Lennox's curiosity got the better of him, and he made his way to the kitchen first. Stepping inside, he was greeted by a gleaming, modern space that looked like the result of magic and science fiction colliding.
Cabinets shimmered faintly, and a series of magical appliances hummed softly with life. He watched in fascination as an Otherworldly Dishwasher cleaned a stack of glasses and plates, emitting a faint blue glow. Nearby, a Magical Washing Machine silently rotated, cleaning towels and fabrics with sparkling energy.
What really caught his attention, however, were the pots, pans, and saucepans hovering above the kitchen sink, their grimy surfaces being scrubbed clean by an Automatic Utensil Cleaner. Lennox recognized the items as leftovers from the previous Lennox's poor housekeeping habits.
Watching the grime and burnt residue vanish into thin air, he smirked. "At least I'm not scrubbing that mess myself," he muttered.
"The Enchanted Kitchen ensures efficiency and cleanliness," the System explained as Lennox marveled at the automated process.
"Good to know," Lennox replied, heading back to the bar.
He placed his hand on the counter, feeling a faint hum of energy beneath his fingers. The System's voice guided him:
"The Enchanted Bar Counter works in conjunction with the storage cellar to ensure automatic restocking."
As if on cue, bottles began disappearing and materializing on the shelves behind him. Lennox's eyes widened as he took in their striking appearances.
The newly added drinks were all Rank Two, and they included:
Celestial Dew: A sparkling silver liquid with a calming aura.
Crimson Fang Brew: Deep red, glowing faintly, exuding an energizing scent.
Phantom Orchid Wine: Ethereal lavender liquid swirling with translucent petals.
"These are Rank Two drinks?" Lennox muttered, running his fingers along one of the bottles.
"This upgrade allows the tavern to stock Rank Two magical drinks and spiritual wines, a step up from the Rank One stock previously available."
Lennox smiled, his chest swelling with pride. "This is a step up from the rustic inn, that's for sure."
He then moved on to the Tavern Functions tab, where another text box appeared:
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Tavern Functions
Automatic Restocking Feature: Ensures consistent inventory.
Automatic Cleaning and Washing Feature: Handles all cleaning.
Summoning Feature: Enables summoning of allies through the Summoning Circle.
Safe Haven Feature: Renders the Tavern Master untouchable on tavern premises.
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The Safe Haven Feature immediately caught Lennox's attention. The System elaborated:
"The Safe Haven Feature ensures that no harm can befall the Tavern Master on these premises. Not even gods or archmages can bypass this protection."
Lennox exhaled deeply, relief washing over him. One-Eyed George's warning about security had been gnawing at him, but this put his mind at ease. "Finally, some peace of mind," he murmured, smiling faintly.
Next, he focused on the Summoning Feature, which the System explained:
"The Summoning Feature allows the Tavern Master to summon allies or tavern employees using Summoning Tickets. Rank One Tickets can be purchased with 100 Rank One magical beast cores."
"A hundred magical beast cores?" Lennox exclaimed, nearly choking on his own breath. "That's outrageous!"
"Rank Two Summoning Tickets will require 100 Rank Two magical beast cores, and will only be available when the tavern upgrades to Rank Two," the System added.
Lennox frowned but then remembered the promised Rank One Summoning Ticket. "Wait… what about the ticket I was supposed to get as a reward for the quest of upgrading the tavern?"
"The Rank One Summoning Ticket is ready for you to use at any time," the System replied.
Lennox's eyes lit up. "Perfect. Let's use it now!"
He approached the glowing door beside the shelves, and the runes etched into its surface rippled faintly, as if responding to his presence. He hesitated briefly, then pushed the door open. A soft hum greeted him as he stepped into the dimly lit room.
At its center, a circular platform hovered slightly above the ground, glowing with a faint blue light. The surface was adorned with intricate runes that shifted and flowed like liquid silver, their patterns rearranging themselves in an endless cycle. The runes pulsed softly, as though in time with an invisible heartbeat, while delicate geometric lines wove between them, casting faint reflections on the walls.
The room itself exuded a calm, otherworldly energy. Faint glyphs hovered above the platform, spinning lazily in midair and emitting a soft hum that resonated in Lennox's chest. Constellation-like etchings glimmered faintly along the walls, occasionally sending streaks of light to the platform, feeding its glow with surges of power.
Lennox stood still, staring in awe at the magical display. "Incredible…" he murmured, stepping closer. The hum grew stronger, as if the summoning circle was acknowledging his presence.
"This is the Summoning Circle," the System explained. "It is designed to facilitate the summoning of allies and employees loyal to the Tavern Master."
Lennox nodded slowly, unable to take his eyes off the mesmerizing platform. "How do I use this summoning circle?" he inquired.
"Place the Rank One Summoning Ticket on the circle and activate it by saying 'Summon,'" the System instructed.
Lennox nodded, his excitement growing. "System, where's the ticket?"
The moment he asked, a shimmering ticket materialized in his hand, warm to the touch and pulsing faintly with energy. Suppressing his eagerness, Lennox stepped closer to the platform and carefully placed the ticket in the center before stepping back.
"Summon," he said firmly.
The circle flared to life, a dazzling light erupting from its surface. The runes began spinning rapidly, releasing bursts of energy that filled the room with a resonating hum. The floating glyphs above the circle aligned themselves in a perfect ring, glowing brighter with each second. Waves of light and heat radiated outward, causing Lennox to shield his face.
As the phenomenon reached its peak, the light coalesced into a single point in the center of the platform. Slowly, the energy faded, revealing a figure kneeling within the circle.
The warrior was immense, standing nearly seven feet tall when he rose, his presence dominating the room. His armor gleamed like polished obsidian, etched with glowing blue runes that matched the circle's energy. A massive greatsword rested across his back, its blade faintly crackling with contained lightning.
The man's face was rugged, with sharp features and a piercing gaze that seemed to cut through Lennox's soul. Despite his intimidating presence, there was a calm, controlled energy about him.