The Mystic Tavern was alive with a quiet hum of activity. Warm light flickered off polished wood, the faint scent of citrus and spice hanging in the air as five adventurers occupied a corner table, their laughter occasionally punctuated by the clink of mugs.
Behind the bar, Lennox observed them with a small, satisfied grin. The group had only been here for an hour, but they were already on their fifth round of Emberbrew Ale. Five mugs per round at 50 silver coins each amounted to 25 mugs—and an eye-watering 1,250 silver coins, or 12 gold coins and 50 silver.
He couldn't help but marvel at the sheer profitability of running a tavern in Greywater. If this pace kept up, and if he could attract more patrons like these, it wouldn't be long before he was one of the wealthiest men in Valoria. As the thought lingered, the System chimed telepathically in his mind.
"Notice: 75% of tavern earnings will be deducted for raw materials, maintenance, and operational expenses."
Lennox's brow furrowed, doing the math. That meant out of the 12 gold coins and 50 silver he'd earned from the adventurers, 9 gold and 38 silver would go to the System. Including the previous sales to One-Eyed George, the same deduction applied.
At first, he was annoyed, but the System's reasoning was undeniable. The drinks were crafted magically without his input, the cleaning and organizing were automatic, and even the accounts were managed seamlessly. It was more than fair—he was profiting without lifting a finger.
Just as he was nodding to himself, the System chimed again.
"Quest Assigned: Upgrade the Mystic Tavern to Rank Two within one year.
Requirements:
Earn 20,000 gold coins in sales.Obtain 1,000 Rank-One magic beast cores.Obtain 1 Rank-Two magic beast core."
Lennox's grin faded. The sales goal was challenging but achievable. The beast cores, however, were another matter entirely.
Even 1,000 Rank-One beast cores were considered a strategic resource by the Kingdom of Valoria. And the Rank-Two core? Almost impossible. Only powerful warriors or mages could defeat such beasts, and cores like that vanished from the market almost as soon as they appeared.
His gaze once again drifted to the adventurers at the corner table, still enjoying their drinks. If he could attract more customers like them, the sales goal might be within reach. The rest, however, would require strategy—and luck.
Meanwhile, as he continued watching the adventurers, his memories from the former Lennox provided helpful context as he observed their mannerisms.
Roland, the group's leader, had a quiet intensity about him. His sturdy leather armor and the well-maintained longbow propped against the table made it clear he was a seasoned archer. He was relatively cautious, speaking only when necessary, a natural tactician.
Lyra, sitting with one leg crossed over the other, had an easy grace about her. Her sleek, dark outfit and twin daggers resting on the table screamed rogue. She spoke often, her words sharp with humor, though her eyes constantly darted around, cataloging everything.
Torric Wainwright, the burly swordsman, was impossible to miss. His booming laugh and heavy chainmail made him the loudest in the group. His greatsword leaned casually against the table, but his relaxed demeanor suggested he wouldn't need it unless things got truly serious.
Elara, in contrast, exuded calm. Her healer's robes were immaculate, and her staff leaned against her chair like a natural extension of her being. She occasionally interjected to temper Torric's exaggerations, her soothing voice carrying a quiet authority.
Kael Orin was the quietest of the group. His robes were embroidered with faint magical sigils, and a small spellbook lay open on the table. He had an intense curiosity about the world, evident in the way he scribbled notes between sips of ale.
From their snippets of conversation, Lennox gleaned more than just their names and professions.
"The Ebonridge is a nightmare," Roland said, leaning back in his chair. "The Gloomclaw Panther wasn't even the worst of it. I nearly lost my footing on the cliffs, and the damned thing almost got the drop on us."
"Because someone"—Lyra smirked, pointing at Roland with her dagger—"insisted we take the harder route."
Torric thumped his chest, grinning. "Good thing I was there to save the day."
Elara rolled her eyes. "You mean after Kael stunned it with that fireball?"
"Don't sweat the details," Torric said, waving her off.
Kael didn't look up from his notes but muttered, "Razorvine Stalkers in that area are fascinating. They're not plants at all but a mimic species. I'd love to study one up close."
"Study one up close?" Lyra laughed. "That's one way to lose your face."
"You already know about that." Roland's smirk was faint but pointed, earning a glare from Lyra.
Their friendship was clear, their banter balanced by mutual respect. Lennox found himself smiling faintly as he wiped down the counter. Customers like them were a gift—a glimpse of the adventurous world outside Greywater, a world he'd barely begun to understand.
Just then, the tavern door creaked open, and a new group stepped inside. Lennox's eyes flicked up, his smile fading.
The newcomers were rowdy, their boots caked with mud and their gear battered. Their loud voices and rough laughter disrupted the quiet atmosphere of the tavern. Garrick, standing like a silent sentinel near the door, didn't move, though his presence was enough to keep them in check—for now.
Lennox watched as the group hesitated, their noise dimming slightly as they took in the polished decor. "Didn't expect a place like this in Greywater," muttered the scarred man at their head.
They chose a table near the door, their dirty attire contrasting sharply with the pristine surroundings. Lennox approached cautiously. "Welcome to the Mystic Tavern. What can I get for you?"
"What've you got?" the scarred man asked, leaning back in his chair. "And how much?"
Lennox listed the options. "We have Emberbrew Ale for 50 silver coins per mug, Eluna's Nectar, Twilight Mirage, and Infernal Emberwine—all priced at 1 gold coin per glass."
The man's eyes narrowed. "Fifty silver? A gold coin for a glass? Are you trying to rob us?"
Another adventurer, wiry and jittery, slammed his fist on the table. "What kind of scam are you running here, boy? Think we're stupid?"
"I assure you," Lennox said evenly, "the prices reflect the quality—"
The wiry man shot to his feet, his chair screeching against the floor. "You think you can cheat us? I'll show you—"
But before he could take another step, the tavern fell silent.
Lennox blinked, his pulse steadying as he realized the Safe Haven feature had activated. The troublemaker froze mid-step, his furious expression locked in place. The other members of his group were equally immobile, their faces frozen in varying degrees of anger and surprise. It was as if time itself had stopped.
Only Lennox and Garrick remained unaffected.
"Notice: Safe Haven feature engaged," the System's calm voice chimed in Lennox's mind. "Hostile action detected. Protection of Tavern Master prioritized."
Garrick stepped forward, his massive frame moving with quiet purpose. He grabbed the frozen troublemaker by the collar, lifting him like a rag doll, and hauled him toward the door. Without ceremony, he opened it and tossed the man outside. One by one, he did the same with the others, their frozen bodies handled as easily as sacks of grain.
Once Garrick returned to his position by the door, the stillness lifted. Time resumed, and the tavern hummed back to life.
Kael was the first to break the silence, his voice filled with quiet confusion. "What… just happened to them?"
Lyra narrowed her eyes, glancing at the door. "It was like… they froze and then suddenly disappeared."
"High-level magic?" Torric asked, his brow furrowing.
Elara shook her head slowly. "If it was magic, it was far beyond anything I've ever seen. I couldn't even sense it."
Roland leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. "Whatever it was, it's best we don't get involved."
The group nodded in agreement, their unease giving way to a return to their drinks.
Behind the counter, Lennox exhaled quietly. He was quite pleased with the Mystic Tavern's Safe Haven feature.