"Uh, thank you, but no."
Although Zola didn't know who this Ego that suddenly appeared was, her good upbringing still made her smile.
Knowhere was currently filled with hidden talents, and Zola didn't want her actions to cause conflict between a VIP client and someone with special abilities.
She didn't want to be sent to the gladiatorial arenas of Sakaar.
A strong survival instinct compelled Zola, after refusing the man who called himself Ego, to turn her gaze back to Beckett.
"Mr. Beckett, I—"
"Why have you been following me?" Beckett interrupted Zola directly.
If he understood correctly, Zola's duties didn't include this kind of persistent behavior. She was just a service worker; if he dismissed her, couldn't she just find someone else?
"It's the auction house's policy, Mr. Beckett." A hint of unspeakable bitterness flashed in Zola's eyes.
If she could, she would have turned and left immediately, but she simply couldn't.
As employees trained by the auction house specifically to serve VIPs, their sole value on Knowhere was to provide good service to the esteemed guests listed as honored patrons before and after auctions.
If a VIP said they didn't need you, then, unfortunately, you had lost your qualification to continue living on Knowhere, and the mysterious gladiatorial arenas of Sakaar were your only option.
If one could break through the encirclement in the arena, they could regain their freedom. But sadly, ever since the Cosmic Auction House partnered with the Sakaar gladiatorial arenas, not a single dispatched service worker had ever regained their freedom. Not one.
Zola didn't believe she would be an exception.
Of course, Zola couldn't explain all of this to Beckett in detail. These were the unwritten rules of their profession; if they were exposed, the consequences would be quite… rhythmic.
"This is very important to me, so please."
Deploying her strongest weapon, Zola put on a pitiable appearance, biting her red lips tightly. "I will arrange everything for you and do my best to create an extremely comfortable environment."
If she didn't try, she would die.
A powerful survival instinct forced Zola to make this decision.
"Oh?"
Beckett raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to the man with the middle-parted long hair who called himself Ego. "What if I said I don't want to see this face?"
Beckett's lips were full of amusement.
He didn't believe someone with such immense power within them would appear before him for no reason.
His exceptional vigilance made Beckett deeply wary of this suddenly appearing Ego.
"Then, what will you do?"
With his arms crossed over his chest, Beckett tilted his head, watching Ego, who held a violin, with great interest.
Zola understood. She took a deep breath and pressed the button on her identification badge in front of Beckett, completing a quick change of attire right before his eyes.
The blue uniform of the Cosmic Auction House returned to her body. Zola stood seriously before Ego. "Sir—"
"Call me Ego."
Ego waved his hand, interrupting Zola with a smile.
"My name is Ego. I thought you already knew." Shrugging, Ego's face showed regret.
"Then, Mr. Ego, I—"
"No."
Before Zola could finish, Ego interrupted her again with a wave of his hand. The anger surging in her heart was forcibly suppressed by her excellent professionalism. After adjusting her emotions, Zola looked at Ego with a smile, cursing inwardly.
Why were there so many complications on her first official day on the job?
Was it her destiny to be fodder for the Sakaar gladiatorial arenas for her entire life?
Zola felt miserable and wronged, having been harshly educated by cruel reality on her very first day out of school and into society.
"You are a beautiful and charming woman. Believe me, you deserve to serve someone better."
Ego spoke animatedly before Zola, his face beaming. "For example, me."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ego." Zola's expression changed.
"Please don't insult me."
"No, no, no, I'm not insulting you; I'm helping you."
"This man from another world doesn't have you in his heart." Ego, with a smile, turned his gaze to Beckett, his eyes full of meaning.
"Thank you for your kindness, but— Ah!"
As Zola slightly bowed to express her apology and was about to refuse, an orange cat suddenly jumped onto her shoulder, startling her.
"My pet. Can you take care of it?"
Beckett's eyes were fixed on Ego, the playful curve of his lips growing more pronounced.
"Hm? Ah, please rest assured, there will be absolutely no problem."
Zola was taken aback, then quickly reacted. Her ponytail, made of wine-red wavy long hair, swung excitedly behind her head.
She didn't have to go to the gladiatorial arenas as fodder anymore!
"Meow~"
The orange cat, having a blast inside the bracelet space, smacked its lips, looked around curiously, and meowed in confusion. Its bewildered expression, combined with its adorable little head, was enough to melt Zola's girlish heart.
"An Energy Devouring Beast? You're quite lucky."
Ego narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling upon the orange creature standing on Zola's chest.
Even he, in his long existence, had only seen five of them, and he'd eaten one. The meat was sour and not very tasty.
"Did it appear beside you because there's energy within you that's different from this universe?"
Adopting Beckett's persona, Ego easily deduced the reason for the Energy Devouring Beast's appearance.
"Who are you?"
The playful smile on Beckett's lips gradually faded.
"My name is Ego, a traveler wandering the universe."
"Want to hear something interesting?" Ego subtly gestured towards Zola, who was currently playing with the orange cat, and blew her a charming kiss.
"About twenty years ago, I can't recall the exact date. I usually have a lot to remember, so, you understand." Receiving no response from Zola, Ego shrugged and instantly pulled his thoughts back over twenty years.
"Twenty years ago, a distortion appeared somewhere in this universe, and then, within my perception, the aura of a creature not of this world flickered past."
"However, it's a shame that the life force of that outsider seemed to have been deliberately hidden by someone."
"I've never found him."
Ego, who was dedicated to advancing the field of [Cosmic Life Sciences], had long wanted to find this extraterrestrial visitor for comparison.
"Tell me, isn't that interesting?"
Ego asked, turning the musical instrument in his hand.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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