"So, why're you here now?" Li Yexing asked, brushing off Ada's attitude. Her intentions mattered more than her tone.
"About the job?"
"No rush. It's not time yet. I'll move first when it is," Ada said, tapping her earpiece. "Stay ready for my signal. For now, I just want to enjoy the banquet."
"Enjoy the banquet…" Li Yexing muttered, eyeing the mingling nobles.
"Did you actually read the files I gave you?" Ada asked suddenly.
"Of course," he replied.
"Then here's something unrelated to the job," she said, sipping her wine. "This ship, the Orianna, has sailed the Mediterranean for ten years, hosting annual banquets for global elites and offering… less-than-legal services. It belonged to a prominent European noble. The name honors his late wife. Childless, he left detailed instructions: his company shares went to shareholders, but the ship and his estate went to his loyal butler."
"Then what?" Li Yexing asked.
"Last April, the noble died. Shareholders split the company, his family took the properties, and the butler, Jason Parker, got the estate and this ship."
"Sounds fishy," Li Yexing remarked.
"Who knows? Everyone profited from his death, so who cares how he died?" Ada said with a knowing smile.
"Anyway, it's irrelevant to our job," she continued, changing the subject. "You and your monster girl not dancing?"
"Lilith doesn't dance," Lilith said quietly.
"And you, Li Yexing?" Ada asked.
"I can," he admitted. Worker Li Yexing couldn't dance, but mercenary Li Yexing could, taught by his late boss. He'd scoffed at his boss's theories about noble girls, but learned dancing anyway. 'Just in case.'
"Perfect!" Ada said with an exaggerated smile. "Care to dance with me, Li Yexing?" She glanced at Lilith, her eyes flashing provocation.
Lilith's heart raced, blood surging, strength rising, like when she fought Nemesis months ago.
Li Yexing started to decline, but Lilith grabbed his wrist, her grip like a vice. Wincing, he saw her eyes glowing red.
"Dance," she said flatly.
"What?" he stammered.
"Lilith will dance with Yexing. No need for weird women," she said, her tone emotionless but seething.
Before he could respond, she dragged him to the dance floor.
"It's breaking! Let go!" he yelped, but she ignored him.
Ada watched them, a wistful smile crossing her face. "Youth is nice…"
Bewildered, Li Yexing was hauled to the dance floor's center.
It wasn't elegant or noble. The dancers seemed annoyed but held their tongues.
Looking down at Lilith's expressionless face, her eyes glinted with defiance. He sighed. "Fine…"
He took her hands, fingers interlocking. "Follow my steps."
As the music swelled, he moved. Lilith, pressed close, was tense and clumsy, nearly stepping on his feet.
"Take it slow," he whispered in her ear.
His reassurance worked. With her superhuman control, her steps steadied, though stiff. He didn't worry about his toes anymore.
"Like that, follow the rhythm…"
For the first time in either life, Li Yexing enjoyed dancing. To both worker and mercenary, it was a rich man's pointless pastime. But now, with Lilith, it felt different.
Chandeliers glowed, music soared, and he danced with his girl in this lavish setting. Maybe dancing wasn't so bad.
Lilith, now in sync, looked up, meeting his eyes. The menacing man and the snow-white silver-haired girl spun like a devil and angel, their chemistry rippling through the hall. They drew eyes, softening even the scornful gazes.
Unaware they were the center of attention, Li Yexing danced on. As the song ended, applause erupted. Startled, he noticed the crowd—nobles, heirs, ladies—watching. Lilith, new to dancing, fidgeted. He took her hand, smiling. "Let's go."
Back in their corner, Ada clapped, grinning. "Didn't know you had moves."
Lilith puffed out her chest, hugging Li Yexing's arm, glaring at Ada as if staking her claim.
Ada found it amusing.
"You're awful," Li Yexing grumbled. "Toying with us for fun?"
"Don't be like that," Ada waved off. "Turned out well, didn't it?"
"Don't waste our time again," he said, annoyed. "We're supposed to be on vacation. When does your job start, Miss Wong?"
Checking her watch, Ada smiled. "Soon. No need to rush—we can enjoy the banquet first. Or do you hate seeing me that much?"
"You're a jinx," he said bluntly.
"Harsh," she replied. "Mindset matters, Li. We might work together often in the future."
Her words sent a chill down his spine. Ada left.
"That woman's annoying," Lilith muttered.
"And tricky," Li Yexing added.
…
Below the glittering hall, security patrolled the cargo hold's entrance, a restricted area sealed by gates. Only three high-clearance magnetic cards existed: one with Jason Parker, one with Captain Osborn Fionn, and one with a mysterious newcomer.
Veteran guards knew the hold's purpose. The wealthy had peculiar tastes, seeking what money and power couldn't easily buy. The ship's annual trade offered exotic items—lost paintings, bizarre animal specimens, sometimes even people—stored in crates, awaiting deals.
"Aren't there too many crates this year?" Guard A muttered. "Usually, it's half a hold. Now they're all stuffed."
"God knows what new games these nobles are playing," Guard B griped. "Wouldn't be shocked if green reptiles crawled out."
"Who's the new guy managing the cargo?" Guard A asked. "Wasn't it Pierre? This one's all serious, acting superior, always in a white coat like some doctor or researcher."