Chapter 458 - 254: Exposed

But the Witch also transmitted via Spiritual Power, "Then let them watch. I’m not afraid. I actually planned on giving you the chance to be the hero who saves the damsel in distress, but you didn’t seize it..."

"Alright, can you hurry up and take my hand? Everyone is looking over here. If you don’t, I’ll look like some unwanted, middle-aged woman waiting for her lover to put an engagement ring on her finger."

KK had a sharp tongue, too.

"It would be my honor, my lady." Baron took her hand and led her to the dance floor.

He could feel more and more eyes falling upon them, but this was something that truly couldn’t be concealed. Even in disguise, the Witch still possessed a breathtaking charm that others lacked. ’Is this charm the kind of beauty that’s refined by time?’

But Baron didn’t dare say this out loud. In his past life as a screenwriter, he had been lectured by his female team leader, who said there were three forbidden topics to discuss with a woman: age, bust size, and weight.

Age ranked first on that list, which just went to show its importance.

On the dance floor, their dancing was very reserved. Baron was still using the same three old moves Stella had taught him, while KK cooperated, swaying along with equally unremarkable steps.

"The Red Dragon’s guidance? What’s that all about?"

Baron’s arm hovered around KK’s waist, a posture that kept him from directly touching her smooth, silky back. The price for this, however, was stepping on KK’s high heels several times.

But when he stepped on her high heels, KK just chuckled. Baron was surprised, but she said, "Because I’ve hated these high heels for a while now."

There was a mischievous air to the way she spoke.

Then he heard KK say, "Well, I wouldn’t really call it guidance. It was more like a feeling deep down that I had to come. You could call it a woman’s sixth sense... but maybe that’s not right, because my sixth sense is for detecting desserts and pizza... Pizza’s my favorite."

KK said, "But I can resist eating pizza and desserts; what I can’t resist is this suggestion from my heart... It’s like how people get addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. I guess you could call mine a Dragon Scale addiction."

’Is that why the Witch always appears wherever a Red Dragon Scale is found?’ Baron felt like he was grasping something important, ignoring the fact that he had just stepped on KK’s high heel yet again.

KK’s pretty brows furrowed. She stepped back on his foot and huffed, "But still, thank you."

"Thank me? I didn’t do anything."

’At least my reason for coming to the auction this time wasn’t entirely because of the Dragon Witch,’ he thought.

"For suppressing my Dragon Blood Disease, of course."

Holding onto Baron’s hand, KK spun like a butterfly flitting around a branch. "And, of course, for sacrificing yourself to hold off Fei for me. That guy’s a real pest, isn’t he? But it doesn’t matter. I’m back to the Silver Tier now. Next time we meet him, I can help you beat him to a pulp, provided he doesn’t have so many Palmer Witch Riders with him."

’Although the Witch’s two personalities share memories, Carmen can choose whether or not to share them with KK because of the Red Dragon’s Soul’s influence. It seems she didn’t share what happened on the back of the Azure Fire Dragon... What am I thinking? Aren’t KK and Carmen the same person?’

Baron chose his words carefully. "Earlier, you asked me to come help you out. Had you already seen through my disguise?"

’I’m using the Chain of the Imitator, so I thought my disguise was pretty good. I can’t believe I’ve been recognized by one woman after another.’

’Was it because I was too conspicuous when I helped Freya before the auction started? Maybe that’s why Elder Pence suspects me, too. After all, Freya escaped from the Monastery this morning, and I just so happened to cause a huge scene there.’

KK said, "It’s simple! I listened for your heartbeat."

As she spoke, she suddenly tilted her head and leaned it against Baron’s chest. "See? Your heart is beating faster right now."

’No kidding. Anyone’s heart would race if they had a beautiful Witch leaning on their chest,’ Baron thought.

He squeezed the Witch’s hand, spun around, and weaved between two pairs of dancers.

"The Blood Covenant?" he guessed.

But KK lifted her head, her eyes holding a mischievous glint, like a child caught after playing a prank.

"I actually spotted you the moment you entered this hall. The Blood Covenant makes it easy for me to sense your presence. I really never expected you’d be the one to pull the Dragon Spear from the Dracul Mountain Range... The Red Dragon’s Soul once compelled me to look for it, during a Dragon Hunting Ceremony more than thirty years ago."

"But you’re more capable than I am, Constantine. I couldn’t gain its recognition back then, but you did."

She danced while leaning against his chest, her movements as graceful as a fawn wading through a stream. "Who would ever guess that the infamous Dragon Witch and Dragon Knight of the Inner Side are currently dancing in a trap set by the very people who despise them most?"

Suddenly, her delicate brows shot up. "It’s been five minutes since we started dancing, and you’ve already stepped on my foot six times."

Baron sighed. "To be honest, before this, my only experience with dancing was something called ’Seven-Colored Sunlight.’ You know what that is?"

"I knew that already," KK said. "That’s why I forgave you six times. But I absolutely will not allow a seventh... unless you’re willing to buy me a glass of expensive red wine after the banquet to compensate for my troubles."

Baron paused, stunned for a moment. "Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me? You’re so strange, Mr. Constantine. It makes me wonder how you ever worked in sales for a bank in Birmingham... Anyway, no thanks are necessary. Now, can you tell me what your real purpose for being here is?" KK asked.

Baron was about to speak when he noticed the music had suddenly stopped. The noisy crowd fell silent. The High Priest stood before the orchestra, tapping a spoon against a wine glass, signaling for everyone present to look at him.

He cleared his throat, and his next words sent an uproar through the crowd: "The Red Dragon Reverse Scale has been stolen."

As soon as he finished speaking, the great doors of the hall were sealed. The guards stationed at the entrance all stepped forward, the blades in their hands engraved with the symbol of the Templar Knights.

The High Priest set down his spoon and glass and clapped his hands to quiet the clamoring guests. He then explained the auction’s true intentions to everyone, whether they were in on the secret or not. He stated they already had a good idea who stole the Red Dragon Reverse Scale—after all, that person was the entire reason they organized this auction in the first place.

"But I am certain she never imagined that we commissioned the finest Alchemy Master in London City to engrave a traceable Alchemy Matrix onto the Red Dragon Reverse Scale. On that note, I must first express my apologies to Mr. Andy... This was all a result of the auction’s oversight."

In response to the High Priest’s apology, the Dragon Demon Hunter, Andy, who was wrapped in bandages with only his eyes visible, simply gave a brief nod. Because his entire body was swathed in bandages, the stiff movement was reminiscent of a Mummy from the Tomb of the Egyptian Pharaohs.

"Right now, that matrix indicates the Red Dragon Reverse Scale is still within this building! In other words..."

The High Priest declared, his voice firm, "The Dragon Witch is here in this auction hall, right now!"

Baron looked at KK. "Your mole made their move that quickly?"

But KK shook her head. "It wasn’t my mole. Someone else stole the Red Dragon Reverse Scale, just like at the engagement banquet," she added, her tone dropping on the last few words.

’The Dragon Witch didn’t steal it? Then who could have?’ Baron was stunned for a moment, but then it hit him. ’Is there even a need to ask...? It can only be that guy, Jack.’

’I have no idea how that guy developed such a containment method, but that’s not important right now. Things are starting to look bad.’

Baron watched as the Knight Guards, holding strange Magic Cards, began to inspect the crowd one by one. He couldn’t help but think, ’They won’t see through my Chain of the Imitator, will they?’

He suddenly saw Elder Pence whispering to a man dressed as a Knight Commander. That Knight Commander then summoned a squad of men and strode purposefully toward Baron’s position on the dance floor.