallum girl raised her hand high and spoke, drawing everyone's attention.

"Isn't that Arde? Heard she disappeared for a while before, how does she have money to attend the Divine Wine Banquet now?"

"What about Kanu? Why didn't that guy and his lackeys come? Could it be they capsized in the gutter and got wiped out?"

Murmurs of discussion rose around; although there were newcomers who could attend the Divine Wine Banquet, most were still veterans of the Soma Familia.

These people all knew each other; some were surprised that the Cat Person Kanu hadn't come, while the Pallum girl who was often exploited by Kanu had come to attend the Divine Wine Banquet this year.

"Arde, what business do you have?"

Chanisi asked with a smile.

Those who could attend the Divine Wine Banquet were all his money bags.

He didn't care at all where Liliruca Arde got the money to attend the Divine Wine Banquet.

Just like he didn't care about those Familia members who unknowingly vanished without a trace.

Perhaps they died, but death is a fairly common thing in Orario, isn't it?

"Lord Chanisi, I recall you saying that anyone wanting to withdraw from the Familia only needs to hand over 10,000,000 Valis, right?"

Liliruca inquired.

"There is such a thing. What, Arde, did you scrape together the money and want to withdraw from our Soma Familia now?"

Chanisi narrowed his eyes and countered; he didn't believe a mere Supporter Pallum girl could produce that much money.

"Exactly so, Lord Chanisi. I want to live a more normal life. I don't want my life to be controlled by Divine Wine anymore. I want to break free from this Soma Familia, which is like a swamp that always destroys my pursuit of an ordinary, happy life."

Liliruca answered.

"Then, do you have 10,000,000 Valis?"

Liliruca didn't speak, kicking the box beside her over with one foot.

The heavy box hit the ground and shattered directly, the Valis inside scattering all over the floor.

"Here is 10,000,000, my withdrawal fee."

The Pallum girl stated directly; the surrounding Soma Familia members who knew her looked at each other in blank dismay.

The Supporter girl often exploited by the Cat Person Kanu and others had now silently produced 10,000,000 Valis.

"Mm, it does indeed look like there's 10,000,000 Valis worth. However, Arde, can you tell me, how did a Supporter like you earn this much money?"

Chanisi pushed up the glasses on his nose bridge and asked.

"Lord Chanisi, under your capable leadership, our Familia members now all earn money by any means necessary. Is how my money came to be really that important to you?

Or are you planning to go back on your word, seeing that a mere Supporter managed to get this much money, and now intend to renege on the withdrawal conditions you previously stated?"

Liliruca spoke with a slightly sarcastic tone; the Soma Familia people, even those connected to Chandra who knew what she intended to do, were somewhat surprised by the Pallum girl's arrogance, not knowing where she got the nerve to provoke Chanisi so boldly.

"Of course, if Lord Chanisi you want to go back on your word, then this poor, helpless Pallum Supporter girl Lili has no recourse either. Only afterwards, I, Lili, will run outside and tell those people blocking the entrance that Lord Chanisi, as Familia Captain, breaks his promises."

Hearing this, Chanisi blinked and asked: "Arde, were those people incited by you?"

"Lili merely ensured that I could withdraw from the Soma Familia smoothly according to Lord Chanisi's requirements."

Liliruca answered.

"Arde, how dare you speak to Lord Chanisi like that?"

The Confidant immediately stepped forward, glaring fiercely at the Pallum girl.

"As is well known, the current state of the Soma Familia is mostly thanks to Lord Chanisi's capable leadership, and ordinary members can arbitrarily cheat and oppress their fellow Familia partners. Who knows if the Captain Lord Chanisi would treat his own words as farts?"

The Confidant still wanted to say something but was stopped by Chanisi. The Pallum girl's words were not wrong; the Soma Familia becoming what it is today indeed has a great deal to do with him, but this is something that can be done but not admitted.

"Arde, although I don't know what happened to you, you seem to have grown a lot, unexpectedly able to create such a scene.

Not only able to get this much money, but also gathering so many outer members together, and even putting me, this Captain, on the spot for a dialogue……"

Chanisi praised with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"However, doing this also underestimates me, this Captain. As the saying goes, a man without trust cannot stand. Although I admit I'm not a good person, I'm also not someone who goes back on his word."

"Then does that mean, Lord Chanisi, you're willing to let me withdraw from the Soma Familia?"

The Pallum girl's eyes lit up, revealing an expression of a scheme succeeding.

"Of course, it's just that before that, I have to investigate one matter clearly."

"What matter?"

"The source of your money."

"Lord Chanisi, are you making things difficult for me?"

"It's not making things difficult for you, it's just that you said, thanks to me, the Familia saw the appearance of things like entrapping and exploiting companions, so I have to defend myself against those words.

As everyone knows, you are merely a Supporter; wanting to earn so much money is almost impossible, and Kanu didn't come today, and they've also lost contact recently.

Besides Kanu, there were also Seth and the others before, who also lost contact, so, Arde, I have reason to suspect that you united with people outside the Familia, murdered your fellow Familia companions, and obtained so much money from their bodies.

However, don't worry, this is merely suspicion, there is no evidence; as long as the investigation makes clear that your money wasn't earned through entrapping companions, I will agree to your request, and let you withdraw from the Familia.

It's just that, at that time, Arde, it's possible you won't want to leave the Familia anymore, that's also a possibility, hehe..."

Chanisi said with a narrowed-eye smile, but everyone knows that entrapping companions is merely an excuse; this insidious Captain with a very narrow mind simply wants to get his hands on the Pallum girl's money, and also doesn't want to let the other party who can earn money leave the Familia.

At that time, he only needs to fabricate some false evidence, prove that Liliruca's money is related to the missing people, and directly confiscate it; what can the Pallum girl do?

What wanting to use this special day of the Divine Wine Banquet, gather enough fellow Familia members to put Chanisi this guy on a high platform, making him unable to haphazardly treat his own spoken words as farts.

【Sigh, Arde is still too naive after all; Captain Chanisi's insidiousness isn't something you can imagine.】

"So, Lord Chanisi, are you truly unwilling to let me go?"

"Heh, I didn't say that, I only said the investigation must be made clear."

Chanisi said with a laugh.

"You think you've got me cornered?"

"Isn't that so?"

"Since that's the case..."

The Pallum girl tore off the cloak on her body, revealing the silver-white armor battle skirt underneath.

"Chanisi, I formally issue a challenge to you for the position of Captain."

Liliruca drew the long sword at her waist, pointing it toward the Soma Familia Captain on the high platform from afar.

And this scene caused the other Soma Familia members who came to participate in the Divine Wine Banquet, besides Chandra, to stare in dumbfounded shock.

A Supporter's getup instantly transforming into a combat-style wearing, and even issuing a challenge for the Captain's position to that insidious and cunning Captain of theirs?

Are our eyes mistaken, or has Liliruca Arde gone mad?

"Heh, why should I accept your challenge?"

Chanisi narrowed his eyes; he was a man of discernment, he saw the extraordinariness of the Pallum girl's armor battle skirt, and his cautious-by-nature self simply didn't take the bait.

"That's right, you can refuse, but they will know that you, Chanisi, the Soma Familia's Captain, Lv. 2 Wine Guardian, don't even dare accept the challenge of a Pallum Supporter girl like me, are a genuine coward.

And today's matter, you also can't muddle through with others; I wanted to pay the withdrawal fee to leave, it's you who wants to covet my money, and still doesn't want to let me leave.

Heh, an Lv. 2 who doesn't keep his word and doesn't dare accept an Lv. 1 Supporter Pallum girl's challenge, you tell me, after today who will be convinced by you?

You, Chanisi, are you qualified to be the Soma Familia's Captain?"

Although they didn't know why the situation became like this, the Soma Familia members who came to participate in the Divine Wine Banquet exchanged glances, yet didn't speak, looking toward Chanisi on the high platform.

As a Familia Captain, if you can't convince the masses with personal character and credibility, and also can't convince the masses with strength and capability, then being overturned by your subordinates is only a matter of time; the pressure was directly placed on Chanisi.

(Chapter End)