"Here we are, Miss Tilan."
The towering beastman bodyguard stepped out of the car to guide the young girl. His face was frad by thick, dense sideburns, and his wide nose, though prominent on his equally broad head, only added to his powerful and imposing appearance. His massive hand was almost the size of the girl's head.
From his burly physique and sheer sense of intimidation alone, the beastman far surpassed the human average. It was no wonder many entertainnt venues hired beastn as security staff. It wasn't necessarily because their combat abilities were superior to humans of the sa rank—it was simply that their towering and robust builds could preempt a lot of trouble.
"Thank you, Mr. Tuta." The young girl clutched her handbag with both hands and bowed in courtesy.
The beastman before her wasn't her subordinate but a bodyguard temporarily lent to her by Ailu Kelu. Formality and politeness were certainly due.
"Have you been to this bar before, Mr. Tuta?" She didn't rush to enter but instead examined the sign and text outside.
"I've been here a few tis. There's a comrcial district nearby, with plenty of office buildings. After work, this place gathers those too tired or unwilling to go ho."
"Compared to bars on the outskirts, the security here is pretty decent. At least incidents of direct violence are rare." By "direct violence," he likely ant serious injuries or shootouts.
"Understood. I'll head in first. You can co in a bit later and keep an eye on from afar. If I need your help, I'll let you know directly."
"It's my honor, Miss Tilan."
Though this young lady wasn't his employer, she was still a revered Songstress, just like Ailu Kelu. That respect was well warranted.
"See you shortly, Mr. Tuta." With that, Tilan stepped into the bar.
...
As her shoes pressed against the graffiti-splattered ground, the girl could already hear the rumbling blast of music from inside the bar, mingled with incomprehensible screams and growls.
She shook her head; she'd never been fond of heavy tal rock, probably because of the very environnts that accompanied it.
Lingering smoke filled the air, vaguely mingled with the scent of sweat. In the dimly lit corners of the floor were old, untouched stains. The partition curtain carried faint grease marks. All of this reminded Tilan of Payin City's underground scenes from the past.
A faint layer of airflow coated her hand, shielding her from physical contact with the curtain as she lifted a portion of it and stepped past the bar's main door. Instantly, the music's volu swelled around her.
Approaching the bar counter, Tilan glanced at the stools, which were slightly taller than her waist. She went on tiptoe briefly before perching on one.
"Good evening, Wanaliya~" The burly barkeep in a gold chain greeted her. His complexion was dark.
"Good evening, though I don't think my na is Wanaliya." Tilan's gaze briefly assessed him. The barkeep was clearly in a good mood, and his strength seed above mid-level Sequence 4.
"That's right, it's not a na. It's a term of endearnt from my hotown, used for all lovely ladies." He explained while shaking the cocktail shaker in his hand and pouring a freshly mixed drink for another guest.
"So, what'll it be tonight?"
"Uh, do you have any recomndations? Sothing mild." Tilan wasn't particularly fond of alcohol.
"Oh, that's easy. I'd recomnd the gently tipsy 'Fresh White Moonlight.' It suits Wanaliya's temperant perfectly."
"Can you tell about it?"
"Of course. It's made with 30ml of gin, 15ml of lemon juice, 20ml of syrup, and 80ml of jasmine tea. Add ice, shake it up, and garnish with thy. It has a fantastic taste and isn't too intense. I'm sure you'll love it."
"Alright, I'll have one then."
"Got it, Wanaliya." The barkeep quickly got to work with practiced ease.
Soon, a golden-jasmine-hued 'Fresh White Moonlight' was ready. When the glass was placed in front of Tilan, she could still hear the crisp sound of ice clinking against liquid echoing in her ears.
She picked it up and took a small sip. The cool, mildly sweet fragrance of the drink seeped into her palate. It truly was pleasant.
At this mont, Tilan allowed herself to relax a little. Holding her cocktail, she sat to the side, observing the people dancing and chatting in the distance.
It wasn't long before a freshly off-work employee, briefcase in hand, burst into the bar. He loosened the suffocating grip of his tailored suit as he lunged at the bar counter, as if the bar alone could grant him solace from the oppressive workplace.
"The usual, Sik."
"Coming right up, Licentich." The barkeep pulled out his shaker and began mixing a drink for the office worker, who tossed his briefcase aside, unbuttoned the top of his shirt, yanked off his tie, and bundled it together with his jacket.
"Phew, that feels way better."
"Relax. Tonight, you can let loose even more. Not even the executives at those ga-corps have any say over a beast after hours." The barkeep joked casually.
"Haha, exactly! Only by becoming a beast can I awaken the strength within . Being human is exhausting."
As he spoke, the barkeep set the freshly mixed drink before him. The liquid was a deep crimson, its rich aroma imdiately signaling a potent liquor.
Grabbing the glass, he took a sizable gulp. It was as if only an intense thrill like this could numb the rigid, suppressed nerves and release the buried emotions inside him.
Draining more than half the glass in one go, the office worker let out a small burp. His mind already felt foggy, but his mood seed especially elated.
Watching the scene unfold, Tilan took another small sip from her own glass, subtly concealing her expression. anwhile, a few thoughts began to surface in her mind.
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