So, Michael and Lady Farren decided to meet up later at the Soiree. They would have invited Katarina, but she was still missing in action. Even though she told him about the secrets of the Eternitus Consortium, she still didn't give him any way to communicate with her.

That's why she was going to have to catch up to them once again later. With her Nascent Spirit cultivation, he didn't have a doubt in his mind that she'd be able to infiltrate the Soiree even if she didn't have an invitation.

As for him, thankfully, he was well acquainted with the Brownblood Werewolf Chief.

It turned out that Chief Lupan was already planning on inviting Michael to the Soiree. But of course, he was too busy with the Emporium to talk with him so the invitation only went to his mailbox.

Not only that, but Sheina had already picked out a suit for him to wear. It arrived via Shadow Courier.

As expected, this formal attire was made out of the most luxurious materials, pricked from a legendary monster found in the wilderness—at least, that's what he heard.

It was tailor made for his measurements, making him look urbane and gentlemanly.

As he looked at himself, ready for the Soiree, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

It had been a long time since those days of poverty and living in squalor. Back then, all of his clothes were battered, stained, full of holes, and smelling quite unpleasant.

If he wanted to buy new clothes, he would have had to wait till next year, when another charity organization would come by their borough and donate some of their items.

But now, he didn't even have to ask. Sheina would just give him a suit that costs millions of gold coins without even batting an eye.

Heck, he himself was dabbling in Sand Dollars, a currency meant for only the richest of the rich! Even affluent and well-off people in this world wouldn't even be able to earn Sand Dollars in the double digits in their whole life. Meanwhile, he was earning millions a month.

Things had changed a lot. At least, that's what it seemed like.

But as he looked at the mirror in front of him, he couldn't help but see that version of him staring back at him.

He stared at himself, ruminating about the past, and by the time he snapped out of his reverie, the room he was staying in was already dark. The sunlight was gone, replaced by the gentle and tender light of the moon.

Have I really been staring at the mirror for hours on end?

ChatJK5's silence was enough of an answer. She had been with him for long enough to know that he was just experiencing one of those days, when he was feeling nostalgic of his old life.

[Lady Farren knocked two hours ago. She said that she was going to enter the Soiree ahead of you.]

He nodded. They already arranged for that to happen. After all, it would be quite awkward if she entered the Soiree with Michael. They didn't want Romeo to misunderstand and suddenly spurn their request at seeing the Antique.

This left Michael to enter the Soiree all on his own.

…

…

…

Michael teleported over to the Werewolf Quadrant in New Sparta, finding himself in the middle of a pinewood forest in the middle of the night.

Is this the place?

He was standing at the very mouth of a giant cave situated on the north face of the tallest mountain in the Werewolf Quadrant.

According to Sheina and the invitation letter sent to him by Chief Lupan, this was the meeting place for the Soiree.

But to be honest, if it weren't for the plentiful Light mana signatures coming from the inside, he wouldn't have even known that there were people inside this cave.

Taking a deep breath, Michael then took out a lion mask from his shadow inventory.

One of the most important instructions written on the invitation was the mandatory use of masks. Everyone had to obscure their faces, leaving only a nameplate on their chests to signify their name.

According to Lady Farren, this was to ensure that there wouldn't be people who used their name and their lineage to exert their influence in the Soiree.

By letting everyone keep their identities a secret, there would be equality amongst the guests. No one was more important than the other, with the only thing left was the worship of the moon.

I understand having to wear a mask… but really? Why'd she have to choose this?

He let Sheina choose his mask for him, and she happened to choose the most grand, most conspicuous mask possible.

It was a metallic visage of a proud lion, with a powerful mane that spread around its face like the sun's rays.

According to her, it perfectly encapsulated his greatness—whatever that meant.

I'm just glad my name is Keo, or else I would have been very embarrassed wearing this mask.

Upon his request, Chief Lupan addressed the invitation to Keo, the Professor's Protege, and not as Michael Vanderbilt.

With the protection of this alternate identity, he had more confidence in entering the Soiree unfettered by his responsibilities.

So, he finally entered the cave.

…

…

…

Michael found himself getting engulfed by complete and utter darkness. And when he turned around to look at the entrance of the cave, he saw nothing but shadows as well.

[Aubility Power detected. An entity is trying to obscure your vision,] ChatJK5 alerted him.

Now, he could have easily used his [Switch] to negate the effects of the spell, but seeing as there was no malicious intent behind it, he decided not to.

This was probably something the arrangers of the Soiree placed on purpose.

Then, he felt a slight tremor coursing through his body. It was an almost tangible sense of Aubility Power, searching his body until it landed on the invitation in his pockets.

"Identity confirmed. Welcome to the Soiree of the Lunar Night. You will be placed in the room befitting your age and youth."

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