Chapter 26: Seven Legends and Seven Cups of Wine

Chapter 26: Seven Legends and Seven Cups of Wine Nobody knows when the Shining Tavern started to emerge in the major cities of the Kingdom. Travellers from across the world would report on traces of the Shining Tavern in many other countries as well. This is an organisation spread across the entire continent that foresaw underground transactions, entrustment, and other activities. Of course, this is also a place where the rich come to have fun. Beautiful, gorgeous women and charming, masculine men from foreign lands would converge at this spot. The worlds inside and outside the tavern are different. Levi learned of the Shining Tavern from his father. He wouldnt want to be in it even if he could. However, now that there isnt any ambergris left in the market, he has no other choice. A glass of Lion King Spirit for your worries. Levi took out a gold coin and handed it to the burly man, who exuded the strength of a Knight. Being able to employ a Knight to guard the door highlights the mystery behind the Shining Tavern. An organisation that is detached from nobility, kingship, and even the theocratic authority of the church. One gold coin could buy you many valuable thingsa cow, a sword, a holy prayer from the priest of the Church But here, it is only worth an overpriced drink. It is also the ticket to enter the tavern. The burly man handed over a glass of wine that shone in a pale golden light. Drink, and ye shall enter. The Lion King Spirit is used to commemorate the Legendary Knight known as Knight Lionheart. The Shining Tavern rotates seven kinds of wine over seven days, and all of them are priced at 1 gold coin: The Lion King Spirit, Blood Wine, Brew of a Hundred Flowers, Snow Beer, Dark Rum, Golden Spirit, and Unknown. Besides this, there is no other wine. These seven wines are said to commemorate the seven deceased Legendary Knights. Ryan, the Lionheart Knight Brad, the Blood Knight Irina, the Flower Knight Fryer, the Winter Knight Black, the Dark Knight Greck, the Golden Knight Anonymous, the Knight of a Thousand Faces Nobody knew the real name of the final knight. Many speculate that the mastermind behind the Shining Tavern was a Legendary Knight, which explains why it was capable of appearing all over the Seven Kingdoms and how it was able to open a black market under the noses of nobility and holiness. Levi wasnt worried that the wine was poisoned, and he downed it in one go. After drinking, he walked into the tavern, and the excitement and hustle and bustle washed over him. The smell of overwhelming hormones and alcohol rushed into his nostrils. At the bar, a coquettish lady drank the Brew of a Hundred Flowers alone. Levi guessed that she was the proprietress of the tavern. In the tavern, many wore masks like Levi, but there were also many who boldly showed their true identity. Rude men would tease the maids in the tavern, and the proprietress would step in and reprimand the men. Those who dare to cross the staff of the Shining Tavern are often never heard of again. Levi walked through the noisy crowd and came to a dome room with a unique cave behind the tavern. This is where the black market is located; in front of the simple booths, people would sell their own goods with big wooden signs that displayed their items written in chalk. The prices listed were subjective; the Shining Tavern is only responsible for providing a platform. Of course, this would give birth to professions within the black marketbounty hunters. Many wandering knights would become bounty hunters to support themselves. Levi walked around the market and stopped in front of a man who covered his whole body with armour. A small, lonely black bottle stood on his table. Even with the lid on, the contents inside exuded a strange yet charming fragrance. This was the same fragrance that would tickle his nostrils whenever his father prepared the secret medicine when he was a child. Ambergris. 200 gold coins, no bargain, the man in armour muttered. Levi could feel his powerful aura radiating off of him. Despite his dull appearance, his knightly aura shone as bright as a flame. A bottle of ambergris has always been 100 gold coins Levi blurted out. The man sneered, Funny. Run along to the official market and see if anyone accepts your offer. That damned White Horse Knight of the Royal Family has snagged all the ambergris for himself, destroying the market. 200 coins, nothing more, nothing less. Levi gulped upon hearing this. The White Horse Knight is the shining pillar of the Emerald Royal Family, and hes the number one candidate in the Kingdom to become a Legendary Knight. How many bottles do you have? How many do you need? the man muttered. Two. Two bottles. Levi now has 500 gold coins on him. He told himself that even if it was expensive, he still must buy it. Two bottles should be enough for him to become a knight. You arent very strong, but you are rich. You must be the son of a noble, the man muttered. Levi didnt reply. Levi wordlessly took two bottles of ambergris and handed over 400 gold coins, which was equivalent to five years worth of income for his territory. He could feel his heart bleeding upon seeing the gold coins raining into the mans treasury. Listen, kid, the man muttered softly. This is the cheapest I could give you. If I didnt need the money now, I wouldve sold it for 300 gold coins at the auction two days later. If you still need ambergris in the future you know where to find me. The man disappeared into the crowd, and Levi still had more than 100 gold coins left on him. He plans to buy a blood-breathing technique and go home to see if he can practise two breathing methods at once. After strolling around the black market, he didnt come across anyone selling it. He could only wait for the auction the day after tomorrow. This auction is known as the Shining Auction and is held at the Shining Tavern on the last day of every month. And he knew that breathing methods were sold at auctions like these. When Levi was a child, he and his father participated in Shining Auctions in the Land of Tulips, and at that auction, an extremely rare breathing method was sold for a price of 5,000 gold coins!