Chapter 133: The Lantern Bar
The conversation with Lumy didn’t last much longer after she agreed to look into the golden-eyed man. She wasn’t the type for long, drawn-out small talk, and the three of them could tell she preferred to get straight to work once she had the details.
After finishing their drinks, Andrey stood up first. "Thank you for your time tonight. We’ll wait for your contact."
Lumy gave a small nod from her seat, adjusting her glasses. "I’ll reach out as soon as I find something. Don’t expect miracles overnight."
Hope smiled brightly as she got up as well. "We know. Still, thank you, Lumy."
Lisa bowed her head politely. "Sorry again for coming so late."
Lumy didn’t say anything else, but as they walked toward the door, she gave one last glance toward Andrey still a little awkward, though her expression had mostly returned to its usual serious calm.
Once they were outside in the hallway and the door had closed behind them, Hope let out a small breath and stretched her arms above her head.
"Phew... that went better than I expected," she said with a grin. "Lumy’s a bit blunt, but she’s reliable."
They made their way down the stairs and back to the van. As they got in, Hope turned in the passenger seat to look at both Andrey and Lisa.
"By the way," she said casually, "do you guys have anything planned after this?"
Lisa shook her head with a small smile. "I don’t have anything. I was just planning to go back to the apartement and rest."
Andrey started the engine and glanced at Hope. "I’m free too. Why?"
Hope’s eyes lit up. She clasped her hands together in front of her chest, looking genuinely excited.
"Then... how about we go somewhere to drink? There’s this really nice place I know, good atmosphere, great drinks, and the food is amazing too. You two should definitely try it at least once!"
Lisa tilted her head, curious. "A bar?"
"Something like that," Hope said with a cheerful nod. "It’s not too loud or crowded, and the owner is really nice. I go there sometimes when I need to unwind after a long day. What do you think?"
Andrey was quiet for a moment, thinking it over. It had been a long and tense day. A quiet drink didn’t sound like a bad idea.
"...Sure," he said finally, pulling the van out onto the road. "I could use something to relax."
Lisa smiled and nodded as well. "If it’s a place you recommend, then I’d like to try it too."
Hope beamed, clearly happy that both of them agreed. "Great! You won’t regret it. The atmosphere there is really nice, and they have this one drink that’s perfect after a stressful day. I’ll show you the way."
The drive didn’t take long. Hope guided Andrey through a few quieter streets until they pulled up in front of a modest but well-kept building tucked between two larger shops. A simple wooden sign hung above the entrance, glowing with a soft amber light that read The Lantern Bar.
From the outside, it didn’t look particularly flashy, just a clean, modern storefront with warm lighting spilling out from the windows. But the moment they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted.
The interior was cozy and inviting. Soft golden lighting hung from the ceiling, casting a gentle glow over the wooden tables and comfortable leather seats. The music playing in the background was low and smooth, not loud enough to disturb conversation. The air smelled faintly of grilled food and citrus from the drinks being prepared at the bar. It wasn’t crowded, just a few other groups quietly enjoying their night giving the place a relaxed, almost intimate feel.
Hope turned around with a bright smile as they walked in. "See? I told you it was nice, right?"
Andrey looked around, quietly taking in the warm atmosphere. "Yeah... it’s better than I expected."
Lisa’s eyes lit up as she glanced around. "It feels really comfortable here. The lighting is so soft."
A server greeted them politely and led them to a corner table near the window. The three of them sat down, Hope across from Andrey and Lisa and were handed simple menus.
Hope leaned forward excitedly, tapping the menu with her finger. "They have really good cocktails here, but if you’re not in the mood for something strong, their non-alcoholic drinks are also amazing. And the food is great too, especially the grilled skewers and the truffle fries."
Andrey placed his jacket on the back of his chair and glanced over the menu. "You come here often?"
"Once in a while," Hope admitted with a small laugh. "Usually when I need to clear my head after a long day. The owner is a friend of mine, so I get special treatment sometimes."
Lisa smiled as she looked through the drink options. "Then we should trust your recommendation."
A waiter came by shortly after, and Hope enthusiastically ordered a few drinks and some shared plates for the table, including the skewers and fries she had mentioned. Once the waiter left, she leaned back in her seat and let out a relaxed sigh.
"Finally... after everything today, this feels nice," she said, smiling at both of them. "We’ve been running around non-stop. It’s good to just sit down for a bit."
Andrey rested his arms on the table, his expression calmer than it had been all day. "You’re right. It’s been one thing after another since this morning."
Lisa nodded in agreement, her voice soft. "I’m glad we came. Even if it’s just for a little while."
Hope grinned, resting her chin on her hands as she looked at them both. "See? I knew you’d like it here. Just wait until the food comes, you’ll understand why I like this place so much."
Their drinks had already arrived, Hope had ordered a citrus-based cocktail for herself, while Andrey and Lisa went with something lighter.
Hope took a sip of her drink and looked at Andrey curiously.
"By the way," she said, tilting her head slightly. "How have your gate conquests been going lately? I heard your team has been pretty active these past few weeks."
Andrey leaned back in his seat, one hand resting around his glass. He thought for a moment before answering honestly.
"It’s not too bad, actually," he said. "The others are getting more used to working together. Our coordination has become a lot more stable compared to before. We’re clearing gates faster and with fewer mistakes."
He paused, a small, slightly tired smile appearing on his face.
"Though... Sein and Sarah still tend to overlap sometimes. Their fighting styles don’t always mesh well, and they end up stepping on each other’s toes during fights."
Lisa, who was sitting beside him, nodded gently in agreement. She stirred her drink with the straw as she spoke.
"I think it’s because those two still aren’t very open with each other," she said softly. "They both have strong personalities, and neither of them really tries to understand how the other thinks. If they could just communicate a little more honestly... I feel like their teamwork would improve a lot."
Hope listened attentively, resting her chin on her hand. There was a thoughtful look in her eyes.
"That makes sense," she said. "Strong personalities can be a double-edged sword. When they clash, it creates friction... but when they finally click, they can become really powerful together."
She smiled warmly at both of them.
"You guys have already come a long way, though. Not every team manages to stabilize its coordination this quickly. You should be proud of that."
Andrey gave a small nod, though his expression remained calm and realistic.
"We’re getting there. Slowly. But there’s still a lot of room to grow, especially between those two."
Lisa smiled faintly. "I just hope they can learn to trust each other a bit more. It would make things easier for everyone... including you, Andrey."
Hope chuckled lightly and raised her glass.
"Well, for now, let’s not think too hard about work. You guys deserve a break. The food should be here soon anyway."
Just as she finished speaking, a server approached their table carrying a tray. The aroma of grilled skewers and truffle fries filled the air as the plates were set down in front of them.
Hope’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the food.
"See? Perfect timing. Let’s eat while it’s still hot!"
Andrey reached for his glass and gave a small nod.
"Yeah... let’s eat."
