Then a giant clap echoed through the room.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlrjo8gFQX
Everyone stopped mid-fight and looked over to the bar counter, where they saw a strange sight—
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl19AUmnABb
An old man standing on the desk.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn9EpzJrx4
But he wasn’t just old—he was very, very, very small, no more than nine inches tall. He wore clothes made of leaves, had a long gray beard, and a big mushroom for a hat.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbHNa04Nkf
He cleared his throat, hands behind his back, and shouted with surprising authority:
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENPVKbI5Ur
“Everyone! I need all of you to—”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthE4FJeDLj
Suddenly, a loud whirrrr came from the strange mechanical contraption next to him.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5iA8fgAL1
“The machine is working!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7q6nur1rW
The entire tavern erupted in cheers.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aaKxl0Nfq
“WOOOOOO!!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmZ9Qet2Wv
People started throwing tankards, bottles, and even furniture into the air like it was a holiday.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ola8x37ry
The old man flinched. “Wait! It’s, uh—almost working! I mean—!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj00JKp3lb
The cheering died down slowly into confused murmurs.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYVpAaSOms
Across the room, Eleo blinked and tilted his head.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7veZTfV8Lh
> (In his mind)
“Why is that guy so small...? I think my tail is bigger than him.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OlCcLwVrM
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFoDpH8iUA
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iVoNy0wl9
Meanwhile, the tiny old man had pulled out a curled message scroll and was reading aloud to himself.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6duWv71G1O
“Dear Jimmy… you... and make sure… or we’ll be taking…”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvZt4jZ1uH
Standing beside him was a younger small person, with light curly hair, large green eyes, and a mushroom cap hat too big for his head. He wore a forest-toned cloak, decorated with mossy leaves and twigs.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXYYtyehpt
He looked up at the old man and said softly, “Grampa Jimmy… can I join a group, please?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrEjoUSYSE
Jimmy continued reading.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSQwEFZ45K
“Dear Jimmy you… and make—”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUawJQR3hR
Timmy jumped in the air and waved. “Grandpa! Grandpa!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGjSqgW1cQ
Jimmy muttered, eyes still on the scroll, “Not now, Timmy. I’m reading.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1xsEgdwz9
Timmy slouched and sighed. “Okay…”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaQr8gSNIF
Just then, Eleo walked up to the two and crouched down, squinting.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtByp0ZEym
“Yo, small people! Is this where the strongest is at…?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A3xzrJLCL
Timmy looked up and smiled politely. “Sorry. My grandpa’s in a deep reading state. When he’s like this, he barely focuses on you, and only on whatever he’s reading.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd8CmoeWP0
Eleo scratched his head. “Uhhh… okay, I think I understand what you mean.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdxHv3eig9
Then he smiled. “But I got a really important question: Why are you two so small? Are you guys like… babies or something?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6xoXGpG12
Timmy giggled softly. “No. We’re Minari. No more than nine inches tall.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7eQhZoNGv
He stood proudly and held out his arms. “We’re what you big people call forest creatures. We usually stay deep in the forest, away from the big folks.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsm2s2ZxTs
Eleo nodded. “Why hide, though? I’m pretty sure most big people are nice.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh8gn592Sr
Timmy tilted his head. “Well, usually. And don’t take offense, but… you guys put us through slavery.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz6GJ4rLo1
Eleo’s ears shot up. “Oh... what?! Why do they keep you as slaves?!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp0UDFaQMe
Timmy answered calmly, “Because we’re very smart. We’re fast, clever, and we can complete tasks easily—cleaning, fixing, building.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8KUZgcIG5
Eleo nodded slowly. “Oh… okay. I understand. I think.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZSPLRD0G3
He paused, then perked up. “Hey! You wouldn’t happen to know where the strongest is at, would you?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWBjfgMkK0
Suddenly, Jimmy snapped the scroll shut and looked up sharply.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiDoa1cwMS
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLeMmTaDC7
Timmy blinked. “Huh?! Grandpa! I thought you were in deep reading!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5t1R0VAd3
Jimmy stroked his beard, stepping forward on the edge of the counter. “I was. Until I heard this young bunny kid say he’s looking for the strongest.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL3tTufMDl
Eleo grinned. “Yup! That’s me!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamQD5lGkpW
Timmy turned back to his grandpa, eyes lighting up. “Well, since you’re done reading, can I go on adventures with other people now?! Please?!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8205vSVhu
Jimmy laughed and patted Timmy on the back.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumnTP62VRa
“No, no, Timmy. You’re physically not ready. And probably never will be.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzJozSabab
“Awwww, man…”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCxlOE3ds6
Just then, a tall cow lady with soft brown spots walked over. She wore an apron and carried a tiny bottle cap with a swirl of creamy goodness.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3XyF9aJAh
“Here you go, Timmy,” she said warmly.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FLtU1fhAg
Timmy lit up. “Thank you, Miss Moew!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyz9ufBv0f
Moew smiled. “Anytime, little guy.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FZCwUDwEP
Jimmy turned to her. “Miss Moew… is the machine done?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7H62gvlkp
Moew scratched her head. “Uh… well, it’s functioning, but it still isn’t ready to print out any paper yet.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJtwL1P6Ix
Jimmy sighed. “Figures.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenIzbFoHYP
“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll check again after I finish wiping down the tables.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYx0ncbyx2
She waved sweetly and walked back into the kitchen.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXm6guavzE
Jimmy turned back to Eleo and narrowed his eyes.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41sntZflWU
“Now... back to you.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdyM3LsjH0
Eleo tilted his head and raised a finger.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHOfSkPPrU
“What? It’s not like I’m fighting without proper... uh... sanction.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmEicL1WVK
He paused.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhFhZdYT0k
“Whatever that means.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYLTpbn3MR
Jimmy suddenly burst into loud, creaky laughter, nearly falling off his mushroom cap.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9z90zDxYb
“BAHAHAHA! Oh, you poor thing!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDIlZJdBlp
Timmy just shook his head with a tiny smile. “Grandpa... I think he fell for it.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3UAVpvDQT
Eleo blinked. “Fell for what?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEJNuFZ0mZ
Jimmy wiped a tear from his eye. “Oh my gods, kid... hahahaha—you fell for it!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTAwuYGECh
Eleo’s ears drooped slightly. “What do you mean?!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmReRClXWH
Jimmy chuckled and leaned on his tiny cane. “That whole 'proper sanction' thing? It’s just a line the Supreme Council’s military goons—the Ascendants—say to sound official. But it means absolutely nothing. They’ll still come after you, no matter what.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOpk7eaIkq
Eleo tilted his head. “Huh? But—why?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ovrawQcAR
Jimmy smirked. “Because every newcomer falls for it. It’s how people get scammed! Some even go around selling ‘Official Strongest Fighting Permits’ or some nonsense. And the worst part? People buy them!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1VWKBIhTi
Timmy nodded seriously. “They even have shiny ones with fake gold stamps.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl1mEr5tt2
Eleo blinked again. “Okay, well... then I won’t say anything about fighting the strongest!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MbRFOs2el
Timmy looked at him gently. “It doesn’t matter. They’ll still know.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oCMczphoV
Eleo scratched his head. “Huh? How??”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcXnSu7jNf
Jimmy shrugged. “Nobody knows. Not even their own people know how it works. Some say it’s magic surveillance. Some say they brand you in your sleep. Others say they use birds.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6OvrrufU0
Eleo nodded solemnly. “Birds are scary.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7Ebxg1Uy1
Jimmy sighed. “Listen, kid. You seem tough. But everyone says that. ‘Trust me, I can handle them!’—you wouldn’t believe how many bones we’ve had to clean up.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjz4aCAkGy
Timmy puffed up his chest. “Don’t worry! My grandpa is super strong! He’ll protect us!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1kxcQEOzz
Jimmy chuckled and patted Timmy’s head. “Aww, thank you, grandson.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxUqat2NiS
Eleo squinted. “You’re strong? But you’re, like... really small.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETct8s3zUK
Jimmy crossed his tiny arms. “Yeah, I may be small... but that doesn’t mean I’m weak.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZdXyTcZzs
(In Eleo’s mind)
I think I could beat him if I really wanted to...
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtovbBCn7Td
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeeOTkokeI
Jimmy smirked. “Anyway, what’s your name, big ears?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8l6iDu7H5
Eleo grinned wide. “I’m Eleo—the bunny kid who’s gonna become the strongest!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBbtJdJreT
Jimmy raised a brow. “Hah! Confident. I like it. Well, Eleo—why not form a team? Plenty of weirdos in this place. Strong ones too.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByuUFAeofW
Eleo glanced around and spotted the same two fighters still going at it.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gJKPPHBTi
The brown-skinned guy with dreadlocks was blocking sword swings with his pinky.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgpXdxV1ki
His opponent, the blue-haired swordsman, clashed back with swift precision, his blade slicing clean through a flying chair as he shouted back with wild eyes.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGeTXj2x0q
Eleo’s jaw dropped. His pupils sparkled.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64CqwB3fEQ
“Wooooaaaahhhh...”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlDUGdS1vG
Timmy peeked out from behind a mug. “Oh. Grandpa... Kenji and Olorun are fighting again.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYUAQvVuwG
Jimmy sighed like a war veteran. “Of course they are.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5FsPaXPft
With a POOF, Jimmy teleported off the counter and reappeared between the two mid-swing.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0psM2CEvfb
“Kenji! Olorun! What are you two doing?!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdp3QMBql5K
Both men clashed midair, sparks flying.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElEBX1Amgd
Olorun—the dreadlock fighter—grinned wide. “I need to teach this sword-swingin' punk why I’m the strongest in the Diffler Gilffer!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J0gZMMoAi
Kenji—the spiky-haired swordsman—snapped back, “Hah! You?! Don’t make me laugh. Everyone knows I’m the strongest here!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZv60Deef6
Jimmy floated between them, arms raised. “Can you two please stop? You're both strong, okay? No need to explode the bar again!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf1ap8Cal1
But both shouted in unison:
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjpsWTUJ7c
“NEVER!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK7BC4zwVy
Jimmy sighed.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWbAgRV1QK
“Alright. Enough.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADT4yOC98q
He floated higher and slammed both his tiny fists into the tops of their heads at the same time.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gyZSQGdn2
BONK! BONK!
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrjR7Hd2PK
They both hit the ground in synchronized groans.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz0R4CENZn
Back at the bar, Eleo’s jaw hung open.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAiohVL66x
“WHOA! I guess he is strong...”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU22g29ALC
Timmy beamed. “Told you so!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4sAxivRd6
Jimmy dusted off his tiny palms and looked to the side.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VZR5Zi2yc
“Tony! Can you please keep these two from turning every argument into an earthquake?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjs4MDbKMy
From the shadows of the wall, a figure stepped forward.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaMSGgwnjb
A skeleton with a partly cracked skull, wearing a black tuxedo with elegant gold floral embroidery, a white shirt, black bowtie, and a white rose pinned to his lapel. His eye sockets glowed faintly blue.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgifkwVSgo
Tony lifted a porcelain teacup to his teeth and sipped.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWAprHhvEM
“Of course, Mr. Jimmy. I’ll see to it that my dear friends behave themselves.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaKobHIzCx
He adjusted his tie and continued sipping.
ns216.73.216.206da2
然後按「加至主畫面」