"Clang!"
The sound of chairs and dishes crashing to the ground filled the air.
"Ugh..."
The man lying on the ground groaned in pain, food scattered around him, soaking his body in a most humiliating manner.
"Click, click, click..."
Footsteps echoed near his ears, and before he knew it, a black-haired man with a smile had approached him.
The man's polished black boots pressed against his muscular chest and abdomen. His deep, starry black eyes gazed into his, and with a smile, he asked, "Now, my dear guest, could you kindly tell me what exactly happened here?"
The man's gentle words, though spoken softly, sounded like the whispers of a devil.
"You! This is a scam! The food is terrible! Unhygienic! And now you're attacking people! I'm going to report you to the guards!" Jack stammered, trying to sound tough but failing miserably as he shouted at Ethan Drake.
"Tsk~ Dear guest, you should know that lying can lead to your soul being incinerated in the fires of hell," Ethan warned, his eyes narrowing. His indifference to Jack's threat was palpable.
"I... I didn't lie!"
"Ah, but you see, the power to step over an ant without crushing it is very delicate. I've already put in my utmost effort just to do that... Do you understand what I mean?"
Ethan's voice grew colder, his presence more terrifying with each word.
Jack could feel the pressure of the boot on his chest intensifying, as if it might crush him at any moment. His eyes bulged, teetering on the edge of panic.
"You!!!"
Breathlessness, nausea—death felt so close.
Never before had Jack come face to face with such fear.
"I...ugh..."
"No... it's not what I said! The food here is delicious! It's my fault! I was intentionally causing trouble! I'm sorry! Please, forgive me! I was wrong!" The survival instinct finally overwhelmed him, and the once-tough thug broke down, weeping as he begged for mercy.
"Tsk~ So, everything was your fault, then?" Ethan asked, his smile not fading as he gazed into Jack's eyes.
"Yes, yes!"
"Then, about the damages you've caused—my chairs, tables, dishes, and the emotional distress you've inflicted on my customers—shouldn't you compensate for all of that?"
The absurdity of Ethan's demand struck Jack hard. You caused the damage with the fight! And what in the world is an emotional distress fee?
"Fine... fine! I'll pay, I'll pay!"
This time, Jack realized he had run into a brick wall. In this world, strength is the law, and even the worst villains fear death.
"That'll be 10,000 gold coins. Thank you!" Ethan declared with a smile.
"How... how much?" Jack stammered in disbelief.
Are those tables and chairs made of gold? Isn't 10,000 gold coins a bit too much?
"10,000 gold coins. Is there a problem?" Ethan tilted his head slightly, still smiling.
"I... I don't have that much money!"
Jack didn't even have 100 gold coins to his name, let alone 10,000!
"Hmm..." Ethan rubbed his chin as if deep in thought, making Jack's heart race with anxiety.
"Well then... surely there's someone who can help you pay, right?"
The ominous suggestion made Jack's heart sink further.
"N-no... there's no one..."
"Tsk... if you can't repay your debt, then I'll have to take your life instead."
"No, wait! Please, there is someone! I was sent here to cause trouble! Someone can pay my debt!" Jack cried out in desperation, feeling death creeping closer.
"Ah, is that so? Well then, let's go collect the debt together!" The crushing pressure suddenly lifted as Ethan retracted his foot, his expression as pleasant as a spring breeze.
With his charming smile and gentlemanly demeanor, Ethan now appeared as approachable as a friendly neighbor—if one could ignore the wreckage around them and the earlier chilling words.
"Clare, watch the shop, please."
Ethan then turned to the stunned diners, who had been watching the scene in disbelief. "My apologies for the disturbance, everyone. The drinks are on me today. Rest assured, this kind of incident won't happen again!"
His demeanor was so composed, as if the chaotic scene that had just unfolded was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. His every gesture exuded grace and confidence.
"Shall we go now?" Ethan's words, though gentle, made Jack shudder involuntarily. Even at level 56, a powerful warrior like Jack found himself trembling.
"Y-yes, sir, let's go!" Jack stammered as he scrambled to follow Ethan, fear etched into his very being.
...
"Boss Ethan is incredible! Just how strong is he?"
"He's still young, right? At this rate, he might break through to the legendary level someday!"
"I never knew Boss Ethan was this powerful! He's truly extraordinary!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Jack really hit a wall this time! Boss Ethan handled it beautifully!"
Once Ethan had left the tavern with Jack, the remaining diners finally began to recover from their shock, whispering among themselves.
Today, they had seen a new side of their usually calm and courteous tavern owner—strong, decisive, and terrifying.
The news of Ethan Drake being a formidable force was sure to spread quickly across the outskirts of Sunfire City.
"Brother Ethan... I'm still not strong enough!" Clare clenched her fists, watching Ethan's retreating figure with determination.
Unnoticed by all, a young man in the corner of the tavern stared blankly at Ethan's departing back, slowly chewing the delicious food in his mouth.
"Such speed... I couldn't even see it!"
"What a terrifying aura!"
"Who is he, really?!"
"A man like that shouldn't remain unknown in this world..."