Banquet

Yue Shi strolled leisurely through the streets of Avenia, cradling the snow leopard in his arms.

The afternoon sun was just right, filtering through the towering buildings and casting mottled patterns of light and shadow across the pavement.

Holographic screens flickered everywhere, broadcasting various reports about the Inter-Island Cultural Exchange Festival.

Celebrity red carpets, speeches from distinguished guests, and interviews with the public—everything was bustling and glamorous.

“You certainly are taking your time. Everyone else is busy preparing for that Killing Competition, yet here you are window shopping,” Ghost’s teasing voice drifted into his mind.

Yue Shi stroked the snow leopard's head. “What's the rush? What will come, will come.”

Ghost said, “I just hacked into the Order Alliance's communication system and listened in. They’ve sent members into the Killing Competition game.”

“Guess who they sent? It’s actually that man named Kraken, the one you met back on Dusk Island!”

Yue Shi hummed in response, his pace never faltering. Deep within his eyes, an infinity symbol flashed for a fleeting second.

Destiny's Curse was operating silently, capturing every thread of fate in the vicinity.

Those threads were thin and chaotic, interwoven into a vast web that shrouded the entirety of Avenia.

However, the center of that web was a blur.

It was as if someone had deliberately covered it up.

Interesting.

Yue Shi turned into a small alley, weaving through several turns until he reached a more secluded area.

The architectural style of the surroundings gradually shifted, moving away from high-tech sci-fi and toward a more understated luxury.

The air carried a faint scent of natural spices.

He stopped in front of a discreet yet magnificent building.

A team of guards stood at the entrance, wearing headsets and scanning the surroundings with vigilant eyes.

Yue Shi glanced at the building, and his figure vanished on the spot.

In the next heartbeat, he was standing in a corner inside the building.

The interior was somewhat dim, illuminated by a few glowing lamps on the walls.

The air held a mixed aroma: expensive perfume, roasted meat, and a lingering, subtle hint of blood.

The sound of voices drifted from ahead.

Yue Shi followed the sound, passing through a doorway as the view suddenly opened up before him.

It was a massive banquet hall, extravagant and dazzling.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, bathing the entire space in a golden, brilliant light.

The four walls were decorated with intricate reliefs, but they depicted twisted, terrifying patterns rather than anything sacred.

Long dining tables lined both sides of the hall, covered with snow-white tablecloths and laden with an assortment of foods.

But that food...

Yue Shi's gaze swept over the serving platters.

Various fruits, pastries, seafood, and vegetables—those appeared normal enough.

However, the contents of some platters were quite disturbing.

One dish seemed to be a sheep's front trotter, posed in a Buddhist mudra. The joints were long and distinct, served with a small dish of crimson sauce on the side.

Another dish featured a sheep's hind trotter drizzled with a thick gravy; the cut surface gave off a strange luster and was sprinkled with gold dust.

There was also a large food cart carrying a roasted sheep, golden-brown and headless. Its pectoral and abdominal muscles were perfectly defined, its belly stuffed with unknown ingredients.

Yue Shi’s gaze lingered on the roasted sheep for a second.

Quite evil.

There were many people at the tables—men and women dressed in opulent clothing, maintaining elegant postures.

They conversed in low voices while enjoying the bizarre food, dignified smiles plastered on their faces.

In the center of the hall, a female star stood on a small stage, singing.

Her voice was melodious and beautiful, yet fatigue and fear were visible in the depths of her eyes.

As she finished a song, a few scattered claps rose from the audience, and someone shouted, “One more!”

She nodded slightly and began the next tune.

She was like a living jukebox.

Yue Shi leaned against the shadows in the corner, unnoticed by anyone.

His gaze scanned every guest present before finally landing on the long table at the very center of the hall.

That table was wider than the others, situated on a slightly elevated platform.

Seven or eight people sat there, their attire even more exquisite and their temperaments more reserved than the rest.

They tasted the food before them while talking in low voices, occasionally letting out knowing chuckles.

Yue Shi narrowed his eyes, listening intently.

“This banquet is quite good; the quality is better than last time,” a man wearing a pearl necklace said softly, poking a piece of roasted sheep rib with his fork.

“Of course,” a balding woman beside him replied.

“Avenia has mature channels and stable supply. The livestock are all castrated in advance, which makes for better meat.”

“I heard the scale of the game is larger than in previous years?”

“Yes, the number of participants has doubled. All parties are looking forward to it.”

“What does Deep Blue have to say?”

“The usual. They are very satisfied with our results and might increase their investment in the future.”

Deep Blue?

Yue Shi's eyes flickered slightly.

“By the way, I heard a distinguished guest has arrived this time?” another young woman in a deep purple dress asked.

The people around her exchanged a meaningful look.

The balding woman lowered her voice. “A representative of the Deep Blue Route. He will be coming in person to inspect the situation.”

“Oh? Then we must host him well,” another person remarked, raising an eyebrow.

“Don't worry, someone is specifically in charge of that. However, that gentleman doesn't like to make a scene. We just need to mind our own business.”

Their gazes all drifted toward the seat at the end of the long table.

A man sat there.

He was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a deep gray robe. His face was ordinary, and his demeanor was calm.

Unlike the others, he didn't engage in whispered conversations. He simply sat there quietly, holding a glass of dark red wine, his calm gaze scanning the entire hall.

A single platter was placed specifically in front of him.

Inside was a creature of bizarre design.

It was about half a meter long, with a streamlined, fish-like body but possessing four short, thick, webbed limbs.

Its head was massive with a protruding snout, and its mouth was filled with two rows of fine, sharp teeth. Even in death, those teeth glinted coldly, and its two hollow eyes stared up at the ceiling.

Beside the platter, a handsome sheep's head with eyes wide open served as a decorative garnish.

Yue Shi stared at the thing for a few seconds.

So ugly. Is it some kind of deep-sea fish?

The middle-aged man picked up his knife and fork, elegantly slicing off a piece of meat. He placed it in his mouth and chewed slowly, a hint of culinary enjoyment appearing on his face.

Though the guests were talking, Yue Shi could tell they were all surreptitiously paying attention to the middle-aged man.

Every time he set down his wine glass, someone immediately signaled a waiter to refill it. When he showed a satisfied smile, the people around him smiled along, making him the clear center of the room.

The laughter and chatter of the guests sounded like countless venomous snakes slithering through the grass.

On stage, the female star continued to sing. Her throat was sore, but she didn't dare stop, let alone act like a diva and demand a break.

At least she could still serve as a songstress; she didn't have to serve as a dish on the table.

“A representative of the Deep Blue Route, huh?” The corners of Yue Shi's mouth curled up. He let his gaze linger on the middle-aged man for a moment longer, the infinity symbol in his eyes flashing continuously.

The snow leopard in his arms raised its head, followed his gaze for a moment, and then lazily curled back up.

As if sensing something, the middle-aged man suddenly turned his head toward the corner.