Why it never ends

Chapter 347 Yarek

Several people sat down in front of the bar, some withered irises were hanging down on the lace and silk cloth on the table, Su Lei followed its direction and looked into the distance, there were many wine bottles that she couldn't name on the wine cart at the bar , she could tell that some of them were probably not ordinary glass—they were as clear as crystal.

The bartender, with shaggy black hair and tan skin, asks what the visitor wants in a low voice, to which Ana laughs: "A gin and tonic."

"Are there any requirements for modulation?"

Anna crossed her hands, resting her chin comfortably on the back of her hands: "The ratio of tonic water to gin is three to one, use Gordon's gin, add three ice cubes and a little lemon zest." (1)

A look of surprise flashed across the bartender's face, and then he quickly laughed.

"...Is there anything special about it?" Si Lei asked.

"It's a code word." Anna said with a smile, "The guest said 'a glass of gin and tonic', and the bartender asked 'Is there any requirement for the preparation', and then I mentioned the details."

"I've been waiting for... seven years, no, eight years," the bartender turned and took the beautiful gin from the wine cabinet, "You are finally here."

Si Lei's expression froze for a moment, but neither Anna nor the bartender continued to speak.The sound of the impact of ice cubes mixed with the aroma of wine, Su Lei restrained his curiosity and waited for their next words.

"Please."

The clear gin and tonic was pushed in front of Anna. Anna toasted, her whole body seemed to be in a state of tranquility, with a peaceful expression.

"How is it?" the bartender asked.

"very good."

The bartender looked at Su Lei, "What do you need?"

"I don't need anything." Si Lei leaned forward slightly, "I would like to ask, what will happen after matching the code word? What will I get?"

The bartender's expression became confused, and she let out a long "um..." before she said with uncertainty: "...will you get a glass, a good gin and tonic?"

"What?" Si Lei tilted his head slightly, "I still seem to—"

"I had a minor operation on my knee eight years ago," Anna said softly, "For that operation, I stopped drinking for... half a year?"

"Hmm." The bartender nodded, signaling that she was listening.

"When I was recuperating, someone sent me a copy of "Cheers in the Land of the Gods". Chapter 1 of that book is 'Gin and Tonic'."

Anna gently turned the bottom of the glass with her ring finger and index finger. The light passed through the wine glass, casting a bright stream of light on the smooth marble table. She tilted the wine glass and moved it in front of Si Lei.

"see it?"

"what?"

Anna looked focused, "An emulsified layer. On the surface, it's shiny."

Su Lei started to roll his eyes inwardly.

Anna quickly drank the glass of wine, with a gentle and relaxed expression on her face, "Are you unable to drink, or are you unwilling to drink?"

"It doesn't matter, anyway, I won't drink at all tonight."

"Then I understand, I have a wine recommendation for you," Anna said with a smile, "A long time ago, there was a sommelier in the south of the third district. One day, he made a 'Negroni' by mistake. The sparkling wine was passed as gin, and it turned out to be surprisingly good—this is what became the 'mistuned Negroni'."

Si Lei looked at her quietly, and simply didn't answer a word. Anna suddenly looked at her sideways, "Are you regretting coming down with me?"

"I don't know," Su Lei clasped his hands, "I feel like I'll regret it no matter if I don't make it down—I thought you really had something important to tell me."

"Of course there is."

"If it's all about your cocktail specials."

"My special note is indeed important, but there are other things as important as it," Anna rested her cheek with her left hand, "it's about you."

"I?"

"For a decision you are destined to regret today," Anna murmured in a low voice, "in order to alleviate your guilt, and for the sake of not hating me so much in the future... I want to talk to you, we should chat .”

"You mean about cutting the rope this afternoon?"

"Not exactly." Anna suddenly pointed to the wall on Su Lei's right, "Did you see the painting over there?"

Su Lei turned his head, and on the dark wall not far away, a huge hanging picture was leaning against the wall, covered by a thin black gauze.

"What's that?" Su Lei asked.

"Oh, it's a painting that just arrived today," the bartender replied, "it was hand-picked by Mr. Robeau Grillet to replace it."

"May I have a look?"

"Okay, we'll hang it up tomorrow morning anyway."

Su Lei jumped off the chair briskly. She walked to the hanging painting that was more than half a meter taller than herself, and stretched out her hand to remove the black veil on it. The painting showed a naked and strong young man, holding three Burning fiery thorns, holding a skull in his right hand, with an angry expression, and long curly hair flying in the air.

A strong sense of familiarity welled up in his heart, and Si Lei took two steps back, finally recalling the image in front of him.

"... Alecto?"

"It's Alec." Anna corrected.

For a moment, Su Lei recalled the badge of the thorn monks - there were also three chains of thorns on it.

"The thorn is an eternal roadblock. As long as you want to move forward, it must be on fire." Anna said softly, "And fire, fire means purgatory. People believe that the burning pain of the flames can bring purification and even spiritual recovery." gain."

In just a few words, Si Lei had already understood.

"So... this is the spiritual totem of those 'Prince of Thorns'?" She turned to Anna, "A sexually transformed version of Alecto?"

"It's just the source of 'thorns'." Anna replied, "Their concept of 'monks' is completely inherited from the historical 'boycott monks'-a male organization that flourished in the golden age, similar to the existence of a brotherhood. Boycott Monks advocate cutting off all their own resources that may be used by women, so as to avoid supporting and protecting women. They refuse to enter into serious relationships, do not get married, do not have children, implement minimalist life, and resist consumerism - the name of 'monk', That's how it came about."

Si Lei was thoughtful, and after a while, she suddenly sighed: "I have a question that has nothing to do with this."

"Ok?"

"...Why didn't you just say you wanted to talk to me about Monk Thorns when you were at Bishop's Restaurant?" Su Lei looked at her, "What's the point of going around such a big circle?"

Anna smiled, "I hope that the conversation between me and you--the real conversation, only happens when we both have the willingness to talk."

"that's it?"

"that's it."

Si Lei was noncommittal, she looked away and looked at the painting again.

"...Who is 'Alec' in this story fighting against?"

"It's still Father God Urbay—Urbay felt his own aging, and began to fear Kiarek's power, so he sealed him in the river of time... But sooner or later, the aging Father God will not be able to rule his territory, so, It is Alec's destiny and mission to become the new father after patricide." Anna said softly, "The two sides are hostile yet unified, a typical patrilineal inheritance."

Si Lei's eyes moved slightly - probably this is the so-called regaining the glory of his father's generation.

-

(1) From Drunkards and Saints by Lawrence Osborne

(End of this chapter)