Doomsday Hotel was an extremely luxurious establishment, with only two locations nationwide, one in the Imperial Capital and the other in Truro City.
The name had been around for a hundred years, and although it had undergone several renovations, almost all the interior decoration was made of genuine gold and jade.
Only the rich or noble could afford to set foot inside.
When Robinson Scott came out, Daisy Zane was looking at a vase at the corner spot that was worth at least seven figures.
"Superstar, what are you looking at?" Robinson Scott called out to her from a distance.
Hearing the voice, Daisy Zane turned around, a light smile touching the corners of her eyes.
"This is for you." Robinson Scott took a wood box out of her bag and handed it to her, "It's not as good as the one from the last auction, but it's still a fine piece, from a collector's hands."
Daisy Zane took it and opened the box to look.
Inside was a white jade hairpin with a hollowed-out carved flower on the head that looked somewhat antique, but was well-preserved.
At the last auction, because of a red jade hairpin, she had gotten into a bidding war with someone, and the final price had far exceeded the hairpin's value. Daisy Zane didn't bid any further and let the other person win it.
"Thanks, you went to the trouble."
"Don't mention it." Robinson Scott's features had an exotic flair, yet her smile was endearing, "Just buy me a drink."
"Sure, let's go have a drink."
"Next time." Robinson Scott smiled, "I have a task later."
"You seem busy." Daisy Zane's expression didn't change, still that cool, aloof look, but her words carried a teasing note.
Robinson Scott narrowed his deep-set eyes slightly, a bit exasperated, and grumbled quietly, "Whose fault is that! It's because someone said they wouldn't take any tasks this year, so they've all landed on me. I don't even have time for romance!"
"How tragic."
Robinson Scott gave her a wistful look.
Seeing her like this, Daisy Zane couldn't help but let out a shallow laugh.
Her usually cold beauty gaining a touch of warmth with that smile, like sunshine on fallen snow, making the frosty landscape even more radiant.
"In light of your beautiful face, I won't hold it against you," Robinson Scott was captivated by that smile, "By the way, how's that matter of yours? Any clarity?"
"No useful information yet." When the topic came up, Daisy Zane's brows creased with some irritation.
"That thing has passed through so many hands by the time it got to him. Besides, they're cautious, all transactions are offline, it's already tough just to get on this thread." Robinson Scott said, "Just take it slow."
"Let's go, I'll see you out," Daisy Zane handed the hairpin back to her, "Trouble someone to take it back to the Imperial Capital, to be kept with the others."
Robinson Scott took it and put it back in her bag. She had only brought it for Daisy to see if she liked it and hadn't expected her to keep it, "What is it with you, collecting so much and never using it, always opting for broken wood and plastic? Strange hobby."
"Too poor, can't bear to use something so expensive."
"......"
...
Daisy Zane escorted Robinson Scott to the hotel entrance. It was getting late, and she planned to rest in the hotel for one night before leaving tomorrow.
But as soon as she turned around, she ran into Amelia Miles, who was coming out after seeing off a friend.
"Sister."
"..."
"Sister, are you here for my engagement party?" Amelia Miles walked a few steps closer, smiling warmly.
"Happy engagement." Daisy Zane said politely.
"Thank you, sister. I'm really happy you could come." Amelia Miles said, "But it's already ended inside, wait for me in the grand hall, and we can go home together in a bit."
"No, I'm not going back."
"If you don't want to stay at home, let Elder Brother take you to your place. It's too late now, and it's difficult to hail a cab around here."
"No need, I'm staying here."
"Staying... here?" Amelia Miles glanced at the giant sign of Doomsday Hotel behind her, wondering if she had heard wrong.
"Yes."
Having affirmed, Daisy Zane suddenly heard a burst of laughter, quite grating. She looked towards the source of the laughter.
They were the same women who had just come out with Amelia Miles.
They too walked over, strutting in their high heels with high airs.
One of them said, "Staying here? Do you know how much it costs to stay here for one night? This is the Doomsday Hotel, not some roadside inn."
"Clarissa, don't say that," Amelia Miles pulled the person next to her, "Sister has been living in the countryside for a long time and is unaware of many things here."
Daisy Zane raised her eyebrows upon hearing this, a fleeting sense of playfulness sparkling in her beautiful phoenix eyes.
She was an illegitimate daughter who grew up in the countryside without education, a fact that Amelia Miles broadcast in exactly this seemingly sympathetic tone.
"I'm doing this for her own good," Clarissa Mason lifted her chin, "She had a small role as a cameo and just got a bit of money; she shouldn't spend the night here, or she'll have no money even for a meal tomorrow."
"Clarissa!" Amelia Miles whispered sharply, then turned to Daisy, "Sister, don't mind her, she's a bit drunk today. Sister, the Doomsday Hotel is indeed a lot more expensive than other hotels, let Elder Brother send you back later."
"No need," Daisy's voice was even colder than before.
After saying those two words, she glanced at Clarissa Mason and then walked straight toward the hotel.
That single glance sent a cold shiver running down Clarissa Mason's spine, chilling her to the bone.
Amelia Miles turned and looked after Daisy, her face losing its former obedience and filling with scorn.
She wanted to see how Daisy would be thrown out later.
But what she saw was Daisy entering the hotel's grand hall.
The waitstaff immediately attended to her, and upon showing her room card, Daisy was respectfully guided further into the hotel by the staff.
Amelia Miles' fingers, hanging by her side, involuntarily tightened. How did a wild country girl like her get the money and status to stay at the Doomsday Hotel?
"She... she really went inside."
Someone suddenly spoke up, and Amelia Miles's obedience returned somewhat hastily to her face.
The ones she had just brought out were all from the entertainment industry, with some fame but not top-tier.
They couldn't afford to stay at the Doomsday Hotel.
Clarissa Mason and Daisy Zane were in the same entertainment company. Daisy landed a cameo in a big director's movie right after signing with the company, a role that was supposed to be Clarissa's before Daisy joined.
"Sister is very capable," Amelia Miles said softly, looking down.
"Capable? Probably her way of hooking up with people," Clarissa spat out, her jealousy almost crushing her own teeth.
"Don't talk nonsense, Clarissa!"
"I'm not talking nonsense," Clarissa linked arms with Amelia Miles, "Amelia, you are too naive. You think of her as your sister, but does she think of you as hers? Be smart, or she'll end up owning the whole Miles Family. She never went to school and she's just a country bumpkin; her mind must be full of nothing but cheap tricks."
As Amelia Miles slowly bowed her head and her expression tightened, she stopped speaking.
...
"Arthur, shall we check out the next room?"
Allonzo Hobson and Kevin Clark stood on the balcony of Room 3603, looking at the neighboring room.
After the overweight man finished speaking, Kevin Clark had him taken away.
"No need," Kevin Clark withdrew his gaze, "Since he's not the accomplice of that man and has the same information as us, there's no need to see him."
"Right," Allonzo Hobson sighed, "Another dead end with the message."
"Let's contact Celestial Pivot Detective Agency again," Kevin Clark said.
Allonzo Hobson nodded, "Celestial Pivot has got a tough case on their hands now."
Kevin Clark, his narrow eyes cold, stayed silent for a while longer on the balcony, then left the room.
As he opened the door to leave, Kevin Clark couldn't help but glance at the door of the neighboring room, just in time to see Daisy Zane about to enter.
Daisy Zane also heard the noise and turned her head to look.