Enforcer Manual
Chapter 635: I Sit at the Kids’ Table_1

Chapter 635: Chapter 635: I Sit at the Kids’ Table_1

Just after noon, the flight from District Seventeen to District Two slowly landed at the District Two airport. The structure of the whole District Two was vastly different from what Song Lan had imagined, with architectural styles that adopted palace-like designs, encircling a City of Kings at the very center of the surrounding cityscape.

"Inside there are the private territories of the Iris Consortium, accessible only to family members and knights who have sworn allegiance to the family,"

Jasmine’s right hand rested on her forehead, shielding her from the warm spring sunshine.

She gazed at the distant and splendid City of Kings, a castle that was the fruits of untold effort by the designers of the Iris Consortium, melding technology with classical architecture.

At this moment, the entire City of Kings was bathed in holographic projections.

The white irises, symbolizing the family’s supreme power, were branded onto the city as if even the Review Meeting’s authority could not touch the affairs within the City of Kings.

For Song Lan, it was hard to imagine that such a place still existed in the year 2167.

The towering castle seemed to call out to an era that belonged to kings and aristocrats of old.

"I have some work to take care of next, so let’s part ways for now."

Jasmine understood the nuances of conversation well. They had chatted all the way on the plane, yet had tacitly avoided the topic of why each of them had come to District Two, their interaction more akin to casual conversation between friends.

"Ivan is waiting for us; it’s time for us to start our operation,"

Lu Xiang watched Jasmine walk away and spoke out.

Almost the moment they disembarked, Ivan had contacted her. There were no walls that could keep out the wind, and the intelligence network of Military Intelligence Section Seven had already infiltrated the Iris Consortium from within.

But that was to be expected. The Chairperson of the Council would certainly not leave a great family that controlled core cities like the Iris Consortium unchecked.

Military Intelligence Section Seven and the Counter-Intelligence Department were institutions held in the grip of the Review Meeting, untouched by corporations and families.

Yet ironically, the Bug Swarm had infiltrated the organizations first.

What Ivan left behind was not a direct address, but a string of puzzles. The trio had to circle around in this unfamiliar metropolis several times before finally finding a secluded bar that brought them back to the medieval era—Gold Diggers’ Bar.

Inside, there were no colorful lights or deafening music. The wooden tables and chairs in the hall were arranged haphazardly, and upon entering, Ivan stood behind the bar in an old-fashioned suit. He looked worlds away from his appearance a few months ago; he had grown a goatee and seemed to have aged a decade or so, transforming from an enthusiastic bartender into the image of a calm middle-aged man.

"Two vodkas and one orange juice, put them on my tab."

Without drawing attention, he pressed a button under the bar, and a secret passage appeared at their feet.

Ivan locked the door and put up a closed sign.

Two strong drinks, a toast to friends not seen for a long time.

And so, two vodkas ended up in the hands of Lu Xiang and Yeying, while Song Lan held a freshly squeezed orange juice and toasted to Ivan.

In his memory, Ivan was always enthusiastic. Apart from his habit of getting patrons drunk, he was faultless in his work, and a bartender like him was what Gold Diggers’ Bar needed.

After Ivan left District Seventeen, Roger, Valerian, and Zhuang Chi often complained that the new bartenders couldn’t compare to Ivan and that their visits to Gold Diggers’ Bar to see Ophir and the former mayor always seemed to lack something.

Ophir had also been trying to find someone who could replace Ivan, but despite several changes of bartenders, none came close.

"To our friendship,"

Song Lan was the first to raise his glass.

"Hold it right there,"

Ivan saw through Song Lan’s ruse at a glance. He set down the vodka bottle in his hand and snatched the glass from Yeying. He didn’t know what this child was about, but she clearly wasn’t of drinking age yet.

There was obviously a problem with the way these drinks were distributed.

What kind of adult would coolly hand a full glass of vodka to a child?

"Old Song, this isn’t right."

Ivan’s gaze darkened, and when it came to alcohol, he was devout and serious.

"There’s nothing wrong with it. I think you’re just confused because you haven’t seen me in so long?"

Faced with Ivan’s probing, Song Lan was unflappable, "I always sit at the kids’ table at drinking parties, and you don’t need to worry about her. This girl is named Yeying, and she eats anything normally."

Ivan was at a loss for words for a moment.

Because apart from Song Lan, he had never seen any grown man sit comfortably at the children’s table during a cocktail party!

But soon, his attention was forcibly shifted from Song Lan to Yeying. Although he had confiscated Yeying’s cup, the little girl had picked up the bottle of vodka he had left on the chair.

She didn’t drink from it, but swallowed the bottle whole.

For a moment, the girl’s mouth opened so wide it defied human anatomy, like a mutated creature swallowing something unfamiliar whole.

"This is good."

The Yeying who had swallowed the bottle quickly provided feedback, her little face flushed and her body warm.

This thing called vodka was much tastier than energy drinks.

"Don’t just stand there, come on, down this glass."

Ultimately, Song Lan drank down that glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and the disoriented Ivan who was caught off guard by the sudden scene also downed a full glass of strong liquor.

Song Lan was the most cunning person he had ever met.

Apart from the first time, he always managed to dodge the strong liquor and substitute it with juice, a trick never seen done by anyone else.

"I’ll let you off this time, but once you’ve finished your business, you must come and have a drink with me."

Ivan could not remember how many times he had said this to Song Lan; it had almost become a routine part of their meetings.

Song Lan promised as he had before, "Next time, definitely next time."

Everything seemed to have returned to several months ago when they had just met at the Gold Diggers’ Bar.

But now, their identities and standings had changed, and there were arduous missions waiting for them to complete, which was the reason he had called the two of them here.

If the evidence was not conclusive, the arrogant core members of the Iris Consortium would not obediently cooperate with the investigation of Military Intelligence Section Seven.

"If you want to investigate and find useful leads, you must get deep into the castle, but you must have already scoped it out on your way here, getting in there is not easy."

"Do you have a way?"

"Yes, but there’s no way to get you both in."

Ivan nodded, "According to my plan, the first person to go in is you."

"Me?"

Song Lan was startled for a moment. He had heard that only knights loyal to the Iris Consortium had the privilege of entering the City of Kings, and even ordinary knights could only move around the periphery. Only those Personal Guard members responsible for security could enter more internal areas and meet with the core members of the Iris Consortium.

He was well aware that he did not possess any of the noble virtues of a knight, "How could I, Song Lan, be capable or worthy?"

"Normally, there would be no chance, but I heard you’re quite a cook."

Ivan’s gaze was piercing, "You should have heard about Isabella’s situation; ever since she was placed under house arrest in the second district, she has had no appetite. Her mother, in an attempt to cheer her up, is recruiting excellent chefs in the city. Many executive chefs from upscale restaurants have already gone, all to no avail."

"Then I have even less of a chance."

"No, you do."

Unexpectedly, it was not Ivan who contradicted him but Lu Xiang, "You’re much better than those upscale restaurant chefs."

Those words were heartfelt.

Having been with Song Lan for so long, she had never doubted his skills in slacking off, taking lives, or cooking.

"I’ve been to many upscale restaurants in the core cities, and none of them match up to you."

"But..."

"Old Song, I believe in you."

Ivan patted Song Lan on the shoulder for encouragement, and at the same time covertly handed him a small bottle of powdery medicine, "If necessary, you can use this drug, but how to get it inside is something you’ll have to figure out on your own."