History class passed by without a hitch. When the bell rang, Zeke quickly left the academy. Since his body was still recovering, he wasn't going to train today. He went back to his apartment and prepared for his bartender training at the Solace Bar later.
During his talk with Hullo, the two of them came up with a schedule for his training. Since the job was relatively simple, it will only take him five days to complete his training. His shift starts at 7 PM and lasts until 3 AM, but he has the option to change one of those night shifts to a morning shift on Sunday.
Zeke wasn't keen on changing it, so he left it as it is. He had a feeling that the days ahead would be incredibly busy. Re-examining his schedule, he realized that he was going to do something difficult, even for other people.
He has to take classes in the morning, grind his proficiency in the afternoon, and work at night. And he couldn't forget to rest as well, as he already knew the consequences of pushing his body too much.
Still, he wasn't particularly worried. He had experiences with rough schedules in the past. Zeke would just have to optimize his schedule as time goes on. He rested in his apartment for a while and ate a packed meal he bought from the cafeteria, costing him 10 merit points.
Andrei had warned him to spend his merit points wisely, as they were only credited at the start of every new month. Furthermore, merit points were essential if he wanted to improve his strength quickly.
After resting for a while, Zeke saw that it was already 6:30 PM. He stepped out of his unit and made his way to Solace Bar. He was wearing his Herta Academy uniform since he thought his old clothes were too flashy.
Along the way, he glanced at the flower shop where Seralune was working. Zeke didn't see Seralune outside, and he wasn't keen on meeting her, so he just took a quick look before entering the alleyway.
Stopping in front of Solace Bar, Zeke could hear the soul stirring rhythm that took his attention on his first visit. He didn't hesitate to go inside, causing the bell on the door to echo, but his arrival was drowned by the music in the bar, leading to no one noticing him.
Except for one, whom he recognized instantly.
Sitting on the nearest sofa, an intense man was looking at him quietly. The man wore a plain white t-shirt, tucked below a pair of light gray trousers. His jet black hair was slicked backwards, showing his sharp features.
The man wasn't handsome, nor was he eye-catching, but when Zeke looked at him, a chill ran down his spine. He wasn't able to get a proper look at Sam last time, and now finally had a good grasp of the man's appearance.
Sam was intimidating in a short distance. Despite his seemingly ordinary appearance, his eyes showed sharpness that Zeke only saw from the most hardened people. The kind of people that would laugh at you in one second, and murder you on the next.
Sam stared at him for a while, then smiled.
"Kid, heard from the big guy that you got hired in this bar?"
'The big guy… is he referring to Hullo?'
Zeke wasn't surprised that he knew. He nodded slightly.
"Yeah, it's thanks to you."
Since the distance between them was short, Sam heard his words clearly. Sam paused, staring at him quietly. Zeke wasn't sure if he said anything wrong, but he kept a calm expression as he met Sam's gaze.
After a brief stare, Sam couldn't help but laugh. "You still got the eyes of a tiger, kiddo. Don't lose that. Aren't you working? Go. I'm busy here!"
As he said that, he grabbed the wine glass on the table and took a sip, feeling exhilirated.
'Busy? Well, it's none of my business…'
Zeke furrowed his brows and quickly went to the bartender area, spotting Hullo mixing drinks.
Hullo seemed to have noticed him, raising his brows in surprise.
"You're here early."
"I have nothing better to do, so I might as well get early."
Zeke said casually. But then, remembering something, he asked hesitantly. "… Or would that be a problem?"
Maybe there was a work culture thing that he wasn't aware of?
Hullo stared at him with amusement. He shook his head. "No. Get behind here and change into your work uniform. I'll teach you the basics. Hurry up."
Zeke did as he was told. There was a door behind the bartender's area, leading to the staff room. He was just about to ask where his work uniform was, but Hullo spoke ahead of him.
"Beside my desk."
Zeke glanced at the desk in the right corner, seeing a matching brown bartender outfit. He looked around the room before walking towards the desk area.
After a minute, he stepped out of the staff room, fully changed. The bartender's outfit suited him perfectly, giving him a refined appearance, though much more softer than his usual look. When he appeared, he was instantly noticed by the customers at the front of the bar.
"Hey, Hullo! You got a new guy?"
A customer asked Hullo curiously.
Hullo raised his brows and glanced sideways, noticing Zeke. He replied to the customer while ordering Zeke. "Yeah, he just started today. Zeke, come here. I'll teach you the basics."
Zeke nodded and quickly came to his side.
One of the female customers couldn't help but admire. "You got a handsome one on you, Old Hullo. He might be my favorite among your bartenders so far. Don't let him go."
Hullo only gave a nod as acknowledgement. He grabbed a wine bottle and a shaker from behind. "Watch closely. I'll be showing you how to make a Solace Special, this bar's best-selling mix. It uses Jabeetri's reserve wine as a base, balanced with citrus and a touch of spice. You have to be precise with the measurements, if you make a slight mistake, it can ruin the flavor..."
Zeke listened closely and couldn't help but be surprised. So this is what bartenders do. But even more than Hullo's precise maneuvers, he was more surprised by the burly man's comments.
Hullo was specific with his instructions and added some trivia, showing Zeke the extension of his knowledge. Even though it wasn't obvious, Zeke could sense that the man genuinely enjoyed his work, merely from his intense concentration alone.
After a minute, a drink was ready to be served.
Hullo glanced at Zeke. "Now it's your turn."
Zeke snapped out of his daze. He quickly nodded and took a deep breath, closing his eyes. This wasn't training, but it was just as important… When he opened his eyes again, resolve flashed by his pupils, his expression turning solemn.
'Let's start!'
He recalled the steps one by one and grabbed the wine bottle.