Chapter 440: Bartender

Chapter 440: Bartender

Rael, Melina, and Chop-E followed the soldier while also taking in the surroundings of the city.

As he had seen from above and from a distance, it was strangely dystopian.

The side of the road was paved with concrete, while the middle, where all the people and carriages moved, was covered in black tiles.

It seemed like every step he took on the tile activated some sort of switch in the ground that sent a pulse of energy.

He was sure the energy from them walking over the tiles was being used to power machinery or even some household utilities.

But instead, he spotted a large black billboard in the center of the city with the number ‘424,205,994’ written on it.

That number increased every time someone took a step, so it didn’t take long for Rael to realize this was just some kind of mini-game for the bored civilians.

How wasteful, Rael thought with a sigh. But if it’s not broken, don’t fix it, I guess. People seem plenty happy.

Therefore, he put those thoughts to the back of his mind as he neared a more rundown part of the city. It seemed like the slums, and the farther in he went, the fewer soldiers he saw.

It didn’t take long for them to approach a building fully covered in stone and steel, and that was when the soldier clad in white armor finally stopped.

“You shall go in there and wait for further instructions. If His Majesty does not come to pick you up, you will be released,” the soldier explained.

“You better not make me wait long,” Melina said ominously.

The soldier froze, then swiftly bowed. “I will deliver news of your arrival this instant.”

With those words, he began jogging away, leaving them in front of the building where they were supposed to be jailed.

“…”

Rael blankly approached the steel door of the building and tried to open it, but as expected, it was locked.

He tried banging on it a few times, as if to get an answer, but it seemed like the place was completely empty.

He turned back toward his two companions and shook his head.

“I guess this works out in the end?” Rael scratched his cheek.

Melina rolled her eyes and walked off deeper into the slums.

Since they were currently together, he followed after her alongside Chop-E.

He wasn’t sure where she was going, but it looked like he didn’t need to wonder for long as she soon approached an inn and stepped inside.

Rael followed right after her, and the moment he entered, he was met with the putrid smell of rotten food. There was even the stench of blood coming from the second floor.

It was clear Melina had noticed too, but she seemed not to care in the slightest as she approached the front desk and sat down, then tapped it a few times to get the bartender’s attention.

There were a few drunkards gathered, but aside from giving Melina lewd looks, they continued drinking without a care in the world.

Rael grumbled and sat beside her, waiting for the bartender to come out.

And just a few seconds later, the bartender stepped out of the back room, playfully twirling a bottle of wine in his right hand.

He was a tall man with long red hair and blue eyes that resembled stars, and it didn’t take long for Rael’s brows to furrow in wariness.

Is this Kareth? This guy really looks like a picture-perfect Kareth, but…

—Lucien, ??? [Grade 2 Apocalypse Class | Level 1] – Vitality: Tier 17 [100% / 100% HP]

Rael nearly choked on his saliva at the sight.

This seemingly normal bartender, who just so happened to look like Kareth, was a Grade 2 Apocalypse Class Ascender.

Fucking hell… He’s probably at the level of a low-class Grade 6, Rael thought with wariness, but he didn’t let his surprise show on his face.

Instead, he flashed a normal smile, as did Chop-E, who copied Rael.

“Give me one of everything,” Melina said flatly. “Oh, and don’t put rat poison in it like last time.”

“Why, of course, miss,” Lucien replied with a dramatic bow and pulled out five glasses from under the desk, then plopped them down in front of Melina.

He reached into the bar behind him and grabbed a few bottles before pouring them into each of the five glasses.

And after he was finished, he flashed Melina a smile.

“That will be 240 Trell.”

Melina rolled her eyes and pressed a few buttons in the air, paying up.

But right as she was about to drink, she turned toward Rael and raised one of the glasses.

“You seem a little confused,” Melina said with a giggle, then downed the glass before picking up another.

“The ‘one of everything’ order is basically five alcoholic drinks that mix well,” she added, downing a glass before picking up another.

“It doesn’t matter in which order you drink the glasses, but after you drink the fifth, you immediately sober up. It’s like magic.”

She drank the third, then the fourth, and just as she was about to drink the fifth, she tossed it straight at Lucien.

However, he tilted his head in time, avoiding the glass as it shattered against the bar behind him.

“I told you not to put rat poison in it this time,” Melina said coldly.

Lucien chuckled. “Apologies, miss. It must’ve slipped my mind.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Melina mumbled, her expression turning serious. “How has Ignatiel Vendros been doing lately?”

“Same as usual,” Lucien replied dryly. “He still visits brothels daily, and he has recently started watching theatre. Coincidentally, he’s only watching plays that detail his coming into power.”

Melina clicked her tongue. “What a narcissist. Had his father not given him the throne on a whim, that man-child would’ve never even come into power.”

“Truly a work of art, as is expected of the ruler of the Hollow Kingdom,” Lucien remarked, then turned toward Rael before flashing a smile.

“And you are…?”

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