Chapter Forty-Nine: Belated Revenge

“Isn’t this the menial from the Necromancy Department?” Claude walked up to Han Shuo, eyeing him with surprise and frowning as he spoke.

“Bryan, the Necromancy menial. I hadn’t expected to run into the two of you here.” Han Shuo nodded, taking another swig of the purple strong liquor before answering with a smile.

“Looks like there aren’t any seats left, Claude. Should we find another place to eat?” Irene glanced at Han Shuo, a flicker of distaste in her bright eyes.

“No need. Most taverns in Doro Town are likely full by now. Bryan is sitting here alone anyway. Since we’re all from the Babylon Academy of Magic and Force, I’m sure he won’t mind sharing his table, right, Bryan?” Claude smiled at Irene, then turned his beaming gaze on Han Shuo.

“Of course, if you don’t mind sharing a table with a menial like me, I’d be glad for your company.” Last time, Claude had hurt Han Shuo’s little skeleton in an attempt to please Irene. Claude might have forgotten the incident, but Han Shuo had never let it go. Now that his strength had increased, Han Shuo acted with fewer reservations and had been looking for an opportunity to get back at Claude. Unexpectedly, Claude had delivered himself right into his hands, and Han Shuo had no intention of letting this chance slip by.

“I dislike people from Necromancy. Menials are no exception!” Irene frowned, casting a sidelong glance at Claude and speaking coldly.

Claude was taken aback, then winked at Irene before turning to Han Shuo with a smile. “Bryan, aren’t you usually with the other necromancers? Why are you alone here? And to think, even as a menial, you’re able to enjoy such fine food and drink! I’m truly surprised.”

Irene, hearing Claude’s remark, eyed Han Shuo with surprise as well. She seemed particularly interested in the question, and did not immediately leave. Noticing her interest, Claude attentively dusted off the chair in front of her and, after gesturing for her to sit, leisurely took his own seat and looked at Han Shuo.

Ripping apart the roast in his hand, Han Shuo nonchalantly stuffed some into his mouth, took another gulp of wine, then patted his stomach in satisfaction and burped. Smiling, he said, “Miss Fanny and the others should be back soon. They worried that I’d slow them down, so they gave me some gold coins to wait for them here. Is there a problem?”

“No, no problem at all. So that’s how it is. By the way, Bryan, how did your team fare this time? Did you manage to hunt any high-level magical beasts?” Claude winked at Irene again as he inquired with a smile.

Irene’s expression turned attentive, her eyes fixed on Han Shuo, evidently interested in the Necromancy Department’s gains.

Shaking his head, Han Shuo replied, “I don’t know. I turned back halfway, so I’m not sure if they had any great harvests. But I think they probably did pretty well this time.”

“Hmph. With those people, what could they possibly achieve? At best, they might hunt some fifth-level magical beasts; I doubt they could even take down a fourth-level one,” Irene scoffed, glancing at Han Shuo with disdain.

Han Shuo merely shot her a cool look, saying nothing in response to her mockery. At this moment, Claude had already called over a server and, with a gold coin, ordered some food and wine as well.

As Han Shuo pondered how best to take revenge on Claude, a sly smirk played at the corner of his lips. Quietly, he tossed a banana-like fruit peel under the table, waiting for a server carrying a tray to approach. When the moment was right, Han Shuo nudged the peel with his toe, sending it skittering out from beneath the table.

The server, laden with the tray, stepped squarely onto the peel and, with a startled cry, tumbled forward, the tray flying directly toward Claude and Irene’s backs.

Hearing the commotion, Claude and Irene turned abruptly. Claude shot out his right hand, catching the falling tray just in time. In the same instant, Han Shuo’s left hand flicked out, his pinky sending a dusting of gray-white hallucinogenic aphrodisiac powder silently into the bottom of Claude’s wine cup.

“Watch where you’re going,” Claude admonished, frowning as he handed the tray back to the flustered server, who had scrambled to his feet.

“Thank you, noble knight. I’ll be more careful next time!” the server replied, bowing quickly before making his escape.

Han Shuo sat calmly, head lowered over his wine, drinking as if nothing had happened.

After that, Claude and Irene barely spoke to Han Shuo again. Claude busied himself with attentive conversation and steadily drank cup after cup of the purple liquor, now laced with the hallucinogenic aphrodisiac. Irene, her expression frosty, responded to Claude’s advances with indifference, showing no sign of returning his affection.

“Enjoy your meal, you two. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be going now.” Once Han Shuo saw Claude had downed several cups of the tainted wine, he knew the powder must have taken effect and rose to leave.

Claude and Irene had never thought much of Han Shuo, a mere menial, and were eager for him to leave. As soon as Han Shuo announced his departure, both waved him off impatiently, their contempt now plain on their faces.

Leaving the tavern with a smile, Han Shuo positioned himself in a shadowy corner outside to wait. Soon, Claude, his face flushed, emerged from the inn alongside Irene, whose cheeks were tinged with red. Together, they headed north across Doro Town.

By now, night had fully fallen. Doro Town was ablaze with lights and revelry, its streets thronged with drunken adventurers and merchants. Han Shuo followed the pair at a distance, watching as they entered a luxurious inn. He lingered on the street, waiting for the spectacle to unfold.

From what Han Shuo could tell, Claude had yet to win Irene’s heart. If the aphrodisiac-addled Claude tried anything inappropriate, Irene would surely give him a thorough beating.

Nibbling on a handful of fruit, Han Shuo entertained these malicious thoughts as he waited. When no commotion arose from inside, and as boredom began to set in, he saw Claude, his face now crimson, exit the inn in haste and stride quickly down the street.

Han Shuo was surprised; he hadn’t expected Claude’s willpower to hold out this long. But judging from Claude’s state, he knew the man wouldn’t last much longer and quickly fell in behind him.

Sure enough, after barely a dozen meters, a garishly painted woman of a certain age beckoned from a nearby alley. Claude, breathing heavily, could no longer restrain himself and ducked into the alley with her, intent on satisfying his needs then and there.

“Wait, wasn’t that Claude just now?” a surprised voice called out from a side street. Han Shuo turned and, to his delight, realized fortune was smiling upon him.

There stood Teacher Bichelle from the Light Department, accompanied by several students. One sharp-eyed girl had just witnessed Claude slip into the alley with the provocatively dressed woman.

“No way. How could Claude do such a thing? He’s a noble knight! He’d never sneak off to a place like this, especially when he’s courting Irene,” Bichelle said, frowning in disbelief.

“It was definitely him—I’m sure of it. If you don’t believe me, let’s go check,” the girl insisted after a moment’s thought.

“Let it go, Katie. This doesn’t concern you. Don’t meddle.” Bichelle hesitated, then urged the students to move on.

But Katie stamped her foot in indignation. “I can’t let this go. I’m going to tell Irene. If Claude isn’t in his room right now, it must have been him—I won’t let him deceive Irene!” With that, she stormed off toward Irene’s inn, the others exchanging uncertain glances.

Han Shuo nearly burst out laughing. Things could not have worked out better; he’d been thinking of ways to lure Irene over himself, but now Claude’s luck had simply run out.

Before long, Irene, her face frosty, and Katie, still fuming, hurried over. From Irene’s expression, it was clear her anger was boiling over. Claude would be hard-pressed to explain his way out of this.

“Claude’s not in his room, so I wasn’t mistaken. It was definitely him just now. Irene, if we go in now, we’ll catch him red-handed. For a so-called noble knight to do something so filthy—Claude is disgusting!” Katie declared, glaring at the alley.

Irene nodded coldly, wasting no words as she dragged Katie straight into the alley. Bichelle and the others hesitated, then followed to prevent any trouble.

Once they had all disappeared inside, Han Shuo strolled up to the alley entrance, a wicked grin playing across his face.