Cecilia patted the barrel. "Here's the strongest liquor in Eastman," she declared.
"All Eastman?" Uriel had never drank, but he pretended to be interested. "Why do you say that?"
"Here's the evidence." The waitress opened the lid, and the strong smell of alcohol blew over, enough to make a mouse faint. This was such a shock that Uriel almost sneezed. "Mysterious plants are added to it."
"Druids can produce and sell themselves, and poison can be turned into wine," the character maliciously speculated, "Two ignorant brats." Especially you, Uriel." This guy kept talking endlessly.
"Sneeze!" The apprentice still couldn't hold it back. "I don't think it could be anything else," he muttered. "Mysterious plants, is there any mysterious alcohol?"
"I don't know. But the wine is made from mysterious plants. Mr. Haynes entertains his old friends with it and no one else is allowed to taste it." It was really produced by Eze. "Not even the adventurers of the Knox Mercenary Group."
"Who else is there? Lord Messenger?" The latter is probably unlikely.
"The Lord Messenger is not from here." Cecilia told the apprentice. "He will stay in the vassal country, but he will eventually have to return to the tower. The floating cloud city of Brumnot, where Mr. Haines also comes from. That was before he became an adventurer in the Knox Mercenary Group... As for the person who has tasted the treasure, he is a highly respected alchemist. I have not met him either."
"Alchemist. Is there really such a person?"
"Can we still have a holiday?"
"What about alchemy?" Uriel asked. "Does he turn stone into gold, or create elements? Are his candles made of gold?"
"I would like to talk to you about related topics, but this is a mysterious profession, Uriel." Cecilia closed the lid, "I only know about wine, you don't care about that."
Profession. What does mystery have to do with career? Does looking for a job have another meaning in this world? "Of course I..." Before the words came out of his mouth, Yuli suddenly regained his senses. He quickly started to make amends: "There are mysterious professions related to wine in the world, right?"
"Maybe. Even gardeners can be mystical beings, so there's no reason why bartenders can't."
It doesn't sound like guessing. The apprentice felt that Cecilia didn't know any more, so it would be better to ask Sauron the Ring. He couldn't help rubbing his fingers. But the waitress had fixed the lid and was loading the barrel into the hanging basket. The process was quite arduous and she did not ask for any help from her apprentices.
Uriel didn't have the shamelessness to stand there and watch the girls work hard. He quickly went to lend a hand. "Someone has to take care of the Secret Garden, and Mr. Haynes's wine has to be tended to. I guess he doesn't come to the cellar himself."
Cecilia didn't refuse. "The mysterious alcohol that has been sealed for too long cannot be eaten directly. Before they drink it, I have to add some spices...the spices will change the taste. Do you want to try it?"
"Are there any consequences?"
"At worst it's just drunk. I tried the fruit wine York gave me and had sweet dreams for a week - but it was the same dream."
"Anyway, magic wine apparently improves relationships. Maybe just one sip and you'll become my friend."
"No need to drink. As long as you lift it up, you are my friend." Cecilia smiled and handed him the rope.
"Only carrying the rope?" The apprentice blinked.
"Then I can come myself. Go quickly! There is a pulley at the bottom of the stairs."
Uriel climbed the steps, and as the light became richer, he quickly found the pulley holding the rope. Its bearings were loose, and Cecilia must have neglected to care for the wheels when she pulled it. It would be great if she could pull it up. The apprentice looked down at Cecilia again. She squinted her eyes, trying to adapt to the light.
"How did you move it up by yourself?"
"It depends on the alchemy potion. It's too expensive, and I've finished drinking it a long time ago. I can move it in a few times."
"Potion? A creation of an alchemist?"
"That's all I know. Even if I move another bucket, that's all I know."
"Still moving?"
"Being not."
Her vision dimmed and the waitress put on her glasses. Uriel returned to the wine cellar and startled her. "How does the potion taste?"
"It doesn't smell like chestnuts anyway."
"That's just right." He gestured for her to follow him. "I'm afraid you won't need it anymore."
They worked together to pull up the barrels and seal the cellar, blocking out the dizzying aroma. Uriel saw the glass creaking slightly and Sauron writing something on the ring, but he didn't look carefully and only saw the words "alchemy" and "career". After all, what’s the use of knowing too much? I don't have a secret garden.
But before the barrels were taken care of, the wind chimes rang. That meant the arrival of customers, and since Eds Haynes usually returned to the bar carrying something, his only option was to kick the door open with his foot.
The guest is a polite lady. Although she was covered from head to toe under a black gauze skirt and a fine mesh mask, it was not easy to tell. Such dressing is undoubtedly alarming in the surface world, but now Uriel has determined that she is related to the mystery. At least she wasn't wearing a witch's hat.
It is worth mentioning that she was barefoot and had a gray cloth bag on her shoulder. The shape of the thing inside was sharp, so that the fabric had ridges in all directions.
The waitress was busy handling the wine barrel, so Uriel had to ask for her: "What would you like to drink?"
The woman in black skirt was silent for a moment. The apprentice felt that the eyes under her mask were staring directly at him, and he couldn't help but feel a little creepy. what's the situation?
"No need." Her voice was like a buzz saw, "I'm looking for the owner of this store."
Could it be that she is an alchemist? "Unfortunately, he went out." Uriel said carefully, "Maybe he will be back soon. If you want, just wait here for him."
"...No need." She repeated slowly.
"Can you please leave your name, ma'am? I can write it down and notify Mr. Haynes."
There was another moment of silence. The woman in the black dress swayed and seemed to come closer, but she made no sound at all. Uriel noticed a strange aroma, and its strong presence was able to break out from the smell of alcohol and enter his nose fiercely. It took a lot of effort for the apprentice not to sneeze. He began to appreciate Cecilia's brilliance in mixing spices.
"Geneva." She finally spoke again, "I have something to give to Lord Garrison."
"What is it?" the apprentice asked casually, "If it is too valuable, I suggest you give it to him in person, Ms. Geneva."
"Alchemical potion."
Uriel's hand shook. "What?"
"A newly developed air freshener." Geneva told him, "It is enough to remove any odor, including the smell of alcohol and burnt tobacco leaves..." The apprentice looked at her in shock, unable to believe that he had encountered an alien world. Unique product promotion. “…Knox Pub needs ventilation, but you obviously chose the latter between the smell and the visual effect by installing the windows.”
What a hell. Now he wouldn't let her keep the things no matter what he said. "Thanks for the reminder." Uriel said dryly, "But I can't make the decision, ma'am. Why don't you just wait, Mr. Haynes will be back soon."
The woman in the black dress was disappointed, even a little annoyed: "He shouldn't have gone out. He shouldn't have. He shouldn't!"
"Do you have an agreement?" I shouldn't ask. Uriel regretted it as soon as he said it.
"No. How could Lord Garrison care about mortals?"
An unexpected rhetorical question. Things are strange. Uriel only thought that Geneva was a friend of the bar owner, selling some freshener potion by the way, but her attitude seemed to be that there was a difference in status between them. He suddenly didn't know how to deal with it.
Geneva stared at him: "Are you new here? A relative of Haines?"
"Uh, no." That's weird. Is it necessary to ask this? "What's the matter, ma'am? Can I help you?" Could she be Haynes's lover? That's probably just unrequited love. Uriel relaxed his mind. If she had asked about this, I would have been able to confirm it.
"Try this," she said.
Geneva took out a small wooden bottle from the bag - it was as big as a hand, rough and unattractive in appearance - and sprayed some water mist on the counter. Her wrist was as thin as a hemp rod, but her movements were so fast that at least Uriel had no time to stop her. He could only be glad afterwards that it was not Geneva's own perfume... Anyway, as the mist fell like snowflakes, the smell did become fainter.
The woman took a few deep breaths nervously: "Ten bottles for fifteen. Discounted price."
If two Black City gold coins could buy her off, Uriel would be willing to give it a try, but unfortunately he is saving money now. Maybe Cecilia will need this? "I'll ask my colleagues for you."
"Really? Can she come up with Abbey gold coins?"
"Think carefully, let it go." The apprentice immediately changed his mind, "Opening the door for ventilation can solve all problems. If it doesn't work, you can open the skylight." There are no banknotes in this world. Among the currency systems of Binya Aio, Black City gold coins are the lowest. This currency was issued during the period when the Eastman Kingdom was just established, and its exchange rate with the Abbey gold coin was 0.01. Money is not wasted like this.
"My potion is different from other things. It's special," Geneva said. "It's... special."
"Of course. I dare say it's precious." Especially expensive. "It's a shame I can't enjoy it."
Geneva's eyes became solid again, as if fixed on the apprentice. "You don't understand what you're missing, kid," she hissed. "You don't understand! Gods bless you."
Uriel frowned: "Understand?"
"Mortals are not qualified to enjoy divine grace." The woman in black skirt said again, "You will regret it." She disappeared like a ghost into the sound of wind chimes.
The air is still filled with the smell of perfume. Uriel stared at the door in confusion, wondering whether to lock it first. Is she a mere threat? Or revenge? After all, who is Geneva? This question can only be asked when the bar owner comes back. "This is the first time I've ever heard of God giving air freshener," he muttered. But when he turned around to get the rag, a line of characters written in frost appeared on the glass.
"idiot! You almost died! 』
"I almost died from her perfume, can you smell it too?"
The frost suddenly stopped moving, and it seemed that Soren Gershon paused for a moment for his answer. But it then wrote: "Don't be stupid, you dare to use potions casually?" That woman gave you poison"
poison. Suddenly, all the legends came to mind. Uriel thought of the witches' curses and witchcraft. The huge inertia of seventeen years of peaceful life prevented him from changing his mind for a while. Now that he recalled it, Uriel was shocked: "She...she is really a witch?"
"Pooh! She is only human. But alchemy potions are a real threat』
"Isn't that freshener?" It's really impossible for someone to use magic potion for cleaning. Cecilia just said that alchemy products are of extraordinary value. "what is that?"
The "I don't know" characters stopped changing for two seconds and then started moving again. "How weird. I felt a swirl of magic as you approached her, but Geneva is indeed mortal. It can only be the effect of the magic potion』
"Based on my experience, Uriel, if the potion enters your body, you will ignite the fire"
"Light the fire...burn the soul?" Is it that simple?
"Yes. As much as I'd like to make you a mythical creature, I respect your opinion. A wise man never forces others to do something difficult." The ring is not meant to be a prank. "The ignition of fire requires a special environment, and rushing it will only burn the soul to ashes."
Uriel felt a chill spread throughout his body. "Am I going to die?" Unbelievable. The news of death came so suddenly that he didn't even feel anything. It's basically business as usual.
"Are you deaf?" I'm talking about what if. if! Just go check out the counter and remember to hold your breath.』
The apprentice slowly turned around and found that the bar was covered with a layer of ice crystals as thin as silk, with a light golden glow in the deepest part. He just wanted to gasp loudly and be grateful to have escaped death, but his reason made him quickly cover his mouth and carefully retreat to the cupboard. It was only then that his heart began to beat rapidly. "What the hell!" he shouted uncontrollably. "What the hell!"
"nice one. You can stay, potions that can cause changes in fire are not common.』
Just spare me. "No, no, no need. If your master needs it, just take it." Uriel pulled the cabinet door, but his fingers were strangely unruly. It took him three tries before he opened the latch and got the box. . "Cecila?"
"What?" the waitress said, smelling of alcohol.
"Please pass me the unused shovel. I want the long-handled one."
When the potion crushed ice was put into the wine bottle and the stopper was closed, Uriel let out a sigh of relief. I have to try to hide it so no one eats it. Relying on smell to identify this thing will probably result in death. He planned to put a label on it first.
But thinking of this, the apprentice's movements suddenly stopped: "Geneva...where did she take those magic potions?"
