Reincarnated In a Cthulhu World And Everyone Is Obsessed With Me - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Amber – As perfect as a Croatian Rhapsody.

Xia Mingyu took a half-step back, using his silver cane to maintain distance between himself and the bartender. Though the mask covered most of his face, the firm line of his lips made his displeasure clear. The bartender, sensing the customer’s refined but cold upbringing, dialled back the flirtation. In the North Ruin, such manners were rarer—and cheaper—than a clean conscience.

“A glass of Facehugger fluid, please. Thank you,” Xia Mingyu said calmly. The fluid was 100% pure; as long as one didn’t dwell on its source, it was safe, predictable, and resistant to tampering—the perfect choice for a cautious man in a dangerous bar.

…

He sat in a corner. The weird celestial light outside reflected off his silver mask, hiding his features. Yet, true beauty lies in the bone, not just the skin. Every tilt of his head or stray lock of hair drew predatory gazes from the shadows. His outfit—flamboyant and revealing—seemed to contradict his reserved aura.

Several people tried to probe him with mental power. Xia Mingyu remained still, a faint smile on his lips, his long index finger tapping a rhythm on the table. Tap. Tap. Invisible butterfly mental bodies lurked in the air, biting back sharply whenever a probe got too close. Soon, the room realized the newcomer was a “hard bone” despite his elegant appearance.

…

“God, have you heard of the Butterfly Lord?” a voice whispered nearby.

“Huh? Some new arena rookie? Sounds like a flowery pillow,” another grumbled.

“Tsk, no. The monster tide that just ended. The Shadow Guild arrived and found—boom—it was already over. Someone said a mysterious Guide controlled the entire field with butterflies.”

“The Butterfly Lord…” the companion murmured, the name rolling off his tongue with newfound intrigue.

Xia Mingyu let out a soft, imperceptible chuckle. He liked the nickname; it reminded him of an old movie from the era of peace.

The bartender returned with his drink and a different attitude—cautious and respectful. “Sir, your drink.”

“Could I trouble you for a pen and paper?” Xia Mingyu asked.

The bar went silent for a moment. In the Ruin, such excessive politeness from a powerful person was often interpreted as the ultimate arrogance. Someone joked crudely about how he might sound in bed, drawing low laughter. Xia Mingyu ignored them completely.

The bartender handed him a stack of white paper and a small, body-less stick of charcoal. “I only have this, sir. It’s a bit messy.”

Xia Mingyu paused. The charcoal reminded him of the M’naghal Domain—not a fond memory. But he nodded. “It will do. Thank you.”

…

Xia Mingyu began to write. He folded the paper to create tactile guidelines for his blind eyes. He was focused on two goals for the White Dove Academy back at the first base:

1. Drafting a systematic curriculum for Sentinels and Guides.

2. Developing a training regimen for ordinary people to break the monopoly of supernatural combat power.

His hand moved with deep muscle memory. His handwriting was powerful and elegant, flowing as if the knowledge were engraved in his soul. By the time the light fully broke over the horizon, a small stack of papers sat beside him. He preferred handwriting; it was more personal and harder to hack than digital data.

When the charcoal became too short to hold, he finished for the day. He washed the charcoal dust from his long, graceful fingers using the untouched glass of Facehugger fluid. To any observer, he was clearly a gentleman—and a warrior.

From the shadows of the second floor, a figure watched him with intense, undisguised ambition. She whispered to a bartender and smiled.

When Xia Mingyu went to pay, he was told his tab was cleared—permanently.

“Who paid?” he asked.

“Lady Sea Amber,” the bartender whispered in awe.

The bar erupted in murmurs. Sea Amber was the owner of the North Ruin Arena. She held the lifeline of the city in her hand.

Suddenly, the mournful, powerful strains of a violin drifted down. Croatian Rhapsody. The music of war, ashes, and ruins.

Sea Amber descended the stairs like a lioness surveying her pride—bronze skin, toned muscles, and an overwhelming mental presence. She walked up behind Xia Mingyu and slid a violin bow into his empty right hand.

“Need me to show you how to hold it?” she rasped, her voice heavy with power. She leaned over his shoulder, pressing the violin against his chin. “Let’s play together.”

She guided his arm. The scent of rosin and her raw strength surrounded him. “Whose pet are you?” she whispered in his ear, assuming his beauty was a commodity.

Xia Mingyu smiled. “Lady Sea Amber, is that a question of roleplay?”

She hooked his chin, forcing him to face her. The mask hid his eyes, but the curve of his lips was intoxicating. “So obedient. What do you want from me?”

“Access to the High-Level Arena,” he said simply.

“Done,” she replied. She didn’t care for force when a trade was more efficient. She swept her mental power across his mask, embedding the digital pass into it.

“Then… thank you for the cooperation,” Xia Mingyu smiled. “If fate allows, let us not meet again.”

Before she could react, the man who was just in her arms was suddenly standing across the room. He tucked the violin under his chin and unleashed a fierce, tragic melody that surpassed her own. His long, curly hair swayed as he performed a perfect curtain call bow.

Sea Amber’s vision suddenly blurred, covered in cracks like a broken mirror. She realized she had been trapped in a Guide’s illusion.

She snapped back to reality. The bar patrons were all unconscious, alcohol spilled everywhere. Her violin had turned into a pile of wood shavings in her hand.

Outside the glass doors, the masked man stood in the distance. He looked back, pressed his fingers to his lips, and blew a kiss of shimmering dust. Then, like a ghost, he vanished.

Sea Amber didn’t feel angry. She felt intrigued. A Guide who can deceive me?

“See you at the Arena, then.”