Chapter 495: Black Boar Inn (1/2)

While Mitchnew and Bob decided to enter the inn, Zero told Truen he was going to look around and quickly ran to the stables. The archer didn't follow immediately but he decided to tail Zero from a distance to see what he was up to.

Zero quickly counted the third stable from the right and hid the stone beneath the water trough as the beggar child had told him to do. This would be the best method to find Dina and Zero couldn't wait to finalise his plans to introduce work for the children of the western district in the city.

”Finished?” Truen asked after Zero returned from the stable.

Zero nodded. ”Can we stay here for a few nights? I like the environment here.”

Truen didn't expose Zero's lie as the doctor forced a rigid smile with those words. It wasn't convincing at all but he nodded. It was his intention to book a few nights in this inn anyway after hearing about Old Gary. Mitchnew had lodging in the city but for the sake of finding Dina, Truen would spend the night with Zero. Bob could share their room or go with Mitchnew but it wasn't too important for now.

When they entered the inn, Zero wasn't expecting for Mitchnew to be the referee of an impromptu arm-wrestling match between Bob and an old man who appeared to match the description of a retired general from the army.

”Come on, young thing! You need to try harder than this!” the mocked Bob who frowned. The dragon couldn't believe he was getting overpowered by an old human in this rundown inn. It was an insult to his dragonkin!

”What's going on?” Zero whispered to Mitchnew who blinked.

”Old Gary said that he didn't have spare rooms and Bob didn't believe it so they decided to settle this argument with a man to man battle using arm strength. If Bob won, Old Gary would find a spare room for them but if he lost, we'd have to get out. He doesn't like Bob for some reason, saying that Bob stank or something. I don't quite get it but you would be troubled if you couldn't get a room here so he has to win.”

Zero looked at the stalemate. Bob wasn't budging and Old Gary didn't look like he was putting in much effort. Yet, there were already cracks forming beneath both their elbows on the wooden table. Mitchnew didn't know if she should be worrying about the table splitting or one of them hurting the other. So far, neither party was willing to go all out. Instead, they slowly increased strength and pressure on each other as observed by the increasing cracks on the table.

Truen looked at Bob and Old Gary with an unreadable expression and Zero didn't know if he should interfere. Mitchnew was still timing them. The arm-wrestling match was slightly different from others where the winner only needs to overpower the other party. In this match, Old Gary was specific. He didn't want his inn destroyed in the showdown and Bob had to last three minutes against him.

Unable to look on, Zero wanted to interfere but Truen stopped him.

”Bob has made his decision, watch him fight. Besides, did you really think he would lose to a human?”

Zero looked again and noticed that Truen was right. Bob didn't appear to have any troubles matching the old general in strength. In fact, it was hidden but there were veins popping underneath the sleeves of Old Gary's shirt, indicating his physical limitations. Their faces were calm but one was already starting to struggle.

As the wooden table emitted another loud cracking sound, Zero had to admit. Bob had this win in his bag.