Bright light streamed through the wooden windows set into the stone walls, illuminating the haphazardly arranged tables and chairs inside. Perhaps they had been neatly arranged at first, but as the patrons grew drunker and clumsier, that order had soon disappeared.
"Three, three, three! It really is a three! Come on, pay up!"
The patrons playing cards together frequently burst into excited shouts. They were playing blackjack.
This was a new game that had come from another continent. As the owner of the Happy Boar Tavern, Suke had immediately recognized its popularity. He had prepared the necessary supplies early, studied the rules, and set up a gambling table, with his attendant acting as the dealer.
At this point, the owner had no idea how much wealth the game would bring his tavern. All he wanted now was more customers and the profits from selling drinks.
So Suke paid little attention to the gambling table. Instead, he looked toward a table in the southeastern corner of the room, where two of his acquaintances sat. One of them could even be called a leading figure in Zendar.
"I met Gayev while exploring some ruins near Sharpshade. I believe you know the place. The village elder told me that a band of mercenaries had saved their village. From his description, I believe that was your good deed. Not everyone is willing to help others without asking for payment."
When they heard Duntis mention Sharpshade, Allen and Momocha exchanged a glance and nodded slightly, tacitly confirming his account.
Of course Allen knew the place. He had wiped out an entire squad of Druya soldiers there and obtained a great deal of wealth, along with a gem crackling with lightning called the Favor of the Firmament.
"I had originally found a lead saying that those