Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 143
Khalif stood in front of a wall, admiring a painting hanging there.
It was the work of an unknown artist, titled “Hope”, but its content had little to do with the title. The artist had subversively placed heaven between two deep gorges, with a faint light emerging from the horizon and devils with black wings peering down from above.
The theme of swapping the places of heaven and hell was quite avant-garde. If this were placed in a city governed by the church, this painting alone would be enough to condemn its creator to death.
“Oh, this painting looks really scary,” Xanye said softly, her tone lacking genuine fear. But Khalif enjoyed her overtly pretentious behavior and laughed heartily.
“Is this something Adan brought from your place?” he joked. “I remember there was a white marble statue here last year.”
“We revere God too much to collect such paintings.” Xanye almost leaned completely against Khalif. “This is… ah, very disrespectful to God.”
One of the officers standing behind them had a slightly pale face, finding it hard to relate to their contrived conversation.
The Monkey Family’s love for black magic wasn’t new, but the Wolf had recently issued an order to remove all protective charms from the guest villas.
Typically, those who paid attention to details would carry basic protective items while traveling, but if any carefree noble disregarded this old tradition, their house would be open to all sorts of unknown entities.
As a member of the Wolf family, he couldn’t question or oppose the family head’s decisions at work, but many, including himself, took extra protective measures in their private lives.
This wasn’t considered disobedience. Khalif wasn’t tyrannical enough to interfere in the private lives of family members. Because of this, many high-ranking members had already sent their wives and children to live outside White Bridge under the guise of vacationing. Those with insufficient status and wealth, like himself, strictly forbade their families from moving around at night.
Lord Khalif was unaware of how much his orders made everyone nervous, fearing that the increasingly brazen black magic from the Monkey Family might affect the guests. If it only swallowed destitute drunkards or those from the giant trash heap, it would be one thing, but what if it accidentally targeted a truly wealthy and powerful guest?
Luxury and confidentiality had always been the foundation of White Bridge’s standing on the continent. If its reputation collapsed, could the Wolf family continue its glory?
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. He glanced up and stepped aside to make way for the newcomer.
“Lord Khalif.” Adan, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, greeted Khalif before nodding to Xanye. “Miss Xanye.”
Xanye’s coquettish expression turned cold, and she remained silent, clearly not intending to return the greeting. But Adan didn’t mind. He stepped forward to stand by Khalif’s side.
“We currently have three sufficiently powerful guests interested in the astrologer and eager to meet him. Many others have requested to see him before the final auction, but per your instructions, I’ve refused and reserved two slots for the last two days.”
Khalif turned to Xanye. “Shall we go see him then?”
Xanye squeezed his arm. “But I want to see the astrologer alone. You know women have many secrets.”
“Absolutely not. I won’t let you be alone with any man in the same room,” Khalif said. “Only women would be interested in an astrologer. That Countess was the same. But I don’t believe in those nebulous prophecies. If it weren’t for your interest, I wouldn’t bother coming—unless it’s just to see what my highest-priced auction item looks like.”
“Fine,” Xanye said, a bit displeased. “We’ll go together.”
Adan lowered his eyes, pretending not to notice the couple’s constant touching and teasing while they talked.
Although it resembled the passionate performances in many clubs, the actors were a major leader and an enchantress, leaving the spectators’ heads buzzing rather than anything else.
“The astrologer resides on the fifth level, under the highest security,” Adan said, leaving the other officers behind to lead the way personally.
“Isn’t the fifth level a warehouse?” Khalif asked casually.
“Yes,” Adan replied without breaking stride. “The fifth underground level is usually used to store items that can’t be exposed to air. We decided during a meeting that it was the safest place for him.”
No windows, only doors, deep underground, with even the air feeling thick and stale—they believed this would most effectively suppress the astrologer’s abilities.
After all, this was a professional who could find truths in stars, wind directions, and shadows. Even though the astrologer appeared as gentle and frail as a high school teacher, Adan, under immense pressure from the auction, chose the most secure method.
Because this was the Wolf’s most important item of the year.
Khalif stopped asking questions. As they descended the circular staircase, it grew darker, despite the many lights on the walls. Khalif idly squeezed Xanye’s soft hand, his mind calculating other matters.
His disdain for the astrologer was for show. He actually had questions to ask but planned to meet the astrologer alone in secret.
With Xanye present, it was hard to speak freely. Khalif knew many thought he was besotted with Xanye, which was laughable. His apparent indulgence was merely because she was currently the most useful person.
Besides, he was very interested in why Xanye wanted to meet the astrologer. As long as he was present, nothing she asked would be hidden. If it happened to be one of the Monkey Family’s closely guarded secrets, all the better. Khalif wouldn’t have opened his core desire to a second person if the Holy Grail and time reversal didn’t involve magic, which was the Monkey’s forte.
Adan kept his breathing light, counting steps as they reached the end of the corridor where Astrologer Kurt was kept.
Originally, there were no rooms on this lowest level. They had converted an office into a livable space and, under heavy security, made it as comfortable as possible. It was ironic—they treated the astrologer like cattle for sale but still held a reverence for his mysterious powers, not daring to be too harsh.
Of course, the astrologer might not appreciate this gesture.
Adan slipped his hand into a small, bat-shaped hole next to the iron door. A mechanism triggered, causing a sharp, cold pain as if a carnivorous animal was licking him. Adan’s expression didn’t change, but he wiped his bleeding fingers with a handkerchief once he withdrew his hand.
This door’s “lock” was similar to the auction storage, opening only with Khalif’s or Adan’s blood. As the highest-ranking official under Khalif at the auction, Adan didn’t like this method. It might also offend the astrologer inside, who once said, “In an unventilated place, the smell of blood lingers for a long time.”
…He hoped Khalif wouldn’t be too rough with the astrologer. The man looked too delicate and weak, and he was one of the few who could read the stars. Speaking harshly to him felt like a sin.
Adan pushed open the seemingly heavy but smoothly gliding door and entered a narrow antechamber before knocking twice on the second oak door.
A hesitant voice came from within. “…Please come in?”
Adan turned the doorknob, stepped back, and let Khalif and Xanye enter.
“Wait outside,” Khalif said to Adan as he passed, then led Xanye in.
Astrologer Kurt, praised and pursued by many, was inside.
Khalif and Xanye looked at the young man reclining in the chair. He looked back at them and then smiled almost amiably.
“Hello,” Kurt said.
Khalif found it amusing.
He didn’t believe the astrologer could be unaware of his situation. Although Adan was clever, his gentlemanly nature made him want to reason with everyone, even as a kidnapper, explaining everything clearly.
But this man didn’t seem to be collapsing. Despite being held underground in White Bridge, he appeared composed.
Meeting Khalif, he showed neither fear nor the expected arrogance. As an astrologer, he was inherently noble, with no need to bow even before a king.
“Hello,” Khalif said with interest as Xanye closed the door behind him.
“Do you know who I am?” he asked.
Kurt thought for a moment. “I don’t know your name. Perhaps you are the current leader of the Wolf Family?”
Khalif hinted, “So, even without windows, the stars can tell you the answer?”
“Oh, not really.” Kurt spread his hands casually. “That’s a stereotype. Astrologers don’t always calculate answers. It was just simple reasoning. Mr. Adan said he’s in charge of the White Bridge auction. Someone who leads him and waits outside must be higher-ranked. So, you must be either the head of the Wolf or Monkey family.”
It had been long known that the Monkey’s head was reportedly on his deathbed, so Kurt figured it had to be the Wolf leader.
Although years of seclusion had left his social skills far behind those of the rabbit-headed shopkeeper, Kurt still understood the principle of not speaking ill to someone’s face. Therefore, he wisely refrained from expressing his disdain for the elderly members of the two families.
“My name is Khalif,” Khalif said, sitting opposite him. “Forgive me for being too busy to greet you earlier.”
Kurt blinked, at a loss for words.
What discussion could be had between a hostage and a kidnapper? He didn’t know.
But they seemed to expect him to say something… What should he say? Did he miss his chance to throw a tantrum or righteously condemn their actions of auctioning him against his will?
But the whole world treated astrologers this way, and a passionate speech would only exhaust him without gaining his release.
He hesitated before asking, “Did you come today to have your fortune read before someone buys me?”
The author has something to say:
Imprisonment doesn’t work on homebodies.
Kurt: Do you want to buy a book? Signed copies available.
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