Rhodes Island does not exist.

Skadi ignored the Doctor who was watching her deep in thought and started speaking on her own, as if she didn't care at all whether there was an audience for her speech.

That makes sense, since she just wanted to vent her desire to express herself. As long as the doctor is there to listen to her, it doesn't really matter whether he's actually listening or not.

“Oh right, it was near the border of Sargon, where there was a small bar where bounty hunters exchanged information.” Skadi finally found the starting point of her story and cleared her throat.

Actually, the Doctor really enjoys listening to Skadi's voice.

Every time Skadi spoke, he would prick up his ears and listen carefully to every word, even wishing that his race was the Katas.

So this time was no exception.

Whenever Skadi speaks, no matter how far he has been pondering, he immediately abandons his unfinished thoughts and pricks up his ears, ready to receive Skadi's voice.

Of course, Skadi herself was unaware of this.

After all, if Skadi really knew that the Doctor treated her voice this way, she probably wouldn't be too happy.

"A little bar, and then?" To show he was listening, the Doctor echoed Skadi's question at the end of her sentence.

“Because that little bar is for regular customers to exchange information, it rarely has any newcomers. After all, it’s on the edge of Sargon, a place that even merchants avoid.” Skadi shrugged. “But one day, a completely new face actually appeared in that bar.”

"An unfamiliar face?"

“Yeah, that guy looked like a tourist, and he immediately asked for all the drinks in the bar.” Skadi shook her head. “As a result, he was seen by a few troublemakers… and that’s where the story begins.”

Chapter 268, Part 266: Intoxicatingly Capturing Hearts

Sometimes, a person's memories are not stored in their own brain, but rather strung together on a thread called a story.

The end of the line is oblivion, while the beginning of the line is a prelude.

The trigger could be wine, a song, a person, an object, or another story.

Therefore, even if this thread sinks into the sea of ​​oblivion, as long as that trigger exists, it can be pulled out from beneath the surface at any time and repeatedly exposed to the public eye.

-

Skadi can remember the names of drinks, but she can't remember people's names.

She could remember that the location was Sargon, but she didn't know which countries were around Sargon.

After all, on that thread called "story," nothing unrelated to these stories was recorded.

The thread that leads to the story is now swirling in her mouth, dissolving with her saliva and releasing an intoxicating aroma.

"When did you drink this... wait, is this the liqueur-filled chocolate we talked about before?"

Upon smelling the scent emanating from the mouths of those around him, the doctor immediately raised a question with alarm.

“Exactly.” Skadi, swirling the vodka oozing from the chocolate coating on her tongue, turned her red eyes from the Locked Circuit in the sky to the Doctor beside her. “This is the box of liqueur chocolates from before. I just realized that Locked Circuit didn’t actually finish it.”

"And now?" the Doctor asked, staring at Skadi.

“The last one is in my mouth,” Skadi replied.

"Alright," the doctor said, a hint of regret in his voice.

"What's wrong? You want to try some too?" Skadi puffed out her cheeks.

"No, no." The Doctor decisively declined Skadi's invitation. "If I need it, I'll just go to the supermarket and get it myself next time."

"Oh, really? What if I told you this was the last box in the supermarket?" Skadi asked again.

"...What's your purpose in suddenly saying something like this?" Staring into Skadi's eyes, the Doctor asked in return, under the oppressive crimson aura.

"Purpose? None at all." Skadi stretched as she lay down.

Her left hand slid right past the doctor's ear, and the only contact between them was the thin layer of downy hair on the surface of their skin; otherwise, there was only static electricity in the air.

"..."

Faced with Skadi's series of unusual actions, the Doctor could only remain silent.

What else could he say? He couldn't say anything.

Lavender, whose right arm was throbbing with pain, seemed to have something to say, but unfortunately, in this state, she could only rage helplessly.

"Wuhu—! Du la la la la la la—"

"Dear fellow countrymen, friends, and relatives, tonight we are about to witness a profound tragedy—"

The locking circuit above continues her flight, as does her flight log.

It looks like those unfortunate drones will have to keep her company like this until she sobers up.

He could only be subject to her actions and was forced to continue his leisurely life with Skadi.

After all, without a locking circuit, it means no one can play the recording for him.

He doesn't have that authority.

"Now that we've finished our drinks, let's continue the story from before."

Skadi's tongue gently licked her upper and lower lips, and she brought that soft touch back into her mouth amidst the lingering aroma of wine.

"A few troublemaking hunters, you mentioned this last time," the doctor reminded Skadi, "It feels like it's only just begun."

“Hmm, I remember where I left off.” Skadi nodded. “Well then, I’ll continue, and you… just listen.”

Smelling the alcohol in the air and listening to Skadi's slightly distorted pronunciation, the Doctor even began to doubt whether Skadi's earlier statement that she had never been drunk was a lie.

However, even a girl like Locked Circuit can eat a whole box of liqueur chocolates, so it's unlikely that a warrior like Skadi, who is known for her strength and resilience, would fall to a mere piece of liqueur chocolate.

Moreover, those inexplicable remarks had already begun before she even officially started eating.

The doctor thought that this probably only proved that she did it on purpose.

"That day, a stranger suddenly walked into the bar full of bounty hunters and asked for all the drinks in the bar."

While the Doctor was still thinking, Skadi had already started speaking.

"Because that bar was originally used for bounty hunters to exchange information, there is an unwritten rule that those who can order drinks here are all well-known figures in this circle."

"Of course, if you happen to be a traveler passing through here, ordering some drinks to tide you over your journey will not be a problem. But ordering one of every kind of drink is obviously just asking for trouble."

Skadi spoke slowly and deliberately, like an old artist under a bridge.

As for the doctor, he listened attentively, ignoring the high-decibel noise from the interlocking circuit coming from above.

"Bounty hunters are mostly young people who want to make quick money and middle-aged people with skilled techniques. Because they want to make quick money, the young people are often more impetuous. After seeing this stranger who suddenly barged into the bar and whose background they didn't know make such a statement, they immediately stood up and walked aggressively toward the person."

Skadi closed her eyes slightly, no longer looking at the locked circuit flying in the sky, nor at the Doctor beside her.

Now she is just a storyteller.

"So it was obvious that the atmosphere in the hotel instantly became tense because of these two groups of people," Skadi said slowly. "But the owner and the other regular customers just smiled and turned their attention to the young bounty hunters and the unfamiliar faces standing in the middle of the hall, ordering drinks from the owner."

"Isn't the owner worried about his shop being vandalized?" the doctor asked with some interest.

“Heh, of course not. Don’t forget what kind of place this is—the desolate Sargon wilderness, a border region. The people living here lack entertainment every day, so when a big show finally comes along, they definitely have to seize the opportunity.” Skadi said with her eyes closed. “So everyone showed great excitement and joy, and consciously moved all the tables and chairs around them—to set up the battlefield.”

"Everyone was like the villagers in the game who made way for the hero, leaving the entire open space in the center of the hall to those hot-blooded young men and the outsider who was still waiting for the boss's response."

-

Thank you segment.

Chapter 269, Part 267: The Dream of Strong Liquor

“The people of Sargon are fierce and ready to fight if they disagree with you, so outsiders are quickly surrounded by bounty hunters and become prey in that tight circle.”

“Even under these circumstances, the outsider remained calm, simply waiting for the boss’s response.” Skadi’s tone was emotionless, lacking any semblance of a storyteller, yet the Doctor still savored every word.

“The boss showed curiosity about the outsider and asked why he wasn’t flustered at all in such a situation,” Skadi said. “And the man just asked the boss in return—don’t you do business here?”

"Clearly, this statement expresses the dissatisfaction of outsiders," the professor interpreted.

“Doctor, just keep listening.” Skadi glanced at the doctor. “The boss also became interested in the man’s response and replied to him, ‘Yes, but it depends on how you do business. If you offend everyone here, then there’s no point in me doing this.’”

“I see. So, even if I come here to order you a drink, I'll offend the people here?” Skadi narrated. “That statement clearly touched a nerve with those surrounding the outsider, and they all drew their weapons, wanting to cut off his head.”

"But before those people could make a move, the outsider said something else to the boss."

"Oh no! The potato chips at the supermarket next door are half price!"

Incidentally, this statement refers to a locked circuit.

This statement, coming from above, simply happened to follow Skadi's story, creating a minor coincidence.

"Tsk."

Skadi's hand touched the hilt of the greatsword she had placed beside her.

"Hey, calm down." The doctor immediately stopped her sudden behavior, then asked, suppressing a laugh, "So what did the outsider say?"

“Ah, the outsider said—if the people here consider being treated to a meal an insult, then please forgive my lack of preparation and for not knowing the local customs beforehand, so I apologize for any offense… Well, I was originally planning to order all the drinks here and then treat everyone to a drink.” Skadi’s tone was calm. “And when those words came from the outsider’s mouth, the tense atmosphere around us immediately dissipated.”

"Ha...that's a really high EQ statement," the professor commented.

"For a moment, the young bounty hunters who were originally carrying knives, guns, and clubs looked at each other, and finally their eyes fell on the boss, after all, they had never encountered such a thing before," Skadi said slowly. "The boss smiled slightly and took out a large glass bottle filled with amber-colored liquor from under the counter."

"There has never been a precedent of letting outsiders order and treat us, nor has there ever been anyone like you who only said half of what they wanted to say and then fooled all the hunters present. However... if you can finish this entire bottle of wine without leaving a single drop, then I will accept your order."

“The boss is a sensible man.” The doctor nodded slightly. “He clearly understands that the outsider’s previous actions were intentional.”

“Whether it is or not, it doesn’t really matter,” Skadi said. “What matters is that when all the regulars present saw the bottle of wine, they all gave each other malicious smiles.”

"Is there anything strange about that wine?" the doctor asked.

“There is indeed some historical background,” Skadi nodded. “Since this tavern is essentially a gathering place for bounty hunters, those hot-blooded young guys often have minor conflicts, and occasionally these conflicts escalate into larger riots. But none of these riots and conflicts have ultimately led to any bigger incidents.”

"The reason lies in this bottle of wine."

“The age and origin of this wine are almost impossible to verify. The only thing that everyone knows is that it belongs to the owner of this tavern and that it is incredibly strong,” Skadi said. “Every time a conflict is about to break out in the tavern, the owner will bring out this bottle of wine, then take out three glasses of different sizes, stack them on the table, and fill them with the wine.”

“The large cups are about the size of a large bowl, the medium cups are about the size of a small bowl, and the small cups are the same size as a regular cup.” Skadi stretched out her right hand and gestured roughly in the air for the Doctor. “As for the purpose of these cups, it is to stop the war.”

"Cease the war?"

“Hmm.” Skadi nodded. “Remember what I just said? The boss will put three cups, large, medium and small, on the table, and then he will give these three cups a meaning.”

"Those who can drink a small cup in one gulp will be qualified to continue fighting. Those who can drink a medium cup in one gulp will be qualified to receive a tavern's 'p', and from now on, all drinks will be 50% off. Those who can drink a large cup in one gulp will not only drink for free from now on, but no one will interfere with their fights, and they may even receive help from the tavern owner."

"It all sounds like a privileged outcome," the doctor commented again. "If you drink a large glass, wouldn't you be able to walk around the bar like a hog?"

“That’s right, because that’s a privilege, a privilege that only belongs here.” Skadi nodded. “But unfortunately, even though so many people know about it, none of them have actually obtained this so-called privilege.”

"Nobody? Not a single one?" The doctor was slightly surprised.

“That’s right, not a single one.” Skadi nodded. “Not even a single bounty hunter has successfully drunk the small cup.”

"Not even a small cup? That's just too much..." The doctor couldn't help but chuckle bitterly.

“Otherwise, it wouldn’t prove how strong the liquor really is,” Skadi said. “So when the owner took the bottle out and put it on the counter, everyone in the bar gave him a malicious smile and looked at him.”

"After all, they've all been through it," the doctor said, shaking his head with a sigh.

“They’re just people who have experienced failure,” Skadi said. “There are plenty of people like that in the world; we don’t need them.”

"So they were gloating, they had ill intentions, they were eager to see this stranger make a fool of himself and repeat their previous mistakes. However, to their surprise, the stranger agreed quite quickly, and even picked up the glass bottle, ready to drink directly from the mouth of the bottle."

Chapter 270, 268. Insignificant

“Hey, hey, hey, stop it! Do you want to kill yourself?!—No matter how gloating they were, one of the bounty hunters couldn’t stand the outsider’s reckless actions and immediately shouted to stop him when he picked up the bottle.” Skadi spoke slowly, “That action was probably out of conscience, or it was probably out of fear, but it has to be admitted that the outsider’s action really frightened almost everyone present.”

"After all, they know what's in that wine, and everyone has tasted it themselves, so it's inevitable that they'll have a genuine reaction when they see such an action."

"And then what?" the professor asked. "Did the outsider actually drink it?"

“I drank it.” Skadi nodded.

“The bounty hunters’ attempts to stop him were utterly futile. The moment he reached out, the potent liquid, swirling with an intense aroma, poured from the bottle into the stranger’s mouth. After swirling on his tongue, it swept down his throat with untamed force, heading straight for the heart of the enemy,” Skadi said. “And to the bounty hunters watching, all they saw was a strangely dressed stranger drinking the liquid that everyone considered demonic like water.”

"For a moment, the air in the tavern froze." Skadi raised her right hand, looking along the lines of her hand at the closed circuit flying in the air, "because no one expected it to turn out this way."

"Glug, glug." She imitated the sound of drinking. "The amber liquid in the glass bottle was decreasing at a visible rate, but the stranger's body showed no reaction."

“Glug, glug. The sound of the liquid bubbling was now incomprehensible to them. Two of the bounty hunters watching this even had the thought of running away, because the outsider standing in front of them might not even be human.” Skadi’s tone was calm. “Then, with the last glug, the glass bottle finally returned to its original shape.”

"The outsider drank the whole bottle of wine...?" The doctor's expression was now covered with shock.

“Yes, not a single drop is left.” Skadi nodded. “The original liquid is gone, but the glass bottle remains.”

“This is quite a dilemma,” the tavern owner said after witnessing the stranger finish the entire bottle of liquor. “This bottle was originally a wager here, and now that you’ve drunk it all, it means I’ve lost one way to control them.” Skadi paused, then continued, “Upon hearing the tavern owner’s words, the stranger replied, ‘But this was your request, and now that I’ve complied and finished it all, may I order now?’”

“Yes—I really wanted to say yes. The tavern owner made a face as if he was gritting his teeth; it seemed even he hadn’t expected that the outsider would actually be able to do this,” Skadi recounted.

“After all, that’s a wine that most people can’t even finish a small glass of,” the doctor shrugged. “But this outsider managed to down a whole bottle in one go, and he’s perfectly fine. He’s a really peculiar person.”