Amidst her surprise, Sado Mikura quickly became uneasy.
Oh no, she hadn't reported her presence here to Senior Juraku beforehand. What if Senior Juraku held her accountable...?
Just as she feared, Sachiko Juraku's hand was placed on her chin the next moment, lightly lifting her face, a playful smile on her lips: "Mikura, it's not strange for me to be here. Why are you here...? Who told you to come?"
I knew Senior Juraku would ask that!
Sachiko Juraku's voice wasn't quiet; even Ayanokoji at the bar heard her question.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at Mikura with some surprise.
Early this morning, she had come here to help him.
When she arrived, she even specifically told him: "I found Senior Juraku. She said that this competition you're holding is quite interesting, and she told me to come over and help, so you don't mess up a perfectly good competition."
She deliberately used Sachiko Juraku's name to come and help, but she had no idea that Sachiko Juraku was actually in this competition venue, participating as a contestant, and had even advanced to the finals.
Now her "lie" was completely exposed... Ayanokoji watched Mikura meaningfully.
Mikura couldn't withstand Sachiko Juraku's gaze at all and could only look to Ayanokoji for help, their gazes meeting across the distance.
There's nothing for it. Mikura went to such lengths to find an excuse to see him, so he should show some appreciation.
Ayanokoji lightly coughed and proactively said, "Senior Juraku, I was the one who pulled Mikura to come here to help.
I told her that Senior Juraku would surely want this competition to be successfully held, and that her coming here to help might make Senior Juraku happy. That's why she came."
"Yes, that's right, exactly!" Mikura froze for a moment, then seized the opportunity to step down from the awkward situation, nodding repeatedly.
Mikura was not good at lying, and Sachiko Juraku could see through Mikura's thoughts at a glance. However, she did not expose her adorable "pet."
"Is that so... Well, then." Sachiko Juraku gently ruffled Mikura's head and said with a smile, "Since you're here, then you must work hard. I'm also a contestant, so don't show any favoritism."
"I understand, I won't!" Mikura's face was filled with joy, and she nodded vigorously, relieved to have "escaped a calamity."
Sachiko Juraku walked up to Ayanokoji, her face wreathed in smiles: "How was it, did you notice me?"
"Your disguise was too good, I really didn't notice," Ayanokoji replied truthfully.
Sachiko Juraku's number was 22. Ayanokoji lowered his head and glanced at the roster; number 22 was a girl named Igarashi Sayaka.
"Are you using a fake name?"
"No, this is one of the Student Council's children. I borrowed her name."
Sachiko Juraku seemed very pleased that her disguise hadn't been seen through. She gracefully sat down at the bar, leaning on one arm and tilting her head to look at Ayanokoji: "Your bar is doing quite well, and this Landlord game is also very interesting. I like it a lot."
Ayanokoji's expression remained unchanged: "Thank you for the compliment, Senior. What would you like to drink?"
Ayanokoji specifically looked up; none of the contestants dared to be curious about Sachiko Juraku's conversations with others. To avoid being noticed by Sachiko Juraku, they had all quickly formed teams and started playing.
Even Saotome Meari, who had just been staying by Ayanokoji's side, had quietly left the bar area. Now, only the two of them remained at the bar.
"Alright, mix me a cocktail. Just mix me something suitable for me."
"I understand." Ayanokoji nodded with a wry smile.
Sachiko Juraku smiled, specifically glancing at Kurume Laiwei, who had already gone to the competition area to be a Dealer, implying something.
"Just, don't let that girl over there mix my drink again. I don't want to drink a 'Water of Life' special blend."
Sachiko Juraku could, of course, tell that Kurume knew nothing about mixing drinks.
Ayanokoji intentionally singled her out to mix drinks because he wanted to push the young man who received the "special blend" out as a "fuse" before the finals began, to make the game start quickly.
And that was exactly the case; the three chips in that young man's hand were now all gone. Having lost his value, he had been abandoned and was drunkenly sleeping on the table.
"Is there anything you want to drink?"
"Whatever."
"Do you mind the alcohol content?"
"Guess."
"Do you prefer spicy or sweet?"
"Either is fine."
Ayanokoji gave up after asking a few questions. She had completely handed over the autonomy to him, unwilling to state any preference, watching him with a smile.
It was clear she wanted to give him a hard time and thoroughly tease him.
No specific request, just saying she wanted a drink suitable for her, without even a single requirement. For a bartender, this kind of customer is the most difficult to deal with.
While he could simply pick a popular drink for her, when dealing with Sachiko Juraku, he couldn't just brush her off like any other customer.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka pondered for a moment and found a drink from his current menu that was barely suitable for her.
Ayanokoji poured 40ml of London dry gin, 20ml of Cointreau, and 20ml of lemon juice into a shaker to mix, then added egg white to it. After covering it, he gripped the shaker with both hands, raised his forearms to his shoulders, and rhythmically shook the shaker with his wrists, looking very simple and unpretentious.
This step is to remove the harshness of the alcohol, allow the different ingredients to fully blend, and make the cocktail mild and smooth on the palate.
When Ayanokoji Kiyotaka shook the prepared cocktail and poured it into a chilled martini glass, then pushed the glass in front of Sachiko Juraku, she seemed quite disappointed: "Why don't you juggle bottles and perform tricks like other bartenders?"
"Sorry, these drinks of mine are quite expensive, I can't bear to throw them around," Ayanokoji shrugged. "If you want to see acrobatics, I recommend you go to the circus."
"You really don't hold back with your words," Sachiko Juraku shook her head helplessly, looking curiously at the cocktail in front of her.
It was a snow-white, almost translucent cocktail with a layer of foam on the surface of the glass.
"Does this drink have any special meaning?" Sachiko Juraku didn't pick up the glass directly, but looked at Ayanokoji with interest: "Don't tell me this drink is a 'special blend' you just came up with."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had long anticipated her question and calmly said: "This drink is called 'White Lady,' created by Harry MacElhone, the founder of Europe's first cocktail bar, Harry's Bar, in 1919.
The world's most famous cocktail, 'Bloody Mary,' was also created by a bartender from this bar.
This drink was invented by him to commemorate Mata Hari, the legendary female spy of the French World War, symbolizing astonishing beauty and being suitable for beautiful women."
"Mata Hari… you really dare to say that," Sachiko Juraku pondered the name, her expression instantly turning cold as she said icily: "Do you think I'm like her, a female spy who maneuvers between two factions?"
The atmosphere instantly grew cold.
In the history of world espionage, Mata Hari is considered one of the most legendary spies. However, she was not a spy who typically obtained intelligence through undercover work; she was an extremely unique existence among spies.
As a dancer, she stole a large amount of intelligence from her German and French lovers, playing the role of a double agent, playing both sides, and was eventually executed by firing squad.
From an unknown, struggling country girl to a sensational Parisian stripper, and then to a double agent maneuvering between France and Germany, Mata Hari's life was undeniably full of ups and downs.
Perhaps many people don't quite understand if I directly say her name, so let me put it another way: she is a one-star Servant of the Assassin class who appeared in FGO.
Ayanokoji's choice of this drink meant he was calling Sachiko Juraku a double agent—at least, that's how Sachiko Juraku perceived it.
Ayanokoji shook his head and calmly said: "I didn't mean that. I just felt that the name of this drink, 'White Lady,' suited you well.
Senior Juraku, the only thing you and Miss Mata Hari have in common is astonishing beauty that captivates people. I just wanted to express my feelings for Senior through this drink."
Sachiko Juraku had white hair, unlike Momobami Kirari's silver; it was a pale, almost sickly white. Only the red lipstick on her lips added a touch of vibrant color to her.
Compared to Mata Hari, she might be more suited to the title of White Lady. She was indeed a rare beauty, but intimidated by her reputation, not many people could appreciate her beauty.
Sachiko Juraku watched Ayanokoji; his expression remained unchanged, showing no hint of malicious intent, as if, as he said, his choice of this drink was merely to praise her beauty.
Sachiko Juraku sighed softly, her cold expression from before vanishing as if her anger had been an illusion, and a slight smile played on her lips.
"Is that all? Ayanokoji, since you've already hinted at me with Mata Hari's name, why don't you speak plainly? What are your thoughts about me?"
"I have no other meaning," Ayanokoji shook his head, looking naturally into her eyes: "Senior Juraku, this is just a drink; there's no need to overthink it."
"..." Sachiko Juraku snorted lightly: "Heh… fine, consider it a pass. I accept this drink."
Sachiko Juraku picked up the glass, and before drinking, she suddenly looked up at Ayanokoji and said impolitely: "Ayanokoji, now that you've finished mixing the drink, could you please leave? I don't want to see you while I'm drinking."
"Please enjoy," Ayanokoji seemed unsurprised by her words, bowed slightly, and left the Cooking Room.
Their "dispute" was not heard by anyone else except Mikura, who was closest. Even Meari, who was not far away, didn't pay attention, assuming Ayanokoji had left voluntarily.
Mikura came to Sachiko Juraku's side and carefully said: "Lady Juraku, did Ayanokoji Kiyotaka make you angry? I'll go teach him a lesson right away!"
"No, this drink he mixed is quite to my liking," Sachiko Juraku had already tasted a sip of the "White Lady." The cocktail had a smooth texture and a pleasure that made her unable to stop.
Sachiko Juraku was also surprised, not expecting Ayanokoji to actually be able to mix a cocktail that satisfied her.
"It's just… he was a bit too bold, daring to look down on me."
Mikura immediately panicked and quickly tried to defend Ayanokoji: "Lady Juraku, Ayanokoji definitely didn't mean to insult you…!"
"I know," Sachiko Juraku interrupted Mikura.
"Mata Hari, until she, as a stripper, was convicted as a spy and executed, her graceful movements had captivated countless military officers.
The original intention of creating this drink was to praise her unparalleled beauty; of course, I know that… but Ayanokoji definitely has more than just that meaning."
Sachiko Juraku suddenly started to laugh.
"Mata Hari, as a double agent, although she initially achieved enormous results and gained immense wealth from her double agent activities.
But in the end, she was arrested by French intelligence under the charge of 'treason' and taken to the execution grounds, perishing thereafter."
"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, this guy, is using history to illustrate the present. He's reminding me, wanting me to learn a lesson from Mata Hari's story, not to be like her, thinking I can use two factions to play both sides, only to end up with an unfortunate demise."
"This guy mixed this drink for me out of good intentions, so of course I won't blame him."
Sachiko Juraku smiled and rubbed Mikura's head: "A boy who knows he might displease you, but still risks making you angry to warn you, shows his loyalty to you. I'm happy, so you don't need to defend him."
That's great, Ayanokoji didn't make Lady Juraku angry…
If Sachiko Juraku was displeased with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and wanted to teach him a lesson, even if Mikura had a slight internal struggle, she would ultimately stand firmly on Sachiko Juraku's side.
Thankfully, such a situation where she had to choose between two options did not arise.
Mikura saw that Sachiko Juraku indeed didn't look angry, so she breathed a sigh of relief and asked curiously: "If that's the case, then why did Lady Juraku send him away? Didn't you say you didn't blame him?"
Sachiko Juraku took a small sip of "White Lady" and said leisurely: "Because he really did make me angry! How dare he compare me to Mata Hari, a stripper who juggled between several high-ranking officials. I haven't even had a single relationship yet…"
"Eh?"
Is that what Lady Juraku is angry about? Mikura was bewildered.
Girls don't need to be reasonable when arguing, and Mikura, as a girl, certainly agreed with this point.
…But when did Lady Juraku become so emotional?
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