Chapter 1221 – An Explosive Auction

Jake watched as the Malefic Viper kept observing the auction house from afar while slowly sipping on his drink. He was seemingly waiting for something… or perhaps someone.

As he was sitting there, a female beastkin approached him with a smile on her face. “Sorry I was late; you know how my old man can be.”

“Hey, it’s your work and a priority in your life, who would I be to judge something like that?” the Viper answered in a kind tone as he stood up to greet her.

What happened next nearly sent Jake reeling as the woman closed him and embraced the Viper. He returned her hug as their lips touched for a brief moment before quickly disengaging from their public display of affection.

“I’ve missed you,” she said, holding his hand as she sat down. “How did your mission go? Did you find it?”

“Still looking,” the Viper shook his head. “We’ve found some evidence that the facility had once been on a few planets, but they somehow keep moving it around. We theorize that some kind of high-level space magic is at work, but it’s too early to tell for sure. It may also just be a really talented team at assembling and disassembling.”

The last part was clearly a joke as the woman laughed. “In either case, I hope you find it soon. The City Lord trusts your organization’s expertise.”

“And I do not take such trust for granted,” the Viper responded. “But enough about me, how about you? Are all your preparations coming along well?”

“According to my father, we’re way behind schedule,” the beastkin woman answered in a deadpan tone.

“So things are coming along?” the Viper chuckled.

“Yep,” she also smiled. “Okay, there have been some problems with the hired security. You know how those formation masters are, needing everything to be just perfect. The other security personnel are also a bit of a hassle to deal with, but their leader keeps them on short leashes so they don’t cause too many problems before the big auction.”

“I did hear a lot more security was hired this time around,” the Viper slowly nodded as he suddenly seemed curious. “Hey… off the record, are the rumors true about what will be auctioned off this time?”

The woman seemed apprehensive for a moment before leaning in. “Yeah… no idea why the seller is even willing to part with it, but it’s the real thing. My mom confirmed it personally, so no doubt about it.”

“Hm… alright, that definitely explains why there are so many people coming these days and why the City Lord got stricter with the rules,” Villy nodded. “Anyway, not that it concerns me too much, not like I have anything to do with the auction.”

“Actually… there will be a social gathering before the actual auction, and I was wondering if you’d be willing to accompany me?” the beastkin woman asked with hope in her voice.

The Viper hesitated for a moment. “Would that be alright?”

“Definitely,” the woman said with a bright smile. “Dad also said it’s okay, and seeing as he’s the one hosting it, you’re golden.”

“In that case, wouldn’t it be rude of me to reject?” Villy said, still seeming a bit unsure even though he agreed.

“Great!” the woman said, squeezing his hand. “And afterwards…”

The Viper just gave her a knowing smile, but before anything more could happen, a waiter arrived to take the woman’s order.

At that moment, the vision began to speed up as the ordering and following conversation was skipped through, time returning to normal as the woman got up to leave once more.

“Remember, don’t be late!” she said, before leaning in and giving him a quick peck.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” the Viper responded in the same soft tone he’d used throughout the vision so far. He watched her walk away, and as he did, the oddly comforting smile slowly warped into the kind of smile Jake was far more used to seeing on the Viper’s lips.

Once more, the vision began skipping forward. This fast-forward gave Jake some time to properly collect his thoughts as he seriously needed a moment to understand the scene that had just played out.

Clearly, the Viper was in some kind of romantic relationship with the woman, and at the same time, he was doing some kind of work for the City Lord. From what the woman said, it also seemed that her family was involved in running the auction house, an auction to which the Viper had just been invited.

Jake knew the Malefic Viper well enough to understand this entire situation was fishy as fuck and likely due to the snake god’s machinations. Based on how he’d looked at the auction house, the place clearly interested him, yet he had acted apprehensive when the woman invited him…

Before Jake had time to think much more, he had been skipped forward to the auction. During the fast-forward, all Jake had seen was once more the Viper just walking all around the absolutely massive city, touching random places and leaving a bit of mana behind.

At the auction, Jake inhabited the Viper, who stood beside the beastkin woman in a large gala room. She was wearing an elaborate dress, while the Viper had on a rather spiffy suit.

The two were standing together as a large beastkin man wearing a very fancy-looking suit approached them, causing the woman to light up.

“Dad! I thought we’d missed you!” she said with a bright smile.

“We had a lot of last-minute preparation,” the beastkin man said to his daughter before turning toward the Viper. “And finally, we get to meet. I’ve heard much about you from the City Lord, and it’s a shame we haven’t been able to encounter one another despite you dating my daughter.”

His tone was an odd mix of politeness and harshness that the Viper definitely didn’t take to heart based on his response.

“It’s truly a pleasure, and I also find it regretful our schedules never aligned before today, but as they say, better late than never,” the would-be snake god chuckled before quickly changing the topic. “I must say, the venue is absolutely stunning. From what I briefly saw of the auction hall before, that too looked perfect.”

“Bah, save your empty flattery,” the beastkin man waved him off, though it was clear he appreciated what the Viper said.

“I’m genuine,” the Viper said in the same soft tone Jake just couldn’t get used to. “It’s all beautiful, and as you can see, my ability to judge beauty is truly second-to-none.”

He said the last part while leaning slightly towards the beastkin woman, who blushed a little at the compliment.

“You’ve got quite the silver tongue, don’t you?” the beastkin man said, his demeanor a lot mellower and friendlier compared to before.

“I’m just an honest man,” the Viper smiled before seemingly suddenly having a thought. “Say, I had the impression the City Lord would also attend today, but I haven’t seen him? I’d really hoped to catch him as I have something important I would prefer to give him in person.”

“He will only be there for the auction itself,” the beastkin man said, shaking his head.

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“I see,” the Viper let out a loud sigh.

“Why the long face?” the beastkin running the auction said as he crossed his arms. “Just attend it yourself.”

“I don’t have that kind of money,” the Viper said, his hands raised in defense of his own poverty.

“No one told you to buy anything, but giving an extra number out shouldn’t be a problem, and besides, having more people there makes for more competitive betting even if you don’t bet yourself,” the man said, inviting the Viper into the auction hall itself.

“I would be remiss to miss being there,” the Viper relented. “I guess the real bidders will be the A-grades today, right?”

For the first time, Jake had confirmed that there were A-grades present, which only made Jake wonder how strong the Viper was even more than before. Jake did find it a bit off that he hadn’t been able to feel the Viper’s grade despite the minor displays of magic, but he wasn’t going to question it too much as he just enjoyed being along for the ride while looking forward to when the real juicy stuff began.

Luckily, he wouldn’t have to wait for long.