Chapter 151: Doubt and the Banquet

The fact that the old gentleman Humbert had fallen in love with his stepdaughter was hardly a secret in Shi Ying Town.

By the time Rod entered the town later the next day, rumors that Humbert was about to experience a late-life renaissance had already spread through every street and alley.

Shi Ying Town was like that.

Gossip and rumors traveled faster than spatial teleportation spells.

As for why Humbert's stepdaughter was accompanying this noble, my lord Fried Argyle.

It was said she had played an important role on the escape route of the Coral Bay elites, and thus had been taken along.

Such a coincidence?

I don't believe it.

"I don't believe it either."

In Humbert's mansion, the old gentleman said as much.

Rod and the witch Dimia sat side by side.

Watching the old gentleman pacing back and forth with a face full of worry, they could not help but exchange glances.

They had been secretly invited here at the start of the banquet.

"Gentleman Humbert, you might be overthinking it."

"No, my lord Dimia, the request for aid has many suspicious points; I suspect they have other intentions."

"That is Fried Argyle; this is their family's estate. Why would they plot anything?"

"This is the Argyle family's estate, but now it is Fried personally who has come. The situation within the kingdom is too volatile; we must be on guard."

Having finished speaking, he pleaded:

"Mr. Rod, could you trouble you with one thing?"

"Tell me first."

Rod did not agree immediately, but smiled bitterly.

"My stepdaughter is vain; she has shallow knowledge and is always easily deceived by appearances. Mr. Rod, you are handsome. Could you go and sound out her feelings?"

"You have a close relationship with her; wouldn't it be better for you to go? After all, I am just a stranger."

"No, we have not seen each other for too long. Besides, I am old and weak, and can no longer satisfy her demands. It was precisely because of this back then that she left me."

Rod could not help but slap the table.

A black line appeared.

This old fellow actually wanted me to seduce his daughter and lover!

"That's wrong! If I'm just sounding her out, fine, but why must it be predicated on being in bed!"

"Exactly! Old thing! Asking my master to get involved with another woman in front of me, what do you mean?"

Tally emerged from the shadows, speaking in anger.

Sharing essence with a different race was one thing, but why a mere human woman?!

"My stepdaughter, Tobeca, is an emotionally rich and free-spirited girl, so the best way to pour out secrets is..."

Humbert hurriedly explained.

Emotionally rich, free-spirited...

Isn't that just a euphemism for promiscuous and licentious?

Rod was rendered speechless.

The title of "old gentleman Humbert" in his heart slowly changed into "old cuckold."

Dimia beside him was secretly writing something.

Rod glanced over and saw her writing in her small notebook: "To obtain information to save his lover, the hero Orpheus had to exchange his body."

No, you...

In the end, Rod still agreed to sound out her feelings.

Of course, it would not be exchanging his body like the hero Orpheus; he would find another way.

He really could not bring himself to touch this Tobeca; if she were a different race, it would be one thing, but a human was truly impossible.

Also, this Humbert was not only an old cuckold, but also an old coward!

He dared not appear in front of his stepdaughter at all, lying that he was ill and forcing his way out of attending the banquet.

That night.

As the last afterglow of the sunset sprinkled upon the streets.

The banquet officially began.

The location of this banquet was an Argyle manor in Shi Ying Town.

This was originally the place where Daphne Argyle resided when she settled in Shi Ying Town, but after she was kidnapped by the Yige Sect and fell ill, it had remained empty.

The Shi Ying Town City Hall had certain usage rights after filing a declaration; in the past, banquets for visiting nobles were mostly held here, so the committee members were quite familiar with the routine.

The carefully trimmed lawn in the front courtyard rippled in the evening breeze, and stone lanterns along the path were lit one by one.

Rod changed into the formal wear provided by Humbert and tidied himself up.

One word: handsome. Two words: very handsome.

The female guests passing by had their eyes light up slightly, frequently turning back to steal glances at him.

But Tally was not interested in such flashy things; she would rather her master activate 【Rage】 or 【Sorrow Shakes the Heavens】 to mess with her.

Handsome?

What good is being handsome?

The Banshee Chris also followed along, temporarily manifesting as a physical form to serve as Rod's date.

She wore a light-colored evening gown that was elegant and conservative, with black hair paired with smoky makeup on her cold, stunning face, looking mysterious and possessing a powerful aura.

The Banshee possesses an innate spiritual technique named 【Aura Intimidation】.

This is likely where she will be useful for the current task of probing for information.

Passing through the carved wooden door.

Moving slowly with the crowd, they arrived at the manor's front courtyard.

Before the banquet was ready, many guests chose to chat and drink a little wine here.

The most people surrounded Fried Argyle.

Most were local gentry and wealthy men from Shi Ying Town.

Rod quickly found Tobecca, the stepdaughter of the old turtle man Humbert.

Anyone able to stay by the side of an Argyle descendant would basically not lack people trying to curry favor.

This Tobecca was chatting cheerfully with two Gao Dayingjun men, winking and giggling constantly.

"Look, she's in heat."

Tally said from the shadows.

"I can see that without you telling me."

"And she's pregnant too."

"."

Well, almost forgot that; I did hear Humbert mention it before.

Rod didn't use any roundabout tactics; he walked straight up to chat her up.

We warriors are always this direct.

He introduced himself.

Just as Humbert said, this was a girl who judged by looks.

His excessively handsome appearance and gentle smile quickly caught Tobecca's attention.

The two men who had been chatting with her were slightly displeased and were about to speak to win back the scene, but after a glance from Rod's eyes, they instantly broke out in cold sweat.

They made excuses and left one by one.

"Miss Tobecca, shall we go somewhere with fewer people?"

Hearing this, Tobecca's eyes lit up.

She misunderstood, thinking Rod was looking for a place with no one to have a go with her.

Quickly.

The two went deep along the side courtyard of the front yard and stopped behind an artificial rockery.

Tobecca pulled down her collar with burning eyes.

"Mr. Rod, I like it rough..."

"That's good, Tally."

"Tally? Both of you? Then you'll have to pay extra... uh, no, what I mean is..."

The subconscious words instantly exposed that this Tobecca had also engaged in another unspeakable profession in Coral Bay.

"Hypnosis failed; someone placed a mental protection spell on her."

The Succubus said from the shadows.

Proclaiming one's innocence only makes one look more guilty...

Rod struck Tobecca with a knife-hand chop, knocking her out directly.

Hmph...

There isn't even a Tier 7 present; do you think I'd play these fancy tricks with you?

If it weren't for the fact that that guy is from the Argyle family, I would have kicked down the door long ago.

Tally crawled out of the shadows, already transformed into Tobecca's appearance.

She stripped off the other person's evening gown.

"Ew—" the Succubus said with disgust, "This guy has gonorrhea, Master~ Apply 【Dust-Cleansing Art】 to the clothes once."

"."

(End of this chapter)