"Everyone, please be in your best behavior," Lux said as he looked at his companions. "We will be dining with the Orc Chieftain. Our purpose for coming here in the Blackrock Clan's Main Stronghold is still not known to them.
"Baronar said that he already mentioned our goal of coming here to their Orc Chieftain. I don't know if they will become hostile or not, so be prepared to teleport to the Guild Headquarters at a moment's notice. Do I make myself clear?"
Everyone nodded their heads with the exception of Cethus, who would remain in the residence because of his injuries.
"... Are you just going to leave me here?" Cethus asked after hearing the Half-Elf's plan.
Lux shook his head. "I won't leave you behind. I will be taking you with us."
"How? I'm injured," Cethus replied.
Lux smirked before pointing at the Baby Slime that was perched on top of his head.
"Eiko can store you inside her body," Lux explained. "So, when she swallows you, make sure to not resist. This is the only way for you to accompany us back to the Guild Headquarters in case of an emergency."
Cethus frowned because the idea of being swallowed whole by the Baby Slime on Lux's head didn't sound like a good thing. However, being left behind in the Orc Encampment was worse.
"F-Fine." Cethus reluctantly agreed. "But, are you sure it is safe?"
"Yes," Lux replied. "We have done it once in the past."
When the red-headed teenager rescued the Dwarf Princess from the members of Twilight Rain, he made sure to bring the son of the Baron, Clyde, with him. Back then the Dwarf boy was unconscious so Eiko didn't have any problem storing him inside her body.
Of course, Lux didn't know what it was like to be inside Eiko's body because he never experienced it before. All he knew was that as long as Cethus was with his Baby Slime, they would be able to escape immediately if need be.
"Eiko, go eat him up."
"Pa!"
The Baby Slime jumped off the Half-Elf's head and landed beside Cethus. She then opened up her mouth widely, and sucked up the Dragon Born as if he was some kind of fruit juice.
"Ohhhhh!"
Laura and Livia were amazed after seeing such a scene. They didn't know that Eiko was capable of such a feat, and wondered if their own Baby Slimes could do the same thing.
"Cora, can you do that?" Laura asked her Baby Slime, and the latter shook her head firmly.
"Nora, can you?" Livia patted her Baby Slime's head, and Nora only shook her head as a reply.
After completing her mission, Eiko crawled back up to her Papa's head and hummed happily. Clearly, she was very happy whenever she helped Lux with something.
Five minutes after Cethus had been swallowed up by Eiko, Lux and his party heard a knock on the door of their residence.
"I have come to pick you all up," the Orc Shaman who had escorted Lux and the others to their residence said through the door. "Let's go. Her Excellency doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Lux exchanged glances with his comrades, and all of them nodded back at him. They had already made their preparations for the worst case scenario. Their only hope was that the Blackrock Clan wouldn't turn hostile, the moment they stated their purpose for coming to the Capital City of the Orcs.
—----------
Inside the Main Hall of the Stronghold…
"It is an honor to be invited to dine with you, Your Excellency," Lux said as he bowed respectfully to the Orc Chieftain of the Blackrock Clan. "My name is Lux Von Kaizer, and these are my companions. We thank you for your hospitality."
"Raise your head, Lux Von Kaizer," the Orc Chieftain replied. "You are a guest, and we don't want our guests to be bowing their heads excessively now do we?"
Lux did as he was told and gazed at the Orc Chieftain, who was looking back at him with a smile.
Barca sat on her right side, while Flamma sat on the left.
The Half-Orc was looking at Lux with a determined gaze as if he wanted to bite the red-headed teenager's head off.
The other Orc Warlords were also in the room, and sat at the sides. Just like their Orc Chieftain, all of them were eyeing the Half-Elf with critical gazes as if they wanted to dissect him from head to foot, with the exception of Baronar who seemed to be in a very good mood.
"Your performance earlier was noteworthy," the Orc Chieftain stated. "Although you still haven't become a Ranker, your future is quite promising. Oh, where are my manners? I am the Orc Chieftain of the Blackrock Clan. I will personally allow you to call me Lady Avyanna. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, young Lux."
Lux was about to offer another bow, but stopped himself in time because he remembered the Orc Chieftain's words earlier about bowing excessively.
"Lady Avyanna, thank you for allowing us to dine in your presence," Lux replied.
Lady Avyanna nodded and made a gesture for Lux and his friends to sit at the table that was prepared for them.
As soon as everyone was properly seated, the Orc Chieftain clapped her hands.
A few seconds later, several Orc Lady's entered the room carrying food platters, which they placed on each table. It didn't take long before everyone's tables were filled with many Orc delicacies.
There were several dishes that they had never seen before, but after using his Soul Book, the Half-Elf found out that all of them were safe to eat.
The Orc Chieftain was being considerate and only gave them food that could be eaten by Humans, which were roasted fowl, and wild boar stew. Several sliced fruits were also laid out for them, which made Laura and Livia very happy.
"Humans and Dwarves have this tradition of toasting others during special occasions," Lady Avyanna said as she raised her wine cup. "Since we rarely have guests, I call for a toast for everyone's good health. Cheers!"
"""Cheers!"""
Everyone also raised their cups and drank heartily. Naturally, Lux and the other youngsters didn't drink wine.
Only Randolph and Grandma Annie drank them because their tolerance for alcoholic beverages were quite high.
Lady Avyanna officially declared the feast to begin, so everyone just ate for the time being.
Lux felt as if this was the calm before the storm, so he made sure to enjoy the meal in front of him, as if it was his last.
