-243- Rose tavern

Evening fell quickly in Bilgewater, but unlike the lightless Freljord, Bilgewater boasted a decent level of scientific advancement. Thus, even in this godforsaken place, taverns had lighting.

These fixtures, bought from merchants who traveled through Zaun and Piltover, were a necessity in every tavern.

While Bilgewater nights were dangerous, taverns provided relative safety. In well-lit taverns, the sense of security was significantly higher.

Moreover, in the territories ruled by the new three heads, taverns operated as safe havens. No one dared to cause trouble in these establishments.

Blackbeard, High Hats, Miss Fortune.

Anyone causing trouble or killing in their territories faced consequences. If the trouble caused minor disturbances, compensation might suffice, but major disputes damaging their business and reputation would result in bodies hanging at the docks the next day.

At this moment, in the Upper City district of Bilgewater, within the designated territories, there was a tavern named the Rose Tavern.

A burly man with huge golden earrings in both ears sat in a corner of the Rose Tavern. His square face and rugged features, his carefully trimmed sideburns forming a circle around his large face, and a heavy gold necklace adorned his neck.

He was Raven, Miss Fortune's right-hand man and also the "bodyguard" of the Rose Tavern.

Currently, Raven was bored, drinking alone.

Looking at the bunch of drunkards before him, Raven shook his head in resignation.

Since the negotiations between the captain and those who claimed to be from the Twin Cities, the captain's status had risen, and he had acquired a considerable piece of land. Raven and the crew no longer needed to stay on the ship all the time but owned their land in Bilgewater.

However, facing the loss of Plank in Bilgewater, no one had anticipated that, alongside his brutal rule over the island, Plank was also its only source of law.

Using violence and guns, Plank united the various factions in Bilgewater. Although he was a tyrant and brought suffering to the poor, he also restrained the major factions on the island.

Now, with Plank missing and Blackbeard unwilling to dominate Bilgewater, the city was descending into chaos.

A storm was brewing.

Currently, apart from the territories of the Upper and Middle City districts, the rest of Bilgewater was embroiled in constant nighttime battles. Raven could always see familiar faces being dragged out by the dockworkers during the day.

They were engaged in continuous skirmishes.

Dozens, even hundreds, of bodies were thrown into the sea every day, a situation unheard of in the past. Previously, Bilgewater could manage with a dozen deaths a day at most, because Plank would get angry if there were too many. He constrained the island, ensuring his "kingdom" prospered rather than continued to decline.

But now...

"Once, I could take whatever I wanted, go wherever I pleased, regardless of the world's chaos."

Raising his glass, Raven sipped his drink.

The beverages imported from the Twin Cities were indeed excellent, refreshing in taste, and even more enjoyable when chilled.

"And now, I'm guarding a tavern, protecting a bunch of drunkards," Raven burped and wiped his mouth, sighing in dismay. "It's pathetic."

After downing a few more drinks, nightfall had completely arrived.

The Rose Tavern was filling up, attracting the taste buds and the attention of those who sought female company. This tavern, with the best taste and the most girls, naturally became the destination for those with money. They drank and reveled through the night.

But Raven knew that in a few days, these folks would return to the Lower City's harbor district, bargaining with the dockworkers, preparing for the next perilous voyage.

But such was the daily life of Bilgewater people.

Even Raven didn't know how long he would survive. Bound to this tavern now, Raven found it hard to adapt.

He had mentioned it to the captain, but the captain asked him to wait a little longer.

How long was "a little longer"?

"Ding dong."

The wind chimes rang again, and a strangely dressed man walked into the Rose Tavern.

Raven just glanced at him and then looked away.

He noticed everyone who entered the Rose Tavern, remembering what they did to avoid trouble.

And this person... A merchant's attire, it seemed another foolish merchant who had heard rumors and attempted to find power and wealth in Bilgewater.

"What do you want?" The bartender at the Rose Tavern asked indifferently, looking at the young man in front of him.

"What kind of drinks do you have?" Linwin overestimated himself, thinking he could fly there in half a day, but ended up flying for nearly a whole day, getting lost along the way.

So, tired, Linwin decided to treat himself to some chilled drinks.

"Don't you have eyes? Look yourself." The bartender's attitude was rude as he tapped the table with his fingers and said.

Linwin looked behind the bartender, where there was a large wooden sign with various drink names engraved on it. But...

"I don't have your currency. Can I trade with something else?" 

"Where's it from?" The bartender frowned.

Linwin took out a bag of coins and placed it on the counter, surprising the bartender.

The surroundings suddenly quieted down, and everyone stared silently at Linwin.

Smiling foolishly, Linwin continued, "The Twin Cities coins, or should I say, Piltover coins."

"Can I use these?" 

The bartender glanced deeply at Linwin, nodded, took out two coins from the bag, and then pushed the bag back to Linwin.

"Here's a piece of advice, stranger."

Leaning on the counter with both hands, the bartender said in a deep voice, "Never flaunt your wealth in a tavern."

Linwin nodded with a smile, took the bag back, strapped it to his waist, and then said, "Thank you."

In this money-driven and lawless area, the bartender could say such words.

It seemed... Graves managed things well.

Or perhaps it was that the enforcers hadn't abandoned the rules they once learned?

"But I see on the sign behind you, the most expensive drink costs only one coin. I can drink till I puke with this."

"Why did you charge me two coins then? Or is Piltover currency not equal to Bilgewater's serpent coins?"

Piltover coins were genuine gold coins, while Bilgewater serpent coins, although called coins, were mostly mixed with a small amount of gold.

"That's your protection fee."

A voice sounded behind Linwin.

Having witnessed the earlier scene, Raven approached.

Walking up to Linwin, towering over him by at least half a head, he, dressed in local attire, wore a stern expression.

This "giant" said in a deep voice:

"And it's your foolish tax."

Without waiting for Linwin's response, Raven turned around, raised his voice, and said, "No trouble is allowed in the Rose Tavern. Whatever happens after you leave, I don't care. But here, if anyone dares to draw attention from my guests, I'll make sure your death is unpleasant."

"No matter who you are."

Around them, those who had been staring at Linwin silently withdrew their gazes.

Miss Fortune's people... They always delivered what they promise.