AITAMITB Chapter 106

After a brief rest, Zhao Xiaokui and Shen Zhifei came out of their rooms together, preparing for dinner.

Many people with similar intentions as theirs gathered. As the guests for the auction gradually assembled, the atmosphere on the cruise ship became lively. As they stepped out, the buzz of conversation and scenes of enthusiastic interactions could be heard and seen.

Handling the situation before them with ease, Bai Jingru and Shen Zhifei quickly immersed themselves in the crowd. They found suitable people to chat with, and for those who were unaware of any irregularities within the auction, this charity event was just a place to network. Buying or selling items became secondary.

In theory, Zhao Xiaokui, being a top-tier female celebrity, should attract some attention, especially as she doesn’t often travel. However, perhaps due to her unique aura, after Zhao Xiaokui picked up her tray, she easily went unnoticed by others.

No one noticed when her two bodyguards disappeared.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and mellifluous music, Zhao Xiaokui, hidden in the shadows, quietly savored her food while discreetly observing a group of tall figures standing in another corner.

These figures were tall and slender, their fair skin seemingly glowing even in the dim light. Despite being outside the direct illumination, they exuded a fluorescent aura. They appeared lean, not the skinny type but rather muscular, resembling male models on a runway.

Contrasted with these figures, the businessmen with their beautiful secretaries, short and stout with beer bellies, suddenly seemed nouveau riche.

Zhao Xiaokui noticed that many women cast flirtatious glances toward them. Despite the conservative nature of these glances rooted in traditional Chinese values, she sensed the warmth and desire in the women’s eyes, reflected in the brighter gaze and more seductive movements.

She observed coldly and then sniffed— the putrid odor of vampires crawling out of coffins, lingering even at sea, refused to dissipate.

“I know you, little beauty.” A man in a dark red suit, who appeared next to Zhao Xiaokui at some point, raised his glass and said, “I’ve heard your name from Therese. Your beauty astonishes me.”

Zhao Xiaokui’s surprise on her face was genuine and unaffected as if she had not noticed his sudden appearance. She raised her eyebrows slightly and took a half-step back, displaying an appropriate level of vigilance and caution. “It’s my honor. May I know how to address you?”

While Zhao Xiaokui engaged in socializing, Lin Bai and Gou Rixin were not idle. They swiftly moved through the crowd, their handheld detectors recording data from every person they brushed past. The information was promptly transmitted and cross-referenced with the extensive population database of China—they needed to know how many people had boarded this cruise ship.

Soon, they moved out of sight, entering the interior cabins away from the gaze of the crowd.

Apart from the occasional passing waiter, the interior cabins seemed much quieter, with almost no one passing by. However, the two looked up at the discreetly blinking cameras and simultaneously pressed the interference buttons on their wrists.

In the control room, the casually sipping white guy with red wine was leaning back comfortably in his chair, legs resting on the table, engrossed in a sexy magazine. Therefore, he didn’t notice the momentary flicker in the surveillance footage.

“Safe.”

“Safe.”

Lin Bai was responsible for mapping, and Gou Rixin’s usually seemingly useless olfactory ability played a significant role now.

The two cooperated seamlessly, layer by layer, searching downwards. The further they went, the more concentrated the extraordinary energy in the air became.

Woo, woo, woo—

With the sound of the ship’s whistle, the connecting gangway of the cruise ship gradually retracted. The massive vessel slowly left the shore, heading towards the junction of sky and water. The golden sun was sinking at the edge of the sea, turning the entire ocean into a dazzling golden color. As this golden hue gradually receded, stars reflected in the sea.

In the pitch-black night, the cruise ship sailed on the ocean, resembling a bright lantern.

The atmosphere at the dinner party had become lively. Couples who found each other attractive embraced as they entered the dance floor. Businessmen who reached preliminary cooperation agreements raised their glasses, producing crisp sounds. Wealthy ladies with dazzling jewels gathered together, showing off whose gemstones were more radiant.

Champagne resembled a carbonated beverage, and Zhao Xiaokui occasionally took a sip. During the conversation, the waiter added alcohol to her glass several times. When Shen Zhifei turned around, she saw Zhao Xiaokui standing with a handsome, tall man, both holding champagne glasses. Her cheeks were flushed, and her amber eyes seemed to be flowing with water, revealing a hint of confusion.

She was drunk.

Smiling with a touch of silliness, “Playing the piano in a castle, riding horses in the mountains, having a picnic by the water… sounds nice, like the life of an English aristocrat in a movie.”

The man’s polite smile, with a glint in his eyes, and his voice lowered subtly, teasingly said, “You just need to come once, and you won’t want to go back. I am undoubtedly a conscientious host, guaranteeing your satisfaction.”

His words were ambiguous, and the women eavesdropping nearby couldn’t help but cast envious glances at Zhao Xiaokui.

Just as it seemed Zhao Xiaokui was about to agree, Shen Zhifei suddenly walked over, directly took the shaky champagne glass from her hand, and unceremoniously said to the man, “Sorry, she’s not your target.”

Zhao Xiaokui, looking a bit dizzy, raised her hand, stunned for two seconds after having her glass taken away. Then, she leaned on Shen Zhifei’s shoulder, even resting her chin on it. She blinked innocently at the man, her expression naive and innocent. The man, glancing at her amber eyes, inadvertently revealed two sharp fangs at the corner of his lips, quickly hidden within his smile.

Shen Zhifei exuded a strong aura, and even an ordinary person would not falter when facing her.

The man stared at her for a while. Just when others thought they might have a conflict, he suddenly laughed, “Sorry, didn’t expect she’s your little pet.”

He politely stepped back, joining several similarly styled men. Facing their seemingly smiling but ambiguous gazes, he raised his glass and approached them, whispering in their ears with a lowered voice, “Top-notch.”

The other men’s gazes subtly changed, and as they swept over Zhao Xiaokui, their eyes turned scorching.

Zhao Xiaokui grinned stupidly as she locked eyes with them. Then, she was embraced by Shen Zhifei, her slender waist guiding her into another dark area. As the light faded from her figure, she lowered her head slightly and whispered in Shen Zhifei’s ear, “A Viscount, we’ve encountered a big fish.”

Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount – a second-tier vampire.

Although there were many extraordinary individuals in the Dark Council, it wasn’t as numerous as in Huaxia.

Vampires who have lived for at least two hundred years are still relatively rare.

Moreover, at a glance around the entire hall, there were at least three Viscounts, and there were likely several Barons, not to mention those who might have left the hall with their prey.

In the banquet hall, as the night deepened, the revelry increased. At this moment, several strangely dressed individuals silently appeared in the hall. If Zhao Xiaokui hadn’t been keeping a close eye on those vampires and followed their gaze, no one would have noticed this new batch of guests.

“Werewolves, witches…” she quickly muttered their identities, “truly remarkable.”

Shen Zhifei, puzzled, asked, “Remarkable in what way?”

“Two more second-tier extraordinary individuals have arrived.”

Although there was no third-tier extraordinary present yet, Zhao Xiaokui’s intuitive sense told her that on this cruise ship, the top combat power exceeded what she could currently see.

“Want to drink more…” Zhao Xiaokui pleaded pitifully in Shen Zhifei’s arms. Unable to resist her, Shen Zhifei placed the wine glass on the tray of a passing server and firmly refused, “You can’t drink more. Tomorrow you have a performance. Remember to take care of your voice.”

Rubbing her temples with a headache, she looked quite distressed. Shen Zhifei, holding her arm, said, “I’ll take you back to your room.”

“No, no!” Tears quickly welled up in Zhao Xiaokui’s eyes. Clinging tightly to Shen Zhifei’s waist, she pleaded, “I still want to eat.”

Helpless, Shen Zhifei could only sit on the sofa prepared nearby.

Almost the moment they sat down, their presence diminished to the lowest. The gazes that had occasionally glanced their way now seemed to forget their existence completely.

Zhao Xiaokui and Shen Zhifei cuddled together, unabashedly scanning the newly arrived guests.

Whether it was werewolves or witches, she had read about them many times in books. But witnessing them in person was a first for her.

The newcomers seemed to have conflicts with the vampires from before. When the two groups gathered, their expressions turned extremely unpleasant, and the movement of their lips quickened, resembling an argument.

In an environment where she didn’t know how many big shots might be present, Zhao Xiaokui chose not to eavesdrop using her extraordinary abilities. Instead, she directly read their lips and relayed the conversation to Shen Zhifei like copying a painting.

“The Count, where is he? We only want to trade with the Count. You have no right to know the details of our transaction.”

“Don’t think about leaving us with inferior goods. If there’s nothing good next time, attend the auction on your own.”

“Who doesn’t know… our esteemed master…”

“…this auction is really extraordinary.” It unexpectedly involved a Count.

That was a third-tier extraordinary individual, and above that, there might be even higher-ranked individuals drawn into this.

Similar exclamations were also made by Lin Bai and Gou Rixin, who had returned from the lower deck. Their exploration experience was perilous, encountering patrol guards several times and dealing with misplaced guests. They had almost been suspected due to their suspicious movements when returning.

But the trip was worthwhile.

Gou Rixin said, “Guess what we found—”

Lin Bai took out a parchment from his sleeve and unfolded it slowly, “An auction list.”

In the middle of the list was Zhao Xiaokui’s name.

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