Chapter 39: The Mistress*
"Huh?" Amelia's brows arched, surprise gripping her as the figure beneath the hood came into view.
A devilishly handsome young man, midnight-black hair framing a face set with deep obsidian eyes that twinkled with a mesmerizing light.
It took her a moment to find her voice again. "You're quite the handsome one, aren't you?" she whispered, her eyes glued to his face before she registered what the youth before her had just muttered.
"Talented? You like them talented in the arts of pleasure..." she began, only to be cut off.
"No, no..." Aurelian muttered, clearing his throat. This was getting weirder than he'd expected, not that he'd thought much of it beforehand.
He still had two talent replication slots left, and this was the easiest way to fill them with high-ranked ones.
"I mean awakened talents...."
"This... it can't be..." Amelia whispered under her breath. The request wasn't strange in itself, but something else caught her off guard.
If she was sensing correctly, the youth before her was a level 19 hunter. With her D-rank, perceiving such things came naturally, and since he wasn't actively hiding it, it was even easier.
Earlier she had dismissed the rank, assuming he was a seasoned adventurer. But now, with his face clearly revealed and his aura carrying the freshness of a newly awakened, only one possibility remained: the youth before her was a monstrous genius.
If her reckoning was right, the awakening ceremony had only taken place a few days ago. For him to have accomplished all this in such a short span only deepened her astonishment.
A soft smile traced her lips as a thought surfaced: I have to establish a connection with him.
At this pace, it wouldn't be long before he became a powerhouse and aligned with some great faction. With such a figure tied to her, countless doors could open.
She wasn't naïve enough to think servicing him once would be enough. She would need to do more. If she secured a favor in return... then all of this would be worth it.
All these thoughts flashed through her mind in the span of a few seconds. And besides, the youth before her was too attractive to resist. His aura, the masculine frame hinted at beneath the cloak, the final nail in the coffin.
"Hmmm, interesting requirement," Amelia murmured, feigning deep thought, a faint smile tugging her lips. "I assume you want talented ladies because of some skill you want to perfect? Some kind of dual-cultivation art?"
"Uh, sure... something like that," Aurelian answered almost too naturally.
"I see," Amelia replied, keeping up her calm front. That he sought not just pleasure but also power only reinforced her theory.
"There aren't many with great talents... but there are a few with impeccable ones," she added. "Not everyone here comes for money. Some come purely for pleasure. Others, like you, seek strength through it."
"What about you?" Aurelian suddenly blurted, his smile widening. If manga tropes taught him anything, receptionists often hid mysterious depths. A quick scan with his appraisal skill had shown question marks, just like the goblin chieftain. From that alone, he guessed she was far above F-rank.
"Uh... me?" Amelia actually blushed, caught off guard by his boldness. She had been preparing to play the long game, but this youth was feistier than expected.
"Hahahaha!" She burst into laughter, trying to hide the warmth creeping up her neck. "You wouldn't be able to pay me."
Her tone softened, her eyes locking with his. "But you can repay me in other ways...."
Her words lingered, intoxicating.
To anyone else, the sight would have been absurd. Amelia Rosehart, mistress of the Red Lantern Brothel, flirting with a youth who'd just arrived.
"Uh? I can?!" Aurelian mumbled, taken aback. He'd meant it as a joke, yet she seemed serious.
His eyes drifted lower, tracing her jade-like skin, radiant black hair, and supple curves. What he could see of her figure from above the counter was already stunning.
"Yes, you can," Amelia whispered, licking her lips, her emerald gaze gleaming.
Even if she was wrong about him, she was already entranced. It had been a long time since she indulged in the act. Despite her title, sex had never drawn her much, the shallow lust of others repelled her.
But this youth? He stirred something. Desire, long dormant, now awake.
"How?" Aurelian pressed, his curiosity peaking. His protagonist's aura burned brighter by the second.
"I only need... a favor from you," Amelia breathed, her voice trembling slightly.
"Ooh, yeah, right," Aurelian muttered, realization dawning. She must've seen through my level and drawn her own conclusions.
"Smart," he snickered under his breath.
Decision made, he straightened and looked at her. "Fine. But one condition."
"Huh?" Amelia blinked. She had expected hesitation, questions at least. Instead, he accepted, and added his own demand.
"I need another girl. Someone just as talented as you," he said plainly.
"Uh?" Amelia inhaled sharply, the request bruising her pride. "What, I'm not enough for you?"
"No. For the technique to work, it needs two," Aurelian explained, his grin widening. "As for whether you're enough for me, only one way to find out, right?"
"Is that a challenge?" Amelia smirked, heat rushing through her body.
Before he could answer, she drew a small token from her robe and crushed it.
"Follow me," she whispered. "Another girl will join us soon."
Standing to her full height, her figure finally came into full view. As she turned, Aurelian's gaze locked on the sway of her hips, her robe clinging to every curve. Delight swelled in his chest.
Moments later, they entered a lavishly furnished room. Amelia's voice broke the silence. "We're here."
She dropped to her knees, eyes never leaving him. "Show me what you've got."
Aurelian stepped closer, his cock pressing hard against his robe. With a single tug, the cloth fell, his shaft springing free.
Amelia's eyes widened for a second before her lips curled into a smirk. "Bigger than I expected..."
He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her head back, forcing her to look up at him. "Open."
Her lips parted, breath warm against him, and he pushed in, the thick head stretching her mouth.
"Mmh..." she gagged softly as he shoved deeper, his length sliding down her throat in one sharp thrust. A bulge pressed against her neck, her muffled moan vibrating around him.
Tears formed at the edges of her eyes, but her hands gripped his thighs, steadying herself, choosing not to pull away.
Aurelian looked down, a dark grin spreading across his face. "Good girl."