（263...... 084...... 458...... Book friend skirt, if you want to come, join the group. P.S. Friends who have passed by ask for collections and recommendations, and your support is my biggest motivation. Also, it's good for everyone to give more opinions, thank you)

In the reception hall of the villa, Pannis stood quietly in front of a painting with his hands behind his back, staring intently at the painting on the wall. On the canvas, the golden desert stretches into the distance, connecting the inky night sky, and the three moons hang in the night sky, shining on everything. The picture is very realistic, standing in front of the canvas, you can even vaguely feel the cold night breeze in the desert mixed with the fine sand, and feel the unique cold of the desert night.

"Do you like this work too?" a middle-aged man's voice sounded behind Pannis.

"No, Garros's best is portraiture, and the scenery painting is much worse, the pattern of his works in his youth is too small, and his works in his older years are too special to pay attention to the pattern, but ignore the depiction of details. Throughout his life, he did not do both. Pannis didn't look back, still staring at the canvas, and replied casually in a cold tone: "This painting is at least in the top three of his landscape paintings, but this problem is still obvious." ”

"But I see you've been admiring it for ten minutes. The middle-aged man didn't seem to care about Pannis's coldness and continued.

"I just love this desert, sighing that the desert night will always be so beautiful. Pannis frowned covertly and turned around a little reluctantly. Behind him stood a middle-aged man, with brown hair combed back, a thick, fluffy beard neatly trimmed, holding a thick cigar in one hand and half a glass of red wine in the other, looking at Pannis with interest.

"I'm an adventurer. Pannis said casually, and was about to turn around and continue looking at the canvas.

"Haha, I'm not one of those ostrich aristocrats. The middle-aged man laughed quietly and said, "And I know that you are an adventurer, I saw you and Catherine come in together." ”

"Oh, do you know Catherine?" said Pannis, who finally drew his attention from the canvas and faced the middle-aged man again.

"Sort of a friend, some of the trophies of her adventures are often entrusted to us for auction. The middle-aged man took out a business card from his vest pocket and handed it to Pannis, bowing slightly: "Merrell and Jones Auction House, John Merare, are willing to serve you." ”

"One of the three major auction houses in the Holy Capital. Pannis took it and looked down, "Pennis Wood, it's a pleasure to meet you. I wonder what Mr. Merrell is looking for me?"

"Oh, it's nothing, it's just curious to see a fresh face accompanying Catherine to the ball. John smiled and said, "We've known each other for two years, and we haven't seen her have a new companion, so you must be a very good professional." ”

"Not as good as the three of them. Pannis shook his head: "It's just a silver-level professional, just past the high-level dividing line." ”

"Well, that's right. John stroked his beard and thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "I wonder if Mr. Wood is interested in working in a different environment?"

"Huh?" Pannis was stunned.

"That's right. John explains, "Some of the escort and guard jobs in our auction house require long-term employment of some professionals, especially high-level professionals. I once sent an invitation to Miss Catherine, but Miss Catherine declined, and I wonder if you are interested, Mr. Wood?"

Pannis suddenly realized, completely unsure of what expression to make, and finally had to say with a strange expression: "I'm sorry, Mr. Merair, I prefer a free and casual life, and I'm not very interested in long-term employment, and I think Nelly's adventure party is a good fit for me, so I'm really sorry that I'm not going to leave for the time being." However, if there are tasks that are not commissioned on a long-term basis, you can entrust them to us, and we welcome them. ”

"Well, well, I should have known. John sighed regretfully and said regretfully, "But if you change your mind, you are always welcome to come to the auction house with my business card." ”

"Mr. John, it's not good for you to do that. Catherine's gloomy voice whispered: "Trying to take away my teammates while I'm not there is not your identity." ”

"Hahaha. John Murrell didn't turn around at all, raised his glass and laughed dryly, and ran away in a hurry after a few perfunctory words.

"It's excessive. Catherine looked at John's fleeing back angrily and funny: "This guy is a good business partner, but he always wants to pull people to strengthen the power of their auction house, and he has told me several times." By the way, sorry for the wait, nothing happened. ”

"No, everything is fine. Pannis said, "Except I was almost kidnapped." ”

"Haha, it's good to kidnap it. Catherine put her arm around Pannis again: "Let's go, go to a less crowded corner of the venue and stay for a while, and then you can leave after the dance begins." ”

"Finished talking to your Grandpa Snape?" said Pannis, walking out along Catherine.

It was nearly eight o'clock, and the dance party was about to begin. Most of the guests had already arrived, some sitting in the reception room to greet each other, some walking in the garden together, and some standing and chatting near the ballroom. The crystal lamp in the center of the hall had been turned on, and the light penetrated the light blue light gauze tabernacle, and each of the fine colorless crystals inlaid on the tent was just right to share the brilliance of the crystal energy lamp in the center, and then scattered the light back to the surroundings. Under the illumination of the light, the whole gauze tent becomes like a roof that emits its own light, illuminating the space below it as if it were day. The venue resounded to the fast-paced tune of the Bliss Dance, and more and more people walked back and forth. But Pannis and Catherine huddled in a corner of the garden that could not be seen from the venue, secretly stretching their stiff bodies and chatting lightly.

"Is that your Grandpa Snape?" said Pannis, pointing quietly to a balding old man standing in the middle of the room giving a brief welcome speech.

"Yes, that's him. Catherine jumped on the branch and sat down next to Pannis.

"I can't see it. "He looks like an ordinary person," said Pannis. ”

"yes, I'm sorry I didn't have a few more noses. Catherine rolled her eyes and said, "It's a very ordinary person, what do you want him to look like?" ”

"Well, you see the fifth person on the left, the one whose mouth is one-third of his face and his nose is only one-tenth the length of his face. Pannis said to Nunu over there: "At least you have to look like that extraordinary to be worthy of his reputation as the richest man in the world." ”

"Don't be annoying. Catherine covered her mouth and suppressed her laughter: "That person also claimed to be a successful scholar in his self-introduction." ”

"Oh?" said Pannis, surprised, "He doesn't have the temperament of a scholar at all, what does he study?"

"The mathematical link between the average weight of the goblins and the Obsidian Colossus dynamical system. Catherine said.

"woo", Pannis exclaimed, "this is a breakthrough project, it seems that he has made great achievements in this research?"

"Not at all. Catherine shrugged.

"And where did he succeed?" asked Pannis.

"Who knows. Catherine pouted: "It is said that it is because he sings the best opera among scholars." ”

"Okay, I see. Pannis nodded solemnly: "He is indeed a successful scholar." Well, somebody went to talk to Snape. ”

"Oh, I see, it's Mr. Paine. Catherine said: "The most famous reporter of the Holy Capital Monthly. ”

"The most famous journalist?" asked Pannis, "what shady deeds have been exposed, or have you been on the front lines of danger?"

Catherine glanced at Pannis, and said very sadly: "Donnath and Ava are secretly dating in the Titan Hotel, Carl and Emily have Annie's shadow behind their divorce, Fabia actually likes men......"

"Stop, no more. Pannis stopped with a tangled face: "Are there no normal people here?"

"Celebrities, it's a little bit abnormal. Catherine commented very viciously: "Actually, most of them are still normal people, but these not normal people always like to jump out at the beginning." ”

Obviously, the host of the ball did not want to take up too much time for the guests, and the speech was soon over, the rapid music gradually became louder, and the ballroom began to be filled with joy. A large number of nobles and celebrities introduced each other to each other on the edge of the dance floor, and graceful ladies and noble maidens were invited to the dance floor one by one to dance on the dance floor. The gorgeous skirt corners fly up and down, setting off a breeze with the sweet fragrance of fat powder, and also inspiring more men's romantic feelings.

"Almost. Catherine jumped down from the branch and carefully straightened her crumpled skirt: "Let's go and talk to Grandpa Snape, our mission for today is complete." ”

"I feel like you're relieved. Pannis jumped down and teased, "Is it so painful to see the elders?"

Catherine pressed her forehead with a headache, shook her head and said, "You guy won't understand, stop talking nonsense, let's go." ”

As soon as they took a step, the two of them resumed the elegant aristocratic posture they had been at the beginning, and walked to the host's position amid the different meanings of the nearby guests. But halfway through, he heard a faint confusion from the side, followed by a few hurried footsteps. Following the sound of footsteps, a young man with impeccable appearance hurriedly walked into the ballroom, followed closely by two bodyguards, two gold-level professionals.

"Why is he here?" said Catherine's deep voice.

"Hmm, who is this?" asked Pannis, "the gold-level professional is a bodyguard, once or two, and there is also a legendary-level one hidden in the shadows." ”

"Nicholas Farrar, the second prince of the Farrar Empire, is the most likely to succeed to the throne. Catherine said unhappily, "I once studied at the Knight Academy in the north of Falar for a while, and this prince pestered me for a while. Forget it, let's go directly, I don't have to say goodbye, I'll just come alone again tomorrow. I hated this guy and didn't want to see him. ”

Nicholas had already walked to the side of Marquis Snape at this time, was whispering something, and seeing that Catherine was leaving, he hurriedly said a few words to Snape, turned around and chased after him: "Catherine, wait a minute." ”

Catherine's face sank completely, and she stopped with a serious expression, and turned to face Nicholas who was chasing after her.