Pawnshop No. 8

520 Apartment.

"Hey everyone, are you all busy tomorrow night?"

Chandler pushed the door open and clapped his hands as he asked.

"Is there something you need?"

Adam asked curiously.

He remembered that Chandler had been busy apologizing to Susie during this time, but there hadn't been much progress.

A psychological trauma that lasted for more than 20 years.

Ever since Chandler lifted her skirt in public, she was nicknamed "Underpants Susie" and was mocked until she left town at eighteen.

Even today, she almost never goes back.

She was terrified of being recognized and having that nickname, which had caused her immense shame and indignation, called out in public again.

The difficulty of Chandler's apology journey can be imagined.

"Our company is having a party tomorrow night. You can bring people over. There are free drinks and performances. Want to come?"

A wry smile flashed across Chandler's eyes, but no one noticed.

"I'll go."

Joey was the first to respond.

"I'll go too."

Phoebe raised her hand high. "I love parties the most."

"I don't want to go."

Monica shook her head.

Although she felt relieved to learn that Richard had cried, the aftereffects of the breakup still left her somewhat depressed.

"Go."

Chandler advised, "Right now, you're the one who needs a party the most, don't you all agree?"

"Right."

"Right!"

"Together!"

"Together!"

The crowd immediately started to jeer.

"OK, OK."

Monica, unable to bear the nagging any longer, had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"Adam, Rachel, Ross, are you all going?"

Chandler confirmed.

"Certainly."

Adam and the other two naturally did not refuse.

This was the first time Chandler had invited them to his company.

Everyone was curious about what advertising companies were like.

If we go back to the IT company Chandler used to work for, after more than a decade, Monica and the others wouldn't even remember what Chandler's job actually was.

Is it really that you can't remember the long list of technical terms related to data processing?

Perhaps so for Joey.

But the fact that everyone does this only shows that they are not interested at all.

"Then it's settled!"

Chandler clapped his hands and said, "Everyone has to be there by 8 p. m. tomorrow night!"

"OK".

Everyone responded in unison.

Chandler said a few more words, subtly reminding everyone to go, and then said he had something to do and left.

Adam watched his retreating figure and sensed that something was wrong.

Is there anything special about tomorrow night's party?

Adam was starting to look forward to it.

The following evening.

Everyone dressed up.

Chandler said he needed to organize the party, so he went early.

Adam drove Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, and Joey to Chandler's company at the address Chandler had given them.

As expected of a large advertising company, the party was of a very high standard.

Adam and the others showed their invitations and went inside.

Wow! So much delicious food!

When Joey saw the buffet area filled with food, her eyes lit up and she went over without saying a word.

"Where's Chandler?"

Rachel looked around and asked curiously, "Why don't I see him?"

"Something might be wrong. Let's go keep an eye on Joey."

Adam followed the group to the self-service table, reminded Joey to be reserved, and then mixed a cocktail for each of them.

Wow! So beautiful!

Phoebe exclaimed in amazement as she held up Adam's dazzling cocktail.

"Adam, when did you learn to mix cocktails?"

Rachel asked curiously.

"Does this even need to be learned?"

Adam laughed and said, "You'll learn just by watching."

A year ago, when he was investigating William Haver, he went to the bar where William worked and watched from afar as William performed various bartending tricks.

With his high IQ, strong memory, and agile movements, replicating William's flashy moves would be a piece of cake for him.

He can even easily perform more elaborate moves.

Thinking that this was also a great skill for picking up girls, Adam observed for a few more days, went back and tried it out, and easily learned the bartending technique that William Haver had been practicing for a long time.

"It's so delicious! I've never had such a good cocktail before."

Phoebe took a sip and exclaimed in surprise, "What's the name of this cocktail?"

A cocktail is a mixed drink made by mixing two or more types of alcohol, beverages, juices, or sodas. It is colorful and has a unique flavor.

It's a bit like a big pot stew; you can add anything in, and it's all mixed together, depending entirely on personal preference.

Many people like to name the cocktails they mix, and some of the more popular ones include Margarita, Bloody Mary, Manhattan, Sex on the Beach, and so on.

These classic cocktails all have clearly defined recipes, and their flavors are familiar to the general public.

However, many more cocktails are simply made by bartenders at random, some good and some bad, depending entirely on their skill.

The cocktail Adam mixed was clearly one that none of the others had ever tasted before.

"Wow!"

Rachel took a sip and exclaimed, "It's really delicious! Does it have a name?"

"Pawnshop No. 8".

Adam smiled knowingly.

"Pawnshop No. 8?"

Monica said speechlessly, "What a strange name! Is there any story behind it?"

"Certainly."

Adam laughed and said, "Legend has it that Lucifer built a pawnshop in the fourth dimension, specifically to lure greedy souls to trade, thereby reaping human souls."

The pawnshop is called Pawnshop No. 8 Pawnshop No. 8 it accepts everything, not just human souls, but also emotions and desires, just like this cocktail, which can contain anything.

Anyone who has ever made a transaction with Pawnshop No. 8, even the most insignificant one, will have their soul marked with darkness, gradually leaning towards darkness, until finally their entire soul is harvested.

Ironically, those who have made the trade all believe they have profited and are unable to stop.

Mysterious legend passed down through the ages, existing in the fourth dimension of space, the Pawnshop No. 8 is a road of no return, where only pawning can be done, not redemption.

Therefore, I call this cocktail "Pawnshop No. 8".

"My God! This is the Devil's Brew!"

Phoebe exclaimed, "No wonder it tastes so good!"

"So, are you still going to drink or not?"

Adam laughed.

"Certainly."

Phoebe downed her drink in one gulp and handed the glass to Adam: "I've already made a deal with you, fallen into the devil's trap, and can't stop now, so have another one!"

"Me too!"

Joey wasn't going to fall behind.

As the Devaux Couple, whom Caroline met and who were so superstitious they were almost delirious themselves, said, there are fewer and fewer people with true faith these days.

Even though many people go to church every week, this behavior is more of an unavoidable social custom, and very few young people are truly religious.

The devil and God are meaningless to young people because they cannot perform miracles.

Is this story true?

Rachel held the cocktail up to her eyes, gazing at its vibrant and alluring colors, and murmured to herself.

"It's definitely fake."

Ross quipped, "Haven't you read Lord of the Mysteries, written by Adam? There are so many weird and wonderful things in it. Maybe this is what will be in the next book of Lord of the Mysteries."

"Hehe."

Adam raised his glass and smiled noncommittally.