"Manager, what should we do now?" a worried headwaiter asked, looking at the manager.
None of these people could be affronted, but to simply ignore the situation would disgrace their hotel.
"How should I know?" the manager gritted his teeth, his own nerves beginning to fray, aware that these were individuals they couldn't afford to offend.
Francis, needless to say, was a commander in the Garrison.
As for Benjamin, he was a boss in the underworld.
Anyone familiar with these two knew that crossing them meant you might as well not bother trying to make a life on this planet anymore.
It would be better to find a place to bury yourself, perhaps even dying more comfortably that way.
"But we can't just let him continue to cause a scene. What if something else happens? What then?"
The reputation of their hotel was critically important, and upsetting the owner would leave them with nowhere to hide, let alone to live.
The manager felt endlessly troubled, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with regret, a deep sense of regret.
Why did he have to be on duty today?
Why couldn't he have taken a day off, especially knowing in advance that something like this would happen?
He definitely wouldn't have come.
Now, he felt a rush of panic, unsure whether he should send a message to the boss.
But then he thought better of it; the boss was always well-informed about everything happening in the hotel.
Usually, the boss would arrive immediately if such incidents occurred.
Yet, the absence of the boss now might mean that he preferred not to intervene in such matters.
With this realization, he felt a slight relief, believing he had indeed made the right guess.
He then turned to the headwaiter beside him.
"Alright, since they want to handle it themselves, let's stay out of it. You better mind your own business. If you can't keep your mouth shut, you might as well not bother living here anymore."
The headwaiter was stunned, then instinctively clamped his mouth shut, though his eyes revealed a growing concern for everyone involved.
To be honest, they were eager to witness these two powerhouses appear together; such a scenario typically signaled immense stakes involved.
Was this person not favored by the boss after all?
John felt as if a great mountain was relentlessly pressing down on his back, as though someone was trying to force him to submit.
This was one of the few lifesaving items given to him by Abby—the Tree of Life!
All elves are born from the Tree of Life, and its sap is known as the essence of life.
Regardless of the potency of the poison, as long as one isn't killed instantly, there's a chance to survive!
However, others were unaware of this; they only saw John discreetly flick his fingers, and then some mysterious liquid landed on the foreheads of the two afflicted men.
In that moment, both of their complexions began to improve, and they found they had room to resist.
However, instead of engaging, they chose to retreat with lightning speed, swiftly moving away from that area.
Initially, they thought they would need to exit the entire restaurant, but after retreating about five or six meters, they suddenly felt a change.
It was as if they had passed through a thin membrane, and then the air outside became instantly lighter, free from the oppressive weight of a mountain that had been bearing down on them before.
Exchanging a look, both saw surprise reflected in each other's eyes.
Their concern for John deepened as well.
This situation also meant that these two individuals' control over space far exceeded their imaginations.
The ability to create such a membrane was indeed an incredible feat.
No wonder Francis, merely a supreme-tier awakener, could hold such a crucial position as a commander.
The two were exceptionally complementary: one creating barriers and exerting pressure within, the other filling the air with poison.
Even the most formidable individuals would struggle to react immediately under such circumstances.
It was as if they had both been thoroughly ensnared the moment they encountered this setup.
They were filled with dread now, not even daring to imagine what might have happened if John hadn't saved them.
They didn't know what that drop of liquid was; all they remembered was the excruciating pain they felt, nearly on the brink of death.
Yet, the next second, a cool liquid touched their foreheads, and suddenly, they were completely revived, feeling all the negative effects vanish in that moment.
They also received a subtle signal from John to leave for now.
Normally, they would have wanted to stand by John, to advance or retreat together, but at that moment, they simply had no capacity to resist.
In contrast, John seemed to handle the situation with ease, so staying there would only burden him.
Almost instantly, they understood the pros and cons of the situation, and without any hesitation, they left.
Now, knowing about this so-called barrier, their concern for John's predicament deepened.
With such formidable adversaries, including one who was a transcendent-tier fighter, could John really manage?