Midnight Bounties 3: A Progression Adventure by Cassius Lange & Ned Castor

Author:Cassius Lange & Ned Castor [Lange, Cassius & Castor, Ned]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quest Forge
Published: 2024-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20: COCKTAIL VOUCHERS

I was watching intently as Opius mixed another cocktail behind the bar. It brought a smile to my face seeing a real cocktail master do his work. He juggled bell peppers and tomatoes with one hand, threw spices in with the other, then flung the veggies in together with a dash of rum. He mixed it all inside a cocktail shaker he’d brought with him and then slammed the shaker down in front of a mesmerized orc.

“Drink, orc!”

It didn’t take repeating for Gurtok, one of our regulars, to chug down the large glass garnished with herbs and a lemon wedge. He burped like a dragon and then looked at the orc next to him, grinning happily.

“This…this…you must try! Druid, make one for Domshak, he must taste!”

Opius smiled contently. He was proud of his skill, and I was happy to have him, but there was a problem with the whole scene.

My hand landed on Gurtok’s shoulder, and I leaned over the bar to address the new bartender.

“Let’s not overdo it with the cocktails, Opius, alright? Just serve them their regular drinks.”

“But Frank boss! Gurtok already had one, so why not me, Domshak? I did not drink enough in Midnight Bounties? I did not bleed here for you?”

“Domshak, Gurtok, cocktails aren’t on the list of drinks we serve.”

“But why not? Why Gurtok get and me no?”

Domshak was getting angry and the orcs around the bar were already becoming excited. The club was packed with people. They had all seen me renovate the second floor so they had come to see what it was all about.

“Because we’re not a tier 4 club yet and I can’t charge you for the cocktails.”

“Then free cocktails?” Domshak said, putting two and two together apparently.

“Fuck no,” I said and the other orcs laughed.

Domshak seemed even angrier after that.

Opius was a master mixologist and could bank us a ton in cocktails but if I started charging my customers for something I wasn’t allowed to serve, I’d have the City Watch and the City Tax Office knocking my door down thirsty for coin. Yet, I was far from tier 4 at this point and I was in no rush to get there because I hadn’t even made use of my beer and wine permit. Races that enjoyed those drinks were humans, sandrack, and elves, but none of them visited us in decent enough numbers. Not yet.

“Master Frank, you’re not allowed to charge for cocktails, but you’re not forbidden to give them out for free if you know what I mean,” Opius said.

“Yes, give free cocktails,” Domshak demanded, and the other orcs chuckled devilishly.

I knew they wanted me to bash Domshak’s head into the counter, see a few fists fly, and spill some blood. I was Frank Midnight after all, and customers expected me to keep up appearances.

“Ah, what the hell,” I muttered then jabbed my knee into Domshak’s stomach.

He hunched over and wheezed for a moment before throwing himself at me. I sidestepped and brought my elbow down on the back of his neck.

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