Victor contentedly hefted the cool mask in his hand. Although the old dragon Holy Lord was stingy, he had finally managed to pry open its mouth.
He casually stuffed the mask into his backpack, called for Enid and Wednesday, and prepared to head back to Jericho.
Valmont, who was desperate to get ahead, naturally bustled about, attending to their every need with utmost enthusiasm.
Not only did he arrange a comfortable private car to the airport and book first-class tickets, but he also bowed and scraped the entire way, his face plastered with an eagerness that screamed 'I must perform well in front of Mr. Victor!'
"Mr. Victor, my sincerest apologies."
Valmont drove while carefully observing Victor's expression in the rearview mirror, his tone dripping with apology and regret.
"Funds are a bit tight at the moment, so I can only offer you and the young ladies first-class commercial flights. Next time, next time I'll definitely arrange a private jet for you!"
Victor waved a dismissive hand, his gaze lost in thought as it followed the scenery speeding past the window.
He seemed to lounge casually in his seat, but his fingers unconsciously tapped a light rhythm on his knee.
In the shadows, several Shadowkhan Ninjas assigned as bodyguards moved silently, but a flicker of something almost imperceptible... confusion?...seemed to pass through their crimson eyes.
Watching Valmont, the former leader of the Dark Hand, now bustling about like a top-tier personal assistant, even fighting to open doors and carry luggage.
For the first time, they felt a subtle doubt about their own 'professional value.'
Was the human world... this competitive?
Inside the car, Victor appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, he was focused, using the partial authority he had just obtained to carefully sense the Nija Mask in his hand.
"Tsk, an old fox is an old fox..."
Victor sneered inwardly.
Holy Lord had indeed held back, not handing over complete control of the Ghost Shadow Legion.
He could clearly sense that his connection to some of the ghost shadow soldiers existed, but he couldn't summon them.
Those must be the ninjas who knew the specific location of Holy Lord's treasure.
He quietly brought the mask to his nose and sniffed it discreetly.
An extremely faint scent, like sulfur mixed with decay, lingered, but it seemed deliberately 'fixed' by some force, making it useless as a tracking clue.
"Hah, added a 'password lock' against scent tracking too?"
Victor curled his lip, grumbling to himself.
"Who's he guarding against? No trust at all... Oh right, I forgot, that old thing isn't human to begin with. He's a dragon, and a dragon with more schemes than a honeycomb briquette has holes."
Enid, sitting beside him, seemed to notice his little action. She turned her head, a look of understanding and a strange smile in her eyes.
If she didn't know her boyfriend planned to squeeze the demon dry of its last penny, she might have actually believed him.
Just then, Valmont, driving in the front seat, spoke up again, his tone tinged with anxiety and an air of seeking forgiveness:
"Mr. Victor, there's one more thing... Regarding the specific information about Holy Lord's treasure, I... I haven't been able to pry any more useful details from that old dragon's mouth. It's tight-lipped, slippery as an eel."
Victor snapped out of his thoughts, unbothered by this. Instead, he smiled reassuringly at Valmont.
"It's fine, Valmont, it's not your fault. That old thing has lived for thousands of years. Even if it were a pig, it would have become a spirit by now. Being covered in schemes is perfectly normal."
He shifted his tone, a smile mixing cunning and confidence appearing on his face. He turned to look at Wednesday, who was as quiet as the night beside him, his tone becoming light and certain:
"However... man proposes, God disposes. No matter how cunning Holy Lord is, no matter how many schemes he hatches, he couldn't have calculated that my Wednesday... is a little witch who can conduct a seance."
"Wednesday~ darling~"
Victor drew out the words, his peach blossom eyes blinking like a large dog begging for food, looking at Wednesday with anticipation.
"Hand it over."
Wednesday's face was expressionless. She directly stretched out her hand towards him, concise and to the point, her cool voice devoid of any fluctuation.
"I knew you were the best! Come here, a kiss~"
Victor immediately beamed, pushing his luck by puckering his lips and leaning in.
This guy, ever since that 'together forever' contract and the kiss that followed, had become increasingly clingy, effortlessly deploying all sorts of coquettish and cute acts.
Wednesday didn't even lift an eyelid. One hand precisely blocked Victor's approaching cheek, pushing him away with slight force.
Her other hand deftly snatched the red-faced, fanged Nija Mask from his grasp.
Her movements were fluid, clearly already accustomed to Victor's antics.
The moment her fingertips touched the cool mask, Wednesday's eyes abruptly lost focus—her seance ability had activated!
Countless chaotic images surged into her mind like a burst dam—
A magnificent yet sinister demon palace, shimmering with ominous treasure light;
The moment Holy Lord was sealed, the palace collapsing with a roar, buried deep underground;
The passage of long years, soil covering it, plant roots entangling, the earth's crust shifting slightly... layers of historical dust piling up, completely burying the secret.
Wednesday's consciousness, like the sharpest probe, rapidly skimmed over these useless background details, filtering for key fragments directly related to Holy Lord's treasure.
The timeline rapidly rewound and filtered before her 'eyes'... Suddenly, a clear image froze—an aerial view of a modern metropolis, dense skyscrapers, a familiar harbor... "Hong Kong, China!"
Wednesday jolted out of her seance state. Before her eyes had fully regained their focus, the answer had already escaped her lips.
When Wednesday completely detached from the chaotic seance visions and her consciousness re-anchored in reality, she found herself comfortably encircled in Victor's arms.
His warm chest pressed against her back, his chin lightly resting on the top of her head, his arm wrapped around her waist with a firm, possessive hold.
She tilted her head up slightly, and the first thing she saw was Victor's face, grinning from ear to ear.
He looked exactly like a fox who had just successfully snuck into a henhouse and snatched a plump hen, every pore radiating smugness and satisfaction.
Beside them, Enid blinked her big blue eyes at her, a teasing smile curling her lips, as if saying,'See, he got his way again.'
Meanwhile, Valmont in the driver's seat was putting on an exaggerated performance: back ramrod straight, eyes intently fixed on the road ahead.
The very picture of a 'professional driver with no feelings, completely unaware of anything happening in the back seat.'
A certain warm, soft sensation seemed to linger on her cheek, carrying a hint of Victor's unique scent—sunshine mixed with a bit of chocolate.
Wednesday instantly understood what had happened during her momentary lapse of consciousness.
She rolled an exceptionally elegant Rolling eyes, her cool voice laced with a barely detectable indulgence:
"Victor, are you part dog? Seizing every chance to mark your territory."
Not only was Victor unashamed, he tightened his arms, nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck, and retorted with righteous indignation.
"I'm replenishing your energy! Seances are so draining; you need a boyfriend's loving recharge!"
His voice was muffled, tinged with a coquettish tone. His warm breath brushed her skin, eliciting a subtle shiver.
Enid finally couldn't hold back a laugh, clear as wind chimes.
"Wednesday, just accept your fate! This guy's 'loving recharge' is now a lifetime VIP service covering both of us—no returns!"
Feeling the steady heartbeat and warmth from behind her, the iceberg of resignation in Wednesday's heart completely melted into a pool of spring water.
She let out a soft "hmph," a tacit acceptance. Far from pushing Victor away,
she adjusted to a more comfortable position, leaning against his chest. Her fingers unconsciously twirled a strand of her black hair as her gaze returned to the scenery flying past the window.
Only, the extremely faint curve at the corner of her mouth ultimately couldn't be completely hidden.
Victor keenly caught Wednesday's subtle compromise and indulgence. His heart blossomed with joy, and that smugness of his practically threatened to burst through the car roof.
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