Chapter 228: Slave’s Grudge—Ceremony

Back in a blocked-off area inside a large office, Jort welcomes Auren again. “Welcome, Floor Master Auren! I’m so glad and excited to see you return. I also can’t help but notice that you are escorted by three truly breathtaking ladies. Truly, they are beautiful beyond belief, worthy of a powerful Floor Master such as yourself.”“A red-haired beauty, mind-blowing curves. Long flowing hair and a very modern and... liberal style. Truly, what man wouldn’t get jealous? A wild beauty most men couldn’t handle!” He says, looking at Vanessa.

Moving on, Jort now stares at Ura. “Pale skin, beautiful long blonde hair, a fascinating scar. Clearly, a very intelligent woman with a unique exotic background. A top-tier beauty as well.”

Finally, his eyes land on Neffi. “Ah, little lady! I remember you. You look so different—much more beautiful, mature, and your body and face... no scars! Excellent. I’m quite happy for you.”

“These three ladies are truly fascinating, Floor Master Auren, I have to say, you have good taste, and you are quite deserving of such gorgeous...”

Auren sighs, interrupting him. “Enough small talk. These are my friends. We just want to rest before the contest tomorrow.”

“You mean until tonight! Don’t forget we’re drawing lots to decide the initial matchups. You are officially invited to the ceremony. We also serve food. The event is broadcast live,” Jort informs him excitedly. “It will be insanely popular, believe me. You need to attend.”

“Let’s see...” Auren says, looking at the others. While Ura and Neffi look fairly neutral, Vanessa’s face looks like a hungry dog, begging for food, even clasping her hands together, winking at Auren.

Very subtle.

“I guess I’ll see you this evening...” Auren reluctantly says. “Can I go to ‘my floor’ now? I want to rest.”

Hearing Auren’s reply, the Heaven’s Arena managers face brightens up instantly. “Of course, a wise decision. Your floor is completely empty; it’s all for you. Since it’s used as a high-priced hotel, offering multiple suites, you can just use the master suite for yourself and your lovely companions. You’ll have a personal attendant just for yourself. With such beautiful women escorting you, there is surely no need for the usual VIP service. Still, the attendant will bring you as much food as you want, just talk to her. I’ll call her right now. Please give me a second.”

“He does know my age, right? Surely he must?” Auren wonders, now a little perplexed.

“What is considered absurd in some parts of the world is just daily business in others,” Ura explains. “Just ignore him.”

A few minutes later, a young woman with weary, tired eyes approaches the group. She wears the traditional Heaven’s Arena uniform, her posture straight despite how drained she looks.

“Welcome, Floor Master Auren. I’ll escort you to your floor, Floor 239, right away,” she says respectfully, her voice eerily calm.

“Sure…” Auren replies, used to the quirky people here.

They follow her into an elevator reserved for staff.

It takes quite a while before the elevator reaches the upper floors. As it ascends, Vanessa walks around in a circle inside the elevator, her patience wearing thin.

“Stupid design… why would you build such a tall building?” Vanessa complains, finally crossing her arms, staring at the attendant.

It’s not her fault... this woman....

“It’s unique. I rather like it,” Auren admits. “This place has a special atmosphere… I almost miss the time I spent here.”

“Yes…” Neffi says quietly, looking at Auren with a soft smile. “Me as well.”

“Huh? Why are you saying that?!” Vanessa asks, confused. “Wait—were you with him when he became a Floor Master? I wanna know.”

“Does it even matter…?” Auren asks, sounding more tired than annoyed.

Finally, the elevator ascends to Floor 239, one of the highest levels, the 251-level tower has to offer.

Outside the elevator lies a large lobby with doors leading to multiple rooms. Auren does a quick count and deduces the number of rooms to be sixteen.

“It’s just… like a hotel,” Auren notes, glancing around at the expensive, yet ultimately soulless decoration. “How boring.”

“Please follow me,” the attendant says emotionlessly.

She leads them into the largest room and points toward a phone mounted on the wall. “If you need anything, press the red button. Whatever you want, I’ll have it brought into your suite.”

Immediately afterward, she leaves without another word.

How... polite.

Auren takes a good look around. The suite resembles a typical high-class hotel room, except the size is simply enormous. Aside from that, only the large windows at the far end stand out, stretching along the outer wall and looking down over the city far below.

“What a nice suite!” Vanessa exclaims, walking around the suite excitedly. “We should come here more often.”

“You haven’t been here yet, right?” Auren asks her. “You could always become a Floor Master yourself. I’ll gladly let you stay here during your stay until you get your own floor.”

“My own… floor?!” Vanessa repeats, her eyes filling with greed. “I… that’s a great idea, Auren! Maybe I’ll do just that! I get to earn a couple hundred million and then claim a floor like this one for myself? Incredible! I can rent out the space I don’t need... keep most of it to myself. Yeah, maybe I’ll do just that. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“How about you first witness the Floor Master’s level before deciding?” Ura suggests. “Afterwards, you’ll have an idea if you’re up to the task yet. If it were that simple, much like you said, anyone would do it.”

“Hmmm, good idea!” Vanessa nods before pausing and looking at Ura. “I just have one question.”

“Yes?” Ura asks.

“Who are you, anyway?” Vanessa asks bluntly.

“I believe Auren introduced me?” Ura asks, a little surprised.

“Yeah… an employee who hunts items for his collections… but…” Vanessa’s eyes grow curious as she stares at her. “You and your brother seem highly suspicious!”

She points her finger at her face and the long scar on her face. “Never seen such a scar before. It looks like it was made on purpose. Your brother had one too… is that some new style?”

She questions it now... after all that time?

Ura stays silent, her gaze shifting to Auren.

“They can be trusted…though they haven’t told me their entire backstory either,” Auren comments. “Neither did I ask, admittedly.”

“My… no, our backstory does not matter.” Ura’s voice lowers, and for once she looks surprisingly vulnerable. “It’s exactly what you’d expect from Carnival Flesh…”

“We were slaves. Forced to serve our own family, just because of our loathsome father, who fathered us out of wedlock. Let’s just say Pariston… needed someone on the inside of the Empire, specifically the Xi-Yu family, for one of his deals. My brother and I fit his bill. Of course, we accepted his offer. We were granted freedom… in a sense. While we still had to serve a master, Pariston left us alone as long as we were doing his bidding. Now that we are working for you, our situation has improved even more.”

“I still don’t understand a thing…” Vanessa mutters, completely lost. “What kind of flesh are we talking about? I like carnivals though....”

“Shut up and listen!” Neffi rebukes her, despite looking a little stumped herself.

“There is nothing more to listen to,” Ura states calmly.

“There is one thing you obviously left out,” Auren points out. “I remember you had a goal. What is it?”

“The complete destruction of the Kakin Royal Family!” Ura says, her eyes completely cold.

“That’s quite difficult to achieve…” Auren admits, deep in thought. “A lot of… heirs to consider. Though if the King falls before an heir is chosen… the chaos following such an event could be devastating.”

“Forget it,” Ura says. “The King can’t be touched. He can’t die… It’s all related to an ancient tradition. He has a layer of protection that is infallible, even to someone like you, Auren. You can’t simply walk up to him and kill him like a normal man.”

Is this… related to the Succession Contest? My memories only tell me that there are Nen Beasts involved… and that all the princes must fight over the succession of the crown… it’s a type of... death match, I think?

“I am not aware of the full details, but I can tell you this,” Ura explains slowly. “A King has never died due to illness or assassination. It has been tried countless times. I know for a fact that even the Zoldycks declined such a request. They didn’t decline for political reasons—they admitted they were incapable of doing so.”

Her words not only manage to shock Neffi and Vanessa but also affect Auren.

This sounds like the protection of the rightful ruler of the Empire. There must be restrictions involved… but it seems the King is indeed untouchable… for now.

Could she be wrong? Maybe... though why would I take that risk and find out?

“There is only one chance to end the Royal Family,” Ura states. “During the next Succession Contest. According to what I’ve learned, the princes are already preparing for it. It’s essentially a contest until only one remains. The King won’t live past it, and only one prince will be alive afterwards to start a new royal family. The bloodline of the King is only vulnerable during the contest.”

“…Let’s stop here,” Auren says, raising his hand. “Thank you for sharing your story, but I can’t and won’t commit to aiding you… at least for now. Let’s talk about it in a few years.”

Ura looks completely stunned. “You… are considering helping me?!”

“Yes… I am merely considering it, however. Maybe our interests align somewhat. That’s all,” Auren states, stopping without further explanation.

“This all sounds like gibberish to me,” Vanessa comments, Neffi looking like she wants to agree, but barely containing herself.

“Let’s deal with Battle Olympia first,” Auren says. “So let’s rest until later.”

“Yes!” Vanessa says, rushing into the suite and dropping onto the couch near the large windows. “Damn, the view is just insane!”

Auren and Neffi join her, while Ura stays busy making call after call, talking with her various contacts to proceed with her betting scheme, even needing to recharge her phone, taking out a second one to continue.

Resting inside the suite, it doesn’t take long until a loud knock disrupts the comfortable, almost cozy atmosphere.

The same attendant as earlier enters.

“It is time, Hunter Auren, ladies. Do you require a set of spare clothes for the occasion? I brought a couple of dresses and suits in your sizes.”

“No,” Auren replies immediately, rejecting her. “We’ll go as we are.”

“Your accessories look sharp—in a literal sense,” the attendant says, her tone showing a hint of emotion for the first time. “However, it is not the style I would deem suitable for such a VIP ceremony and high-class dinner. Still, who am I to question you? Please follow me.”

“You got that right,” Auren replies. “Nobody orders me around, especially when it’s about my choice of gear.”

“You are really grumpy when your precious armor pieces are involved... do you take them off while bathing?” Vanessa asks.

“None of your concern.” Auren bluntly replies.

And yes... most of the time I do... anyway, it’s time to see the competition.