Seeing another punch coming, Wayne ducked and slid to the right. The movement looked exactly like the "Demonization" dash from Monster Hunter when using Dual Blades. He evaded the strike with ease and followed up with a sharp left hook that landed squarely on the bodyguard's lower abdomen.
The bodyguard let out a gasp of pain, clutching his stomach as he sank to the ground.
Had Wayne actually been holding Dual Blades, the man's abdomen would have been pierced and his intestines severed; he would have died on the spot.
Duke Bowles was clearly used to being arrogant and bullying others. Stunned that he had encountered a "tough nut" who actually fought back, he immediately shouted for the other four bodyguards to surround Wayne. He even cursed at the man on the ground, calling him a useless waste and telling him to get up and seize Wayne.
The five bodyguards complied, drawing their longswords from their waists and pointing them at Wayne in unison.
Wayne knew he was in a bad spot. Although these bodyguards weren't high-level combatants, and his own stats—Strength and Agility—had been significantly enhanced since reaching Level 19 in the game, he was currently empty-handed. The axe he had looted from Hogger was inside the shop, and he wasn't carrying the wand he had unlocked from the first Harry Potter film. In a one-on-five fight against armed men, he would definitely be at a disadvantage.
Moreover, even if he had a weapon, he couldn't actually commit murder in the middle of the street.
Though he tried to signal his old friend Andrew to call for Andromath and the others, those people all held positions in Stormwind or the kingdom's military. Expecting them to openly oppose a Duke of the House of Nobles of the Kingdom of Stormwind was likely asking too much.
He only hoped they would protect Tess once they came out.
The best plan for now was to break out of the encirclement and retreat to the entrance of the net cafe. Once he reached that spot, he wouldn't fear five bodyguards—or fifty.
Seeing the situation, Andromath was the first to speak. "Duke Bowles! I am Archmage Andromath of the Wizard's Sanctuary, currently managing the Stormwind Mages Guild on behalf of the Kirin Tor. This is my colleague, Archmage Marlin. I believe there has been a misunderstanding; these two young people did not intend to provoke trouble!"
Although Duke Bowles was drunk, the fact that he could maintain a voting seat in the House of Nobles while looking like this suggested he had some level of competence—specifically, the ability to judge people based on their status.
He couldn't possibly have not heard of the name Andromath. Even though he knew this Archmage held no noble title, as a Kirin Tor Archmage, the man managed the mages in Stormwind and had Dalaran backing him. While the magical kingdom currently had its hands full, a "starved camel is still bigger than a horse." Given three to five years, Dalaran would likely regain its former glory.
As for that Marlin... whoever he was didn't matter; Bowles had never heard of the guy.
The survival instincts he had honed over years of sycophancy told him that today was not a good day for bloodshed. However, that was as far as it went. Not killing anyone was already showing great face to the Kirin Tor Archmage; he still needed to publicly humiliate this kid who dared to fight back as a lesson.
"Put your... swords away... hic!"
At Bowles' command, the five bodyguards obeyed.
Bowles then looked at Wayne, though he didn't step forward, hiding safely behind his guards.
"Country boy, you've injured my servant today. I will give you two options."
"First, pay my servant 10 gold coins for medical expenses."
"Second, however you hit them, you let them hit you back. We'll call it even."
Wayne gave a cold laugh. "What if I choose neither?"
Thinking Wayne was scared, Bowles said smugly, "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll be generous and give you a third option. You and that little slave-brat kneel before my toes and apologize loudly. If you do, I'll let bygones be bygones!"
Wayne laughed again. "Fine then. I'll pick one. Let me think about which one it is."
Bowles let out a drunken burp and laughed loudly, while the surrounding crowd began to whisper again:
"Sigh... Wayne is taking a loss today..."
"I really want to go up and punch that fat pig..."
"You can only think those things. Publicly attacking a Duke... you'd be exiled at best, executed at worst!"
"Damn, morals are decaying, and humanity is twisted!"
...
Some of these louder comments drifted into Bowles' ears. He frowned and questioned Wayne, "Bumpkin, have you decided yet?!"
With a cold sneer, Wayne replied, "Lord Duke, I've chosen. I'll take the first option. But your men are surrounding me, so I can't go back to get the money."
Bowles was now completely convinced that Wayne had chickened out. He flashed a victorious smile. "Fine. I'll wait for you right here. As long as you can produce 10 gold, I am a man of my word."
In his eyes, Goldshire was just a trashy place outside Stormwind composed of servants, auxiliary soldiers, country bumpkins, and other strange races. If he hadn't had to pass through here on his way back from wine-tasting in Lakeshire, he wouldn't have stayed for a single moment.
To a country servant or a farmer, 10 gold was a sum that required over ten years of frugal living to save. How could this little bumpkin produce 10 gold? As soon as the boy failed to come up with the money, Bowles would have enough justification to say he was being insolent to a superior. Then, he could have his men beat him half to death and slap the little girl a few times to vent his frustration.
The bodyguards cleared a path. Wayne walked to the door of the net cafe and said to Tess, "Go get the money bag."
Tess instantly burst into tears. "Boss, we worked so hard for that money! Why are we giving it to them?!"
Wayne smiled slightly. "Listen to me. Go get it. We're going to go vent some frustration."
Tess was confused, but she obeyed.
Wayne glanced at the money bag and thought to himself that he was going to lose some wealth today.
However, the first thing he did was look up and speak to Andrew. "Uncle, make me a safe for the money. Make it out of steel—solid, durable, and impossible to cut through no matter what."
Andrew shook his head, feeling helpless about everything happening.
Only then did Wayne turn back and shout with every ounce of strength in his body, "YOU FAT PIG WITHOUT PARENTS TO RAISE YOU!!! CALL YOUR DOGS OVER TO GET THE MONEY!!!"
That roar felt loud enough for all of Goldshire to hear, instantly drowning out all whispers like a giant wave.
Not just Bowles, but everyone present stared at Wayne with wide eyes. They couldn't believe he was publicly insulting a Duke!
The sadness and confusion on Tess's face instantly turned into joy. Wayne looked down at her and asked, "Want to vent your anger?"
Tess nodded vigorously.
Wayne said, "Grab a handful. When those dogs rush over, throw the gold coins at them. Leave the rest to me. Don't be afraid!"
Tess immediately reached into the bag and pulled out a handful of gold.
Wayne caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye—damn, that one handful was more than 10 gold coins...
But money was just an object. A man lives for his pride. Teaching this fat pig a lesson was the thing he wanted to do most right now.
Bowles snapped out of his shock, his drunkenness seemingly dispelled by Wayne's roar. He screamed at his five bodyguards in a fit of rage, "GO UP THERE AND KILL HIM!"
Upon receiving the order, the bodyguards drew their swords again and rushed toward Wayne one after another.
"Stay back! This is my business!"
Wayne whispered to Raymond and the others, who had already raised their hands to cast spells. Then, Tess threw the handful of gold coins.
Wayne hadn't expected the little girl to be so strong. This throw felt like the "Malevolent Fortune" (乾坤一擲) skill from The Legend of Sword and Fairy.
Today, he was going to deal with a "money-thrower" by throwing money.