Ten years later - part two
Old Jude ran quickly to the back kitchen.
Unlike most taverns, the back kitchen of Dawning Tavern is very clean, and this has not changed because of the change of owner. Years ago, he had taken Vance's herbal medicine from here to cure demons, and he still had some impressions.
A grotesque floor lamp stood near the entrance of the back kitchen. I wonder if it was an illusion. Jude always felt that the light pole looked a bit like a staff. Not far from the floor lamp, the frozen magic pattern flickered slightly, and the shelves with all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables kept emitting cold air.
A small wooden basin was placed beside the fruit and vegetable rack, and the basin was filled with fresh fruits with attractive colors. A chubby grey parrot is lying on its back on top of a fruit pile, spreading its wings and clicking its beak contentedly.
Seeing someone come in, the golden bird's eyes slanted over, and then narrowed contemptuously.
"Stupid bird." Jude muttered, glancing at the pot of fresh fruit that was of great value. "What a waste of good stuff."
"Idiot," the grey parrot responded clearly. It straightened its round belly, tilted its head, and pecking at a golden cherry fruit.
The Judge Knight Commander of the Ruddism was approaching, and Jude did not intend to scold a brainless bird. He grabbed his demon partner who was unusually obedient for some reason, and looked around in the back kitchen, hoping to find something similar to a secret door.
When his eyes swept to the middle of the room, the hair on Old Jude's whole body exploded—
There are no fat chefs yawning here. There was indeed something in the chef's suit, almost humanoid. But upon closer inspection, the skin that was supposed to be exposed was pitch black.
It wasn't a human at all, but a humanoid chaotic shadow.
It stretched out a limb to support the hat, and then stretched out more than a dozen long-shaped arms behind it, handling the ingredients in an orderly manner.
For a second, Jude wanted to escape back to the front hall and surrendered directly to the Knight Commander of Judgement.
Fortunately, neither the damn bird nor this thing that looked like a chef paid any attention to what he meant. The grey parrot stared at him with bird's eyes, crunching the juicy grapes. And the monster chef cut the meat with two arms, the other hand stirred the bubbling soup with a spoon, and several arms were quickly making fried onion rings.
Jude swallowed hard, and continued to plan in cold sweat. Time was limited, so instead of trying to find the secret door or the entrance to the cellar, he aimed at a few large wooden barrels in the corner storage.
Leaning against the wall and approaching the barrel, Jude quickly lifted the lid of the barrel.
Then he looked awkwardly at the red-eyed man just now.
The man tucked his knees and squatted in the wooden barrel, not daring to let out the air. Seeing that the cover was taken away, he silently pulled the lid back from Jude's hand and sealed himself in again.
"Why don't you use a disguise spell? I thought..." Jude coughed dryly.
"If there are magical fluctuations, Roderick will feel faster." A dull response came from the barrel.
It seems that the Judge Knight Commander is here to catch this guy.
Wyatt Roderick, the 370th Judge Knight Commander after Adrian Cross.
Unlike Cross, who was prudent before the apostasy, Roderick is more like a heretic in the Radical Church - this young genius has a ruthless approach to the enemy, his style is both righteous and evil, and he is famous for his viciousness.
Despite being ruthless when he was in office, at least the way he did things was very decent. This action is more like fighting fire with fire, and even the title granted by the old Pope is "Lunar Eclipse".
Although in terms of behavior, Mr. Roderick is indeed diligently guarding the surface. But when it comes to his temperament and style, it is said that those who have met him come to a very similar conclusion - this Mr. Knight Commander of Judgment may have a better future as a thug.
Completely implicated by this bastard, Jude grinds his teeth.
The demons they carry are a dangerous breed of middle-level demons, and other judge knights may decide to turn a blind eye for the time being, considering the progress of their missions and the complicated procedures of hunting between countries. The monster Roderick will surely drag him back with great interest.
Jude immediately decided to get out of here, trying to escape through the back kitchen window. However, the unique sound of armor colliding had already sounded outside the door.
It was too late, and it would be more noticeable to escape now.
Jude's scalp exploded, he chose the innermost wooden barrel, and shoved himself desperately into it. Start praying that the knight commander will focus on his goal and subconsciously ignore himself.
Fortunately, from the moment he entered the tavern, his demon was very quiet, huddled in a ball on his shoulders.
"Mr. Roderick, what are you here for?"
The vague voice of the young male waiter came from the outside of the wooden door, and there was no fear in his tone.
"To be rude, you will scare my guests by staying in the dawn like this."
"I'm here to find my teacher." The judge knight replied with a smile in his voice. "Dark hair, gray mage robe, dark red eyes. Good looking, looks... well, over thirty years old. Have you ever seen someone like that?"
"As you can see, our house is just a pub, not a shelter."
"You didn't answer my question directly." The smile in Knight Commander Roderick's voice grew even stronger. "My gut tells me he's here."
"If your teacher doesn't want to see you, I think he has his reasons."
"It won't be my problem anyway." Roderick replied in a lazy tone, raising his voice deliberately, and there was a bit of a bandit in his tone that didn't quite fit his identity. "I did everything in the agreement, but he didn't want to see me."
"Maybe if you let the team of judge knights behind you wait outside the door, he will be more willing to see you."
"No, he won't. Get out of the way, boy, and let me see your kitchen." Roderick tutted with the sound of metal rubbing.
"It's a pity, Mr. Roderick. I remember that according to the regulations, the judge knights of the Rudd religion are not allowed to trespass the house without proper explanation." The young waiter said slowly, still not panicking. "Unfortunately, I'm one of the shopkeepers here, and I'm entitled to a reason that will convince me. The Knight Commander of Judgment doesn't lie, does he?"
"… What a hassle. Well, well—I'm not going to break your kitchen, or stuff that sly guy into a dungeon. I just want to talk to him."
"Well."
"Isn't that enough?… Okay, goddamn rules. Boy, when I was an adult, that bastard kicked me out of the house and told me to look at the pretty girls out there, and don't think of something 'inappropriate' What happened - now that seven years have passed, the number of people I have rescued is not 1,000 or 800, I just want to go back and tell him, by the way, we can find him and talk about it."
"And then he ran away?"
"Then he ran away and I chased a whole country and a half."
"Mr. Roderick, I have a little thing to ask. When you went to your teacher, you brought so many heavily armed... uh, entourage?"
"Because I had a gut feeling that he would run away."
"… uh, you really don't know what the problem is?"
"Mind your own business and get out of the way."
"Okay, Mr. Meders is in the kitchen, the third bucket from the left of the wall - he hasn't jumped out to escape with all his strength, and as far as I know him, he shouldn't be reluctant to talk to you about it." That The waiter guided me very understandingly.
"You know him? He never said—"
"By the way, the first bucket to the left from the wall also contains a fugitive. You can take it with you. It's a gift from the store."
"… "
Heck. Jude, who was hiding in the barrel, had black eyes.
As of now, he has only one last option left.
Directly tore off his most advanced acceleration talisman paper, Jude took out the poisonous dagger hidden in his boots, and rushed out the door first. He directly locked the neck of the young waiter with his arm, and squeezed the blade to the position of the young man's throat.
Wyatt Roderick was standing in the room of the Dawning Tavern, near the entrance of the back kitchen, followed by an innumerable team of judge knights.
The young knight commander had half-length dark blond hair, and his eyes were somewhat dull gray-blue. On the part of his left cheek near his eyes, small scars like thin and withered vines lay quietly, like scars left by some disease.
To be fair, Wyatt Roderick isn't bad looking. It's a pity that the scary scars and cynical smile really can't leave a good impression on people, not to mention, there is even a bit of evil in the forehead of the judge knight.
"It's too old-fashioned." Roderick waved his sword at will, without trying to hide the sarcasm in his voice.
Having said that, the young judge knight glanced at himself vigilantly, then turned to the surrounding environment, obviously considering the safest countermeasures.
Jude leaned his back against the door frame vigilantly, holding the dagger in his hand firmly. Not to mention the powerful enemy in front of him, the so-called "Mr. Medes" doesn't sound like a real fugitive. If that guy sneaks a sneak attack from behind, his situation will be really bad.
At present, there is no movement in the back kitchen, which is the only good thing that has happened so far.
Jude shrugged one shoulder and motioned for his demonic partner to wrap around the young shopkeeper's neck, adding a little more leverage. It's a pity that the damn middle-level demon completely shrunk himself into a small ball and began to play dead.
"Your target is not me, esteemed Lord Knight."
Jude squeezed out an ugly smile and pressed the poisoned dagger to the throat of the shopkeeper dressed as a waiter.
"It's all because of this kid's talk. Otherwise, you don't see me, okay? If you don't agree, I'll have to slit this kid's throat. No matter how fast your swords and spells are, they can't be faster than mine. of-"
A series of crisp bells came from the door of the Dawning Tavern, and another young man dressed as a waiter entered the door. The young man was holding a large box of fresh potatoes in his arms. There are also several strings of dried fish hanging on the side of the wooden box.
"Nemo, the re-purchased potatoes are here. Guess what? Colestoro and the others sent the specialty dried fish from the glacier... eh?"
The light-brown-haired youth blinked, stopped in place by the sight in front of him.
"...What are you doing?" After a few seconds, the choked young man spoke again, with a tone that sounded rather awkward.
"Hijacked." The young man known as "Nimo" sounded a little high. "I've never been kidnapped like this before, Ollie."
Jude frowned and tightened his grip on the opponent's throat—the kid's reaction was a little off. That's right, from the beginning, he didn't even shake.
The "Oli" glanced at the trembling demon believers in the shop, squatting under the table with their heads folded, and the tense Judgment Knights, and finally let out a long breath.
"Then I'll take the potatoes to the kitchen first." He continued seriously, "The photo spar is upstairs, do you need me to take a picture for you?"
"Good idea, but I'd rather witness this moment with you." Nemo responded with the same seriousness.
"It seems that this gentleman doesn't need much help, so I'll come back later." Roderick obviously didn't have much like a sense of justice, he retracted his long sword and snapped his fingers. "I have to go and get my dear teacher out first."
If it wasn't for the dream, the world was finally going crazy. Jude thought blankly.
He was pretty sure he was holding a venomous dagger and not a carrot or something, but no one seemed to care about it.
They will regret it.
Although it is not clear what the situation is, it is always good for Roderick to leave temporarily. As long as he repeats his old tricks, seriously injures this kid, and throws a few more stinky smoke and fruit...
Jude gritted his teeth and slashed the young man's throat with the dagger.
No screaming, no blood.
Nothing happened.
In the blink of an eye, Jude just realized that he was already lying on the floor. The dark-haired waiter with a delicate face smiled and looked down at him. Jude's scalp tightened and he wanted to get up immediately, but found that his limbs had already been tightly entangled by fine shadow vines.
The huddled Hizzi squid rolled to the ground like a squid, and no matter how hard he tried to call it, it didn't seem to have any intention of moving.
"You're trying to murder a poor old lady over at the Ramon's Inn." Nemo patted the ashes on his shoulder. "Unfortunately, I know the Mistress of the Ramon's Inn very well. She told me all about it, Jude Major."
Nemo held the Hitz poison squid that had formed a ball in his hands, and Jude even read a bit of emotion and nostalgia from that cold gaze. But this is impossible. This kid is too young, and his hair doesn't seem to grow evenly. There is no such thing in his social circle.
This must have been an absurd dream, and everything that's happening right now doesn't make sense at all.
"Thank you for your cooperation... This gentleman, since 'you' know my teacher, I won't ask the details of the matter."
Roderick directly carried Medes out with the bucket, nodded to Nemo, and then glanced at Jude, who was writhing on the ground.
"And you guys, pack up this thing on the ground and take it back together."
"Yes, Lord Roderick."
"When you're done talking, remember to come over for a drink." Nemo patted the bucket on Roderick's shoulder.
"I will, Mr. Wright," Medes replied sullenly in the bucket. "It's 'me' by the way, not 'us'. There must be something wrong with my education... Damn, don't knock the bucket! Answer me first, what's up with that village?"
"Oh, the village that expelled me," Roderick whispered, "overall, it's staying there just fine - I've endured so hard that I didn't use the power you gave me to kill the village or anything like that. It's too much. You promised me that if I let it go, you'd give me a reward. How about that, that promise is still valid, right?"
"… "
"Farewell." Roderick stopped tapping his hand on the wall of the barrel, and seemed to be in a much better mood.
"I'm sorry to startle everyone, all orders that haven't been settled are free."
The owner Oliver took it immediately. He walked over to the other shopkeeper and gave him a quick kiss.
"... Those who have already settled the bill can continue to order, you're welcome."
Seeing the Judgement Knights leave the Dawning Tavern, the demon believers who got under the table climbed out one after another, panting in shock. Although the policy has been relaxed a lot in recent years, it is still difficult to change the habits that are ingrained in the bones.
"We gotta get some meatloaf." Nemo grabbed Oliver by the collar and kissed back. "It's time for them to arrive, she will order this every time."
A few brave ones in the store blew a few whistles.
"Okay." After the lips parted, Oliver rubbed each other's hair, his eyes full of smiles. "I'll go, just to see how the soup is cooking. Just wait for them here. You'll have to do a careful calculation of today's bills—you're better at this than me."
"uh-huh."
When Nemo took his seat behind the wooden platform, the guests finally took their breath away.
"If I had to say, Roderick definitely didn't come here simply to find someone, it must be a pretense." The nervous old man kept stroking the two-headed crow on his shoulders and said nervously.
"How to say?"
"Haven't you heard? There's a ghost of a tumbleweed nearby. The knights of the trial are all here, and they must be investigating this."
"Tumbleweed, that Black Badge team of Ash Knights? Isn't it long gone?"
"The ghost is still there, don't mention it, it's weird. Ugh... Mr. Wright, do you mind if we talk about this here? After all, this topic is a bit unlucky-"
"Never mind, folks."
Nemo raised the corner of his mouth, put down the book, and tugged at the ball of thread in his hand.
"We don't mind at all."
The author has something to say:
Jude: I have a hostage! I have a hostage!
Nemo: A novel experience, like (0ω0)b