"Nope, goodbye," James coldly rejected.
The three women, one in her 60s and the other two in their 70s, did not pique his interest at all. He resumed looking at his phone, paying them no further attention.
The trio, annoyed, muttered something about him not being worth their time and left in a huff.
Throughout the night, James turned away three groups of girls trying to chat him up in the VIP section.
Those he rejected must have spread the word, because soon after, no one else dared approach him.
James was pleased with the peace and quiet.
He occasionally played on his phone or scanned the bar for attractive women.
While there were many beauties at the bar, those scoring a 90 or above in his eyes were few and far between.
By the end of the night, only two women had met that score.
However, both had quite a history, with double-digit past relationships, which was somewhat off-putting.
It made senseâhow many women who go to bars don't enjoy that lifestyle?
Moreover, a 90-score beauty would naturally have many suitors, including wealthy men or handsome intellectuals.
Men who, in their pursuits, would bend over backwards, pulling every trick in the book to win them over.
Once a woman breaks a boundary once, she tends to be less restrained afterward.
After sending drinks to the two women as the bar owner, James managed to extract some expanded information on them.
The rewards, while unexpected, were still rewarding.
One was the Golden Eye ability, which allowed him to see through objects, identify treasures, and discern authenticity.
Armed with it, he could gamble on stones, bet money, deal in antiques, and quickly reach the pinnacle of life.
He could also stand on the street and admire beautiful ladies, though the thought almost gave him a nosebleed.
But since it wasn't a life-saving skill, it didn't offer much to the already wealth-endowed James.
The second was Unparalleled Physician, a superlative lifesaver, though it was for saving others rather than himself.
For now, in his healthy state, James found no use for it.
Having medical skills could indeed make it easier to save someone like the father of a beautiful company president, thereby earning her admiration and eventually capturing her heart.
But then again, real life wasn't a drama; where would he find such a beautiful company president?
Mostly, it would just be the sick rich asking for his expertise.
And if there really were a beautiful company president, she'd likely be in her late 30s or 40s.
That wasn't exactly where his interests lay.
These two rewards were not significant to Jamesâgood to have, but okay to miss out on.
He snapped his fingers for an acquaintance amongst the service staff, asking them to get contact information from the two women.
He promised them free drinks and a luxury candle set in return for their numbers.
Both, upon spotting James smiling at them from the VIP section, readily agreed.
One named Nana even came over to toast him and engage in a brief chat, gaining 10 points of favor with him.
James remained composed, exuding a gentlemanly, calm demeanor without showing the least excitement about seeing beautiful women.
This left Nana with the impression that he was an experienced and wealthy man who couldn't be won over easily.
She considered pushing her limits, but with her boyfriend waiting downstairs, she couldn't overstep.
James also didn't seem that interested, so she introduced herself briefly and then left.
James wasn't feeling very motivated to further pursue her.
After she left, James noticed a young woman in the bar with zero relationship history.
Startled, he focused his gaze, only to see her charm level was barely 70.
In the dim and noisy environment, her sexy and bold outfit was almost misleading, but a second look revealed the truth.
Shaking his head, he turned away.
Seeing that zero, he remembered Shirley Taylor, whom he had nearly forgotten amidst Amanda's welcoming embrace these past days.
With tomorrow being Friday, the "bunny" would soon be out of its cage, an exciting prospect.
He realized he needed to conserve some energy tonight, lest he become a rejected mess during tomorrow's hotpot feast.
By 11:30 pm, Winnie Morgan sent a progress report:
"Mr. King, I've employed three private investigators. They've gathered initial information on her, including personal details, home address, and current lifestyle.
"No work information was found. She has significant debt, mostly from small loans, accumulating to about 200,000. Based on photos from her social media and online postings, it seems she used the loans to buy branded clothing, jewelry, and bags.
"Investigations reveal she has booked hotel rooms over 200 times under her ID, with different people and sometimes several at once.
"Records of abortions, cosmetic surgeries, and nightlife expenses have also surfaced. There's even an ongoing fraud case against her.
"Related illegal video footage should be found by tomorrow morning. If nothing turns up, detectives will visit hotels she's used to find new leads."
James marveled at the detailed report and the investigators' capabilities, feeling quite satisfied with Winnie Morgan's performance.
"Got it. Once you have the items, hand them to her current boyfriend, Delwen Dowlin, and observe his reactions."
"Understood."
James worried Delwen might be too soft-hearted. If so, he planned to have someone else prosecute.
As the bar music ramped up, forming a pulse-pounding backdrop, he found the atmosphere increasingly uncomfortable.
Informing Amanda, he got up and headed outside for a walk.
Strolling the streets, James, like a wanderer, soaked in the vibrant nightlife.
The city was bustling, filled with bright lights and neon signs. Streets intersected beneath lamp posts that illuminated the roads like daylight, flanked by rows of shops teeming with people.
Cars sped by, headlights shining brilliantly.
Though now with over fifty million in his pocket, he felt the city's prosperity had little to do with him.
With newfound wealth, an emptiness began to creep in.
At that moment, he felt a soul-cleansing was needed.
Thus, he stepped into a high-end spa called QÃng Yuè MÃng ZhÇ, labeled beneath its name as the "Hermès of wellness."
The decor set a sophisticated mood; the dimly lit lobby centered around a large, mist-filled bathtub, casting a magical glow beneath the blue lights.
Elegant bonsai trees and stones adorned the space, creating a pleasing aesthetic.
Behind the front desk stood two lovely receptionists in professional attire. They greeted him warmly as he entered:
"Hello, sir. Welcome to QÃng Yuè MÃng ZhÇ. Are you here alone?"
Without needing to scan, James could already tell; these lovely ladies probably ranged around 70 to 80 in charm according to the system. Surely, they wouldn't hit the 90s.
"Yes, just me."
"Do you have a reservation? Have you been with us before?"
"No, I haven't."
Though it was his first visit, James concealed any awkwardness, maintaining a calm exterior.
After all, he'd already done his research at the barâhow to appear like a seasoned pro?
Simple: speak less, follow your instincts.
"Alright, here are our packages. Our relaxing spa is priced at $399, but with a membership, it's only $320."
The receptionist handed James a price list, and he skimmed it.
Various treatments caught his eye: Meridian Therapy at $469, Lymphatic Detox at $699, Thai Massage at $999, and the Immersive High-End Spa at $1999 stood out.
Feigning nonchalance, James inquired, "The $1999âis it all above board?"
The lady assured him with a smile, "Of course, everything here is above board, sir. We have nothing shady."
"Okay, I'll have the $1999," James said, satisfied.
The receptionist's eyes lit up. After completing the payment, she cheerfully gestured toward the stairs.
"Sir, your room is on the third floor. Please follow me."