Transmigrated As A Beautiful Cannon Fodder Omega To Marry An Evil God Alpha In Place of Another - Chapter 27

The soft and fragrant Omega fell into his arms. Bai Rui’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly as he narrowed his eyes.

A-Wu’s first reaction was to glance sideways at Bai Rui. Only after capturing the fleeting, subtle emotion on Bai Rui’s face did he turn back, pinching An An’s wrist with two fingers and tilting his head.

“Back to the room?”

“Yes.” An An’s eyes shimmered like water as he looked up with longing. “Ideally, just the two of us.”

A-Wu’s black hair gleamed. An An reached up to brush a strand away. “If you carried me back to the room, I’d be even more satisfied.”

The air was thick with the sickly sweet scent of Omega pheromones, dispensed as if they cost nothing. The intent to seduce was blatant.

Bai Rui couldn’t smell pheromones, but he felt a fragrance in the air that seemed to have no effect on him. He glanced at A-Wu. The man’s high-bridged profile was strikingly handsome, and he seemed equally unaffected by the alluring scent, indifferent, even.

It was impossible to tell if he was interested or not. He remained an enigma. In fact, throughout their journey, Bai Rui had never quite managed to see through A-Wu…

Unconsciously, Bai Rui took a deep breath and stole another glance at A-Wu. His rounded eyes were naturally innocent, but at this moment, a flush of crimson at the corners of his lids made them ripple like autumn waves. A single glance carried an unintentional, multifaceted charm.

“Go if you want to. I don’t mind,” Bai Rui said.

Across the crystal ball, a sneer rang out.

The Black Cat narrowed its eyes. “These two… it’s a competition to see who can be more ‘tea-like’ (manipulative/pretentious).”

“Their ‘tea’ flavors match, they’re too compatible.”

The Black Dragon wore a look of pure innocence. “His Highness might not be ‘tea.’ Perhaps he is simply born indifferent to the world, like a high and cold green lotus, elegant and pure.”

The Black Cat replied, “That’s not what you said when you were gossiping about His Majesty the Emperor earlier.”

The Black Dragon stared longingly at Bai Rui’s fair face in the crystal ball and nodded earnestly. “True, but I firmly believe the Prince is different. Look, the Prince seems a little sad. He’s so pure and kind, he didn’t even lose his temper when someone tried to steal his husband right in front of him. He even said he didn’t mind… sob… the Prince is so good.”

The Black Cat buried its face in its paws in despair. “Look at His Majesty’s acting skills. Does he even know the person in front of him is his husband? Forget it, there’s no talking sense to someone like you who lets aesthetics dictate your morals.”

Inside the Tavern

A-Wu gripped An An’s wrist and pushed him slightly away.

“I can’t. My Master hasn’t agreed.”

An An froze. He looked at Bai Rui, then back at A-Wu, wondering, they only shared one look. Can they communicate their hearts so perfectly with just a glance?

“But Mr. Bai clearly said he didn’t mind?”

“But I mind.”

A-Wu opened his thin lips and dropped a bombshell: “I only carry my Master back to the room.”

The air went dead silent. The remaining patrons in the tavern seemed to stop talking all at once. Even Boss Gray had a look of realization, the words “So that’s the kind of relationship you have” practically written on his forehead.

It was awkward. It felt as though everyone suddenly knew the secret of A-Wu carrying him back to the room that time. Bai Rui felt extremely uncomfortable.

“Ahem!”

Bai Rui cleared his throat, covering his mouth with a fist and frowning slightly. Aside from that, he made no other move.

At that moment, the shrewd Boss Gray, who had seen many storms, spoke up with practiced timing, feigning annoyance.

“Go, go, go!” He waved An An away. “What ‘back to the room’? It’s still working hours! Who gave you permission to leave early?”

With a wave of his hand, he pulled An An aside. The fragrant Omega pheromones were cut off instantly, as if doused with cold water.

“Oh my,” An An cried out daintily, leaning into Boss Gray’s arms to act spoiled. “You’re always so stingy. I wasn’t actually going back to the room, what are you getting nervous for?”

“Hmph, be careful not to neglect our distinguished guests.” Boss Gray pushed An An away with some dissatisfaction, then turned to Bai Rui, rubbing his hands with a frequent smile. “He doesn’t know the rules. Let’s go over there to talk in detail.”

Bai Rui nodded politely at Boss Gray’s hospitality. “Alright.”

An An stamped his foot and muttered something under his breath. Inside his dark mouth, something slimy seemed to roll over, making a thick, viscous sound like a toad licking its back.

Zila. the sound lasted only an instant, so fast it felt like a hallucination.

Looking at An An again, he had returned to being that fair-faced, pretty boy. He blew a kiss to A-Wu and swayed his hips toward the bar.

By now, the sky had darkened. The horizon was stained with a cobalt blue that spread like dye in water, rapidly engulfing the sky. The rain showed no signs of stopping, instead, it grew heavier.

The lighting near the bar was poor, the oil lamps didn’t reach that far. Bai Rui watched An An’s back disappear into the shadows, leaving only a hazy silhouette.

That strange feeling of watching Boss Gray’s back returned. If he had to describe it, it was like staring into a deep abyss where a nameless object suddenly twitches. The shiver crawling over his skin felt like a premonition.

It was danger or something else.

“Giggle~”

A ghostly laugh drifted from somewhere. It seemed this wooden tavern could hide unknown things anywhere. Or rather, everything here was very “off.” This tavern, and the entire Gambler’s Town, was incredibly wrong.

Thump-thump, thump-thump.

His heartbeat resonated in his eardrums. For a moment, he could feel the high-velocity flow of blood in the vessels behind his ears.

Just as a layer of fine sweat broke out on Bai Rui’s temples, he suddenly felt a large hand press against the back of his neck. The hand was powerful, carrying a steadying strength that instantly dispelled the surging sense of unease.

Then, A-Wu’s magnetic voice rang out: “What is wrong with this place? The weather is sweltering and rainy. You invite people to drink and talk, yet you don’t even open a window. Are you trying to suffocate my Master?”

His voice was naturally smooth, but using this cold, hard tone was incredibly refreshing. At first, Bai Rui felt A-Wu’s voice was far away and hazy, but by the time the sentence finished, the voice was close by, and his consciousness felt like a falling object slamming back into its shell.

Taking a deep breath, Bai Rui saw that the dim environment, though the light flickered wildly, no longer held any ghostly shadows.

“Look, my Master is so hot he’s sweating.” A-Wu spoke with a hint of reproach, using a silk handkerchief to gently dab the thin sweat from Bai Rui’s temples.

The hand on his neck and the gentle fingers at his temples both carried a soothing, cool fragrance that calmed his nerves.

“I’m fine.” Bai Rui took the handkerchief from A-Wu, holding it in his hand, and then looked up to meet Boss Gray’s searching gaze. “Let’s hear what Boss Gray has to say to us first.”

“Yes, yes, this way.”

On the way to the booth, the old man kept smiling apologetically, observing Bai Rui from the side. This young man was calmer than he had expected. Even with An An’s provocation just now, he couldn’t see any cracks in his composure.

He was indeed handsome, had a very refined attendant, and owned a large ship with loyal sailors. He must have a significant background, another person he couldn’t afford to offend. But if they were to open a market…

Boss Gray’s eyes flickered. He smiled, pulled out his own handkerchief soaked in pungent perfume, and casually dusted the damp table. “Mr. Bai, please sit here.”

As he spoke, he squeezed toward the window and pushed it open. Fresh air, mixed with the dampness of the rain, rushed into the rotting wooden tavern, dispelling the stinging scent of Gray’s perfume.

Bai Rui’s nose felt uncomfortable, but he only frowned slightly, showing nothing else on his face. He sat down, while A-Wu cooperatively stood by the seat, hands clasped in front of him like a dutiful servant.

Bai Rui surveyed the surroundings. To call this the most respectable tavern in town was an overstatement; the town itself seemed destitute. The wooden buildings were patched together and covered in mold. The open window wobbled, creaking in the wind. And yet, this was the most prominent building on the main street.

Boss Gray didn’t seem like the type to spend money on such things, yet he waved his hand grandly and shouted to An An, “Coffee! Use the most expensive porcelain cups!”

“Got it~” a flirtatious voice called from behind the bar.

Meanwhile, the last few drinkers staggered toward the bar, cracking lewd jokes with An An and grinning as they paid their tabs.

Bai Rui happened to glance over and saw An An’s greedy gaze scanning them. The moment their eyes met, An An looked flustered and buried his face behind the wine bottles, disorganizedly tidying the counter. Over there, bottles clinked and crashed amidst the rowdy shouts of drunks.

Boss Gray sat opposite him, smiling obsequiously. Bai Rui slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Gray. “You may begin.”

The rain outside drummed against the window, splashing water into the puddles on the floor. From here, one could see the silhouette of the Black Pearl at the pier, hidden in the mist, its outline blurring into the cobalt sky.

Boss Gray looked around his tavern. Seeing only a lone drunk passed out at a corner table, he lowered his voice. “Distinguished Mr. Bai, how much do you know about Bogarit Town?”

Bai Rui: “Not much.”

Boss Gray’s smile deepened until his eyes were mere slits. “Then have you heard of its other name, ‘Gambler’s Town’?”

Bai Rui’s expression remained neutral. “I’ve heard a little.”

“Exactly. I knew you were well-informed. As you can see, our town isn’t big, and there are no casinos. The most respectable building is my ‘luxury’ tavern, and the other is the pipe shop on the next street, owned by an utter villain. He competes with me for control of this town. Of course, we don’t want to be sheriffs, we just want the copper key to the Werewolf Casino.”

“You just said there are no casinos in this town.”

Boss Gray spread his hands. “How could it be called ‘Gambler’s Town’ without a casino? It’s just that the Werewolf Casino usually doesn’t appear. It only reveals itself on the night of the full moon. On that day, countless wealthy men arrive with suitcases of cash to gamble. Some lose everything, while others become richer than kings. Without a doubt, whoever holds the key and becomes the master of the casino has absolute control over this town.”

At this point, he covered his mouth with his handkerchief and whispered, “To be precise, I am the only one in this town worth trusting. The other is the treacherous owner of the pipe and ointment shop, Nan Jiu. He’s practically a human fox. If he comes looking for you, you must not be bewitched by him.”

The room was quiet, making these words carry an eerie echo.

A human fox?

Bai Rui felt a spark of interest. “Is he a human or a fox?”

“Hmph, I think the treacherous Nan Jiu is definitely not human.” Boss Gray sneered. “Cunning and deceitful, with the face of a fox. He always does things that benefit himself at the expense of others, and he often comes to my tavern for free sweets. Shameless! In short, he is the definition of greed. Stay away from him.”

Nan Jiu… that doesn’t sound like a native name from the plains of the Wind Continent…

As Bai Rui was thinking, a fragrant hand reached out and placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. An An held the tray, smiling as he laid out the cup and spoon. “If you like it sweet, add it yourself~”

He took a plate of neatly stacked sugar cubes from the tray and slowly pushed it toward the coffee cup. With a crisp clink, the coffee, topped with a thick layer of crema, rippled.

“Thank you.” Bai Rui nodded politely, looking at An An, who was leaning on the table. “Is there anything else?”

The two stared at each other for a few seconds. An An reached out, took a sugar cube, and watched Bai Rui intently as he slowly put it in his mouth.

Crunch, crunch. The sound of him chewing the sugar was loud. Even the gulp as he swallowed was clearly audible. Finally, An An swallowed and flashed a toothy grin. “Nothing. If you need anything, find me. I will do my best to serve you.”

Without waiting for a reply, An An pushed himself up, gave Bai Rui another deep look, and as he turned, he brushed against A-Wu. He openly tugged at A Wu’s sharp collar and gave him a suggestive look. “Mr. Bai is truly good to you, letting you wear such high-quality fabric.”

Then, he leaned in closer and said in a low voice: “Right now, ‘witch hunts’ are happening everywhere on the Wind Continent. You and your master have too much money to be in a place as notorious as Gambler’s Town. It’s easy to make people jealous. Be careful~”

Having said that, he flicked A-Wu’s jaw with his finger, much like he would flirt with any other drunk and swayed away toward the bar.

Boss Gray was used to this. Before An An left, he reached out with a short, fat hand adorned with several thick metal rings and playfully slapped An An’s backside. “Just like your famous sister, Batella, you’re both seductive troublemakers.”

Batella… Bai Rui pursed his lips and remained silent.

The indoor air was a bit muggy. Despite the open window, the humidity was stifling. The sound of the rain was unconsciously unsettling.

“I know the head of the black market here. It’s important to know if you want to do legitimate business or ‘grey’ industry. It affects my introduction commission and cut.” Boss Gray rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. “Money makes things happen.”

Apparently, that gesture was universal.

“Understood.” Bai Rui raised an eyebrow, his smile still gentle and polite. “I told you, I’m here for the seafood business. Boss Gray, do you have a channel?”

A look of suspicion crossed Boss Gray’s face. He sat up straight and looked Bai Rui up and down again. “Just seafood?”

“What else would there be?” Bai Rui smiled without a single flaw.

But clearly, the other man was losing patience. He leaned across the table again. “Isn’t there any cargo that makes money faster?”

Bai Rui waited quietly. As expected, the question came.

“For example, the Super Accelerator.”