Chapter 508 Eating Fish
"Sorry, guys, haven't seen this person around," Elbert said, waving his hands apologetically.
Darius and the others looked visibly disappointed.
Elbert sighed softly, not wanting to leave them empty-handed. "Help yourselves to the pancakes. If you can't find him soon, come find me over there." He pointed to a charming villa about a thousand feet away.
Elbert then slowly walked away.
He had come to this street because he missed someone—a homeless man who loved to drink.
Elbert carried bags of fish and chicken he had bought at the market. The next stop was the highlight of his trip.
He stood in front of a tavern, where three large oak barrels were displayed at the entrance, each with a different price tag. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, savoring the aroma of the whiskey in the air.
Elbert turned to the tavern owner and said, "Hey, I'm going to see an old friend. I think I need some good whiskey."
The bearded tavern owner straightened his round belly, touched his rosy cheeks and nose, and praised, "Hey buddy, you've got good taste. This whiskey offers a complex blend of spices, fruits, and oak."
Elbert smiled faintly. "Thanks, I'll take two bottles. That should be enough to knock out me and my friend."
Leaving the tavern, Elbert carried the food and whiskey to Gary's doorstep.
He was taken aback to find an elderly man in a gray suit standing there, holding a parcel of bass in one hand and a vintage bottle of whiskey in the other. The man looked a bit old-fashioned, likely holding a whiskey aged for many years.
The elderly man stood alone at the door, smiling when he saw Elbert.
Without any trace of awkwardness, Elbert nodded repeatedly.
"You gave me a fish and told me to visit my elders, saying the best time to cook a delicious bass is within an hour of it being caught."
Elbert nodded in greeting. "Mr. Fields, I didn't expect to see you here."
"Ha ha, Elbert, we meet again."
Daryl laughed heartily. "I remember telling you that the most important thing in fishing isn't the gear but the right spot. Do you get what I mean?"
Elbert shook his head helplessly, understanding the underlying meaning of Daryl's words. He knew Daryl was likely here to leverage Gary's influence to limit him.
After a few seconds of contemplation, Elbert didn't answer Daryl's question directly. "Do you know Gary?"
Daryl sighed. "Actually, my relationship with Gary is quite complicated. It's hard to explain in a short time. So whether I can go in today depends on..."
Before Daryl could finish, another figure emerged from the door.
The man walked with a steady, powerful stride, his movements exuding a military demeanor. He stepped forward to take the fish and whiskey from Gary's hands.
Daryl shook his head slightly. "Leonard, I need to give these gifts personally."
Leonard had already noticed Elbert when he stepped out and nodded at him. Hearing Daryl's words, he reluctantly lowered his hand and stood beside Daryl.
Daryl turned to Leonard, hesitating slightly. "Have you taken care of the situation inside?"
Leonard's eyes flickered. "It's... almost done."
Elbert, listening to their conversation, was confused.
Daryl suddenly became courteous, suggesting Elbert go in first.
"Oh my, it's been so long! It's great to see you!"
On the couch sat a scruffy man with patched clothes and a full beard. His eyes were as sharp as ever.
"Gary, I've been busy lately," Elbert said, smiling as he stood behind him.
Gary sniffed the air. "I'll forgive you this time because you brought good whiskey!"
Gary lazily stretched his feet out of his shoes and pushed a glass toward Elbert. "Jack's whiskey has always been the town's favorite party essential. Haven't had his whiskey in almost three hours. Come on, pour me a glass."
Elbert didn't hesitate. He opened the whiskey and poured Gary a glass.
Gary, who looked more like a street bum, was someone Elbert visited whenever he had the time, bringing him good wine and fish. Three years ago, Gary had found Elbert on the street and taken him to his small house to treat him. Without Gary, he would have frozen to death in the snow.
Gary took a sip of the whiskey, his eyes becoming hazy and his cheeks flushing. He was clearly getting into the mood.
"Elbert, you married yet?"
"No, not yet. I'm not ready for that."
"Then why did I hear from Leonard that you have a son?"
"His name is Dennis. He's an excellent boy. I adopted him."
"Good kid, very nice!"
Gary took another sip. "Bring him over sometime. I think I'd like him."
Elbert bit his lip. "Gary, he's very mischievous. I'm afraid..."
"Gary Chu," a booming voice interrupted from the doorway.
Gary was momentarily stunned. He slowly turned to see the stern elderly man, anger rising in his eyes.
Daryl walked in uninvited, placing the whiskey and fish on the table. He sat upright and said, "No matter what you say, I'm not leaving. I'm having dinner here."
Gary's eyes flashed with disdain. He pretended to mock, "Don't think just because you're some big shot now, you can do whatever you want here. This is my home, my territory. Even if you're the head of state or the president, you can't stay here without my permission."
"Gary, I'm not here in an official capacity. I'm here as an old friend, I..."
"Stop! Don't waste your breath. You think you can come all this way with just a fish and a bottle of whiskey and expect to have dinner at my place? No! I refuse."
Gary cut him off, seemingly familiar with Daryl's tactics, as if their exchanges had been like this for a long time.
Daryl hesitated. "That's not just any whiskey. That's The Macallan 30 Year Old. I don't even serve it to distinguished foreign guests."
Gary hesitated, seemingly struggling internally. After a moment of contemplation, he raised an eyebrow. "I'll give you a chance."
Daryl smiled slightly. "Leonard, go cook the fish."
Leonard looked bitter. "Mr. Fields, I don't know how."
Elbert saw through the situation. "You two catch up. I'll cook."
Leonard, sensing the mood, straightened up. "I'll help."
Half an hour later.
The four of them sat around the dining table. Two bottles of whiskey emitted different rich aromas. Two large plates of roast chicken and fish were on the table. Though the dishes were few, they paired well with the whiskey.
But the group sat for a full ten minutes without anyone taking a bite.
Daryl and Gary exchanged glances.
Daryl said, "Gary, you're the host. You should start. Don't you think?"
Gary turned his head, giving Daryl a sideways look. He seemed annoyed by Daryl's manner of speaking, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're the big shot. You go first!"
The unusually quiet night and the unusually quiet dining table were suddenly disrupted by a grating noise from downstairs.
A figure was dragging a large central air conditioner through the door, the metal scraping against the floor, making a nerve-wracking sound.
Elbert rubbed his forehead.
The figure was someone Elbert had sent a few days ago to help update the equipment at Gary's clinic.
Elbert sighed and shouted downstairs, "Quentin! As an F-class cyborg, can't you just lift that thing?"
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