Black and White Bar

Chapter 19: Black and White Bar

The evolution process went smoothly. Su Ze's foundation was extremely solid, and everything felt like a natural progression.

Su Ze sat up and saw a humanoid pattern on the bedsheet beneath him, imprinted by the expelled viscous fluid. It was the bodily fluid he had discharged, containing many impurities and discarded cells, emitting a foul stench.

His skin and the bathrobe he was wearing were also covered in this sticky, foul-smelling fluid, making him feel uncomfortable.

Su Ze got out of bed, feeling extremely dehydrated. He picked up the teapot on the table and drank directly from it, downing an entire pot of water before his thirst was quenched.

He then jumped into the bathtub, washing away all the filth. Instantly, he felt refreshed and invigorated.

Su Ze's current state was better than ever before. Both physically and mentally, after his evolution, he had surpassed the limits of ordinary humans and reached a new level.

Before, even though he had absorbed four vials of extract, his physical strength and speed were still within the realm of ordinary people when he didn't use his skills. He might have been the best among ordinary people, but it wasn't overly exaggerated.

Now, after completing his first evolution, his life level had been elevated. Strictly speaking, he was already a higher life form than ordinary humans, with all his attributes doubled, reaching a level unattainable by normal humans.

The surging power within him gave Su Ze the illusion that he could punch through anything. His body also felt lighter than before, as if a single stomp would send his head crashing into the ceiling.

Which is harder, my head or the ceiling?

Su Ze wasn't foolish enough to test this. He put on his clothes and left the bathhouse, hailing a taxi outside.

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

The Black and White Bar wasn't 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 exclusively open to its members.

There was only one condition to become a Black Bar member: one must have undergone at least one evolution.

In other words, only Evolvers in the Pupal stage or above could enter the Black Bar.

Su Ze had learned about the Black and White Bar from the branch manager of Life Pharmaceutical two days prior. However, since he hadn't evolved yet at that time, he couldn't enter the Black Bar and had thus not visited.

Amidst the noisy music, scantily clad dancers writhed on stage. Under the flashing lights, excited, flushed faces were illuminated. Shouts and laughter, the clinking of glasses, and screams constantly filled Su Ze's ears.

Su Ze frowned; he didn't particularly like such a noisy environment. Yet, his exceptionally handsome face and the youthful vigor unique to his seventeen-year-old body attracted a swarm of drunken admirers.

In the short walk to the bar counter, Su Ze had already lost count of the women who had approached him. Some asked to add him as a friend, others invited him for a drink, and some even threw themselves at him.

Su Ze politely pushed away the older woman reeking of alcohol and said to the bartender, "I'd like to get a Black Bar membership card."

The bartender straightened up. "Please demonstrate your evolutionary power."

Su Ze extended his hand, and a hint of crimson appeared on his fingertip.

"Please wait a moment."

The bartender took Su Ze's phone number and, after a moment, handed him a black membership card bearing the Black and White Bar's logo.

After receiving the card, Su Ze walked towards a jet-black iron door at the back. He was currently in the White Bar; the Black Bar was behind that black door.

A burly guard stood before the black door. He took the membership card Su Ze handed him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Then, as a routine procedure, he asked Su Ze to demonstrate his evolutionary power.

Clearly, just having a membership card wasn't enough; his evolutionary power needed to be verified.

As Su Ze entered through the black door, it felt like stepping into another dimension. The iron door closed behind him, shutting out all the noise.

Su Ze felt as if he had walked into an old American movie. The Black Bar was predominantly decorated in a reddish-brown hue: red brick walls, a red bar counter, and wooden tables. Soothing classical piano music played. It resembled a restaurant more than a bar, much like an underground speakeasy during America's Prohibition era.

There weren't many patrons in the Black Bar, only about twenty. Su Ze's arrival drew their attention, and surprise flickered across their faces as they saw a new, exceptionally young face.

In Black Rock City, it was rare to find a Pupal stage Evolver as young as Su Ze. Looking at the current patrons, the youngest among them was in his early twenties. Su Ze, a mere youth, naturally stood out.

Su Ze wasn't intimidated by their stares. He gave a slight nod as a greeting and then walked towards the bar counter.

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

"A glass of orange juice."

"Not drinking anything alcoholic?" The bartender was quite confident in his skills and wanted to showcase his technique to this new customer.

"No, I'm still underage." Su Ze offered a law-abiding citizen's pleasant smile.

The bartender had nothing more to say and poured a glass of orange juice, serving it to Su Ze.

Su Ze sat at the bar, sipping his orange juice while watching the large screen hanging behind the counter, which displayed various pieces of information.

[Seeking a Cocoon Breaking stage Evolver skilled in healing to team up for a hunt in the eastern Black Rock Mountain Range. The team currently has five members, with a well-rounded composition, strong capabilities, rich experience, and guaranteed safety...]

[Selling a Tier 1 Wonder Item, defensive type. Price: 5 million. Interested parties may view the item at the bar...]

[Seeking to purchase 10 scorpion tail stingers...]

The Black Bar served as a place for Evolvers to communicate privately, exchange information, buy and sell items, and accept missions.

Evolvers in Black Rock City could meet here, conduct private transactions or form partnerships, or directly post missions, buy, and sell items through the bar. Of course, the Black Bar took a commission for transactions facilitated through them, and posting missions also required a fee.

Although Evolvers often held respectable jobs with substantial incomes, their expenses were also enormous. The medicines and extracts they consumed daily were very expensive, along with various other miscellaneous costs. Some parents also had to spend money to raise their children. Their salaries alone were insufficient to cover everything, which was why places like the Black Bar existed.

During their leisure time, Evolvers would come here to take on missions for some extra income or to sell their spoils.

Su Ze's purpose for coming here was to find a suitable team. The Black Rock Mountain Range was extremely dangerous, and only by joining a powerful team could he have the confidence to safely cross it and reach the Luofan Kingdom.