Slightly annoyed, the giant called for the lady’s attention. “OI! Lil miss, we got business wit ’em first. So don’t get in my way and excuse yer’self.”

“Is that so…” she replied calmly. Her gaze never left Elias’s.

Sebastian was beginning to sweat profusely out of nervousness. From what he could tell, a rogue had joined their party. He had problems with that, considering he was already the rogue for their current group, and his position was being challenged. Two rogues and one knight didn’t make for an outstanding team balance regarding offensive power, much less defensive. They were facing a level 50 Berserker with minions spawned at his side. This was not looking well at all. Last time he checked, they didn’t have a priestess ready at an altar to revive them should they fall.

He had no plan and was confident his knight would fall in the same boat. Would his fellow rogue have an answer? Maybe an enhancement potion of some sort. Sebastian wavered.

Hearing the giant’s words, the wavy-haired maiden turned on her heel and took her leave.

Sebastian sighed with grief. 

A fellow rogue has left the party.

The rogue wandered over to the fellow cleaning glasses, trying his best to act like none of the fuss was his business. 

“Bartender… What time does this place open?”

The question seemed odd as he glanced at the riffraff staring at him from behind her. “W-well, we are currently open...” 

She stared at him for a moment. 

The Bartender wasn’t sure, but for a split moment, he felt the air go cold and a chill run down his back. Her expression was calm and sublime, yet he couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear for giving a displeased answer. He cleared his throat to take it from the top and try again.

“Apologies… Umm, w-we open in…thirty...?”

“Splendid.” Her tone was light at his answer. He could feel the heaviness of daggers being removed from his heart as he sighed.

She immediately returned to the giant and his accompanying friends. “You boys have fifteen minutes to resolve your issues. Afterward, those two seated are my business. Please do hurry it up. I am very busy.”

All of them, including the two fools seated, stared back at her, perplexed by the words that had escaped her lips. One in particular seemed rather furious at them. 

The tiny one who was hell-bent on exacting his revenge approached her. 

“Why you—”

He made a grave error by placing his hand on her shoulder. As she looked at his hand and then at him, she swiftly used the curved handle of her umbrella to remove his hand from her shoulder and deliver a swift strike to his most valued possessions.

He stumbled to his knees, checking to see the damage to his holy relics as he squealed in pain. Sadly, though, his head was ideally situated at a height from the ground for an optimal strike. Swing batter, batter swing. 

She swung, her umbrella striking the man in his head. 

Looks to be a home run as the rest of him followed to the ground. 

The others stared, nearly lost for words.

“You little—” cursed another, readying himself only to have the giant grab his shoulder. He then proceeded to take off his jersey to avenge his fallen minion.

The young lady considered herself a patient individual. She felt that the bare minimum was to give him the courtesy to change into something more appropriate.

“Alright, lil’ miss, you got some moves.” The giant mused.

He started to roll his shoulders, preparing for the challenge.

It seemed his preparations were done. 

With a swift swing of his right hook, he enticed her to pivot deftly towards him, closing the distance between them. Seizing the opportunity, she drove her elbow into his jaw, catching him off guard and sending him stumbling backward.

He shook it off and readjusted, but she wasn’t done yet. She used the round end of the umbrella to hook his neck and draw him back in. She followed up with another elbow and an open fist grip strike to opposite sides of the man’s head simultaneously. The blows collided, and his eyes went white.

She swiftly swung the round hook end of her umbrella, targeting the man’s leg. Taking advantage of his staggering facade, she expertly timed the move as he shifted his weight, completely sweeping him off his feet.

He had become airborne, his head and shoulders crashing into the floor as the rest of his body followed.

She turned her attention to the others, half expecting they would avenge their so-called leader, but they did not. Instead, they cowardly instinctively reacted to the shock of what had happened. 

Seeing as she would not have any more trouble, she walked back over to the table, dropping her gaze on Elias.

“I don’t like repeating myself, but as I mentioned before, my employer wishes to speak with you.” She glanced at Sebastian out of the corner of her eye. 

He snapped back to reality but couldn’t help but change his opinions of her. She could have the role of a rogue. She defeated the Berserker with one attack. Her level was far higher, with points allocated to better skills. He thought maybe a mage or wizard would be better suited for him as he could sit in the back line unperturbed by the quarrels that happen on the battlefield. 

“M-me as well?”

“Yes, Mr. Nox.”

Elias was the first to get up. He was astonished at the young woman’s little performance. Given the circumstances, he wasn’t able to tell her no. She could have forced him to if she wanted it, seeing as she didn’t even bat an eye when taking out the big guy. He had no business refusing after witnessing such a feat. So, he conceived to save himself from any potential embarrassment or possible injuries.

The Bartender, who watched the whole thing go down in a few moments, was utterly baffled, with his jaw on the floor. He wasn’t sure which was more absurd. The fact that there were two grown unconscious men on the ground with random pieces of glass hiding somewhere or that Elias was again leaving him alone to take care of things by himself. 

As he groaned, the young woman with wavy hair passed by the bar to give him a note. “If any bills or expenses regarding this mess need to be tended to, please send them to this location.”

The Bartender glanced down at the note. Upon it was an address handwritten in beautiful script calligraphy. He was astonished at both its legibility and beauty before taking a second to realize what it actually said—Braxton Bureau.