Chapter 555: The Core Skill for Attending Exhibitions—Feasting
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 555: The Core Skill for Attending Exhibitions—Feasting
After a bit of an introduction, I finally realized that this Heart of the Cold Wave didn't actually belong to the Jack-of-all-trades Club.
I’d previously heard the Shopkeeper mention that the Club had one of these things, and that it was part of a certain crown. The absence of that piece had caused the [Transcendent Knowledge] to shatter. Initially, I thought there was only that one piece.
As it turns out, there are many.
This particular piece wasn't the one held by the Jack-of-all-trades Club; rather, a seller had commissioned the Club to auction it off at this event. There was a little story behind it, too: the Club had wanted to buy it outright, but the owner refused, insisting on an auction to maximize their profit.
If you ask me, that move was the work of a master instigator.
If the two Children of Destiny from the Witch Academy wanted to compete to complete a full set of [Transcendent Knowledge], that would just be internal competition. But by putting it up for auction, everything was being dragged out into the open.
Setting aside all other factors, this was going to be a head-on collision of financial might—an approach that perfectly matched the Jack-of-all-trades Club’s attitude toward luck and scripts.
Furthermore… through the sharing of the Tree of Knowledge, I already knew that Lucianne had received an investment from the Club. It was that very Heart of the Cold Wave. Originally, there was supposed to be a Great Knowledge Seed as well, but they hadn't expected me to beat them to the punch.
Both Lucianne and Tan Han had been invited to this auction. As for what would happen next, it went without saying.
The Jack-of-all-trades Club wanted to build Lucianne up step by step, gradually replacing Tan Han and seizing her opportunities bit by bit.
While a Great Spellbook was something beyond their reach, the struggle for and ownership of [Transcendent Knowledge] was enough to sway many things. It was a microcosm of the war for luck, epitomized by a single word: "struggle."
In truth, even if the Jack-of-all-trades Club hadn't run into a "script" or "Children of Destiny," would they not still struggle?
Of course they would!
The Jack-of-all-trades Club wasn't the only powerhouse at the Witch Academy. There were many other entities of similar or even more terrifying scale, such as the Witch Secret Realm Club. Although the two clubs collaborated often, a competitive relationship still existed.
The appearance of the Children of Destiny had, at most, merely changed the form of their struggle.
But all of this was the ideal scenario. One mustn't forget that the Main World currently faced an external enemy: those Players.
I imagine the information I shared with them a few days ago made them realize just how dangerous it was to auction this item right now.
Even if this was a private auction closed to the public and based on invitations, there is no such thing as a wall that doesn't leak.
I hadn't paid much attention earlier, but looking around now, I noticed quite a few senior students present at the hotel’s main venue.
Dressed in uniform, they were patrolling the area with feigned nonchalance. It seemed the Jack-of-all-trades Club had indeed taken my words seriously, though it likely still wasn't enough.
I turned back to Jiao Xiaoshuang, who was still beside me giving her introduction. I had to admire her eloquence for being able to talk this long. I could tell she was following a rehearsed script, but her ability to read the room was excellent.
"Thank you. Let's stop there for now," I said, raising a hand to politely interrupt her.
"Of course."
"By the way, would you mind if I asked a few personal questions?"
"Not at all, Teacher Xiao Han."
"I noticed you seemed to be on good terms with President Xing Anlei earlier. She looks after you quite a bit, doesn't she?"
"Yes, Senior Sister Xing Anlei is my senior. She has indeed been very kind to me, though I’m certainly not the only junior she looks after."
"Since she put you in charge of the planning and logistics for this auction, she must have briefed you on a few things. Did she tell you that this Heart of the Cold Wave is a major magnet for trouble?" I asked, pointing toward the asymmetrical gemstone on the pedestal.
Even just leaning in that direction, I could feel the temperature in the area drop significantly, accompanied by a strange pressure radiating outward.
"A major magnet for trouble… So that’s what Teacher Xiao Han is worried about? Senior Sister Xing Anlei did mention that to us, and she was very specific about it. During the exhibition, the security forces the Jack-of-all-trades Club has deployed here are more than enough to keep it safe."
"Is that so? Then perhaps I’m overthinking it," I chuckled softly, letting the matter drop.
I didn't offer any further warnings; otherwise, I’d be overstepping.
After all, I was here as an invited guest, not as their security expert. If the Jack-of-all-trades Club ended up tripping over the Players, it would be a lesson learned the hard way.
This was, after all, the first time the students of the Witch Academy had encountered such an enemy.
Though, emotionally speaking, I still preferred to see the Players fail.
"Yes, please don't worry too much. Since our Club is responsible for planning this auction, we have naturally accounted for any contingencies."
"Alright then, let's keep looking… Hm?" Just as I was about to say something else, I noticed a commotion in another area in the distance. "What's going on over there?"
"Over there… Oh!" Jiao Xiaoshuang checked the time instinctively. "That’s the gourmet zone we’ve set up for the preview. We can't let guests who have traveled from afar go hungry, so we provide free food. It’s all prepared by the hotel’s top chefs. Of course, regular dining services are still available if you’d prefer not to eat in this atmosphere, you could also—"
"No, I’m quite interested."
"Uh, alright." Jiao Xiaoshuang didn't say more and followed behind me as we headed to the gourmet area.
This area was clearly a temporary setup.
Exquisite food was laid out on the counters, and kitchen staff were continuously bringing out more on carts, arranging them with artistic precision.
At this moment, I could only sigh with relief. In a somewhat dull auction preview, it seemed only this fine food could comfort my spirit.
Looking over the selection, I saw that most of the offerings were delicate desserts and hors d'oeuvres, along with hot tea and other beverages.
It made sense… this wasn't a formal dining hall, so there wouldn't be heavy courses. It felt more like a high-end tea break, just much more lavish.
Since the setup had just finished, the crowd seemed to split into two groups.
One group seemed a bit embarrassed or perhaps wasn't hungry; they merely glanced over and ignored it. The other group had no such reservations—they walked right up and started eating, picking out the best bits.
They carried themselves like regulars, completely unbothered by the fact that this was an exhibition. Some even had bags slung over their shoulders, tucking away items that were easy to carry. Others walked off with plates of food to find their besties in the distance to share, looking for all the world like a pair of model friends.
As expected, while there weren't many socially anxious people in a place like this, they did exist.
Most of them were invited students, not much older than me, and some seemed to be from my own year.
It looked like they were first-timers like me, arriving early.
I squeezed into the counter, my eyes scanning the exquisite treats before I settled on a small cupcake in a paper tray.
I took a small spoonful and put it in my mouth; it was cool and melted instantly.
I didn't want to bring it up again, but tasting fine food was actually a very efficient form of taste cultivation. So, without realizing it, I sampled almost every dish that looked promising as I walked along. Jiao Xiaoshuang, following beside me, looked quite shocked.
I didn't care.
Having a receptionist like her following me around actually warded off a lot of trouble. I didn't have to deal with any cliché pick-up attempts or "face-slapping" drama.
Most people who could get in here had status—they were either geniuses from various academies or famous wealthy figures from the outside world. The only real class divide was between ordinary people and students who mastered transcendent power.
I noticed that the wealthy mundanes who made it here were all incredibly humble.
This auction had been held twice a year for countless years; any arrogant "rich kid" types had likely been filtered out long ago.
After Jiao Xiaoshuang blocked yet another man who wanted to strike up a conversation, my attention was drawn to a middle-aged man passing by the other side of the table.
It wasn't because he was handsome or charismatic. In fact, I wasn't even looking at him, but rather… at the single thread of luck attached to him.
I didn't linger on him for long to avoid drawing his attention. But just as I shifted my gaze back to Jiao Xiaoshuang, the middle-aged man seemed to sense something. He turned slightly, scanning the area. The moment his eyes landed on me, his pupils constricted instantly!
However, he quickly realized I wasn't paying him any mind, and he hurried away, pretending nothing had happened.
"Thanks. I really don't enjoy being hit on by those men," I said with a smile.
Forget about "just chatting"—this was a hotel. If they were lost, they should ask the staff.
Having once been a man myself, how could I not know what was going through their heads?
But since everyone here had been screened, they were likely more "pure"—meaning they were purely interested in profit. I had a very clear understanding of myself: I had no shared interests with these ordinary people. Rather than getting entangled, it was better to cut off their fantasies from the start.
I wasn't sure if it was the influence of Witchification, but I had absolutely zero interest in men now, even though I used to be one.
Then again… even when I was a boy, I didn't have many friends. Perhaps I was simply never meant to get along with men.
Maybe I should have listened to Sister Bai and come later.
Arriving this early, I felt like I could finish seeing all the exhibits in half a day, and having to deal with people constantly trying to "network" was a real hassle.
"It’s my duty," Jiao Xiaoshuang replied quickly, not trying to take credit.
After I had bluntly rejected the first man who approached, she had taken the initiative to block everyone else, and I had tacitly accepted her help.
She had a good eye for people. Moreover, she knew better than anyone what those types were really after—outsiders with pockets full of cash looking to lure naive students into a golden trap.
Not everyone in the Transcendent Academies was wealthy. The saying "money makes the world go 'round" applied here too.
Wealth could corrupt far too many people.
Not every student in the Transcendent Academies made "ascending to the Transcendent" their goal. Some didn't even know there was a wider world beyond this one.
Mindsets are incredibly difficult to change. Power gave them a taste of the sweetness of acting like tyrants in this world, and their status allowed them to enjoy the satisfaction of others' flattery. These were temptations ordinary people couldn't escape.
It was like in my past life—everyone knew that if they studied hard, they could become scientists or doctors, designing powerful weapons or even pillars of the state. But not everyone could do it.
There were too many details that led to failure: study habits, uncontrollable laziness, and so on. In the end, it all boiled down to the phrase "I just don't have the talent," letting that excuse carry the weight of every failure.
So, neither I nor Jiao Xiaoshuang felt there was anything wrong with such cold rejections. Perhaps the people rejected were cursing me behind my back for being stuck-up or conceited, but so what?
None of that was my concern.
Finally, I picked up a cup of freshly served ice cream, grabbed a small wooden spoon, and prepared to leave.
Now that I had locked onto a target, it was time to watch the show.
I hadn't expected a Player to actually successfully disguise themselves as a wealthy man to sneak in. Should I praise the Players for their excellent intelligence work?
"Teacher Xiao Han, where are you going…?"
"I saw something interesting…" I said casually, following the man while using Ley Line Identification Art to gather his information.
Since he wasn't making a move yet and was just wandering around in that identity, I didn't strike immediately.
When I saw him suddenly stop at the display for the Heart of the Cold Wave, I understood.
He really was dazzled by the [Transcendent Knowledge].
Seeing him standing there motionless, a book box appeared in my hands. I held it against my chest; with a single thought, I could instantly suppress most troubles.
Then, I did nothing else, simply adopting the posture of a spectator waiting for the show to begin.
I wanted to see if he would actually make a move. Given their previous behavior, I thought he might just go for it. Even if they had been keeping a low profile lately, as for their true nature… who knows?
Jiao Xiaoshuang noticed my subtle movements and was momentarily at a loss. She didn't know what the box-like object was.
She wanted to speak up and warn me, but the man didn't look like he was about to attack.
While she was hesitating, she heard my voice.
"Tch… Coward. How boring." Seeing the man's restrained expression as he quickly walked away, I couldn't help but complain.
I watched as he instinctively looked around, clearly scouting the surroundings.
He probably felt that acting alone wasn't safe.
However, I kept an eye on his movements. With the information locked by the Ley Line Identification Art, I could simply generate a model of the surrounding area later. As long as his movements were recorded by the Ley Lines, I could track him in real-time.
Finally, there was nothing left to do.
"Xiao Shuang, tell me, is there anywhere in the hotel that’s quiet? Somewhere suitable for reading?"
"Of course. There is a Book Gallery on the upper floors. It provides a comfortable reading environment, and the collection there is equivalent to a small library. I’ll take you there."
"Alright, I’ll trouble you to lead the way."