Chapter 110: Poisoning

Dark Star was an incredibly mysterious individual. By the time he appeared in the No Man's Land System, he already wielded considerable influence.

Even Glazed Star, the Scarlet Commander, did not know his exact origins.

However, this man possessed all the traits of a ruthless hero. He was vicious and merciless, deeply paranoid... he trusted no one. Things like killing in a dream were commonplace for him.

Merging an A-Class Gene Chain to achieve such a level of life evolution was not something any lifeform could guarantee with one hundred percent success.

Given Dark Star's personality, failing to formulate an absolutely foolproof plan would be an insult to his own name.

Li Yu felt a surge of interest. He was primarily attracted by the items from the Titan Ruins, but since this matter would take some time to unfold, there was no rush.

Ordering a proper suit from the Tyron Chamber of Commerce, Li Yu carefully dressed up, styling his hair to look effortlessly handsome and donning a sharp black suit.

The one-to-one mirror projection before him brought a satisfied smile to his face. Since arriving in this world, he rarely bothered to dress up, and he had not expected to look this dashing.

He adjusted the tie around his neck, exuding a distinctly roguishly handsome vibe.

Mo Duo cast fleeting glances his way. After accidentally making eye contact with Li Yu, she hurriedly looked away to resume counting the stars, an involuntary blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Dressing all proper like that, you must be heading out to pick up girls..." the Hunter muttered, a hint of bitterness in his voice. Calculating the time, it had been far too long since he last interacted with any female beings.

Even though he could always reward himself in other ways, it just was not the same.

"Do not make malicious false accusations!" Li Yu glared at him coldly. "I received news of a very important gathering today. It might involve crucial matters, so I need to gather intelligence."

Eavesdropping with perked ears, Mo Duo suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. She had wondered what he was really up to.

"I am standing right next to you. Who are you shouting so loudly for?" the Hunter grumbled, highly dissatisfied with the sour, romantic tension thickening the air.

Mo Duo shot him a glare... making the Hunter shiver for some baffling reason.

Touching the invitation ticket tucked in his coat, Li Yu sighed. Although his true face was extremely handsome, he could not use it right now. After molding his features into a completely unused disguise, he stepped off the spaceship.

Fortunately, the invitation ticket was anonymous. Anyone holding the item could enter.

On the top floor of the Tyron Chamber of Commerce, the area appeared to have been privately booked. Bulky Four-Armed Titans patrolled everywhere, their fierce eyes locked onto every passerby.

If it were just ordinary slaves, it would not warrant such strict security, but these were Mermaids.

As the most famous and representative slaves in the Slave Trade, Mermaids had long surpassed their expected status in the galaxy.

Stepping out of the dedicated elevator, Li Yu was immediately cornered by two Four-Armed Titans.

"Invitation ticket..." they demanded in muffled voices, towering two full heads above Li Yu.

"Right here..." Li Yu pulled out the carefully stowed pink invitation ticket from his coat.

The two Four-Armed Titans took it, merely glancing over it without authenticating it too closely. They then presented a Black Hole Account name, stating, "Pay the entrance fee. One million Star Coins."

"What?" Li Yu was caught off guard. No wonder the invitation ticket was anonymous. It did not matter who showed up, they still had to pay a damn entrance fee!

"Haha..." a burst of loud laughter came from the side. "Little brother, this must be your first time attending Bauhaus's Showcase..."

An Interstellar Human leaning on a gray-black cane took off his top hat, revealing highly conspicuous silver-white hair. "Bauhaus's Showcase is always like this. We all say he is obsessed with money."

"But what can we do? The goods he manages to procure are truly rare..."

The man waved his hand, transferring one million Star Coins without batting an eye. "Little brother, you are already here... And it is a Mermaid... Aren't you going to take a look?"

Li Yu glanced at him, feigning embarrassment. "I do not have enough money on me..."

"How much do you have?" the man asked.

"Only five hundred thousand..."

"I will pay the other half for you," the man offered generously. "Meeting each other is a stroke of fate..."

The two stepped into the grand hall side by side. The hall was crowded with various interstellar races, almost all of whom were dressed impeccably.

The venue was massive and resplendent, with chandeliers cascading dreamlike radiance. There were many attendees, and regardless of whether they were vicious and merciless bosses elsewhere, they were all exceedingly polite here.

A large number of Envilles weaved through the crowd, carrying trays filled with glasses of unknown beverages.

The man beside him casually picked up two glasses of a faintly purple liquid, handing one to Li Yu. "Care for a taste?"

Li Yu accepted the drink but did not take a sip right away. Instead, he scanned the surroundings, finding no trace of any Mermaids.

"It hasn't started yet. Do not be so impatient," the man chuckled.

"Mr. Bauhaus, you are a bit late today..." A Sheep-man holding a dark blue glass emerged from the crowd, heading straight toward the man beside Li Yu.

"Haha... Rand... Something came up on the way, so I was delayed." Bauhaus raised his glass, gently clinking it against the other's.

At the same time, he cast a subtle glance at Li Yu. Unfortunately, he did not see the expected expression of shock on the young man's face, leaving him slightly disappointed.

"You know who I am?" Bauhaus asked, slightly puzzled. If this kid knew him, he had not tried to curry favor at the entrance. Bauhaus had genuinely thought he stumbled upon a rare youngster who did not recognize him.

Li Yu was left speechless. What a boring old man, setting up an elaborate act just to show off to him. He feigned thought for a moment before replying, "When those Four-Armed Titans saw you, their expressions subtly changed, and their movements became somewhat rigid. That indicates they are familiar with you."

"After you stepped in here, your attitude was casual, and your eyes held a certain indifference. You do not look like a guest. Instead, you act more like the host."

Bauhaus's expression gradually shifted as he stared at the confidently speaking Li Yu.

"More importantly... I looked up information on the showcase beforehand... so..."

It wasn't as if he hadn't browsed the Black Hole Network to research this so-called showcase before coming. He knew exactly who the host was.

Bauhaus paused in surprise, then burst into hearty laughter. "What a humorous little guy..."

Bauhaus was the local tyrant of No Man's Land. He had lived through the reigns of three dominant powers over the No Man's Land System, living a rather legendary life.

Dark Star was the third. Bauhaus was not a marauder; he frequently touted himself as a businessman to the public. However, on the Black Hole Network, he was widely known as Black Hand Bauhaus.

This kindly-looking old man before him was actually a kingpin who controlled half of the Slave Trade in the No Man's Land System, with tentacles stretching even into several nearby minor civilizations.

Li Yu had been quite surprised when he met Bauhaus at the entrance. To trick Li Yu into paying the entrance fee, the man had gone out of his way to put on a show. Just as he himself had admitted, he was obsessed with money.

"And this is...?" Rand looked at Li Yu with confusion. Anyone walking in alongside Bauhaus must have a formidable identity.

"Just a little brother I met at the entrance," Bauhaus introduced simply, without elaborating further.

That made it clear to Rand that this guy... seemingly held no special status.

Instantly, his enthusiasm waned. Afterward, he acted as if Li Yu were invisible, solely conversing with Bauhaus.

Li Yu was more than happy to enjoy the peace. Most of the crowd gravitated toward Bauhaus, who acted like a friendly neighborhood grandpa, offering warm smiles and exchanging polite pleasantries.

Many people came here hoping to establish a connection with Bauhaus, willing to pay the exorbitant entrance fee without a second thought.

Li Yu marveled internally. Given the sheer number of people in the hall, Bauhaus had easily earned hundreds of millions of Star Coins just from the admission fees. This was truly the epitome of catching a white wolf with bare hands.

The hall lights suddenly dimmed, and a solitary spotlight shone down on Bauhaus. Raising his glass with a genial smile, he addressed the crowd, "First of all, thank you all for coming here..."

The attendees raised their glasses in unison. As the variously colored liquids slid down their throats, they experienced vastly different sensations. Bauhaus lowered his glass, his smile deepening.

"...It has been a long time since I tasted a poison this flavorful. Sour and bitter... along with a hint of spice... How interesting..."

Bauhaus savored the aftertaste in his mouth, as if relishing a supreme delicacy rather than a deadly toxin.

The expressions of everyone present shifted slightly, although it was difficult to tell on some interstellar races due to their peculiar facial structures.

"...A long-lost thrill," Bauhaus sighed. Squads of burly Four-Armed Titans immediately marched out from every corner, sealing off the entrances.

Li Yu's expression flickered. He glanced down at the drink in his hand and quietly set it on a nearby table.

'Damn... Thank goodness I am cautious. I just wanted to see a Mermaid, is that a crime?'

Bauhaus naturally noticed Li Yu's subtle movement, a strange look crossing his face.

"...It seems you did your research on me... You knew I preferred wine made from blood oranges and purple-light grapes..."

Bauhaus paced around the hall, seemingly speaking to no one in particular. No one dared to utter a word. They had no idea if Bauhaus was just putting on a dramatic act or if someone had genuinely tried to assassinate him.

"Is anyone willing to confess? Do not ruin everyone's good time," Bauhaus declared loudly.

The crowd looked at each other in dismay, each stepping back to distance themselves from one another. A Mandala Treant, sweating profusely and unable to withstand the suffocating tension, frantically snatched a glass of wine from a table and chugged it down.

Li Yu instantly shuffled back... his eyes locked on the tree-like alien.

The Treant set the glass down and had barely let out a breath when its expression suddenly warped.

Its bark-like skin bulged, turning a sickly greenish-black as dark veins crawled across its entire face. It opened its mouth wide but could not produce a sound. Seeing this, the others frantically retreated in sheer terror.

It stood frozen for several seconds before spewing green fluid from its body. It collapsed, dying instantly on the spot.

"You see... someone really poisoned me," Bauhaus spread his hands in an exaggerated display of helplessness.

Now, absolutely no one dared to hold a glass. Bauhaus summoned a bodyguard and began reviewing the security footage, quickly locating the Enville who had served him the wine.

Bam!

The server was slammed against the wall by a Four-Armed Titan, shivering uncontrollably, his face completely pale with dread.

"The moment I walked through the door, you just happened to walk right up to me, carrying exactly the wine I like?" Bauhaus approached the terrified man, shaking his head with a troubled sigh. "You say this has nothing to do with you, but I find that very hard to believe."

"Your Excellency Bauhaus... It really wasn't me... A woman bumped into me earlier..." the Enville stammered in panic.

"Oh?" Bauhaus had someone bring up the footage. They scrubbed backward in time and, sure enough, found the woman.

She had knocked the Enville's serving tray out of his hands, bowed repeatedly in apology, and then grabbed two glasses of wine from a nearby table. Furthermore, just as Bauhaus was entering, she had pointed directly in his direction.

"It seems the truth has come to light..." Bauhaus smiled faintly.