Transmigrated As A Beautiful Cannon Fodder Omega To Marry An Evil God Alpha In Place of Another - Chapter 28

The sky outside suddenly turned murky, and the sun had completely vanished below the horizon. The transition from twilight to late night happened in a mere instant.

Not many lamps were lit in the tavern. The patrons had mostly left, and the dim environment felt exceptionally quiet. Old Man Gray’s sinister words seemed to linger in the cramped air, which smelled of decaying wood.

“Or… do you have that kind of… Super Catalyst?”

Ever since they stepped through the door, this little old man had been testing them in various ways. Now, seeing that they weren’t biting, he had simply asked outright.

What exactly did he know? Or was it merely a bluff?

Bai Rui slowly raised his eyes, revealing a polite smile. “Are you suggesting that because my ship, the Black Pearl, employs many crew members with… ‘unique’ maritime histories, we ought to possess such contraband?”

Contraband. The more popular and scarce it was on the black market, the higher its grade. Such items had a nickname: “Black Gold.”

Gray smacked his lips. His thin mouth and the philtrum collapsed by age wrinkled like a dried prune.

“Heh, do you really not know?” He rubbed his fingers together. “That’s where the real fast money is. Why bother with seafood? It’s hard work and barely turns a profit.”

Bai Rui glanced at A-Wu. A-Wu immediately spoke up: “Say what you have to say directly. Don’t play games with my Master. Look at the time, you’re delaying my Master’s rest.”

Old Man Gray’s small eyes widened instantly. He had never been rebuked to his face like this, especially by a servant. As someone who prided himself on being the most prestigious and wealthy boss in the Gambler’s Town, he couldn’t stand it. He slammed a chubby finger onto the table: “How dare you speak to me like that?”

Bai Rui raised his hand, making a light, dismissive gesture to stop him. Under the candlelight, his hand appeared as smooth and lustrous as jade.

“Mr. Gray, please do not be so furious. My servant is timid and pitiful, he cannot handle being startled.”

Clearly, he didn’t think there was anything wrong with what A-Wu had said. Instead, he expressed slight displeasure toward the man who dared to bully his “servant.” This was blatant, public protection.

The “timid” and “pitiful” Witch Emperor, Qi Li, felt such a surge of satisfaction upon hearing this that he couldn’t suppress the corners of his mouth. It truly had never felt this good. He hadn’t realized that being “spoiled” as a dynamic, overbearing servant could be so rewarding.

His tall frame straightened even further, chest puffed out, as if to say: Did you hear that? I can’t handle being startled!

Gray’s prune like mouth twitched, and his expression was a colorful mess. He hadn’t expected to lose face while trying to discipline a servant. However, the men on that Black Pearl docked at the pier were actual Annam pirates, terrifying things that killed and looted at sea, yet they obeyed this youth. Coupled with the young man’s noble aura, he looked like someone not to be trifled with.

Thus, Gray forced his temper down, shot A-Wu a glare, and gave a cold laugh. “Indeed. I shall speak of serious business with Mr. Bai now.”

“Mr. Bai, that ship of yours… the Black Pearl, right? With such great resources, why haven’t you considered the Super Catalyst business?”

“It’s a gray area, certainly, but it will make you wealthy. Simply going out to sea and transporting goods would fill your pockets to bursting.”

Bai Rui watched Gray quietly. He lowered his hand and rested his chin on it, tilting his head slightly. Under the flickering firelight, he gave a gentle smile.

“As you know, I am not exactly lacking in money.”

Money could no longer tempt Bai Rui. In his past life, though he was poor, he worked hard to earn enough to live. In this world, the “meat” he had carved off the Royal Family was enough for three lifetimes of extravagance, not to mention the treasures he had conveniently scavenged from the Witch Emperor.

Wealth is confidence. The aura of elegance radiating from his bones proved that money is the spine’s support, the ultimate tonic.

Looking at Bai Rui’s face, Gray couldn’t help but rub his hands flatteringly. “Yes, you are indeed very wealthy, but no one has a grudge against more money. Being even wealthier… isn’t that better?”

Bai Rui remained unmoved, but he was curious about what Gray knew. He tapped his cheek with one finger while slowly stirring his coffee with a small spoon in the other hand. The sugar cube clinked against the cup walls, clink, clink.

The slow movement nearly drove Gray to frustration.

Gray chuckled nervously. “I have some intelligence I’d like to share with you, Mr. Bai. Once you know it, you might feel this is indeed an opportunity.”

“Oh?” Bai Rui finally set the spoon down and slowly looked up. “Then please, speak.”

His deliberate pace finally broke Gray’s resolve, forcing the old man to take the plunge.

“Fine, I’ll be honest with you. I will tell you everything I know, but I ask that if you decide to go into this big business, you take me along.”

Bai Rui smiled faintly. “That can be arranged.”

This wasn’t a high-end tavern, the lighting was provided only by oil lamps. The flames in the grease-stained lamps jumped unsteadily as the oil ran low. The shadows of the people present stretched and danced against the wooden walls like ghosts attached to each person, reflecting their hidden schemes.

As the shadows flickered, Gray leaned his face in from below, making those dancing, thin ghostly shadows seem even more frantic.

“Did you know? A large shipment of goods has suddenly vanished from the black market. As far as I know, it was taken by a group of Annamese pirates. Now, including the people ‘above’…” He pointed a stubby finger upward, his mouth curling into a long, eerie grin, “…those great figures, the unspeakable ones, are all looking for this shipment.”

“The poor ‘rednecks’ can’t afford this stuff. It’s used by the nobles in the palace.”

This matched what Jayne had said.

Bai Rui showed a timely look of surprise. “Isn’t the King quite old? What does he need catalyst for?”

The shadows on Gray’s face danced wildly, making his large aquiline nose look even more like a hallmark of an old warlock.

“You… truly don’t know?” He looked left and right, then whispered again, “It’s for the Queen and Count Laplace. There are no secrets on the black market.”

Before, Jayne’s “tongue” had madly blurted out that the catalyst used by the Queen and Count Laplace was “bi-directionally matched” meaning it was specifically for the two of them.

Even a tavern owner in a border town like Gray knew… Were the Queen and the Count really that blatant? Or did they no longer care, waiting for the entire Holy Light Empire to fall into their hands?

Bai Rui lowered his eyes in thought, then looked up with a calm gaze. “Actually, we are here for legitimate business. I don’t know much about those catalysts.”

He decided to move past the topic. It wasn’t wise to speak too freely, he needed to think it through.

“It’s late today. We need to find a place to stay. We can discuss business later.”

Seeing Bai Rui rise, Gray’s face was full of disappointment. But he clearly wasn’t going to give up. He hurriedly said, “Our tavern has rooms! And this is the only place in town with accommodations. We are luxurious yet affordable, and we have hot bathwater. You will feel right at home.”

Fearing Bai Rui wouldn’t stay, he added, “The full moon is coming. Almost all our rooms are booked, but I can squeeze one out for you. I’ll make sure you feel like you’re staying at a metropolitan hotel.”

Bai Rui smiled warmly, standing up beside A-Wu. The height difference was immediate, the tall A-Wu gave Bai Rui a strong sense of security.

He nodded to Gray. “Apologies. If there is only one room, I will return to the ship.”

Gray scrambled up, waving his short fingers. “Ah, Mr. Bai, do you feel I am slighting you? It’s not like that! Because the full moon is near, the big customers coming for the Werewolf Casino are about to arrive. I desperately want to provide separate rooms for you and your attendant, but the situation simply doesn’t allow it.”

As the old man spoke, he tried to follow them, reaching out his hand. “You are my honored guest. I promise to give you the best room.”

His stubby fingers were about to touch Bai Rui’s arm… when a dark shadow loomed in front of him.

He watched as the tall servant stepped forward, positioning himself directly between Gray and Mr. Bai. Then, a magnetic voice spoke: “Why don’t we stay for the night? The rain outside is indeed heavy.”

Outside, the rain poured relentlessly, as if a hole had been punched in the sky. Thunder boomed along with the downpour. Purple lightning lashed across the sky in clusters, briefly illuminating the entire town with every flash.

The Black Pearl at the distant pier was no longer visible, but the sound of the surging waves could be heard.

It was a fact, but Bai Rui still had reservations. Standing next to the tall A-Wu, Bai Rui looked up, his gaze passing over A-Wu’s sharp jawline and well-shaped thin lips, all the way up to those narrow eyes.

Amber pupils were looking straight back at him.

Bai Rui’s eyes, naturally lustrous, met A-Wu’s. After a pause, he hesitated. “There’s only one room.”

What he actually wanted to say was. This place isn’t normal.

But A-Wu’s large hand reached out, gently resting on Bai Rui’s waist. He gave a soft squeeze, offering a reassuring strength. “Yes, I know. There’s hot water, a bath will make you feel better.”

The action and words were, frankly, a bit suggestive.

Gray’s small eyes darted between the two of them, a look of realization dawning on his face. That “I’ve seen it all” look forced him to suppress a somewhat lecherous grin.

Bai Rui and A-Wu locked eyes for a moment before turning to Gray.

“Very well. One room, please.”

“Excellent, excellent!” Gray immediately turned toward the counter and shouted, “Ann! Get the best room ready for Mr. Bai! The biggest one! And get the wooden tub and hot water ready!”

“Mr. Bai and his servant will be using the tub together tonight, then sharing the big bed!”

“Get two condoms, no, four! The best ones! Put them on my tab!”

Watching Gray shout until he was red in the face, Bai Rui was confused. He looked at A-Wu. “Condom?”

Clearly lacking knowledge in certain areas, Bai Rui watched as A-Wu pressed his lips together, fighting back a smile. Finally, A-Wu leaned down and whispered into Bai Rui’s ear:

“It is made from dried sheep intestines, softened with oil and bran until it becomes a thin, transparent membrane.”

“It is also known as a ‘contraceptive sheep gut.’ The doctor who invented it was decorated by the old Emperor of the Holy Light Empire. The nobles call it a ‘delightful invention.'”

Bai Rui: “…???”

Gray rubbed his hands, smiling obsequiously. “I wonder… what size do you require?”

Bai Rui: “…”