楼上的上瘾女士

It was much later in the day that there was a knock at the door of Hal\'s room. Since he could observe the outside even inside the Harem space, he heard the knock and exited to make use of his Astral sense and ascertain that it was Eva outside.

He opened the door for her and she walked in while he noted that she was not dressed in Martial attire but a beautiful gown that reached just past her knees and had a split in the side. 

Probably to aid mobility in case of combat.

She smiled brightly, 

"I\'m off duty and thought it would be best if I came over to assist you to pick out a proper attire for tomorrow\'s event.

No offense but your current dressing is far from appropriate" she said with a mild chuckle.

Hal nodded and smiled as well, 

"Well, if that is the case, maybe it would be better I purchase new sets of clothes.

Everything I have with me is all of this material"

Eva nodded slowly, 

"No problem then. I\'ll accompany you"

"I appreciate it"

So they left the hotel and boarded a carriage which took them to a luxury store which Hal had to admit was quite impressive.

Picking out an attire was not a particularly difficult endeavor but they were not done until very late in the night.

During that time, Hal had managed to get some answers from Eva. 

She was born and raised in the city and no longer had parents. Her only still living relative was her sister who also happened to be married to the Baron.

"Nepotism, huh?" He had said with a raised brow.

Eva shrugged, 

"I am qualified, yes but I will not deny that I was not the only one worthy of being captain of the city guards." She said.

"Good to know you are honest" he said as they boarded another carriage and were on their way back to the Hotel.

Once standing before it, Eva offered to help him socialize with those of importance in the city before the Dinner party the next day but Hal was far from interested had declined politely.

He had no patience to waste time on anyone in this city and was only still here because he wanted to know what Eva knew. Which was a suspicion that had been intensified with her inviting him to the dinner party with her.

Once back inside his hotel room he went straight to cultivating but did not enter the harem space, not quite interested in making this day turn into ten by visiting his Mansion.

The ladies however took the time to cultivate which was not quite as efficient for Arya and Emily as the Cosmic energy concentration in the Harem space was only barely enough to continue pushing them forward in the Cosmic Pagoda realm.

That said, with the time stretching, it was not a complete loss.

The next day, Hal spent half of his time in the Harem space with them and gathering essence to refine once on the outside and also giving Emily the essence she needed to make all the difference in her cultivation.

Once back on the outside, Hal refined the essence and pushed his cultivation forward but he was nowhere near an advancement to Mid-stage of the Cosmic phenomenon Realm.

...

That night...

A carriage of luxurious designs stopped in front of the Hotel and Hal exited said Hotel looking particularly good-looking in the clothes he had purchased specifically for the occasion.

There was nothing different about his face and general appearance {since he and anyone else he met considered it perfection already) but he looked particularly distinguished and irresistible.

At least that was what Eva thought as she looked at him outside of the carriage\'s window and she was not the only one. There were ladies who were either awaiting carriages or already boarding them who could not take their eyes off of him.

"Who is he?" Asked a beautiful lady dressed in a form-fitting gown that looked quite expensive and was in the process of boarding a carriage.

Her question had not been rhetorical but had been to the guard by her side, 

"I have no idea, Lady Penelope." The guard replied.

Lady Penelope flicked back her raven black hair and glared at the guard, 

"You were supposed to show me around the city and you failed to mention that there was a hunk like him residing in my hotel?" She said in obvious annoyance.

The guard looked a tad hit uncomfortable, 

"Well, it was not exactly part of my job description..." He began before Lady Penelope interrupted him, 

"Shut up! Find out who he is" she said and boarded the carriage.

At which time Hal was done savoring the hungry looks from ladies and jealous/envious looks from the men and was ready to board Eva\'s carriage.

The guard caught up with him,

"Excuse me, sir, My lady would like to know who you are" he said and while his words could be considered polite, there was a look in his eyes that told that he was screening Hal.

Whether because he unconsciously found his looks threatening or because he suspected Hal was not truly someone of importance was not quite clear.

But Hal guessed it was both.

He looked past the guard,

"Who\'s asking?"

The guard frowned but he answered, 

"Lady Penelope of Cruz County" he said.

Cruz county was where the Kirsten Barony fell under and the fact that lady Penelope was from there was not something that could be ignored.

Alas...

"Never heard of her"

...that was exactly what Hal did as he continued to board the carriage.

The guard grabbed Hal\'s arm and from the strength he was exerting, Hal put him at the Late stage of the Cosmic phenomenon Realm.

"I apologize but I can\'t just let you leave. At least show lady Penelope some respect. Even someone like you should know that being from the county puts her above an indigene of Kirsten city like you" He growled in a low voice.

The situation was already garnering attention from those present and the guard knew Lady Penelope would not want to cause a scene.

Hal sighed,

"Sorry but it\'s a personal principle of mine. I don\'t like Ladies who delegate. If She wants to know who I am, she can come and ask. Now if you\'ll excuse me, I will like to get going now or I might be late"

And with that, he boarded the carriage with Eva looking at him like he was insane.

"What?" Hal asked.

"You just ignored Lady Penelope" she said as though she could not believe it.

"Is it that big a deal?" He was playing dumb but he knew it WAS a big deal.

"Yes it is, you don\'t ignore someone like Lady Penelope" Eva said while inching forward a little.

"Let me guess, she\'ll kill me?" Hal said with a smirk.

Eve looked confused by his words, 

"Of course not! She might have you punished but killing is much too harsh and seems a little unnecessary.

Ignore her again and then, then she might kill you."

"Good to know" Hal chuckled.

Eva\'s look told him she felt he was not taking this seriously and wondered if he was an idiot or he was that confident.

If it was the latter, then where did that confidence come from.

...

Meanwhile, the guard returned to Lady Penelope and relayed it all to her.

"What would you have me do? Keep in mind that there is a reason you are here, My lady, and this young man while rude is not it."

"Oh,  I don\'t need you to do anything. He sounds interesting. It wouldn\'t be so bad to speak to him in person."