“Does this bar have a regular place when it’s not the holiday season?” Jason asked: “You know, so we can visit when we’re not working? Because I don’t know about you Boss, but I am loving this cocktail.”

“They are usually members only, and are only open for the public during the holiday season.” Jianmen answered: “And to get a membership, you’ll need to talk to the owner or be introduced by an existing member.”

“Aren’t you a member Boss?” Caroline asked, and signaled to the waitress that she would like to order.

“No. Their drinks to me are like occasional guilty pleasure.” Jianmen took a big gulp from his wooden mug: “They taste nice and all, but way too fancy for my taste for regular drinks. And I think you have already noticed the difference between their drinks and the wine in your flasks - they don’t restore your power, in fact they drained your power while you’re drinking them because your body needs it to process them.”

“Yeah. So just like normal drinks.” Caroline chuckled, then she turned to the waitress and pointed at Jason: “Can I have a glass of cocktail like his?”

“Sure. Coming right up.”

“So what happened when you found this guy Yedong? And how was your first experience at a nightclub?” Jason laughed and asked.

“Loud and unsanitary with people doing illicit dealings in the corners.” Jianmen answered with a slightly judgmental smile: “And if you have ever been to a vampire nightclub or a wizard pub, you’ll notice that no matter what kinds of individuals we are, powered or unpowered, nightclubs and bars are all the same.”

“Well, can we visit either of those today? That sounds really fun.” Jason asked while looked up in with a day dreaming expression: “It’s interesting, till now we encountered several kinds of ghosts and spirits, Nekomatas, a high witch action starlet, but we’ve never met any of the popular monster sex symbols yet. Horny vampires, werewolves with ripped abs, sexy succubuses… ”

“The owner of this bar is a half succubus.” Jianmen shrugged: “If you’d like you can try ask for him - quite a nice guy and a good wizard, a little too flirty for me but hey what can you do, he’s half succubus.”

Caroline almost spilled her drink when she heard this and then started giggling: “Wow! For real Boss?! That sounds like someone I gotta meet! Is he hot? Is he athletic? How is he with a gun?”

“Woah woah woah.” Jason chuckled: “Looks like someone was drunk on those chips.”

“Yeah ... how many baskets did she order?” Jianmen asked.

“I think just three, counting this one.” Jason finished up his cocktail and said: “And I don’t feel anything.”

“That’s because ‘Mirror of Minds’ is non-alcoholic. ” a husky male voice came from behind Jason: “And we adjusted our recipe for the chips, they now have none of the side usual unpleasant side effects and are blessed with the qualities of fine wine. Have a taste and you’ll like it.”

Before Jason could turn around, a tall, built and handsome man in a clean white suit walked to the side of their table and greeted all three of them: “Hello, good afternoon, my name is Fernando Backley, the owner of this bar. How are you doing on this wonderful afternoon?”

“We’re … we’re fine!” Jason was a bit embarrassed, and then he had to slap Caroline’s hand to stop her from ogling at Fernando.

“Hey Fernando. How’s business?” Jianmen raised his empty wooden mug.

“Doing quite well, actually, much thanks to you and your recipe.” Fernando’s smile seemed natural and warm: “I take it, these are your students?”

“Oh, you flatter. Jianmen laughed and said: “And yes - this is Jason and this is Caroline, this is their first time at the fair. I brought them here to buy some necessities before sending them to Grant Academy.”

“Good! And I assumed you’re just getting started? Because I just met Mr. Brooke about half an hour ago, and he had a whole sled of things for his third son.” Fernando nodded and said.

“You’d think that … but no! We’re… we’re already done!” Caroline said while still staring at Fernando: “Just the bare… bare necessities.”

“Yeah. But it’s the Brooke family - everything we could have is trivial to them and their necessities are luxuries for us.” Fernando shrugged and said.

“Still filthy rich and still the one with a cocky attitude and lifestyle?” Jianmen asked.

“Well, I can’t speak ill of our customers. But the soon to be enrolled student did hit on one of our waitresses and almost threw a tantrum.”

“And we’re going to be in the same school.” Caroline turned to Jianmen and asked: “Boss, I know you’re not the gossip type, so who else can we ask about the people to keep an eye out for? Like different houses in the school, clubs and schoolyard politics?”

“The only one I can think of is...”

“Josephine Wong.” Jason and Caroline said at the same time: “Yeah, Boss, you need to go out more.” 

“Hey, I just paid for your drinks. Tread lightly there.”

“Oh, speaking of Ms. Josephine Wong.” Fernando said with a smile: “She came here earlier as well. Looks like she brought her own students here as well - they looked kinda old to start enrolling, but you know, it’s Josephine Wong, who am I to question her choices?”