Becoming a god starts with enhancing fire arrows.

When Rhodes opened his eyes again, he saw the familiar ceiling and recognized that this was the hotel he had been renting for a long time.

The ceiling was bathed in the orange-red light of the setting sun, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

Below the ceiling, a circle of people surrounded his bed.

Paril, Avira, Harvey, Clint, and even Ashe, whom they had only met twice, were among them.

Will this be the scene at my funeral?

Rhodes was lost in thought, and he braced himself on the bed with his hands, trying to sit up.

Seeing this, Paril quickly stepped forward, supported his left arm with both hands, and helped him up.

Ivy moved her hand slightly, but made no further move.

Harvey removed his hat with his right hand, placed it on his chest, and bowed deeply: "Oh, dear Mr. Rhodes, my partner, we pay our highest respects to your contributions in this operation!"

Ashe stepped forward and bowed solemnly: "I have heard the whole story. Thank you for your contribution to investigating the petrification symptoms, and thank you for risking your life to come back and face Stanley."

Clint, who was behind Ashe, also bowed to her.

Rhodes was suddenly at a loss for words in the face of such heartfelt thanks.

It's like suddenly developing social anxiety.

He just smiled and said things like, "You're welcome." and "Is everyone alright?"

Harvey added, "Before the war with Stanley, Mayor Phoenix had already killed the shapeshifters and ordered the release of residents imprisoned due to petrification."

"Ashe was released because of this."

At this point, he suddenly realized that Phoenix was worried about civilians being hurt and sent people to evacuate the crowd in advance before the battle.

Rhodes understood what had happened, but still felt a bit of tightness in his arm.

Turning his head, he noticed that Paril, who had just helped him up, was tightly holding his left arm and wouldn't let go, her clear, bright blue eyes glistening with tears.

Rhodes smiled gently, letting the young priest hold him, and asked, "What happened after I passed out?"

Harvey gently placed the soft cap on his head and turned his head:

"In short, President Stanley and Mayor Phoenix died together, and Vice Mayor Sam took over the work, temporarily becoming the acting mayor and acting president of the Adventurers' Guild."

"Sam?" This was the first time Rhodes had heard the deputy mayor's name.

"Oh, yes, that's right." Harvey nodded: "Before, most of the power of the shapeshifting mayor was in the hands of Chairman Stanley, and his subordinates had even less say."

"After the two leaders of the town died, Sam quickly consolidated their power and armed forces, becoming the ruler of Phil Town."

To be able to do all this in such a short time doesn't sound like someone who is simple.

Rhodes continued, "And how did Sam explain the fight between Stanley and Phoenix?"

Avira spoke first: "The official explanation is close to the truth. Chairman Stanley used the petrification disease to traffic people for money. The mayor of Phoenix discovered the truth and killed him. In the end, they both died."

"The alchemist Nathan's petrification potion has also been exposed, but he has disappeared without a trace."

"However, the matter of the shapeshifter and 'Black Hand' was not mentioned."

"Hmm." Rhodes nodded.

As the town's official, Sam probably doesn't want to acknowledge that a powerful organization, difficult for them to control, is wielding influence in the town.

This part should not be mentioned to avoid amplifying the impact.

After pondering for a while, Rhodes noticed that Harvey and the other two were still standing by his bedside, and he was somewhat puzzled:

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

Harvey smiled. "This time, I'm not just here to visit you."

He suddenly took off his lute.

"What's going on here, some kind of performance to show our appreciation?" Rhodes asked, puzzled.

"Please allow me to sing for you." Harvey plucked the strings and began to sing:

"Hey friend, put down your beer glass."

The morning light is urging me to set off.

Don't frown and let the farewell song turn into bitter wine.

When green vines entwine the tavern's door knocker

I pushed open the door and brought back a whole bag of happy stories.

Let your cup be refilled with laughter!

......

The music was melodious, and the singing was joyful.

Everyone in the room suddenly felt much more relaxed and cheerful.

This also seems to be one of the bards' innate abilities.

Rhodes was puzzled: "Is this supposed to be a farewell song?"

"Yes, my friend Rhodes." Harvey made a bowing gesture.

"We are all just passersby on each other's journeys. May the gentle breeze carry us through our wanderings."

No,

You're really good at reciting poetry.

Rhodes was somewhat surprised.

"I remember you were originally adventurers traveling across the continent, why didn't you stay in Phil Town a little longer?"

Harvey's smile was somewhat ambiguous: "I originally wanted to stay in Phil town for a while longer, but according to the tradition in Ash's hometown, the wedding has to be held at home."

wedding?

Rhodes looked at the somewhat shy, muscular man, Clint.

He smiled and said, "Congratulations!"

Clint's wheat-colored face was flushed with a hint of red, and he said somewhat awkwardly, "Well, my hometown is northwest of Phil town, across the jungle and the giant basin, near the Tulun Desert."

"Welcome to the wedding."

Rhodes and his two companions smiled and nodded.

After Harvey left, Paril plopped down on the edge of Rhodes' bed:

"Rhodes, Rhodes, what was the wedding like?"

Rhodes was somewhat surprised: "You've grown up and never seen a wedding in the village?"

Paril shook her head: "No, we don't have weddings in our village, and there aren't even many young adults."

"A wedding is..." Rhodes recalled that the original owner had attended five or six of his father's weddings, "a ceremony where people get together in the presence of clergy."

Fifty years ago, the witnesses to the Gilbert family weddings would have been important figures in the church, such as bishops.

Unfortunately, the church is now in decline, and most of its clergy have gone to work for adventurers' guilds or powerful families.

A small number of clergy members turned their side jobs into their main profession, traveling around in robes as emcees.

Oh, no, I mean the officiant.

Avira crossed her arms and snorted, "That's just your human bad habit."

"In our Elven race, there aren't so many complicated rituals. If two people find each other agreeable, they can do it that very night..."

She suddenly stopped talking at this point.

"What can?" Rhodes and Paril both had expressions that said, "I don't understand, please explain in detail."

"How would I know what I could do?" Avira's pretty face flushed, and she turned her head away so they wouldn't see her blush.

The voice trailed off: "I've only ever seen real battles in your human elf storybooks..."

You, as an elf, are truly well-read.

Could you please send me your car's license plate number?

Rhodes quietly played a joke that only he could understand.

Paryl fiddled with her silver hair, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Rhodes, will you get married someday?"

"I don't know." Rhodes suddenly sighed, then adopted a reverent expression:

"Humanity is not yet prosperous and strong, how can we talk about personal feelings?"

"I am a human, and I should not fail my human race."

"Calling a deer a horse—live up your youth!"