Free Web NovelChapter 613: Chapter 612 Drunkenness_1
The next afternoon, at Malt Tavern in Pingcheng District.
"Oh, Veronica, back so early today?" the bar owner greeted the regular as he wiped glasses behind the bar.
"Took the day off," Veronica responded with a faint smile.
"Oh, it’s ’that’ day, huh?" the owner recalled that today was the full moon, "So, the usual for today?"
"Yeah, I’ll have a set meal, plus an extra side of bread and ham and eggs..." Taking a seat at a single spot at the bar, Veronica began to order. She hesitated for a moment, then added something else, "And a beer for me, please."
"You’re drinking today? Run into some good luck?" the owner raised an eyebrow. freēwebnovel.com
Veronica shook her head with a smile, "Just felt like having one."
"Got it, coming right up," the owner nodded solemnly, then turned to call out to the kitchen, "Steamed meat set meal, extra bread, ham and eggs."
Then, he personally poured a cold beer from the barrel and handed it to Veronica, "A frosty beer, here you go!"
Veronica took the beer and took a big gulp.
"That... You should have some appetizers with your meal first, drinking on an empty stomach can hit you fast," the owner advised. "Some cheese? Scrap meat? Or pickled olives?"
"Cheese, please," Veronica replied without much thought.
The owner served some bar snacks and didn’t say much; he could sense a hint of trouble in the air.
Veronica lived nearby and frequented the tavern often when she was a mounted police officer, the tavern’s regular, and the owner knew that Veronica didn’t really drink much normally.
The owner had always believed that alcohol was a good thing, a couple of drinks could make people feel relaxed, and even in a slightly inebriated state, one could temporarily forget daily troubles. If drunk to the point of blackout, even the most unbearable pain could vanish without a trace; in times of joy, it could double the happiness, and in sorrow, serve as pain relief for the soul.
So no matter the era or the place, there’s never a shortage of people who drink themselves unconscious.
Having run the tavern for many years, the owner knew that regulars who suddenly started drinking heavily had usually encountered something, be it good or bad.
Veronica’s polite, formal smile as she entered made the owner feel that the reason for her drinking was definitely not a good one; she was here to drown her sorrows.
This worried the owner.
By the time the meal was served, Veronica’s glass was already empty, and she ordered another beer. By now, her face had reddened from the effect of the alcohol.
"Drinking quite a bit today..." the owner reminded kindly.
A young and beautiful woman getting drunk alone is very dangerous, but the owner wasn’t worried about Veronica; he was aware of her capabilities, and most of those who came to the tavern were regulars.
His concern was for his tavern and the other patrons. As an old acquaintance, he trusted Veronica’s self-discipline—when Veronica had been wrongfully imprisoned, he and other residents had written a letter on her behalf, but even the most self-controlled could become lunatics after drinking.
A werewolf on a bender might just wreck the tavern—an issue that could be settled with money—but if someone were to get hurt, that would be a real problem.
"Yeah, I’ll just have these two drinks," Veronica said with an apologetic smile, "Sorry for worrying you."
The owner wasn’t sure whether he should start a conversation. If it were a middle-aged or older patron like himself, he could chat and listen to their complaints. But with young people like her, he didn’t know what to talk about, let alone offer any psychological counseling.
After some thought, he decided to say nothing and let Veronica eat and drink alone.
Halfway through her second drink, Veronica began to feel a bit dizzy; she’d drunk too fast, and the alcohol hit her swiftly.
She wanted to temporarily cast aside the events of the past few days, which was why she had impulsively ordered a drink, but the slight buzz from the alcohol was not enough to make her forget her troubles.
She needed more to drink, yet she was soberly aware of the consequences of overindulging. If a light buzz was not giving her the desired effect, then she’d have to drink until her consciousness blurred further.
But she had to get home before dark, and stay there.
Drinking at home until she blacked out, she couldn’t predict what might happen—if she wandered out drunk, that would be a real problem.
In the end, she wouldn’t even get the chance to drown her sorrows... This only made her feel more dejected.
The bartender continued wiping glasses; it was still a bit early, and besides Veronica, only two elderly customers were killing time with coffee and newspapers at a table. freewēbnoveℓ.com
Just then, another customer entered, and the bartender automatically uttered a "Welcome" in response to the sound of the door opening.
The moment he looked up, his brow furrowed.
Not a regular... rather, it was impossible to tell who it was at all.
The newcomer was cloaked in a loose, windproof cape, with the hood’s rim and shadows concealing most of their face, like a mask.
Their build was somewhat slim and a bit short, either a woman or a youth.
This attire didn’t seem proper for a respectable person, and this wasn’t a dock or a station—who would wear such a cloak meant for wilderness travel in the city?
Lost in thought, Veronica failed to notice the new arrival silently approaching her from behind.
"I don’t mind the danger."
"But I do."
The conversation she’d had with Aiden still echoed in her ears; after drawing closer to the person she liked, she’d instead encountered a barrier.
Could there be a chance to confess her feelings if her superior resolved the issue successfully?
But if her superior met with an unexpected misfortune...
Considering this possibility, Veronica felt the warmth in her body from the alcohol cool down again.
The thought of him disappearing from this world, or becoming a completely different person, was an outcome she simply couldn’t accept.
Aiden, out of trust, had left the considerations of what to do in the event of failure to Veronica, but he hadn’t thought through that Veronica simply couldn’t accept Aiden’s disappearance.
If that happened, how could she possibly have the heart to deal with any last wishes? The superior was such a fool, not at all considering others’ feelings—under the influence of alcohol, Veronica finally touched upon the true thoughts in her heart.
But at the same time, another voice arose from the depths of her heart: But... the superior had his own considerations, too.
She remembered Aiden mentioning the enemy’s ability for mental control—if she became a tool for the enemy, that would pose a tremendous threat to her superior.
Veronica had always been pleased with the trust Aiden placed in her, but the greater the trust, the lower the defenses, and if Aiden died due to his trust in her, the pain would be unbearable for her.
With her mind in turmoil, Veronica reached for her glass once more.
Only then did she faintly hear someone stopping behind her; she turned her head instinctively, and at that moment, the other person’s hand rested on her shoulder.
Veronica suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.
