On the Dark Planet, far from the cluster of magnificent ancient castles, a small town lay hidden deep within an endless forest, as if it had stepped straight out of a medieval European painting. Tall gray stone towers, thick with moss, rose into the air; their sharp roofs were covered in black tiles, while arched stained-glass windows reflected the gloomy light of the planet’s signature sky. A cobblestone road wound through the village, linking rows of old wooden houses with intricately wrought iron balconies. Antique bronze lanterns swayed gently in the wind, casting a pale, ghostly yellow glow.

  Beyond the town stretched a primeval forest without end. The soft murmur of flowing water blended with the chirping of birds, forming a strangely peaceful scene — peaceful in the uniquely unsettling way of the Dark Planet. The stream’s surface was crystal clear, reflecting overlapping canopies tinted in deep violet and dark blue. Beneath the water, small fish with translucent bodies and shimmering metallic scales darted about freely, leaving faint trails of light each time they flicked their tails.

  The flora here possessed a beauty that was both alluring and deadly. Wildflowers of vivid orange dotted the forest’s edge. Their petals were delicate, but the stamens bulged into spherical shapes resembling small pods. At the slightest disturbance — even a branch brushing past — the stamens would instantly contract and fire those spheres outward like bullets, slicing through the air with enough force to pierce the flesh of ordinary creatures.

  Not far away stood ancient trees with dark purple trunks, towering like colossal pillars holding up the sky. They bore no leaves; instead, countless vines as thick as a wrist, rough like animal hide, hung down from their bodies. Any creature foolish enough to approach would find those vines suddenly coming alive, wrapping tightly around their prey and constricting like octopus tentacles until the victim could no longer move.

  Along both banks of the stream, Velvet Crave grew in long, orderly rows, as if deliberately cultivated. This flower carried an unsettling contrast in its beauty: its petals were a brilliant, fresh-blood red, while the calyx, stem, leaves, and roots were all a deep, pitch-black. The flowers bloomed luxuriantly, releasing a faint fragrance into the air — yet not a single insect dared approach. Bees and butterflies that flew too close would immediately veer away, as if their survival instincts had sounded a silent alarm.

  At this moment, several goblins were working along the stream bank. They wore fully sealed protective suits, their gloves woven from glossy black carbon fiber to prevent being pierced by the thorns of Velvet Crave. Carefully, they plucked only the petals, never touching the stems, leaves, or roots.

  One goblin, his basket already full, hurried a short distance away and removed his protective mask, taking a deep breath:

  – “This thing’s suffocating. Hurry up, you guys — we still have to bring these back to the plant for extraction.”

  Another goblin took off his mask as well, wiping sweat from his face:

  – “The boss said Earth needs a large quantity. I wonder if this much will be enough.”

  A third laughed casually:

  – “What are you worried about? These flowers grow fast. In a week, they’ll bloom again anyway.”

  Another goblin, still bent over and focused on harvesting, spoke without looking up, his basket nearly full:

  – “Hold on a bit, I’m almost done…”

  High up in the tree branches, small birds continued to chirp merrily, their jet-black eyes quietly observing everything below. No one knew that they were, in fact, the eyes and ears of Queen Seraphina and Consort Sophia. Every image, every movement within this forest was being recorded and transmitted — without missing a single detail.

  A micro-camera mounted on the chests of the small birds was silently transmitting signals, images, and audio back to the technology center.

  Streams of data flowed continuously and steadily; every movement within the forest was recorded with near-absolute precision.

  The technology center lay deep underground, beneath the vast, magnificent castle of Demon King Satan. Inside was a unique space where cutting-edge technology blended seamlessly with classical European architecture. Gray stone walls were carved with ancient royal motifs, while high arched ceilings supported enormous crystal chandeliers, their soft golden light reflecting off holographic devices floating in midair.

  The black marble floor gleamed, interwoven with glowing blue metal lines, creating an atmosphere that felt both ancient and surreal.

  At the center of the room, a 180-degree curved screen hovered in the air, displaying every frame captured by the birds’ cameras in sharp detail. Reclining on luxurious, dark-velvet sofas in classical European style — ornately carved and elegant — Queen Seraphina and Consort Sophia were calmly enjoying their tea. An antique silver teapot released thin wisps of steam, the delicate aroma of tea mingling with the solemn air.

  Around them stood royal agents dressed in classical tailcoat suits, their curled hair neatly tied behind their heads. Some remained standing on watch, while others sat in high-end leather chairs, operating the central servers.

  Their fingers flew across holographic keyboards as rows of characters and satellite maps flashed into existence and vanished in an instant. On the screen, the goblins harvesting Velvet Crave were shown down to the smallest movement.

  One agent bowed slightly, speaking with reverence:

  – “Your Majesty, Your Highness, we are currently locking onto their position via satellite. We will track the transport routes to determine the location of the extraction facility.”

  Seraphina took a sip of tea, her expression calm:

  – “As I suspected. That criminal is on Earth, colluding with those here to exploit Velvet Crave.”

  Sophia nodded lightly:

  – “Sister, do you suspect who might be running that facility?”

  Seraphina narrowed her eyes, her gaze distant, as if piercing straight through the screen:

  – “There are countless extraction plants — perfumes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals… all pass through places like that. Once we follow the satellite trail, the rat’s tail will reveal itself sooner or later.”

  Sophia smiled faintly:

  – “You truly are formidable, Sister. But I worry… what if the one behind this is a major power?”

  Seraphina curled her lips:

  – “What is there to worry about? The Lord has always been impartial between public duty and private matters. Besides, Erion is now our son-in-law — he fears no one.”

  Sophia nodded gently:

  – “You’re right. I wonder if on Earth, the Lord and the children have uncovered any clues about the one operating in the shadows.”

  Seraphina set her teacup down and lightly dabbed her lips with a silk handkerchief:

  – “We have technology on both planets. They won’t be able to escape.”

  Meanwhile, on Earth — Vietnam. The first light of dawn began to appear. A new day had arrived.

  ***

  At C?u D?ng’s villa, the atmosphere was bustling. The daughters were surrounded by makeup artists and hairstylists, everyone busy preparing for the casting of a brand representative model. M? Linh stood with her arms crossed, observing critically:

  – “Add a bit more blush to Anh ?ào, her face looks too pale. And you — style Anh Ph??ng’s hair a bit more youthful.”

  C?u D?ng sipped his coffee, frowning:

  – “Not too much. You’re overdoing it — they’ll look like they’re heading to a circus.”

  M? Linh planted her hands on her hips:

  – “If our daughters get selected, the family’s reputation will rise too, you know.”

  ***

  At her husband’s home, Anh Th? stood in front of the mirror, touching up her makeup:

  – “Does my face look okay?”

  Huy, hanging up the dress he had just pressed, replied:

  – “You’re beautiful already. Keep the makeup light — too heavy makes you look older. I’ve finished ironing the dress; it’s hanging here.”

  Still focused on the mirror, Anh Th? said:

  – “Just leave it there for me. You get ready too — if we’re late, we’ll have to wait a long time.”

  ***

  Meanwhile, at the Th?o ?i?n villa, My was also busy preparing. Yet her mind felt strangely adrift, as if something unseen were tugging at it. Standing before the mirror, she paused, brows knitting slightly:

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  – “Why can’t I remember anything…?”

  The image of Trúc Di?n surfaced vaguely in her mind — too handsome, too striking — yet every concrete detail seemed shrouded in a thin mist.

  – “He’s so handsome… yet I can’t remember his features clearly at all…” she murmured.

  My stood in silence for a moment, then straightened up, opened her wardrobe, and took a deep breath:

  – “Whatever. What matters is winning this competition and becoming the representative model of a famous brand. When that happens, successful businessmen… will come to me of their own accord.”

  At a luxurious building in District 1, a lively atmosphere had already begun spreading early in the morning.

  The grand hall was arranged exactly to professional casting standards: A gleaming marble floor, high ceilings fitted with cool white studio lights, and multiple video cameras mounted on tripods aimed at the small stage up front. A long table for the judging panel was placed directly opposite the stage, with a backdrop printed with the brand’s logo behind it. Nearby, the visual director and the technical crew were in constant discussion.

  Grimm stood in the middle of the room, his sharp eyes sweeping over every corner. Watching the cleaning staff perform their final wipe-down, he spoke in a low but firm voice:

  – “Make sure you clean the tables and chairs thoroughly. Everything has to be spotless and neat — there’s no room for mistakes when it comes to the boss.”

  On the other side, Kane stood beside the director, personally checking the cameras. He leaned down to look at the preview monitor, adjusted the angle, then nodded:

  – “This one’s sharp, looks good. As for the contestants’ online profiles, print them out in numerical order, with names and ages attached. Whoever registered first goes in first.”

  The assistant seated in front of a laptop scrolled quickly through an Excel file:

  – “Yes, I’m doing a final check and will send it to print right away. The small gifts for the contestants are also ready. Per the boss’s instructions, whether they pass or not, each girl will receive a lipstick, a compact, blush, or a set of makeup brushes.”

  Kane chuckled softly, nodding in satisfaction:

  – “The boss really knows how to play it. A firm hand and a gentle touch — yet still earns a good reputation.”

  Grimm strode over to Kane and lowered his voice:

  – “The boss will be here soon. Move faster.”

  ***

  At Nicolas’s villa, inside a spacious walk-in wardrobe filled with famous brands, warm yellow lighting reflected off rows of neatly hung suits behind transparent glass panels. Nicolas slipped into an elegant brown suit, paired with a light coffee-colored shirt, his hair carefully styled. Standing before the mirror, he slowly adjusted his tie, every movement precise and confident.

  His gaze drifted to the laptop on the table. On the screen was a photo of Trang. The corner of his lips lifted slightly as he murmured almost under his breath:

  – “Good thing I saved it in time… a moment later and some damn system would’ve erased it. Hopefully you’ll come to the competition today.”

  After adjusting his cuffs, Nicolas shut the laptop, slipped it into his bag, then headed down to the basement garage. He started his sleek black Audi, and the car rolled out of the gate, heading straight toward the upcoming casting.

  Outside C?u D?ng’s villa, the girls had finished getting dressed, their faces neatly made up. C?u D?ng, M? Linh, along with Join and Mary, were all present.

  C?u D?ng looked around once before asking:

  – “Where’s Mrs. T?? I haven’t seen her all morning.”

  M? Linh locked the gate as she replied:

  – “She got heatstroke yesterday, so she went to see a doctor this morning.”

  C?u D?ng nodded and opened the car door:

  – “She’s getting old — who doesn’t get sick at that age? Tell her not to be stingy. Just buy the medicine exactly as prescribed; I’ll send her some extra money.”

  Anh Tú spoke up from behind:

  – “Huy and Th? probably went straight there already.”

  M? Linh nodded in agreement:

  – “After the audition, they’ll come back here. My daughter still needs to take care of her pregnancy.”

  Join glanced at his watch, urging them on:

  – “Let’s go now. If we’re late, we’ll have to line up — I heard it’s going to be crowded today.”

  Two cars rolled out one after another, leaving the District 2 villa area and heading toward the city center — where the casting awaited, along with schemes and turning points soon to be revealed.

  At the Gothic villa, the masters and their imp minions had everything fully prepared. The atmosphere was calm, yet taut like a drawn bowstring. Din adjusted his tie in front of the mirror, his voice steady:

  – “The Lord’s side has arrived as well. Bách Di?n just messaged me.”

  Erion curled his lips into a faint smile, utterly at ease:

  – “There’s no need to rush.”

  He glanced down at the encrypted laptop. The screen clearly displayed the casting location transmitted via satellite. Bright dots representing the crowd moved constantly:

  – “Quite a turnout. We’ll park near the convenience store — easy to observe without drawing attention.”

  ***

  At the event venue, the front lobby area was already packed with contestants and their companions. Everyone hurriedly fixed their hairstyles, reapplied lipstick and powder, their eyes filled with a mix of nervousness and ambition.

  By the roadside, two Cadillacs and a Porsche were quietly parked close together, appearing like luxury cars that had stopped by coincidentally — but inside was an intricate surveillance network.

  Inside the first Cadillac, Phong Túc and Bách Di?n had finished their disguises.

  Phong Túc wore the appearance of a 17-year-old schoolgirl, with a clear, innocent face and harmless eyes. Bách Di?n had transformed into a mature, elegant woman, alluring in a subtle way.

  The agents bowed their heads as they checked the equipment:

  – “General, Colonel, the recording devices and mini cameras are working perfectly. The signal is stable.”

  Phong Túc gave a slight nod, his voice cold beneath the youthful exterior:

  – “I suspect there’s more than one culprit. Their board of directors… I’m afraid they’re all monsters.”

  Bách Di?n looked outside through the tinted window:

  – “Their underlings too. But they’re just small fry. The key is the ringleader.”

  In the second Cadillac sat Trúc Di?n, Lita, Master V?nh, and the Grand Madam Advisor.

  Trúc Di?n leaned back lazily:

  – “Why did you suddenly decide to come along today?”

  The Grand Madam Advisor replied unhurriedly, her gaze deep and unfathomable:

  – “It’s been a long time since I’ve gone out. Besides, this matter involves cosmetics — my field. My knowledge is more useful than you think.”

  Inside the Porsche, Arian and H?ng Nhung were adjusting their listening devices. Arian put on his headphones, testing the signal:

  – “The audio’s smooth. We’ll hear everything through Phong Túc’s and Bách Di?n’s equipment.”

  H?ng Nhung slipped on her headset and glanced outside:

  – “I wonder if Erion’s group has arrived yet.”

  Arian chuckled softly, as if everything were already under control:

  – “For something like this, he and Din would never miss it.”

  He suddenly paused, his eyes flashing:

  – “There… they’re here.”

  A few steps away from Trúc Di?n’s group, two Bentleys and a Ferrari pulled up one after another in front of the convenience store. Din sat in the passenger seat, intently checking the bugging equipment:

  – “They think we’re tied hand and foot, unable to get close to them.”

  Erion smirked, his smile full of arrogance:

  – “Black Diamond’s people are everywhere. Trúc Di?n can’t even imagine the scale of my empire on the Dark Planet.”

  Professor Charles and Trang sat in the back seat. The imps occupied the second Bentley, while Yin and Chen were in the Ferrari.

  Everyone wore headsets, monitoring the images and audio displayed on their laptops.

  Inside the building, members of the judging panel — also the brand’s shareholders — appeared one by one. Beneath their glamorous businessperson fa?ades, all of them were monsters on Earth or extraterrestrial beings.

  A janitor bent over, wiping tables and chairs, his eyes stealthily scanning the room for suitable positions. He whispered into a tiny communicator hidden in his collar:

  – “I’ve attached the cameras to several artificial flower pots. There are some in the lounge as well.”

  At that moment, Kane walked over, his voice stern:

  – “Finished yet? The shareholders are here.”

  The janitor immediately bowed, playing his role perfectly:

  – “Yes, sir. I’ve made sure there’s not a speck of dust left.”

  Kane nodded in satisfaction:

  – “Good job. Go tell the receptionists to prepare tea and snacks.”

  – “Yes, sir. I’m on it.”

  The young man stood up and left, leaving behind a flawless stage for the casting… and for a covert game that was quietly beginning.

  The judging panel — who were also the brand’s shareholders — had taken their seats behind a long table draped in dark velvet. On the surface, they were elegant tycoons and business elites: tailored suits, gleaming luxury watches, exuding the unmistakable aura of money and power. Reception staff moved swiftly, serving premium tea and imported sweets, arranged with the refinement of a high-level diplomatic reception.

  An elegant woman in a pastel purple pantsuit took a sip of tea, her voice unhurried:

  – “The tea is excellent. Nicolas is always so thoughtful… though he’s late today, isn’t he?”

  The man in an ash-gray suit beside her glanced toward the glass entrance:

  – “Seems he hasn’t arrived yet. With this many contestants today, I think the preliminary round will take two or three days.”

  A younger man leaned back in his chair and sighed softly:

  – “Have any of you found someone yet? I’ve gone through all the application photos, and honestly… I couldn’t pick anyone. It’s not that they’re not pretty — it’s that they lack something. They lack presence, allure, that intangible spark.”

  The woman in the red dress frowned in agreement:

  – “You’re right. When I walked in, I glanced at a few of them — thick makeup, excessive cosmetic surgery. The person we need must have natural beauty, not just on the outside, but radiating from within. One look should reveal charisma — freedom, strength.”

  The man in the ash-gray suit nodded slowly:

  – “They say appearance reflects the soul. True beauty emanates from within.”

  At that moment, Nicolas arrived. He parked in the basement and took the elevator straight up to the lobby. Seeing the largest shareholde — also the brand’s chairman — everyone stood at once:

  – “Good afternoon, Chairman.”

  Nicolas nodded lightly, his tone calm:

  – “Thank you. Have you found anyone yet?”

  The judges exchanged glances; their dejection was obvious without a word. Nicolas wasn’t much better off. He opened his laptop and curled his lips into a half-smile:

  – “The one we need is nowhere to be found. The ones we don’t need are lining up outside.”

  The woman in the red dress asked curiously:

  – “Have you already chosen a model, Chairman? Who is she?”

  Nicolas shook his head, a hint of frustration in his voice:

  – “I couldn’t find any information about her. I only happened to see her in a single photo online, standing next to a contestant who did register.”

  The younger man immediately perked up:

  – “Let me see.”

  Nicolas turned the laptop toward them. On the screen appeared a photo of Trang, standing beside the girl with red-highlighted hair.

  The woman in the pastel purple suit gasped softly:

  – “The girl in the white áo Dài with the lotus hairpin, right? Her beauty is understated, but… there’s something wild about her features. Her gaze is proud.”

  The man in the ash-gray suit stared intently at the image, then suddenly exclaimed:

  – “Have you all looked closely at her eyes?”

  Nicolas startled and immediately zoomed in. He froze, his heart skipping a beat:

  – “These eyes… they’re blood-red. The lighting makes them look brown, but there are strange patterns around the irises.”

  The woman in the red dress chuckled lightly, reassuring him:

  – “She might just be wearing contact lenses. Those blood-red patterned lenses are popular with cosplayers.”

  Nicolas let out a breath, the weight on his chest easing:

  – “For a moment, I thought she wasn’t human — some kind of creature in disguise.”

  Just then, Grimm entered and bowed:

  – “Sir, all contestants have arrived. Shall we begin?”

  Nicolas nodded decisively:

  – “Let’s start. Tell Kane to double-check the order numbers, sound, lighting, and cameras.”

  Grimm quickly stepped out. Seconds later, his voice rang through the microphone:

  – “The casting for our brand’s representative model officially begins now. Online registration order has been recorded. Those who registered earlier will audition first. Please welcome our first contestant: Nguy?n Th? H?ng, 20 years old.”

  Immediately, a young woman stepped onto the stage. Her tight bodycon dress deliberately showcased her curves; every step was full of flaunted confidence, yet her eyes were empty — utterly devoid of that elusive spark.

  Kane maintained his polite smile:

  – “Please.”

  As the girl entered the presentation area, Kane tilted his head and whispered to Grimm:

  – “Standing there, she feels like… a walking wall.”

  Grimm bit his lip to suppress a laugh, casting a quick glance toward the judges:

  – “I saw them shaking their heads nonstop earlier. That said it all.”

  The casting continued, but deep in the shareholders’ hearts, the sense of waiting — for something extraordinary — quietly continued to grow.