TYMIMA Chapter 83

Adrian put his phone back down, lifting his head with no change in expression.

 

Then Lance also received Zhan Pingchuan’s message:

 

[Baby, I’m on board, waiting for you.]

 

Lance smiled softly at the message.

 

Silly.

 

Actually, it would be fine for him to visit Zhan Pingchuan on High Tower Guild’s side. The Black Lantern Society people would all find reasons to leave. But to play the part completely, he was still undercover, and with both sides being competitors, private meetings still carried risks.

 

If Adrian discovered it, he’d have trouble explaining.

 

The car continued on the coastal road for forty minutes before Ghost Eye Guild finally reached the port.

 

By now, VIP customers coming to board had increased.

 

Fulunla counted with her finger: “Wow, there are really many rich people now—even the special passage is starting to queue.”

 

Mudeli adjusted his glasses with a slight smile: “It’s student winter break, so there are naturally more customers. Plus, Tasman Pirate Nation’s cruise ships guarantee safe journeys.”

 

After all, Tasman people were all marine creature-form Awakened ones. Even if the cruise encountered storms or collisions, they could quickly rescue all passengers.

 

Safety was also an important reason wealthy people chose the Manxing Sea.

 

While queuing, Lance vaguely heard a group behind them chatting.

 

“Don’t know why our guild master wants to wade into these muddy waters. Obviously, only top guilds can meet Tasman Pirate Nation’s requirements.”

 

“Tasman is wealthy and powerful—would he only need red parrot crystal ore for his wedding? We could pick up scraps and work on other projects to make a fortune.”

 

“Sigh, small guilds have it tough these days. But I’m also puzzled—why is the Tasman king only getting married now? How did he handle physiological needs before? All with suppressants?”

 

“I don’t know about that, but I heard he’s a ruthless person. Now Tasman has the world’s highest per capita GDP, all thanks to his business acumen and iron-fisted methods. If I could turn into a fish, I’d want to immigrate to Tasman.”

 

“So you think such a person would willingly share governance of the country with his husband after marriage?”

 

“We’ve never met them—maybe it’s true love. A king and an S-level powerhouse make a good match.”

 

“But what if their political views clash? Who should they listen to then?”

 

“…That would be their marital affair.”

 

Fulunla tugged at Adrian’s sleeve: “Director, do you know anything about King Sandro’s husband’s background?”

 

Adrian glanced at her peripherally, saying indifferently: “I heard he was once the king’s guard captain, but when he went out on a mission, the king was betrayed and disappeared from his chambers. He investigated and found the culprit, avenged the king, and thus gained the Tasman people’s support.”

 

Fulunla muttered: “How convenient that the king had an accident just when he was away.”

 

Fulunla wasn’t thinking much—just women’s intuition made her focus on this detail.

 

Wu Peng wiped the glistening sweat from his neck, continuing to ask: “What did he do before becoming guard captain? I remember Tasman children who haven’t awakened live in boat houses, right?”

 

Humans typically began awakening at sixteen. Even two Tasman people couldn’t be certain they’d bear marine creature-form children, so Tasman maintained many boat houses in the deep ocean for couples to raise children.

 

If Tasman children awakened to other attributes and couldn’t enter the sea, they could choose to live on boat houses for life as Tasman people, or return to land and join other nations.

 

Adrian’s gaze lifted slightly, staring at the ship hull bearing Tasman’s flag: “Don’t know. Before awakening, Selarl was just an ordinary person. No one would pay attention to an ordinary person’s origins, but…”

 

He had heard Zhan Pingchuan mention overhearing those two ship captains’ conversation in Harbor Tan, but that was likely rumour—Adrian wouldn’t spread it casually.

 

“But what?” Lance suddenly asked.

 

Adrian shook his head: “Nothing.”

 

After queuing a bit longer, it was finally Ghost Eye Guild’s turn.

 

Adrian’s gaze fell on the passport verification officer inside the glass window.

 

The man was short and thin, his skin darkened by Phobos Bay’s intense UV rays, his face’s twisted wrinkles making his true age indiscernible.

 

His eyeballs protruded excessively, like two glass marbles about to fall from their sockets. He raised his eyes—yellowed whites streaked with blood vessels.

 

“Passport.”

 

The man extended his hand. His nails were black and yellow, with smoke stains visible between his index and middle fingers.

 

Just as Fulunla and Wu Peng were about to hand over their passports together, Adrian stopped them, submitting his own first.

 

The man croaked hoarsely: “Together? Give me all the passports.”

 

Fulunla was about to speak when Adrian said first: “Not together.”

 

Fulunla was stunned.

 

Lance raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.

 

The man obviously paused too, not expecting Adrian’s reaction.

 

Anyone could see they were together, but the VIP insisted otherwise—he couldn’t argue with a VIP over this.

 

“Processing together is faster—don’t need to check so many times.”

 

“Not together. Take your time.” Adrian was unconcerned.

 

Lance smiled.

 

How strange—when exactly had Adrian detected the anomaly?

 

Though this person didn’t seem like a good actor, it shouldn’t be time for the performance yet, right?

 

He’d only told Dream Witch this plan. The problem shouldn’t be within High Tower Guild, so it must be the bribery stage that went wrong—this person was either careless or wanted to play both sides and leaked information.

 

The verification officer slowly took Adrian’s passport, opened the information page, and saw the ID’s first letters—clearly DT!

 

He jerked his head up, looking at Adrian, pupils contracting sharply.

 

Lance held his forehead.

 

Great, now it was time for the failed performance.

 

Adrian already understood. He asked calmly: “Is there a problem?”

 

“…No, look at the camera.” The man quickly averted his gaze, but his eyes darted around.

 

Adrian looked at the camera, leaving his real-time photo.

 

The man flipped through Adrian’s passport for ages, then stammered: “There’s a slight problem. We need to keep a photocopy. Wait a moment.”

 

With that, he held back Adrian’s passport and shouted to Fulunla: “Next.”

 

Now Fulunla also sensed something wrong.

 

Her 208 precautions weren’t written for nothing—she just hadn’t expected the schemes to begin before even boarding.

 

Fulunla sneered: “You photocopy first, return the previous one, then I’ll give you mine. But I warn you—if anything happens to that passport, do you think you can leave Phobos Bay unharmed?”

 

The man shivered under Fulunla’s stare.

 

He hadn’t expected this short Alpha woman to be so intimidating.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Fulunla smiled: “Though commercial competition forbids using abilities against other competitors, you don’t seem to count as Ghost Eye’s competitor. I’ll leave it at that—think it over carefully.”

 

The man pursed his lips, his cloudy eyeballs meeting Fulunla’s gaze for a long time before silently returning Adrian’s passport.

 

Next, Fulunla, Wu Peng, and Mudeli all passed very smoothly.

 

Until Lance.

 

The man was again puzzled by the passport ID’s first letters.

 

He held the passport without moving, studying Lance several times in confusion.

 

Lance didn’t make eye contact, thinking: Sure enough, bribed people had too many uncertainties.

 

Never mind—once on board, there were other methods.

 

Adrian: “This is our Ghost Eye Guild employee. Hurry up.”

 

The man was dumbfounded.

 

What was going on? High Tower Guild brought a Desert City employee, Ghost Eye Guild brought a Harbor Tan employee. If he weren’t so insignificant, he’d think these two guilds were conspiring to play him!

 

He solemnly stamped Lance’s approval and returned the passport.

 

Walking upstairs, Fulunla was already full of admiration for Adrian: “Wow, Director, how did you know that verification officer was problematic?”

 

Lance also wanted to know, so he lightened his steps and listened intently.

 

Adrian naturally couldn’t reveal Zhan Pingchuan’s identity, so he said with a straight face: “Before coming, I consulted around Desert City detention centre and gained some inspiration.”

 

Wu Peng: “Still the director—awesome!”

 

Mudeli: “Right, we must think from the opponent’s perspective. Our bottom line isn’t low enough, but Desert City always has people with low enough bottom lines.”

 

Lance smiled.

 

Adrian obviously wasn’t telling the truth.

 

Lance casually pulled out his phone, snapped a photo of the port from the gangway, then sent it to Zhan Pingchuan whilst messaging Dream Witch:

 

[Mission failed, awaiting opportunity.]

 

Crossing the gangway, they received tropical fruit drinks from reception staff, then were guided to check in.

 

VIP service was excellent—they sat on sofas throughout whilst staff applied for room cards.

 

The room type was the cruise’s most luxurious suite. Lance and Wu Peng, both Omegas, were assigned one room; Adrian and Mudeli shared another; Fulunla had her own.

 

As staff handed them room cards and was about to leave, Adrian proactively spoke: “Tell us what services are available on the cruise.”

 

Lance was slightly stunned, but quickly realised Adrian asked this for him.

 

In Adrian’s eyes, he was probably boarding a luxury cruise for the first time, so he didn’t understand anything here, and being a newcomer, felt too embarrassed to ask.

 

Who would have thought Mad Clown’s adoptive brother looked cold but was actually quite considerate.

 

“Your VIP card gives you free access to all cruise services, including the game room, KTV, bar, thirteen luxury restaurants, SPA massage, bowling, golf, helicopter tours, whale-chasing boats, opera performances, etc., except for the top-floor casino and basement duty-free shop.” After speaking, the staff member bowed and left.

 

Adrian instructed: “There are still three days until the bidding. Everyone stay alert. After putting away luggage, let’s go check out the bidding hall together.”

 

On High Tower Guild’s side, Zhan Pingchuan and Abaddon were assigned one room, Dream Witch and Lily another.

 

Entering the room, Abaddon obediently sat on the bed, his massive frame creating a small depression.

 

Zhan Pingchuan looked at the photo little fox sent, feeling restless. He first walked around the room, then ran to the balcony, leaning on the railing to frantically photograph the azure sea and distant palm groves.

 

After taking photos, he selected two of the best to send Lance, then returned to find Abaddon still sitting in the same spot.

 

“Brother Liao, how did you become Guild Master Lan’s bodyguard?” Zhan Pingchuan scrolled through photos on his phone, asking casually.

 

“Uh…” Abaddon lifted his head, rough fingers scratching his knee, answering in his deep voice: “Because I’m big, eat a lot, and stupid, my parents sent me to Ploutonion beast fighting.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan frowned.

 

Ploutonion was a place in Hierapolis called the Gates of Hell.

 

Long ago, there was only a bare ruin there, with a hot spring before the ruins’ entrance. Pilgrims would drink the spring water and walk toward stairs leading to hell.

 

Legend said this was the domain of Hades, god of the dead.

 

But now, Ploutonion had become a massive underground arena where desperate people chose to enter daily, fighting to the death with fierce beasts or mutated animal-form Awakened ones.

 

Once they won, they could take large prize money home and live comfortably forever.

 

Insiders called them ‘lambs.’

 

The stands were full of spectators who paid to watch bloody scenes—human life meant less than livestock to them.

 

Where there was demand, there was market. Over the years, Ploutonion grew stronger, with more big-spending spectators, so endless ‘lambs’ were sent in—some willingly, some forced.

 

Chu Fu had raised this issue with the Federation Congress but was completely ignored.

 

Without guessing, Ploutonion involved many congressmen’s interests.

 

Zhan Pingchuan asked cautiously: “You were… a challenger?” He didn’t use the obviously discriminatory term ‘lamb.’

 

Abaddon shook his head, saying dully: “I was the beast.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan was stunned.

 

If you were a ‘lamb,’ winning meant taking away lots of cash. Losing but surviving meant timely treatment and never having to participate again.

 

But if you were the beast, you were destined to stay in Ploutonion forever, never leaving until killed by ‘lambs.’

 

Liao Wuliang’s parents sent him to Ploutonion as a beast, never intending for him to return alive.

 

Time had passed, and Abaddon no longer reacted much to his experiences—he was naturally slow.

 

“They killed people, I didn’t kill. Got beaten badly. Guild master saw me, bought me, took me away.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan was very surprised.

 

In his eyes, Lan Wendao was a scheming, unscrupulous merchant who’d stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He hadn’t expected Lan Wendao to have this side.

 

“What about your parents?” Zhan Pingchuan asked again.

 

Abaddon shook his head: “Haven’t seen them. Guild master says they’re bad people.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan reached out, gently patting Abaddon’s shoulder.

 

Liao Wuliang had released the ‘lambs’ but awakened the ability to summon spirits. Perhaps mysteriously, the Gates of Hell had chosen him, granting him power from Hades.

 

The phone rang. Abaddon pulled out his tiny phone: “Oh, young miss is calling us out.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan smiled: “Mm, let’s go.”

 

Abaddon slid off the bed, the small depression slowly returning to normal. Zhan Pingchuan took the room card and locked the door.

 

Dream Witch and Lily were already waiting in the corridor. Seeing them emerge, Dream Witch said: “Let’s check out the bidding hall first, familiarise ourselves with the layout, in case Ghost Eye tries something.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan thought: We’re not that despicable!

 

Lily bounced around, her two blue braids swinging proudly: “Let’s go to the bar later and order beef jerky for little idiot mister.”

 

Dream Witch smiled: “Too bad minors can’t drink.”

 

Lily protested: “We’re in international waters! Don’t have to follow any laws!”

 

Zhan Pingchuan interjected, very curious: “Wait, who’s little idiot mister?”

 

“…”

 

Lily’s expression froze, fingers frantically twirling her braids.

 

Dream Witch said calmly: “Xiao Shabi mister. In ancient Chinese, it’s Xiao with grass radical, Sha meaning sand, Bi meaning desert. Xiao Shabi is Lily’s anime figurine.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan had a realisation: “Oh, I don’t know what anime kids watch nowadays.”

 

Lily breathed a sigh of relief.

 

At the same time, Ghost Eye Guild had reached the bidding hall.

 

It was a spacious square room with orange-yellow carpet and brown walls. The room contained over a hundred white chairs, with a two-step platform at the front and a long table before it, presumably for displaying samples.

 

Twenty-eight guilds were participating in this bidding, many coming with wishful thinking.

 

Their jurisdictions didn’t have enough red parrot stones, but if they won the bid, they could purchase from other guilds later.

 

Only five guilds had real strength. High Tower Guild had the highest purity and best quality, Ghost Eye Guild had the most reserves and fastest delivery—making them the two most competitive.

 

“Wonder who’ll host this bidding.” Wu Peng asked.

 

Then an elderly man in evening wear in the corner smiled and answered: “Naturally Prince Selarl’s confidant.”

 

Adrian looked up, only now noticing this unremarkable old man.

 

He seemed to be cruise greeting staff, currently bent over cleaning the carpet.

 

His spine was hunched, beard completely grey-white, hands gripping the vacuum cleaner rough and slack with brown spots.

 

But you could tell he was in good spirits and relatively healthy.

 

Mudeli’s expression shifted slightly. He exchanged glances with Adrian, then walked over cheerfully: “Old man, why isn’t it the king’s confidant hosting?”

 

The old man was extremely relaxed, saying jokingly: “Because the king no longer has confidants.”

 

Lance had been casually surveying the surroundings, looking for exploitable loopholes in the hall, but hearing this, he immediately looked up, staring intently at the old man.

 

No confidants?

 

Lance pulled out a tissue from the plane, crumpled it to look used, and walked to the old man.

 

He pretended to throw something in the old man’s garbage bag, then asked casually: “Won’t the king’s huge expenditure on five hundred tons of red parrot crystal ore be too extravagant and anger the people?”

 

Lance inhaled lightly, indeed catching the faint sea smell on the old man.

 

This was a Tasman.

 

Actually, having Tasman people on the Manxing Sea wasn’t strange, but a Tasman doing cleaning work was very strange. Everyone knew Tasman Pirate Nation was extremely wealthy with excellent welfare—an old man this age could completely enjoy his twilight years in boat houses.

 

The old man didn’t hesitate, didn’t evade, didn’t avoid the topic. He told Lance very directly: “Yes.”

 

Since the answer was so unexpected, Lance even laughed.

 

If, as king, he no longer had confidants, then the most important thing would be to restore reputation and popular support, gradually reclaiming power.

 

Doing something that would anger the people at this time would be like handing over the country, unless the king loved Selarl to the point of losing rationality—otherwise the logic made no sense.

 

Lance smiled: “Red parrot crystal ore has extremely low output. For the king to want five hundred tons at once, not many guilds can provide that.”

 

The old man bent over, slowly pouring garbage from the vacuum into a plastic bag, saying casually: “Can’t your Ghost Eye Guild do it? Ah, that High Tower Guild at the door can too.”

 

Lance was slightly stunned and turned around.

 

Adrian and the others also looked toward the door simultaneously.

 

Sure enough, Dream Witch appeared at the bidding hall leading Abaddon, Lily, and Zhan Pingchuan.

 

Dream Witch wore a black bodycon dress and crystal-studded high heels. Her gaze first fell on Lance, then calmly shifted to Adrian.

 

Similarly, Lily stole glances at Lance, desperately suppressing the urge to wink whilst frantically playing with her braids.

 

Abaddon quickly glanced at Lance, then lifted his eyelids to stare at the ceiling, acting like nothing happened.

 

The young master was undercover in the opposing camp—so depressing not being able to greet him after so long.

 

Meanwhile, Fulunla, Wu Peng, and Mudeli quickly looked at Zhan Pingchuan, then the three tacitly turned their gazes in different directions, guiltily patting dust off their legs, flicking tiny insects from the air, and scratching their backs.

 

The eldest young master was undercover in the opposing camp—so torturous not being able to feed him the cold spicy beef in their bags.

 

“Oh, didn’t expect Director to board successfully.” Dream Witch smiled charmingly.

 

Adrian said indifferently: “Thanks to being wary of the young miss.”

 

Dream Witch feigned surprise: “How does Director know we did it? Don’t wrongly accuse good people.”

 

Adrian was expressionless: “For you lot, so what if we wrongly accuse?”

 

Dream Witch crossed her arms, shaking her head regretfully: “Sigh, seems Ghost Eye Guild came prepared this time.”

 

Adrian said gravely: “Likewise.”

 

The two leaders met and immediately clashed—sarcastic, confrontational, sharp-tongued…

 

Zhan Pingchuan automatically filtered out the boring verbal sparring. Taking advantage of standing at the back where High Tower Guild couldn’t see, he secretly showed Lance the little crown woven from palm fronds.

 

Anyway, everyone opposite was his own family—even if they saw, they’d pretend not to.

 

Fulunla, Wu Peng, and Mudeli scratched even harder.

 

“Huh, are there mosquitoes in this room?”

 

“Seems like it.”

 

“Damn, this is so itchy.”

 

The three muttered, trying not to look toward the eldest young master’s direction, searching for phantom mosquitoes in the bidding hall.

 

Lance met Zhan Pingchuan’s gaze, quietly stepping backward, then pursed his lips with laughter in his eyes.

 

Anyway, everyone opposite was from the Black Lantern Society—they knew what to do.

 

Abaddon quickly looked up again, his face almost parallel to the ceiling.

 

Lily immediately looked down, searching the floor for money.

 

Zhan Pingchuan slightly raised his chin toward Lance.

 

Fulunla, Wu Peng, Mudeli: “…” Any more scratching and they’d break skin!

 

Lance received it and quickly blinked twice.

 

Lily and Abaddon’s eyes darted everywhere.

 

Dream Witch sneered: “What’s wrong with Ghost Eye Guild? Got lice?”

 

Adrian: “Is High Tower Guild dissatisfied with the ceiling décor and carpet colour?”

 

Dream Witch thought: Those three are scratching all over but won’t look this way—could there be some conspiracy?

 

Adrian thought: Those two are shifty-eyed, deliberately pretending not to see him—could there be some scheme?

 

Dream Witch: “Seeing Director really kills any mood for sightseeing. We’ll leave first.”

 

Adrian made a gentlemanly gesture: “Young miss, please.”

 

Seeing they were leaving, Zhan Pingchuan’s face immediately fell, showing Lance a pitiful expression like a lone little wolf.

 

Adrian coughed heavily, and Zhan Pingchuan “whoosh” retracted his expression.

 

Hearing the cough, Dream Witch was displeased.

 

This Adrian looked refined and gentlemanly—how could he be so rude, still being sarcastic even as they left?

 

But when she turned her head, she saw her little brother giving his boyfriend an affectionate look with curved eyes, his expression particularly doting.

 

Dream Witch couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

 

Adrian frowned. Even if Lan Qi was a young lady from a good family, why roll her eyes when leaving?

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)