Chapter 152 Perfect Opportunity

Lannister and Lara calmly walked through Losla, relaxed expressions on their faces.

“Okay, fine. We’ll get some better supplies.” Lannister finally gave in.

Lara was sick of the rations they had, and had been working on him all morning, slowly grinding him down to allow her to go on a small shopping spree.

“Finally, thank you!” Lara said un-thankfully with a sigh.

Today was a pleasant day for them, they both felt comfortable enough – well, safe enough – to leisurely walk through Losla.

After scouting for a few days, it seemed that this wasn’t some elaborate trap to capture, torture and punsh them after all.

Both of them were not the slightest bit surprised by the wood elementals; they knew everything that was happening in Losla as well as in the surrounding forests – who do you think were the ones who warned the guards of the elementals coming in the first place?

Today they planned to meet with Sullivan, who would hopefully be expecting them as the note they warned the guards with about the elementals was written on the exact same paper that Sullivan had sent to the mirror reality.

There was no hidden message or magical mark on the paper – that would be too obvious. It wouldn’t take a genius to detect some slightly concentrated mana coming from the paper, in fact it’s usually one of the first things they check for.

The elite duo began to walk to a few different shops in the town.

Despite the attack happening, most of the shops were still open, it seemed the locals completely trusted the Losla guards.

Herbs, coal chunks, needles, bee wax, tinder and various other things were on the long list of Lara’s ‘small’ shopping spree.

“Oh, a butcher?” Lara smiled.

She didn’t so much as glance at Lannister before walking in..

“Hello, how can I help?” Trenly greeted them.

“Hmm…” Laras eyes looked over the products they had, surprised by the variety.

“Those sausages look good, I’ll take… eight please.”

“Sure thing.” Trenly smiled, happily wrapping them up with some paper and twine.

He was glad that there was at least some business today, it had been pretty slow because of the battle – but he expected a rush of guards later in the day though.

Lara paid and left as quickly as she came.

“Now… the pub.” she thought, secretly glancing at Lannister as she led them towards it.

Thankfully, it was mostly on the way towards the adventurer association so it wasn’t too suspicious.

“Hey… I’ve got to use the washroom… hm. Oh, a pub… give me a moment.” Lara said as innocently as possible.

“Uh, ok, I’ll wait out here.” Lannister sighed, leaning on a tree.

Lara nodded and began walking inside, her crafty smile growing larger with each step.

“Well hello there young lady” A bald moustached man smiled warmly.

He greeted her as soon as she opened the door, immediately putting down the glass and moving closer to the middle of the counter, keen to serve the pretty young lady.

“Wow, what great hospitality you have here.” She smiled and approached the counter.

“Of course, of course. Now, how can I serve you?” his eyes sparkled as he looked at the beautiful young woman before him.

“I would like a beer please. Anything you have will be fine, I’m sure.” she smiled back with a wink.

“Sure, and since you’re new here, I’ll give it to you for free, on the house!” he chuckled, pouring the beer as he continued to smile and stare at her.

“Wow, what a kind and caring man.” She played along, “won’t you join me for a beer?”

Devin smiled even more broadly at this, quickling pouring himself a drink – but before he could even take a sip, the young lady had already finished hers.

“Huh?” he wondered, seeing her frown.

“Aw, sorry. I drank it too fast…” she sat silently for a moment making puppy dog eyes.

Devin was ready to have a beer with her and share some conversation – maybe it would lead somewhere. That’s what he thought anyway.

“Oh.. well. I suppose I can get you another.” he smiled, though a little reluctantly.

“Hook, line and sinker.” thought Lara, having manipulated him into giving her two free beers so far.

“Thank you so much!” She looked at him lovingly, her puppy dog eyes turning to a bright sunny smile.

After some more lies woven into some general conversation, some precise ‘body language’ hinting at something, she had already finished her second beer.

“Aww no… wait, let me pay for another… hey I have an idea, I’ll buy you one too!” she cutely chuckled.

Devin happily went to pour another two beers.

After a moment, she pulled out some random items from her inventory, frowning each time.

Devin was smiling but it slowly faded, looking at her sorrowfully as he put the fresh beers on the counter.

“I’m sorry…” her eyes got watery, “It seems I have left my purse at home… I’m so sorry… It looks like I’ll have to enjoy your company some other time.” She looked like she was about to cry.

“Oh.. uh. Well…” he pursed his lips, “I guess I could give you another.” he chuckled awkwardly with a light smile.

“R-really? Are you sure?” she asked hesitatingly, though was already reaching for it.

“Go ahead” he smiled, “So… tell me about yourself? How does an angel find themselves here in Losla?” He tried to flirt, but was incredibly rusty. He was a middle-aged single dad after all.

Lara smiled and went to sip her beer before she asnwered – though it wasn’t a sip. It turned into a long drink – then a chug. The glass didn’t leave her lips as she downed the whole thing in one breath.

Devin raised a brow seeing this, shocked.

She slammed it down, “Ahh!” she smiled, “delicious!” she exhaled.

“Uh… so..” Devin began to speak.

Lara was already wiping her lips and standing up, her face now neutral and uncaring.

“Thanks.” she simply nodded.

Her eyes weren’t even watery from when she pretended to cry. Lara’s face suddenly turned emotionless as she stood up and quickly left the pub.

Devin was shocked, he couldn’t say anything as he watched her leave.

“Wh… what? …what the?” his chest felt hollow as he looked at the empty glass before him.

He stared at the closed door for a moment longer before starting to shake his head in disbelief.

“Monster… what a monster…” he shivered, feeling like he had been violated.

*tap tap tap*

He quickly looked up the hallway, hearing familiar footsteps – Tamara was coming.

Devin grabbed the glasses with the speed of a snakeraven and quickly rinsed them before cleaning them; he was breathing heavily now, not wanting to get caught.

He thrusted them into some water to wash out the beer foam.

“Eh, good enough” he thought as he began wiping them with his dish towel.

*tap tap tap*

He was still polishing one cup, but he froze as he heard her voice.

“Dad, you’re drinking on the job! You’re on cleaning duty now!” Tamara smiled

“I – I was not… I was just washing them, I…” he kept polishing the glass, pressing a little more firmly now.

“Hm” she dashed at her dad with a smile, stepping behind the bar and leaning in close to him.

“Stop it.” He tried not to smile.

“Ah, I can smell it! Cleaning duty!” she grinned.

With a sigh and a defeated smile, Devin gave in.

“Fine…” he sighed, he knew he was beat, polishing slowly now.

“…That manipulative monster…” he thought, shaking his head.

Lara casually stepped outside, trying to seem casual.

“Ahem.” she covered up a burp by clearing her throat, approaching Lannister.

“Let’s go.” she gestured.

Lannister got up and they began walking without talking much at all, not noticing that Lara was trying to cover up tiny burps as they went.

***Bonus Chapter 5/5. We did it :). I’ll make up a new challenge on Monday***