Chapter 117
Chapter 117. A Game Beneath the Moonlight (5)
"Comet Tail Acceleration!"
As Luo Nan flipped over his face-down Star Sigil Card, he used the Infinite Ring to push the last piece to the center of the Star Base.
This game of Stellar Deduction had finally drawn its curtain.
"Stellar Crown—victory!"
Luo Nan looked at his three pieces already in the center of the Star Base and broke into a brazen, undisguised grin.
"Come on—of all the games you could have challenged me to, why pick Stellar Deduction? This Young Master's skill…… you're all well aware of it."
Luo Nan looked at his few "lackeys" and put on the expression of someone 'reluctantly compelled to brutalize them.'
"Worthy of Luo Nan—skill like this, the title of 'Star Board King' belongs to none but you!"
"I think even if Luo Nan were to enter the Stellar Clash Grand Tournament, winning the crown would be child's play."
"Ha, nowhere near that—this Young Master's card skills aren't bad, but when it comes to the crown of the Stellar Clash, there's still some distance to go."
Hearing his few foxy friends and sycophantic companions rain down flattery, Luo Nan couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth from curling upward, but he maintained a modest front.
Sweeping his gaze over the three lackeys beside him, Luo Nan stroked his chin and, at his ease, leaned back on the sofa, his legs unconsciously propping up on the side table.
Faced with his somewhat casual posture, the three young nobles showed not the slightest displeasure. The blond-haired noble to Luo Nan's left turned to the beautiful female attendant who had been standing nearby and said:
"That—never mind what you're called, it doesn't matter—go on, call a few maidservants in here to give the brothers a shoulder rub."
"Yes." The beautiful attendant gave a slight bow and walked out.
"Oh right, do you have any Elven maids? If so, have them come too—money is no object!" the blond noble added.
Once the attendant departed, the blond noble opened a bottle of red wine produced by Morningstar Winery—"Falice's Kiss"—and poured a glass for Luo Nan.
The group seized the moment to begin exchanging various bits of recent intelligence from the noble social circles.
"Did you all know? The apple of Count Anlute's eye—yes, Rose Anlute—apparently nearly got defiled at some banquet!"
"Where did that come from? How do I not know about this? Couldn't be false, could it?"
"Naturally from my exclusive intelligence channels—something like this happening, Count Anlute would definitely lock it down, but it can't get past me!" The one who spoke thumped his chest, saying confidently.
Luo Nan raised his wine glass and took a light sip. "Rose Anlute? Oh, it's her……"
"Luo Nan, I remember Rose Anlute used to actively seek you out all the time—what's the state of things between you two lately?"
"Not great—that one runs the moment she sees me these days; this Young Master doesn't even know where he offended her." Luo Nan shook his head without concern.
That was what he said with his mouth, but Luo Nan's mind subconsciously called up the image of Rose dressed in pink lace undergarments and draped in light gauze—her exquisite, graceful figure.
"Hmm? Have I had intimate contact with her?"
Luo Nan found himself unable to recall for a moment.
Oh right, Luo Nan—there's also an explosive piece of news about the Perez Family you may or may not have heard."
"What?" Luo Nan asked.
The one who spoke gave a slight smile. "Naturally it's that the Perez Family has been completely wiped out! Who knows what unconscionable thing they did—they were actually jointly 'executed' by Fourth Imperial Princess Serela Austrein, leading the Royal Knights and the Special Intelligence Agency together, and taken down root and branch!"
"Is that so?"
Luo Nan furrowed his brow. By rights, the collapse of an Earl family that had been deeply entrenched in Opalia for hundreds of years should not have reached his ears without a whisper.
"The Lune Daily will probably be reporting on this in the next day or two."
"Is that so……"
Luo Nan had a nagging feeling something was off—when did his intelligence channels become this unreliable?
Knock knock knock—creak—
The sound of a door opening.
"The Elven maids are here?"
Luo Nan followed the sound and looked over: a beautiful pointy-eared Elven maid dressed in a tantalizing maid uniform, her legs wrapped in skin-toned black silk, walked gracefully in.
"Go on—go attend to Luo Nan."
"Yes." The Elven maid replied softly.
***
The sun gradually set; Luo Nan pushed away the pointy-eared Elf whose clothes were now in disarray, gave himself a quick wipe to clear the kiss-marks from his body, stood up, and put on his clothes.
He glanced at the clock on the wall; a hint of unease stirred in his heart.
"Seems like…… I got a little carried away!"
"I seem to have promised Mother I'd be home for lunch……"
"Forget it—hurry back; might still make it in time for dinner."
"Right—buy some gifts to bring Mother. That way she won't nag me."
After a hasty parting with his few foxy companions, Luo Nan left the Upper District's most luxurious high-end club, "Lyance Garden," and arrived at the commercial district on the Golden Avenue.
"Let me see—I remember Mother's taste is……"
Walking into the commercial center, Luo Nan headed straight for the bookstore.
"Hey, Zhixia, stop running around!"
Just then, a clear female voice tinged with mild urgency drifted over from a distance.
A petite, silver figure whoosh-ed past right in front of Luo Nan; long silver-white hair whipped across his waist several times, carrying with it a fragrance uniquely belonging to northern snowfields and glaciers.
And left a single strand of silver-white hair on him.
Luo Nan picked up the strand of hair and held it before his eyes for a careful look.
"Doesn't look like a human's hair texture—a beastkin?"
Having made his assessment, Luo Nan paid it no further thought and casually, with a somewhat disdainful flick, sent the hair flying to the ground.
'That silver figure feels somewhat familiar…… never mind, this Young Master has known countless women—might have encountered her before but just forgotten her.'
Luo Nan never dwelled on things he couldn't recall—if he couldn't think of it, he let it go.
"Sorry, sorry, Sir—Zhixia didn't hurt you, did she?"
At this moment, the owner of that clear female voice ran up to Luo Nan; a pair of beautiful golden eyes looked Luo Nan up and down.
'Ha, another poor girl who's been bewitched by this Young Master's dashing looks.' Luo Nan thought to himself, narcissistically.
"Good, good—it looks like Zhixia didn't hurt you."
Anya, seeing no signs of impact on the man in front of her, patted her chest in relief.
Good, good—no need to pay damages!
The money she had earned from commissions lately, all spent buying suppressant medicine for Zhixia, was nearly depleted!
She had no money left to compensate anyone……
Luo Nan scrutinized the appearance of the girl before him.
'This one—why does she feel a little familiar too? Could she also be someone I've been with?'
'My memory seems to be getting worse and worse…… could it really be time to cut back?' Luo Nan was somewhat alarmed.
"Sir?"
Anya waved a hand in front of Luo Nan's face.
"Oh……" Luo Nan snapped back to attention; after a brief pause he asked: "Miss, haven't we met somewhere before?"
Luo Nan intended to ask the person in question directly—if she really was a woman he'd been with, she'd definitely remember him.
Simple reason: a bed that Luo Nan von Medillion had graced was not something just anyone could climb into!
Anya arched her fine brows, a touch of displeasure crossing her face.
Why did she feel like this guy was trying to pick her up?
And using such a tired, hackneyed pick-up line.
Thinking this, Anya said coldly: "No, Sir—I'm certain we haven't met. If there's nothing else, please allow me to take my leave."
With that, Anya turned and walked in the direction Zhixia had run off to.
"You're really sure we haven't met?"
"……Really haven't met."
Watching the golden-eyed, chestnut-haired girl disappear into the distance, Luo Nan let out a breath. "Seems my memory hasn't deteriorated—it was just a false impression."
"Good—this Young Master's constitution is still as excellent as ever!"
With his mind settled, Luo Nan turned and walked back toward the bookstore, quietly calculating which book to buy for Mother.
'The Lost Ancient Empire, then! I remember that book has research on urban culture from the Rossan Empire period—it's Mr. Jeraf Goldenhammer's new work; Mother will probably find the content interesting……'