Adrenaline immediately rushed through Harker's veins. Shit…..
Mr. Xi now knew his name, and suspected his involvement in his wife's death because of that one conversation. But no normal human would be able to eavesdrop from that far away, with the volume of Roland and 'Felipe's' voices.
His senses must have been even more advanced than what Harker acquired from Xi Hua. Not to mention this man and his father defeated a whole clan of demons...
The best action would be to steal a piece of his DNA now and unlock an Enhanced Snake Ability. Even if Xi Hua's DNA had been fully absorbed, he just needed to take Mr. Xi or any other Snake Demon's sample to recover the Enhanced Snake Ability again.
Harker waited for the right moment, staying to serve tea. Saliva has DNA, and all he needed was to take a sample from the cups he drank on. He just needed to lick the same spot where Mr. Xi's lips were.
It may be weird, but who cares? When your safety is on the line, you must do whatever it takes. Even to lick some 69 year old man's used teacup.
He waited for the businessmen to be finished, so he could pick up the tea sets and proceed with the DNA sampling.
As he picked it up, however….
"You there. You're that gorgeous maid's son, weren't you? Felipe, I believe?" Mr. Xi suddenly grabbed his sleeves. "Can you do me a favor and show me that car?"
Harker felt heebie-jeebies just from this man's touch. There was a discomforting aura about him that he can't quite place.
"Alright, Senor….. But I have to wash these dishes first—"
"Oh, leave to me, Felipe." Mrs. Rosas suddenly came. "You go with rich man with pearls and I clean."
"Ah, very good! Mrs. Rosas, right? What a fitting last name for a woman that is as blooming and beautiful as a rose." Mr. Xi flirted.
Mrs. Rosas reddened, but didn't run away or sassed him this time. "You know how to make woman blush like rosas."
So she was listening this whole time, and her whole demeanor changed when she learned about Mr. Xi's pearls. She even flirted with him. Harker wondered how Felipe would feel about this. But then again, it's understandable since she's a widow and marrying a man that can gift thousands of pearls like it was nothing would make life MUCH easier for her and her child.
Still…. She took the DNA samples away!
Harker would have to try to steal hair strands again like he did with Felipe earlier. Yet knowing this man's superior senses, Harker would easily get caught.
"Right this way, Senor." He said, bringing him to the large garage that looked more like an automobile warehouse.
As they walked, Harker thought of other ways to get DNA without being noticed by Mr. Xi. Besides hair, there's also his sweat. Maybe he can get him to use a handkerchief, and then he could eat that handkerchief.
"Is this the car?" Mr. Xi pointed before Harker can point out the Marsedez-Bentz.
He acted surprised just like Felipe would. "Ah, y-yes, Senor! How did you know?"
Mr. Xi did not reply and instead asked him. "Please open the door."
Harker had no choice but to oblige. He got the car keys from the guard who was assigned at an office to hand it out, right after receiving verbal confirmation from Mr. Faust to allow his friend to have a look around from the house telephone.
Harker opened the limousine. He wasn't able to clean it up because he was in a rush, plus he never would have guessed that Miss Lovette's wife would look around it. Even if Roland found anything in it, he wouldn't link it with the burning house because he didn't know Harker was in Brookville. He'd just think it was something from the Scouts camp trip.
Mr. Xi sniffed about. "Peach blossoms. I was right."
Harker awaited nervously as he sniffed around more, and found something stuck on the gaps of the seat and the board. He had difficulty pulling it out because of his large fingers, but he was surprisingly delicate.
It was a meter long strand of hair. Harker knew that moment that he's fucked.
But he still had to put on his act. "How did that get there!? What even is that…. a thread?"
"No. This is hair. And my wife's scent is also here." Mr. Xi said, observing the strand.
"Oh, does that mean your wife may have been here, Senor?"
Mr. Xi shook his head. "No. My wife has natural red hair despite being Chinese. So was my daughter's. This hair was long and pitch black, like mine."
"Well, it can't be Mr. Jones hair either. Since his hair was short and spiky." He said as Felipe would. "It can't be Mr. Roland's too…. Or Mr. Faust. So someone else must have been in this car."
Mr. Xi gave him a look from head to toe. Then, he smiled, his green eyes gleaming.
"Would you mind telling me more about this Harker Jones?"
--------------------------------------
When Harker woke up, he was lying on the side of the limousine. It was already closed, and he was all alone.
He frowned. Wait, where did Mr. Xi go….
"Huh!? Three hours had already passed since I was here….. What happened?" He frowned.
He remembered going there to show Mr. Xi the car, and thinking of a way to get that man's DNA so he can gain his enhanced ability. And then…..
He can't remember anything else. He was suddenly just asleep.
Harker gritted his teeth. "He must have used his ability on me…. Something much more advanced than Xi Hua's Snake Ability."
After all, Xi Hua could only make people fall asleep. But Miss Aixiang can also control people's bodies through her scent. So besides the immunity, an older demon with more time for 'cultivation' would have more skills and power than his daughter.
Harker's eye twitched. "Tch. This is too dangerous. He suspects me, and my family would be in danger."
He returned Felipe's clothes and transformed back to his original appearance. Then, he went back home, thinking of what he could do. There's no choice but to kill Mr. Xi.
If he doesn't, they will be hunted by this snake for the rest of their lives.