Rise of the Crusader

227 Raphael’s Decision II

The expression on the beast’s faces changed as soon as they heard Raphael.

They fixed their gaze at him, wondering if perhaps they had heard wrong, but as Raphael then uttered those words but more clearly, their eyes twitched.

“I won’t be joining any of you!” Raphael spoke in a decisive voice.

His tone asserted that he had thoroughly pondered about it before he came to that conclusion, and nothing was going to change his mind.

After staring at one another, the beasts soon moved their gaze to Gus, hoping it had something to say about Raphael’s decision.

However, Gus acted as though, it was invisible to all that was occurring in the restaurant.

The focus was the meals in front of it, and despite, having a full belly, Gus still dived into the meal.

“Ah-Ahem!”

The ape’s light cough to bring Gus’s attention to the table was of no effect, and as the half-beast-half man read the situation, he spoke.

.....

“Why?”

He asked.

Responding to the beasts, Raphael’s lips curl for a brief moment, and he said: “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

Even though Raphael had spoken in a low voice, his voice was very clear, and everyone in the restaurant heard the response he gave one of the commanders of New age city.

Those who were about to put food into their mouth abruptly paused, staring at Raphael with shock evident in their eyes.

While they were oblivious to the full discussion between Raphael and the beasts, they had sensed the rudeness that was present in his voice when he replied.

As one of the commanders of the city, there was only a handful of beasts and people who would speak to him that way, and it was in doubt if Raphael was one of them.

In front of Raphael’s poker expression, the half-beast-half man had a stern look on. He continued to glare at Raphael, but after a brief moment, he spoke.

“It’s fine if you assume you don’t need our support. But, when you eventually come to understand that you do, give us a call.”

A card landed in front of Raphael after the beast spoke. However, Raphael only took a glance at the card before he moved it toward the half-beast-half man.

“Raphael Queen!”

“Y-You…”

The ape and the crocodile were about to flare up from Raphael rejecting their offer over and over again when the half-beast-half man shook his head.

“Pride goes before a fall.” The beasts uttered, as he stared at Raphael.

“I believe you have something or rather someone who is behind you, who else you wouldn’t have this much this confidence.” He paused, “But, there’s always a bigger mountain.”

“Even the person you look up to desperately tends to someone also. It would be a shame if pride is the cause of your downfall.”

Throughout the entire time, Raphael had his hand folded across his chest, and his lips curved upward as the half-beast-half man spoke.

He didn’t seem to be as though he were going to respond to any of what the beast was saying, and as the six of them turned around, he knitted his brows.

Clenching his hand into a tight fist, “Pride goes before a fall.” Raphael muttered the words that the beasts said.

“Even the person above me, as someone who is above him as well.” Those words caused Raphael’s lips to curl inwardly.

“Hahaha!!”

Suddenly, Raphael laughed.

His sudden burst of laughter caused the beasts in the restaurant to stare at him in a bewildered expressions.

After their attention was brought to his table they had been able to overhear some said by the beasts, and with no doubt, Raphael and the six beasts dialogue ended on bad terms.

So, seeing Raphael laughing without a care in the world, the beasts in the restaurant couldn’t help but be left stupefied.

A snort came from Gus, briefly after Raphael’s laughter died, and turning towards Gus, Raphael said, “I’m not scared of them… Not even a bit.”

“That’s good! If war is what will convince them about your decision, then so shall it be?” Gus’s squeaky voice rang out.

Raphael nodded his head, and ignoring the gazes of the beasts in the restaurant, he stood from his seat.

Raphael took a few steps before he realized that Gus was still on the table.

“Gus?”

As Gus heard Raphael’s call, it turned towards Raphael, before then moving its gaze back to the meal in front.

There was a reluctant expression on Gus’s face. However, its eyes suddenly twitched, and as if then recalling something, it turned towards Raphael.

“No way!” Raphael exclaimed.

Even though no words left Gus’s mouth, Raphael understood the message loud and clear.

He shook his head repeatedly, but as Gus seemed unwilling to leave the meal in front of him, Raphael heaved a deep breath.

“Come on, hurry up, and back, so we can leave,” Gus said.

Staring at Gus, and then at the meal, disgust was written all over Raphael’s face. He glared at Gus, who flapped his wings at him and then walked back to the table.

With a casual wave of the hand, whether it was the unfinished tiger’s thigh or the rest of the meal, they vanished from the table.

And once the table was cleared, Gus flew to Raphael’s shoulder immediately.

Amidst the gaze of everyone in the restaurant, Raphael and Gus walked out of the restaurant.

“I will arrange for the funds, I need you to scout for the best environment in this place, then we can begin making the plans,” Raphael said.

As soon as Raphael stepped out of the restaurant, he spoke those words.

Gus, who was on his shoulder, flapped its wings upon hearing Raphael.

“Be quick with it! I think this place could be used as our base of operation.”

Gus nodded its head, and without any delay, it flew.

“Raphael?”

Raphael was about to move when he heard his name. He turned towards the direction the voice sounded and being the person who called him, his mouth opened slightly.

“Camille?”