This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Kain adjusted the lapels of his suit jacket as he stood before the full-body mirror, trying to decide if the collar should be two millimeters higher or not. Then he gave up, because really, what was he going to do—critique a masterpiece?

The suit wasn’t just tailored—it was practically sculpted to his body. Designed by none other than Renald Vestriel, one of the most famed designers in the Empire, the piece had been commissioned after Kain got news of the Auction.

After the elemental silk business exploded into the fashion world, Collin, ever the opportunist, had made sure that Kain was on every designer’s radar. So while this was probably the most extravagant thing Kain owned that wasn’t directly related to beast-taming or cultivation… he hadn’t paid a single Celestial Dollar for it.

The dark navy coat shimmered faintly with embedded Moon Silk Threads that danced like starlight when hit by the right angle. Elemental silk layered with Duskmoth thread and Cloudvine fiber created a texture softer than air but stronger than chainmail. It was probably as hardy as an average 4-star soft armour. Each cufflink was a cut Aether Sapphire, radiating passive mental cleansing effects. The buttons were Fireglasspearls, flickering gently with restrained heat to ensure that Kain, no matter the environment, will always feel as though the temperature was perfect. Even the shoes—mirror-black and precisely fitted—were embossed with subtle formations that dampened footstep sounds and stabilized spiritual pressure.

Kain looked… wealthy.

Not just rich.

Old money, auction-attending, I-own-an-island rich.

He stepped out of the room and descended the stairs of the main grand staircase, brushing invisible lint from his sleeve. At the base of the staircase, two staff members were waiting. Their ride, no doubt, was already prepared.

He was almost completely descended when a soft sound behind him made him pause.

Click. Click.

He turned. Looked up.

And everything else blurred.

Serena stood at the top of the staircase.

Or rather, descended like she was floating.

Her dress was made from an ethereal fabric like ice and moonlight combined to create it, sculpted to her figure like frost clinging to a flower. It was a shade of soft glacial blue that matched her eyes almost unnaturally well, sewn with threads of Frost Starlace and Arctic Filament—materials Kain only recognized because Collin had once ranted about their prices since he’d wanted to commission a few more suits for Kain with them as material. Her hair was styled in soft waves, pinned with silver accents shaped like snowflakes. Her earrings were sapphiric droplets that pulsed with calm spiritual resonance.

But the expensive heirloom jewels were nothing compared to her eyes.

Eyes that were locked on him.

The world seemed to freeze and every step she took down the staircase appeared to be in slow motion. The air itself felt different. He wasn’t sure if time slowed down or his thoughts had just collapsed, but all he could hear was the muted sound of her heels and the sharp thump of his heartbeat.

Her lips curved up slightly at his stupefied expression in satisfaction, before quickly dropping.

She kept walking down… eyes never leaving his.

Kain felt his hand move before he even decided to raise it. Reaching out—not quite sure for what. Maybe to help her down the last few steps (not that she seemed to need the help). Maybe to brush a hand against hers. Maybe to confirm she was real and not a figment of his imagination.

But before his hand could reach hers—

A hand larger, paler, and infinitely colder extended beyond his and grabbed her hand first.

Serena’s father.

He had appeared without a sound, his steps masked by the overwhelming presence he carried like a second skin. Now dressed in a different black suit from earlier, now more formal with a long ceremonial coat overtop. His white hair had been combed back neatly.

Kain didn’t know where he had come from or how long he’d been watching him stare slack jawed at his daughter. Only that he now stood between them, gaze fixed on Kain’s hand with the same expression a veteran exterminator might wear when eyeing a cockroach.

Kain retracted his hand with all the subtlety of a guilty child.

“Father?” Serena blinked, clearly surprised. “You’re… coming?”

“I wasn’t planning to,” he said smoothly. “But considering the amount of credits that Master transferred under your guest’s name, it’s only reasonable to expect you’ll be going after one of the more high-profile auction items. Best not to travel alone.”

Serena frowned. “But inside the capital—”

“Safety is not always a guarantee,” he said crisply. “Especially on auction night.”

Kain wasn’t sure if he agreed. Anyone who tried to steal from an attendee of the Royal Auction was basically slapping the royal family across the face. Not even the dumbest criminal would risk that. They’d more likely wait for their target to leave the capital or wait a couple of weeks until the vigilance of the royal family has declined.

He didn’t comment.

He just quietly updated his mental log: Current suspected reason for her father’s attendance—preventing any interaction between himself and Serena.

Indeed, somehow, as they were ushered into the waiting vehicle outside… Kain ended up sitting alone in the back row. Serena and her father, naturally, occupied seats a couple rows before him in the luxurious three-person cabin.

Kain stared at the back of Serena’s head the entire ride without meaning to.

The trip ended smoothly enough, and the venue came into view.

Celestial Plaza’s northern district. The auction hall loomed like a palace out of myth, the same one Kain had served at last year as part of his Black Mission. Built in the classical imperial style, the building featured white marble towers with gold-filigree detailing, windows framed by carved moonstone arches, and massive banners bearing the royal crest fluttering in the breeze.

This time, he wasn’t sneaking in with staff. This time, he was an invited guest.

And the difference was staggering.

Uniformed staff in sharp black suits and polished masks guided attendees through the halls with respectful nods. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead. Banquet tables were lined with delicacies. And nobles from across the empire mingled in glittering clusters.

Kain didn’t let himself gawk.

He wanted to.

But no.

He kept his expression cool, aloof, maybe even slightly disinterested. Not because he didn’t care. But because he refused to look like a country bumpkin in front of these people.

To his surprise… the crowd wasn’t nearly as hostile as he expected.

Some nobles nodded politely at him as they passed. A few came up to shake hands. Several evolutionary planners offered their greetings—some with respect, some with subtle flattery, some with disguised jealousy and a desire to ‘humble’ the ‘young genius planner’.

A military colonel who recognized him from the FMT pills campaign even slapped his back and declared him as the perfect symbol of Empire’s future young bright minds.

Several students and teachers from Dark Moon College were also there. Most stayed in their own groups, but a few, like Theo, waved at Kain.

And then… the noble daughters arrived.

A team of them.

Tall. Refined. Clearly the kind of girls who had been told they were beautiful since birth and never questioned it. One twirled a fan. Another smiled just a bit too widely.

Kain was polite. Even smiled.

But apparently, his lack of reaction annoyed them.

Or maybe it was the sudden, unmistakable wave of cold spiritual pressure that descended over the group like a winter storm.

Serena, from just a few feet away, was staring with an expression so cold that the three noble girls quickly made their exit, heels clicking just a bit faster than necessary.

Kain blinked in confusion at their sudden hasty exit as if they were fleeing from him and discretely smell checked his breath.

‘Smells minty…can’t be that. Did I say something wrong?’

Serena sipped the drink handed to her by a waiter calmly.

The bell chimed once.

The auction was beginning. Everyone stopped mingling and made their way to their assigned seats on their tickets.

Their seats were near the front—premium seating granted due to the Storm family’s name. Serena sat at Kain’s right.

Her father sat at her right.

Kain tried not to smirk. It seemed that her father was unhappy with this seating arrangement, but could do nothing to change it.

It was technically assigned seating, after all.

Then the auction hall grew quiet as the lights dimmed.

The Royal Auction was about to begin.