Chapter 81: A Moving Calamity

There are certain rules at the Eminence Hotel.

Although the villa managers are required to be on call twenty-four hours a day and must respond swiftly whenever a guest issues instructions, guests are not allowed to force a villa manager to share their bed. The Eminence Hotel holds its villa managers to particularly strict standards, not to mention the fact that many wealthy and high-profile clients have rather perverse tastes, which most people could not endure, let alone be forced into. Should anyone attempt to compel them into unspeakable acts, the aftermath is severe: the manager will file a formal complaint under their real name, and the hotel's mysterious owner will back them up, sending the offender straight to court. The penalties are steep—substantial financial compensation and even imprisonment.

Therefore, unless the villa managers themselves are willing, the Eminence Hotel does not include bed-sharing as part of its services. Their willingness is signaled by their choice to accompany a guest in different attire, indicating consent. Of course, over the years, there have been incidents where managers were deceived, lured into arrangements only to be used and discarded. In such cases, the hotel’s owner would not intervene; seduced by money and swayed by promises, the managers bore some responsibility for placing their trust in the wrong person.

Most villa managers at the Eminence Hotel, after working there for about five years, are able to purchase a villa outright. If they wish, they may then leave the industry with reputation and body both intact. Indeed, this work history is considered a point of merit in the eyes of other men, since these women possess first-class beauty, figure, poise, and education. But having seen so much of the world and so many wealthy men, most of these women develop discerning tastes and have learned too much about the darker side of men. As a result, few choose to marry; instead, they live freely and independently.

Sonia, a seasoned veteran of the Eminence Hotel, seemed bewitched in this final phase of her career. Naturally, the newcomers and her longtime peers were eager to gossip about her situation.

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Harvey and Sonia traveled in a luxury car, spending thirty minutes to reach the bustling Wanlong Venue, a gathering place for the elite.

Here, the room teemed with men clad in splendid attire—some dashing and handsome, some stern and dignified, but most with ruddy, well-fed faces. Each man was accompanied by a beautiful young woman. Harvey did not know any of these women, but judging by their stunning looks and varied styles, it was easy to guess they were either models or celebrities.

“Mr. Kassadin, would you like me to take your arm?” Sonia asked. “I believe my appearance tonight won’t embarrass you.”

She tucked a lock of hair behind her exquisitely shaped ear, a charming smile gracing her lips. The casual motion drew the eye from her delicate earlobe down to her alluring collarbone, and from her flawless, creamy shoulder to the seemingly endless curves of her snowy bosom.

“You may, but there’s no need to go to such lengths,” Harvey replied. “It’s only an auction, not a truly important occasion.” Seeing Sonia’s initiative, he did not refuse but offered a gentle reminder.

“All right, I’ll be mindful to keep an appropriate distance,” Sonia replied, her sparkling eyes reflecting a hint of laughter.

Just then, the elderly chauffeur opened the car door. A slender, alabaster foot, adorned in a dainty high heel, was the first to emerge. This sight instantly drew the attention of the surrounding men, who glanced over, whether out of curiosity or admiration.

In such gatherings, a man’s companion was an essential measure of status. As the saying goes, what you cannot have is the most desirable. Thus, whether married or accompanied, these men always held a certain appreciation for the companions of others.

On Xandar, where interstellar travel was now possible, the price of terrestrial vehicles had plummeted, while the cost of space fighters and warships had soared. The most luxurious cars on Xandar now cost just over a million credits, with most fetching only seven or eight hundred thousand—a mere means of planetary transport. The real thrill for men lay in visiting other worlds and sampling the unique beauties each had to offer.

The woman whose full appearance was still hidden owned one of the finest luxury cars, valued at over a million credits—a clear sign of her companion’s wealth.

Soon, Sonia stepped out of the car. Her exquisite features, voluptuous figure, and sensuous charm immediately drew every man’s gaze. Some looked at her with disbelief, others with irritation.

They, too, had once stayed at the Eminence Hotel and knew Sonia’s identity. Some had invited her to accompany them to various events, only to be gently refused. Even though Sonia’s refusals were always tactful, rejection still stung, especially for billionaires accustomed to having women fawning over them at their whim.

Yet, over the years, they had never seen Sonia accompany anyone to a high-profile event. Though they felt slighted, at least no one else had succeeded either, which was some consolation. But now, seeing Sonia attending with another guest, their frustration surged. They were eager to see the owner of that luxury car—was it a man or a woman? If a woman, that would be easy to accept; if a man, it would imply that this rival had succeeded where they had not—a blow no man’s ego could bear.

Their curiosity was soon satisfied when a tall figure stepped from the vehicle, clad in violet-gold battle armor and wearing a golden mask. Sonia gently took his arm.

Their urge to compete vanished instantly.

For the name Kassadin had long echoed throughout the galaxy, entering their awareness well before his fame spread. Some among them had even tried to hire Kassadin for certain tasks, only to be refused. Retaliation was impossible—Kassadin’s strength far surpassed even that of the Nova Corps.

He was a legend in the bounty hunter world, the first in history to be named a level-three bounty hunter as an individual—a terrifying power, a calamity in human form. With others, they could dig up weaknesses or use underhanded tactics, but opposing Kassadin was nothing short of suicide.

When Sonia first stepped out, she immediately recognized several former guests of the Eminence Hotel, noting their sour expressions. She felt a touch of pressure, but noticed, as soon as Mr. Kassadin emerged, those looks vanished.

“As expected, Mr. Kassadin is truly formidable,” she thought, a sense of awe rising within her.