Chapter 10: The Evil Bartender

An expression of astonishment flashed across the bartender's face, but was quickly concealed as an annoyance that he didn't want to see the customers at this time.

"If you want to drink, old sir... and this inspector."

The bartender spoke slowly, his eyes narrowed, in a weary drawl, "It's too early. No one's here yet."

"Ah, let me be clear. The food in our bar is much more expensive than outside. Don't order and then complain about it... We won't refund it."

For some reason, even though they both had that elf accent with long drawls and lots of glissandos... Haina just felt that the bartender's voice didn't have the elegance of Aiwas's butler.

Perhaps it was because the transitions in some places were too hard and too clear, or perhaps it was because his voice had a hoarseness from long-term smoking, so it sounded a bit vulgar.

"How much?"

Hearing this, Haina asked subconsciously.

But she soon realized that she was there to investigate, so she had to order any dish, no matter how expensive it was.

Rather, it was at this time that the funds for the investigation given by Butler Oswald were used.

So she immediately changed the subject: "What dishes do you have here?"

"Oh……"

Aiwass in front of her couldn't help but chuckle.

It is a really unique experience to investigate with such a novice.

Although the wild elf bartender's reaction was quick, he could not hide it from Aiwass. He deliberately called Aiwass "old man", as if he had no idea of ​​Aiwass's identity.

But that's impossible.

He looked like an elf in his thirties, but he must be at least a hundred years old. As a wild elf, he lived in the city; and his elven blood gave him a memory and perception significantly stronger than a human.

Even with a full-coverage cape, Aiwass's body shape couldn't possibly resemble that of an old man; he should have been able to recognize Aiwass just by looking at the style of his shoes and his exposed chin.

If it was Oswald instead of Haena who followed him... he would immediately realize that the bartender's behavior was too deliberate.

——A few days ago, Aiwass met his two "pen pals" at the Pelican Bar.

And he was very conspicuous at the time.

The Pelican Bar was the designated rendezvous spot for the two pen pals. At the time, Aiwass was still able to walk normally, agile and strong, and he wanted to hide his contact with the demonologist, so he came alone to the rendezvous.

But considering that this was a place Aiwass had never been to before, he set off nearly two hours in advance and found a coachman to take him directly to the Pelican Bar.

To be honest, if Aiwas hadn't found the coachman, he might not have found the "Pelican Bar" - who knew that the name of the Pelican Bar was not "Pelican"?

When Aiwass arrived, it was more than an hour before the agreed time of 5 p.m., but he had thought about it and brought a book with him.

It was a tome of esoteric knowledge written in the Star Antimony language, "The Secret Code of Alchemy." Alchemists of the "Balance" path were deeply concerned about their knowledge leaking out and potentially affecting the equilibrium of the world. Therefore, when writing books and communicating with their peers, they used secret codes that laypeople couldn't understand.

For example, "king," "queen," and "queen" all signify different things. Similarly, "sun" and "moon," "toad" and "dragon" could all imply different things. Furthermore, due to the fundamental principle of "secrecy from outsiders," each alchemist used a unique codeword. There was no consensus or common industry terminology.

They all have their own code books, which they secretly teach to their students for decoding; and if they are good enough colleagues, they can also understand what he wants to express from the hints.

That is what is called "those who understand will understand, and those who don't understand won't understand even if you tell them."

The book "Alchemical Codewords" reveals several classic codewords through examples. For example, the author demonstrates an alchemical process for making "antimony glass," a mildly toxic emetic. By slightly adjusting the proportions, one can create "mercury antimony," a slightly sweet, thick, and liquid substance that is highly toxic.

Apart from anything else, this is the knowledge of synthesizing highly toxic substances!

This forbidden knowledge hit a nerve with Aiwass. In the noisy bar, he sat in a corner, absorbed in his reading, until almost six o'clock. That's when the two men tapped him on the shoulders, waking him up.

Originally, Aiwass just planned to meet with them and leave.

It wasn't that I doubted them, but the security in Lloyd's was indeed poor. If I delayed too late, even taking a taxi wouldn't necessarily be safe—the recent hangman incident had everyone in a state of panic.

But it was already dinner time, and they were drinking and chatting, and the more they talked, the happier and more excited they became. So Aiwass simply used a white coin to order dinner on the spot, treating his two "friends" to a very sumptuous meal. He didn't ask for the remaining change, but instead treated the other guests to a drink.

——Because his two friends assured him that it didn't matter if it was late, they would escort him home. After dinner, they chatted for a long time and finally left the bar after ten o'clock.

"Zero o'clock is the most appropriate time to summon the devil."

The bald man said, "The ritual takes about an hour. And now it's exactly this time...would you like to try it yourself?"

...Around that time, he had already, through those few hours of conversation, discerned Aiwass's burning desire to touch the taboo. He knew that Aiwass would definitely not refuse this invitation.

Now that I think about it... they must have made the appointment here on purpose and were late on purpose.

Since it was already mealtime, I was hungry, and there were other customers around ordering food, so I wouldn't go out of my way to find another place to eat.

So, the two demonologists from the "Noble Red" Society specifically asked him to meet at the Pelican Bar and also prevented him from taking them anywhere else... Can it be understood that they thought this was the only place that was absolutely safe?

Moreover, a very handsome, well-dressed young man from the upper class, in a bar in Lloyd's Quarter, a cheap bar full of workers and sailors, read a book for two hours without moving, drinking a glass of light beer that was less than half a liter.

——In that case, is it possible that a bartender with a good memory could not remember him?

Even if it wasn't a wild elf, but a human bartender... He would remember such an outrageous thing for at least a whole month. He would also use it as a topic of conversation, frequently bragging about it to others or mocking him.

Not to mention that the Pelican Bar doesn't have a lot of traffic to begin with, with less than 30 guests in one night.

So, there's definitely something wrong with this bartender.

His deliberate act of pretending not to recognize Aiwass only served to demonstrate his inner cowardice. Aiwass had come in a cloak, apparently intending not to be recognized. So he went along with Aiwass's intentions, attempting to help him conceal his identity as well.

This was to lower his guard and steady him temporarily;

At the same time, we also hope that Aiwass can take on this role.

If Aiwass really wanted to conceal his identity, he could follow the bartender's advice and pretend to be an "old man."

Then he can't talk to the bartender clearly, and there will be no communication between them for a while.

——So, we can delay time.

"Mr. Adhmar, isn't it?"

Finally, Aiwass, who was wearing a hood, suddenly said, "Are you waiting for someone?"

This was the bartender's name he heard from other guests the last time he came.

"……What?"

Hearing this, Haina turned around with some confusion: "Do you know him?"

But when she took a look, she didn't see any special reaction from Aiwass.

But when she turned around, she saw obvious astonishment and hesitation on the bartender's face.

At that moment, her heart moved, and she vaguely felt that she had grasped something.

Before she asked, Aiwass chuckled, as if confirming something.

"Haina."

Aiwass's voice was very soft, like that of a superior or a teacher. Instead of politely addressing her as "senior" as before, he addressed her by her first name, like someone in a higher position.

But perhaps it was precisely because of this that Haina, who was used to obeying orders, suddenly became alert.

"yes!"

She instinctively focused her attention, took a half step forward from behind Aiwass, vaguely protecting Aiwass behind her, and waited attentively for the next order.

"Draw your sword—"

Aiwass ordered.

Although she didn't understand what was happening, Haena obeyed Aiwas's instructions without hesitation and drew her elven sword from its sheath in an instant.

The blade slid out of the sheath like a living thing, and a pure white light shone from the sword.

A blindingly bright white light illuminated the bar, which was already brightly lit at noon.

A silver-white halo gradually lit up within Haina's lake-blue eyes. It was a resonance with the Way of Authority.

The power infused into her bloodstream was gradually activated, its overflowing strength flowing into every part of her body. Waves of energy roared outward from her center, and the bottles on the wine cabinet swayed, making a chaotic, crisp, and gentle tapping sound like wind chimes.

The few guests were startled and left their seats one after another and ran towards the door.

Seeing this, the bartender's face suddenly changed and he was shocked.

——I’m exposed?

Why?

He was horrified and confused.

The situation was critical, and he chose not to sit idly by.

He took a deep breath, and something swelled up beneath his skin, as if a worm were swimming.

Purple lines began at his lower eyelids and spread across his entire face. Like discolored veins, they covered most of his face in a web-like pattern. Only the area around his mouth and chin—the area where a beard should have grown—was not covered by the purple lines.

As he took a deep breath, the purple lines on his face became brighter. Every time he inhaled, they became brighter, and when he exhaled, they slowly dimmed.

These lines spread rapidly across the skin like a curse, spreading from the cuffs and crawling all the way to the fingertips.

"Demonologist—"

Haina recognized him, or at least roughly recognized him.

Transcendents can use mystical techniques and various spellcasting materials to unleash their extraordinary powers outside of combat. However, if they truly want to mobilize the power of the Dao to unleash powerful transcendental skills, they must resonate with the Dao.

Everyone's resonance characteristics are different, but the common point is that there must be a light effect of the corresponding path color.

Just as white is the color of the Way of Authority, purple is the color of the Way of Transcendence. The former is symbolized by diamonds, the latter by amethysts.

Although she did not know the specific profession of this wild elf, it was undoubtedly a way of transcendence.

Anything beyond is illegal!

Then just treat the other party as a demonologist——

——Mr. Aiwass actually found it!

She was delighted.

Although I don't know how Aiwass recognized the other party's identity. Because she didn't see any loopholes in the other party's identity.

But once she enters combat mode, this is her area of ​​expertise!

Looking at the wild elf bartender with purple spider web patterns under his skin... seeing such obvious features, Aiwass finally recalled the other party's identity.

The boss of the "Sin Hub Pelican Bar", the "evil bartender" Admar!

In my memory, that burly man with arms as thick as war hammers, hunched over and bare-chested, with deep purple glowing lines all over his upper body—

His image gradually overlapped with the wild elf that was expanding like an inflatable object.

——Originally, Aiwas just wanted Haina to scare him and put some pressure on him.

I didn't expect that he really couldn't stand the pressure, and he transformed directly after just a slight pressure!

Now we have found the real culprit!

(End of this chapter)