Chapter 381: Holy Dragon Tavern
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Watson, I heard that when you were learning sword techniques at the training ground, you displayed your power, so Father gave everyone a day off.”
At that moment, Watson and Christina were walking side by side on the streets of the royal city. Christina looked at Watson up and down with a strange gaze, as if she was thinking about Watson’s body.
It had been more than an hour since he had learned the sword technique. Reid said that the training ground was damaged and needed to be repaired to drive him out. Christina went with him.
Watson’s hair stood on end when someone stared at him like that. He scratched his head in embarra.s.sment. “Indeed, Master has only taught me for a short while, but I have already gained a lot! Furthermore, Master was afraid that I would be tired, so he told me to relax for a day. He seemed to be very considerate of his disciple’s health.”
“No, I don’t think my father wanted to understand you.. It’s just that your performance was too outrageous, and so he scared you away.”
Christina laughed inwardly. As the daughter of the Sword Saint, no one was more aware of her father’s strictness than her. Otherwise, she would not have gone to the City of Steel—she had been under too much pressure. She wanted to prove her thoughts by challenging her father.
Christina had learned about what happened more than an hour ago from her fellow disciples. She had a general understanding of what Watson had done. At that moment, looking at Watson, Christina could not help but feel inferior.
As a sword pract.i.tioner, Watson could learn everything at once. However, her father always pinpointed her mistakes. If Watson could give her half of his talent, Reid would probably laugh out loud in his dreams.
“Watson, do you have any tricks for learning sword techniques so quickly? I think you’re not just talented. If you do have any tricks, can you tell them to me?” Christina could not help but ask.
Even though she understood that Watson might just be talented, she just had to ask. What if Watson really did have some tricks?
“There’s no special trick, but—”
When Watson finished the first half of his sentence, Christina’s eyes had already dimmed. After hearing the rest of his words, her eyes suddenly lit up again. “But what?”
Christina grabbed Watson’s shoulder. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked directly at him. Initially, Christina was only half a head taller than Watson, but she stood very close to him when she grabbed his shoulder. Her nose was almost touching his.
Christina’s pretty face blushed slightly, and she took two steps backward.
“Although I can’t change your talent, I do have a way to make you stronger.”
Watson did not care about that; he said it with a smile.
“What way?”
“It’s very simple. Just believe in me.”
“Believe in you? What do you mean?”
“It’s similar to the Holy Dragon Kingdom’s priests’ faith toward the seven G.o.ds. As long as you believe in me like you respect the G.o.ds, you will get power from me. That way, you will be able to become stronger.”
“Watson.” Christina stared at Watson for a long time. Her mouth slowly rose, and she pouted. She looked unhappy. “If you don’t want to tell me the trick to become stronger, then just say it. Do you need to make up such a lie to deceive me? Do you think I’m so easy to con?”
“Lady Swordmistress, what I said is true.”
“Forget it. Let’s not talk about that anymore. It’s not easy for you to come to the capital, and you’re now studying at the academy. As the host, I want to treat you to a good meal. I don’t want my father to say that I didn’t treat our guests well when I go back! I know a very good restaurant ahead. Come with me.”
Without any explanation, Christina held Watson’s hand and walked forward.
Watson and Christina were both handsome and beautiful. Everyone looked at them as they walked by. Since they knew Christina’s ident.i.ty, they whispered among themselves.
“Isn’t that Lady Swordmistress from the Sword Saint family? I heard that she just came back not too long ago. Why is she holding a man’s hand? Is it her boyfriend?”
“That’s her boyfriend? That young man is too young! He looks like her brother! Also, the Sword Saint announced that he had taken in a young disciple named Watson. He happens to be around the same age as that boy. Is that him?”
Some people looked at Watson with envy, while others a.n.a.lyzed the situation rationally. More people were discussing what had happened in the Sword Saint’s courtyard.
“There was a river, a typhoon, and lightning in the sky above the Sword Saint’s courtyard just now. It was so scary! My family lives on the street near the Sword Saint’s courtyard. Even if I stayed in my house, I could still feel the ground shaking. I was so scared that I ran out. I wonder why there was such a big commotion when the Sword Saint trained his disciples.”
“Perhaps the Sword Saint wasn’t teaching his disciples any sword techniques; maybe he had a new breakthrough. Perhaps that was why there was such a commotion.”
“Is that so? If that’s the case, we must be blessed. The Holy Dragon Kingdom relies on the Sword Saint’s reputation to keep invasions at bay. Now that the Sword Saint has made a breakthrough, doesn’t that mean our lives are more stable?”
Christina brought Watson to a seemingly luxurious restaurant. During that time, her ears twitched, and she could hear the discussions outside. She had a little plan in mind.
“Would those people be surprised if they knew that it wasn’t my father who made the breakthrough but Watson? It’s obvious that Watson didn’t tell me the truth just now. I can use the food to lure him here. Maybe he will tell me the real secret to becoming stronger after we get closer to each other.”
While Christina pondered that, Watson was also thinking about something else.
He looked at the large plaque in front of him that had Holy Dragon Tavern written on it and the pillars carved with dragons, phoenixes, and other mythical beasts. Watson wasn’t thinking about what to eat but about how that shop was related to him. If he remembered correctly, the Holy Dragon Tavern was Count Gray’s shop, the largest shop in the city.
‘When we enter the tavern later, will it be awkward if we find any Severed Fingers Gang members there?” While Watson was deep in thought, he heard Christina speak.
“Watson, this tavern is very famous in the kingdom. They say that King Landhar III personally wrote the words on the plaque! Today’s meal is on me. Don’t be shy; just order whatever you want.”
“Thank you, Lady Swordmistress.”
Watson and Christina walked into the tavern. The interior was the same as the exterior. It looked high-cla.s.s. The grounds around the tavern were planted with trees. Those plants did not seem to lack water at all in the crevices of the earth. Furthermore, the leaves were inlaid with gold and silver.
Luxury and elegance coexisted there. One could see rich people or n.o.blemen everywhere, leading their children to eat at various tables.
“Lady Swordmistress? Well, you haven’t come to our tavern for a long time.”
As soon as they entered the hall, a beautiful woman with a friendly smile walked up and greeted Christina warmly. When that woman saw Watson, the professional smile on her face suddenly disappeared. It turned into embarra.s.sment and fear. “You are—”
“My name is Watson. I’m here to accompany Lady Swordmistress for dinner.”
Signaling the member who had recognized him not to be so nervous, Watson revealed a smile unique to that year’s youth.
“Yes, Young Master Watson. Please come in!”
After adjusting her facial expression, the woman led Watson and Christina to the deepest part of the tavern, a private room. The words Red Dragon were written outside the room, and a string of good-quality rubies hung in front of the door.
After entering the private room, Christina sat down on a solid wooden chair and looked around with a slight frown. “I thought those people would bring us to a Purple Dragon or Blue Dragon dining area. I didn’t expect that they would bring us to the red dragon area. I remember the Red Dragon area where they receive the most valuable guests. My father and Master Antonio would be right for this room; I should not have the right to be here. Perhaps they have made a mistake?”
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a mistake or not. Since they’ve arranged for us to be here, let’s enjoy ourselves.”
Watson knew that the woman must have guessed his ident.i.ty, which was why she brought him there. After all, he was the boss, so it was no problem for him to sit in the most distinguished area.
“By the way, Lady Swordmistress, what are the Red Dragons and Purple Dragons that you mentioned just now?”
“Don’t you know?”
Christina snapped back to her senses and looked at Watson in surprise. Then, she nodded. “That’s right; this is your first time in the capital! As the largest tavern in the capital, the services in the Holy Dragon Tavern are divided into different levels. From top to bottom, the services are divided into Red Dragon, Golden Dragon, Purple Dragon, Blue Dragon, Green Dragon, and White Dragon. They say that Count Gray divided the six colors according to the six qualities of red wine. Many taverns in the capital followed this standard. Among them, the White Dragon area is for barons and knights with a slightly higher status, while Red Dragon could only be enjoyed by royalty or the three archdukes’ family members.”
“I see.”
Previously, Watson had only taken in the Severed Fingers Gang as his subordinate, but he had not studied how they operated. He was prepared to hold a meeting with the other higher-ups to understand the family business.
“Let’s not talk about that. Let’s order and see what you want to eat.”
Christina pushed a thick stack of parchment paper on the table in front of Watson. He took it and was about to study it when he heard a fierce argument from outside.
“A bunch of idiots. You said that you couldn’t let anyone into the Red Dragon area. Young Master Augustus is from one of the three archduke families—the Campbell family! Other than Young Master Augustus, we also have Young Master Casey and Miss Lana from the Ptolemy family, who are also one of the three archdukes. Are they not allowed to enter the Red Dragon area?”
First, there was an arrogant and oppressive voice, followed by a woman’s voice. She sounded apologetic.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that the three young masters from the archduke families are here. Currently, we already have guests in the Red Dragon area. Why don’t you go to the Purple Dragon area first? As compensation, everyone’s expenses here will be paid by the tavern.”
“What a joke! I came here to spend money. Do you think I care about expenses? I am often at the Red Dragon area. You said it was given to other guests. Who did you give it to? I’d like to see who has the right to sit there other than the royal family. If they’re princes from the royal family, then I’m very familiar with them. I can eat with them. Get out of my way!”
As another arrogant voice sounded, the door to the dining area was suddenly pushed open. A young man with a red ponytail led more than a dozen n.o.blemen into the dining area. When he saw Watson and Christina sitting inside, both parties were stunned.
“You!”
“Why is it you?”