27.

"A tavern you say?" He asked in confirmation

"Yes, a tavern. Do we go meet the owner for information or not?" He asked.

"Let's go meet the owner. He may have information that may help us in taking down the Wolf King." He said as they started marching until they reached the tavern. When the soldiers saw the tavern, they immediately cheered and thought that their army commander would treat them to some booze but contrary to what they thought, they were told to camp there while the commander and his aides went inside the tavern.

When they entered the tavern they were surprised of the ambience that the tavern provides. They saw a man in a weird outfit. He is wearing a vest and dress shirt with a bowtie. The man smiled at them and motioned them to sit.

"Welcome to my tavern" He said

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I am currently entertaining what seems to be a high-rank person or the commander himself because of the protection he is currently receiving.

"What would you be having?" I asked them with a smile.

Irene has already left while the Chipmunks are accompanied by Juliet and Heine at the backyard. They were probably curious about the commotion happening in front of their house but their father told them to stay there for a while.

"What do you have?" The commander asked.

"Well, we have food, tell me your preference, I'll whip one up for you, as for drinks, all I could offer you is Ale and Beer. As for the price, 10,000 jewels for food is a good price and 500 jewels for every mug of drinks." I said.

"Are you robbing us?! 10,000 jewels for food? I can have a feast with that kind of money and it is only one serving of food to you?! Do you treat us as fools?!" The aide snapped. The commander tried to stop him but it was already late.

"You can leave this place if you want. I only cater to customers not troublemakers." I said in a serious voice.

"I'd like to have one serving, no preference, and a mug of ale." The commander said after weighing the pros and cons. The man in front of them might have an important information that they need in subduing the Wolf King.

"Alright then." I said as I started prepping food for the customer.

I simply made a 10 minute One-pan chicken with spinach and white beans.

While waiting for the food to cook, I served a mug of ale with the ale maker and its a really simple machine to use. Just put in the ingredients and the machine will brew it for you.

When the commander drank his mug of ale, he tasted the bitterness of the hops before a refreshing feeling washed over his body. He can't help but smile in delight as he put down the mug.

"I have never tasted ale this good!" He exclaimed and ordered for another mug.

While he is drinking, I served the chicken dish into a plate. No need for plating since my customers aren't fine diners. The commander smelled the food as his appetite growled and wasted no more time and started digging in.

His aides were looking at the commander eating in gusto as their mouth watered as well since they smelled the food.

When he finished eating, he complimented my food.

"The price of your food is too cheap. You should raise the price. Its the best food and ale I've eaten in my entire life!" He said as I only smiled in response.

The commander then moved on to a serious topic.

"Have you heard of the Wolf King?" he asked.

"I do, why do you ask?" I answered.

"Well, we are on a mission to subdue the Wolf King to gain reputation." He said with a wry smile. In his eyes it is too risky to even take down the wolf king. Their troops aren't trained at all, they are just a bunch of farmers and thugs, who joined the army due to rewards, glory, and the benefits of being a soldier.

"I do know where the Wolf King resides." I said.

"Really? It would be helpful if you could-" He didn't manage to finish his question whena loud bang sounded as a burly man kicked my door down followed by his underlings.

"Commander, what's taking you so long? We are waiting under the sun outside and you are here filling your belly? You're torturing us commander. You! How about you serve me and the men with some booze?" He said and motioned me to serve him.

"Pay for my door first." I said in a serious voice.

Due to the commotion and the banging noise Erza rushed inside with worry in her heart for her father as she caught Juliet and Heine off-guard as they tried to chase Erza. Pitou and Kagura of course followed after them.

When the man saw the girls, his eyes lit up. Child slaves pay so much money and he can tell that the kids are beyond A-grade in the market, especially the cat-eared girl. As for the two woman, he will take them for himself and sell them when he got tired of them.

'I'm rich!' He thought

"You got some fine waitresses in here. How about you serve me?" Juliet and Heine looked at him in disgust and the man is starting to lose his patience.

"Are you going to serve me or not?!" He shouted as his lackeys are also getting impatient. The commander looked at his unruly soldiers. He can't do anything against them, he can only give a wry smile towards me.

"I said pay for the door first." I said as a glint flashed through my eyes.

The man stood up and slammed the table as it broke into pieces.

"Fine! If you're not going to serve me, then I'll make you. Get him!" In his mind after he took care of the owner, he will take the two woman for himself and maybe taste the children before selling them to the market. He can already smell himself getting rich.

Unfortunately for him...

*Bang!*

His lackey flew past him and was embedded onto the wall. He froze when he saw his lackey really deep in the wall.

How could I not see the lust emanating from the man when he looked at Juliet, Heine, and specially my daughters.

The lackeys that were about to charge forward stopped their momentum when they saw their fellow lackey fly to the wall.

My anger was overflowing but I have other plans for the man. I will not kill him in front of the kids. I will make him feel despair before he dies. Oh- I will make sure it will happen.

"Now you're going to pay for the door, the table you destroyed, and the wall." I said and no one answered me.

"PAY ME AND GET OUT!" I shouted as the commander finally regained himself, he knew that if they displeased the innkeeper then they won't be able to leave this place alive.

He motioned for the aide to pay me 30,000 jewels for the damages and glared at the troublemakers before they get out.

I kept staring at them as they left my tavern.

'Oh, I'm so not done with you yet.' I thought as I heard a sobbing Erza so I immediately came to her and kneeled down.

"Why are you crying chipmunk?" I asked her.

"I'm sorry, father. I'm just worried about you." She sobbed.

Seeing the crying Erza that kept repeating the words 'I'm sorry, father.' made my heart ache as I hugged her and rubbed her back. Juliet and Heine felt ashamed and sad that they can't do their job.

When children saw someone cry they will follow them, as Kagura also cried, as I hug the two in my arms. Meanwhile Pitou seeing her sister's cry felt a prick in her heart. She is curious as to why it hurts seeing them crying.

'Oh, Army of Veronica. You've just signed your pact with Mr. Death.' I thought as I consoled Erza and Kagura.