Chapter 427: Chapter 291: The Pinnacle of Beauty
Chen Lun was unsure whether Lucy’s confessions were true, false, or a mix of both.
But he knew he couldn’t let her go on like this.
It might have been the sliver of mythical power in Lucy’s bloodline, for even without actively exuding supernatural charm, every frown and smile and the unintentional actions and behaviors contained an ultimate sense of beauty, easily making one indulge in them.
With a gentle raise of his hand, Lucy was lifted into the air and then, with a shocked look, moved on to the sofa beside him.
She looked at Mr. Jack’s indifferent expression and shivered inside.
“I…I didn’t do it on purpose, Mr. Jack.”
...
Like a child guilty of wrongdoing, Lucy lowered her head somewhat aggrievedly.
She yearned to gaze upon that handsome face again, to be embraced by those secure, warm arms, but she dared not do so for fear of being despised by him.
“But everything I said is true, please don’t abandon me. I beg you…”
Lucy said softly.
Chen Lun silently sighed.
After rescuing Lucy and bringing her to this hotel in Peacock City to settle temporarily, he had received an Affection prompt.
Her Affection for him had reached the level of “Worship.”
And now that they had signed a Shadow Contract, Chen Lun dared to reveal his true appearance in front of her.
But the thought of bringing Lucy back to the winery made Chen Lun always feel like a fish with feet crawling over his body, somewhat creeping him out.
“Hold out your hand.”
Chen Lun tried to speak in a calm tone.
“Hm?”
Lucy looked up somewhat puzzled.
“Ah… okay, Mr. Jack.”
Saying this, she extended her small hand.
Although it looked very pale, it was rough and covered with calluses, most likely an outcome of her upbringing.
Lucy appeared a bit embarrassed, seemingly reluctant to let the esteemed Mr. Jack see this unworthy aspect of herself.
Chen Lun gave no indication of his thoughts; he simply reached out and gently placed his hand on top of hers.
[You have used “Animal Mimicry LVMAX+3”!]
[You have learned and memorized the supernatural creature “Lucy’s” characteristic—”Ultimate Beauty”!]
‘As expected…’ Chen Lun thought to himself.
‘Lucy is special, and I can obtain supernatural creature characteristics from her.’
He then focused to inspect this newly acquired characteristic.
The effect of “Ultimate Beauty” was somewhat similar to “Hell Resistance” and “Skin of Curse,” leaning more towards a Passive attribute. It would provide Chen Lun with a forceful bonus to his Charm Attributes and also afford him an affinity aura that would work with humans or animals alike.
With it, one would possess a natural foundation for Affection.
Furthermore, if activated, it would allow him to alter his appearance and aura, not unlike the effect of the “Stardust Pot.” However, compared to the Silver Pot, it was more convenient and discreet, eliminating the worry of being caught in a state of self-deception.
‘Straight up added more than a dozen Charm Points, bringing my total Charm to forty… This characteristic is quite powerful.’
Chen Lun was inwardly astonished.
It was especially difficult to raise Special Attribute Points, making this characteristic worthwhile to keep.
After some thought, he decided to remove “Abyss Touch” and replace it with “Ultimate Beauty.”
‘It’s better to avoid too much association with the Deep Sea anyway; swapping it out earlier also gives me peace of mind.’
Lucy, realizing Mr. Jack had fallen silent, cautiously lifted her head to look at him.
Her eyes widened gradually, and her mouth hung open slightly.
It might have been an illusion, but she felt Mr. Jack’s originally handsome face now took on an even more holy and profound allure, filled with an enchanting beauty.
This beauty surpassed gender boundaries, seemingly capable of invoking inner longing in any creature with a sense of aesthetics.
There was also an intangible atmosphere and an indescribable aura emanating from Mr. Jack, surrounding him. It was like the mixed fragrance of flowers in spring, or like the restless emotions when tossing and turning at night, irresistibly drawing one in.
“Mr. Jack, I think I’m falling in love with you…”
Lucy’s eyes were hazy, her cheeks flushed.
“Lucy.”
Chen Lun called out her name.
Lucy jolted, crying out in surprise before she promptly got to her feet, covered her face with her hands, and ran towards the bathroom, only leaving behind:
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jack, I… I think my body’s still not dry.”
Chen Lun watched her retreating back, shaking his head helplessly.
‘It seems that having too high a Charm Value isn’t always a good thing…’
Soon, he furrowed his brow again.
Because Chen Lun suddenly noticed something very strange.
‘Huh… I remember Lucy’s panel showing she had 9 Luck Points, but now why has it become 13?’
This change puzzled him, but he also had some guesses.
‘Could it be because I saved her, changed her fate from certain death, which led to the mutation in her Luck Points… I’ll observe a bit longer. If that’s really the case, perhaps her high Luck could help me with some things.’
Like finding opportunities in Peacock City!
Opportunities that eluded his own searching might present themselves automatically before someone with high Luck… Sometimes Destiny is just that unreasonable.
‘Moreover, Lucy’s mystical talent is decent, it could be cultivated a little, and who knows, it may have an unexpected effect in the future.’
Chen Lun thought to himself.
A moment later.
Lucy came out of the washroom again, her head lowered as she sat down by the couch, her movements somewhat restrained. At the same time, she cursed her wanton body in secret for having an embarrassing reaction just by glancing at Mr. Jack.
“Mr. Jack, can’t I really follow you? I can do without wages, just to be your maid…”
She looked up, showing a pitiful expression.
Chen Lun glanced at the beautiful girl and became certain of his speculation.
Her Luck Points had jumped to 15 in just a moment and seemed to be still rising.
“You underestimate your talent and abilities, Lucy, and at your age, you should be studying, not following me around as an idle maid…”
Chen Lun shook his head.
Lucy’s face immediately showed disappointment and sadness, tears beginning to swirl in her eyes, ready to fall like shooting stars.
But the next moment, she was somewhat stunned.
Because Mr. Jack had taken out a small bag of Gold Coins, about forty to fifty, and handed it to her.
“Consider this a grant from me, I hope you can use it wisely and, relying on your own abilities, enter Omutuo Academy and become a student there…”
Chen Lun said.
“Omutuo Academy… It only accepts smart people who have undergone systematic study, and even ordinary nobles can’t force their children in, but I…”
Lucy looked at Mr. Jack in surprise.
She hesitated for a few seconds and then, biting her lip, took the pouch.
“Is this a test from Mr. Jack for me? I will do my utmost to accomplish it!”
“It’s good to have ambition, but I’d rather you’re going for the sake of learning and pursuing a better version of yourself… You can think of it as a test, but isn’t it also an opportunity for you? I hope you understand that, Lucy.”
Chen Lun leaned back on the sofa, slowly speaking.
“I will… Thank you, Mr. Jack.”
Lucy held the pouch to her chest, nodding vigorously.
“If you really do it, I hope you can help me keep an eye out for a person, or a Mystic Book…”
Chen Lun said.
Lucy blinked, looking at him attentively.
“A student named ‘Francis’ and a Mystic Book called ‘Carmen’s Notes’.”
*
*
*
In fact, Chen Lun didn’t have high expectations for Lucy.
Because the Omutuo Academy district was supported by the Righteous God Church’s “Madman School,” if there were any Mystic Books, they would have probably been found by them already… Although indifferent to the worldly affairs, these people had a near-mad obsession with knowledge.
The Madman School, naturally, was a School of madmen gathered together.
But since it was a piece moved in leisure, Chen Lun simply treated it as an investment.
After leaving the hotel, he hailed a rented horse-drawn carriage and reported the name “Jack Vineyard.” However, the driver initially had no idea where it was, and Chen Lun had to explain it again.
The driver now understood that the winery near the center of Peacock City had changed ownership, and his attitude instantly became more respectful.
Chen Lun sat in the carriage, taking in the scenery along the way.
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His frequent trips out these past days had allowed him to get a rough idea of the environment near the winery.
The local Shelter and History and Ritual Association in Peacock City were not too far from the winery, also centrally located, but in different directions, forming an inverted triangle.
As for the Madman School, it was near the Academy district.
At that time, Chen Lun’s gaze through the window suddenly paused.
While it was only a fleeting glimpse, his strong dynamic vision directly recorded several notices on a passing wall into his mind.
‘Missing person notices, reports of young women disappearing, and warnings from the Security Office for female residents to be cautious when going out at night…’
Chen Lun pondered for a moment.
‘Could this be due to that auction? Should I go take a look…’
*
*
*
Days passed.
Chen Lun had yet to receive any message from Miss Tracey, as if she had completely forgotten their agreement. Yet he knew that even if Miss Tracey was unwilling to investigate, she would send a reply, as that was the basic courtesy of a noble.
Chen Lun guessed that the young lady was likely confined by her father, Viscount Harrington.
Since they had already sent people to attack him, they would not allow her to move about freely anymore.
‘By doing this, you are implicitly hindering my affairs…’
Chen Lun sighed.
‘I was thinking of teaching you a lesson later, but now you have forced my hand… Not to mention, human trafficking is something I cannot tolerate.’
He took out a Silver Staff, standing up from the chair in the study room.
A few playing cards flew out from the stack on the table, hovering in front of Chen Lun, guiding him in the direction.