The Tricked Girl

Henry asked curiously, "You two, you weren't going to stand here the whole time, were you?"

"Based on our experience, standing here is the most suitable," Horace Baden replied.

Jasper Baden nodded and said, "Cruella de Vil is very busy at times like this. If something comes up and she can't find us, she'll be very angry."

"But if we follow her around and get in her way, she'll get just as angry. So standing here is the safest option; we can call out to her without disturbing her."

Henry laughed, "It seems our Queen is quite the Tyrant."

The two Baden brothers exchanged knowing smiles.

After glancing at Jasper Baden, Henry asked, "Have you been feeling unwell since that day?"

The topic of Vampires was ultimately not something that could be discussed openly, so Henry brought it up veiledly. Jasper Baden, of course, understood Henry's question, smiled, and said, "No problem. At least I can still walk in the sunlight."

"I'm sorry, you've been dragged into this because of me."

"But you also helped me." It would be a lie to say he didn't feel resentful after being implicated. But Jasper understood that the other party had explained the risks from the beginning and had done their best to help him after the incident; they weren't just abandoning him.

Even though this person wasn't the one who stepped in during the most critical moment, isn't it better to entrust specialized tasks to someone skilled in them than to have someone unskilled come and cause trouble?

Jasper Baden, who came from a street background and had worked as a thief, understood the Reason well. But there were still some things he was interested in. So he moved slightly closer to Henry and asked in a low voice, "Did you know all those people back then?"

Henry was surprised by the other party's attitude. When faced with danger, most people would try to get as far away as possible, rather than approaching actively. Especially when the enemy is Vampires, a notorious dark Monster.

However, Jasper Bardem asked such a question, which made Henry unsure of what the other person was thinking.

Is this just another Vampires fantasist, deluding himself about that false notion of immortality?

However, if an answer is required, it should still be given.

Henry pulled a Continental Hotel Gold Coin from his pocket, discreetly showing it only to the two Baden brothers, then put it away. He said cautiously, "I used this to get those people to help me. You know that?"

"Ah, is that so?" Jasper Baden nodded. Horace Baden, however, asked his companion, puzzled, "What's that Gold Coin?"

Some words are difficult to say in public. Jasper Baden could only offer a hint: "Back when we were still on the streets, didn't we hear about that organization that traded with Gold Coin?"

"Ah, you mean big—"

Jasper covered his companion's mouth and whispered, "Good to know, but don't say it out loud."

The short, stout man stared wide-eyed and nodded. Only then did Jasper Baden release his grip.

Henry, standing nearby, asked in a low voice, "Jasper, why are you asking them?"

"You know, the worst affected area for that kind of creature isn't United States, it's Europe. I just want to know, if something happens here, who can I ask for help? But I don't have Gold Coin, so that route is probably not an option."

Without a word, Henry shoved the Gold Coin from his pocket into Jasper Baden's hand. "Take this. If necessary, use it to get into the hotel for the night. It's a peace zone; no trading is allowed there. This should give you enough time to call for help."

"Is it okay?" Jasper Baden asked, but his hand remained clenched tightly, showing no sign of letting go.

"I only have this one with me, please accept it. But the rule is one per person per night, so you need to keep that in mind when you use it. I'll get you two more when I have the chance. You can't send these by mail."

"Thanks." Jasper Baden didn't mince words, thanked him directly, and put the Gold Coin in his pocket.

Henry added, "But there's something else I need to tell you. That creature is also part of the hotel's upper echelons. While they don't break the rules, secrecy has never been part of the rules; intelligence has a price. You know that, right?"

"I understand."

"But I don't think you need to worry too much. Although they are all the same kind of people, they also have their own territories. I don't have any conflicts with the people here, so there shouldn't be any problems."

Jasper Baden nodded.

At first, he looked down on this young man, seeing him as a lucky guy who had suddenly risen to a high position while surrounded by beautiful women.

The reason they sought out Cruella de Vil was because they themselves had troubles they couldn't resolve, which is why they needed a daring and wicked woman like Cruella de Vil to step in.

However, Henry's help and the fact that he could produce the Continental Hotel's Gold Coin proved that his past wasn't all that glamorous.

This made Jasper Bardem, who came from the streets and had made a living by stealing, feel much closer to him.

"Jasper! Horace! Where the hell have you been!" A sudden shout made the two Baden brothers freeze, then they immediately jogged to Cruella de Vil's side. "What is it?"

"Jewelry box, tie rack," the black-and-white witch said succinctly. The two Baden immediately understood and went to find what Cruella de Vil wanted.

Henry followed the movements of those people and was surprised to find that his girl had been stripped naked by Cruella de Vil's female assistants and dressed in men's clothing.

A stunned Henry approached Charlize Theron, who was equally stunned, as makeup artists and stylists worked on the girl's makeup and hair.

Henry asked, "What's going on?"

Charlize gritted her teeth, heartbroken, and said, "We've been tricked."

"You're going to walk the runway? A menswear show?" Henry said in surprise. "It's a pity I didn't bring Kitty along—"

Henry was confused. Did this mean Kitty needed to play?

"Otherwise, I would definitely release Kitty and bite her to death!" Charlize said bitterly.

Well, the girl certainly inherited her mother's wisdom. She'll avoid getting her hands dirty if possible. As for who "she" is...

Of course, there's no need to even ask.

In the future, in an era with more open attitudes towards transgender people, it will not be a big deal for male and female models to visit each other's venues on the cutting-edge fashion stage.

But in the 1990s, when "homosexuality" was still a taboo subject and something people were ashamed to mention in public, the fashion runway was still segregated by gender. Even those androgynous individuals who went astray faced the suspicion of taking away other people's jobs.

However, looking at Charlize Theron's perfectly tailored outfit, Henry said helplessly, "Looks like this was planned all along. Otherwise, where would I find clothes that fit you perfectly?"

Charlize, who was being slapped in the face with a powder puff, couldn't utter a single curse word.

Behind Henry came Cruella de Vil's voice. "Get out of the way, don't get in my way! I let her go last, she should thank me. Thank you, can you spell it? Or is all you can say 'Bedankt'?"

"Bedankt" is Netherlands for "thank you." For Cruella de Vil, whose native language is English and who only learned French as a second language, this means...

The fact that he deliberately learned the Netherlands for "thank you" makes it clear who he's targeting.

Charlize Theron, finally unable to bear the thought of the powder puff hitting her face and potentially getting into her mouth, unleashed a string of foul-mouthed Afrikaans profanities.

Her hair, which she had spent a hundred dollars on in Los Angeles before leaving the house, was completely ruined by the stylist here. This made Charlize even more devastated. If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion, she would have wanted to the Scream.