"How's the bitter melon juice I made?" Chen Luo asked his guest after returning to his seat.
"Absolutely wonderful." Theresa nodded in satisfaction.
"There's something I'm curious about—not sure if I should ask..." Venti raised his hand.
"Why hesitate? Just say it."
"Well, isn't this a bar? Why do you also mix drinks here?" Venti couldn't shake the feeling that this "Midnight bar" had an unusually broad range of services.
"Bitter melon juice isn't just a drink—it's a health beverage," Theresa corrected from the side.
"So... is bitter melon juice really that good?" Venti pressed.
Originally, Venti had zero desire to try something like bitter melon juice. But the blissful expression on Theresa's face as she drank it beside him was too tempting to ignore.
"Of course it's delicious! Let me tell you, bitter melon juice isn't just tasty—it's incredibly healthy too. I swear on my title as Principle of St. Freya Academy!" Theresa declared with absolute conviction.
"Emmm... I'll have a glass of bitter melon juice too!" Venti raised his hand.
"...Are you sure?" Chen Luo gave Venti a dubious look.
Chen Luo wasn't certain whether bitter melon juice existed in Venti's world, but one thing was clear: not everyone could appreciate its... unique charm.
"Absolutely." Venti nodded firmly.
[Ding! New commission received!]
[Novel Beverage]: The Anemo Archon Barbatos wishes to try a drink he's never tasted before. Please prepare him a glass of the same bitter melon juice.
Reward: 15 Primogems
Difficulty: 0-Star
"If you insist, then sure."
There was no persuading someone hell-bent on suffering. If Venti wanted a taste of bitterness, Chen Luo had no objections—especially when Primogems were involved.
Initially, Chen Luo had assumed that agreeing to give Venti a large glass of apple cider daily would mean no more Primogem opportunities from him. But reality proved him wrong.
The moment Venti arrived, he'd handed Chen Luo 10 Primogems just for ordering that extra-large apple cider—that alone counted as a commission.
In just half an hour, Venti had contributed 25 Primogems to Chen Luo's stash. At that moment, Chen Luo knew: This was a friendship worth keeping.
He'd also started piecing together the rules behind commission triggers and rewards:
For weaker individuals such as stealing a loli's lollipop, the base reward was 5 Primogems.
For powerhouses like Venti and Theresa, the minimum was 10 Primogems.
Soon enough, Chen Luo prepared another glass of his special bitter melon juice.
This particular brew was deceptive—unless you'd tasted it before or were a bitter melon fanatic like Theresa, you'd never guess it was bitter melon juice. It even smells fragrant.
Who would've thought that a prank meant for the Herrscher of Sentience would end up netting him two commissions?
No, it should be three since the Herrscher of sentience's initial request—a "delicious drink" for 10 Primogems—had been one Chen Luo gladly sabotaged. No amount of Primogems was worth letting her off easy!
I, Chen Luo, am not someone you can easily mess with! Hahaha!
"Mmm, it does smell nice. And the color's lovely," Venti remarked, eyeing the pale green, translucent beverage before him.
[Ding! Commission complete.]
"..."
Its appearance and aroma were precisely why the Herrscher of Sentience had fallen for the trap. And since Venti had only asked for bitter melon juice—not tasty bitter melon juice—the commission auto-completed the moment it was served.
Both the Herrscher and Theresa watched Venti with anticipation:
Theresa's gaze was one of fellow enthusiast solidarity, While the Herrscher of Sentience's eyes were purely looking forward to watching the show.
"Pfft—!"
The moment Venti drank a mouthful, he replicated the Herrscher's reaction perfectly—spitting it out in a spray aimed at Chen Luo.
"Wind Wall!"
A gust of Anemo energy erupted before Chen Luo, slamming the bitter melon juice back into Venti's face.
Using Barbatos' own Vision against him? Priceless.
"Cough—! W-What kind of anti-human drink is this?!" Venti grabbed the napkins Chen Luo slid over, scrubbing his face furiously before shoving the deceptively pretty glass as far away as possible.
That single sip had forced him to relive every tragedy of his entire millennia-long existence.
"A'Luo... I want apple cider." Venti's eyes shimmered with pitiful desperation.
"You already drank your free one."
"I want to drink!" Venti, who just felt extreme fear, now urgently needs a glass of apple cider to comfort hisr injured heart.
[Ding! New commission received!]
"Here." Chen Luo produced a large glass instantly.
*+10 Primogems.*
Venti, this tool man, is really useful.
Chen Luo marveled at how efficient this talent was. Even baiting commissions worked!
This bar was a goldmine.
"How can you people not appreciate the glory of bitter melon juice?!" Theresa lamented, watching Venti's meltdown with distress.
"Another glass of bitter melon juice!"
Her mood now ruined, Theresa sought solace in the one thing that never failed to warm her heart.
[Ding! New commission received!]
"Of course, but... are you interested in tasting the bitter melon juice brewed by the Bitter Melon God?" Chen Luo saw the commission posted, quickly mixed a glass of bitter melon juice and put it in front of Theresa and asked.
[Ding! Commission complete.]
"Hmm?" Theresa paused mid-reach.
"Bitter Melon God?" That was a term she'd definitely never heard.
"That's right, Bitter Melon God! Like I said—this bar serves everything. Take this gentleman here: he once asked for 'wine brewed from the wind itself.' Ever heard of that? But I made it. So if you truly want Bitter Melon God's divine juice... I can deliver." Chen Luo's tone oozed confidence.
"Really?" Theresa glanced at Venti for confirmation.
"Really," Venti confirmed, still shuddering from his ordeal.
"Then I'll take it!" Theresa's eyes burned with fervor.
[Ding! New commission received!]
[Bitter Melon God's Nectar]: Theresa wishes to drink a glass of bitter melon juice made by the Bitter Melon God itself.
Reward: 40 Primogems + St. Freya Academy Staff ID
Difficulty: 1-Star
"???"
The Primogems made sense, but... what was that last part?
Confused but undeterred, Chen Luo accepted the commission.
This proved it: strategic upselling was not just viable—it was profitable.
"I love this bar."