60. Cornered in the Tavern

Chapter 60: Cornered in the Tavern

The Duchess's request hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and unavoidable. The entire tavern had gone silent, every eye fixed on me as I stood there, my jaw clenched and my patience wearing thinner by the second. I didn't like being cornered, and I sure as hell didn't like being coerced into something I hadn't signed up for.

"Kaizen," the Duchess said again, her voice calm but firm, "I need to speak with you. In private."

I crossed my arms, my expression hardening. "No."

The word came out sharper than I intended, and the room seemed to collectively hold its breath. Freya stepped forward, her blue eyes flashing with irritation. "Kaizen, show some respect. The Duchess is asking for your cooperation, not your defiance."

I turned to her, my glare unwavering. "Respect? I just got back from a quest that nearly killed me. I'm tired, I'm sore, and I'm not in the mood to be dragged into whatever this is. So no, I'm not going to 'speak in private.' I'm going to enjoy my damn day."

Freya's lips pressed into a thin line, but before she could respond, Alaric stood up. The movement was slow and deliberate, but it carried enough weight to make the entire room tense. He didn't say anything at first, but the look in his eyes was enough. It was a warning, plain and simple. *Speak to the Duchess like that again, and you'll regret it.*

I felt the pressure of his aura, the unspoken threat radiating off him like heat from a forge. But I didn't back down. Instead, I met his gaze head-on, my own ki simmering just beneath the surface, ready to burst out if things escalated.

"Hear the Duchess out, Kaizen," Alaric said finally, his voice low and steady. "That's all I'm asking."

I didn't respond right away. My mind was racing, trying to figure out how the hell this day had gone so sideways. I'd woken up feeling refreshed, ready to enjoy my hard-earned rewards, and now I was standing in the middle of a tavern, surrounded by people who seemed determined to ruin my peace. The tension in the room was palpable, and I could feel the weight of everyone's expectations pressing down on me.

Just outside the tavern, a crowd had gathered, drawn by the commotion. I hated this—the feeling of being watched, judged, cornered. I wasn't going to back down, not even if it meant fighting my way out of here. My hand twitched, my ki flaring slightly as I prepared for the worst.

And then, out of nowhere, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I reacted instantly, twisting around and grabbing the wrist of whoever had dared to touch me. In one fluid motion, I pulled them forward, spun them around, and pressed a small knife—plucked from a nearby table—to their throat. The entire room gasped, but I barely registered it. My focus was entirely on the person in my grip.

It was Ruko.

The wolf-eared, bushy-tailed demi-human was shaking uncontrollably, his wide eyes filled with fear. "K-Kaizen," he stammered, his voice trembling. "C-Calm down. It's just me."

I blinked, the adrenaline slowly fading as I realized what I'd done. I released him immediately, stepping back and lowering the knife. "Damn it, Ruko," I muttered, my voice tight with frustration. "Don't do that again."

Ruko nodded quickly, his tail tucked between his legs as he backed away. The room was still silent, the tension thicker than ever. Even Alaric and Freya looked stunned, though I noticed a flicker of recognition in their eyes. They'd seen me move like that before—back when we'd fought off that massive black lion and the ambushers on the road to Torak. They knew what I was capable of.

Before I could say anything else, I felt another hand on my shoulder. This time, I didn't react with violence. Instead, I stepped back, my body tense but my mind clear. It was Freya.

"Kaizen," she said softly, her voice pleading. "Just hear us out. That's all we're asking. If you still don't want to help after that, fine. But at least give us a chance."

I looked around the room, my eyes scanning the faces of the onlookers. Alaric was still standing, his expression unreadable but his body language tense. The Duchess was watching me with a calm, almost expectant gaze. Even Mr. Mikaelson and Elara were behind the counter, their eyes fixed on me, waiting to see how this would play out.

I stood there in the tavern, my arms crossed and my jaw clenched as I glared at the Duchess, Freya, and Alaric. The tension in the room was thick, and the weight of their expectations pressed down on me like a boulder. I didn't like being cornered, and I sure as hell didn't like being coerced into something I didn't want to do. But as I looked around the room, I realized I didn't have much of a choice. If hearing them out would get them off my back, then fine. I'd do it. But that didn't mean I was going to like it.

As I turned to head upstairs, my mind was already racing. The system notification from earlier was still fresh in my thoughts, the holographic screen burned into my memory. Mission 4: *Starting the Harem*. The primary objective was clear—have sex with Freya Mikaelson. Five times. Within 210 hours. The secondary objective was still a mystery, but I had a feeling it would complicate things even further.

I couldn't help but curse the system in my mind. *What the hell kind of mission is this?* I thought, my frustration bubbling to the surface. *Freya can't seem to make up her mind about me, and now the system wants me to sleep with her? Five times? In a week?*

The absurdity of It all was almost laughable. Freya was beautiful, no doubt about it, but she was also one of the most complicated women I'd ever met. One minute she was cold and distant, the next she was pleading with me to hear her out. And now, thanks to the system, I had to figure out how to navigate this mess without getting myself killed—or worse, pissing her off to the point where she'd never speak to me again.

As I climbed the stairs to my room, I couldn't help but wonder if this mission was really about my desires. Kyle had mentioned that some missions were tailored to my needs and wants, while others were random. But how was I supposed to tell the difference? Was this mission a reflection of my deepest desires—my subconscious yearning for Freya—or was it just some random twist of fate from the system? Maybe it was a combination of both.

The title of the mission was a pretty big hint. *The Harem*. It wasn't exactly subtle. If this mission was tied to my desires, then it was clear that the system thought I wanted Freya more than I was even aware of myself. But what about Gwen? Or Neralia? Did I not desire them as much? Or was this mission just the first step in building something bigger?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This was getting too complicated. The system was playing games with me, and I didn't like it. But I also knew I couldn't ignore it. Mission 3 had taught me that much. I'd failed the secondary objective, but I was still alive. That meant the primary objective was the most important thing. If I could accomplish that, I could survive. The secondary objective—whatever it was—could be ignored if I didn't care about the bonus reward. And right now, I didn't.

But this mission was different. The primary objective wasn't just about survival—it was about desire. And that made it infinitely more complicated. I had 210 hours—seven days, given this planet's 30-hour days—to sleep with Freya five times. That was a lot of time, but it also meant I had to act fast. I couldn't afford to waste a single hour.

As I reached the top of the stairs and pushed open the door to my room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. Whatever the Duchess and her entourage were about to tell me, I had a feeling it was going to complicate my life even more. But maybe, just maybe, it would also give me the opportunity I needed to accomplish my own mission.

I let out a long, exasperated sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Fine," I said finally, my voice heavy with resignation. "I'll hear you out. But don't think for a second that this changes my mind."

The Duchess nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "That's all I ask."

I turned and grabbed the things I'd bought earlier, slinging my pack over my shoulder as I headed for the stairs. The crowd parted as I walked, their whispers following me as I made my way up to my room. Freya, the Duchess, and Alaric followed behind, their footsteps echoing on the creaky wooden stairs.

As I pushed open the door to my room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. Whatever they were about to tell me, I had a feeling it was going to complicate my life even more. But for now, all I could do was listen and hope that this conversation would be over quickly.

I set my pack down by the bed and turned to face them, my arms crossed and my expression guarded. "Alright," I said, my voice firm. "You've got five minutes. Make it count."