### Chapter 11: The Friendship of Mages

### Chapter 11: The Friendship of Mages

Suye rose, holding the money bag, and gave Kelton a slight nod of thanks before heading towards the door.

Suye stopped at the doorway.

"Will we need to sign the Four Gods Contract this time?"

"Your inner promise is worth more than any deity's blessing." Kelton slowly took the watered-down wine, sipped it gently, squinting his eyes in unusual comfort.

"See you later."

Suye waved his hand and stepped out into the night.

Hake silently followed behind Suye.

Along the way, the waiters and regular customers of Dolphin River looked at Suye and Hake as if they had seen ghosts.

The "wooden" Hake, who never paid anyone any mind, was now following Suye obediently, not like escorting a guest but protecting him like he did Mr. Kelton.

The busy middle-aged manager, seeing Suye leave the door, gritted his teeth and ran out, shouting at Suye.

"Mr. Suye, I am Temenos Genesios, son of Peristrella. Welcome back next time."

Suye smiled slightly, realizing that this person was smart enough to know from the start that he had forgotten his name.

But what was it again? Something about a forest and a pigeon? Goodbye!

Ninth Street at night was much darker than during the day, with sparse lights barely illuminating the road.

Only then did he understand why the pedestrians walked so steadily.

Afraid of stepping on pebbles or feces.

Suye's steps were slow.

Hake followed closely behind.

At the corner of Ninth Street, Suye saw some men wearing shorts and leather armor and stopped.

Suye knew that the northern barbarians of Greece wore trousers during this period, but he didn't expect even the Athenian soldiers to have switched to pants. This indicated that the cultural exchanges in this world were far more extensive and profound than those in the historical Ancient Greece of Blue Star, including the presence of tea.

These men had short swords at their waists and were chatting idly; some were quite young, even a couple around seventeen or eighteen.

Suye turned and asked, "Mr. Hake, these city guard soldiers would be willing to help you, right?"

Hake stared at Suye's face for a few seconds before nodding.

Suye smiled and said, "Would you be willing to help me find two people to follow us and step in at the right moment... to fulfill their duties?"

Suye emphasized the last phrase.

Hake stared at Suye for a while before slowly saying, "Are you manipulating me?"

His voice had a hissing sound, as if there were cracks in his throat.

"Not manipulation, but asking for your assistance," Suye replied candidly.

"The friendship of mages?" Hake asked expressionlessly.

Suye couldn't help but laugh. "They say Mr. Hake isn't good with words, but I didn't expect your sarcasm to be so sharp. Indeed, for you, I can only show the future friendship of a mage."

"Remember this night."

With that, Hake walked towards the city guard soldiers.

In that instant, Suye saw a complex look in Hake's eyes.

Suye watched Hake's back and sighed softly.

The soldiers, upon seeing Hake, stood straight as if seeing an officer. Some even looked honored, as if they had encountered a hero.

Suye watched them for a moment, and soon they began arguing. Eventually, two stepped forward, while the others looked disappointed.

Hake pointed at Suye and spoke to the soldiers, who nodded immediately in response to Suye's slight nod.

Soon, Hake returned, standing silently behind Suye.

"Thank you, Mr. Hake."

Suye handed over two money bags without hesitation, leaving him with only one.

Hake glanced at the money bags, then at Suye, and took them, hanging them on his hips where they wouldn't be visible from the front.

Suye continued walking, with Hake close behind, and two young city guard soldiers following at a distance, looking excited.

Suye glanced back at one point and noticed that only one person was still following him, while the other had disappeared.

Nighttime Athens City was much quieter than during the day, especially in the slums, where those who could not afford lamps had either gone to sleep or were chatting outside with neighbors.

The Mediterranean climate kept the nights warm, and even walking barefoot on the ground didn't feel cold to Suye.

As Suye inquired and moved forward, he gradually found himself being followed by a group of men.

None of them wore long robes; even those in short robes were rare. Most had a piece of rag tied around their waist, and some were completely naked, strutting along with the crowd.

Each person's feet were covered in thick mud, some up to their calves.

It was the first time they had seen a teenager carrying money bags walking confidently to find Lawrence.

In the slums, Lawrence wasn't the most powerful, but he was one of the most notorious.

Some people grinned as they watched Suye's back, while others greedily eyed Suye and Hake's money pouches. Only a few who recognized Hake quietly anticipated the show about to unfold.

The two city guards were behind the crowd.

After unknowingly stepping on countless pebbles and mud puddles, Suye finally reached a street corner and stopped in front of a tavern.

The night was dim.

A rusted bronze blunt knife, as wide as two palms, hung at the tavern's entrance.

There was no signboard.

Everyone knew this was the Blunt Knife Tavern.

The number of people following Suye exceeded forty, and more people from nearby areas were drawn by the crowd and lights, converging here.

Just a few seconds later, cheers erupted from inside the tavern, accompanied by rhythmic roars.

It was like sailors shouting morale-boosting chants before a battle.

Suye's right thumb and index finger twitched slightly, about to make their third strike of the day, but he paused.

Even without the light tap, he slowly straightened his chest, lifted his head, slightly extended his shoulders backward, relaxed his arms, and a confident smile appeared on his face.

The door opened, and two burly men who had been to Suye's house came out, holding oil lamps. They gave Suye a contemptuous glance and then gestured for him to enter.

Inside the tavern, torches blazed brightly. In the firelight, Lawrence, dressed in a brown rough linen tunic, walked out and stopped two meters away from Suye.

As the wind blew, the moonlight and firelight flickered, making the "centipede" on Lawrence's face seem to wriggle slowly.

Several people in the crowd gasped and hastily retreated.

Lawrence's gaze was colder than it had been during the day.

Under the flickering firelight, pairs of frenzied eyes raked over Suye, but they all cleverly avoided Hake.

Koror, with an honest face, hid in the crowd, secretly observing Suye, a puzzled expression appearing on his face.

Lawrence did not look at Suye but stared at Hake.

Hake remained silent, quietly meeting Lawrence's gaze.

"Only enemies or friends stand before the Blunt Knife Tavern," Lawrence said in an unusually calm voice.

Several people in the crowd behind Suye turned and ran, their bare feet splashing through the muddy water with loud pattering sounds.

Hake remained silent.

"Give me the promissory note." Suye shook the pouch of gold coins, composed and collected.

Lawrence looked at Suye, his lips moving slightly, causing the scar on his face to wriggle rapidly again.

Those who had seen Suye during the day observed closely: there were still wounds on his neck, bruising, and stains on his clothes. It was indeed the same Suye, yet why did he feel like a completely different person?

Lawrence suddenly chuckled softly, his gaze landing on the bruised area of Suye's neck. "Is the donkey here?"

"Ha ha ha ha..."

The crowd behind Lawrence burst into laughter, almost lifting the roof off the Blunt Knife Tavern.