“Mr. Rockland!”
“Your... that... that job!”
“You’re... you’re a beast!”
A while later.
Inside the Snowy Owl's Howl.
The previously impeccably dressed George was now nothing more than a heap of human wreckage.
His face was flushed a deep, angry red, his tie had migrated to the back of his neck, and the veins in his forehead were throbbing violently.
He reached out a shaky hand and slapped it heavily onto Elias’s shoulder.
His tongue was so thick he couldn't even get a single complete sentence out clearly.
On the other side of the table, Elias remained perfectly composed.
He watched the poor fool across from him, whose brain was currently being pickled in alcohol.
Raising his wrist, Elias drained another glass of Burn-throat as if it were nothing more than plain water.
His complexion didn't change, and his heart rate didn't even skip a beat.
The cramped round table was now densely packed with empty glasses.
Elias had lost track of exactly how many rounds he had gone through with this George fellow, who had insisted on seeking his own suffering.
Judging by the wreckage on the table, the sight alone would be enough to make any veteran drunkard’s liver tremble in fear.
“George!”
“That’s enough!”
Mary gritted her teeth, glaring at her own brother in fury.
She was practically losing her mind. This was supposed to be a bit of social drinking to lighten the mood; how had it turned into this life-or-death struggle?
And the most humiliating part was that her brother was being single-handedly wiped across the floor!
Meanwhile, the other pair of siblings nearby had an entirely different vibe.
They were as calm as if they were watching a play.
“Are you alright?”
Charlotte reached out her small hand and gently patted Elias on the back.
In the sweltering, stuffy air of the tavern, she looked at her brother with a hint of concern.
Elias turned his head.
He looked perfectly sober and even flashed her a smile.
“I’m fine.”
“It feels about the same as drinking water.”
Those words were devastating.
It wasn't that he was putting on a show; he genuinely felt nothing. His liver processing this amount of alcohol was like a high-powered steam engine grinding up a few stalks of hay. There was no pressure at all.
“I... I’m fine too!”
“Miss... Miss Rockland!”
George, who was being frantically patted on the back by his sister, seemed to catch the siblings' conversation.
He jerked his head up as if struck by lightning. With his eyes struggling to focus—practically going cross-eyed—he hurriedly and slurringly assured his sweetheart that he was still standing strong.
Watching George desperately try to save face, Charlotte’s curiosity was nearly overflowing.
The same liquor, the same amount.
How could the results be so drastically different between the two of them?
One was practically a vegetable, while the other was acting like nothing had happened, not even breaking a sweat!
Was George’s tolerance really that bad? Was he truly such a total lightweight?
But that didn't make sense either! No matter how low the alcohol content, with this many empty glasses, the sheer volume should have been enough to topple a bull! How did Elias look like he hadn't touched a drop?
Was he using some kind of trick? Or had she simply never known her brother possessed such a terrifying capacity for alcohol?!
With those thoughts, Charlotte’s overwhelming curiosity completely overrode her reason.
She stealthily reached out and snatched the freshly filled glass from in front of Elias, pulling it toward herself.
“What are you doing?”
Elias’s eyelid twitched as he noticed her movement.
“I want a taste!”
“Hey—”
Before Elias could reach out to stop her, Charlotte had already leaned over the glass and taken a cautious sip.
A second later.
“Cough... cough, cough, cough!”
Charlotte’s pale face instantly flushed crimson! Tears practically sprayed from her eyes.
She coughed violently, feeling as though she had lost all sensation in her tongue!
“What the hell is this?!”
“I only had a tiny bit!”
“It felt like I swallowed a mouthful of fire!”
Charlotte pushed the glass as far away as possible with a look of pure disgust, sticking her tongue out and frantically gulping in the cold air.
“Are you really okay?”
With physiological tears still in the corners of her eyes, she turned her head in disbelief and stared fixedly at Elias.
“I’m fine,” Elias said, spreading his hands.
“As you can see.”
“How can you even drink this stuff?!” Charlotte felt her worldview being violently shaken.
“I just drink it,” Elias answered smugly.
“You’re faking it!” Charlotte looked him up and down suspiciously.
“You boys just love acting tough! Be honest, do you want to throw up?”
“I really am fine!”
Elias rubbed his brow helplessly. He had to exert a great deal of effort, swearing he was healthier than a walrus, before he finally managed to convince his sister that he wasn't drunk.
Just then, Elias’s peripheral vision caught a sudden, highly aggressive gaze.
It was Victoria, sitting across from him.
Oh, crap.
Elias felt a chill race up his spine.
The attractive blonde girl was currently resting her chin in her hands, staring at him dreamily.
That look... it was direct, lingering, and practically dripping with desire!
Elias wailed inwardly. Lady, are you for real?!
Just because he out-drank George? What about that was worth falling for? Don't look at me like I'm prey! I only want to spend tonight with John’s corpse!
This young girl was way too much of a hopeless romantic!
Then again, everyone at that age would find some strange reason to fall madly in love with someone.
But Elias knew one thing for certain: he couldn't stay here any longer.
If he stayed and let this blonde girl cling to him, his plans for tonight would be completely ruined! Not only would he be unable to slip away, but even extricating himself would be difficult.
Besides, he didn't want to involve his innocent sister in the dangerous operation that was to follow. Perhaps he needed to take a bit of a detour first and get this girl safely to another location.
“Why don't we go out for a stroll?” Elias suggested loudly as he stood up, addressing everyone at the table.
“It’ll help clear our heads. Looking at the time, the parade should be starting soon. We might as well wander the streets and see if there are any fun games to play.”
“Okay!”
The moment Elias finished speaking, Victoria responded with excitement, her eyes shining even brighter.
Charlotte was next. She didn't want to stay in this place filled with the pungent stench of alcohol any longer either.
Only Mary seemed a bit hesitant.
“My brother...” She glanced at George, who was slumped in his chair with a goofy grin. “In his condition, I don't think he can leave anytime soon, can he?”
Wait, what? If he doesn't leave, we can't leave!
Elias started to panic. If they didn't go, he’d be eaten alive by this blonde girl right here!
They had to go!
Thus, Elias’s gaze darkened. Under the cover of the table, he silently extended a spiritual tentacle from his body.
The invisible limb snaked through the air and precisely entered George’s cerebral cortex. Then, it delivered a sharp, subtle stimulus!
In an instant, George acted as if someone had shoved a hot poker up his backside. He snapped bolt upright in his chair like a spring compressed to its limit!
“Huh?”
“Let’s go!” George suddenly shouted, his eyes wide.
“Mary, what are you talking about? I’m fine!”
“This drink is great! I love it!”
“Get a bottle to go!”
As he spoke, he even squeezed out a warm, gentle smile toward Charlotte.
Mary, sitting beside him, nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden outburst. She whipped her head around, looking at her brother as if she were seeing a ghost.
“?”
Rate on N.U.
