The summoned creatures looked at him with an incredulous expression. There was no way to guess what Khabid expression behind his cloak, mask, and hood. But the other showed a questioning expression to him.
Xianli asked again, "no? You guys aren't thirsty? Ah right, what about lunch then, I want to eat mine after summoning you guys, care to join me?"
"cough ..., Pardon, my Lord, before that ... where's the enemy we need to deal with? Is it hidden somewhere? Or, have they already surrounded this building?" the butler-like Nicholas asked with a cautious expression.
"Ahh ..., no worries, this place is safe. I didn't call you because I'm in a perilous situation or something."
"Then ..., Lord, what is your command?" Khabid asked.
The other also waited for his next word with anticipation.
"First, come with me ..."
Xianli stood up from the wooden terrace and calmly beckoned them to follow him. He led them to the dining room in his courtyard.
This room only has one round table and only one chair on it. This was his courtyard and there was nobody besides him and the appointed maid. In fact, Dian Xianli prefers to go out in the town and eat in the restaurant. If not because of the current situation, then he would wantonly eat good demonic beast meat at the Moon Jade Pavilion.
Juewang had finished arranging his meal on the table. And left it just like that. Probably still searching for Therese and Allescar.
Xianli opened the food tray and grabbed a chopstick. He ate without caring about the seven newly summoned characters.
Because they weren't making any movement, it made Xianli who nonchalantly eat his lunch feeling a bit awkward. In the end, he gave in and said.
"Ohh ..., you guys, come take a plate and accompany me here!"
The newly summoned characters glanced at each other and began rustling in the dining room. Khabid and Reyhan took chairs while Nicholas and the girl prepared the tableware.
When the magician, petite girl, kimono girl, and the assassin already seated in the dining table, they were silently watching the youth in the middle. As for the tribe girl, she was already hoarding the juicy Soy-sauce Lamb Meat. The butler-man was standing beside Xianli while the elf-slave was sitting on the floor in the corner of the room for some reason.
Xianli that was still in the middle of taking the Garlic-seasoned Chicken Leg from the platter. He stopped his chopstick in the track and looked at them with bewildered eyes. He then said.
"No need to be reserved. Although I have a crucial matter to tell you, the meal is no less important than that. Just fill your stomach and we'll talk the real business later."
"Then, I'll start eating, itadakimasu ...," Kanata grabbed a chopstick and clapped her hand before she took a hold of the rice-filled cup and skillfully took a piece of a chicken leg.
"It's like sumpit in the Nahesthar, I always wanted to do this." said Mitra playfully holding the two chopsticks, just like how Therese when she first time eat with that.
Xianli smiled seeing the girls, with that the men also started to grab the cup and eat with him.
He then looked at the butler and the floor-sitting elf then said, "you two, join with us too ..., and why are you sitting on the floor?"
"I think it is inappropriate to eat in the same table as my master, please let me serve you in the side. As for her, well ..., because she's a slave, so it's good that she knows her position?" Nicholas said with a gentleman smile.
"I can't understand that, are you a butler in your previous life?" Xianli still asked.
"Eee ..., before I become a merchant, I actually am a butler."
'Even if you say so ...' Xianli felt troubled with how confident Nicholas said that.
But then Xianli sensed a rather uncomfortable gaze from Nicholas. It was not directed at him, it was to the person who was eating the lamb meat without care about the world. Sensing the middle-aged butler sulfurous glare, Zhu Rong frowned and put down her chopstick.
"Since earlier, you glared me with that disturbing eyes, do you have anything to say?" this put the dining table into a rather uncomfortable atmosphere.
Nicholas smiled and waved his hand, "oho, miss Zhu Rong has misunderstood me, I'm just curious whether you are related with someone I know in the past."
"You know me?" Zhu Rong put a perplexed face and tilted her head slightly.
"Ee ..., aren't you that infamous forest-dweller-beast-girl that attacked the Incarna Kingdom? The beast horde you led has put our cities into total destruction, how can I forget about you?" Nicholas put down his ever-gentleman-ly smile and with a deep voice, he said, "it was the most terrible man-made destruction that has ever recorded in my Incarna Kingdom history, how can I forget about that?"
The atmosphere on the dining table was becoming worse. But Zhu Rong tilted her head as if trying to remember that peculiar event. In the end, she just frowned and looked at him with an innocent face. Zhu Rong who looked at Nicholas with 'what the hell this man talking about?' face was making him even mad.
"..., it can't be. I can't remember. I don't know what are you talking about, maybe you just mistook me for someone else." said Zhu Rong after shaking her head to the side.
"Don't you dare look at me with an innocent face! How can you ..., treat this matter as if you are not the one to blame!?" Nicholas pointed his finger with deep hatred toward her.
"..., but I, really-" when Zhu Rong adamantly denied him, something broke on the Nicholas side.
"F*ck! Just what are you beast-girl! You have put my kingdom into the brink of destruction, yet you act nonchalantly and look at me as if you don't remember it! Did you let your heart and morale eaten up by your beast mother?"
Xianli who was watching the soap opera feel puzzled with the ongoing development. So they had a history too? Wasn't this too much of a coincidence? And looking at the angry Nicholas with steamed head, he knew that his grudge runs deep on his blood.
Moreover, he lived his name as a [Steam Merchant(R)], just look at his reddened face and sweat vapor on top of his head. He was steaming, literally.
"Hey, that's enough Butler of Red!" stated Khabid who couldn't set this matter aside anymore. "we're in the presence of our Lord, don't you think it's rude to discuss our past grudge?"
The butler also glared at him and shouted.
"Past? Past grudge, you said? Come to think of it, didn't you guys from the Purple who backstabbed us at the Siege of Larya! You guys set up an ambush right after we entered the city hall! Although I wasn't there, I know that my comrade was dying in agony in your hand!"
Xianli and the floor-sitting elf was the least bit affected by their squabble. He decided to learn thoroughly about this matter by listening before put his hand inside it. As for the elf Rebecca, she just looked at them with an abiding gaze of emptiness, as if her mind was not here.
[Khabid - Spineless Shadow(P)] glared back at him simply because he didn't like that gaze. The two men exchanging silent cold war with their gaze.
The [Umiko(B)] - Kanata and the [Magnet Hand(Y)] - Mitra exchanging gaze with the same puzzled expression. While [Beast Tamer(G)] - Zhu Rong still tried to think what and when did she destroy his kingdom. In the end, she sighed and shook his head because she couldn't find any memories about it.
But for the [Mind Mage(B)] - Reyhan, he already made a conclusion based on everyone's emotion and mind fluctuation. He just needed a confirmation to prove this.
"Please wait for a moment everyone, I need to clarify something before you put up a meaningless fight."
The two glared at Reyhan with the same uncomfortable gaze. As a member of Infernal Lord Faction, they had their own grudge with the Blues from the Heavenly Grace Faction. While, yeah the Purples of Infernal Lord has done treachery, they were still a comrade in the past with the Reds. The two of them hated Heavenly Grace more even though they already had their own infighting.
Looking at the Persian-like men they were somewhat unwilling to give in. But in the end, because the other party was a [Mind Mage(B)], they ceased their insolent glare and cooled down a bit.
They were the brave of the Infernal Lord, and Khabid's overall strength was more compared to him. But they were like a docile lamb and put a meek look. After all, it was a [Mind Mage(B)] that study the mysterious field of spirit and emotion.
Deeply rooted in their mind, they were unwilling to fight him. It was one of the two most horrible opponents in the Myscreat world. After all, they never know when their mind was manipulated by him. Perhaps, he already prepared his spell to put them on bounds. They never knew.
Khabid put a last glance at him and leaned his back on the chair and Nicholas backed a half-step silently.
'Ohh ..., it seems that this man is revered by them. But why is it? Is he just an Uncommon? A step lower than Rebecca and Khabid?' Xianli silently thought while looking at the Khabid who was silent on his chair and Nicholas who retreated back on his side. His eyes wander to the Rebecca, 'still, even though they're both a Rare Character Card, what's with this sense of discrepancy?'
Reyhan glanced at Khabid and then Nicholas, saying, "What sire Khabid said is true, we're in the presence of our Lord, butler Nicholas, please tolerate your anger for a moment."
He then glanced at the Zhu Rong who was in the middle of taking another cut of Soy-Sauce Lamb Meat. Xianli was taken aback with how nonchalantly she was in this kind of atmosphere, but well he also silently ate his meal when they erupted. So perhaps she just that hungry, or she was a glutton.
"Mistress Zhu Rong, can I ask what year is this in the Myscreation Calendar?"
The myrtle haired girl who was munching on lamb meat was surprised by the sudden polite question. She swallowed the meat and pointed her chin pondering.
"Uhmm ..., 1781, was it?" she said.
"What?" Nicholas startled by the answer.
"..., umm ..., as I thought, butler Nicholas, I guess you are a denizen of the Incarna Kingdom who was born in the early 19th century right?"
"...," Nicholas didn't speak just nodded.
"Then that's explained the whole thing. For further clarification, Kanata young miss, are you someone who came from Tetsukiri Island?" Reyhan asked the dozed off Kanata who couldn't catch up with the conversation.
"Huh? Uh yeah ..., my father is the Chieftain." she nodded agreeing with him.
"Okay ..., let's leave it at that. I understand all of your situations because I came from the late 20th Century. I was born on 6th July 1976, and this year, I am 27-years-old."
"In other words... you guys came from a different time?" Xianli tried to join the conversation.
Reyhan looked at him and nodded, "yes, we were once a figure from a different era. I have my suspicion after looking at the female elf who still enslaved over there. But after hearing about this I can say for sure about that."
He looked at Nicholas and said, "Even if Mistress Zhu Rong here is the ones who led the Beastmaster Purge, she still far from becoming that legendary figure. She hasn't done that yet so she is puzzled with your persistence."
He then glanced at Khabid and opened his mouth once again, "as for Siege of Larya, I think this also happened in the future where Mr. Khabid hasn't yet to achieve that feat."
At this time, an elderly man entered the room, saying. "What a surprise, isn't this the old Khabid?"
It was Allescar in his blue scale armor and Therese on her Priestess attire led by the maid Dian Juewang. The two of them were trying to adapt to the Jiang lifestyle and wearing a robe when the time of diner and rest, but in the day they still wore that equipment. As if it was their work suit.
Therese looked around as if searching for someone but then sighed in relief patted her big bust covered in modest hieratic templar priestess robe.
Juewang stood dumbfoundedly and staring blankly at the newly incoming unknown peoples. She was not with the convoy and didn't know about the card summon, although she already heard some rumor circulated around the maidservant, she couldn't make any sense of their words.
Using a teleportation talisman or something to transfer Withornian like Allescar and Therese out of nowhere to save the day? A bright and warm angelic miracle that instantly heal the injured soldiers? That was just too much of a fairy tale for her, and that was the only thing she could not believe.
But now, she couldn't help herself but believe it. After all, a thousand words couldn't convince what a single glance perceive. Even she saw a human-like race but too darn beautiful to the point she as a maiden feeling entranced and infatuated with. The elf Rebecca was someone she hadn't seen before. But why she wore an iron choke and chained?
Dian Juewang knew what she had to do so she took another platter and serve a portion of food for the fallen-graceful-elf with her warmest smile. Although she didn't understand what was happening here, looking at them who did not even bother to let the beautiful girl grab her food, she was a bit vexed.
Rebecca accepting her gesture of kindness ate the meal silently and elegantly. Juewang nodded her head and proceed to continue her duty to serve the Young Master.
The newly summoned looked at Allescar and Therese, some with lit-up eyes some with a hostile eye.
Khabid after hearing his name from the old veteran, asked, "You ..., who are you?"
"Ahh ..., really, so you don't remember me? I'm Allescar Arkwright! We've fought a thousand battles, and now you asked who am I? Didn't you say that I was your rival or something in the past?"
"Allescar ... was there someone with that name?" Khabid put a frown on his eyes, he then glances at Allescar and his eyes bulged, he stood up and asked, "that damn cocky boy? Why the hell are you turn into a damn old man?"
"Hahaha, the hell with that? If I'm an old man, then you're a great-grandfather, you damn f*cker!"
Allescar pulled Khabid in a huge bearhug. The assassin was flustered by this oddity. As far as he remembered, the man known as Allescar was a young adult with too much energy. He went here and there slashing and stabbing with his sword or spear. Shouting justice and peace bullshit here and there. It was the most troublesome opponent he has ever met.
Although he didn't have the beard or the white hair like the old man in front of him, they looked similar. If this old man said that he was Allescar's father, he might believe him. But this man was that Allescar? Did he come from the future?
"Uhmm ..., uhh, Sir Allescar. Could you release me? This is embarrassing." Asked Khabid with eyes that traveled everywhere.
It was his first time getting hugged by a man, an old man at that. It was not a good as experience, especially in this kind of situation. It only made him awkward.
"What, we're rival for thirty years, so we can be considered as a friend right? You damn f*cker, although, you're a Purple, you got a brave and righteous heart, I admit that!"
'Are you scolding me or praising me?' asked Khabid inside his heart.
"Ummm ..., it's nice to see you in person, Mr. Arkwright! I'm the descendant of Beirunni, the Promiscuous Mind Mage. I come with the name Reyhan, pleased to meet you."
Knowing the whole situation, Reyhan stood and introduced himself using his ancestor name that lived in the same era as Allescar. Put off his turban and bowed with look of reverence.
"Ohh ..., you're that lunatic descendant? Hmmm ..." Allescar finally released Khabid and observed the [Mind Mage(B)].
After carefully observing him up and down, Allescar nodded with a thin smile.
"Not bad ..., attaining this level of Mind Manipulation at your age." he praised.
"Ah, no ..., I'm still far away from what my great-grandfather achieved." Reyhan scratched the back of his head and smiled shyly.
"No need to be humble kid, you can reach his level in a matter of a few years." Allescar patted his shoulder to encourage him.
Reyhan looked at Allescar in the eyes and nodded in conviction, "yes, thank you for your kind word, Mr. Arkwright."
Allescar smiled and looked at Xianli who was silent this whole time, "then ..., is this the reason you called us, Lord?"
Dian Xianli looked at him and Therese and smiled.
He said, "let's talk while we eat. Juewang, Nicholas, prepare another chair for them! Ah, and don't forget miss Rebecca too!"
He instructed the young maid and the self-proclaimed butler. While Juewang didn't know exactly who the heck this Rebecca was, but she could guess who was it. Nevertheless, they prepared three other chairs for them tacitly.