I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

She paused, glanced around the somewhat deserted tavern hall, and said with a wry smile:

"So during this period, no one dared to go out at night."

Look, it's only just gotten night, and there are hardly any customers in the shop... business is almost failing.

Xia Lin followed her gaze and looked around.

Indeed, the huge tavern had only three or four tables of customers, making it seem empty and desolate.

It was a far cry from the bustling scene of people and clinking glasses that I remembered at this time of day.

"I see," he muttered to himself.

So many things happened during the time I was away from town on a mission.

"Let's not talk about these depressing things!"

Gondor slammed his hand on the table, trying to break the somewhat somber atmosphere. "It's rare for Charlin to be back, we should have a good drink! Karin, bring the wine! The usual!"

Karin rolled her eyes at him, but her expression softened considerably.

She stood up and walked towards the bar: "Wait here, I'll go get the ale and roast meat. Today we also have elf-made smoked meat, you guys are lucky."

Not long after, Karen returned carrying a heavy wooden tray.

On the tray were three large glasses of amber-colored ale, glistening with fine foam, and a large plate of thickly sliced ​​roast meat.

The meat slices were roasted until slightly charred, giving them an enticing caramel color, and the fat glistened in the firelight.

A rich aroma, a blend of rosemary, thyme, and smoky fruitwood, rose with the rising steam, instantly whetting everyone's appetite.

"This is Boss Sosia's exclusive recipe," Karin said, placing the dishes on the table one by one. "It's marinated with herbs from the Elf Forest and then slowly smoked over applewood... Try it."

Xia Lin picked up her fork, poked a piece of food, and put it in her mouth.

The meat was even more tender than he had imagined, almost melting in his mouth.

The freshness of vanilla and the richness of smoke blend perfectly, creating a complex and layered flavor on the tongue.

The richness of the oil is perfectly balanced by the acidity, making it not greasy at all.

"Delicious," he exclaimed sincerely.

Gondor had already gulped down half a glass of ale, his beard covered in foam, and mumbled in agreement, "Absolutely! Boss Sosia's cooking is the best in the whole town!" He gave a short, thick thumb.

The dwarf Tyr was awakened by the aroma of food and the noise around him. He groggily raised his head and rubbed his eyes.

"Is dinner...?" he mumbled, not fully sober yet, but instinctively reaching for his wine glass.

The three enjoyed their meal while chatting about their recent experiences.

Gondor vividly recounted the perilous experiences he had encountered during his previous mission.

Of course, the part where he almost became a goblin's lunch was automatically omitted.

One glass of beer after another was downed, and the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Gondor and his old flame, Kaelin, huddled together, whispering secrets.

The dwarf chuckled occasionally, while Karin would sometimes pat his shoulder lightly, a faint blush on her face.

Tyr soon slumped back onto the table. The dwarf's alcohol tolerance seemed to be proportional to his height; after a few glasses of ale, he was already too drunk and fell into a deep sleep.

Xia Lin finished the last bit of ale in his glass, feeling the warm liquid slide down his throat and bring a comfortable, slightly tipsy sensation.

He stood up and walked towards the bar.

Sosia, the owner of the Moonlight Tavern, looked to be around thirty years old.

Of course, considering the lifespan of elves, her actual age may already be over two hundred years old.

She was standing behind the bar, carefully wiping a crystal glass.

"Ms. Sosia." Xia Lin stopped in front of the bar.

The elf raised its head, its emerald green eyes gleaming like jewels under the light.

"Mr. Xia Lin." She nodded slightly, her voice clear and melodious, like a forest stream, "What do you need?"

"A bottle of Blue Nightmare," Xia Lin said. He had used up the previous bottle while dealing with the gnolls, and he needed to restock.

The mental sobering effect of this wine can suppress his bloodthirsty and restless negative emotions under the [Full Moon Hunt], and Xia Lin has now become a loyal fan of it.

The elf was silent for a few seconds, then turned around and took a deep blue, slender-necked glass bottle from a wooden shelf embedded in the wall behind her.

The bottle is no bigger than the palm of your hand, and the liquid inside glows with a dark blue light under the lamp, with occasional specks of silver light flowing within, as if a starry night sky is sealed inside.

"I must thank the female mage who came with you last time for her suggestion, which helped me improve this wine by adding the Dew Blueberry and Silver Ash Grass that she mentioned."

Are you raising prices?

Xia Lin's heart skipped a beat.

"Don't worry, it's still five gold coins." Sosia seemed to have noticed his predicament and smiled as she placed the bottle on the bar.

Xia Lin, who had been rescued, counted out gold coins from the money pouch at his waist and pushed them over.

But as his fingers touched the cold bottle, a thought suddenly struck him.

The owner of the Dwarf Tavern once said that the honey from the mithril bee is the material for brewing high-quality mead.

If we could get a discount by exchanging honey, perhaps...

"Ms. Sosia," he began, choosing his words carefully, "would you be interested in mithril bee honey?"

A barely perceptible ripple flashed in the elf's eyes.

There's hope! Xia Lin was overjoyed as she noticed the subtle changes in the elf.

"Mistrell bees?" she repeated the word, tapping her fingertips lightly on the surface of the bar. "Those dangerous creatures that only inhabit deadwood forests? Their honey is indeed a good ingredient for brewing."

"Yes," Xia Lin nodded. "I just happened to get some recently. If you need it, I'd be happy to use it to exchange for a discount on future purchases of Blue Nightmare."

Sosia did not answer immediately.

She turned around, took a small silver wine glass from the wine rack behind her, picked up a bottle of wine with a faded label, poured a little, and handed it to Xia Lin.

"Try this."

Xia Lin casually cast an identification spell over:

Moon Dew Mead (Health Champagne - Special Offer for Celebrations)

Made primarily with sirloin bee honey, golden vine leaves, and forest morning dew, and brewed using ancient elven methods and a moonlight ritual.

Effects: Within 24 hours of drinking, it slightly enhances male vitality and energy. This bottle of shimmering golden liquid is a rare and precious product brewed by the elven brewing master Sosia using "the last bit of good stuff".

Its texture is as smooth as moonlight, with a perfect blend of floral and honey sweetness. It is often used by elves to "enliven" the newlyweds at weddings.

"Although the honey source is extinct, the legend of the 'aftereffects' of this batch of wine continues to be passed down through generations in the forest..." — Sosia

Woody, who was nearby, smelled the aroma and exclaimed, "Good stuff! Fill my glass too!"

Xia Lin took the cup, sipped it, and poured half a cup for the greedy crow.

The liquor is crisp and refreshing upon entry, then transforms into a warm and soothing sensation.

An extremely delicate floral aroma spreads in the mouth, with a subtle hint of honey sweetness, but it is not sticky at all; instead, it blends perfectly with the rich body of the wine.

The aftereffects of the alcohol made Xia Lin feel dizzy for a moment.

This wine has power.