Celestial Era: The Rise of the Full-Time Enhancer

Maurice specialized in appraising Magic Weapons or Equipment. This is why he wasn't called to appraise the Bloodstones and Spirit Stones.

As soon as he saw Vincent, he immediately used his authority to bring him to his office telling him that he has some Magic Weapons and he wanted his second opinion about them.

Of course, Vincent didn't believe him that he genuinely wanted to get his opinion.

However, he had no choice but to follow him.

Anyway, it's not like this narrow-minded person can harm him.

As soon as he entered the room, he immediately felt the man's killing intent.

As an Aura Knight, his Soul Sense is sensitive to this kind of sensation. He also lived in the jungle for several years and has been hunted by powerful Savage Beasts.

In short, he's familiar with this killing intent.

'Tsk… How did I offend this guy?' Vincent hasn't been interacting with this person and he had always followed him just for the sake of improving his Appraisal Skill.

Nevertheless, now that he achieved his goal, he actually no longer needed to stay that long here.

His Advanced State Appraisal Skill is already enough. With such an ability, he should be able to appraise most of the items in this world now except for the select few that might be related to his system skills like the Beasts Cores and Spirit Stones.

'Hmm? What's this scent?'

Vincent suddenly noticed a strange smell within the man's office. He first thought that it was just the sandalwood fragrance. However, he realized that it had gotten quite strong the longer he stays here.

"Vincent, have a seat. I will prepare a tea." Maurice said with a really suspicious smile.

"There's no need. Just let me see the items you wanted me to appraise." Vincent said. He doesn't know whether he'll get poisoned if he drinks that tea so he wanted to just finish his business here.

"You don't have to hurry. I just want to apologize to you for my previous actions. The weapons can wait." Maurice said as he immediately prepared the tea for the both of them.

Vincent can't reject him anymore he decided to just go along with this person.

"This is the Fen Flower Tea from the Green Lake Town… Have a taste." Maurice said as he sipped his tea as well to ensure that it was safe to drink.

Vincent can only sigh as he decided to drink a little as well.

By now, he already understood what was happening.

He just felt his Unique – Poison Immunity Talisman react as it immediately cleared his mind. Apparently, a few units of his mana was automatically used to dispel the poison that came from the room.

The strong scent of sandalwood just now must've been the poison itself that was slowly entering his body.

Luckily, his Talisman is a +9 item and has already ascended to a Unique Rank which means that its effect has increased multiple times already.

Although the Poison Immunity remains to 20 types of poison, his poison resistance has already increased from 5 to 80 points!

'Let's play along for now.' He thought.

"How does it taste?" Maurice asked as he sneakily looks at the clock within his room.

'So he's buying some time?'

Vincent realized the man's plan easily. Maurice invited him to have tea since he's aware that the poison needs a lot of time before it takes effect.

He then smirked before answering.

"Hmm… It's soft in the mouth, a little sweet, and has a lingering fragrance after drinking it. It's similar to the Rose Tea I've tasted before." Vincent commented half-heartedly.

"Oh…"

Maurice seemed to be stunned for a moment as he probably never thought that a 15-year-old boy who grew up in an unknown village could appreciate tea.

Nevertheless, he immediately recovered as he started talking about random things.

After a few minutes, he noticed that Vincent closed his eyes so he immediately stopped talking and observed him for a moment.

"Kukuku! I did it…" Maurice could no longer control his excitement as laughed evilly.

He confirmed that Vincent is now in a delirious state. This is one of the starting effects of the poison he gave to him.

"Ugh… I need to bring Therese here quickly. Once the aphrodisiac takes effect, it will be a show. I'll just cut his thing and I'll be---"

As Maurice was hurrying to get out and bring Therese here, he suddenly noticed that Vincent was looking at him calmly.

His eyes bulged out as he couldn't believe what was happening. He was so confident with his poisons!

"So it's actually aphrodisiac… I didn't expect that."

Vincent muttered as he looked at his teacup.

In truth, the Poison Immunity Talisman was also triggered after he drank a mouthful of tea.

Vincent sighed as he knows that Maurice has really gone too far. There's no way he can still tolerate this.

Without wasting any more of his time, Vincent used his Shrouded Steps to appear behind Maurice…

"S-stop! I can explain! Aack!"

Before he can continue, Vincent covered his fist with his Aura as he struck the man's chest!

Bang!

It was so powerful that the latter was thrown against the sturdy wall.

Maurice then spewed a mouthful of blood before fainted.

"That's it?" Vincent frowned after seeing how he passed out just like that. He then gave him a couple more kicks in his irritation.

Of course, he made sure not to kill him since he still has to suffer.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Because he circulated his mana and created a loud noise, the disturbance was easily noticed by the elite Security Personnel of the Auction House.

"I'm coming…" Vincent said to make sure that they won't break the door.

There is still a lingering scent of poison after all.

"Vincent! What's going on?!"

Therese, Dylan, and even Old Cairo opened the door and saw Maurice lying on the floor in his pool of blood.

"Before that, you have to be careful about this poison… Although it's weak, if you ingested too much of it, it can still affect your body." Vincent said as he explained about the poison coming from the strong sandalwood fragrance.