Belated revenge

"Isn't this the Necromancy Department's errand boy?" Claude came up to Han Shuo, looked him over in surprise, and frowned.

"Brian, errand boy of the Necromancy Department. I didn't expect to run into you two here." Han Shuo nodded, poured another mouthful of Purple Orchid liquor down his throat, and answered with a smile.

"There don't seem to be any seats left. Claude, why don't we eat somewhere else?" Eileen glanced at Han Shuo, a trace of disgust in her bright eyes.

"There's no need. Most taverns in Doro Town should be packed at this hour. Besides, Brian has this table all to himself. We're all from Babylon Academy of Magic and Martial Arts, so I'm sure Brian won't mind us sitting down. Isn't that right, Brian?" Claude spoke to Eileen with a smile, then turned his smiling gaze on Han Shuo.

"Of course. If you don't think sitting with an errand boy like me is beneath you, I'd be happy to share the table." Last time, Claude had injured his Little Skeleton to please Eileen. Claude might not have given the incident another thought, but Han Shuo had quietly remembered it. Now that his strength had improved, Han Shuo acted with fewer and fewer reservations. He had been fretting over how to get back at Claude, only for Claude to deliver himself right to his doorstep. Naturally, he wasn't about to let this opportunity slip.

"I hate people from the Necromancy Department, and errand boys are no exception!" Eileen frowned, glanced at Claude, and spoke coldly.

Claude paused, then gave Eileen a meaningful look and smiled at Han Shuo. "Brian, weren't you traveling with the people from the Necromancy Department? Why don't I see any of them? What are you doing here alone? Oh, I never imagined an errand boy like you could afford such lavish food and fine wine. What a surprise!"

At Claude's words, Eileen also looked at Han Shuo in surprise. She seemed quite interested in Claude's questions and was no longer in a hurry to leave. Seeing her interest, Claude attentively wiped the dust off the chair before her. Only after inviting Eileen to sit did he leisurely take a seat and look at Han Shuo.

Han Shuo tore apart the roast meat in his hands and ate it as though nothing were amiss. After another mouthful of liquor, he finally belched, rubbed his belly contentedly, and said with a smile, "Teacher Fanny and the others should be back soon. They were afraid I'd hold them back, so they gave me some gold coins and told me to wait here. Is there a problem?"

"No, no. So that's what happened. By the way, Brian, how has your trip gone? Have you hunted any high-level magical beasts?" Claude winked at Eileen again and questioned Han Shuo with a smile.

Eileen looked attentive and likewise watched Han Shuo, seemingly very concerned about the Necromancy Department's gains.

Han Shuo shook his head. "I don't know. I came back partway through. I wouldn't know whether they've had any major gains, but I think they should have done quite well this time."

"Hmph. What could that bunch possibly gain? At most, they could hunt a few level-five magical beasts. They'd probably struggle to kill even a level-four one." Eileen gave Han Shuo a disdainful look and snorted coldly.

Han Shuo merely gave her a faint glance at her mockery and said nothing more. By then, Claude had called over a waiter and likewise spent a gold coin to order some meat and liquor.

Han Shuo considered how to take revenge on Claude. After a little thought, a wicked smile tugged at his lips. Without drawing attention, he tossed the peel of a banana-like fruit from the plate before him onto the floor by his feet. When a waiter hurried over carrying a tray, Han Shuo nudged it with the toe of his right foot, sending the peel shooting out from beneath the table.

The waiter hurried over with his tray and stepped on the peel. With a startled cry, he stumbled forward, and the tray flew from his hands, hurtling straight toward Claude's and Eileen's backs.

Claude and Eileen reacted to the sound, abruptly turning around. Claude thrust his right hand up to catch the falling tray. At the same time, Han Shuo's left hand darted out like lightning. With a flick of his little finger, the grayish-white hallucinogenic aphrodisiac powder settled silently into the bottom of Claude's wine cup.

"Watch where you're going." Frowning, Claude held out the tray in his right hand to the waiter, who had picked himself up, and spoke displeasedly.

"Thank you, noble knight. I'll be careful from now on!" The waiter accepted the tray from Claude in trepidation, bowed, and hurried away.

Perfectly composed, Han Shuo kept his head lowered and drank from his cup as though nothing had happened, as if he hadn't noticed the incident at all.

After that, Claude and Eileen said little more to Han Shuo. Claude spoke attentively to Eileen, downing cup after cup of Purple Orchid liquor laced with the hallucinogenic aphrodisiac powder. Eileen remained aloof, responding only intermittently. It appeared she had yet to accept Claude's affections.

"Enjoy your meal, you two. I have something to do, so I'll be leaving!" After watching Claude down several cups of Purple Orchid liquor, Han Shuo knew he must have absorbed the hallucinogenic aphrodisiac powder. He immediately stood and spoke.

Claude and Eileen had held Han Shuo in utter contempt from the start, never giving a mere errand boy like him a second thought. They had been wishing he would leave sooner so they wouldn't have to endure the sight of him. At his words, both waved him away, signaling him to hurry up and leave. After a little liquor, neither bothered concealing the disdain on their faces.

After leaving the tavern with a smile, Han Shuo stood alone in a secluded spot at a nearby street corner. He waited a while before Claude emerged, his face flushed, walking beside Eileen, whose delicate face was faintly red. They headed toward the northern part of Doro Town.

Night had fallen, and Doro Town glittered with lights and revelry as it entered its busiest hours of the day. Adventurers and merchants passed along the streets in groups of three or five, shouting drunkenly. Han Shuo followed the pair soundlessly. When he saw them enter a luxurious inn, he waited by the roadside to watch the fun.

From what Han Shuo had just observed, Claude probably hadn't won Eileen's heart yet. If Claude, under the influence of the hallucinogenic aphrodisiac powder, did anything out of line to her now, Eileen would surely give him a thorough beating.

Holding a handful of fruit, Han Shuo ate leisurely as these malicious thoughts ran through his mind. Some time passed without any commotion from the inn. Just as Han Shuo was growing impatient, Claude suddenly emerged, his face bright red, and hurried down the street.

Han Shuo's interest stirred. He hadn't expected Claude to have such strong willpower that he still hadn't completely lost his senses. Judging by his current appearance, however, Han Shuo knew he probably wouldn't last much longer. He quickly followed Claude at a distance.

Sure enough, Claude had walked barely a dozen meters when an older woman nearby, heavily made up and scantily dressed, beckoned to him. He could barely restrain himself and ducked into the alley, breathing heavily. It looked as though he intended to satisfy his physical needs close at hand.

"Huh? Wasn't that Claude just now?" A startled voice came from the adjoining street. Han Shuo turned to look and was suddenly delighted, inwardly exclaiming, Heaven is helping me!

Bichir, the Light Department teacher, was passing by with several Light Department students. One sharp-eyed female student had happened to see Claude slip into the alley with that provocatively dressed, seductive woman and cried out in surprise.

"Surely not. How could Claude be that sort of person? As a noble knight, he couldn't possibly frequent a place like this. Besides, he's courting Eileen right now, which makes it even less likely." Bichir frowned, speaking doubtfully, unconvinced.

"It really was him. I'm certain I wasn't mistaken. If you don't believe me, let's go in and look," the female student who had spoken earlier said firmly after a moment's thought.

"Come along, Katie. This has nothing to do with you. Don't meddle." After a brief silence, Bichir urged the students to leave.

Katie glared indignantly at the alley. After thinking for a moment, she stamped her foot. "How could he do this? I'm going to tell Eileen right now. If Claude isn't in his room, it must have been him. I absolutely won't let Claude toy with Eileen's feelings."

With that, Katie stormed off, running swiftly toward the inn where Eileen was staying. Watching her leave, the other Light Department students exchanged looks, momentarily at a loss.

Han Shuo could barely keep himself from laughing out loud. He hadn't expected such a coincidence. He had originally planned to act himself and find some way to lure Eileen over, but Claude's luck really was terrible. It seemed he would have a hard time escaping misfortune today.

A little while later, a frost-faced Eileen and a fuming Katie hurried over from the distance. One look at Eileen's expression made it clear she must be furious. Claude would have no way to talk himself out of this now.

"Claude really wasn't at the inn. It looks like there was nothing wrong with my eyes-it definitely was him. Eileen, I think if we go in now, we're sure to catch him in the act. To do something so filthy when he's supposed to be a noble knight-Claude is disgusting!" Upon arriving, Katie glared at the alley and spoke angrily.

Eileen nodded coldly. Without another unnecessary word, she grabbed Katie and rushed straight into the alley. Afraid something might go wrong, Bichir and the others hesitated briefly before following.

Only after they had all gone in did Han Shuo emerge from the corner with a malicious grin and stroll unhurriedly toward the alley entrance.