Elemental Cats

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Avarin wasn't quite sure how she should respond to Toz's unwillingness to cooperate, but while she hesitated to say anything, someone else decided to speak up.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Miss…!"

Dyra, who had been irritated with Toz from the beginning due to him walking across the bridge, arriving at the table, and sitting down first, couldn't stand it anymore and lashed out. Her words caused the elder behind her to gasp in slight shock. But Dyra didn't care, and she continued.

"Who gave you the balls to strut around and think you own this place? Without my item, you wouldn't even be able to put a foot outside your beggars' boat. And you act like you're better than everyone else? You aren't even a high level mage, for fuck's sake."

Toz looked at the black-eyed woman in surprise at her feistiness and at how she managed to see through his level of power. With Toz's mana control, it was like a walk in the park for him to hide his strength from people at higher levels than him. Even Brunswick had to concentrate in order to see what level Toz was at, and Toz would notice Brunswick doing that, no matter how sneaky he tried to be.

However, Toz hadn't noticed Dyra doing anything like that, but she had still seen through him. Toz didn't like the feeling.

Before Toz could respond to Dyra's outburst, someone else reacted first.

"You're that weak?!"

Hama looked like someone had broken his jaw since it hung so low. But only for a moment before he clenched his teeth in anger.

"A weak, low-life, fucking beggar dares to humiliate me?!"

Hama stirred his mana, and his eyes and hair began glowing with white light. Toz sensed the power of a seventh level mage pour out of Hama, but he didn't bother to respond.

Hama's bespectacled aide put a hand on Hama's shoulder, instantly calming him and his magic.

"Lester…"

Hama growled his aide's name. But he couldn't muster his magic and sat down.

"My apologies, your highness. Only following orders."

Hama didn't respond and simply continued glaring at Toz.

"Seems like the kingdom is keeping you on a strict leash, Dog Prince."

Toz didn't know who Hama was or if he had had that nickname since before, but Lester's words revealed that he was a prince, and that was enough for Toz to decide what to call the guy who repeatedly insulted him. And based on Hama's reaction, the nickname worked wonders.

Hama's eyes flared open, but he couldn't move due to Lester's hand on his shoulder, and after snorting, Hama turned his head away.

Lester pushed his glasses up his nose as he flashed a chilly smile at Toz.

"I suggest you rein in your tongue, pirate."

"Or what? Are you going to unleash the rabid dog on me?"

Lester didn't have time to respond, not that he wanted to engage in further argumentation with Toz since Dyra was tired of getting ignored.

"Are you fucking kidding me?! Who in this puke-stained shithole gave you all the guts to keep on fucking ignoring me?!"

"You two have been awfully quiet. Do you have any hostages among the scouts?"

Toz couldn't resist the temptation upon seeing Dyra's anger, and he turned toward the duo from the Redire Kingdom.

They looked slightly panic-stricken since Toz was obviously pulling them into the crossfire with a smile on his face. The two guys from the Redire Kingdom exchanged a look, trying to figure out what to do before something went wrong.

However, before they could do anything, Dyra stood up and slammed her fist into the table, shattering it.

Dyra's black eyes shone with anger as she lifted her handed and pointed a trembling finger toward Toz.

"Since your asking for a fight, I'm giving you one. Right here. Right now. I'm going to drag your face across the ground like a mutt's ass, you bastard."

Everyone rushed to stand up when Dyra smashed the table, but now everyone stood still, waiting for Toz's answer. Dyra had obviously displayed the power of someone at the higher levels when she attacked the table, but according to her, Toz was at most at the medium levels. But, on the other hand, there was no way Dyra was going to let Toz go.

Reinar and the pirates looked worriedly at Toz. Reinar because Toz was apparently a friend of his father's and the pirates because there would be a lot of trouble when Toz eventually beat Dyra.

Red Hook, Wulf, and the others didn't doubt that Toz would win since he beat Dristel, a ninth level fighter. And that was before his breakthrough to the sixth level, not to mention the grimoires and manuals he had time to learn. He might not have had enough time to master the spells and techniques, but it would be more than enough to strengthen the quality and control of his mana.

Toz was currently stronger than he had been when he defeated Dristel, and Dyra didn't seem quite as threatening as Dristel, despite her show of force.

Toz chuckled before responding, further ticking Dyra off. Hama looked on with glee. As a prince, he knew of Dyra's background, and he was confident she would smash the medium level Toz into the ground. And even if she couldn't do it by herself, she still had her protector with her who could finish the job.

Due to Toz's arrogant attitude, practically everyone thought he would happily accept Dyra's challenge.

However, Toz failed to live up to those expectations.

"No, thank you."

Toz's response killed all of Dyra's momentum, and she wasn't the only one who almost stumbled out of surprise.

At least the pirates sighed in relief since they wouldn't have to deal with the aftermath of Toz beating one of the delegates into hiding out of shame.

However, to the delegates, the pirates' sighing seemed to be out of relief since they didn't have to see one of them lose. It was fuel for Hama, who saw an opportunity to get some kind of revenge.