Chapter 411: Distracting (3)

Perseus POV

"Why are you not sleeping?" Lilith asked and placed her head on my shoulder

"Just strategizing."

"We went for quite a long time, how are you not tired?"

"That's a dumb question. I'm used to it by now."

"It is...your adaptability is scary, you can handle me now." she giggled a bit, "So what are you struggling with?"

So, the easiest way to sneak in would be to disguise myself as one of the heroes' consort. Still, it's also the riskiest way, because...well the process requires being physically inspected naked several times...and recently, due to a demon in disguise being caught with a poison vial in their...well, the process also now requires being checked in there.

So yeah...I'll be caught from the get-go, my shape-shifting and illusion skills can only go so far, I can shapeshift and change things externally, not internally, I can make a solid illusion projection...but yeah, it's too risky.

So, now it's left with disguising as one of the mage's pets or being the bartender in a nearby inn. Becoming the mages' magical pet was tempting, however, being a pet came with its own challenges.

I had to understand and respond to the mages' certain specific commands, so I had to learn some of their tactics and other things. And I had to remain vigilant, for one wrong move could reveal my true identity. If I made a mistake and had to be punished, I have to know how to reenact those punishments.

Meaning that I would have to develop a keen understanding of the mage's commands and wishes. The mage's words and gestures would become my law, and I'd have to decipher their intentions and desires with the precision of a seasoned interpreter. 

I had to act as if I would be under a mage's control, bound by magical contracts and compelled to carry out tasks, some of which might go against my own will. Or act as their best friends, like what Buddy is to me.

Buddy can help with the pet part, but he's an unusual pet, he doesn't have any punishments or anything he has to really worry about as I just let him go out and do whatever when he's not with me, and he doesn't need commands to understand what's going on. I might also be commanded to stay with other animals, who can rat me out as soon as I try to do something.

On the other hand, the bartender's role seemed more independent. Mixing drinks and mastering the art of gossip... one that required its own set of skills. The inn was a hub of information and fun, a place where secrets flowed as freely as the ale.

By slipping behind the bar, I could eavesdrop on conversations and gather valuable knowledge. It was a role that offered a certain kind of freedom, yet it required finesse, a steady hand, a head of useful info for the heroes, and a sharp ear.

To thrive in this profession, I'd have to possess an extensive mental catalog of drinks, both common and exotic. The recipe for each cocktail, the ideal temperature for serving various brews, and the subtle nuances that set one ale apart from another, all of these details would be a requirement.

My memory had to be sharp and my mixing skills precise. Each drink was a story, and I would have to be an eloquent storyteller.

But it didn't end with just the beverages. To excel as a bartender, I would need to become an astute observer of human nature. I'd have to learn to decipher the unspoken words hidden in the patrons' glances, postures, and whispered conversations.

The inn was a place of convergence for all walks of life, and I'd have to understand the intricacies of the different factions, guilds, and individuals that frequented the establishment. There are a lot of powerful individuals that I don't know about, especially if they mostly hang out in the black market.

Knowledge of who owed debts to whom, who held grudges, and who secretly pined for power was as important as knowing how to mix a perfect martini. Zach could be a good teacher about the knowledge part...heck, he fits the criteria more. He can work for me as he wants the money...

But too risky, the bartender is quite a tall man, I can't shapeshift someone else, only project an illusion, so if it's high on a shelf, he won't be able to reach it without magic, which will be suspicious...Better to do it myself.

"I can teach you how to brew some stuff." Lilith offered, "I hung out in a lot of taverns, one of my exes was also a bartender."

'Wouldn't you be interfering?"

"No, I'm just teaching you how to make good alcohol, it'll be good for me when we marry, you can make some good drinks as I suffer from the nightmare that is called children...you're also sabotaging the heroes, so that'll mess with my brothers and my parents' reputation since the heroes got their power from them."

"How long will it take?"

"Let's say 5 days, a week if we get distracted."

It'll take me 5 days to a week as well for me to poison the heroes and delay their operations, assuming for the worst, let's say 15 days for this...

Bartender or pet...

"Might as well be the bartender, I already got his file, and his background is already pretty mysterious. Let's get started."

"Now?" Lilith asked, "I'm a bit tired to think and instruct for the next 2 hours."

"Why?"

"Why do you think? Some guy was just a bit too energetic."

"Fine, I'll go get some judges."

*****

The only ones available for the alcohol testing were the chief and my 3 grandparents, plus Lilith, that's 5.

As I stood behind the bar, my mind raced through the mental catalog of bizarre and exotic drinks this fantastical world had to offer. Sure, they were fascinating, but they also left me scratching my head in disbelief.

I mean, who in their right mind would want to drink something that had a ground boar's toenail as one of its ingredients? Or that elixir made from the tears of a fire serpent? Does the snake even have tears?

It was like they were trying to come up with the most ridiculous concoctions just to see who would be brave, or foolish, enough to order them.

And then there were those peculiar potions that some patrons craved, the ones that seemed to dance on the fine line between a thrilling high and utter lunacy. Like the one that, for a split second, poisoned you before giving you some kind of euphoric rush.

Seriously, people willingly consumed something that almost killed them just for a momentary buzz? It was like a game of Russian roulette in a glass! Do I even need to poison them?!