Enid nodded vigorously, smiling like a little sun.
"How about this," Enid said, holding Jade and looking at Victor, "Big sister will treat you to a nice drink, okay? And make this big brother pay for it!"
"Huh? Enid, you want me to treat this little brat who just called me a bad guy?"
Victor pointed at his own nose, looking reluctant.
"I want one!"
Jade immediately seized the opportunity, glaring fiercely at Victor as if trying to 'eat back' all the grievances she had just suffered and the 'heartache' of 'losing' the Super Moose.
"The most expensive one! The biggest cup!"
Victor looked at the two girls who had formed a 'united front,' shrugged helplessly, but a tolerant smile played on his lips:
"Alright, alright, the most expensive and biggest one. Hope it makes you burst, you little brat."
"I want that one! And that one! The one with the little umbrella and cherry on top!"
Jade clung to the bar counter, her little finger pointing at the most flashy and expensive drink on the menu, putting on an act as if she was going to eat Victor out of house and home.
"Fine, I'll order them all for you."
Victor was surprisingly generous, snapping his fingers to summon the monster fish waiter.
"One 'Rainbow Swirl Supreme' for the young lady here, and add a 'Pop Rocks Horror Cup.'"
He turned to Enid and Wednesday, "What would you two lovely ladies like?"
"I'll just have a strawberry milkshake," Enid said sweetly.
Wednesday's gaze swept over the menu, landing on the 'Dark Kiss'—
A drink made with squid ink, blackberries, and a small amount of rum, the rim of the glass adorned with an edible bat-shaped chocolate.
She gave a slight nod: "This one will do."
The drinks arrived quickly.
Jade held her 'Rainbow Swirl Supreme,' a cup almost as big as her face, colorful and bubbling.
A little paper umbrella and a merry-go-round decoration were stuck on the straw. She took a big, satisfying sip, the icy, sweet taste making her squint her eyes in bliss.
"Mmm! So good!" She temporarily forgot her 'grudge' with Victor.
Victor pushed his beer aside, leaned closer to Jade, wearing a harmless smile.
Jade glanced warily at Victor, pulling her colorful 'Rainbow Swirl Supreme' with the little paper umbrella closer to her chest, as if guarding some important strategic resource.
"What do you want? Even if you buy me a drink, I won't tell you anything!"
Her voice was muffled, her mouth still full of slush, but the determination in her eyes was clear.
"Ah, it's fine, it's fine."
Victor waved his hand dismissively, lazily leaning back in his chair.
"I don't want to 'work' during my precious vacation time anyway. That kind of running around, fighting and killing, manual labor—let your Uncle jackie handle it."
A sly curve appeared at the corner of his mouth as he slowly added, "As for me, I'll just sit back and wait for the harvest."
"Uncle jackie would never give you the talismans! You wish!"
Jade immediately retorted, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Oh? That's not necessarily true, Jade."
Victor leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice, carrying a dangerous, coaxing tone.
"Have you ever heard of... 'holding the emperor hostage to command the lords'?"
Jade blinked her big eyes, seemingly quickly searching her mental database.
The next second, her expression changed dramatically!
With a "gulp," she sucked down the remaining drink and ice in her cup at an astonishing speed.
Then she slammed the cup down, jumped off the barstool like a startled rabbit, and without looking back, dove into the bustling crowd of monsters nearby.
Trying to hide using her small stature.
Watching the small figure quickly disappear among the oddly shaped legs and feet, the smile on Victor's face didn't fade; instead, it grew even brighter.
A small tendril lazily extended from Venom on his shoulder.
"Such a lively and... exceptionally naive little thing."
Victor chuckled in evaluation, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
"Let her run for ten seconds."
Fifteen seconds later.
"Let me go! Bad guy! You big bad guy!"
Jade screamed, waving her arms and legs in the air, only to be caught again by Venom's pitch-black tendril, expertly wrapped around her ankle and hauled upside down back in front of Victor, like a small fish just caught and still flopping.
Victor leisurely adjusted her upside-down angle so her face was facing him.
Then he took out his phone, opened the camera, pointed it at her angry, flushed little face filled with defiance, and revealed an extremely 'kind' smile:
"Come on, Jade, smile~"
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