Chapter 18: The 'Date'

[Third Person's Point of View]

"Aurora!!!", a hand waved at her excitedly as Aurora approached the large multi-story building with its grand entrance. The exterior of the building was made of smooth, meticulously sanded stones that gleamed in the sunlight. The atmosphere around the building was bustling as devils came and went, their chatter echoing throughout the vicinity.

"Ed," she responded with a cheerful tone, skipping over to his side as he reached out his hand towards her.

"Did I make you wait long?", she inquired as she grasped Edwin's hand and intertwined their arms together.

"I just arrived," Edwin replied, his cheeks turning a rosy shade as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

Aurora's lips formed a pout as she playfully punched Edwin with her free hand. "You're such a liar. You work here," she accused, teasingly.

As they walked into the building, anyone watching from the outside would think this young couple had a wonderful relationship. The atmosphere between them seemed rosy and full of love.

Edwin's father held the position of head general manager at the Balam Trading Company, making him Augustus' primary focus after the revelations he had during the meeting.

Once he learned that they were responsible for his parent's deaths, he immediately set out to gather any and all information that could aid him in understanding his adversaries.

What he found out was not pretty.

Plentiful use of [Hypnosis] and [Scan Memory] led him to discover that they were often involved in similar illegal dealings.

It was not uncommon for the trading company to resort to murder when they desired an item in someone else's possession.

Yet, they were never met with any form of retribution. How could they, when the very foundation of the company was rooted in a lineage of the 72 Pillar Clans, belonging to an Earl no less. The backing from the local division of Belial House offered them an additional safeguard, rendering them virtually invincible.

Augustus' parents met their demise as a result of their insatiable desire for wealth. As a form of revenge, Augustus made it his mission to strip them of everything they valued - their fortune, cherished possessions, social standing, and even their lives. He was determined to bring down the Balam Clan, no matter how long it took.

Edwin gave Aurora a tour of the first floor of the building, showcasing all of its noteworthy features and artefacts. They passed by numerous counters, where devils could be seen perusing items ranging from ordinary gold and diamond jewellery to magical objects. This was the hub of all trading activity, bustling with energy and excitement.

"Come on, let's check out the second floor", Edwin gently pulled Aurora towards the stairs as they made their way up to the second floor.

The effects of the spell [Maximize Magic: Charm Species] were evident in the pink hearts that still seemed to float around in Edwin's eyes. Once a well-known playboy, he was now completely devoted to Aurora, willing to do anything for her. If commanded to do so, he would even sacrifice his own life for her without hesitation.

"This is where the good stuff is," he whispered in a hushed tone as if sharing a secret. "The VIPs come here, y'know? It's like a secret club up there!"

Aurora observed the entire charade with a raised eyebrow as she followed along.

She obviously knew, [Search Memory] on Edwin provided her with all the information he possessed.

That was the dilemma. He was completely uninformed. Although he had a job through nepotism, it didn't keep him from wasting his time pursuing women all day long.

With no other option, she decided to make a personal visit to the location in order to move forward with her plans.

The entrance to the second-floor central area was guarded by a massive teakwood door, adorned with intricate gold and silver carvings that added to its aesthetic appeal.

Two muscular devils flanked the door, giving a nod to Edwin as they swung it open for him to enter.

The second floor was a stark contrast to the first, with opulent decorations and luxurious furnishings adorning the walls and floors. The room was filled with devilish creatures, decked out in expensive and extravagant clothing. Each one was attended by a well-dressed staff member, adding to the lavish and luxurious atmosphere.

Even the magical artefacts locked behind reinforced glass emitted a much more potent aura compared to the ones on the lower level.

Edwin guided her through the floor, showing her every corner, until a voice, sounding worn and old, called out from behind them.

"Edwin? What are you doing here?"

Aurora and Edwin both swivelled their heads to catch a glimpse of an aged devil approaching them, his well-kept beard and greying locks giving him a distinguished look. He was dressed in a finely tailored suit, exuding an air of sophistication as he made his way towards them.

[Bernard - Devil - Tier 8]

"Father", Edwin gestured towards the older man and then tilted his head towards Aurora. "I was just showing Aurora around," he said with a smile.

'He is the only Tier 8 I have seen so far', Aurora subtly studied Bernard, attempting to determine the extent of his power as he seemed deceptively aged.

Bernard's energy levels, typical of someone from the middle-class, were palpable to anyone who encountered him, making it evident that he was not one to be trifled with.

Aurora could feel the piercing gaze of the stern old man on her, but his expression soon softened into a warm smile.

"Are you the reason behind my idiot son's recent changes?"

She tilted her head and looked back at Bernard with a quizzical expression.

"Ahem" he gave Aurora a polite smile, "Sorry for the late introduction. I am Bernard, the manager of this place, and this good-for-nothing's father", he introduced himself, with his eyes looking at Edwin for the last part.

"Pleased to meet you, Bernard. I have heard a lot about you", Aurora replied with a small laugh, air quoting the last part.

Edwin looked even more embarrassed, as the old man broke in laughter for the first time.

"Believe me Aurora, the please is all mine", he replied, looking warmly at the couple in front of him.

Bernard saw himself as moderately successful, and being given the responsibility of a whole branch company by his liege was one of the most fulfilling achievements in his long career.

However, there was one aspect of his life that he constantly struggled with: being a father. His son, Edwin, grew up to be a lazy womanizer. He had always envisioned his son taking over the management of this branch when he retired, but his son's irresponsible behaviour threatened to shatter those dreams.

Almost, because his son was acting wildly different from what he usually does. In the past two days, he had been unusually serious and punctual with his job, creating a positive and cheerful atmosphere. He hadn't even attempted to flirt with any female staff members.

For once, he seemed resolute and determined to make a change in his life. Bernard couldn't help but think back to his own youth when he fell in love for the first time, and now he even dared to imagine his son experiencing the same thing at the very moment.

However, as soon as he saw Edwin accompanying a beautiful young lady, all the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked in his mind.

In just two days, the young woman had already made a significant impact on his son. He couldn't help but imagine how different his son would be if they stayed together for a longer period of time.

"I'll be at my office. Come visit me after you are done with the tour", The couple eagerly accepted his invitation and continued their tour of the place.

Aurora breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the artefact, her reward for completing her first mission, was functioning properly according to the system.

[Sealed Artefact 2-1129 - MidNight's Ring of Energy Concealment]

A ring made of smooth, matte black material, giving it a sleek and sophisticated appearance with small white dots covering its surface like glittering stars against the dark backdrop.

This sealed artefact was classified as a grade two and could only produce results up to sequence 6. However, its limited abilities did provide one important function: concealing the amount and type of esoteric or spiritual energy within its user's body.

Although, it had the drawback of siphoning off its user's energy when in use, but it was insignificant enough to not make a single dent in his energy regeneration cycle.

That is why Bernard could only discern a low-class demonic energy pool from her, else it would be too suspicious for his son's sudden date to be as strong as him.

*

After spending about an hour and a half touring the rest of the building, they finally arrived at the largest office located at the end of the fourth floor.

Similar to the second floor, the third floor was also reserved only for VIPs. The fourth floor, however, served as the company's operation headquarters, and only employees were granted access.

Aurora was granted access through the gate by the guards, but only after receiving permission from Bernard. They approached a massive door adorned with a golden nameplate.

Head General Manager - Bernard

"Come in", the voice from inside replied as they knocked on the door.

The room exuded opulence with its lavish decorations and extravagant amenities, befitting a devil of his stature. Adorned with ornate wooden details, expensive artwork, and plush furniture, Bernard sat at the table sifting through his paperwork.

"Aurora, Ed", he gestured at the two chairs in front of his table, "Please have a seat"

Bernard signed one last paper and put the stack aside as his guest sat down.

He inquired, "Would you prefer tea or coffee?" and reached for his telephone on the table to ask his assistant just outside to make some for them.

Aurora fidgeted nervously at the question, then finally spoke up, "There's something I've been wanting to ask for a while now."

"Hmm?", Bernard's curiosity turned to alarm as her eyes briefly flashed a bright purple. In an instant, her nervous demeanour transformed into a cold, sadistic one.

[Hypnosis]

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Author-san here!!!

New week, new chapter guys.

Let's get to 40 Powerstones for this one. Last week we did incredibly well. 131 Votes. Let's aim for a double centurion for this one. 

So, do VOTE.

And don't forget to leave a rating and review. (We are soo close to 10 reviews)

New Illustrations are up so do check them out.

[Do I update the cover of the story to this one?]

Okay bye~

[P.S.- JJK ark soon.]