Good News

The appearance of a muscular man, accompanied by Alphagob and Gammagob, was a surprising sight for everyone in the tavern. It was as if they had seen a ghost. Akira, Alphagob, and Gammagob took a seat in the middle of the room, and the tavern lady quickly approached them to take their order.

"I don't know about your specialties, but I have five gold coins here," Akira said, handing the coins to her. "You can bring anything as long as it's tasty and enough for the three of us."

The lady noted the order and left. After a while, the hustle and bustle of the tavern resumed. Alphagob and Gammagob sat silently, placing their weapons behind their chairs. Akira broke the silence, "This is going to be the place where I will rule. You guys will be responsible for protecting this place."

"Yes, master, as you wish," Alphagob and Gammagob replied in unison.

Akira attempted to start a small conversation, asking, "So, anything interesting happen today?"

Alphagob and Gammagob exchanged glances and replied, "Nothing, master."

With a sigh, Akira said, "Well, at least I tried." People around them wondered who the muscular man was. He looked like Akira, but Akira was not that tall or muscular. The tavern lady returned with beers.

"We didn't order this," Akira said.

"This is on the house because these two ogres spend all day and night guarding the town," she replied.

"Oh, thank you very much," Akira said.

The lady stood there, looking uneasy. Akira asked, "Is something wrong?"

Finally, the lady mustered the courage to ask, "You look similar to Lord Akira. Are you his brother?"

Akira chuckled and said, "I am Akira, and this is my true form."

The lady, thinking it was a joke, smiled awkwardly. When Akira didn't say anything else, she asked again, "You're not joking?"

"No, I'm not," Akira replied.

Realizing her mistake, the lady quickly fell to her knees, asking for forgiveness. "I'm sorry, my lord. I couldn't recognize you, and I took money from you. Please forgive me." Tears started falling from her eyes.

Akira, who was not upset, gently lifted her by the shoulders, effortlessly making her stand as if she weighed nothing. "I'm not offended. I just came here for an honest meal, and I'm really hungry."

The lady wiped her face and asked, "My lord, are you really not going to kill me?"

"Any honest citizen of this place doesn't have to worry about their life," Akira reassured her. "This place is under my rule, and unnecessary killing or injustice will not be accepted here. So don't be afraid and please bring me something to eat."

The lady tried to return the gold coins, but Akira insisted on paying for his meal. "If you want me to not come here again, then I will take this money."

The lady hesitated but eventually put the coins back in her pocket. "I want you to make sure the food is enough," Akira said.

The lady bowed and assured him, "Don't worry, my lord. I will make sure it is plenty." She then went to the counter and loudly announced, "People, keep your manners. We are in the presence of Lord Akira, so behave at your best."

Everyone froze, making the atmosphere awkward for Akira, who didn't like attention. Just then, the tavern door opened, and Archie and his friends entered. Noticing the unusual silence, Brook saw Akira waving at them.

"Hey guys, look, it's Lord Akira over there, and he's calling us," Brook said.

Archie, Ron, and Jack also saw Akira and understood why the place was so quiet. They approached Akira's table and greeted him.

"How have you been, my lord?" Archie asked.

"Forget about the honorifics and take a seat," Akira said. They saw only one seat available at the table, occupied by Gammagob's daggers. After an awkward moment, Brook grabbed a chair from another table and joined Akira. The others followed suit.

"Lady, please bring beer for my friends here," Akira requested.

Archie reported, "Today was very tiring. We removed the old furniture and hired several carpenters to renovate the place. We also spread posters around town, looking for workers."

"That is good progress," Akira said. "I also have good news for you all."

"What is it, my lord?" they asked.

"I have successfully built two bridges—one to Duatt Kingdom and one to Ferrumhold Kingdom. They are strong and large enough for merchants to cross without worry."

Everyone was happy with the news, especially Archie, who remembered his conversation with Akira and felt proud that Akira had fulfilled his promise.

"I have another announcement," Akira continued. "This town will be called Babylon from tomorrow."

The guys were shocked and thrilled. Brook stood on his chair and announced, "Everybody listen! Lord Akira says this town will be called Babylon from now on."

Everyone got excited and started celebrating. Akira then said, "Tomorrow, we will add signs outside the town, marking it as Babylon."

The celebration continued, and the lady brought a huge boar to the table. It looked delicious. Akira took the first bite and said, "Everyone start eating." The ogres and Archie's friends began eating as if they hadn't had a meal in years.

Archie, watching Akira, thought to himself, "Thank you, Akira. You are so kind and generous. This town really needed a lord like you. I know this town will flourish, and I will help you in any way possible. I will give my life for you if needed."