Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 97 - 93: White Armor

Ms. Sharan seemed to have misunderstood something, and Lyle watched the lady in front of him, who was grinning cleverly.

"Uncle, aren’t you going to clear up the misunderstanding? Just explain that, to me, you’re only worth a thousand Yules."

"A thousand Yules is quite a lot." Ralph adjusted the brim of his hat, "I didn’t expect that idle joke to have such serious consequences. As a woman, to become Naranya’s new inspector, I can imagine how much Sharan had to pour into her job afterwards. A misunderstanding that had a positive impact on her life, let’s let it continue. Her making it to this point today..." Ralph’s sharp eyes reflected on the shop windows beside the street, as if ripples were forming on water.

"To achieve such a feat, it’s not unreasonable to praise her as Verlet."

"Hearing such high praise from you, Ms. Sharan must be very happy."

"Then why don’t you be a little more impressive? I’ve already praised you so much."

Lyle shrugged, "Because, to me, your praise sounds more like teasing."

"So, when I address Sharan Verlet, in my mind, it really is a thousand Yules—seeing her in self-satisfied delight, I feel a sense of intellectual superiority. And besides, you’ve heard it yourself, to expose it right to her face, do you want to be whipped while calling my brother’s name?"

Lyle shrank back a little, "If it really came down to it, I’d definitely shout your name with resentment."

Ralph waved his hand dismissively, "That’s no use. By the time you’re getting beaten, I might already be calling on your grandfather’s name, do you really think this tigress would spare me?"

Lyle ducked his head, noticing that ahead, Sharan and Karen had already cheerfully turned into the Agave Inn.

"I’ll keep the secret, never letting misfortune fall upon the Butler family."

"Of course, it might even have a positive effect on my career. I understand Sharan’s personality; though her mouth isn’t the cleanest, she’s definitely on our side."

"That’s just like you, using even your own student." "By the way, did you send out that Verlet statue?"

Ralph rolled his eyes as if looking at an idiot while closing the door to the inn.

"A thousand Yules, just giving it away like that, do you think I’ve come to Naranya to suffer on public expenses?"

"Typical of you."

The Agave Inn, right next to the entrance, showcased a counter with fruit wines and a tavern, followed by the resting rooms.

The furniture, although not as solid as Cassandra’s, nor as orderly as the cafeteria in Eiffel Academy, felt homely with morning glory potted plants on the windowsill, their blue-purple petals facing outside.

At this moment, the tavern was bustling. Tables were mostly filled with residents winding down after a day’s work, predominantly males, who ordered a few frothy alcoholic beverages to sit together, laughing heartily over trivial matters of life.

The waitress carried plates through the crowd, occasionally chatting with the patrons at neighboring tables.

Ms. Sharan seemed quite popular here. Not long after she entered, a table of guests willingly vacated their seats, as a young waitress cheerfully cleaned the table and, with a smile as bright as May flowers, took her order.

It was like a party.

Which came to an abrupt halt the moment Ralph stepped in.

Lyle guessed it was Ralph’s incongruous aura that disrupted the atmosphere. Every man who was dancing on the tabletops just a second ago seemed to fall into their seats with a fluster after seeing Ralph’s sour face.

It was like a feigned fall after a bout of drunkenness.

Lyle timely defended his cheap uncle like a family member to the silent crowd, which could also be considered a charm, the "party cooler."

"Why are you standing there stunned? Come over here and try the boss’s specialty rose pastry."

Ms. Sharan’s loud voice acted like a switch, cooling the surrounding atmosphere instantly.

Lyle felt the surrounding people looking at them with the eyes of an enemy, as if they had stolen their woman, making the place seem more like a cold storage.

Looking at the unchanging Ralph.

"Uncle, living like this must be tiring."

Ralph naturally took his own steps forward.

"You’ll get used to it. When I interrogate them, my face is bound to look even worse."

The two arrived at their seats.

Ms. Sharan pushed the steaming pink pastry, on a plate, in front of Ralph.

"Eat it, choke on it."

Ralph looked at the food in front of him and casually pushed it towards Lyle.

"You eat it, I’m not fond of sweets."

Lyle looked at the grenade-like pastry handed to him as Ralph looked on coldly, while Mrs. Sharan’s eyes narrowed, her smile shamelessly blooming on her face.

I’m his nephew, why the glare?

Lyle saw his savior.

"Karen, you eat it. It’s delicious."

"Praise the Holy Light! Praise Sir Lyle, you’re the best." Karen picked up the crepe as if nothing were amiss, nibbling on it like a greedy kitten. Her eyes had been fixed on the food as it moved around the table. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Didn’t expect Little Butler to be such a gentleman; what a surprise. I thought gender equality was the Butler family’s motto."

Another knife.

"The Butler code isn’t about gender equality, but that the victor takes all. If you aren’t strong enough, keep it to yourself."

No! That’s not it! Don’t make stuff up! When did my family have such a motto, you’re just making things up as you go.

"Alright!" Verlet narrowed her eyes as she took a glass of sparkling mead from a waitress’s tray and thumped it on the table, "Let’s see who’s stronger. If I drink you under the table, hehe, I’ll strip you naked and throw you out onto the street."

Ralph seemed to shudder, and his voice became colder than ever, "You’ve succeeded in angering me, Verlet. You’d better think carefully about the consequences, because I will do exactly to you what you threatened to do to me."

The bold woman wasn’t intimidated, "Hahaha, I’m destined to win. Two years ago, I floored you with just one drink, and even drew a turtle on your face. I heard you’ve stopped drinking since then. After binge drinking for two years in Naranya, what can you put up against me?"

Such a vicious woman.

Ralph patted Lyle’s shoulder, "I’ll let my nephew lead me into battle, for the glory of the Butler family."

"Are you insane? I don’t touch a drop, I’m your blood nephew!"

Lyle glanced at Mrs. Sharan, who had loosened the collar of her dress, revealing a whiteness tinged with the red of dusk, having already had a cup.

"Alright, Little Butler, you keep me company drinking, and once we’re done, I’ll throw both you and your uncle out."

"...."

Lyle held his forehead as he woke up again, and it was already late at night.

Verlet’s drinking challenge didn’t carry on. Ignored by them, she drank by herself, collapsing onto the table after her tenth cup.

The uncle and nephew, on the other hand, were tasting some fruit juice with honey.

Karen poked Verlet’s face.

"Should we throw her out, Sir Lyle?"

Don’t take her seriously.

Ralph stood up and put his hat back on his head.

"Lyle, you and Karen take Verlet to her room to rest. I’m going out on patrol. Don’t wait up for me tonight."

"Understood."

Lyle and Karen helped the woman to bed, and the first thing she did upon getting into bed was to go crazy from the drink.

"Are you trying to leave me behind and run away again!"

A fist big as a clay pot impacted Lyle’s eye.

"I... damn it Verlet."

Karen stayed to look after her.

Lyle stood in the corridor, gazing at the moonlight over Naranya.

His eyes involuntarily glanced towards a slightly larger marketplace not far away. It was deserted, with only empty stalls and moon shadows, and a swiftly passing figure.

White... armor?