Night, Asgard, Gading Island Midnight Carnival party bar.
The bar was bustling with people and incredibly lively.
"Drink! Drink! Drink!"
A group of enthusiastic drinkers waved their fists and shouted excitedly in unison.
In the middle of the crowd, Thor the God of Thunder held up a barrel of Dwarven Spirit that was half a person's height and gulped it down.
'Gulp! Gulp!'
Soon, the barrel rose from being parallel to the ground to a ninety-degree angle.
Thor laughed loudly and slammed the empty barrel of wine onto the ground.
'Smack!'
The barrel was smashed to pieces on the spot.
Sharol, standing in the inner circle of the crowd, glanced down at the broken wine barrel, then began to write a line in her ledger:
Old Oak Barrel + 1...
But the atmosphere inside the tavern became even more lively after Thor's rude actions.
" Thor! Thor! Thor!"
The patrons chanted Thor's name in unison, which made him excitedly raise his hands and circle the room as if he had already won the game.
Then he pointed at Richard across the table and roared, "Your turn next, Mage!"
Richard stood up casually, lifted a barrel of Dwarven Spirit from the table with one hand, and held it upside down above his head.
A stream of orange-yellow liquor flowed straight into his open mouth, and with a gulp of his throat, Richard swallowed every last drop.
'Smack!'
Richard gently placed the empty wine barrel back on the table, looking at Thor without batting an eye, and said with a smile, " Prince Thor, it's your turn~"
Thor laughed and gave a thumbs-up, praising, "Well done, Mage! You're a real man!"
Having said that, he picked up a barrel of Dwarven Spirit from the ground and, imitating Richard, flipped it over and held it high above his head.
A stream of liquor poured down, and Thor opened his mouth wide to catch it...
'Gulp! Gulp!'
He swallowed a few large gulps, and the orange-yellow liquid that he couldn't swallow before spilled from the corners of his mouth.
Thor quickly tilted the barrel, reducing the amount of wine poured out instantly, and then he began to gulp it down.
He quickly downed a barrel of Dwarven Spirit.
"Hiccup~"
Thor let out a burp and slammed the barrel to the ground again.
Sharol calmly picked up her pen and continued writing:
Old Oak Barrel + 1...
He raised his hands, stirring up the atmosphere in the tavern.
The onlookers cheered again.
" Thor! Thor! Thor!"
"Hahahaha~" Thor laughed loudly, raising his chin at Richard.
"It's your turn again, Mage!"
Richard lightly tapped the table, sending a barrel of Dwarven Spirit flying. He caught the barrel and easily flipped it 180 degrees.
As the wine poured down, Richard gulped it all down in one go, and this time he didn't spill a single drop.
The patrons immediately applauded and praised the gesture.
"Good! Well done!"
" Mage! Mage! Mage!"
Thor didn't hesitate either; he picked up a barrel of Dwarven Spirit, popped the cork, and gulped it down.
Soon, the barrel of wine was emptied again, and he hugged the empty barrel and slammed it to the ground once more.
"Again!"
And so, the two of them drank bucket after bucket, until the bar owner Kiri, walked down from the second floor, beaming with pride.
"Wow, why is it so lively tonight?"
The patrons all turned to look at the staircase.
Upon seeing Kiri, whose complexion was rosy and who looked radiant, their eyes lit up, and they all greeted her warmly.
"Wow, Boss Kiri, you're finally down!"
"Boss Kiri looks even more beautiful tonight!"
" Kiri..." Old Jack and Fitch, among the patrons, looked bitterly at their dream girl, who was clearly being pampered, feeling that their lives were bleak and that she was being cuckolded.
Kiri walked gracefully down the stairs, when suddenly...
'Smack!'
Thor, his face flushed, slammed the barrel to the ground after downing another whole keg. He swayed, his strong body trembling, and stammered, "Mage... Mage, it's... your turn!"
Volstagg, one of the Warriors Three of Asgard, quickly helped Thor up and asked worriedly, " Thor, are you alright?"
Thor shoved him away, patted his chest, and glared at him with wide eyes, saying, "I... I'm not drunk! I, Thor the God of Thunder, have never lost a drinking contest!"
'Snap~'
Richard put down the empty wine barrel, a harmless smile on his face, and said, " Prince Thor, it's your turn again~"
Thor reached out and picked up a barrel of Dwarven Spirit, but his body swayed involuntarily.
Volstagg tried to help him up again, but Vostagg shoved him away with his broad shoulder.
"I'm fine! Trust me, brother!"
After saying that, he picked up the barrel and started gulping it down.
But after drinking only half of it, Thor swayed twice, and then his hand slipped, causing the half-bucket of Dwarven Spirit to fall into the water.
Richard raised his hand, and the barrel instantly changed direction, flying directly into his hand.
Thor struggled to open his drowsy, drunken eyes, mumbled a few words, then his legs gave way and he slumped onto the stool, slamming his head on the table with a thud, completely passed out.
Fandral darted forward, quickly checked Thor's body, and nodded to his two companions.
He's drunk...
Hogun and Volstagg breathed a sigh of relief, exchanged a silent glance, and both wore wry smiles.
Richard placed the half-bucket of Dwarven Spirit on the table, shrugged, and said, "Looks like I won the contest."
Volstagg couldn't help but look at Richard's flat stomach and exclaimed incredulously, "By Odin, kid, are you raising a Wine Dragon inside your belly?"
Richard shrugged. "What, the mighty Thor the God of Thunder and the Warriors Three of Asgard don't want to admit defeat?"
"Hahahaha~" Volstagg laughed heartily, "Admit it! If you lose, you have to admit it!"
"Lucky boy, when Prince Thor wakes up tomorrow, you can ask him for any reward you desire!"
The room full of patrons immediately turned to look at Richard, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Volstagg's words resonated with everyone present.
"As expected of Thor the God of Thunder, renowned throughout the realm of the Divine Realm!"
"Well done, Lord Volstagg!"
"A bet's a bet's a bet! A true Asgard man!"
Richard looked meaningfully at the seemingly honest bearded man ( Volstagg ), but inwardly he smiled coldly.
Demanding?! A reward?!
As expected of the high and mighty Asgardians...
The short, Volstagg carried Thor on his shoulders, with Hogun and Fandral flanking him on either side.
Hogun pulled a Round Metal Badge from his waist, tossed it onto the table, and said arrogantly, "Kid, bring this Pass Token to the Golden Palace tomorrow morning to collect your reward."
After saying that, the four of them left through the automatically parting crowd.
At this moment, Kiri also came down the stairs and walked over.
She looked at Sharol in the crowd and asked with her eyes: What happened?
Sharol put away the ledger and leaned over to briefly recount what had just happened.
Kiri stared wide-eyed, her red lips agape, and exclaimed incredulously, "You mean, God of Thunder Prince Thor and the Warriors Three of Asgard are coming to our Midnight Carnival?!"
Sharol nodded. "Yes."
" Prince Thor even had a drinking contest with Marcus's companions?!"
"Yes."
" Prince Thor lost?!"
"Yes."
"By Odin, Prince Thor won't be angry, will he?!"
"It shouldn't be... right. Volstagg from the Three Warriors just officially conceded defeat on behalf of Prince Thor!"
"Phew~ That's good~"
Just as Kiri breathed a sigh of relief, Sharol handed over the ledger.
"Boss, this is a record of the Dwarven Spirit consumed during the competition, as well as the barrels damaged by Prince Thor..."