“I’m so tired.”
After finishing his conversation with Hissnai, Luo Ye walked alone along the campus path, his whole body weighed down by the exhaustion of breaking free from the heavy shackles imposed by the women’s prison, dragging himself into the dormitory.
However, just as he was about to take off his coat and rest for a while, his keen instincts as a top student in the Magic Department immediately detected something unusual in the room.
Someone had broken into his dormitory—and used magic!
Who was it?
Luo Ye couldn’t help but release a probing spell, thoroughly investigating every corner of his dorm.
Soon, he found a letter placed on his desk.
It bore no signature—
To Luo Ye Kardia.
I’m sorry to bother you in this way, but I really want to meet with you.
Please come to the Yolandale Tavern at dusk.
Thank you~
Luo Ye:……
……
Evening.
Outskirts of the royal city, Yolandale Tavern.
Luo Ye pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Unlike the bustling city center, the atmosphere here was closer to a quiet bar—no loud clamor, no live singers, just the delicate jingling of bells as the door opened and the low murmur of customers.
Suddenly, a rough voice caught everyone’s attention.
“Get lost, lackey from the neighboring kingdom!”
A burly man with a scowling face slammed his hands heavily on the table, shouting angrily at the girl in front of him.
She was a very beautiful girl, looking about his age, around fifteen or sixteen.
“Li…”
Luo Ye blurted out the name that first came to mind, nearly finishing it before stopping abruptly after clearly seeing the girl’s face.
The girl before him had long, elegant pale green hair down to her waist, just like Lilith’s, and the same golden eyes—only hers burned like a scorching sun, her gaze unfocused.
Her exquisite flawless face could only be described as stunning, even more breathtaking than a mythical beauty.
At this moment, the girl’s stunning face showed no change in expression despite the burly man’s curses, only a faint frown, hiding her displeasure deep within.
Then she resumed smiling: “Um, please don’t misunderstand. Actually, I just wanted to find someone.”
“Looking for someone? You came to the wrong place. There’s no one here for you—get lost!”
The burly man’s wife snapped at the girl.
On closer look, the woman was subtly pinching the man’s arm.
So, he’s a henpecked husband, the bartender thought.
Seeing the girl in an awkward position and noticing more and more hostile glances from the surrounding crowd, the bartender put down his cloth and glasses and stepped forward to stop the commotion.
“Alright, all three of you calm down.”
With a bright smile, the bartender approached, first soothing the couple, then gently looking at the girl, signaling her not to worry and that he would handle the situation.
“Guests who have traveled far are all welcome; there’s no need for fighting here. Sharing drinks is what our tavern is all about.”
The bartender eased the tense atmosphere, smiling warmly: “By the way, I’ve just crafted a new cocktail with a fresh, sweet flavor. Would you like to try it?”
“Since it’s the first day it’s being served, every guest’s first drink order enjoys a 20% discount~”
Hearing this, the female patrons nearby looked excited, and the woman who had argued with the girl shot sparkling, flirtatious eyes at the bartender:
“Hey, young man, how about letting me order your ‘first drink’ tonight?”
The bartender smiled: “Of course, madam.”
The burly man said nothing seeing his wife’s flirtation with the bartender because he knew exactly where his wife’s beauty ranked—nowhere near the standards of the other women in this tavern.
Thanks to the bartender, as long as he agreed to drink with his wife, he got to see plenty of young, beautiful girls coming for the young bartender every day—a win-win situation.
So he merely gave the bartender a symbolic warning glance to avoid gossip.
The bartender was used to such looks, responding with a slight smile to reassure him that he had no intentions toward the madam.
He then returned to the bar, picking up a shaker and a cocktail glass to prepare today’s newly launched cocktail—the Blue Coral Reef.
Blue Coral Reef was made with vodka as the base, mixed with blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and other ingredients, creating a sweet and smooth taste.
The bartender arranged the ingredients, tossed the shaker high into the air, skillfully handling the additives with one hand and catching the falling shaker with the other, pouring the base liquor and mixers inside—quite a spectacle.
He must have hired an acrobat as a bartender… or perhaps he simply employed a bartender skilled in flair bartending?
Luo Ye seemed to guess the reason for choosing this place to meet.
With this bartender here… anyone wanting to keep things low-profile would find it very easy.
The bartender shook the mixture thoroughly, poured it into a chilled glass, garnished it, and handed the prepared drink to the woman.
As expected, the women’s faces lit up with delight.
They witnessed a show for the new drink release and immediately requested their own.
The bartender ignored the ongoing flirtatious glances and heart gestures, responding only with a commercially polite smile.
He knew well that keeping superficial relations with everyone was the best way to market himself.
Since no one had exclusive access to him, everyone felt they had a chance.
He dealt with every thirsty woman while the tavern’s waitresses pretended to be “wooed” by the burly men, smiling brightly while also covertly acting as drink hawkers, hinting at the men to buy more.
No one noticed the pale green-haired girl from before quietly slip into a corner of the tavern.
Where no one could see, she shyly invited Luo Ye:
“Um, no one’s drinking with me. Will you have a drink with me?”
If this were an ordinary boy, being invited by such a stunning beauty—especially after she had been bullied earlier and he had helped her in her darkest moment—most would be unable to refuse.
But Luo Ye was not one of them.
He looked up, glancing coolly at the girl’s cheek, noting the layer of foundation.
“I know you’re not Lilith. I know you’re disguised. Since you invited me here to talk, why not just be straightforward?”
The pale green-haired girl smiled faintly.
“You’re smart. Then let me introduce myself.”
A beguiling, intriguing expression appeared on her face.
What she said next made Luo Ye’s eyes widen.
“Nice to meet you, Luo Ye Kardia. My name is Victoria Talia, Lilith’s mother~”