Black and White Bar

Black and White Bar

The evolution process went smoothly. Su Ze's foundation was extremely solid, and everything fell naturally into place.

Su Ze sat up and saw a human-shaped stain imprinted on the bedsheet beneath him by filthy, viscous fluid. It was tissue fluid expelled from his body, containing many impurities and discarded cells, and it reeked of blood and rot.

Large amounts of the foul-smelling tissue fluid clung to his skin and bathrobe as well, leaving him sticky and uncomfortable.

Su Ze got out of bed, feeling severely dehydrated. He picked up the teapot on the table, tipped his head back, and poured it into his mouth. Only after draining an entire pot did the thirst ease.

He jumped into the bath and washed all the grime from his body, instantly feeling refreshed.

Su Ze was now in better condition than ever before. Both physically and mentally, he had surpassed the limits of ordinary people after evolving and reached a new level.

Although he had previously absorbed four tubes of extract, without using skills, his physical strength and speed had still remained within the range of ordinary humans. At most, he had been among the very best of them, but nothing too extraordinary.

Now that he had completed his first evolution, his Life Level had risen. Strictly speaking, he was already a lifeform one level above ordinary humans. All his attributes had doubled, reaching a level ordinary humans simply could not attain.

The surging sense of power within him gave Su Ze the illusion that he could punch through anything. His body also felt lighter than before, as though a single push off the ground could send his head crashing into the ceiling.

Which is harder, my head or the ceiling?

Su Ze was not the type to smash his head against things, so he did not test the question. He got dressed, left the bathhouse, and hailed a taxi outside.

"Driver, take me to the Black and White Bar."

The Black and White Bar was not the liveliest bar in Black Rock City, but it was the most mysterious and profitable.

Just as its name suggested, the Black and White Bar was divided into two areas: the Black Bar and the White Bar.

The White Bar was no different from an ordinary bar, while the Black Bar was open only to Black Bar members.

There was only one requirement for becoming a Black Bar member: one had to have undergone evolution at least once.

In other words, only evolvers at the Pupal Stage or above could enter the Black Bar.

Su Ze had learned about the Black and White Bar from the manager of a Life Pharmaceutical branch two days ago. However, since he had not evolved at the time and could not enter the Black Bar, he had not come until now.

Amid the blaring music, scantily dressed, sexy women swayed onstage. Flashing lights illuminated excited, flushed faces, while raucous shouts, laughter, clinking glasses, and screams endlessly rang around Su Ze.

Su Ze frowned. He did not particularly like such a noisy environment, yet his excessively handsome face and the youthful vigor unique to a seventeen-year-old body proved highly attractive to a swarm of drunken butterflies.

During the brief walk to the bar counter, Su Ze had already lost count of how many women had approached him. Some wanted to add him as a friend, some invited him for drinks, and some even threw themselves into his arms.

Su Ze politely pushed away an older woman reeking of alcohol and said to the young man behind the counter, "Get me a Black Bar membership card."

The young man straightened up. "Please display your Evolutionary Force."

Su Ze held out his hand, and a faint crimson glow appeared at his fingertips.

"Please wait a moment."

The young man asked for Su Ze's phone number. A moment later, he handed him a black membership card bearing the Black and White Bar logo.

Taking the membership card, Su Ze walked toward a pitch-black iron door at the back. He was currently in the White Bar; the Black Bar lay beyond that black door.

A burly guard stood before the door. He accepted the membership card Su Ze handed over, surprise flashing through his eyes. Then, following procedure, he asked Su Ze to display his Evolutionary Force.

Clearly, the membership card alone was not enough. His Evolutionary Force had to be verified as well.

After Su Ze passed through the black door, it felt as though he had entered another world. Once the iron door closed behind him, all the noise was shut outside.

It was as though Su Ze had stepped into an old American film. The Black Bar before him was dominated by reddish-brown tones: red brick walls, a red counter, wooden dining tables, and soothing classical piano music. It felt more like a restaurant than a bar, much like an underground speakeasy from the Prohibition era.

There were not many guests in the Black Bar, only around twenty. Su Ze's arrival drew their attention, and surprise soon appeared on their faces. He was an unfamiliar face, and far too young.

In Black Rock City, it was rare to see someone as young as Su Ze at the Pupal Stage. A glance at the bar's guests made that clear—the youngest among them were already young adults in their twenties, so Su Ze naturally stood out as a teenager.

Su Ze did not falter under everyone's gaze. He gave a slight nod in greeting, then walked toward the bar counter.

The bartender, who sported a small mustache, asked, "What would you like to drink?"

"A glass of orange juice."

"Not having any alcohol?" The bartender was quite confident in his skills and wanted to show this new customer what he could do.

"No, I'm still underage." Su Ze gave the kind smile of a law-abiding citizen.

The bartender had nothing to say. He poured a glass of orange juice and set it before Su Ze.

Su Ze sat at the bar, drinking orange juice while staring at the large screen hanging behind the counter, where information scrolled continuously.

Seeking a Cocoon Breaking Stage evolver skilled in healing to form a team for a hunting trip to the eastern Black Rock Mountain Range. The team currently has five members, with a well-rounded lineup, strong capabilities, extensive experience, and guaranteed safety...

Selling a Tier 1 Wonder Item, defensive type, price: five million. Interested buyers may inspect it at the bar counter...

Buying ten rock scorpion tail stingers...

The Black Bar was a place for evolvers to communicate privately, exchange information, trade items, and accept or post missions.

Evolvers in Black Rock City could meet up here, conduct private transactions or form partnerships, and also post missions, sell items, or purchase items directly through the bar. Of course, the Black Bar took a commission on transactions made through it, and posting missions also required payment.

Although evolvers often had respectable, well-paying jobs, their expenses were enormous as well. The medicines and extracts they consumed daily were extremely costly, along with all sorts of other miscellaneous expenses. Some who were parents also had to spend money raising their children. Salaries alone were simply not enough to support all that, which was why places like the Black Bar were necessary.

In their spare time, evolvers would come here to take on a mission and earn some extra money, or sell their spoils.

Su Ze had come here to find a suitable team. The Black Rock Mountain Range was unimaginably dangerous, and only by following a powerful team could he be confident of crossing it safely and reaching the Luofan Kingdom.