The moment that iconic phrase rang out, Chen Luo's hand—which had been pouring wine for Venti—paused mid-air. He looked up toward the entrance.
Venti's visit wasn't surprising, he came daily after all, but today, he'd seemingly brought a gift.
"Impossible! This Bar's ambiance is fantastic—the patrons and barkeep are delightful. I adore it here, and I'm sure you will too," Venti said, guiding the newcomer inside.
"Hmm. Why does this place look so much like Angel's Share?" The new guest's first words stabbed Chen Luo straight through the heart.
Her short blue hair was adorned with a black lace headband, secured by a metallic four-leaf clover hairpin on the left.
Her sleek yet elegant knightly attire featured a black bodysuit with a thin central panel, layered under a white lace-trimmed short coat fastened by a chest strap.
Her forearms, clad in double-layered bell sleeves, were protected by metal armor, while her hands wore black gloves with blue palms.
A two-tiered cape draped her right shoulder—the inner layer white fading to yellow, the outer blue.
A Cryo Vision hung from the cape's feather ornament.
Thigh-high stiletto boots, reinforced with black inner-thigh straps, completed the look, their heels fitted with silver spurs.
The last descendant of the Lawrence Clan, a relic of Mondstadt's oppressive aristocracy—and one of its finest swordsmen.
"Spindrift Knight" Eula had entered the battlefield!
Upholding the Lawrence bloodline is my solemn duty!
Ahem.
"The atmosphere is a bit similar, but the decor's quite different. Though maybe don't say that while the owner's listening—it might hurt his feelings," Venti chuckled, offering no denial.
Because Venti agreed.
"A'Luo, Dandelion Wine, please." Venti turned to Chen Luo mid-stride.
[Ding! New commission received!]
"Already prepared. And for you, miss?" Chen Luo asked the newcomer.
She wasn't entirely unfamiliar—his first "Angel's Share" experience had involved her sneezing women.[1]
"Pretending not to know me? Trying to butter me up so I'll spend more here? Almost had me. Vengeance Will Be Mine!" Eula side-eyed the "bartender."
She knew exactly how famous she was in Mondstadt.
Although it was famous in a bad way.
"But, I'll also take a Dandelion Wine. Thanks." She approached the counter.
[Ding! New commission received!]
Chen Luo's forced friendliness, in Eula's eyes, was quite novel, so she didn't reject it.. Rarely did anyone in Mondstadt offer her kindness without strings.
How long would this act last? Was it even genuine?
Although there are few people who approach me with bad intentions, there are still some.
"Here you go." Chen Luo noted her wariness but didn't mind. Distrust was rational given her family's reputation. Chen Luo can understand her vigilance. But it's fine as long as she can give the Primogems.
Hell, if she paid in Primogems, he'd raze Mondstadt if she asked for it.
Well, maybe not. But beating up people hostile to her? Chen Luo can do it, after all, it's just a beating.
The premise is there are Primogems though
If there are no Primogems, Chen Luo is willing to give one or two services as a friendship deal, but only once or twice.
In the bar, many drinks didn't require mixing and could be served, like the Dandelion Wine the customer had ordered. Chen Luo quickly brought it out and placed it on the counter.
Eula watched as Chen Luo served the wine without any suspicious movements before finally picking up the glass. "Better safe than sorry," she thought - especially for someone with her status. When making purchases, it was necessary to be extra cautious.
After accepting the glass, Eula finally had time to examine the bar more carefully and consider where to sit. The three stools at the counter were clearly reserved for those with close relationships to the owner or bartender, or for discussing business matters. Eula was well aware of her status as a "sinner." The fact that they were willing to serve her alcohol so amiably was already pushing their limits.
Looking around, Eula realized just how empty this bar was - even at this hour, there were only four customers including herself. Though she felt somewhat bad for the owner, this quiet atmosphere actually suited her quite well. For someone like her, the more lively a bar was, the worse the drinking experience tended to be.
She might consider visiting regularly in the future, though the bar's location was rather remote. No wonder there were so few customers.
"This guest, if you don't mind, why not sit here for a chat? We'll provide complimentary snacks." Chen Luo pointed to the two "premium" seats next to Venti.
"Hmm? You're inviting me to sit there? Are you trying to get close to gather information? Vengeance will be mine. But since you've invited me, I'd like to hear what you have to say."
Eula was clearly taken aback, but after seeing the bard nod in encouragement, she took a seat at the indicated spot. This bar was truly strange.
The white-haired girl sitting nearby was dressed oddly too - her outfit somewhat resembled nun's robes but not quite. Did Mondstadt have child nuns? Or was this some homemade costume? As for the gray-haired girl sitting across from her, Eula couldn't discern much except that she seemed quite strong.
"So what would you like to order? Anything is possible here." Chen Luo rapped his knuckles on the table, interrupting Eula's wandering thoughts.
"Anything?"
"Exactly. In this bar, there's nothing I can't do." Chen Luo nodded proudly. Within these walls, both his mixology and culinary skills were elevated to their highest potential. He could even prepare a braised Stormterror, provided the price was right and the customer supplied any special ingredients needed.
Otherwise, for just 5 Primogems, "Mom's Flavor" could perfectly replicate the taste of a braised Stormterror. Though there won't be any special effects, just the flavor.
"In that case, I'll have a Stormcrest Pie." A slight smirk played on Eula's lips as she prepared to teach this owner a lesson. Stormcrest Pie was her signature dish - a customized version of Moon Pie.
[Ding! New commission received!]
"No problem." Hearing this delightful sound, a smile blossomed on Chen Luo's face. "With enough Primogems, I could pull the Heavenly Sustainer down from the sky and serve her to you on a platter."
"Wait, wait! Why does she get free snacks when I don't? I'm the one who brought her here! Chen Luo, have you no conscience?" Venti called out as Chen Luo turned toward the kitchen, his face the very picture of pitiful indignation.
Chen Luo had to turn back, looking helplessly at Venti. "When have I ever charged you for food or drinks? My bar is free, okay? I've never taken money from anyone... well, except that one Mora from Venti and Theresa's 1,000 yen."
"Oh. Right." Venti blinked, momentarily stunned by this realization. Having nearly missed out on his usual freebies, the habitual freeloader was briefly dumbfounded.
"But wait, let's be honest here - you're giving her Stormcrest Pie without her posting a commission, yet I don't get snacks unless I post one? Why does she get free food without a commission while I don't?" Venti quickly recalled the bar's rules and resumed his protests.
"Alright, alright. You just want snacks, right? Here, take them. Consider it payment for bringing in customers." Chen Luo raised his right hand to cut off Venti.
"I want peanuts and edamame."
"Fine, fine."
The only way to shut Venti up was to let him freeload.
"This bar doesn't charge money?" Eula found this policy rather concerning. Such rules easily brought to mind certain... unsavory possibilities. Like a front for criminal activity.
"Weird, isn't it? But you'll get used to it. This place really doesn't charge money. Though, as payment for introducing you to such a great free-drinking establishment... don't you think you owe me?" Venti grinned mischievously.
Eula eyed him skeptically. "Setting aside whether it's truly free... the atmosphere is acceptable. What payment do you want?"
"Just chat with the owner more. Visit often. Drink this place dry!" Venti declared triumphantly.
"...What?" Eula wondered if she'd misheard.
"You heard right. Basically, keep him company so he stops bothering me." Venti nodded solemnly.
This Chen Luo's such a miser—always pestering me for commissions. Now you can be his walking commission board instead!
"Are you mocking me? Using my status to harass the owner? Vengeance will be mine." Eula suspected Venti wanted her—a Lawrence—to deliberately make the Bar uncomfortable.
"Not at all. Haven't you realized? This isn't Mondstadt anymore." Venti stretched, sipping his wine.
"Impossible." Eula reflexively denied it—she'd just walked in from a Mondstadt alley!
"Really? Ever heard of this place before? A near-empty Bar in the City of Wine? And everyone is treating you like a stranger?" He gestured to Theresa and the Herrscher of Sentience, who showed zero reaction to Eula's presence.
Eula was convinced by Venti, especially the last reason.
The clincher? The small window revealed not city streets, but a swirling void.
At this moment, Chen Luo emerged with two plates: peanuts and edamame for Venti, and Eula's Stormcrest Pie.
"This fast?" Eula stared.
"Normally no, but I took a shortcut." Chen Luo said lazily
It only costs 0.1 Primogem to make a normal dish in this bar, but if you want the bar to auto cook the dish, just double the price.
"This... tastes exactly like mine." Eula was surprised when she ate the Stormcrest Pie that tasted exactly the same as what she made.
"Owner, that bard claims this bar isn't in Mondstadt?" Eula raised her head and asked Chen Luo.
"Correct. As long as you come to this bar once, you can come from anywhere." Chen Luo nodded.
"Then... you don't know me?" Eula pointed at herself.
"Oh, I do. Eula Lawrence. Spindrift Knight. Lawrence clan descendant. Descendant of sinners. Reconnaissance Captain. Enjoys bathing in Dragonspine's lakes—"
"Stop, stop, stop!" Eula hurriedly stopped Chen Luo from continuing to speak.
"What's wrong? Did I get something wrong?" Chen Luo looked at her in confusion.
Although he hadn't played Genshin Impact for a while, at least he should have remembered she bathes in the lakes of Dragonspine correctly.
"It's not wrong, but how do you know so many things? Have you been to the Dragonspine..." Eula looked at Chen Luo with wide eyes.
Could this guy have peeked at her while she was taking a bath?
Who would go to the Dragonspine when they have nothing to do?
"No, no. I have never been to Mondstadt. I just know these facts." Chen Luo shook his head
"Then why do you know... all this?"
"You can think of it as the bar telling me."
"Then manager, as someone not from Mondstadt who knows about me, what do you think of my identity as a sinner..." Eula asked after a moment of silence.
"Your ancestors' crimes aren't yours. Why should you bear the responsibility for the mistakes made by your ancestors?" Chen Luo waved his hand.
Anyway, Chen Luo is not from Mondstadt, so he has no mental burden to say this.
"..." Eula was silent.
No one in Mondstadt had ever said this. Not even from Amber, it was more like "Eula can gain recognition from others through her own efforts!"
It was novel, but it was very nice to listen to.
"But then again, you who have enjoyed the support of your family must have inherited some sins. In my opinion, as long as you pay off the sins you gained from being raised by them, you can live in Mondstadt without any burden. At least you can have a clear conscience."
It is normal for Chen Luo to vent his anger on others. If he puts himself in their shoes, he might also vent his anger on them.
Hmm, for example—rare dogs![2]
Probably…
TL Note:
[1]: Eula has a unique sneezing animation and this became a viral meme in the CN community.
[2]: The term rare dogs (狗罕见) means
狗 (gǒu, "dog") as a derogatory prefix
罕见 (hǎnjiàn, "rare") as a homophonic pun on 汉奸 (hànjiān, "traitor to China/historical collaborator")