I'm a Immortal Tavernkeeper, But My S-Rank Daughter Doesn't Know That!

Chapter 192: Guards

The hunters present at the scene quickly mobilized to help. They were men and women trained to react in crisis situations, so their actions were coordinated and professional. They approached the invaders, who threw their swords on the ground and tied their hands with tight ropes. They moved with almost military precision, each gesture calculated to ensure that there was no resistance.

Victor remained vigilant, his sword still pressed against the neck of the Guardians’ leader. He could feel the tension in the man’s muscles, but also his resignation.

The leader knew that any attempt to escape would result in his immediate death. Given the way he was quickly neutralized by Victor, he knew he had no way of reacting against Victor.

As the invaders were gathered in the center of the hall, Victor looked away for a moment, assessing the situation around him. The guests, once paralyzed with fear, now began to regain their composure. Some murmured among themselves, others watched in silence, still incredulous at what was happening, but very relieved. Little did they know that far worse things than a broken chandelier could have happened.

After the initial shock, Luísa advanced through the hall. Her steps were firm but graceful, and her presence seemed to radiate a comforting calm. She held out her right hand, pronouncing words in an ancient language. A magical barrier began to form around the invaders, a soft, shimmering light that completely enveloped them, preventing any attempt to escape, but a gap remained.

Victor guided the leader of the invaders to this gap and pushed him inside. "Don’t think about doing anything stupid. Otherwise, next time, I’ll kill you."

"Okay," said Luisa after closing the barrier, her voice calm but authoritative. "We’re safe until help arrives."

Luísa approached Victor, her eyes fixed on him with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.

"How did you react so quickly?" she asked, her voice soft but firm. "It was as if I knew exactly what to do."

Victor took a deep breath, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through his veins. "I... I don’t know," he replied, a little hesitantly. "It was instinctive. I made a plan and I acted."

Luisa smiled slightly, her eyes shining with a mixture of understanding and respect. "Well, your action was probably more than crucial and decisive in saving many lives today. We’re in your debt."

Victor nodded, still processing the recent events. "I only did what anyone would do," he said modestly, although he knew it wasn’t entirely true. The situation had required a courage and determination that few possessed.

Meanwhile, the hunters finished tying up the invaders and placed them in a circle in the center of the hall. The barrier allowed them in, but not out.

The stout man who had disarmed the raider earlier approached Victor and Luisa. He looked serious, but there was a glimmer of gratitude in his eyes. "You acted bravely, man," he said, his voice deep but warm. "My name is Marco, leader of the hunters in this region. If it hadn’t been for your swift intervention, many would have been seriously injured today."

Victor smiled, appreciating the recognition. "It was a joint effort between me and the musicians," he replied, briefly pointing to the stage.

Luísa nodded, agreeing with Victor. "Yes, and now we need to make sure that these invaders are brought to justice. We can’t allow threats like this to continue. It’s absurd."

The tension in the hall slowly began to ease as the hunters finished containing the invaders. Victor, with adrenaline still coursing through his veins, watched everything with an attentive eye. He knew that any distraction could be fatal, but for the moment, the situation seemed under control.

Luisa stood beside him, her right hand still raised, supporting the magical barrier around the prisoners. The soft glow of the barrier illuminated her features with an almost ethereal light, highlighting her expression of concentration and determination.

The guests, still stunned, began to disperse, murmuring amongst themselves. Some sought solace in family and friends, while others just watched in silence, trying to process the events that had unfolded before their eyes. The hall, once filled with laughter and music, was now imbued with a tense, charged silence.

Suddenly, a voice stood out among the murmurs. It was a young huntress, her face pale with worry. "I’ve found the guards!" she exclaimed, pointing to a side door. "They’re downstairs, all passed out!"

Victor exchanged a quick glance with Luisa, the worry visible in his eyes. He knew he needed to investigate what had happened to the guards. "I’ll go with her," he said, his voice firm. "Can you stay here and maintain the barrier?"

Luisa nodded, her gaze determined. "Yes, I’ll stay here. Go and find out what happened. We can’t afford any more surprises."

Victor nodded and turned to the young huntress who had found the guards. Marco, the leader of the hunters, also approached, ready to accompany Victor. "Let’s go," said Marco, his tone serious. "We need to make sure everything is safe."

The three of them quickly descended the stairs leading downstairs, the atmosphere becoming heavier with every step. The lighting was dim, the torches on the walls casting dancing shadows down the narrow corridor. Victor felt his heart racing, the uncertainty of what they would find increasing his apprehension.

As they reached the bottom of the staircase, a disturbing sight awaited them. Dozens of guards were passed out on the floor, scattered around the corridor in disarray. Their armor glinted in the dim light, but none of them seemed to be injured.

In the center of the corridor, a strange metal device lay on the floor. It was a complex artifact, with gears and tubes that suggested a sophisticated mechanism. Victor crouched down next to the device, examining it closely. "Probably a sleeping gas device," he muttered, recognizing the signs of a well-planned trap.

Marco approached, his expression grim. "This is more serious than we thought. Whoever these invaders are, they’re well equipped and organized."

The young hunter, Alina, looked at Victor with concern. "What are we going to do now?" freewёbnoνel.com

Victor stood up, his eyes fixed on the device. "We need to neutralize it and make sure there are no more. And we also need to find a way to wake up the guards."

He turned to Alina, who was kneeling next to one of the guards, checking his vital signs. "They’re breathing normally," she said, relieved. "I think it’s just the sleeping gas."

Victor nodded, feeling a weight come off his shoulders. "That’s good. At least we know they’re okay."

He crouched down again next to the device, analyzing every detail. "We have to figure out how to disable this," he said, more to himself than to Alina.

"I’ve got some acid. Let’s see if it works."

Marco carefully poured the liquid over the device. An immediate chemical reaction began, with smoke coming out of the tubes and gears as the device deactivated.

"It worked," said Marco, relieved. "Now we just need to wake up the guards."

Victor looked around, wondering how to proceed. "Maybe the cool breeze will help them wake up," he suggested. "Let’s open the windows and ventilate the corridor."

Alina ran to the windows, opening them to let in the cool night air. A gentle breeze began to circulate through the corridor, dissipating the last traces of the gas. Gradually, the guards began to stir, groaning as they regained consciousness.

Victor approached one of the guards who was starting to get up. "It’s all right," he said calmly. "You were caught by a sleeping gas, but you’re safe now."

The guard blinked, trying to focus on Victor. "What... what happened?"

Victor briefly explained the situation, easing the guard’s concern. "We need to make sure everyone is awake and ready to act," he said. "There could still be threats up there."

The guards, still dazed, began to get up and organize themselves under Marco’s direction. Victor felt a wave of relief, but also of responsibility. The situation was far from resolved, and he knew he had to be prepared for whatever came next.

As they walked back to the main hall, Victor reflected on recent events. The determination in his eyes only grew. He knew he couldn’t let his guard down, not while there was a threat lurking.

Luisa stood exactly where he had left her, still holding up the magical barrier around the invaders. She looked at him with a mixture of relief and anticipation. "So?"

"The guards are fine," Victor replied, feeling the tension ease slightly. "It was a sleeping gas device. Marco managed to neutralize it and the guards are waking up."

Luisa sighed, relieved. "That’s good news. Now we need to decide what to do with these invaders."

Victor looked at the prisoners inside the barrier, their faces grim and defeated. "We need to interrogate them," he said, his voice firm. "We need to know who they are and what they’re planning. And, above all, we need to make sure they can’t do any more damage."

Luisa nodded in agreement. "I agree. Let’s take this carefully. We can’t afford any more surprises."

The hunters and guards, now fully aware and organized, formed a circle around the prisoners. Victor and Luisa were preparing for the next step, determined to uncover the truth and protect everyone around them.