Chapter 31 - 21: Appearance

Time flew by while they were busy, and the end of the month arrived in a flash. Today was the day City Lord Graham Monroe would formally inspect the Wine Pourer.

Contrary to his nervousness when he first accepted the job, Woody Warren now felt a new sense of confidence.

Paige Summers couldn’t help but feel happy as well.

’I can finally get out of here!’

Although the Citadel’s environment was excellent, allowing them to focus on Artifact Making and Cultivation in peace, being deprived of their freedom was a constant source of unease. Besides, it was best to leave before Shawn Monroe got back, lest that man stir up more trouble.

Early in the morning, Marcus Monroe arrived at their door to escort them.

The finished Wine Pourer sat in the center of the room, completely covered by a cloth. Judging by its shape, it was clearly not the tabletop model from before; this one was nearly as tall as an average person. Frankly, Marcus Monroe was quite curious. But he rarely let his emotions show, and with his stern expression, not even the observant Paige Summers could read him. He motioned for the men he’d brought to carefully lift the Wine Pourer and carry it outside, then gestured for Woody Warren and Paige Summers to follow.

Paige Summers gave the room a quick look. She had cleaned up all the mechanisms she’d set up inside the night before; there shouldn’t be anything left.

After one last check, she adjusted the strap of her backpack and hurried to catch up with Marcus Monroe and Woody Warren.

It took the group some time to reach the main hall.

This time, Graham Monroe wasn’t alone. Three of his closest confidants were also present, eagerly waiting to get a look.

Paige Summers lowered her gaze slightly. ’They’re clearly taking this very seriously,’ she thought. ’This Wine Pourer must be a gift, not for his own use. The recipient must be someone of high status. Otherwise, the renowned City Lord of The Dead City wouldn’t be making such a fuss.’

’All the better!’

The Wine Pourer was placed on an empty spot on the floor beside a table. Paige Summers walked over with Woody Warren.

"Uncover it," Graham Monroe commanded, leaning back in his chair.

Woody Warren nodded and carefully lifted the cloth covering off the Wine Pourer.

Everyone in the hall, except for him and Paige Summers, was completely stunned.

They had made all sorts of guesses, but no one had ever imagined that such a beautiful young maiden would appear before them. Her long hair was swept up into a high bun, and she wore a flowing robe with wide sleeves, giving her an ethereal, fairy-like appearance. Her features were as lovely as a painting, her lips curved in a charming smile. Her eyes, like translucent crystals, sparkled with a hint of playfulness. Their gazes were involuntarily drawn downward to her perfectly proportioned figure. Beneath a wide sash, her waist was so slender it looked as though one could wrap their hands around it. She held a wine pot in her right hand and a tray in her left, upon which rested an exquisite wine cup. All the vessels were exceptionally ornate, a perfect match for the maiden’s aura.

As everyone stared in a daze, Paige Summers walked behind the maiden automaton, activated its mechanism, and poured in the fine wine a servant had prepared.

A moment later, the wine pot in the maiden’s hand began to tilt, pouring a stream of wine from its spout into the cup below.

When the cup was about eighty percent full, the maiden’s arm retracted, returning the pot to its original position. Then, the hand holding the tray extended forward, as if offering a silent invitation.

A beauty to serve the wine, its fragrance rich and deep.

After a long moment of silence, the hall suddenly erupted with laughter and cheers.

"This is incredible!"

"You can say that again! Look at those eyes—they look completely real! With a glance like that, who could refuse a cup of wine from her?"

"Tsk, tsk. If only those clothes were real fabric, it would be perfect!"

"..."

Graham Monroe listened to his men’s praises with a smile, extremely satisfied himself. He chuckled. "Not bad, not bad at all. I never imagined you could create something so lifelike. It could almost pass for the real thing."

Woody Warren gave a slight bow, not bothering with false modesty.

Even he had been left speechless when he first saw it, completely awestruck. This level of craftsmanship was truly one-of-a-kind; any more humility would just be disingenuous.

Paige Summers deserved the praise, and he felt proud to be associated with her work.

"City Lord, Young Master Monroe, this is the operation and maintenance manual for the wine server. Please have a look."

This, of course, was Paige Summers’s idea.

’Operating a humanoid Wine Pourer is definitely more complicated than the last model. Improper use or maintenance would surely shorten its lifespan. I have no desire to get roped into providing technical support, so this manual is the perfect solution. If they like the gift, they’ll certainly assign someone to take meticulous care of it, and then I’ll be completely off the hook.’

The others were unaware of her true motives. Graham Monroe casually flipped through the manual. Though thin, it was incredibly detailed, and he could easily see the care that had gone into it, making him all the more satisfied.

He mulled it over for a moment, then looked up. "I’ll have my men find a place for you and your master in the Inner City. You can keep the furniture store open, just in a new location. From now on, if you create any other novelties, you can deliver them directly to the Citadel. But there’s one condition: I don’t want to see another wine server like this one. Understand?"

Woody Warren was stunned. It was a completely unexpected offer, but he quickly recovered. For him, being able to move into the Inner City and have the protection of the Citadel was an incredible stroke of luck!

Just as he was about to accept, a voice called out, drawing closer. "Father, I’m back!"

The person who walked in was none other than the Young City Lord, Shawn Monroe.

Paige Summers’s heart sank. She subtly shifted her position, moving to hide behind Woody Warren.

When she glanced up again, her eyes met Marcus Monroe’s deep, dark gaze. She pressed her lips together firmly and quickly stared straight ahead. ’He’s been doing that this whole time,’ she thought. ’Why does he keep staring at me like that? It’s not the kind of naked lust I see in Shawn Monroe’s eyes. His gaze is so deep I can’t read it at all, and it makes me vaguely uneasy.’

Meanwhile, Shane Monroe saw the look on Shawn Monroe’s face as he entered and knew that his trip had been a success, which made him very pleased.

Graham Monroe’s attitude toward Shawn was clearly different from how he treated Marcus Monroe—far more affectionate. He immediately beckoned his son to his side. "You’re back just in time. Come, have a look at this wine server Woody Warren made. Pretty impressive, right?"

Paige Summers could tell that Shawn Monroe wasn’t particularly interested in the wine server. After only a moment, his searing gaze landed on the side of her face.

She immediately lowered her gaze.

’My luck is rotten to the core. Graham Monroe was just about to let us go, and this bastard just had to show up. I hope he doesn’t try to pull anything, or I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist the urge to poison him!’

After staring at her for a while, Shawn Monroe turned and said with a smile, "It is excellent. Just looking at it, it’s a perfect work of art!"

Graham Monroe clapped him on the shoulder. "Alright, you must be tired. Go get some rest. We can talk later."

"It’s fine, I’m not tired," Shawn Monroe said. "But I did bring a friend back with me that I’d like you to meet."

"Oh?" Graham Monroe’s voice filled with curiosity. "Then by all means, let’s meet them!"

Shawn Monroe smiled and quickly brought someone in from outside.

A little curious, Paige Summers craned her neck to get a look.

It was a young woman.

From a distance, she could see the woman’s long hair was tied up high, and she wore a sleek black combat uniform that made her look sharp and capable.

As she drew closer, Paige saw that the woman’s features were stunning. She had large, expressive eyes, subtly arched brows, and lips that were naturally a deep red, all combining in perfect harmony. Unlike the delicate charm of the wine server automaton, or Paige’s own innocent appearance, this woman had a sensual air about her. Yet, mixed with that sensuality was a tough edge, creating a unique and powerful presence.

"This is Nora Lowell, a Fourth-rank Thunder Ability User."

As Shawn Monroe made the introduction, a peculiar expression crossed Paige Summers’s face.

’The female lead... has finally appeared...’