Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 125 - 46: Catherine’s Suitor_1

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Pannis stood quietly in the drawing room of the villa, his hands behind his back, his gaze focused on a painting on the wall. On the canvas, a golden desert spreads into the distance, meeting the color of the night sky. The three moons hang in the night sky, illuminating everything. The painting is so realistic that standing in front of it, one could almost feel the desolate wind riddled with sand from the desert’s cold nights.

"Do you like this piece too?" A middle-aged man’s voice sounded behind Pannis.

"No, Galos is better at portraiture. His landscape pieces lack in comparison. His less mature works lack grandeur while his later pieces, in their pursuit of a larger scale, ignore the fine details. Despite this, it ranks among the top three of his landscape works as the problem remains quite glaring." Pannis, without turning around, continued to look at the painting and answered with a cold tone.

"But you have been admiring it for ten minutes," The middle-aged man continued, seemingly unfazed by Pannis’s coldness.

"I just enjoy the desert, the nights are always so beautiful in the Sighing Desert." Pannis turned around reluctantly, revealing a middle-aged man standing behind him. He had brown hair combed to the back, a neatly trimmed bushy beard, a cigar in one hand, and a half-filled glass of red wine in the other, eyeing Pannis with interest.

"I’m an adventurer." Pannis made a dismissal comment and planned to turn back to the painting.

"Ha ha, I’m not one of those aristocratic ostriches," The middle-aged man laughed softly, "I know you’re an adventurer, I saw you come in with Catherine."

"Oh? You know Catherine?" Pannis finally turned his attention from the painting, face the middle-aged man again.

"We could say we are friends. She often consigns some of her adventuring trophies for our auction." The middle-aged man pulled a business card from his vest pocket and handed it to Pannis, slightly bowing, "John Merle from Merle and Jones Auction House, at your service."

"One of the top three auction houses in the Holy City." Pannis took the card and looked at it. "Pannis Wood, nice to meet you. What brings you, Mr. Merle?"

"Oh, nothing really. I was just curious about a newcomer who came to the ball with Catherine." John smiled and said, "We’ve known each other for two years and I’ve never seen her with a new partner. You must also be a very capable professional."

"I can’t compare to the three of them." Pannis shook his head, "I’m a Silver Rank professional, just above the Upper Rank."

"Hmm, I see." John stroked his beard in thought, lowered his voice and asked, "Would Mr. Wood be interested in a change of scenery for his work?"

"Huh?" Pannis was taken aback.

"Well," John began to explain, "The auction house needs to hire some professionals for some of the escort and defense work, especially the Upper Rank ones. I have previously invited Miss Catherine, but she declined. Would you have any interest, Mr. Wood?"

Pannis had a sudden realization, he didn’t know how to react so he finally replied with an odd look, "I’m sorry, Mr. Merle. I prefer to live a free and spontaneous life. I’m not particularly interested in long-term employment. Plus, I think the Nellie adventure team suits me, I don’t plan to leave for now, really sorry. But, if you have some non-permanent commissioned work, you’re more than welcome to ask us. We’d be glad to help."

"Ah, I should have known." John sighed in regret and said, "But if you change your mind, you’re always welcome to come to the auction house and find me with my card."

"Mr. John, that’s not very nice of you." Catherine’s voice sounded stern, "While I was away, you tried to poach my team member. Such behavior does not befit your status."

"Ha ha ha," John Merle didn’t even turn around, he just held his wine glass and gave a dry laugh. He said a few obligatory words and quickly walked away.

"How outrageous," Catherine watched John’s retreating figure with a mixture of anger and amusement. "He’s a decent business partner, but he always tries to recruit people to strengthen his auction house. He’s mentioned that several times to me. By the way, sorry for making you wait, hope everything is okay."

"No, everything is fine," Pannis said, "Except for almost being abducted."

"Ha ha, it might be a good thing if you were," Catherine took Pannis’s arm again, "Let’s go to the ballroom where there are fewer people. After the ball starts, we can leave."

"Did you finish talking with your Grandpa Snape?" Pannis asked as he followed Catherine.

It was nearly eight o’clock, and the ball was about to start. Most of the guests had arrived, some were sitting in the drawing room chatting, some were walking together in the garden, and others were standing near the ballroom chatting. The light in the center of the ballroom was already on, brightening the space beneath like it was daytime. The ballroom was becoming more and more crowded. But Pannis and Catherine sneakily found a corner in the garden where the ballroom couldn’t be seen. They relaxed and chatted.

"Is that your Grandpa Snape?" Pannis whispered pointing at a balding old man standing in the center of the ballroom giving a simple welcoming speech.

"Yes, that’s him," Catherine climbed onto a tree branch and sat next to Pannis.

"I can’t tell." Pannis said, "He just looks like an ordinary person."

"Yeah, it’s such a shame he doesn’t have more noses." Catherine replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "He’s just an ordinary person, what else do you expect him to look like?"

"Look at the fifth person on the left, the one whose mouth takes up a third of his face and whose nose is only a tenth of his face." Pannis pointed over, "He needs to at least look extraordinary to live up to his reputation of being the richest man in the world."

"Stop being annoying." Catherine suppressed a laugh, covering her mouth, "That man also claims to be a successful scholar in his self-introduction."

"Oh?" Pannis expressed surprise, "He doesn’t seem to have the demeanor of a scholar. What does he study?"

"The mathematical connection between the average weight of goblins and the power system of Obsidian Colossus." Catherine said.

"Wow", Pannis exclaimed, "That sounds like a groundbreaking subject. Does he have any significant accomplishments in this field?" ƒrēenovelkiss.com

"None at all." Catherine shrugged.

"Then where lies his success?" Pannis asked.

"Who knows." Catherine smacked her lips, "It’s rumored it’s because he sings opera better than any other scholar."

"Alright, I get it." Pannis nodded solemnly, "He is indeed a successful scholar. Hmm, someone has started chatting with Snape."

"Ah, I see it, that’s Mr. Pane." Catherine said, "The most famous journalist of the Holy City Monthly."

"The most famous journalist?" Pannis asked, "Has he exposed any scandalous behavior? Or journeyed into dangerous frontlines?"

Catherine gave Pannis a flat look and said in a tone of heavy sorrow, "Donaldson and Ava secretly met at the Titan Hotel, Annie is the third party behind Carl and Emily’s divorce, Fabia is actually into men..."

"Stop, don’t go on." Pannis called to halt with a troubled look on his face, "Aren’t there any normal people here?"

"Well, celebrities usually have some quirks." Catherine commented with sarcasm, "But most of them are normal. It’s just these oddballs who like to stand out immediately."

Clearly, the master of the ball didn’t want to occupy too much of the guests’ time. His speech was brief. The music gradually became louder, filling the ballroom with a joyful atmosphere. A throng of nobles and celebrities milled about the edge of the dance floor, introducing one another and networking. Elegant ladies of rank and noble daughters were invited one by one to dance. Swathes of gorgeous skirts stirred up a sweet-smelling breeze, inciting more romantic feelings among the men.

"That should be it." Catherine jumped down from the tree branch and painstakingly smoothed her crumpled skirt, "Let’s go tell Grandpa Snape, then we’ll consider our mission for today done."

"Feels like you’ve just let out a sigh of relief." Pannis also jumped down from the tree, making a teasing comment, "Is facing an elder that excruciating?"

Catherine rubbed her forehead, suffering a headache, then shaked her head and said, "You wouldn’t understand. Anyway, let’s go."

The moment they started walking, both of them resumed their refined and graceful noble manners under the diverse gazes of the nearby guests. But as they made their way to the master of the ball, they heard a vague commotion from the side, followed by hurried footsteps. They looked in the direction of the footsteps just in time to see a impeccable looking young man rushing into the ballroom, closely followed by two bodyguards - two Gold Rank professionals.

"Why is he here too?" Catherine said in a somber tone.

"Hmm? Who’s that?" asked Pannis, "Having two Gold Rank professionals as bodyguards, plus a Legendary Rank hidden somewhere..."

"Nicholas Falar, the second prince of Falar Empire, the one most likely to inherit the throne." Catherine said grudgingly, "I once studied at the Knight Academy in the north of Falar. This prince bothered me for quite a while. Forget it, we’ll just leave. No need to say goodbye. I’ll come alone tomorrow. I dislike this person and don’t want to see him."

At this moment, Nicholas had gone over to Marquis Snape, whispering something. As he spotted Catherine about to leave, he quickly spoke a few more words to Snape and then chased after her, "Catherine, wait a moment."

Catherine stopped in her tracks, her face somber. She turned around to face the approaching Nicholas.