Charge?!
Dughan?!
Wayne had just realized that Dughan, acting as a Warrior, had launched a Charge to interrupt Marlin's spellcasting when Marlin vanished from his spot and instantly reappeared ten meters away.
Blink?!
Charge and Blink were arguably two of the most classic skills for Warriors and Mages in the World of Warcraft. This was the first time Wayne had seen the real-life versions since crossing over, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
After Blinking, Marlin didn't make another move. Instead, he looked at Dughan with a look of surprise.
The same blue-based tabard, the same Golden Lion embroidered with gold borders—he couldn't for the life of him figure out why two military officers of significant rank would side with a "bastard" like Wayne.
The other reason he stopped was that four guards, seeing their superior take action, had jogged over to surround him.
Marlin, who had originally only intended to cast "Polymorph" as a minor punishment for Wayne, knew that if he openly fought Stormwind guards—especially since he had struck first—he would, at best, be locked in the Stormwind Stockade to "repent."
No matter the outcome, his title of Archmage would surely be stripped away. Dalaran was currently sealed within a massive magical protective shield, and his fellow Archmages wouldn't have the time or energy to care about him.
Dughan spoke loudly and righteously: "Kingdom law stipulates that private fighting without the other party's consent is equivalent to intentional assault. Even a duel agreed upon by both parties must have rules established under the gaze of a witness. Archmage, please conduct yourself with dignity!"
Evidently, Dughan, who saw countless people pass by every day, had also recognized the insignia on Marlin's robe. Marlin also knew that Dughan had shown restraint; otherwise, what followed the Charge wouldn't have been a mere pinning of his hands, but a heavy punch or even a direct sword strike. Unprepared as he was, he would never have been able to dodge it.
As the situation developed, quite a few onlookers began to gather. The quartet inside the net cafe noticed something was wrong, took off their goggles, and walked out.
Seeing six officers and four guards supporting Wayne, Marlin—who had become an Archmage through academic research and was not skilled in actual combat—dared not make another move. However, his arrogant nature refused to let him back down. He shouted back just as loudly: "This little bastard lured my daughter into this... whatever bullshit 'net cafe' this is to play games, and even cheated her out of several gold coins! And you officers are actually helping such a criminal?"
Amy quickly spoke up to explain: "Father, they didn't cheat me."
Marlin was fuming: "Ridiculous! You're actually speaking up for this scoundrel? It seems his trickery is truly powerful!"
Amy wanted to say something more to calm her emotionally unstable father down, but Wayne spoke first:
"Look, Uncle, my place is very legitimate. Please don't talk nonsense."
Marlin: "Legitimate my foot!"
He pointed at Little Tess, who was hiding behind Wayne: "You didn't even spare such a young girl, employing her as forced labor! When did Goldshire become such a place that knows no right from wrong and has no shame!"
Little Tess shouted: "I'm a volunteer! The boss is very good to me and even pays me wages!"
Marlin: "Great, another one who's been brainwashed."
At this point, Farley, the innkeeper who had come out to watch the excitement, spoke up: "How can you be so unreasonable? This little girl was being chased by bandits. If it weren't for Wayne's rescue, she might have lost her life. Now he's kind enough to take her in and give her a job, and you turn him into a scammer? Honestly."
The neighbors around them immediately chimed in:
"Yeah... this man really is something..."
"Little Wayne is a kind-hearted person..."
"Why is this old man so crazy, cursing at everyone he sees..."
"Exactly, I wonder who's the one who doesn't know right from wrong..."
...
Marlin pretended not to hear these voices and retorted to Farley: "Give her a job? Pay her wages? How much could this shabby shop of his possibly pay? If this isn't child slavery, what is?!"
Little Tess gave a loud shout: "The boss pays me 2 gold coins a month!"
Marlin could hardly believe his ears and stared wide-eyed at Little Tess.
While 2 gold wasn't a shocking sum to an Archmage like him, he—being habitually frugal—was still surprised that a teenage girl could earn so much:
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! 2 gold? You think I'd believe that?"
The people around them began to murmur again:
"I didn't expect Little Wayne to be so rich now..."
"2 gold... does Wayne need more help?"
"Exactly! With such high wages, forget being a waitress, I'd be willing to work like an ox or a horse..."
"Working in his net cafe is very easy. Unlike us, working from dawn to dusk only earns us a few dozen silver coins a month..."
"I'll do it for 1 gold!"
"Does Wayne need a son? Godfather above, please accept your child's bow!"
...
Wayne's face was already covered in black lines. He truly couldn't understand how such a stubborn, mule-like man could have fathered such a gentle and graceful daughter.
He didn't like the feeling of being stared at by a crowd at all, but he really didn't know how to convince the balding uncle in front of him, who was completely trapped in his own self-defined world. Everyone in his net cafe came and went of their own free will.
Dughan had already lowered his combat stance and slowly stepped forward to say to Marlin: "Sir, I think you might have some misunderstandings about this place. If you are willing, you can go in and see for yourself. If not, as the local Marshal, I have the right to ask you to leave immediately and stop causing a disturbance here."
Marlin gave a "Hmph" and thumped his staff heavily against the ground with his left hand: "Don't think I'm afraid of you just because you have more people. I want to see exactly what kind of tricks are in there that can bewitch people so thoroughly."
Seeing Marlin walking over, Verdan teased: "Uncle, don't say I didn't warn you. Once you enter this room, remember to hold onto your chin."
Hicks was already furious. If it weren't for Rainier's presence, his hot temper would have made him want to step up and give Marlin two big slaps: "Miller, tell him to get lost. I think this old guy looks so disheveled, don't let him dirty your room."
The cautious and steady Hudson reminded him: "Miller, you have to be careful. If this person goes in and inexplicably loses his temper again, and actually casts a spell that breaks your things, it'll be hard to handle."
Wayne actually didn't want the haughty and unreasonable Marlin to enter the net cafe either. But looking at Amy—who was blushing, looking down, and standing helplessly in shock and fear—he signaled the four to talk less:
"You four, stop it. I know what I'm doing. Let him go in and open his eyes. If he has the guts, let him try to make a move."