Swallowing the final sip of Dragon's Tongue, Liam finally realized the dreadful truth: alcohol no longer affected him. As a test, he ordered a different kind of drink and gulped it down. If Noctis had a physical face to punch...

“Are you sure you're alright, Liam?” Nora asked with a worried expression.

“I'm fine,” Liam quietly answered. “Looks like the changes in my body affected more than I thought.”

Lowering her voice, Nora asked, “I've been wondering since I saw you yesterday, but are you even human anymore?”

“Probably not,” Liam flatly replied. After all, he regretted nothing. Moving on, he asked, “Is there some other group that would allow thief classes and is immediately profitable that you know of?”

“I think there are a few underground groups, but it's probably not a good idea to join most of them.”

“Mercenary groups?”

“There might be a few in Crey, but not many. There is a branch guild here, though.”

“I suppose I could look into it,” Liam muttered. “Damn that annoying geezer... wanting me to do something so troublesome yet he takes away the ability to get drunk...”

“Geezer?” Nora asked. “Does that have to do with why you're different now?”

“Forget I said anything,” Liam answered. “Maybe I'll tell you if you earn my trust in the future.”

“Haven't I earned some of your trust by now?”

“The hell you have. I've only known you for a few days. On that note, your clingy attitude since you woke up is irritating as hell.”

“Mmm... was it really that bad?” Nora asked. “I was trying to act friendly.”

“You call that friendly?”

Shrugging, Nora replied, “I guess it's because I don't interact with people much. I used some girl I saw the other day as a reference.”

“Better to just figure out your own way of talking to people,” Liam muttered, recalling his struggle to learn social skills as a child.

“Not sure I should learn from you,” Nora retorted.

“Don't. I don't need a copy of myself following me around. Anyway, before anything else, show me your little hideout.”

“We should wait til nighttime for that,” Nora whispered.

“That mean's it's too noticeable. How much would it cost to buy a small house?”

“You're buying me a house?”

“No. Why is everyone around me so annoying?” Liam mumbled. Then, speaking normally, he said, “Anyway, it would be a temporary shelter I can return to whenever I want. So, how much do you think it would cost?”

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“A few platinum maybe. I don't really know.”

“Guess we'll find out...” Liam muttered.

Liam called over the bartender and paid for the drinks, though he received almost two hundred gold and silver coins in change. On top of that, he exchanged a silver for one hundred copper. Smaller purchases in the future would probably require smaller currency.

Carrying the sack of coins, he and Nora left the tavern. Apparently, the group of noisy guild members was still making a racket by the tables. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a bulletin board covering a large section of the wall behind them. Out of curiosity, he returned to the reception counter, drawing a sigh from Cici.

“Did you need something else already?” she asked.

“Just thought I'd ask what those people are getting excited over,” Liam answered, pointing at the mishmash of adventurers.

“They're trying to organize an assault on the giant from the other day.”

“Ah, that guy...” Liam muttered.

“You saw it?” Cici asked, raising her brows.

“More like it almost killed me.”

“Did you want to join the subjugation group?”

“Hell no,” Liam instantly answered.

“Oh... should have known...” Cici muttered in response.

“Anyway,” Liam said, “I'll be back tomorrow to see your father.”

“What? What if he can't?”

“Then I'll come back the next day.”

Cici sighed in resignation. “I'll visit him tonight then.”

“Thanks,” Liam said, “I'll repay the favor later, then. See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, bye.”

With that Liam and Nora left the guild, leaving Cici alone with her thoughts. Although she also desired to know why Liam's eyes changed to the same color as her own, she disliked his approach. Although, she could not deny that he, at the very least, had the ability to pursue his goals stubbornly and relentlessly. If as much could be said of most of the guild members, then problems with monsters would easily become a thing of the past. Sighing, she wondered if she had chosen the wrong line of work.

Breaking her thoughts, a muscular man appeared in front of the counter. For a moment, she forgot where she was, but quickly flurried into a professional sitting position.

“What can I do for you? Oh, you're the one who came here from the Southern Plains... was it Yahangor?”

“Yahangir E'gor,” the man corrected her with a thick accent of the southern tribes. “You were called Cecilia if I remember correctly.”

“Right... What can I do for you?”

“I wish to know who that man is,” Yahangir answered, staring at the exit.

“He's not a guild member,” Cici replied. Honestly, the man's fluency in Gakrudian surprised her.

“But, you seem to know him,” the man said, facing her with a stern expression.

“A little... He is rather strange, I suppose.”

“And yet you two have the same eyes, ancient and forgotten.”

“What?” Cici asked, confused by the man's statement.

“It seems you know nothing. Very well. What is his name?”

Perturbed, Cici answered, “Uh... Liam...”

The man grinned and said, “I see. Well, I am done here, then. Thank you for the information.”

With that, he left just as abruptly as Liam. Again, Cici found herself left alone. Mentally drained, she rested her head on the desk and wondered what the gods were doing to pile so much on her in one sitting. Even she could tell the two men she just spoke with chased after the same thing.

“What's wrong with you?” Cassandra asked, poking her head over the wall separating them.

Turning her head to look at her coworker, Cici asked, “Did you just get here?”

“Yeah, but it seems like that may have been a good thing...”

“Maybe. That Liam guy came back again and that transfer from the south seemed interested in him...” Cici muttered, sighing.

“Ugh... that Southern guy is gorgeous, so his attitude is bearable, but that Liam guy can go die in a ditch for all I care,” Cassandra replied, grimacing.

“You would have been surprised if you saw him. His eyes turned the same color as mine.” Cici said.

“What? Is that even possible?”

“Apparently...”

“Then did he come here for you?”

“Not exactly, but now I have to set up a meeting for him with my father.”

“You're kidding...” Cassandra muttered. Then, she threw her hands in the air and exclaimed, “I'm done! I'm so done! As long as it's not him, by Sanguis, let me find someone to marry!”

She's getting delusional again... Cici mused.