An expression of surprise flashed across the bartender's face, but was quickly concealed as an annoyance that he didn't want to see customers at this time.
"If you want to drink, old sir... and this supervisor."
The bartender spoke slowly, his eyes narrowed, in a long, tired tone: "It's too early. No one is here yet.
"Ah, let me make it clear in advance. 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 the same elf accent with long drawls and lots of glissando... Haina just felt that the bartender's voice didn't have the elegance of Aiwas's butler.
Maybe it's because the transitions in some places are too hard and too clear, or maybe it's because his voice has a kind of hoarseness caused by long-term smoking, so it sounds a bit vulgar as soon as you listen to it.
"How much?"
Hearing this, Haina asked subconsciously.
But she soon realized that she was here to investigate, so she had to order the dishes no matter how expensive they were.
Rather, it was at this time that the investigation funds given by Butler Oswald were used.
So she immediately changed the topic: "What dishes do you have here?"
"Ah… "
Aiwass in front of her couldn't help but chuckle.
It is really a unique experience to investigate with such a novice.
Although the wild elf bartender reacted quickly, 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, so he should be at least a hundred years old. As a wild elf, he lived in the market, and his elven blood made his memory and perception significantly stronger than humans.
Even with his full-covering cape, there was no way that Aiwass's body shape looked like 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 meeting place specially designated by the two pen pals. At that time, Aiwass could still walk normally, was flexible and strong, and wanted to hide his contact and communication with the demonologist, so he came alone to the meeting.
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 been able to find the "Pelican Bar" - who knew that the name of the Pelican Bar was not "Pelican"
When Aiwas arrived, it was more than an hour earlier than the agreed time of 5 p.m. But he had thought about it long ago, so he brought a book to read.
It was a mysterious book written in the Star Language, "The Secret Code of Alchemy". Those alchemists who followed the path of "balance" were very worried that their knowledge would be leaked out and affect the balance of the world. Therefore, when they wrote books and communicated with their peers, they would use secret codes that laymen could not understand.
For example, "king", "queen" and "queen" all indicate different things. Similarly, "sun" and "moon", "toad" and "dragon" may all imply something. And based on the basic principle of "keeping secrets from outsiders", the code words used by each alchemist are different. There is no unified consensus or common industry terminology among them.
They all have their own code books, which they secretly teach to their students for decoding; and if the colleague is good enough, he will be able to understand what he wants to express from the hints.
That is what is meant by “those who understand, understand; those who don’t understand won’t understand even if you tell them.”
The book "Alchemical Codewords" reveals several classic codes by examples. In the example, the author shows an alchemical process for making "antimony glass". It is a emetic and slightly toxic. And by slightly adjusting the proportions, you can get "mercury antimony", which is a slightly sweet, thick, and flowing highly toxic substance.
Apart from anything else, this is the knowledge of synthesizing highly toxic poisons!
This kind of forbidden knowledge just hit the spot for Aiwas. In the noisy bar, he sat in a corner and read a book very attentively. In the blink of an eye, it was almost six o'clock. Until the two men patted his shoulders to wake him up.
Originally, Aiwass just planned to meet with them and leave.
It's not that I doubt them, but the security in Lloyd's Quarter is really bad. If you are late, even taking a taxi may not be safe - the recent strangler gang has caused panic among the people.
But it was already time for dinner, and they drank and chatted, becoming happier and more excited the more they talked. So Aiwass simply used a white coin to order a dinner on the spot, treating the two "friends" to a very sumptuous meal. He did not 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 it was already past ten when they left the bar.
"Zero o'clock is the most appropriate time to summon the devil."
The bald man said, "It takes about an hour to complete the ritual. And now it's exactly at this point... Do you want to try it yourself?"
… Around that time, he had already seen through the conversation over the past few hours and realized the burning desire in Aiwass's heart to touch the taboo. He knew that Aiwass would 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 other customers were ordering food around me, 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 to other places... Can it be understood that they think this is the only place that is absolutely safe
Moreover, a very handsome, well-dressed young man from the upper class, in a bar in the Lloyd's Quarter, which was full of laborers and sailors and was a cheap environment, read a book for two hours without moving, drinking a glass of less than half a liter of light beer.
—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 month. He would also use him as a topic of conversation, frequently bragging to others or mocking him.
Not to mention that the Pelican Bar's traffic is not very high, with less than 30 guests in one night.
So, there is definitely something wrong with this bartender.
His deliberate act of pretending that he couldn't recognize Aiwass proved his inner cowardice. Aiwass came in a cloak, and his intention was not to let others recognize his identity. So he followed Aiwass's intention and tried to help him hide his identity.
This was to lower his guard and steady him temporarily;
At the same time, we also hope that Aiwas can take on this role.
If Aiwass really wanted to conceal his identity, he could just follow the bartender's instructions and pretend to be an "old man."
Then he can't talk clearly to the bartender, and there will be no communication between them for a while.
—So, you can delay time.
"Mr. Adhemar, isn't it."
As a result, Aiwass, who was wearing a hood, suddenly asked: "Are you waiting for someone?"
This was the bartender's name he had heard from other guests yesterday.
"… 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 surprise and hesitation from the bartender.
At that moment, her heart moved, and she vaguely felt that she had grasped something.
Before she asked the question, Aiwass chuckled, as if he had confirmed something.
"Haina."
Aiwass's voice was very light, like that of his superior or teacher. Not only did he not politely address her as "senior" as before, but he addressed her by her name as if she were a superior.
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 going on, Haina followed Aiwas's instructions without hesitation and drew out the elf 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.
In Haina's originally lake-blue eyes, a silver-white halo gradually lit up. It was a resonance with the Way of Authority.
The power injected into her blood was gradually activated, and the abundant power was poured into her limbs and bones. The air wave spread out from her to the surroundings, and the bottles on the wine cabinet swayed, making chaotic and crisp tapping sounds like wind chimes.
The few guests were startled and left their seats one after another and ran to the door.
Seeing this, the bartender's face suddenly changed and he was shocked.
—Am I exposed
Why
He was horrified and confused.
The situation was critical, and he chose not to sit there and wait for death.
He took a deep breath, and something swelled up beneath his skin, as if a worm was swimming.
The purple lines started from the lower eyelids and spread out to the entire face. Like blue veins that suddenly changed color, the network of lines covered most of the face. Only the area around the mouth and chin - the part of the skin where the 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, it became brighter, and when he exhaled, it slowly dimmed.
These lines spread rapidly on the skin like a curse, spreading out from the cuffs and crawling all the way to the fingertips.
"Demonologist—"
Haina recognized him, or roughly recognized him.
Transcendents can use mysterious skills and various spellcasting materials to use their extraordinary powers in non-combat situations. But if they really want to mobilize the power of the Tao to release those powerful extraordinary skills out of thin air, they must resonate with the Tao.
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 occupation of this wild elf, it was undoubtedly a way of transcendence.
Anything beyond this 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!
And 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 dark 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 couldn't stand the pressure and he transformed directly after just a slight pressure!
Now we have found the right person!