Jackie didn't take V's words seriously. A Margarita only needed tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice; there was no way it could be undrinkable no matter how it was mixed.
Besides, V was an experienced drinker.
Even if she hadn't driven a "Caliburn" hypercar, she had at least seen one, right?
So, Jackie patted his chest, signaling her to bring it on.
Viktor and Berry, hearing the two of them, also became curious; they had never seen V mix a drink before.
V, with a stern and expressionless face, mixed a Margarita for each of the three, according to her understanding.
When the blue-glowing Margaritas were placed in front of them, all three found nothing unusual.
Hmm, very good, the liquid was clear, and the presentation was decent.
They hadn't expected V to actually have some skill after all that drinking.
"Let the professional go first. I can't wait."
Jackie was the first to act, picking up the drink, sniffing it to confirm the scent was right, and then finally raising it to take a sip.
"Pfft~!!!"
All three were watching Jackie, waiting to hear his evaluation.
Suddenly, they watched Jackie let out a 'pfft' and spit it out, choking.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Jackie coughed while covering his mouth, looking at V in disbelief.
He didn't understand.
Why, with just three ingredients, did V manage to mix something that tasted like cleaning solution mixed with disinfectant?
Just one sip had completely stunned him, who had been fully preparing his taste buds to analyze the drink from the tip of his tongue.
"Is it that exaggerated, Jackie? That joke isn't funny."
Watching Jackie's exaggerated movements, V folded her arms, looking speechless.
She thought Jackie was joking with her.
Jackie covered his mouth, waving his hands repeatedly, but couldn't stop Viktor next to him.
"Haha, so it was a joke, Jackie, you acted too well!"
Viktor laughed, not taking it seriously. After all, from his thirty to forty years of experience in Night City bars, he had never heard of a drink being mixed so badly.
After all, good things mixed together, could they really become undrinkable?
With this relaxed mindset, Viktor took an unguarded sip.
The glass was silently put down.
Viktor's brows were furrowed together. Something that his opponents on the boxing ring couldn't achieve by hitting his forehead twice, had now happened.
Viktor's mouth twitched as he endured the flavors swirling through his mouth and nasal cavity.
Finally, with over twenty years more experience than Jackie, he elegantly swallowed the concoction.
Exchanging a glance with Jackie, Viktor finally understood why Jackie had that expression earlier.
"V, tell me, you were just joking, weren't you?"
With a serious baritone voice, Viktor looked at V earnestly.
"You don't actually want us to finish this, do you?"
"Huh, what do you mean? Is it really that bad?"
V frowned, looking at the two of them, who didn't seem to be joking.
She had been drinking for so many years; it was just mixing a drink, how bad could it be?
V was confident in her skills, so she doubted their reactions.
"V, you can try it. My glass hasn't been touched yet."
Berry was scared now.
After witnessing Jackie and Viktor's reactions, she was incredibly glad she hadn't touched hers. Now, she quickly pushed her glass towards V, as if it were a hot potato.
V took the glass, looking at the three suspiciously.
Pushing her gold-rimmed glasses up, V raised the drink and carefully took a sip.
"See, there's nothing wrong with it."
After a small sip, V acted as if nothing had happened, which completely baffled Jackie and Viktor.
No way, seriously?
Could anyone really drink that stuff?
Jackie and Viktor both started doubting themselves. V's expression didn't seem fake, so perhaps their taste buds really were the problem.
"What's with you two, what's this charade? Is this drink good or not?"
At this moment, Berry was the most confused, as she was the only one who hadn't tasted the drink.
"Exactly, Berry, if you don't believe us, try a sip."
Feigning nonchalance, V tilted her glass towards Berry, signaling her to try it.
Hmm... Berry eyed V suspiciously, then saw Jackie and Viktor also looking puzzled.
Was V trying to prank her?
However, seeing V's serious expression, which didn't seem fake, Berry tentatively poked out her small head, ready to take just a tiny sip. If anything felt off, she would immediately retract.
But just as Berry's small head approached the rim of the glass, V suddenly reached out and pinched Berry's soft cheek.
The startled Berry then saw the mischievous grin on V's face.
"You tricked me into being the Bartender, huh? Now drink it all down, you!"
V smiled mercilessly, pinching Berry's mouth and forcing the entire glass of drink down Berry's throat with one hand.
She had, of course, been faking it earlier.
Although she hadn't expected her mixing skills to be so terrible, seeing Berry at that moment, a mischievous idea had popped into her head.
And poor Berry only felt a toilet cleaner-like liquid being forcibly poured into her mouth. Her eyes immediately widened, and her neck stretched, struggling like a turtle out of water.
No, no, she couldn't keep her mouth after this.
Berry, who loved to play pranks, had now fallen into V's hands. Truly, what goes around comes around.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!