With the quest part out of the way and her own reading also completed, Eve politely sent her fathers men outside, leaving only Rex's party and the ruler of the nation inside the room. Once they were all alone, she asked Rex to soundproof the place as well. A few minutes later, with glowing runes on all four walls emitting faint light and and almost imperceptible hum, this sound being the proof these runes were only temporary constructs and would disappear once the mana within them ran out, Eve began her talk with what she had learned from the documents.

"It seems that I was right about them considering you to be merely extremely capable tamer. It both works in our favour and as a slight annoyance. For one, it will be much easier to expect their next moves, what with them considering you to not be particularly great danger on your own. The tournament is one on one battles after all. On the flip end, it also means that their 'champions' and agents might show you less respect than they should, to your annoyance and their detriment. And while it gives us quite the simple path forward, it also means we have to expect some extreme reactions the moment they realize their own fuck up regarding the matter and they scramble to salvage the situation. I believe we must make sure any friends you have made publicly to be placed under temporary protection at the very least."

At the words Rex turned his head away from the people in the room, as if his attention was focused on someone or something else for a moment, then he returned his gaze to the people present as he replied. "That won't be necessary. I will make sure any underhanded actions are met with extreme retaliation."

"Please don't go around destroying districts or streets in the wake of said underhanded tactics." immediately spoke up Eve, having seen enough of Rex's abilities in the last month.

"No worries, the response will be mostly ethereal anyways. Little to no property damage should be expected. At least on my part. I will be meeting up with my old party though. It seems they have arrived in the capital. Been a few months at least since I last saw them."

"More girls?" knowingly asked Danica, a playful smirk on her face.

"Don't even think about it." Rex gaze bored into the wolfkin woman, who a few moments later raised her hands in surrender, brushing off his words with 'fine, fine'.

"Father." Eve then moved her focus towards the king of the nation, her expression serious as she went on to explain quite a few things she believed will soon come to pass, many of which the king was already expecting himself. Most of the new information came in the form of Rex and his participation in the coming tournament as well as the fact that he was very likely to take it by storm. The conviction with which Eve spoke indicated quite the impression Rex and his skill had left on the princess. Once that part of her speech was done, the conversation moved to more pleasant topics, some of which could be considered classified, though since Rex and Danica simply did not care one bit about them, busy doing their own thing, apparently scheming to tear a big chunk out of the purses of the local gambling dens and their betting scene.

"I suspect the preparations are in full swing and should be nearing the end, yes?" Eve asked.

"Yes. The people are expected to be done within a week and a bit, what with the royal beef you have managed to procure and the first delegations should be arriving in a couple of weeks at the earliest. They have just departed the capital of Naramika."

"Right." Rex interrupted their conversation for a moment "Before I forget, I wanted to remind you Eve and make sure your father is aware as well. I don't plan on interacting, let alone dealing with any of the nobles."

"Understood." The king nodded his head, just chalking Rex's words off as one of the peculiarities of the A rankers. With that short disruption out of the way, the two relatives went back to their conversation, getting all they wanted to say out of the way before once more touching upon the issues they will have to tackle, though as they did so, there was a knock on the door, indicating the importance of the news.

As it turned out, the royal family had just received a small list of the inner continent dignitaries coming to witness the tournament, and, there were notably more people than one would have expected. Clearly, someone was pulling strings from behind the scenes and their nation was apparently chosen as their metaphorical battle ground. Unpleasant surely, but there was nothing they could do on the matter. Unlike the outer nations like theirs, the inner circle had both nobility and sect like entities that were in control of numerous A rankers, willing to do their bidding, making the resulting conflict of their resistance a one sided massacre.

"Sigh." Rex sighed after hearing the news, pulled out a flask and took a few long sips, enjoying the water that he acquired back in the forest of giants. Feeling the pleasant sensation of his soul fragment recovering ever so slightly more he sighed once again, this time in content before speaking, the attention of the people present on him.

"I just can't seem to get a break. Is it that much to ask to get to live at least a year without some dumb cunt arriving on my doorstep and try to leave a big and stinky pile of shit there." he looked at Eve for a moment before he continued "Seems like I will have to beat down on more than just some mercenary type goons your sleazy nobles can afford. No matter. Does not change what I have to do. Oh, by the way, can your residence support another party? I would like to get my friends to stay there for the duration of the tournament for the aforementioned reasons."

"O-of course. That should not be an issue whatsoever. I have plenty of empty rooms there." Eve confirmed, a light smile on her face. "Should I procure a couple of carriages so you can go and meet them?"

"That would help, yes."

With that said, a word was quickly sent out to procure said carriages as the king thanked Rex for his assistance in the matter, promising quite the rewards should Rex manage to thwart the brewing conspiracies. Once the carriages were ready, Rex and Danica left the place, leaving Eve to talk with her father, the king, alone to catch up further and whatnot. She had yet to regale him with the progress she had achieved during their month long dungeon delve and anything else on the matter after all.

With the princess left behind and under the precise guidance of Rex, in less than thirty minutes the group reached a familiar inn, at least for Rex. 'Beth's hearth' stood before the duo in all of it's glory, eliciting a small smile on his face, clearly remembering some good things he had gone through.

"Know the place?" Danica asked as she saw his face, her own interest spiking.

"Mhm." Rex nodded "Beth's one mean and awesome dwarven lady. Wonder how she's been lately. Come, she serves some hearty and filling food." he added as his hand stretched ahead and pushed the doors open, revealing dimly lit hall, filled with tables and chairs around them in a rather deserted state, clearly due to the late hours they had arrived. A single, younger girl was half draped over the counter, just barely staving off the sleep that was threatening to catch her in its inescapable grasp. Thankfully for her, the light creaking of the doors and the footsteps of the arriving duo snapped the girl to attention and out of her drowsiness in mere moments, her back ramrod straight and eyes rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

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"W-welcome to Beth's Hearth. How can I help you?" the girl stammered, her gaze locked on Danica's wolf ears atop her head. Beastkin were rare around these parts, so actually encountering one was a new experience for the girl, so much so that she had failed to recognize Rex whatsoever, eliciting a light laugh from Rex as he spoke.

"Ha ha ha. Sheesh, it's been what, a month and something and I have already been forgotten? And after all those tips I left. I feel wounded." Rex exaggeratedly spoke, showing clear, over the top faked hurt, earning an eye roll from Danica and snapping the attention of the younger girl towards him. It was then that she also recognized Rex, her face first showing surprise and then quickly morphing to a sweet smile, two rows of teeth showing from just how wide the smile was. "Sir Rex, it is a pleasure to see you again. Should I go and wake mama Beth up? She will surely be happy to see you."

"No need. Give a room for the night with a slightly bigger bad and I will catch her in the morning. Also, if the party 'Light's Oak' leave their room before I am down here, have them wait and send someone to get me. They are friends of mine I haven't seen in a while. I would love to catch up." Rex explained as he placed a silver coin on the counter, alongside the payment for his room and his special breakfast times two Beth would always prepare for him. It was not so much about what, but how much after all.

Pocketing the extra silver coin, the girl, still smiling, though now there was this extra shine to it, nodded her head and spoke in confirmation, giving him the key and the number of his room.

"Nice kid." Danica spoke from besides Rex as she smiled, reaching out and ruffling the girls hair before following Rex upstairs, leaving the bar area just as silent as it was before their arrival, save for a lone younger girl who no longer seemed at all asleep. The carriages were already sent off, their decision to stay in the inn his friends were at for the night already planned out with Eve, leaving their return to her residence the next day. With that, the duo ascended the stairs and disappeared in their room emerging only in the early morning.

With the large supply of soul recovery water he had acquired in the forest of giants more and more of his full capabilities could be unleashed, resulting in near permanently warded temporary shelters he used to spend the nights in, whether it be a rented inn room or hastily set up tent in the wilderness of a dungeon, no matter the place now, whatever happened in his room would stay there, allowing the rest of the people resting interrupted sleep and recovery.

------------------------

"Hey there Beth, Long time no see!" Rex waved at the dwarven woman walking out from the back. He and Danica had woken up a short while ago and after a quicks shower they had come downstairs and found one of the largest tables to sit at while waiting for Beth to wake up and start moving around, preparing for yet another busy day. Rex was sipping on water from his canteen while Danica enjoyed a fruit juice of sorts.

"Well, well. Look who's decided to visit? Conscience got the better of you? Wait, do you even have one? Leaving little old me to fend for myself. " Beth replied once she realized who was acting all familiar with her, a grin creeping on her face, already planning to get even with the little brats for keeping quiet about Rex's return. 'Those cheeky little rascals!' She thought to herself. There was no way they had not shared the knowledge among their group. 'Probably were bribed by Rex.' She continued in her head, well aware that few could actually bribe her little helpers, Rex being one of said few.

"Don't be like that Beth." Rex replied, his hands raised in a surrender. "I knew you were fine, otherwise the medallion would have been broken." he explained, causing the woman to place a hand on her chest, sensing the medallion on the chain nestled between her breasts. "Besides. You seem doing just fine." Rex added as he threw a small pouch her way. Something that the dwarven woman caught with ease. With a quick glance inside she saw quite a few gold coins among a large number of silver ones.

"A small sign of appreciation."

"A small indeed." Beth smirked, her gaze moving over to Danica. "A wolfkin? Don't see them around here often. Where did you snag her?"

"Ravenhold Fort. Name's Danica." Danica explained herself, pointing towards Rex just a moment later. "I am his woman. The first." she added, a proud smile on her lips.

"Ho ho ho? The first you say?" Beth smirked, looking at Rex. "So one snagged you after all?"

"What, finally regretting not making a proper move back then?"

"Ha! As if. She herself said- the first one. I would rather wait a few years before you mature a bit more, only then could I consider it. Maybee." Her gaze locked on his jawline and chin. "I need more than that little stubble you have there. Come back in another ten years yea?" Her laughter was clear and melodic, with a slight undertone of something rough and rugged, though still feminine and pleasant to the ear. The woman was a free spirit, something Rex could appreciate a great deal.

"I'll hold you to it then. In ten or so years. On another, unrelated topic, how the business treating you? Ever thought of expanding this magnificent and establishment of yours?" Rex smiled as he replied, the doors to kitchen slowly opening as a couple of the younger girl helpers brought out a few dishes of food. And even as the girls continued with their tasks, placing the plates on his table and disappearing back inside the kitchen, only to return moments later with more plates, Beth had walked over to Rex and Danica and in a slightly hushed voice spoke, audible only to their ears.

"With my ear to the ground I have heard suspicious movements in the shadows. And I mean things far beyond anything I have ever witnessed. If you ask me, I would say to leave the capital if at all possible. My guess is that something bad will happen during the tournament, so I and the girls will be out of town for a few weeks at the very least."

"Good that you are aware. We have learned something similar, though I have other things in mind. When are you departing?"

"Tomorrow morning. Everyone staying has been notified an will leave during the day, some of the adventurer girls will even accompany me. Those girls are all nuggets of gold I tell you."

"Light's Oak among them?"

"Oh? You know those girls? Wait, I think you have mentioned them before. Riight, the party you were with before coming to the capital! How could I forget. You have been an active youngster, haven't you?" a grin spread across her face once more as she tried to tease Rex. "With the amount of pretty girls orbiting you, I am surprised you have only bagged one. is everything okay with your gear?"

"If you want to find out so hard, I can show it to you in action." Rex grinned back, well aware of the joke behind those words and more than willing to just play along "We don't have to wait those ten years if you are so interested."

"Nu-uh. Grow a bit more first. And eat your food while its hot." She reminded Rex, since Danica was already at it, chowing down on the tastiness the girls had placed on the table and trying not to laugh, lest she loses whatever liquid she had just imbibed.

With everything she wanted to say out in the open and one last look at Rex, accompanying it with yet another smirk, Beth disappeared in the kitchen, off to prepare for the undoubtedly busy morning to come, leaving Rex and Danica to their own devices, devouring the food that was delivered to their table. They had barely managed to finish their meal when the other target group of their interest descended from the second floor, though Rex noticed straight away that there were two unknown faces, clearly the additional front liners the group was in need of.

The girls of Light's Oak were all smiles, even if some of them still had half asleep expression marring their faces, happily chatting among themselves as they arrived in the dining hall. It was as soon as they descended that they heard a familiar voice, drawing the attention of the original group instantly.

"Well, well, well. Will the table have enough seats for us all I wonder." Rex spoke, all smiles as he gave a few extra coins to the girl taking away the last few dirty dishes of theirs, one hand waving towards the Light's Oak. His smile and friendly demeanor was instantly returned with just as much, if not twice the amount as the girls quickly approached his table.

"Did not expect to see you here in capital so soon." he smiled as the girls took seats around the table, with the only exception of Ria who came over and hugged him tightly- the privileges of someone going on dates with Rex. Of course, while they all greeted Rex, asking him about whatever had he been doing and what's with the rumors they had been hearing around the capital about a new A rank monster tamer. They also glanced towards Danica with obvious questions on their tongues, though not quite yet ready to ask. In the end, it was Rex himself who would speak out, as soon the asked introduction of the two new members of Light's Oak were finalized.