Chapter 1431 - 16: Farewell Party (Part 2)

Eve chuckled slyly, full of mischief.

Bola blinked hard, reached out for a glass of ice water, tilted his head back, and gulped it down, trying to sober himself up. He glimpsed Eve’s threatening expression and remembered what she just said to him; he felt like he had fallen into a nasty trap.

"You wouldn’t snitch, would you?"

Eve’s voice was close to his ear, filled with coercion.

"Uh... mm-hmm."

Bola coughed a few times and then spoke dryly.

"Truly Arthur’s good daughter."

"Naturally, I care very much about his health." Eve flashed an innocent smile, and seeing her plot succeed, she didn’t say much more and got up to leave.

"What did she just say?"

Watching Eve leave, Blue Jade walked over and sat next to Bola, inquiring while feeling something was off from his expression.

"Nothing... Do you remember Arthur had a little island?"

Bola’s gaze darted around, unsure of what to say.

"Yeah, what about it?"

For Blue Jade and others in the Purification Mechanism, this wasn’t a secret. A long time ago, everyone knew Arthur was vexed about his daughter’s education and bought an island for her as a dowry.

As per Arthur’s planned life for Eve — study, grow, marry, live peacefully... As for later, everyone knew. The island ended up sitting idle, becoming one of the numerous assets of the Phoenix family.

"Nothing... nothing at all."

Bola shook his head, trying hard to shake Eve’s crazy words out of his mind. Though it sounds absurd, putting this kind of thing into the Phoenix family’s context, it wasn’t all that surprising; rather, it was acceptable.

Still, Bola felt something was off. If Eve had issues, if he had issues, but under the influence of alcohol, he couldn’t make sense of it.

"More?"

The questioning voice carried a hint of joy. The person was silent for a moment, then whispered.

"Come on!"

"Oh-oh-oh! Bold move!"

Shao Liangxi exclaimed with joy, pouring Rod another drink, then, as if possessed by Eve, whispered temptingly in Rod’s ear.

"Look, this guy’s already flushed, he’s about to give in! You’re going to win for sure!"

"Of course, don’t underestimate Ingwig people!"

Rod slammed the table holding his glass then downed the drink in one go. Shao Liangxi tried to suppress her laughter, applauding repeatedly.

"Great!"

"Hmph."

Rod looked proud, gazing with blurry eyes over the people in the room.

As expected, he didn’t know a single person, dragged into this bizarre party by Shao Liangxi.

"You guys, each one of you, acting all familiar."

Rod muttered to himself.

These days have been so magical for Rod, never expecting to meet these mysterious Jiuxia people; following that, these "clients" were unexpectedly enthusiastic, so much so that Rod almost believed they’d known each other for years.

This made Rod uneasy, a bit apprehensive, attending this strange get-together magnified these emotions until someone said to relax and drink with them... Yes, the guy sitting opposite him.

"Ho... Holmes?"

Rod tried to pronounce his name, even though they’d downed several bottles, Rod just learned his name.

"Don’t be so formal, just call me Lorenzo."

Lorenzo chuckled, clinking glasses with Rod again, and emptied his drink.

"Tell me, Lorenzo, do we know each other?"

Rod pointed at himself, then at Lorenzo, stuttering over his words.

"Who knows?"

Lorenzo spoke, gesturing Shao Liangxi to fill Rod’s glass.

"Why are you guys so enthusiastic?"

Rod couldn’t figure it out; Lorenzo felt similar to Shao Liangxi, both acting like old friends, joking around.

Considering all this, plus Shao Liangxi’s instigation, Rod found himself bizarrely competing in drinking with Lorenzo.

"This is called hospitality, hospitality!"

Lorenzo spoke, signaling Shao Liangxi who couldn’t stop smiling, giving Lorenzo a thumbs up.

Seeing this, Shao Liangye sighed and softly said.

"Don’t overdo it."

"I know, I know... Mainly, don’t you find Rod adorable?"

Shao Liangxi spoke, grabbing Rod’s head like petting a dog, rubbing his cheeks and chin vigorously, then turning his head to face Shao Liangye.

Rod was nearing drunkenness, with hazy consciousness, being treated like a doll, looked towards Shao Liangye. Despite being so drunk, his professional demeanor and etiquette prompted him to instinctively smile at Shao Liangye, albeit comically under the circumstances.

"Come on, Rod, you’re strong! I’m almost out!"

Lorenzo spoke up again, raising his glass, pretending to be intoxicated.

"I told you, you’re not up to it!"

Rod grew proud, but across from him, Lorenzo and Shao Liangxi were suppressing their laughter similarly.

The Demon Hunter’s constitution made Lorenzo immensely resistant to intoxication; most of the time, drinking was not much different from water. Poor Rod was oblivious, manipulated skillfully by the two.

"Tell me, Lorenzo, why isn’t your face flushed!"

"Frozen white."

The two bantered, continuing to drink until at a certain moment, Rod could no longer hold on and collapsed with a whimper.

"Holmes masterfully victorious!"

Lorenzo cheered, Shao Liangxi raised Lorenzo’s hand, lifting it up forcefully.

"Masterfully victorious!"

Two spirited folks sang and danced together.

The merriment didn’t last long, as the door swung open and the owner of the house made a grand entrance.

"Selyu!"

Shao Liangxi still immersed in the dancing state, shouted upon seeing Selyu.

"Stuart!"

Lorenzo followed Shao Liangxi’s lead entirely, unaware of what he exclaimed, but quickly caught on.

"The master arrives tardily."

Lorenzo stepped over Rod’s collapsed figure and strode toward Selyu.

Selyu slightly turned his head, icy gaze making Lorenzo shiver, but he steadied himself quickly, accustomed to this demeanor—just like usual... probably.

Lorenzo locked eyes with Selyu, the moment was brief but he read so much varied emotion in Selyu’s gaze.

In a moment, Lorenzo sobered up, he checked Selyu, then looked around the room at everyone, a deeply unsettling thought emerged within, causing his speech to stutter.

"This... this is a party, right?"

Selyu nodded, not denying, yet Lorenzo sensed something was wrong, so he probed.

"It’s more than just a party... isn’t it?"

Before Selyu could answer him, another elderly voice sounded, answering it all.

"Yes, Lorenzo, not only that... at least originally it was supposed to be a joyful gathering."

The person walked over, Oscar’s bedraggled figure appeared at the door, flushed like he’d been drinking.

"Is he drunk? I wondered why he wasn’t among us."

Eve noticed Oscar, realizing his absence.

"No, he isn’t Oscar."

Lorenzo looked at Watson, suddenly understanding much.

"So something’s happened? You’re borrowing this guy temporarily, wait... let me guess."

He raised a hand to stop Watson, after a few seconds, Lorenzo slowly spoke.

"So, this is a farewell party before the battle?"