Chapter 56: The Tok Mercenary Corps' Way of Taking Death

At night, Ma Luo and Oliver arrived at the Outer City district's Maple Leaf and Bibi Bird Feather.

The tavern has been operating in Degeng City for over twenty years, and its owner is a halfling named Tu Er.

Tu Er, relying on his signature secret "Sand Wine," has won the favor of Degeng City's gentlemen.

"Ding—."

Ma Luo pushed open the tavern's doors; the night tavern was bustling, and many workers from the Outer City district were here, holding large cups and drinking Sand Wine.

"Excuse me, excuse me. Damn it!" Ma Luo, with his agile body, kept dodging the drunks as he headed to the bar, but finally one of them vomited onto his shoe.

"Ha, you hit the jackpot," Oliver said with glee.

Ma Luo took a deep breath and finally squeezed to the edge of the bar.

As soon as he sat down, the halfling bartender smiled, shook the mixing glass in his hand, and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

Ma Luo shook his head; he doesn't like alcohol, and most Mages don't either, as alcohol harms their fragile brains and makes them foolish.

The halfling replied with some regret, "Good wine and good friends are all life is about. You're truly a boring person."

He asked with a practiced tone, "Tell me, what information are you after? Don't stare at me like that; a little Mage who doesn't come here for a drink must be up to something else."

"However," he said, rubbing his thumb with a smile in his eyes, "there is a price."

Ma Luo helplessly produced a silver coin, and under the bartender's contemptuous gaze took out another, placing both into the other's hand.

"I want to know when Tom was last seen here," Ma Luo asked in a low voice.

A cold glint flashed in the bartender's eyes; he nonchalantly wiped the mixing glass and said, "Tom? There are dozens of Toms here. Believe it or not, if I call now, a dozen Toms will answer me."

"You know which one," Ma Luo said affirmatively. He might lack Combat Power, but as a prophetic Mage he was very confident in his clues.

The bartender's hand paused while wiping the glass, he set the cup down heavily, then smiled and said, "Wait a moment; I need to ask someone else."

Afterward, the bartender left the bar and walked over to a few burly, armored thugs at the tavern's edge, glancing at Ma Luo while whispering.

"Tsk tsk, this looks bad," Oliver whispered into Ma Luo's ear.

Ma Luo furrowed his brows and asked with his eyes what was wrong.

Oliver lifted his chin toward the bartender's direction and said, "Look over there; those are members of the Tok Mercenary Corps. Our little Tom has probably provoked the wrong people."

Seeing those operatives stare at them with hostility, Ma Luo shivered and hurriedly said, "Let's leave quickly; it's enough to know there's trouble here. Next time we'll bring Buliètani with us."

Oliver rolled his eyes. Does this coward really distrust his own strength?

But seeing those operatives made Oliver a bit nervous; after all, he's only a fourth-level Wanderer.

The two stood up to leave, but several Tok Mercenary Corps operatives had already come over, blocking their path.

The surrounding drunks, seeing the scene, instinctively gave way, and the once‑crowded tavern instantly cleared a large area.

The previously noisy environment fell silent in an instant.

"So you're looking for Tom?" Among the operatives, a man in fine armor stepped forward, looking down at them and asked.

Ma Luo cleared his throat, smiled, and said, "Yes, we are of the Golden Iris, and we came here only to fulfill a commission."

The man's expression changed; he knew the great name of Golden Iris, that powerful woman, even their leader was somewhat wary of her.

But that was all; recalling that their leader had recently broken through to Nine-level Warrior and boasted of personally conquering Golden Iris, the man's demeanor relaxed again. "Golden Iris? Pah, even a courtesan's lapdog dares to come onto our Tok Mercenary Corps' territory looking for someone?" He spat disdainfully.

Ma Luo's face changed; the opponent's stance clearly meant trouble.

The man swept his hand, and several thugs immediately charged, surrounding Oliver, while he twisted his neck and walked toward Ma Luo empty‑handed.

"Y‑you don't come any closer! I warn you, if you mess up our business, it's not as simple as just angering Corrit!" Ma Luo panicked, originally wanting to mention the terrifying dragon behind them, but the oath's binding prevented him.

"Shield Technique!" The man rushed forward; Ma Luo quickly muttered a spell, and a thin, colorless shield appeared before him, but the man's massive punch shattered the shield.

But after a few seconds, Ma Luo lay on the ground, bruised and battered.

The man disdainfully pressed his mud‑covered shoe onto Ma Luo's pale face, spat, and said, "Go back and tell that stinky bitch to wait for our boss's pleasure, hahaha!"

The man left with his guards, leaving only a skeletal‑looking Ma Luo writhing in pain on the floor.

Oliver hurried over; he was also in bad shape, a claw's nail had been ripped off, bleeding.

"Are you okay?" the spotted cat person carefully helped Ma Luo to his feet.

The Mage said nothing, merely wiping the thick spit from his face coldly, staring at the man's retreating silhouette.

"He will die, I guarantee it," Ma Luo said, his eyes blazing with fury.

The two staggered out of the tavern and vanished into the night.

They would go find that guy, that terrifying dragon; the Tok Mercenary Corps would regret it with their lives, the price paid for insulting the dragon's dependents. — "What did you say!"

Inside the villa, Naimi Xisi ground his sharp teeth, roared in anger, and his tail, too excited, flipped a nearby sofa.

"A human dares to insult my dependents and stop me from making money?!"

True Dragon was incensed; in his mind, a mission equated to gold, and the Tok Mercenary Corps that dared to prevent Ma Luo and the others from completing a mission already had a way of death.

Especially after learning that the Tok Mercenary Corps' leader was merely an Eighth-level Warrior, Naimi Xisi found it even more absurd.

In Di Xia Shi Jie he could wield power, yet he had never been trampled by a weak creature.

"Hmph, you two useless ones, you really have disgraced the great White Mystery. You're so weak, just die!" Naimi Xisi sneered at them.

"When you return, I will consider granting you dragon blood, a chance to become my dependents. Remember, your humiliation outside is my humiliation! If it happens again, you need not return alive."

True Dragon's cold voice made the two look up blankly; though they didn't know what had happened, it seemed they might have gained a blessing from misfortune?

The two, unaware of how many creatures in Di Xia Shi Jie long for True Dragon's blessing, were now bewildered.

"Luo Luo An," Naimi Xisi called.

A black figure flashed by and appeared before them; it was Drow, clad entirely in black armor.

"Take all the Shadow Swords, go to that tavern with them; I want everyone involved in this fight to die in agony."

Naimi Xisi's whisper, like smoke, echoed in their ears.

"Yes, master," the burly Shadow Sword Warrior knelt, eyes blazing with zeal as he looked at True Dragon.

"As you wish."

(End of Chapter)