The Monster Tide, Initiated!

Xia De saw some familiar faces in the restaurant, and they were performing quite a drama for him.

It not only washed away his sadness but also gave him the feeling of having stumbled upon a massive piece of gossip. He scratched his head, not knowing what to think for a moment.

He quietly sat down at a table not far from Charles and the others, his back turned to them so they couldn't see his expression.

He casually ordered a few signature dishes and asked the waiter for a glass of warm water.

Then, sipping his water, Xia De kept his back to them while straining his ears. They were perking up so much they almost looked like Hilia's elven ears.

For some reason, he had unexpectedly joined the ranks of the spectators enjoying the drama.

Milia's party sat on one side of the table. Opposite them was a female mage with a fiery figure, her low-cut top revealing a vast expanse of snowy-white skin.

It was none other than Shanna from Reid's party.

At this moment, her face was filled with deep sorrow. Keeping her head low with tears welling in her eyes, she pleaded with Charles in a soft, sobbing voice: “I'm sorry, Charles. We were wrong. We shouldn't have kicked you out back then. Please, rejoin us.”

Milia let out a cold snort and said displeasedly, “Hmph! Those two were constantly insulting Charles in the Adventurer's Hall back then! What, did they not show up today because they're too ashamed to show their faces?”

Shanna's expression froze, and she instantly felt a wave of embarrassment. In her heart, she was cursing everyone equally.

Milia was right. After abandoning Sheena to escape from the Gloom Spider's mouth last time, the three of them had spent a long time reflecting back at their base.

Furthermore, they had heard from others that Charles had helped Milia and her party complete their quest.

They were shocked to realize that they had been wrong all along. Charles really had been casting healing magic, and had even layered on many buff spells.

Upon realizing this, they desperately wanted Charles to return. However, because of what happened at the Adventurer's Guild, Reid and Kathleen felt too embarrassed to show their faces, so they sent Shanna—who hadn't openly clashed with him—to test the waters.

Xia De took a thirst-quenching melon he had ordered from the waiter and quietly began to munch on it.

However, his attention remained entirely on the group nearby. He wanted to see what kind of choice Charles would make.

After all, Reid was on his must-kill list!

If Charles forgave them and tried to stop him when the time came to kill them...

Should he just kill Charles along with them?

Or should he kill them all together?

Well, although he highly coveted Charles's rapid-recovery magic, anyone who stood in his way had to die!

Although Shanna was cursing them in her head, her expression remained unchanged as she maintained her sorrowful look, her voice choking up as she said, “I'm sorry, Charles. Those two realized they were wrong and felt too ashamed to face you.”

Sylph said coldly, “And you don't feel guilty? How dare you show your face here?!”

For a split second, Shanna's face twisted in rage, but in the next instant, she reverted to a tearful look, gazing at Charles as she said dejectedly, “I'm sorry, Charles. Please come back and help us. Sheena covered our retreat and was willingly eaten by a magical beast.

Even though Reid is a piece of trash who is smug, a playboy, narcissistic, arrogant, opinionated, premature, weak, and short-tempered; even though he often bullied you, mocked you, and made you do all the dirty and exhausting work...

And even though Kathleen has a fiery temper and often verbally abused you, they are still my companions, and they are your companions too.

Have you forgotten that we adventured together for over two months? When you first arrived, we were the ones who accepted you.

Come back, Charles!”

“Pfft—! Cough, cough, cough!”

Xia De was so shocked by her explosive rant that the melon went down the wrong pipe, causing him to cough violently.

Fortunately, he had cast stealth magic on himself beforehand to lower his presence, so he didn't attract anyone's attention.

Otherwise, if word got out that a grand Tier Nine, Rank Seven powerhouse was choked by a common melon...

He would be the laughingstock of the world!

Wiping his mouth, he grumbled in his mind.

Xia De then focused his attention back on Charles, wanting to hear what this protagonist-like figure would say.

Charles still looked as dazed as ever, his face carrying a deep sense of inferiority. However, this time there was a trace of determination in his eyes as he spoke: “I won't go back!”

Xia De's eyes lit up as he excitedly cheered Charles on, only to be utterly dumbfounded by Charles's next words.

“But thank you. Thank you for considering me a companion. I also really enjoyed our past adventures together. It's just that I have a new party now. Master said that once a choice is made, one must never regret it, no matter what.”

Except for that last sentence, which Xia De agreed with, the rest of it made him want to crack open Charles's skull to see if it was completely filled with water.

Then, he heard Charles continue, “I still consider you all my companions. If you run into any trouble in the future, please feel free to come to me!”

Xia De felt completely defeated.

A question surfaced in his mind.

From the snippets of conversation, Xia De had gathered that the others had insulted Charles in every possible way back then, beating and scolding him at the drop of a hat. They had also frequently tarnished his reputation in public, painting him as a weak and incompetent waste.

This was also the reason why many parties refused to accept Charles in the beginning.

Otherwise, a Healer would be highly treasured by any party.

“Hmph, Charles said he's not going back, so please leave!”

Sylph coldly issued an eviction notice to Shanna, who stood up and fired right back, refusing to back down.

Both were mages, both were beautiful, and both had incredibly voluptuous figures. As they stood nose-to-nose in confrontation, their heavy chests pressed tightly against each other.

Like jelly.

Xia De put down his melon, pressed his hands together, and silently muttered, Thanks for the feast.

Then, he saw Shanna turn her head with a cold snort and say to Charles, “Charles, I'll head back first. Please remember, we will always consider you our companion. We're always looking forward to your return, and you're welcome back anytime!”

With that, she swayed her hips and departed.

Before she left, Xia De quietly placed a mark on her. As long as she carried this mark back to that blond scumbag...

Hehehe!

It would be time to start the slaughter!

A warm smile graced Xia De's face, though a cold, murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

What Xia De didn't know was that dozens of li outside the city, a massive horde of magical beasts was greedily eyeing Toka City from the shadows, surging toward it at extreme speed.

An adventurer who spotted them along the way shrieked in terror, “The monster tide is coming!”

The next second, the screaming adventurer was swallowed by the massive monster tide, reduced to a pile of shredded flesh.

Leading the pack was a crack-rock bear with a gruesome scar over its right eye. It grinned, revealing a terrifying smile as the scar wriggled like a centipede with the stretching of its facial muscles.

It exuded sheer ferocity!