Chapter 3: The Banquet

Theriault sat in the crowd, a bored expression on his face as he began to grow impatient. 'Father never told me these events were this boring...' He thought to himself before feeling a tap on his shoulder.

Theriault turned, locking eyes with an elderly woman who sat down next to him.

"That was quite the show sonny," She said, her wrinkly face scrunching up as she smiled at him.

Theriault nodded, not answering as he turned his attention back to the auction.

"Quite the spender huh? 20 billion isn't exactly a small sum of money... Makes me wonder if you truly have the money."

The old woman stared at Theriault, who faced forward and listened in on the auction. "Ah I see, trying to get any information on me?" He questioned, side-eyeing her before flicking his eyes back toward a bright pair of boots that he didn't care about.

"Well wouldn't anyone? I'm sure lots of people here are going to try and question you, or make friends with you, maybe even attack you..." The woman asked, her eyes boring into Theriaults cheek.

"I guess so, I don't really interact with people much so your guess on their behaviors would be better than mine... You want to know who I am, where I'm from, how I've acquired my wealth?" Theriault threw out as he stood up.

Bending over he leaned his face real close to the elderly woman's, his eyes bright as he smirked. "Maybe you want to know if I have a key?"

Seeing the woman's chest spike up real quickly Theriault could tell he was right. "Ah I see, well dear old Dad did warn me of such things..."

Theriault straightened out, sliding past the old lady and walking back up the stairs. "Tell whoever you work for not to bother trying, you'll regret getting in my way I assure you," He warned, his eyes full of delight as his hands were buried in his pockets.

"And with that ladies and gentlemen I conclude this year's auction, I hope to see you at the banquet and all buyers can bring their ownership cards and form of payment to the backroom now," Charle Mccline said, though his eyes were locked on Theriault.

"Oh yeah," Theriault stopped, in the midst of wanting to be mysterious he had nearly left without collecting his prize.

*Bump*

As Theriault turned around he bumped into a girl. She was pretty, shorter than him with tanned skin and brown hair.

"Oh..." Shen Yi said as he stared up at Theriault, locking eyes with him.

"Hi-"

Theriault stepped passed her, walking down the steps toward the stage where the rest of the buyers headed, leaving Shen Yi standing there in embarrassment.

"Ugh," Her grandmother groaned, rubbing her temples before looking at Shen Yi in disappointment. "You need to try harder next time, it is clear this is a disrupt in the society, this could be the opportunity the Yi family needs to become a major faction," Her grandmother said, shooing her away to chase down Theriault, and also collect her painting.

...

"Ah, Mystery boy!" Charles Mccline exclaimed as he saw Theriault walk into the back room where the buyers were paying for their items and getting what they had bought.

"It's funny," Charles continued, stepping next to Theriault, "When I checked the logs, no one could identify you, what's your name son?" Charles said, holding his hand out toward Theriault.

"The LingJing figurine?" Theriault questioned, glancing between the outstretched hand and Charles's face with a blank expression.

"Ah not one for introductions, I understand, in this society who knows who you could trust right?" Charles laughed.

"Yeah something like that," Theriault replied, smiling himself as he shook Charles's hand, staring the man in the eyes. "You can call me Theriault."

Charles looked shocked for a second, but he played it off with a laugh. "Well Theriault, as the CEO of MRR I will personally be looking over your artifact. So how are you paying?"

Theriault and Charles walked to a box with the name "LingJing Artifact," Written on it, opened it up, and looked at the tiny bird figurine.

"Do you know what it actually is?" Theriault asked, bending over and picking it up quickly, staring at it in his palm as Charles stood there, slightly fidgety.

"Uh, well, it's the oldest on record for art in the Paleolithic-"

"Cut the bullshit," Theriault said, the atmosphere cold around him and Charles as Theriault stepped toward the ceo.

"You know what I'm asking... The keys, are you familiar with them or not?"

Charles glanced around, checking if anyone was listening to them. Finally he turned back, a smile on his face. "Yes, I am quite familiar with them..."

Theriault nodded and put the bird figurine down, reaching under the table and pulling out a briefcase.

"I didn't expect to spend so much money, I only have 15 billion cash here," Theriault said, the cold atmosphere was gone as he reached into the shadows and continued pulling out briefcases until they were stacked high.

"So I'll pay the rest with a direct charge, you guys take debit right? I never got set up with a credit card..."

Charles looked at the briefcases. "Hah... Hahahahaha!" He burst out laughing, drawing attention from other buyers.

"You're a funny one. You don't have the same vibe as the usual key masters I work with Mr. Theriault... Yes we take debit, I hope we can work More in the future..."

"Meaning you hope you can learn more about me," Theriault answered quickly, a smile on his own face. "I understand everyone's curiosity, My father explained a few things about the world before he..."

Thereiault went quiet, a frown coming to his face as he held out his card. "Well that hardly matters, go ahead and charge 5 billion."

Though Theriault kept a confident smile on his face, on the inside he was screaming at the amount of money he was spending, money that wasn't even his...

Charles didn't press forward, instead choosing to mentally note that sentence in the back of his mind. Seeing someone naive yet smart at the same time was very rare in the society of the key masters. Most were either faction members of different families, or they were commoners chosen by a key.

As Charles swiped Theriault's card he couldn't help but wonder which category he fell under, or was this young boy neither? Charles had so many questions he wanted to ask.

"I hope you stay for the banquet and get yourself acquainted with some of the other people... There are a few from major families here, I'm sure someone who's clearly so new to the key world would like some guidance-"

Theriault snatched up the bird figurine, pocketing it and grabbing his card in one swift movement. "Maybe, I guess we'll see what happens Mr. Mccline, have a nice night."

With these words Theriault walked off, his eyes brimming with excitement as he played with the cold figurine in his pocket.

...

Later in the evening the banquet was getting crazy, dozens of women and men were dancing together in a large mob as music played, drinks splashed, and cries were heard, pure energy radiating from the prestigious men and women who were invited to the after-banquet.

Theriault sat in a corner with a glass of cider in his hand, looking down at the bird figurine that had cost him 20 billion dollars.

"It was worth it if it means you leave me alone..." He muttered, looking up and seeing the party.

"You believe you're different? That you can escape this curse? It runs in your blood son, it is who you ar-"

Theriault shook his head as he pocketed the figurine, ignoring the voice and taking off his blazer, it was far too hot on the patio of Varyste Hotel to be wearing such things.

"So was it worth it?" A voice said to the side of him as he hung his blazer on the balcony divider.

Mo Da stood behind him, a smile on the fat man's face as he held a glass of champagne out to the pale teen.

"Mo Da, and you are?" He said, keeping a friendly tone of voice as Theriault looked him up and down.

"Mo Da... that's a Chinese name right?" Theriault asked, skipping over his own name.

Mo Da nodded as Theriault accepted the champagne. "Indeed it is, I came to the auction as a representative to find a piece that has been lost for generations... Clearly, we just haven't accumulated enough wealth."

This was a lie, Mo Da knew they had more than enough for this auction, it was just that his bosses hadn't given enough of the wealth to be spent...

Though Theriault could tell Mo Da was trying to keep a friendly tone, the ever so slight anger seeped into his words. "Ah, well I've been studying up on this artifact for ages now, I'm glad I was able to get it, it will go well with the rest of my collection," Theriault said, reaching in his pocket and holding the LingJang figurine up.

Mo Da winced at the sight, taking a sip of champagne as his eyes followed the figurine before Theriault slipped it back into his pocket, snapping Mo Da out of his stupor.

"I suppose you aren't willing to sell it?" Mo Da said, a false hopeful look on his face. He knew no one who truly understood what they had would sell such a piece, even at 100 times the original price they'd bought it for.

Theriault pursed his lips, shaking his head as he leaned against the balcony railing. "I'm afraid not Mo Da, it's far too important to sell."

"I see..." Mo Da said, glancing down at Theriault's pockets before bowing ever so slightly, "Enjoy your night young... what was it again?"

"Theriault."

"Yes that's right, enjoy your night Theriault, a young man in your prime like you should be partying wildly, there are plenty of women who would bed someone like you, don't waste your youth son," With this Mo Da left, sipping his champagne as he looked mildly annoyed.

Marcus had disappeared after the auction, and he'd yet to be spotted for the last four hours. Mo Da couldn't help but wonder if he'd walked out on the contract. Had he simply given up his reward if he received the Fanghuang figurine?

Theriault stood alone at the balcony railing, setting the champagne down as he breathed in deeply, rubbing his head as he closed his eyes.

"He's right you know?" A soft voice said in his ear, echoing as he felt the cold presence revolve around him. "You have all this ambition, but you're only 18 years old, why not enjoy your youth instead of following in your father's footsteps?"

Theriault frowned, "It's not that easy to make me falter, 18-years-old? That's almost Funny," He said as he opened his eyes, the sight of a tanned Asian woman around the same age as him staring up at him shocking him.

"Oh!" Shen Yi exclaimed, stepping back as she saw Theriault's eyes open, startled by the sudden acknowledgment of her existence.

"Who are you?" Theriault said, reaching his hand in his pocket, feeling the LingJing figurine in his palm and relaxing a bit as he stared at the woman.

"How are you?" Shen Yi said, flashing a smile as she let her pink jacket fall slightly below her shoulders.

She recalled her conversation with her grandmother only moments before.

"Don't forget YiYi, Your key is useful for these types of situations. All you need is to seduce this man and you'll be in full control," She had said, much to Shen Yi's dismay.

Shen Yi, for once in her life, wanted to choose something for herself. Not be pushed around by the higher members of her family to do what they wanted.

"Yes I remember grandmother," Shen Yi said, breathing in and putting on her cutest demeanor.

The power of her key, the love key, was dangerous. In the right hands, someone could rule the world. The Yi's family's sacred treasure was this key. Anyone who felt lustful feelings toward the key master who wielded this key could have their will stripped away, destined to do the bidding of the wielder for as long they had the key in their possession.

Shen Yi stood in front of Theriault, a flirty smile on her face as she touched her lips, showing off her body as much as she could.

"What's your name?" She asked softly, staring deeply into Theriault's eyes. 'Ugh, he's so pale,' She thought, trying to find as many things wrong with the boy as she could.

'His clothes don't fit.'

'He's probably some rich brat who got lucky.'

'Does he even know what he has?'

These thoughts swam through her head as she smiled at Theriault.

"Are you okay?" Theriault asked in confusion, seeing her weird posture and strain on her face. "Do you need to sit down or something? You look constipated."

Shen Yi's smile faltered as her face burned. What had he said? Constipated? Her?

"What?" She said in shock, standing up straight and bringing her jacket back up as Theriault looked down at her with a blank expression.

"Who do you think you're talking to!" She yelled in embarrassment, her eyes glowing a faint pink as she felt a small prick in her chest area, activating her power and staring in his eyes. "Apologize!" She said, wishing she could hide her face.

"Uh, sorry?" Theriault said, scrunching his eyes brows as his eyes glanced down at her chest.

'I guess it worked,' She thought, relief washing over her as she relaxed. "You can go get me a drink, and we can dance and talk about your purchase!" She said, her nice demeanor gone as Theriault looked at her weirdly.

"Alright..." He said, his eyes still staring at her chest, but not her breast area, the middle where he felt a key's power being used.

Theriault was dragged away from the railing by Shen Yi, sipping more champagne.

...

"Ooh!" Theriault yelled as a drink smashed on him. In the middle of the dance floor with the rich people who'd mainly come to the auction to party, he danced with Shen Yi, who was also starting to enjoy herself.

He was drunk. He'd never experienced it before, but as he felt dizziness while he danced and drank with Shen Yi and the other rich young people, that was his conclusion.

"You're way less dull than I thought!" Shen Yi yelled, laughing as she bumped into him.

"Dull? You barely talked to me," Theriault yelled back, laughing himself as he smiled widely.

This was unlike him, but he liked it. While he danced with this girl he didn't know, surrounded by the energy of these people his age, he felt something he never felt before, excitement.

"Let's get out of here?" Shen Yi asked, whispering in his ear as she grabbed his hands, pulling him away from the dance floor. He could feel the key that sat in between her chest activate, though he wasn't sure what she could use it for.

Shen Yi led him out of the hotel, walking down the streets of Paris as she laughed and pointed out different architecture around them. "Wow..." She said, bumping drunkenly against Theriault. "I never imagined what other countries would look like." She finished, rounding a corner.

"So you're not from France then?" Theriault asked, smiling despite his serious question.

"No, No, I'm here on official family business!" Shen Yi exclaimed, smiling up at him as they both looked up at the sky.

"My mother wants me to find a husband as fast as possible to help our family grow, in families like mine-" Shen Yi stopped. She couldn't just spill secrets like that. Especially to someone who wasn't even a part of the same world, she was.

Shen Yi stopped, the sudden horror of what she was doing dawned on her. 'I'm controlling someone who is completely innocent. He doesn't need to be brought into this crazy world... Especially without any protection, me controlling him...' Shen Yi looked up at Theriault, who stared at her intently waiting for her to finish talking. "... Is no different than what they've done to me.'

Shen Yi sighed, shutting off her key. "I'm sorry, you can go now, do whatever you'd like," She said, a sad expression on her face. It had been fun, controlling someone, she knew using the key's power had side effects. Was this one? Feeling joy from controlling others.

Theriault looked at her with a confused expression. "What? What do you mean?" He said, noting that her key had been turned off.

"I can't explain... You wouldn't understand, go back to the party I'll catch u-"

Shen Yi widened her eyes as she felt a burst of power erupt behind her, followed by a whistle and a strong gust of wind that nearly knocked her off her feet.

"Wow, first you steal something from me and then you waltz off with the heiress of the Shen family? You continue to surprise me boy..." Marcus said, floating in the air while his eyes shone a bright green, a frown stretching deep on his face. "And I hate surprises,"

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