"Speaking of which, this is the first time I've seen Charlotte go out on her own initiative."
It wasn't until the two people's backs disappeared from his sight that Ed gently touched his chin and sighed.
"She usually goes out occasionally, but since the little golden-haired painter who didn't speak very well came here, she has become more and more... like an ordinary person." Bai Ya said on the side.
"Ordinary people? Maybe it's not so bad for them."
It is not difficult for Ed to go back to being an ordinary maintenance technician. But for Charlotte and Buckley, the word "ordinary" is a luxury that can never be achieved.
I wonder if Buck noticed Charlotte's concern for him. Based on Ed's limited knowledge of Buck, he probably didn't care at all, but the interaction between the two did make Charlotte a little more cheerful.
It can be considered a good thing... As for the money to buy painting materials, I can only pay it back to her later when I find an opportunity.
Ed knew that doing art was expensive, and the prices of some high-end paints made him stupefy. But he is indeed a little tight on money now - in addition to the 20 pounds he owes Bai Ya, the material cost of the Wasp drone is also a large expense, and the faceless iron coins must be reserved for system upgrades.
"By the way, Bai Ya..."
He sat on the bar chair next to Byakuya, took out a prepared wad of bills from his pocket and pressed it on the table:
"You may not be able to finish the 20 pounds you lent me before. Do you think this will work? You can keep the 10 pounds first, and I will treat you to a bottle of good wine as interest. The remaining 10 pounds will be paid back next month. How are you?"
"Hey, what kind of wine?" Bai Ya laughed softly and asked noncommittally.
Ed took out the wine he said was good: the rugged glass pattern on the bottle looked like red dragon scales, and the cork at the mouth of the bottle was also decorated with silver tin to look like a giant dragon's head. The dark red striped label outlines a line of beautifully designed cursive text - 'Dragon's Breath' Tequila.
"Mr. Kraken left it to me before he left."
"Tsk, tsk, I have been saving this stinky fish head for at least five years and haven't been willing to drink it. I thought he took this bottle of precious wine with him when he went to the Scarlet Islands for vacation, but I didn't expect that he actually left it with you?"
Seeing this bottle of wine, Byakuya's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Dr. Rowan did not advise Mr. Kraken to continue consuming alcoholic beverages due to his medical condition, so he left it to me."
"I see, but why did he have to leave it to you? I have known him for more than ten years."
"Well..." Ed explained, "Maybe just because I helped him pack his luggage, he casually handed over the wine to me for safekeeping."
"Just kidding, of course he left me a lot of good things."
Bai Ya smiled and gently stroked the metal faucet at the mouth of the bottle, as if wiping away all the memories of the past. Suddenly, he made a fist with his palm and broke it off.
Then, he skillfully inserted the auger used to open the cork, pulled out the cork, and suddenly a hot and spicy aroma of wine wafted out.
Byakuya poured the clear silver-like tequila liquid into the glass and took a sip. The strong liquor first made him frown, and then he showed a satisfied expression:
"Okay, keep the wine and take the money. When you save enough money, you can give it to me together. Don't make it so long-winded. I'm afraid I'll accidentally forget it then."
As he spoke, he waved his hand and pushed the wad of bills in Ed's direction. Ed nodded and put the money directly into his wallet without giving up:
"Thank you very much. You can drink here for now, and I'll go upstairs to see how they are doing." After saying that, Ed was about to get up.
"Wait a minute." Bai Ya reached for another wine glass and poured half a glass for Ed. "It's boring to drink such a good wine alone. Sit here and have a drink with me."
So Ed sat down again. He picked up the wine glass and smelled it. The silver-clear wine contained a spicy aroma between fresh chili pepper and honey, and it rushed straight to his forehead.
This is a distilled liquor brewed from the unique flame agave bulbs of the Scarlet Islands. It is much stronger than the whiskey you usually drink.
"I said, do you know why the little girl from the Custer family came here? I heard from Arthur that they only have two children in their family, their brother and sister. Her parents didn't stop them. Did she have to do it then? Don’t you even start to regret it when you don’t even have someone to take care of you?”
Alcohol seemed to have stirred up Byakuya's thoughts, or maybe he had wanted to say this for a long time.
"She mentioned to me that she just wanted to know why Arthur joined the East Side team. When she figures out the answer, she will leave here." Ed said to Bai Ya truthfully, "Arthur mentioned to you Why does he want to come here?"
"No, he never said that." Byakuya drank heavily and recalled the past, "Losing a brother is a painful thing, I can relate to it."
"Mr. Sea Monster mentioned something to me during the parting time. I regret not being able to work with him." Ed casually found an excuse and said, "I heard that he was almost exactly the same as you before his death, except for his weapons and clothes. "
"Yes, we are twin brothers." Bai Ya stared at the bottom of the empty cup and said, "We have been together since childhood. We went to school together, fought together, and trained archery together. Except when we were picking up girls, we almost didn't do anything. Separated. I never imagined what life would be like without him..."
He refilled himself a glass, "But it still happened."
"So how did he..." Ed picked up the rim of the glass and took a sip, asking implicitly.
"It's nothing, it was just an accident. A madman set up a trap to kill us all in the room. We should have evacuated as soon as possible, but in order to save the little girl hostage, he rushed in anyway."
Byakuya kept shaking the glass, as if the whirlpool of strong liquor could make him recall more details.
