The bar was not just crowded; it was packed to the brim.
After all, today, everyone from the Hive Organization, except for the unlucky ones on duty, was present. After all, it was their own gang's bar opening, and everyone came to celebrate.
To celebrate business, to celebrate money.
The bar was nothing extraordinary; just like any bar that only serves drinks, it had some peculiar wallpaper, about thirty or forty small tables and chairs, and a dozen or so private rooms, easily accommodating a hundred or so people.
Besides these crowded seats, a small stage was sectioned off along the wall, intended for performances. Currently, several Honeycomb Mercenaries with bare arms were there, banging on drum kits and guitars, belting out off-key anti-war rock songs, sweating profusely from their efforts—memories of their time in the army.
Around them, a crowd of people was applauding and cheering. These individuals, dressed in colorful, old military uniforms representing various military branches, were all veterans, the oldest of whom had already lost half their teeth.
Anyone unaware would have thought it was a veterans' club.
After all, a very high proportion of Berry's subordinates were veterans from the Unification War.
Of course, a bar wouldn't be complete without a bar counter and a wall full of liquor. Further inside, there was a large metal bar counter, and behind it, a wall-spanning liquor shelf filled with colorful bottles of alcohol, all new stock, waiting to fill the stomachs of the patrons.
Jackie and Viktor entered, nodding in satisfaction at the bustling, lively atmosphere within.
It was already shaping up nicely.
"Look, it's Jackie, and Doctor Viktor! A toast to you!"
"To The Hive!"
"To the Boss!"
"Cheers!"
Amidst the cheers and laughter, a group of people stood on tables and chairs, raising beer bottles and cups, chugging them down.
In this lively atmosphere, anything could be an excuse for a toast.
Berry hadn't mandated a uniform for The Hive's Mercenaries, but as most were veterans, they all liked wearing military green work clothes and bulletproof vests. With so many people, it seemed to have become a trend.
Even the few who weren't former soldiers, seeing this atmosphere, bought camouflage uniforms for themselves.
One might even mistake them for members of the 6th Street Gang.
After all, they also liked wearing military uniforms.
However, outsiders wouldn't actually confuse the two groups.
It was an unwritten rule: many people from The Hive liked to print large Hive logos on their clothes to show their affiliation.
On their chest, or back, or even, more exaggeratedly, on their forehead. In short, you could always find that hexagonal Hive icon on them.
Some with artistic flair even added things to the hexagonal icon; some added beastly claws to the edges of The Hive, others added small bees, and those with a strong sense of self directly carved their names into it.
In short, it was a blooming of creativity.
Listening to the clinking of bottles and cheers, Berry was also infected by the lively scene, feeling her heart surge.
She recalled when The Hive was first established, there were only a dozen or so people in total, with seven or eight guns.
Nurhaci started with thirteen suits of armor, while Berry, she matured by relying on Female V's experience.
So, no matter how she thought about it, it was 100% her own credit.
Berry was very confident.
"Wait, Berry, don't bars need Bartenders? Have you found someone?"
Seeing this scene, Jackie's professional curiosity kicked in, and he asked Berry about the Bartender.
"A Bartender, huh."
When this was mentioned, Berry almost laughed, but she held it in.
"You'll meet our Bartender in a moment."
Berry then led the two towards the bar counter.
"Whoa, V, what are you wearing?"
Approaching the bar, Jackie finally understood why Berry had that almost-breaking-into-a-smile expression when he mentioned the Bartender.
They hadn't noticed from behind, but upon seeing V's iconic blue hair, Jackie and Viktor finally recognized V.
Don't blame them for their poor eyesight; it was just that V's outfit today was so out of character for her.
V leaned behind the bar, wearing a fitted grey suit jacket, with small gold-rimmed glasses perched on the side of her eyes, looking exactly like a high-class Bartender or a female hostess.
However, this outfit inherently exuded a refined and capable aura, but V's mournful expression ruined it all.
V's eyelids drooped, her demeanor lifeless. It seemed her choice to act as Bartender was not voluntary.
Of course, it would be a ghost if she were willing.
Berry had to pester and entangle V, finally cornering her at the door when she tried to escape, forcing her to obediently comply and temporarily serve as the bar's Bartender.
That's why she had that 'questioning life' look.
But seeing their friend in distress, Jackie and Viktor showed no sympathy; instead, they almost burst out laughing.
"Haha, good! Since you're the Bartender today, V, you'll have to show us some of your skills."
Jackie and Viktor sat on the high stools in front of the bar, looking very supportive of V.
"Oh, come on, with my amateur skills, how dare I show off in front of the young master of the Wolf Bar?"
V, however, shook her head firmly, indicating that they just wanted to see her make a fool of herself.
"Ah, what are you saying, V, don't be so modest. Maybe you have a talent for this."
Jackie waved his hand, looking like he truly believed in V.
"Let me see, let's start with a beginner level. Try making a Margarita first."
"A Margarita, huh? Alright, I'll try, but I'm proud, so even if it's not good, you two have to force yourselves to drink it."
Seeing Jackie, Viktor, and even Berry egging her on, V had no choice but to agree to try.
"Hey, no problem."
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