Bahamut Town, Keller Beer Hall.
Creak!
As the tavern doors were slowly pushed open, Siegfried and the other nine members of the temporary squad entered beneath the astonished gazes of everyone inside.
They paid no attention to how the tavern's previously lively atmosphere instantly turned deathly silent after they entered.
After sweeping his gaze over the patrons, Siegfried gave Pulida a look, signaling him to lead the other members in guarding the doors and preventing anyone from leaving.
Then, under the frightened and tense stares of the crowd, he strode straight to the counter and smiled at the stunned bald proprietor.
"Boss Sheldon, long time no see. How has business been lately?"
"Uh, sir, have we met?"
Hearing this Imperial soldier call him by name, the tavern owner Sheldon felt confused as well as somewhat lost.
He nervously examined the Imperial soldier's face, desperately trying to remember when he had met him.
Until he realized that the man's features somehow matched those of the rustic villager he had met seven days ago.
As if he had discovered something unbelievable, Sheldon's eyes widened, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Y-you're that villager who came to sell me wine seven days ago?"
Recognizing the Imperial soldier's true identity, Sheldon was immediately startled.
But cold sweat soon replaced the shock on his forehead.
Because Sheldon clearly remembered that this villager named Siegfried had come to the tavern several days ago to ask whether he accepted homemade wine.
But at the time, he had thought the man looked poor and shabby, hardly like someone capable of providing high-quality liquor.
So without a second thought, he had ordered someone to throw him out.
Sheldon had thought he would never have anything to do with the man again for the rest of his life.
Yet no matter