Chapter 25 - 25 25 Let me show you

Words : 1816 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

25: Chapter 25 Let me show you 25: Chapter 25 Let me show you “Come on!” “Come on!” Steven Robinson and James Brown had been at a deadlock for half a minute when, to everyone’s surprise, James showed no sign of defeat and maintained a relaxed smile. On the contrary, Steven’s sweat began to show on his forehead, and veins were bulging out on his hands. They had obviously regarded James as an outsider and started to cheer loudly for Steven. Seeing this scene, Emily Lopez’s eyes were shining. Clearly, James was gaining the upper hand. Although she also chanted “Come on,” it was obvious that she was supporting James. “Are we done?” After a while, James asked with a smile. Steven’s lips moved, but no sound came out, and he simply nodded. James then immediately let go of his grip with ease. While Steven also put down his hand, he was covered in sweat, and his facial skin twitched. He didn’t shout out loud but was clearly holding back. When he had exerted his strength, it felt like squeezing an iron plate—no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t prevail. When James started to exert force, Steven felt as if his hand bones would be crushed, making him realize the vast gap in their strength. If it weren’t for his pride, he would have begged for mercy on the spot. James had been merciful; he hadn’t used much strength at all. Although Steven wasn’t younger than him by two years, in James’s eyes, these people were nothing but children who hadn’t grown up, and he had no interest in picking a quarrel with them. “Sis… James, you were amazing,” Emily exclaimed, almost blurting out ‘Brother-in-law.’ She hugged James’s arm and proudly said to everyone, “How about that—my boyfriend is awesome, isn’t he?” “Pfft, it’s just larger vital force—what’s so great about that?” William Clarke scoffed and sashayed back to his seat. Everyone immediately adopted a similar attitude, believing they were artists and thus did not value brute force. They completely forgot how excited they had been just moments ago when Steven tried to intimidate James with his strength. Emily brought James to sit down and introduced him to the others. Honestly, these people were indeed multitalented. Some could play musical instruments, some could compose music, some could paint in oils, and some were into body art—it was all rather trendy arts. But James knew next to nothing about these things; he simply smiled and greeted them. Because of the recent incident, no one challenged James for the moment, but it was clear they also didn’t want to talk to him much. They deliberately discussed topics related to their “artistic circle,” intentionally ostracizing James. Not long after, a few more people arrived, making a total of sixteen, with ten men and six women. Then, Little David brought over several bottles of alcohol and some glasses, and everyone immediately burst into excited shouts. After placing everything on the table, Little David said, “Hey everyone, today I managed to get a bottle of top-quality vodka, which is perfect for making a nice cocktail. Does anyone want to try?” “Sure, hurry up! I can’t wait. We haven’t seen your performance in so long.” “Yes, the cocktails Little David makes are simply unparalleled. Each time, they provide a different experience that one cannot forget.” Urged by everyone, Little David then started his performance. He juggled two glasses expertly, the glasses constantly flying through his hands and in the air, creating a visually impressive sight. Emily was thoroughly engrossed, and everyone clapped and cheered. Then, Little David mixed several types of alcohol in the glasses, constantly tilting and shaking them. Soon, a four-layered cocktail was prepared. “Emily, since you brought your boyfriend today, I will give this drink to him,” Little David offered the cocktail to James, placing it in front of Emily. Steven snorted and said, “Little David, you’re casting pearls before swine. This fine drink—you think he can taste the difference?” The others burst into laughter, and William exclaimed, “Indeed, if he doesn’t know how to appreciate wine, it’s like a cow chewing peony. Emily, you should drink it instead, don’t waste such good stuff.” Emily, who usually joined in the teasing with everyone, was somewhat annoyed when they ridiculed James, but since they were all friends, she didn’t lose her temper. Instead, she glared at them and exclaimed, “Don’t spout nonsense! James knows wine best. James, have a taste.” As she handed the glass to James, she blinked at him, signaling him to simply praise the drink. However, James misunderstood, thinking Emily wanted him to make a good impression in this area too. Although he was clueless about the artistic stuff, when it came to making cocktails, he was an expert. Although James had always been in the special forces, he still had to go on missions regularly. Once, he had to disguise himself as a bartender, so he trained for several days under one of the world’s most famous bartenders. Since James had martial arts training, he was adept at controlling his strength. Furthermore, he had a natural talent in this area and, despite only practicing for a short while, he managed to learn several sophisticated cocktail techniques. In James’s view, Little David’s methods were child’s play, not fit for a professional setting, only enough to fool these unworldly kids. After taking the glass, James first sniffed it, then took a small sip. He shook his head and said, “This cocktail is really poorly made.” Emily was at a loss, immediately saying, “James, he’s my friend. Just drink it.” Then she signaled to James with her eyes again. James finally got the point. Emily had just wanted him to bluff his way through, not to put on a show. He couldn’t help but feel both amused and embarrassed. Just as he was about to follow Emily’s cue, the crowd wasn’t having any of it. “What big talk, saying Little David’s drinks aren’t good enough.” “Little David is one of the top bartenders in ASCS City. Who knows how many people come to this art bar just to have his drinks.” “Emily, your boyfriend sure knows how to boast, doesn’t he?” The crowd’s collective scolding made Emily’s face alternate between red and white, and she couldn’t help but cast a slightly reproachful glance at James. At that moment, James gently patted Emily’s leg under the table to reassure her. This made Emily’s heart flutter with excitement as she looked at James, who then nodded confidently, signaling to her that he could handle it. “Emily, your boyfriend says I mix poor drinks. Is he a bartender expert himself? I’d be quite embarrassed today if he is,” Little David said with a less than thrilled look on his face. Emily grinned smugly and said, “Of course he is. When it comes to mixing drinks, James is… pretty impressive.” “Then let’s see for ourselves, shall we?” Little David stared at James with an intense gaze. “Exactly, stop talking and start showing. Let us see what a real cocktail expert is like.” James stood up, glanced at the assortment of bottles on the table, and said, “You’re missing some liquor here. I need nine types of drinks. If you can get all of those for me, I’ll mix you a cocktail.” “What do you want? We have a complete selection,” boasted Little David, puffing out his chest. “Okay, then how about a bottle of ’82 Raphael Sword…” “What? An ’82 Raphael Sword? Are you kidding me?” Little David cried out, shocked. “The ’82 Raphael Sword has become rarer and rarer. Most sold on the market are fakes!” James shrugged his shoulders and said, “Alright then, asking for the ’82 is a bit much for you. Just get me a regular Raphael Sword, you have that, right?” “Yes!” “That’s a letdown in taste then. It looks like you won’t have all sorts of famous alcohol. As long as the variety is right, that’s fine. You’ve got whiskey, now bring out a bottle of vodka, Miracle Elixir, Hennessy…” James then named a few more types of liquor, including some from the world’s major distilleries, even asking for bourbon and surprisingly, a beer. With no regard to vintages, the selection that James listed were all top-tier, expensive spirits. This made Little David anxious, “Are you just planning to haphazardly mix these drinks together? Who mixes cocktails with beer? Don’t waste my good alcohol – do you think these are just cheap liquor sold on the streets?” James smiled faintly and offered, “Alright then, if you’re unsatisfied with the drink I mix, I could buy these bottles off you at the original price. How does that sound?” Sёarch* The nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The onlookers who were eager to ridicule James fell silent; the total cost of these drinks amounted to several thousand dollars. James’s confidence indicated that he must be very sure of his skills. Despite some worry, Emily lifted her head proudly and said, “Little David, surely you’re not too attached to your liquor?” Little David’s face flushed, and he promptly replied, “Of course I’m not attached, I’m just afraid of wasting it. Since he is so confident, what do I have to lose?” He then ran behind the bar and brought out five or six bottles of liquor, all of which he usually couldn’t bear to part with, and laid them on the table. James stepped up to the table, opened each bottle of liquor, but instead of starting right away, he closed his eyes and began to evenly regulate his breathing. “Hey, what are you doing? Hurry up and mix,” Steven Robinson immediately called out loudly. Little David, however, quickly gestured for silence. He had a particular passion for mixology, and from James’s gestures, Little David was reminded of something a mixology master once said: to mix a good drink, the most important thing is to infuse your heart into the drink, which requires a mind free from distractions. That kind of focused environment would never be found in a noisy bar. James’s current demeanor seemed to be a prelude to infusing his heart into his work. While the others were clueless, Little David understood and therefore stopped the crowd from rushing James, now watching expectantly. Seeing Little David’s reaction, everyone else began to focus on James, curious to see if he really possessed such skill. Emily’s eyes brimmed with excitement and anticipation. She never expected James to have such talent, and now she eagerly awaited how he would impress her friends.

Chapter 25 - 25 25 Let me show you

Comments (0)