"I have to say, you're quite skilled at conversation."
Kafka elegantly rested her chin on her hand, her eyes filled with appreciation.
"As a bartender, you still need to learn how to chat with customers."
Bai Luan put down his bartending tools and looked at Kafka.
"What would you like to drink? Or perhaps..."
He tilted his head toward Stelle.
"Would you rather have her come over?"
Kafka didn't answer directly, only returning a meaningful smile.
"Even if you don't say it, I know you want to talk to Stelle alone."
Bai Luan smiled knowingly.
"It really wouldn't be appropriate for me to intrude on a touching reunion."
"I suppose this is the benefit of dealing with smart people—even if I say nothing, you know what I mean."
"That's just how geniuses are."
As Bai Luan spoke, he started cleaning the bar counter.
"Oh right, before I leave, I have a few things I'd like to say. I'll trouble Ms. Kafka to relay the messages."
"Certainly. Who are you intending to speak to?"
"The first one is Silver Wolf."
A slight smile played on Bai Luan's lips as he mentioned the hacker he had 'specially looked after.'
"If she ever comes out of her gaming pod cursing and complaining about being chased by a Herta Puppet, please ask her for me: 'Did you enjoy the Easter egg I left?'"
Kafka nodded:
"If I am with her then, I will relay it."
She looked at Bai Luan's expression and said playfully:
"Although, judging by your expression, she probably won't be too happy when she hears that."
Of course, after that jab, it would be a miracle if she din't snap.
"The second one is Elio."
"Oh? Is this your response to his invitation to join the Stellaron Hunters?"
"Hmm... I still won't join the Stellaron Hunters. However, I must retract my previous assessment of Elio—he's not a bad cat, but an unparalleled good cat."
"What caused such a drastic change in your attitude?"
Because out of a pile of bad endings, he picked one that was decent, and he has been dedicated to steering the world's future away from even worse outcomes.
For this point alone, Elio is great enough.
Of course, Bai Luan didn't intend to say this outright, as he didn't want Kafka to suspect he had installed surveillance in her secret base.
So he simply returned a mysterious smile, leaving Kafka to ponder it herself.
This move was indeed effective.
Seeing Bai Luan's response, Kafka stopped pressing the issue and nodded, indicating she would relay the message.
"Then, this final message is for all the Stellaron Hunters."
Hearing this, Kafka became interested.
If it was a message directed at the entire Stellaron Hunters organization, it represented Bai Luan's attitude toward their group.
The opinion of a member of the Genius Society was quite important to them.
Kafka grew slightly more serious, waiting for Bai Luan's next words.
"I heard that you sometimes run into financial trouble. Regarding that, I can help.
If you ever find yourselves short on funds, you can contact me. I'd be happy to provide some financial support."
Kafka looked slightly confused.
How did this genius suddenly transform into an angel investor?
Did Elio reach some kind of cooperation agreement with him without her knowing?
Hmm... forget it, I won't think about it.
Anything not written in the script is irrelevant anyway.
Moreover, this was indeed a good thing. At least regarding funds in the future, they wouldn't be too passive.
"In that case, I have nothing more to say."
Bai Luan propped himself up on the bar counter with one hand and flipped over cleanly.
"I hope you two have a pleasant chat."
He then temporarily left the bar to slack off for a bit.
The meeting between Kafka and Stelle didn't last too long; soon, his phone received a message from Kafka saying she had left.
When Bai Luan returned to the bar, Stelle was still asleep, slumped over as if she had never woken up.
Kafka was quite considerate; after waking Stelle up, she worried the child hadn't gotten enough sleep, so she let her go back to sleep.
During the time Stelle was sleeping, Bai Luan continued his work as a bartender.
Not long after, Stelle woke up from the bar counter, first stretching with a big yawn, then scratching her head slightly confusedly as she looked at Bai Luan:
"Uncle... did Kafka come here?"
Bai Luan shrugged, giving an ambiguous answer:
"I left the bar counter for a while; maybe she came during that time?"
Stelle narrowed her eyes upon hearing this:
"Uncle, have you ever heard a saying?"
"What saying?"
"Riddlers, get out of Penacony."
"..."
Bai Luan was silent for a moment, then said:
"Should I leave then?"
"No, Uncle, it was just a joke!"
Stelle hurriedly tried to keep him.
Without you, where would I find a partner who is a genius, is good at abstract antics, and can also mix drinks?
Watching Stelle's reaction, Bai Luan smiled.
If I really left, you wouldn't be happy.
Just then, footsteps sounded, and Bai Luan subconsciously looked at the arrival:
"Welcome, what would you like to drink?"
Herta walked up to the bar counter, smiling as she scrutinized Bai Luan:
"It seems you're quite suited to the role of bartender. You look the part."
Bai Luan smiled back:
"Finished touring Penacony?"
"More or less. There weren't many interesting places. But as a bonus, it was decent. In any case, I mainly came here to find you."
The Herta Puppet beside Herta nodded in agreement—Ms. Herta was right this time.
Stelle leaned closer:
"Perfect! There's only one last special mix left to try. How about Ms. Herta shows some kindness and lets me off early?"
Herta was in a good mood and nodded in agreement:
"Sure, I'll have a drink too."
"Yay—!"
Herta looked at Bai Luan:
"You mix mine."
Bai Luan gave her a slight smile:
"It's my pleasure to serve you, Madam."
He first placed some ice cubes in the glass, then turned toward the liquor shelf. His slender fingers skimmed over the dazzling array of bottles, precisely picking up the ones he needed.
Returning to the center of the bar, he lined up the required base liquor and ingredients.
Next, he picked up the shaker and deftly spun it once in his hand. The crisp clinking of ice immediately sounded, like the prelude to an overture.
He sequentially poured materials like gin, violet liqueur, and fresh lemon juice into the shaker. Every pour was steady and accurate, the measurements perfectly controlled.
He capped the shaker, and Bai Luan began to shake it.
Using his wrist, the ice and liquid vigorously mingled inside the shaker, producing a pleasant rustling sound.
Soon after shaking was complete, he poured the liquid into the glass.
The liquid displayed a dreamy pale purple, clear and lustrous.
He then poured in an appropriate amount of soda water, watching the delicate bubbles rise like strings of pearls.
Finally, he added a lemon slice for garnish.
Soon, a Violet Fizz was completed.
The drink's color was a soft pale purple, appearing clear yet with a hazy, misty feel.
Inside the glass were a few pale yellow lemon slices for garnish, and a small purple flower was tucked onto the rim, as if the light purple of spring had been bottled.
He pushed the cocktail, whose color perfectly matched Herta, toward her:
"Violet Fizz, please enjoy. I've told too many bad jokes, so I'll include something else as a bonus."
Bai Luan casually rested his hands on the bar counter, leaned slightly forward, and gave her a perfectly timed wink.
Herta looked at the wink, the corner of her lips slightly raised:
"You certainly learned a lot about flirting."
She picked up the glass, looked at the Herta Puppet staring at them, and gave a triumphant smile:
"Why are you looking at me? Are you waiting for me to clink glasses with you?"
The Herta Puppet pouted and downed the special mix in her hand.
Then, under the influence of the special mix, she began to talk in her sleep:
"After we get married, I absolutely must *certain content that was changed due to censorship* and then *the same, but more aggressive content*..."
The instant the Herta Puppet opened her mouth, Bai Luan froze on the spot. After he got past the stunned phase and understood what he had heard, he immediately entered a Super Break state.
Wait, you can't say that!
Bai Luan forced himself through the Super Break state, rushing, stumbling, and scrambling over the bar counter to clamp a hand over the Herta Puppet's mouth.
The bartender's composure had vanished, replaced only by the panic of someone desperate to avoid social death.
Stop! Talking! About! How! You're! Going! To! Discipline! Me!
...