35 The art of Schmoozing (2)

The evening went forth smoothly, after few minutes of entertaining the group Warton had sat him down with, he excused himself and headed towards the dance floor.

Whilst walking Jack overheard a conversation.

"Have you seen Olivia? That dress is absolutely to skimpiest thing I've ever scene, it is no wonder that she is known as the Cast's slut."

"Indeed I hear she's slept with half the guards of the mayor."

Frowning Jack made his way over towards the two ladies gossiping. To a normal person they would seem to have been having a nice conversation, and the room was much to loud for anyone to over hear them. But not for Jack who was constantly using his Aura to increase his hearing.

Picking a gentleman who seemed to be, let's call it, looking longingly at women, in close proximity to the gossiping ladies he struck up a loud conversation.

"It's quite marvelous to see the new fashion here in the ball tonight, just take a look at the innovativeness of some of them."

Pointing towards a lady wearing a intricate dress with a deep v exposing her chest with a dazzling necklace in place.

"She is wearing the newer model of Gideon's V style dress that was only released just last summer!"

Gesturing towards another woman who had a hat that was deep blue with several purple and red feathers making an arch on the side of it.

"And that madam is wearing the deep blue hat representing that she is taken. But has the colorful feathers spicing up the hat, the colors purple and red represent that she is a widow, and that she will not stand for anyone hitting on her."

At this point the man was slightly bewildered, but Jack's main goal the two ladies were enraptured by what he was saying. After all a ladies fashion was very important in high society, so looking at who he pointed out would give them a leg up in the next party they attended.

Pointing towards Olivia Jack spoke again.

"And just take a look at her! Her dress is tight fitting but not suffocating her, while she is showing plenty of skin making her able to stay cool in the hot environment of the dance floor. But it is also not showing anything to inappropriate and showing off her natural charm."

Seeing the two ladies look a bit disgruntled Jack smirked and continued.

"Actually on a closer look isn't that Olivia Cast? It's no wonder she has a fine figure thanks to her training with the mayor's new program!"

Seeing out of the corner of his eye that the two ladies were crushed Jack smiled and thanked the now very confused man before moving along toward the dancefloor. Jack's eyes scanned the crowd looking for someone to dance with before he blinked a couple times; he had found a familiar face.

Walking over to a high rise table Jack approached a young lady with black hair and a studious air about her, extending hand he spoke up.

"May I have the honor of dancing with you, Miss Celine?"

Looking surprised Celine stared at Jack before regaining her composure and grabbing his hand.

"The pleasure is mine Mr. Axter."

Jack and Celine walked onto the dance floor and started dancing with each other, Celine placed one hand on Jack's lumbar and the other on his shoulder pulling him in closer. To an outsider one could assume that they were very well acquainted with each other. In actuality it made it easier to speak in private.

"I'm assuming that there is a reason for your request Mr. Axter, what would you like to know?"

Jack smiled before looking at Celine devilishly.

"Who said that I had an ulterior motive?"

This prompted Celine to step on his foot rather harshly.

"Ouch! Fine I'll get down to business, is there any progress on the Brotherhood of the Labyrinth?"

Celine remained quite for a while seemingly concentrating on dancing before she answered carefully.

"There is minimal, I have learned more about Labyrinths themselves than the Brotherhood, but I hope to find a stronger lead within the month."

Jack frowned slightly, but kept dancing.

"How did you manage to get information on the Labyrinths?"

Celine paused before eyeing Jack up and down and finally deciding that she could trust him.

"I no... My ancestors left behind a book titled The Labyrinths of the Divine. I have been researching it in hopes of finding out more about this supposed Brotherhood."

If Jack weren't as mentally prepared for something shocking he would've stopped dancing. But thankfully he didn't resulting in neither Celine or him becoming embarrassed.

"I see, is that your reason for attending this promenade? I don't think you would show up to these without a good reason."

Celine blushed before responding, "Actually I'm here because Hilda is pressuring me into finding a husband."

"Ah"

And with that the song came to an end and Celine and Jack walked off of the dance floor. Seeing that he had gotten at least some not bad news Jack's spirits were raised. Searching for another lady to go dancing with Jack's eyes stopped at a certain woman wearing a red dress.

She had dark brown hair and striking emerald eyes that were thin, her mouth smiled in a cruel looking way. Her body was slender and tall, as she wasn't wearing heels and was only a couple centimeters shorter than Jack. If one was to compare this woman to an animal they would 'Snake'.

But it wasn't her looks that caused Jack to be curious, it was the fact that he didn't not recognize her. Jack had spent several hours studying the nobility of Forgemire, and he could at least recognize all of them as a noble. But she did not bring up any memories of being a noble.

Approaching her Jack Extended his hand and spoke charmingly.

"Excuse me Miss, but if you could be so kind to accompany me to a dance I would be overjoyed."

The woman looked Jack up and down as if he was prey, if she had licked her lips Jack would of thought she actually wanted to eat him.

"My, my, what a delightful surprise! Of course, I shall take you up on your offer"

The lady spoke smoothly and seductively while extending her hand lightly onto Jack's. Stepping of her chair she held on tightly to his hand as they walked onto the dance floor.

Similarly to Celine this woman placed her hand on Jacks lumbar, but her other hand she placed on his shoulder blade pulling him very close to her. Every single movement this woman made seemed to exude Power and seduction.

But much to he surprise Jack did not tense up or even act surprised or flustered. Instead he took her action in stride and held her quite intently and pulled her closer as he whispered into her ear.

"Forgive me for being blunt but may I ask your name? I do not recognize your face, and I have a knack for these things."

Pulling his face away from her ear she blushed slightly before returning the favour by pulling his ear close to her mouth.

"Cassandra"

With her face by Jack's ear he was able to see the extent of the back of her neck and upper back, as he heard her name he noticed a tattoo on her spine leading up to her neck. Pulling away from the close proximity Jack spoke normally.

‎Enchanté Miss Cassandra, forgive me for not knowing such a beauty's name.

Cassandra giggled in response before speaking quite freely with Jack. As the dance went on for a while Jack suddenly looked at Cassandra inquisitively.

"Cassandra I couldn't help but to notice that you had a tattoo on your back. Does that have any significance?"

Cassandra's pupils dilated for a moment before going back to normal, soon a impish expression came over face as she once again pulled Jack into a whisper.

"Well, well, well, don't we have a little bad boy here taking a peak at a woman's exposed back."

"Oh? so what if I'm a little bad?"

Not receiving the response she was expecting she laughed, and pulled out of the whisper and looked Jack in the eyes searching for something.

"If you'd really like to know, it does symbolize something. It represents strength and intelligence, I got it a few years ago took harden my resolve in accomplishing my goals. But now that I've told you something about myself why don't you tell me a little something about you Jack?"

Jack was about to answer before he stopped, "Oh? You know who I am? That is quite surprising."

Cassandra simply laughed, "Ha! Who wouldn't've heard about the new prodigy mage that was able to find an artifact that a team of detectives couldn't find."

"That makes sense I suppose. But is there anything in particular that you would like to know?"

"Do you know anything more on the Jack of Spades? I know some people who would like to find that criminal."

Jack was taken off guard by Cassandra's sudden question, "Ah, I have been investigating them slightly, but most of my time recently has been taken up by the mass killings that happened a while ago. Since my master was one of the victims of the aftermath of finding a body more pressure has been put on me about that. If you don't mind could I ask who is looking for the Jack of Spades?"

Cassandra simply smiled seductively, "Just some of my 'Brothers'."

At this point the song ended and Cassandra broke from the embrace and turned around walking away. Leaving Jack with a clear view of a tattoo of a basilisk coiling around her spine.

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