Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 507 The Gentleman on the Beam
Before long, the ordered dishes were served. The lasagna was topped with a thick layer of golden-brown, slightly charred cheese, with layers of lasagna and minced meat mixed with cheese and tomato sauce stacked on a white porcelain plate.

The edge of the plate had a small amount of shredded pickled cabbage and a pile of fresh vegetable salad.

Lift the glass and swirl it slowly. The sediment at the bottom blends seamlessly with the fruit wine. Take a sip, and you'll taste the same flavor as before.

Given that the nightlife on the continent of Faerûn was rather lackluster, and with his female disciple currently studying diligently in the far north, Master Zhang was unable to offer her any comfort or guidance, so he could only immerse himself in the art and aesthetics before him.

Ok?
The monk's eyes, which had been half-closed as if he were dozing, twitched slightly, and he glanced at his side out of the corner of his eye.

Nothing was gained, but one's own perceptions were not wrong.

Although the opponent's actions were skillful and cautious, and they were out of his sight, and although their movements were as light as a feather, causing only imperceptible touches and silent commotion, they still could not escape the mage's perception.

It seems that some restless gentleman is planning to help the guests here take stock of their completely unimportant and superfluous personal belongings, and then transfer them to those who really need them for free.

Of course, that was the man himself.

However, Mr. Zhang was also a kind-hearted man who always took care of others and was considerate of them, so he naturally declined this kind of free moving service.

"Hmm," the mage hummed sleepily, twisting his neck slightly. Leaning back in his chair, he seemed annoyed by mosquito bites, instinctively reaching out to scratch his neck.

That scared the hell out of me!
Beverley thought to himself, "I thought the big fish in front of me had been startled awake."

As you can see, this unremarkable, short-statured half-man is a thief, a common thief.

Of course, Beverley himself dismissed this. As a highly skilled professional, he did not believe he should be ranked alongside pickpockets who could only steal from drunk passersby on the streets. He was a man of taste and ambition.

Simply put, he is not short of money now, so he steals not for money, but for a new thrill.

Beverly had already planned that once he retired from his life of crime and returned to his hometown, he would definitely write a memoir so that people, especially his fellow halflings, could know about his many exploits during his time in the Sword Bay and thus enhance his reputation.

Returning home in glory and boasting is the ultimate pursuit for half-humans, and it's no exaggeration to say that it's the fundamental motivation for them to venture out and take risks, even though they are attached to home and comfort.

As for whether the tribespeople believe it or not?
With the spoils in hand, he can brag about it however he wants.

Ah~ The clever and brave rogue Beverly roams the Sword Coast, walking amidst the clash of swords. Neither the trap-filled dungeons nor the mysterious mage towers and majestic temples can stop his footsteps.

Take this young mage for example. The Great Thief felt it necessary to give this naive young man a proper lesson in the ways of the world. As for the tuition…

hiss~
Beverly, caught off guard by the other's head tilt, quickly stopped what he was doing and moved closer to the shadows. After realizing it was just a subconscious action, the halfling couldn't help but grin self-deprecatingly.

It's true that the older you get in the world of martial arts, the more timid you become.

However, the moment the target makes these subtle moves is precisely the opportunity for me to strike.

Bring it to you!

He reached out and touched it, his fingertips almost slipping into the other man's purse. But what followed was not the pleasant sensation of intimate contact with his spoils, but rather…

pain!
Severe pain!

Beverly felt as if his arm was being clamped by iron pincers, no, by the mandibles of a giant stag beetle, and no matter how much he shook or twisted, he couldn't break free.

Then he was lifted up, just like an adult lifting a chicken or duck. The weak, helpless, and pitiful man was brought before the villain.

"It's a misunderstanding, sir, this is purely a misunderstanding!"

The halfling thief, who had been desperately twisting his body in mid-air, was now like a salted fish that had been brought ashore, frantically pleading, "I accidentally slipped and bumped into you, sir. I would never have meant to offend you."

The monk held the other person up with one hand and rubbed his chin with the other, looking at him with an exceptionally kind gaze, as if he had caught Run Ge'er stealing melons in the melon field.

If it were a low-level spellcaster, without mastering the trigger spell and lacking sufficient perception, it would indeed be difficult to detect this guy's subtle movements. But he just had to choose Zhang Yuan, this diving shark...

That can only be described as bad luck.

"Oh, a misunderstanding?"

The monk smiled and spoke:

"No, no, no, my dear halfling thief, there's no such thing as a misunderstanding in this world, huh?"

"What I mean is, nice to meet you."

"Yes, yes, Master."

Beverly, whose hand was still firmly gripped by the other man while he was picking his pocket, knew he was truly doomed. As for putting up a fight...

He quickly and wisely banished this dangerous thought from his mind. He was already in a bad situation enough; he should leave himself a way out.

The interrogation didn't last long; after just a few rounds, Beverley confessed his identity.

There was no other way but to explain. Such a thing had happened that even the hotel owner was alarmed and rushed to the scene with the bartender and several guards.

With all the local lords present, the halfling, who always loved to boast and brag, had no room for excuses or deception, and his true colors were exposed in no time.

This guy is quite an oddball. He often compares himself to a master thief, but he hasn't actually accomplished anything. Over time, everyone just thought of him as a boastful petty thief. No one expected him to have such audacity today.

"If Your Excellency requires, we can arrange a temporary cell and guards, and Your Excellency can hand it over to Flame Fist for disposal tomorrow."

The one who spoke was Alice, a half-elf lady who was also the owner of Elf Song. She rarely appeared in the lobby, but now she was giving advice to the mage.

"No, please don't!"

Beverly panicked upon hearing this. If he were really locked up in the Flame Fist prison, he would have no peace, not to mention what would happen if his little secret were discovered...

"Master, I haven't encountered anything yet! I can pay you back, I can pay you back!"

"Oh? That makes sense, but there's no need to go to such lengths,"

The mage ignored the halfling's howls and smiled as he pulled out a badge.

That's the emblem of the Flame Fist Guild.

"I am a member of the Flame Fist."

That smile looked terrifying to Beverley, and his heart sank to his backside.

How can a plaintiff who also serves as a judge have any chance of winning such a case?

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(End of this chapter)