'Hey, Manniak… you there?' he whispered inwardly.
[Yes, Mr. Quin.] Manniak replied, her voice crisp and precise. [I'm always here.]
Tony let out a subtle, icy smile.
"I bet your fine ass you are,' he shot back mentally. 'Tell me, do you reckon any vixen will show up at a party like this?'
[Positive, sir.]
[This is precisely the kind of environment vixens favor. Wealth, influence, intoxicated confidence. Men ripe for seduction and extraction.]
Tony nodded faintly. Right… well, Manniak, how do—
"Isn't that right, Tom?" his mother suddenly asked from the podium.
Tony snapped back to reality instantly, teeth flashing in a reflexive grin.
"Ah—ah—de… definitely," he stammered, voice smooth but hollow.
A cheer rose instantly.
"You see? I told you!" Aurelia crowed, laughing.
'God, that was close,' Tony muttered inwardly. 'I didn't even know what she was talkin' about.'
Manniak chuckled softly… a sound Tony hadn't known she was capable of.
'Alright,' he continued mentally, careful not to move his lips. 'Let's say a vixen is here right now. How do I know for sure?'
[Ordinarily, I would inform you immediately. However, your remaining karmic insight is limited. It must be rationed intelligently.]
"Fuck," Tony hissed internally. So this mission's damn near pointless without that karmic thingy?
[Not entirely, Mr. Quin.] Manniak replied.
[If you scan an entire room with your abilities, your essence, which is your karmic insight in this aspect, will drain rapidly. And if that happens, even if you eventually identify your target, your mission will become far more difficult… if not outright impossible."]
Tony nodded slowly. You already know what I'm thinking, he sent back to her.
[Yes, Mr. Quin,] Manniak answered.
[And I must admit, it's a clever thought. But the problem remains: how do you recognize a vixen in the first place?] Manniak answered intuitively.
[And once again I'll admit it's a smart idea. But the real problem is recognition. Suspecting a woman is one thing; confirming it is another.
If I scan one lady and she turns out to be a vixen, then fine… the karmic cost is minimal. But if she isn't, I'm forced to scan another… and another… and another. By the end of it, the cumulative drain is no different from scanning the entire room at once. In the end, suspicion without certainty leads to the same loss.]
Yeah… you're right," Tony replied with a tired exhale.
Manniak's voice followed smoothly.
[For starters, vixens should be exceptionally attractive, seductive. Wealthy. They would likely travel with convoys and personal guards.]
Tony nodded slowly, digesting the input. "You may be right," he admitted.
Then, abruptly, he shook his head, dismissing the thought entirely.
"Or," he said calmly, "you might be completely wrong."
A smile crept across his face a wide, amused, and almost boyish, like a man that just saw boobs for the first time.
"Oh, Manniak," he murmured, biting his lip as he restrained the reaction he truly wanted to give, mindful of the crowd around him.
"I think you're very, very wrong." His eyes narrowing with clarity.
"you see why would a vixen announce her wealth with convoys and guards when she's still hunting?" He nodded to himself as the logic sharpened.
"They wouldn't flaunt riches, they'd disguise them. Yes, they'd look beautiful. Sexy, even. But displaying excess? That defeats the purpose. You don't bait prey by looking like the predator."
As he spoke, his gaze locked onto a single figure who had just entered the hall.
Manniak paused, then reacted.
[Wow, Mr. Quin… that's genuinely insightful.]
"No," Tony said quietly. "Do you really want to know what true smartness is?"
He didn't wait for her answer.
"True smartness is knowing exactly when to enter a room and draw maximum attention without ever demanding it."
Tony smiled, his eyes never leaving the woman in question.
Just as he predicted, heads began to turn. Conversations faltered. Necks nearly twisted as people strained for a better look, despite Mrs. Aurelia still delivering her heartfelt speech.
Manniak finally spoke, understanding clicking fully into place.
"So… you think she's the one?"
"yes manniak" Tony replied as he stared at the lady more like a scan. She was dazzling and dangerously elegant. Her hair was a golden-yellow cascade, tousled just enough to look effortless yet perfect. And it framed her face like a subtle sunlight.
She was gorgeous, with a slim fit. She wore a show-back blue gown that scandalously hugged her frame and mercilessly ended high up her laps. Her curves were just so sinfully perfect; not too big, not too small, and her breasts, like two soft balls, were very enticing under the dress.
"If anyone wants a man's attention," Tony began calmly, "or attention in general, all they have to do is arrive late."
A knowing smile tugged at his lips. "By then, their presence is fresh. Untouched. Every eye turns, every curiosity sharpens."
He exhaled softly, satisfied.
"That said, Manniak… I think we've found our vixen."
[Very well, Mr. Quin,] Manniak replied coolly.
"Let us see if you are truly as perceptive as you believe."
Just then
The sensation of everything slowing engulfed Tony once more, and everywhere became muffled. He looked around, and everything was slowed… everyone slowed… well, except for one person: one lady.
Just then, the soft echo of a maniac voice came into his head.
[Vixen detected.]
[Conclusion: Your assessment was accurate, Mr. Quin.]
"Yeah, baby," Tony sneered inwardly. "If I had a drink right now, this would be the moment I'd take a slow sip, lean back, and let out a satisfied 'ahhhh' before saying 'I told you so.'"
Manniak, however, ignored his silent theatrics.
She continued.
[A seductive anomaly has entered your proximity.]
[Anomaly class: Tier II Gilded Paramours]
[Mr. Quin, you will need skin-to-skin touch for further access]
Just then, a sudden hit to his shoulder brought him back to himself. The slow- motion feeling was gone, and everything returned to normal.
Tony looked around, a bit confused and taken aback. People were still cheering. The music still playing. Nothing was wrong.
"Tom?" called his mother, who obviously was the one who tapped his shoulder.
She was smiling wildly, her eyes glistening in disbelief.
Tony forced a smile back, though his mind was already calculating angles to keep the vixen in sight.
"Oh my God, look at you…" her mom gasped, shocked.
"Y-you are a damn miracle," she added in another whisper.
Tony knew why she said that.
Because the real Tom Quin… the original Tom. Was a drug-damaged mess she had spent years covering up.
Of course, as much as she protected her son, she protected her reputations too. She didn't want a stain on her fame.
But now, seeing him not lean, but with broad shoulders, a muscular shape, and a spectacular demeanor, God, it made her happy and gave her the best impression. Especially today, she made it official, he was to be the new COO.
Tony, however, thought it would be very awkward talking to her mother since she wasn't really her mother. But somehow, he was flowing and didn't feel a bit awkward.
"Well, Mom, here I am," Tony said with a smirk. "All sobered up."
"That " her mother breathed out very peacefully " is very sweet tom… very sweet" she grinned "come come, follow me"
He followed her off the podium as the party burst into high spirits again.
"That was a hell of a speech you gave there," Tony complimented with a sexy smile that almost seduced her mother.
Her mom smiled back proudly. "You know your ass would be dead if you missed that damn speech, right?"
Tony chuckled. "Ahhhh, sure I do, though," he replied.
"Well, aren't you going to show me to your other colleagues, invited guests, or whatever, Mom?" Tony asked smartly. Although he knows that that was exactly what she wanted to do and also He already had a strategy.
The vixen had this polished elegance of someone influential:
Her rich dressing, professional look, formal standing posture, and the light fingertip grip she had on her glass of wine made it sensible that she might be one of the high rank visiting guests. And also he haven't seen her before…. Not even here at the company.
So, if anyone could lead him to her, it was his mom.
Aurelia squinted at him suspiciously.
"Seems like someone is already fuckin' excited about their promotion."
"Hell, I am," he replied, chuckling inwardly.
"Tsk. The very first vixen."