The night had deepened, yet the clamor inside the Nightingale Bar showed no signs of abating.

The boisterous voices of mercenaries, the clinking of malt beer glasses, and the occasional laughter of the barmaids filled the entire establishment.

This was a true reflection of the lives of most mercenaries, spending their days off from bloodshed indulging in alcohol and women.

The bar owner, Nightingale, a woman still possessing her charm, propped her chin and squinted her eyes, lost in the scene before her, perhaps reminiscing about her younger days.

Three mercenaries clad in grey-green leather armor burst into the bar, their spirits high.

The noise inside the bar paused briefly only to resume again, as the entry of these few members of the Wolf Fox mercenary group went unnoticed by most.

The three mercenaries scanned the room and quickly made their way to a table in the center, surrounded by several of their comrades.

"Seven cups of Gold Rum!" a tall, thin mercenary from the Wolf Fox shouted towards the bar, raising his voice deliberately.

His shout drew the attention of most of the mercenaries in the bar.

Gold Rum was considered one of the finest spirits in all the human kingdoms, known for its sweet, fragrant aroma and the top-quality amber hue it possessed. A single cup cost at least one gold coin in the bar, a luxury only the wealthy and high-ranking figures like mercenary leaders could afford.

The Wolf Fox mercenaries at the table looked eagerly at the tall, thin mercenary, one of them unable to hold back his curiosity, "Solich, what windfall has come your way that you're treating us to such fine drink?"

"I haven't struck it rich, just got lucky and found a bargain," Solich replied with a smug look on his face.

"What kind of bargain? Spill the beans!" the other mercenaries urged him on.

The bar was a place for mercenaries to boast and banter, so Solich, without any intention of hiding or disguising his story, looked around to ensure the attention was on him, then slowly unwrapped a long, leather-bound item from his waist.

As the leather unfurled, a magnificent longsword was revealed, its hilt adorned with a striking red gemstone. A gentle pull exposed the blade, casting a faint blue glow across the bar, a hallmark of its magical enchantment.

"My god! A rare enchanted longsword!"

"How did you come across such luck to find this?"

"That sword's worth at least 300 gold coins!"

The surrounding Wolf Fox mercenaries couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

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Solich, basking in the envious and eager gazes, maintained his composure.

"Come on, tell us how you got this enchanted sword!" the mercenaries continued to press Solich for details.

"At the corner near the bar, a poor kid from the countryside approached me, wanting to sell it. He said it belonged to his deceased father. The boy had no idea of its value, I gave him 10 gold coins and he thought he struck a great deal, running off with the money!"

"What? Only 10 gold coins! You're too sly!"

"That's too cheap for him!"

"Right! Barkeep, another seven cups of Gold Rum!"

The chatter and excitement among the Wolf Fox mercenaries grew.

Suddenly, a large hand reached out from the side, attempting to grab the enchanted sword on the table.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Solich, quick to react, deflected the hand, nearly losing his balance in the process.

The hand belonged to a large, muscular middle-aged mercenary known for his silver eyepatch, "Silver Eye" Salick, a level five warrior and a notorious figure within the mercenary circles of Hualores City.

"Just want to take a look at this sword," Salick's single eye glinted menacingly at Solich.

Solich knew who Salick was but understood that showing weakness in front of another mercenary group, especially in a bar, would make him the laughing stock of his peers, preventing him from ever holding his head high among mercenaries again.

Clutching the sword, Solich met Salick's gaze and coldly stated, "Even just looking requires permission."

"Little brother, this sword looks familiar. It resembles the one our leader, Tristey, lost some days ago."

Knowing Salick's reputation as Tristey's staunch ally in the Blood Spike mercenary group, the crowd's focus shifted back to the sword.

Many present had witnessed Tristey losing the sword in a tavern a few months back, instantly recognizing the gemstone on its hilt. However, no one pondered how it ended up with a countryside boy and eventually in the hands of a Wolf Fox mercenary.

"I'm unaware of what Tristey's sword looks like, but I bought this for 10 gold coins!"

"Many here have seen Tristey's sword, and now I suspect the origins of yours," Salick dismissed Solich's explanation outright.

Backing away, sword in hand, Solich retorted, "If you suspect, then bring proof."

"Come with me to 'Blood Spike'. If Tristey says it's not his, you're free to leave."

Solich, struggling to contain his anger, replied, "Do you think we're fools? Once we're at 'Blood Spike', anything can be claimed as yours!"

"If you're unwilling, I, Salick, won't leave you at a loss. You paid 10 gold coins, I'll compensate you double—20 gold coins, and I'll cover tonight's drinks for your brothers!"

"Dream on! I'm not selling," Solich turned to leave.

Salick swiftly moved to block him, "You're not leaving until this is sorted!"

Solich's face turned ashen, "So, you're resorting to robbery?"

"That's not it. Either accompany me to 'Blood Spike' or wait here for Tristey. Otherwise, you're not stepping out of this bar."

"You 'Blood Spike' are too bullish. I'll leave and see who dares to stop me!" With that, Solich drew the enchanted sword.

The Wolf Fox mercenaries, standing in solidarity with Solich, encircled Salick, "Others may fear 'Blood Spike', but 'Wolf Fox' doesn't!"

Seeing their comrade in confrontation, three Blood Spike mercenaries rushed to Salick's side, escalating the tension. A brawl seemed imminent.

For the bored mercenaries, a fight was a delightful diversion. The anticipation of a clash between the seasoned 'Blood Spike' and 'Wolf Fox' groups excited the crowd, who began to bang their malt beer glasses on the tables, amplifying the uproar.

Salick, sensing the situation spiraling, hesitated. He felt he had given the young mercenaries enough respect, not anticipating such a strong resistance.

Mercenaries risk their lives for profit, valuing even a few gold coins. Salick overlooked the immense value gap between 20 gold coins and the sword's true worth. For Solich, this sword represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he was prepared to fight for it, for the dignity of a mercenary.

In Salick's moment of hesitation, a large beer mug flew from the crowd, aimed at his face, marking the start of the brawl...