Leon smiled and said, “I’m serious. A lovely girl like you, who is as charming as our guest, must have many admirers. Why be sad over just one person’s rejection?”

The girl lowered her head, hiding her entire face under the large wizard hat, feeling her cheeks flush.

“You, you misunderstood. I was talking about my application to join a team being rejected. No team is willing to take me, it’s not about that kind of thing,” her voice trembled slightly, suppressing her shy emotions.

Leon finally understood.

“I’m sorry, I misunderstood.”

“It’s, it’s okay,” came a soft voice from beneath the large hat.

“What do you mean by no team willing to accept you? Can’t you find a job?”

“My magic spells are not very accurate, I always miss the monsters, and sometimes even accidentally hurt my teammates. So, basically, no team wants me. Occasionally, there are teams willing to accept me, but their expressions look scary, so I’m too afraid to join… That’s why I’m always alone, but I can’t do anything alone. What should I do?” the girl under the hat teared up.

Leon was momentarily taken aback, is this some kind of LARP ?

(Live Action Role Playing)

Seeing that the girl was fully immersed in her role, Leon continued with her setting, “Then you can consider forming your own team, recruiting newcomers, and growing together with them. Eventually, you will have reliable companions.”

The girl suddenly lifted her head, her pale purple eyes misty, like crystals, “But newbies always choose those famous teams.”

Leon smiled gently and said, “Just be patient, they will surely appear.”

“What if I invite you, would you join?”

“Um, well…”

Tears shimmered in the girl’s eyes as she sniffled, “See, even someone as kind as you, sir, doesn’t want to join. Who else would team up with me?”

Oh well, it’s just part of the game setting, might as well comfort her. It’s not like I’m actually going on an adventure in another world with her.

With this thought, Leon said, “Of course, I’d be willing.”

“Really?” the girl rubbed her eyes to confirm.

“Really, if I were an adventurer…”

Before Leon could finish, the girl had already collapsed.

It seems she’s not good at drinking, the alcohol content of the emerald gem liquor was too much for her.

Next time before offering someone a drink, I should assess their alcohol tolerance, Leon silently concluded.

The bar returned to quietude, with only the gentle flow of music like a stream. Leon cleaned the girl’s used glass while Elise walked over to the bar, lifting the girl’s big hat to take a look.

“Oh, drool’s coming out.”

“Elise, don’t touch the guests, respecting the guests is a fundamental quality of working in a bar.”

Elise made a face at Leon, “Mind your own business, you’re not the manager, why do you have the right to lecture me?”

Despite her words, she still put down the girl’s hat.

At this moment, the girl seemed to be disturbed, and murmured under her hat, “I… I’m Lanya…”

Lanya, is that this child’s name?

Seeing that she seemed to be sleeping soundly, Leon had Elise carry her to the couch, awaiting the arrival of the next guest.

Time ticked away, forty minutes later, the girl named Lanya still hadn’t woken up, sleeping peacefully on the couch. At that moment, the sound of wind chimes echoed from outside the door.

Another girl walked into the bar, appearing to be around twenty years old. She had a delicate and beautiful oval face, striking red hair, and was dressed in black light armor. It highlighted her fair skin, and she had a slender waist with a red-hilted longsword hanging at her side

Her beauty and attire surprised Leon.

The second guest today, she seemed to have quite a personality.

The red-haired girl sat on a high stool by the bar, curiously looking around, her shoulder-length vibrant red hair swaying.

“Hey, this chair is fun. Elise, when did you guys change the decor of the bar?”

Her tone indicated she was a regular.

Elise responded gloomily, “Just a few days ago.”

The red-haired girl burst into laughter, “Haha, I haven’t been here for a while. Not only has the decor changed, but you’ve also turned into a waitress.”

“Shut up, Karina.”

Karina, as Elise referred to her, stopped teasing and turned her attention to Leon behind the bar.

“You’re the guy who chased Elise out from behind the bar?” Karina assessed Leon with her bright eyes.

Leon remained composed and asked, “What kind of liquor would the guest like?”

“Strong stuff, the stronger, the better.” She sounded as adventurous as a sailor.

“How about a Long Island Iced Tea?”

“Is that tea? I want alcohol.”

Leon smiled as he explained, “Although it’s named tea, it’s actually a mix of four strong liquors as the base, just the color resembles black tea, so it’s called Long Island Iced Tea.”

“I haven’t heard of it, but sure, give me a try.” Karina’s expression was one of anticipation, it seemed this guy before her was quite interesting.

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

Leon took out a flat glass, narrower at the bottom, wider at the top, and thicker at the base, and placed it aside after adding ice. Then, he grabbed a cocktail shaker, added ice, poured in orange curaçao and sweet and sour mix in a 1:3 ratio, followed by vodka, rum, gin, and tequila, all strong base spirits. He sealed the shaker, held it with one hand, and began to shake.

Karina stared curiously at the shaker swaying in a graceful S-shape in his hand, listening to the rhythmic clinking of ice inside. Her eyes sparkled with interest; she had never seen this method of mixing drinks before.

“What are you doing?”

“By shaking, you can mellow out the strong alcoholic taste, making it easier on the palate.”

Suddenly, Leon stopped and placed the shaker on the bar with a thud in front of Karina. Blinking, Karina looked at the shaker in front of her and noticed a layer of frost on its surface

“Is… is it ready?”

“Not yet.”

With a smile, Leon opened the shaker, pouring the contents into a flat glass he had prepared earlier. He added an ounce of cola and a bit of iced tea.

Karina asked curiously, “Why didn’t you mix in that black beverage together with it?”

She was referring to the cola.

Leon pushed the prepared Long Island Iced Tea towards her and said, “It would splatter everywhere.”

Karina’s face blushed slightly as she retracted her gaze from Leon.

“Oh.”

“Aren’t you going to taste it?”

“Oh, sure.”

Karina woke up from her daze, lifted the glass, and took a sip. As she tilted her head back, her fair and slender neck was exposed. The strong liquor flowed down her throat, and her normally fair face quickly flushed, a faint pink hue even appeared on her neck.

Sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy, all exploded in her mouth, creating a strong and layered taste that assaulted her taste buds. It ravaged her senses over and over again, like a myriad of troops trampling through a lush field of wheat. The stimulating sensation made her want to moan in pleasure.

When she put down the glass, the oversized glass was already empty.

Her face was flushed, and she let out a long exhale.

“Amazing, it’s just too amazing. What’s your name?”

Leon smiled lightly, “I’m Leon, a bartender.”

Karina excitedly stared at Leon, her eyes shining with interest.

Elise, sitting in the corner of the bar, clenched her fist in frustration.

“That infuriating guy, he’s pretending again.”