The bar was bustling with activity, filled with all sorts of people drinking. Some had menacing looks and spoke in rough tones, others appeared ordinary and kept to themselves, while some were lively and sociable, clearly the popular type.
But without exception, their casual glances and every movement exuded an air of danger.
Suddenly, the bar door was pushed open, and a cold gust of wind swept in, instantly lowering the temperature inside.
The clash of the icy wind and the fiery alcohol was like plunging a red-hot iron into cold water, creating an immediate reaction. The bar fell into a brief silence.
Two strangers? Two unfamiliar faces, holding guns... Stark Industries deadly weapons... In this chaotic area, such weapons were only accessible to the U.S. military or a handful of powerful organizations—groups that were either ruthless or formidable.
Raiden and Yinsen had successfully captured the attention of everyone in the bar.
"Raiden... I feel like they... don't seem too friendly toward us," Yinsen whispered, tugging at Raiden arm.
The surrounding thugs were all glaring at them, and Yinsen couldn't shake a bad feeling, After all, it was clear at a glance that none of these people were the friendly type.
"It's fine. Isn't a bar just a place to drink? We're here for a drink, not to cause trouble," Raiden said calmly, looking around at the crowd.
Besides, with everyone standing so close together, even if they had bad ideas, Raiden could teach them a lesson in no time.
"Sir, hello. Please leave your gun here. Of course, we'll return it to you when you leave," a bartender stepped forward, pointing to a table piled with rifles and shotguns.
Raiden stared at the bartender for a moment, then raised a finger and shook his head. "Sorry, that's not happening."
"Sir, it's the rule here..."
"I'm not from around here."
Before the bartender could say more, Raiden swaggered straight toward the counter.
Yinsen gave the bartender an apologetic smile and hurried after Raiden.
"Raiden, damn, I never knew you could talk so tough! Won't you get beaten up for speaking like that?"
Yinsen was nervous because he noticed many of the drinkers around them had already moved their hands beneath the tables.
Those menacing looks... Yinsen felt they were ready to draw their guns and start shooting at any moment. They might have even figured out how to dispose of their bodies.
Yinsen felt like he was walking on hot coals, every step... was just unbearable!
"Raiden, Raiden! Maybe we should listen to that guy and leave our guns on the table," Yinsen quickly pursed his lips and said to Raiden.
"Leave our guns there? We're broke!" Raiden raised an eyebrow at Yinsen.
'That statement was reasonable—they were indeed broke... but could you say it a little quieter!'
Raiden declaration of "We're broke!" stood out starkly in the pin-drop silence of the bar.
It was clear that these visitors meant trouble!
The drinking patrons around them, though their hands were hidden beneath the tables, all simultaneously made the sound of bullets being chambered in their guns at that moment.
A bead of cold sweat slid down Yinsen forehead. Damn it Raiden quickly assessed the surroundings and the people. Good heavens how could this guy be so reckless like this.
"Is there something I can help you with, gentlemen?" A sleek and stunning female bartender behind the counter asked.
Raiden smiled at her and said, "You're really beautiful."
The bartender didn't seem annoyed by Raiden irrelevant response. After all, everyone enjoys a compliment, even if it comes from a strange man with a thick beard.
"We're here to drink, of course!" Raiden said as he sat down on a stool in front of the counter, placing his gun by his feet.
Seeing Raiden sit down, Yinsen also placed his gun on the ground, leaned against the counter, and took a seat nearby.
The bartender shook her head and pointed to the door, saying, "I'm sorry, sir, but we might not welcome those who don't follow the rules here."
"Rules?" Raiden chuckled, picking up the gun from under him and slapping it onto the table. "Who's your boss? I'd like to have a word with them."
Swish, swish...
The drinking patrons around them all stood up in unison, drawing their pistols and aiming them at Raiden and Yinsen.
"Raiden!" Yinsen urgently tugged at Raiden clothes and whispered in a low voice.
The bartender expression grew slightly tense. She lowered her head, examining the gun Raiden had placed on the table, and gently ran her fingers over it. Suddenly, she looked up at Raiden and gave him a charming smile.
"I am the boss here."
This woman looked stunning when she smiled.
However, the boss was still trying to figure out Raiden and Yinsen intentions. Her establishment and the Ten Rings organization had always kept to their own territories.
Why would members of the Ten Rings come here to stir up trouble? Were they planning to make a move on this place?
In fact, the boss had known about Raiden and Yinsen the moment they entered the town. Based on the car they drove, the clothes they wore, and the guns they carried, she had mistakenly assumed they were members of the Ten Rings.
There were still some minor entanglements between her and the Ten Rings.
"So you're the boss? A very beautiful boss," Raiden said with a smile, carefully observing the boss fiery orange hair. "Then I'd like to ask, how much alcohol can these two guns buy?"
This woman hair was truly captivating—fiery orange, full of passion.
As Raiden spoke, he gestured for Yinsen to bring out his gun as well. Yinsen quickly picked up the gun by his feet.
"What?" The boss was momentarily stunned.
She furrowed her brows and cast a suspicious glance at Raiden. Unfortunately, the thick beard on Raiden face perfectly concealed his expression, though he wasn't showing any emotion at the moment.
Raiden patted the gun on the table again and said to the boss with utmost seriousness, "I mean, I want to trade these two guns for some drinks. Is that possible?"
The boss looked at Raiden with doubt in her eyes. After all, this was the first time she had ever heard such a request in this place.
Guns were the foundation of survival here. A good gun could buy you a little more time to live than others. And this guy wanted to trade them for alcohol?
"Sure, of course, but can I try the gun first?" the boss tentatively asked Raiden, smiling at him as she spoke.
In her mind, an improbable guess suddenly surfaced, a funny thought that even made her chuckle.
Raiden generously replied, "Go ahead, try it as much as you want."
Raiden had brought two super rifles, high-speed killing tools produced by Stark Industries, with extraordinary power.
The boss smiled, glanced around, and then her gaze settled on Raiden.
She stepped out from behind the bar, reached out, and pressed Raiden shoulder. Raiden looked at her, puzzled.
Just as Raiden was wondering what this beautiful boss was up to, she directly leaned the gun against Raiden shoulder.
"Raiden!" Yinsen wanted to stop the boss action, but Raiden stopped him.
Raiden looked at the boss seriously, shook his head helplessly, pressed the muzzle with his hand, half-squinted, and then supported the gun on his shoulder with his hand.
The boss leaned over, unlocked the safety, and began adjusting the scope focus.
Hmm—a deep cleavage, so deep it seemed to captivate the soul. Raiden eyes were directly facing the boss chest.
"Enjoying the view? Aren't you going to cover your ears?" the boss chuckled softly.
Cover ears?
Wait a second!
Bang!
"Holy crap!"
A loud and distinctive gunshot.
This was a unique characteristic of Stark Industries' rifles. The rifles they produced had particularly distinct gunshots, perhaps some strange quirk of stark.
The boss looked at Raiden, who was rubbing his ears but remained unfazed. The unreliable thought in her mind grew stronger. She returned behind the bar, had the bartender take the gun, and this time, Raiden didn't stop her.
It wasn't that Raiden didn't want to stop her, but that shot... damn, his head was still buzzing, and by the time he recovered, the gun was already gone...
The patrons around, seeing the gun taken away by the bartender, also breathed a sigh of relief, put their own guns away, sat back down, and continued drinking merrily.
However, their eyes would occasionally glance toward Raiden and Yinsen.
Raiden finally relaxed too, as being leaned on with a gun in your shoulder wasn't exactly a pleasant feeling.
"Now, can we get our drinks?" Raiden said, looking at the now empty table in front of him, spreading his hands helplessly. After all, he'd already handed over the gun; surely they could get some drinks now.
"Of course."
The boss looked at Raiden and Yinsen with a playful smile.