【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 301 [Empire] What Do You Know?

I pushed open the door to the pub, and the dim light and the smell of alcohol in the air hit me, instantly relaxing my nerves. The pub was so small it was almost suffocating. The walls were covered with old, mottled photos and alcohol advertisements, and bottles were stacked from high to low, from shelf to shelf, almost filling the entire ceiling.

Two people sat in the corner by the bar, clearly the perfect setting. I casually walked over, chose a corner by the window, and pulled up a chair to sit down. The space was narrow, and the air inside the bar seemed thick with the aroma of alcohol, but it wasn't overpowering. Instead, the bottles and the chaotic array of decorations added a touch of charm to the place.

However, just as I was about to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet, that third person, Nightingale, unexpectedly followed me in. He tirelessly scanned the tavern and then walked towards me, as if he was not going to miss any opportunity to disrupt the atmosphere.

"You guy," I frowned helplessly, "Aren't you afraid of being squeezed out?"

Nightingale clearly didn't care about the crowds around him at all. He glanced at me with a barely perceptible smile on his face: "It's okay, I can adapt."

I watched him, his confidence in silence, but a tinge of impatience welled up inside me. My fingers tapped the table unconsciously, signaling him to sit down. The pub was so cramped it was barely room for three people at once, yet he always managed to stand out from the crowd, making this quiet place feel a bit uneasy.

"So you're going to stand there and watch me drink?" I finally couldn't help but speak, with a hint of sarcasm in my tone, but my eyes inadvertently glanced at the complicated wine names on the wine list.

Nightingale sat down calmly, his movements as calm as ever. "It's okay to see you drinking, but do you think the wine here is good?"

I frowned, unsure of his sudden interest in the tavern's wines. The wine list didn't boast many eye-popping names, but rather a selection of vintage bottles, each with a unique but somewhat dull taste. "Are you here for a wine tasting?" I chuckled, my tone challenging.

He smiled faintly, seemingly not intending to answer my question. Instead, he looked down at the wine bottles and pointed to a bottle of aged white wine in the far corner. "Do you know the history of this bottle of wine? It's the treasure of this tavern."

I looked up curiously, sizing him up, feeling a bit puzzled. "What's so special about this wine?" I didn't quite understand. Given the size of this tavern, it shouldn't have anything too extravagant.

Nightingale raised an eyebrow, seemingly pleased with my curious look. "I bought this from an interstellar merchant. It contains some exotic animal ingredients. Although not everyone can drink it, the unique taste is addictive."

He paused, his eyes a little cunning, "You see, it can make you perceive everything around you more clearly."

I chuckled. "That sounds a little weird."

Nightingale didn't care and continued to speak to herself, "However, not everyone can bear the taste of this wine. Only those who can truly appreciate life are worthy of this wine."

I couldn't help but frown, suddenly feeling like he saw through me. "Are you planning on letting me try one too?"

He smiled even deeper, with a hint of teasing and provocation in his eyes: “If you dare.”

I pursed my lips, deciding to ignore his probing look. There were plenty of other options on the wine list, and since he was so interested in this particular wine, I decided not to play this game with him. So, I reached out and ordered another wine, something a bit more elegant and smooth, perfect for someone like me who doesn't like overly stimulating drinks.

The wine was served, and the atmosphere fell silent again. Nightingale lowered his head to drink. Although he seemed casual, he still observed me secretly. The lights in the pub were soft, and the atmosphere gradually became quiet and familiar, as if I had found a moment of peace from the hustle and bustle.

I frowned slightly, my eyelids heavy, as if I were in a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness. The lights in the pub were dim and gentle, the air filled with the aroma of wine and whispers, and the originally peaceful atmosphere was suddenly broken by a slight chirping.

I raised my head, feeling a bit annoyed, and looked towards the source of the sound. As expected, it was a nightingale.

He sat across from me, leaning back in his chair with a playful smile on his face and a sly look in his eyes. "Why, are you sleepy?" He spoke with an impatient yet helpless ease. "I thought you were the type to stay quiet, but I didn't expect you'd get sleepy, too."

I squinted my eyes, feeling as if my head was covered with a layer of fog. I tried to stay awake, but I was annoyed by his inappropriate voice. It seemed that he was not going to give me a moment of peace.

"Can you please be quiet?" I didn't bother to pay attention to his provocative smile, and my voice was a little sleepy. "I'm resting."

"Rest?" Nightingale didn't seem to understand what I meant. His eyes flickered. He tilted his head and looked at me with a sly smile. "Are you drunk, or did you make a mistake after drinking? Why do you feel like a fragile little girl?"

"If you say another word, I'll ignore you." I said lazily, my voice full of warning.

But he seemed completely unconcerned, and continued to respond to me in that lighthearted tone: "I just said something to you, why are you so angry? You really act like a little kid."

I tried to close my eyes again, trying to ignore him. However, Nightingale clearly had no intention of letting me go. His voice came over again: "Is there something on your mind? Is it because of what happened last night?"

I froze for a moment, my eyelids twitching slightly, before I realized that the "last night" he mentioned was referring to the complicated entanglement between Wen Ya and me. I subconsciously lowered my head, trying to appear nonchalant, but unexpectedly, Nightingale's voice deepened: "You're not stupid. How many people can truly understand someone like Wen Ya?"

"Speak less." I couldn't help myself, and my voice was a little cold. "What do you know?"