Ch. 1501..1510
Chapter 1501: The Dawn Society is very rich
After entering, Tan Rou and Samiyi were blinded by the dazzling conference hall, originally believing the entrance was so bright because of many lights inside, but after they entered, they realized it wasn’t just the lights.
“Is this… are these gems?” Samiyi exclaimed, “Are they gems or mirrors?”
Tan Rou touched the wall and then answered, “Based on my experience, these are all gems.” As an owner of several gem mines, having seen no fewer than eight thousand gems, how could she fail to recognize them?
“Such extravagance!” Samiyi felt an instant imbalance in her heart, “Even my palace doesn’t have so many beautiful gems, just look at this one, it’s bigger than an egg.”
Tan Rou cautioned, “Keep your voice down, don’t reveal your identity here.”
Samiyi was still uncomfortable, but she didn’t continue on that topic, “I hope they are really doing something meaningful for the people.”
...
“Whether they are doing something meaningful or not, we can only find out after investigating,” Tan Rou said, “Let’s not stay here too long, otherwise they’ll notice something’s off.”
So the two blended into the crowd, heading towards the right. The underground venue was very large, with plenty of seats to accommodate more than three hundred people, but it looked like there weren’t that many today, only about two hundred or so.
Samiyi and Tan Rou chose a relatively inconspicuous place to sit. As they sat down, they once again marveled at how wealthy the Dawn Society truly was, with each person’s table equipped with headphones and electronic display screens, all of which looked very expensive.
Being a professional, Tan Rou took a quick glance and concluded, “This is a product developed by M country scientists at the beginning of this year, currently not widely sold by M country. They only sell it to countries they have good relations with, or to very wealthy individuals.”
Clearly, the Dawn Society was not a representative of any nation, so that left only one other possibility.
Samiyi’s expression was as if she had eaten a hundred sour lemons, envious of the Dawn Society, wondering why such a cult organization could have so much money, whereas she, a princess truly wanting to achieve great things, couldn’t even afford to hire some extra mercenaries.
Tan Rou, on the other hand, continued to fiddle with the high-tech equipment in front of her, considering whether her company could also introduce such devices. That way, she wouldn’t always have to go to the company for meetings.
It would be best if it could be turned into a portable omnidirectional projection system, making it more convenient for the staff to view, and saving time and space.
The two had their own thoughts, but at that moment, they shared one thought, that the Dawn Society was indeed very wealthy.
“Children, let’s all settle down now!” Gand ascended to the stage, all the lights converging on him. He shone like a god, his whole being radiating light.
Upon closer observation, his outfit was indeed reflective, and for no other reason than it was adorned with many clear diamonds that glittered under the light like he himself was glowing.
“My eyes are going blind!” Samiyi couldn’t help but exclaim.
As soon as she spoke, the people beside her cast unfriendly glances at her, with someone making a “shush” gesture, indicating for her to be quiet.
Samiyi immediately covered her mouth and nodded, “Mmm-hmm.”
Gand, unaware of the incident, continued benevolently, “Children, are you tired?”
As Tan Rou and Samiyi pondered how to respond, the other members of the Dawn Society started chanting.
“Dawn, dawn, for our dawn, we fear nothing!” the crowd shouted, “We fear not darkness, nor fatigue, only Dawn is the true path!”
Tan Rou and Samiyi: “…” The Dawn Society was definitely a cult, with so many slogans like this, what else could it be?
“Excellent, I like your answer,” Gand said with a smile, “Now, please enjoy the gifts from Dawn.”
No sooner had he spoken than the tables in front of everyone opened up, revealing a cup of hot coffee with some small pastries on the side, crafted in the shape of the sun.
Chapter 1502: 1501 Meet the New Member
When the table opened, Samiyi was already too surprised to speak, and when food appeared inside the table, she was even more astonished.
“How could there be food?” Samiyi asked subconsciously, “Wasn’t it said that there was nothing to eat?”
But this time, nobody reminded her to keep silent because the people at the venue were also very shocked; it was their first time seeing such a scene.
“Children, do not be surprised, do not panic,” Gand said, “This is a gift bestowed upon us by Dawn; you may enjoy it to your heart’s content.”
Hearing that it was a gift from Dawn, nobody else spoke. They closed their eyes, said a silent prayer, and then started to taste the food.
Tan Rou and Samiyi dared not eat, wondering what the Dawn Society might have included inside. If they had put some drug in the food that could control people, then they certainly wouldn’t dare to eat.
...
Luckily, nobody was watching them closely. They picked up pastries, pretended to eat, but actually crumbled the pastries and hid them inside their clothes. Fortunately, the Dawn Society only required them to wear their ceremonial robes on the outside; otherwise, Tan Rou and her companion would have really had no place to hide anything.
As for the coffee, they also did not plan to drink it. If anyone were to ask why they weren’t drinking, they’d say they weren’t sleepy yet and would drink it when they felt sleepy.
When the time reached two o’clock in the morning, the Dawn Society’s meeting officially began. The group chanted a long slogan before starting the main topic of the day.
Gand was still smiling as he said, “I believe many people have noticed the situation in this meeting. Our members are increasing, which shows that our Dawn Society is indeed everyone’s ultimate destination. The nobility cannot lead us towards a beautiful dawn; only we can create a beautiful future for ourselves!”
After he finished speaking, everyone started clapping, which lasted about three seconds. After the applause ended, he continued.
“Our Dawn Society can attract not only the locals but also foreigners,” Gand continued, “In the past few days, we have had a foreign friend join us; she was attracted by our doctrine and decided to become one of us. Now let us welcome her arrival with a round of warm applause!”
Tan Rou was preparing to clap along with everyone when suddenly a beam of yellow light fell on her. She reflexively raised her hand to block the light, “What’s happening?”
Samiyi reacted quickly, whispering, “Gand means that you’ve also become a person of the Dawn Society.”
Tan Rou did not want to stand out at this moment, but the spotlight was already on her, and if she didn’t step forward, she might arouse Gand’s suspicion.
However, she had not forgotten the persona she was maintaining. When all eyes converged on her, she asked, “Why is this light falling on me? I don’t think I did anything wrong, did I?”
Gand smiled and said, “Please come to the stage, my child; this is your glory.”
What nonsense glory, Tan Rou didn’t care for it at all; she just wanted to stay quietly here until five o’clock and did not wish to be on stage, viewed by others like an animal in a zoo. So Tan Rou continued to sit in her seat, pretending not to understand Gand’s words.
Samiyi also stayed silent, seeing that Tan Rou did not want to go up on stage. In fact, she did not want Tan Rou to go up there either; what if someone in the audience recognized her?
Gand remained composed on the stage, but the other members were not pleased with Tan Rou’s behavior, beginning to denounce her.
“Rude foreigner, Uncle Gand called you to the stage, didn’t you hear?” a young girl said, frowning.
“Why would there be a foreigner? Foreigners are so arrogant, they just don’t fit with our Dawn Society,” another member remarked.
And someone with a rich imagination speculated it was a foreign conspiracy, “She must be a spy sent by a foreign country.”
Hearing many discordant voices in the venue, Gand immediately asked them to quiet down, “Doesn’t our new foreign member wish to come onstage and interact with us?”
With words at that point, it would be impolite of Tan Rou to continue refusing.
She stood up, but Samiyi grabbed her hand, shaking her head at her.
“It’s okay, I can go up by myself,” Tan Rou said to her with a gentle smile.
Chapter 1503: 1502 provocative behavior
Samiyi wanted to accompany her, but Gand stopped her. Gand said, “Sally, please sit in your seat.”
Samiyi asked, “Why does my friend have to go up to the stage? It was me who passed the assessment, not her, she just came with me. If you let her up on stage, then I’m going up with her too.”
Her words triggered a discussion among others, for it was also their first time encountering someone who hadn’t passed the assessment but could stay here.
Gand calmly said, “My child, you don’t need to get upset. In the equal and peaceful Dawn Society, no one will hurt your friend.”
Samiyi still wanted to say something, but Zhuang Rou stopped her. Zhuang Rou said, “Sally, I can go up on my own, with so many people here, I’m sure I won’t encounter any danger.” She winked at Samiyi.
Samiyi was still worried about Zhuang Rou going up alone, but since Zhuang Rou had asked her to remain calm and wait below, she could only wait patiently.
...
“Mr. Gand, where should I go now?” Zhuang Rou looked around. “Left or right?”
They were seated on the right, so in theory, she should have gone straight up from the right, but she didn’t move, deliberately asking Gand several pointless questions.
Gand answered, “You may come up from the right.”
Zhuang Rou nodded her head, then asked, “Should I step up with my left foot or my right foot first?”
Her question really lacked substance, which made many in the audience voice their dissatisfaction.
“What’s going on? Does she really need to ask this kind of question?”
“Didn’t Mr. Gand say to go from the right? Does this foreigner have a hearing problem?”
Faced with Zhuang Rou’s questions, Gand still answered very calmly, “Just follow your usual walking habits.”
“Alright.” Zhuang Rou left her seat and walked towards the stage.
It was only after she had stepped onto the stage that a smile returned to Gand’s face, “Miss Zhuang Rou, please stand in the middle.”
Zhuang Rou walked to the center, “Is this where I should stand?”
Gand nodded.
Zhuang Rou looked at her position and then at the audience below, feeling speechless. Why had she come along with Samiyi to attend this gathering?
Gand said, “Although Miss Zhuang Rou is not a member of the Dawn Society, her presence here indicates that she acknowledges the principles of the Dawn Society.”
Zhuang Rou feigned ignorance, “Ah? What principles does the Dawn Society have?”
There was a fleeting change in Gand’s expression, but he returned to normal and said, “Joining the Dawn Society is the key to a beautiful life.”
“Oh, oh, oh.” Zhuang Rou acted as if she suddenly understood, “But I’m not from your country, so can I still have the beautiful life of your country?”
Gand spoke softly, “Of course, every person has the right to embrace the dawn, and you are no exception.”
Zhuang Rou deliberately asked, “What exactly does a beautiful future entail? Money, a house, or perhaps a high degree and a great job?”
Gand said, “All of those. Once you become a member of the Dawn Society, you can have them all.”
If this had been two days earlier, Zhuang Rou definitely would not have believed Gand, but having seen what this venue had to offer, she did not doubt that the Dawn Society could provide such a beautiful life for its members.
Yet, she was not a citizen of J country, and all these benefits seemed irrelevant to her; the gifts she received for her birthday were far better than what the Dawn Society promised. Houses and cars, as well as a job—she already had them, so why should she join the Dawn Society?
“Actually, I am a rich girl.” Zhuang Rou said casually, “I had an argument with my parents and then I came abroad to meet my online friend. My friend Sally had no idea that I am a rich girl, which is why she thought to bring me to the Dawn Society for a beautiful life.”
Samiyi was so shocked she almost stood up. What was Zhuang Rou talking about? She had no idea that Zhuang Rou had such an identity.
Zhuang Rou’s words put Gand into deep thought. He asked, “What are you trying to say?”
Zhuang Rou said, “I’m saying, I already have the life you promise. So, do I still need to join the Dawn Society?”
Gand was no fool; he could hear that this foreign woman was challenging him. If it were someone else, they might have gotten angry, but Gand would not.
Chapter 1504: 1503 terrible girl
Gand spoke calmly, “Miss Zhuang Rou, this is the Dawn Society, where everyone is equal regardless of their previous identity. If you don’t want such a life, that’s fine, but please don’t flaunt it here. We are all ordinary people, and there is no need to show off your superiority here.”
Tan Rou smiled, “Mr. Gand truly is a magnanimous person, capable of dealing with provocations from others with such composure. I greatly admire that.”
Gand said, “Thank you for your compliment. So, may I have your attention now?”
“Certainly,” said Tan Rou. “But before you speak, I have something to explain.”
Gand made a “please go ahead” gesture, “You may speak.”
With an indifferent expression, Tan Rou remarked, “Actually, everything I just said was a lie. I just wanted to test what kind of organization the Dawn Society really is. Now that I’ve tested it, I’ve found that the Dawn Society is a warm and peaceful family, and Mr. Gand is a very inclusive person, so I like it here very much.”
...
As soon as she finished speaking, Gand responded, “It’s normal for Miss Zhuang Rou to think this way. You are a foreigner and must be wary of organizations in a strange country. Therefore, I am not angry about your test; instead, I consider your approach to be good.”
Afterwards, Gand addressed the members below, “Dear children, remember this, at all times, we must not let our guard down, otherwise our Dawn Society could be exposed.”
Tan Rou thought to herself, I’m sorry, but you’ve already been exposed.
After his speech, Gand said to Tan Rou, “Miss Zhuang Rou, the reason I asked you to come up to the stage today is to perform a piece for everyone. I’ve prepared the necessary props, you just need to perform.”
Tan Rou had never performed in public before, nor had anyone dared to force her on stage. If it weren’t for a special circumstance, Tan Rou would normally watch others perform from the audience or as a judge.
Upon hearing Gand’s request for her to perform publicly, Tan Rou felt the anger rushing to her head, about to spew from her mouth.
But she restrained herself and asked in a displeased tone, “Mr. Gand, what kind of performance are you expecting from me?”
Gand clapped his hands, and immediately a table covered with golden cloth was brought forward.
Upon seeing that table, Tan Rou began to speculate about what was inside. Judging by the imprint on the cloth, it seemed to be a long box, twenty centimeters in length, and irregularly shaped; wider on one side and narrower on the other.
What was inside? Tan Rou stared at the table. When the table was placed in front of her, she suddenly realized what was inside.
It could be a gun.
When the golden cloth was removed, it confirmed Tan Rou’s guess. Inside was indeed a pitch-black gun, which looked new, as if it had never been used.
Tan Rou asked, “Mr. Gand, what does this mean? Surely you’re not asking me to demonstrate shooting, are you?”
“Not at all,” Gand replied. “The abilities you displayed the other night intrigued me, and I’ve been wanting to see Miss Zhuang Rou’s strength. As we have many people here today, please showcase it for us again.”
Tan Rou’s expression became very serious. The events of that night were only known to the patrol soldiers and Samiyi. How did Gand know she could use a gun?
Wait, she seemed to have overlooked someone. The girl named Ina was also there that night; she was the one who brought them to the Dawn Society.
But when they encountered Ina, the gunfight was already over; Ina should not have seen it. Unless…
Tan Rou furrowed her brow in thought, unless Ina had been watching them for a long time, observing from the moment they appeared on that street. Ina was there all along, but they had not noticed.
Looking down from the stage, Ina was sitting right in the middle, wearing a radiant smile, as if she really was an innocent and kind young girl.
What a fearsome girl! Not only was she unafraid of patrol soldiers, but she also did not fear guns. She even dared to rescue people while being hunted by them, which showed her incredibly bold nature.
Chapter 1505: 1504 requires a target
“`
“Hehe.” Tan Rou picked up the gun from the box, weighing it in her hands. The gun was real, the safety was not engaged, and she had no idea if there were any bullets inside.
“Miss Zhuang Rou, please begin your performance,” Gand said.
Tan Rou put the gun down and asked, “What do you want me to perform? Disassemble the gun in one minute? Or aim and shoot?”
“If Miss Zhuang Rou wishes to demonstrate, then either is fine,” Gand responded, not particular about it. “There’s still plenty of time, Miss Zhuang Rou, you can fully demonstrate your capabilities.”
“Then I’ll perform both,” Tan Rou said, glancing at the black gun before adding to Gand, “But I need a target when I shoot. That means, if I take the gun, there must be a target for me to shoot at, otherwise, I won’t shoot.”
...
“What kind of target do you need?” Gand asked. “We’ll prepare it.”
“I need an apple and a person,” Tan Rou arranged, saying, “Someone standing ten meters away, an apple on their head as the target, after I assemble the gun, I’ll shoot the apple.”
Tan Rou’s suggestion was met with opposition from the members of the Dawn Society; they disagreed with using a person as a target, only agreeing to provide an apple.
“If you’re so unwilling, then I don’t need to perform,” Tan Rou made a dismissive expression, “You asked me to perform, but now you’re not cooperating with my act. What do you expect me to do?”
Gand asked everyone else to be quiet, then inquired, “What kind of partner do you need?”
“I need a partner who is brave and calm,” Tan Rou said, looking at Gand, “Mr. Gand, I think you would be a perfect fit. How about you be the apple holder?”
Tan Rou’s new proposal met with even more objections. They all felt this foreign woman was being too outrageous, why should Mr. Gand act as a target for her?
“Agreed.” Gand was indeed very calm, he said, “I can participate in your performance since it was I who asked you to perform. However, you must also promise me to deliver the perfect show.”
Tan Rou wanted to laugh. Was Gand reminding her not to miss?
“If I don’t shoot accurately, my life will be the compensation,” Tan Rou said very calmly, “The Dawn Society has so many members here, if I end up killing you with one shot, these people won’t let me go either. For the safety of your life and mine, I must prepare thoroughly.”
The performance began; Tan Rou and Gand took their positions, with Gand having the apple on his head and Tan Rou applying some anti-slip powder to her hands.
This was a new gun, and disassembling it would be a challenge. If Tan Rou couldn’t reassemble the new gun or assembled it incorrectly, things would certainly become interesting.
Would she be blown up first, or would Gand be taken out with a single shot, or would they both emerge unscathed? Nobody knew the outcome, not even the two preparing to perform on the stage.
Tan Rou spoke of disassembling the gun in one minute, but Gand gave her three minutes to disassemble, assemble, and shoot the gun. If Tan Rou’s hands were fast enough, three minutes would be unnecessary.
Tan Rou had handled this type of pistol before. Back in the lab, they would assemble and disassemble guns blindfolded, so doing it now with her eyes open reduced the difficulty somewhat.
As the timer started, Tan Rou’s hands moved so fast one could only see afterimages, and the only sound in the entire venue was that of the gun being disassembled, broadcasted through the microphone. Full-range cameras on the stage captured every moment, which was then displayed on screens in front of each audience member.
Samiyi kept her eyes glued to the screen. Her heart was racing; had she been on stage, she would have stopped Tan Rou from accepting Gand’s request. They might as well have fallen out with the Dawn Society, as she didn’t want Tan Rou to perform at all.
However, Tan Rou had already started disassembling the gun, so Samiyi couldn’t interfere, only sit and quietly watch the screen.
Tan Rou’s hands were too quick; even the high-definition cameras failed to capture all her movements. While everyone was still immersed in the disassembling actions, Tan Rou had already taken the gun apart. It took less than a minute, so next was the assembly.
Her pace remained swift. When the timer hit one minute and fifty-two seconds, she had the gun assembled. Then she aimed the gun at Gand, the bullet now chambered.
“`
Chapter 1506: Send out an invitation at 1505
Everyone was tense, unsure of the foreign woman’s skills, but judging by the speed at which she disassembled the gun, she should be familiar with firearms.
But being familiar with guns doesn’t mean she had good shooting skills. After all, that’s a human head as the target. If her bullet were to veer off course, Gand would be as good as dead.
Tan Rou raised her gun at Gand and asked, “Mr. Gand, are you scared?”
Gand’s expression was very calm as he slowly said, “If I claimed I was not scared, I’d definitely be lying. However, I trust your abilities, and I trust Ina’s words, so you may fire when ready.”
Tan Rou glanced at the audience and saw that ninety-nine percent had nervous and scared looks on their faces. Only that one percent looked excited, and that person was none other than the teenage girl, Ina.
Ina was extremely thrilled, clenching her fists, her eyes wide open, all the while speaking. The distance was too great and Ina’s voice too soft, so Tan Rou couldn’t make out what she was saying.
...
Tan Rou turned back to Gand, “Mr. Gand, if my aim isn’t good and I accidentally shoot you dead, would you blame me?”
Gand replied, “No, I am the one who asked you to perform. If you have any dissatisfaction with my request and you end up shooting me dead, then I have nothing to say. On one hand, it’s trouble I asked for myself, and on the other, I would be dead and unable to seek revenge.”
If not for being on opposing sides, Tan Rou might actually admire the chairman. People need to go out into the world more, after all. It’s only by seeing more that one discovers there are many interesting individuals in the world.
Considering Mr. Gand was an intriguing person, and Tan Rou admired interesting individuals, she decided not to let her hand slip on purpose.
Tan Rou set the gun down, her eyes shifting to the timer on the table, still twenty seconds to go, twenty, nineteen, eighteen…
Just when everyone thought Tan Rou didn’t dare to shoot, she quickly raised the gun again, and this time without hesitation, she shattered the apple on Gand’s head with a single shot.
Timid people screamed at the sound of the gunshot, while those with more courage dared to keep their eyes open and look up at the stage. When they only saw the apple burst, everyone was both shocked and delighted.
Samiyi let out a long sigh of relief, patting her chest, and collapsed into her chair, saying, “Thank goodness it’s over.”
Tan Rou put the gun down and then stood waiting for Gand to come over, “Mr. Gand, are you satisfied with the performance?”
“Satisfied,” Gand said with a smile: “I wasn’t wrong about you.”
Tan Rou caught a glimpse of Gand’s trembling legs underneath his robe and couldn’t help but laugh, “Haha, I’m glad you’re satisfied.”
It took Gand quite a while to walk over from the other end of the stage to Tan Rou, “Miss Zhuang Rou, you are a person of great ability. Our Dawn Society is in need of talents like you, so I hereby extend a formal invitation for you to join our Dawn Society!”
Tan Rou paused for ten seconds, then said, “Mr. Gand, I don’t like to guess what others think, so whatever you want to say to me, please hurry.”
Gand came in front of Tan Rou, handed her the gun from the table, and said, “The Dawn Society lacks a cadre who knows how to use a gun. Would you consider staying?”
“Ah?” This time it was Tan Rou who was confused, “I don’t really understand what you mean. Are you asking me to stay and be an assassin for the Dawn Society?”
Gand shook his head gently, “The term ‘assassin’ is too unpleasant. We prefer to call it the Dawn Defense Force.”
Such a second-dimensional name, the Dawn Defense Force, Tan Rou thought something like Dragon and Tiger Army sounded far better.
“Hmm… and if I refuse?” Tan Rou said, “You’re very much aware, I’m not from this country. I came here to look for friends, and once I’ve had enough fun, I will go home.”
“That’s alright. You can stay here a bit longer,” Gand said as if it were the most natural thing in the world: “This too is your home.”
Heh, Tan Rou scoffed in her mind. The last thing she wanted to do was live in this creepy place.
“I’ll consider it,” Tan Rou changed her tone, “Give me three days to think it over, and I will give you my answer at the next meeting.”
Chapter 1507: 1506 stays alone
Gand did not rush; he agreed with the time Tan Rou suggested, “I hope that when we meet again, Miss Zhuang Rou can give a satisfying answer.”
Tan Rou smiled faintly, “Of course.”
After the performance ended, Gand began today’s meeting. The procedure was rather simple: he first talked about the philosophy of the Dawn Society, then the current situation of the society, and finally, he assigned tasks.
It turned out that not all of the people who came today were members from the royal city; only about a dozen were from the royal city, while the rest were from other places. However, unlike the members from the royal city—who met every three days—these members met every half a month.
From this meeting, Tan Rou and Samiyi did not gain much useful information, but they saw the wealth and technological strength of the Dawn Society. If the Dawn Society were allowed to continue developing, the royal family’s rule could be endangered.
“Today’s gathering will end here, and let’s recite our slogan once again!” Gand announced, “And before leaving, I would like to ask a few members of the Dawn Society to stay behind.”
...
“He’s not going to ask you to stay again, is he?” Taking advantage of the slogan recitation, Samiyi whispered into Tan Rou’s ear, “If he asks you to stay again, I will smash this place.”
Tan Rou laughed and cried at the same time, “Calm down, I haven’t been hurt.”
Samiyi said sadly, “You are my friend; I should protect you, but now I can do nothing.”
Tan Rou patted Samiyi on the shoulder and said softly, “It’s okay. Since I’ve decided to help you, I won’t hesitate. Don’t worry, I can protect myself. You also saw today that I wasn’t the one embarrassed on stage.”
When Samiyi heard Tan Rou mention the stage incident, she couldn’t help but laugh and asked, “When you were on stage today, did you ever think of blowing his head off with a shot?”
Tan Rou raised an eyebrow and countered, “What do you think?”
If they weren’t here today, but in a place where escape was convenient, or if this incident happened in the royal palace, Tan Rou would never let Gand leave unscathed.
Even if she didn’t blow his head off, she would have to shoot a hole in him. Gand must have thought his life was too long to dare to make her perform marksmanship.
The slogan was quickly finished, and Gand read out the names of those who needed to stay behind. He called them out one by one, naming a few minor leaders not from the royal city, and the last one was Tan Rou.
“Miss Zhuang Rou, I must trouble you to stay a little longer, I have something to say to you,” Gand said very politely.
Samiyi demanded, “If you want my friend to stay, then I must stay too. I’m not comfortable with her being here alone.”
Gand nodded slightly, “Sally can stay as well, but you cannot join the following meeting. You will meet your friend after our meeting is over.”
Samiyi knew Gand would not allow her to join the smaller meeting, so she agreed to Gand’s arrangement, “Fine, I will wait for her outside.”
After everyone had left, Gand took Tan Rou and a few others to the study to discuss matters, while Samiyi waited in the living room for Tan Rou.
Samiyi cautioned Tan Rou, “Don’t agree to their impolite requests. If you are in danger, you can shout for me, and I will definitely come to rescue you.”
Tan Rou didn’t really need Samiyi to rescue her with her abilities, but she still accepted her friend’s kindness, “Okay, I got it.”
Tan Rou followed Gand into the study and noticed that Gand’s study was quite simple, without many precious decorations, nor dazzling lights; it was just an ordinary study.
“You should know why I wanted you to stay behind separately, don’t you?” Gand asked.
Everyone else answered, except for Tan Rou, who remained silent.
“Miss Zhuang Rou, do you know why I did not let your friend join us?” Gand asked Tan Rou specifically.
Tan Rou wanted to continue pretending she didn’t understand, but Gand used commonly known words, so she could only reply, “I don’t know.”
Gand smiled faintly, “Because I noticed that you speak the language of J country very well, and you do not need your friend to translate for you. Unlike your friend, she probably does not speak your country’s language, does she?”
A jolt went through Tan Rou’s heart, what strong observational skills this man had!
Chapter 1508: 1507 strong opponents
Tan Rou appeared very calm. “Mr. Gand, you should be well aware that as a foreigner, it is better to keep a low profile when in your country. I do not like to show off in crowded places, and the only reason I performed today is that I strongly agree with your philosophy and like the members of the Dawn Society. Otherwise, I would never perform.”
Gand was pleased with her answer. “Miss Zhuang Rou, although you have not been truthful many times, I still want to trust you. If you’d like to come here, then I will welcome you with open doors.”
Tan Rou’s expression became very serious, and it was no wonder Gand discovered she could speak the language of J country, mainly because she and Samiyi had been careless. Samiyi did not speak the language of Tan Rou’s country, so he could not act as a translator. It was a misstep; she should have provided Samiyi with a translator to assist him.
“I said I would seriously consider it, and I will certainly give you a response,” Tan Rou no longer pretended after being found out. She fluently used the language of J country, “However, Mr. Gand need not pressure me too much. After all, I am not a citizen of your country, and I can leave whenever I want. Mr. Gand, you cannot stop me.”
Gand just smiled and remained silent.
This made Tan Rou feel confused again. How powerful was this Gand? He always seemed to know everything, and his Dawn Society was well-funded and well-equipped, making him a formidable opponent for Samiyi.
...
Samiyi wanted to use the Dawn Society to deal with those nobles, but Gand was no fool. Would he really let Samiyi manipulate him? Or could he see through Samiyi’s intentions?
It had always been Tan Rou and Gand speaking, while some leaders of the Dawn Society simply sat quietly on the couch. They did not comment on the conversation as if they had heard nothing.
Only when Gand spoke to them did they begin to respond to his questions.
“Is the equipment in Zone A ready?” Gand asked one of them.
The person in charge of Zone A immediately replied, “Yes, it was all in place yesterday morning. Our people have distributed the equipment, and each small area has spare equipment.”
Gand nodded slightly, then asked another person, “Have you resolved the issue with the food shortage you mentioned last time?”
The person in charge of Zone B answered, “It’s resolved. The people who received the food have expressed their willingness to follow the orders of the Dawn Society.”
“Hmm,” Gand said, “Just make them follow orders, and develop a few outstanding individuals among them to become our members. As for the ordinary people, do not let them access the core areas of our Dawn Society.”
The person in charge of Zone B said, “Some people have strongly requested to join our Dawn Society, but their physical condition is not suitable. We have refused many times, and currently, they have some reservations about our Dawn Society.”
Gand offered a solution, “Tell them the God of Dawn will look after everyone, but they must follow the arrangements of the Messenger of Dawn, otherwise the food they now have will be taken back by the God of Dawn.”
Gand addressed everyone’s concerns one by one, and it was unclear whether he was intentionally speaking for Tan Rou to hear. He did not exclude her when discussing secrets.
Tan Rou sat there quietly, unable to fathom Gand’s thoughts. Yet, she could feel his competence, as he could remember everyone’s name and kept the details of each place clearly in mind. Some issues were just minor inconveniences, but Gand patiently provided solutions.
It was almost dawn, and Gand’s conversation ended. He let the others leave, but he kept Tan Rou behind.
“Miss Zhuang Rou, I hope that the next time we meet, you can be more genuine.” Gand looked at Tan Rou, “There are no conflicts of interest between us, nor do we wish any to arise, because our aims are the same.”
Gand’s words left Tan Rou very confused. What aim? What could be the purpose of a foreigner like Tan Rou? She didn’t desire to be a king; she just wanted to do her job well.
“Hmm, I will consider your proposal.” Tan Rou glanced at the window, “It’s already dawn. I think I should leave now.”
Gand nodded, “Hmm, your friend is waiting for you outside. She and Ina are having a very pleasant conversation.”
Chapter 1509: 1508 girl Ina
Tan Rou’s mind was filled with doubts again, why did Gand tell her that Samiyi was chatting with Ina? Moreover, he had been sitting in the study without looking at his phone or any other electronic devices, how did he know that Samiyi and Ina were happily chatting?
“Alright, I’ll go find her now,” Tan Rou walked out of the study unhurriedly, trying her best to remain calm. Luckily, it was her who had come to the study. If it had been the more hot-tempered Samiyi, she probably would have exposed herself already.
No, Tan Rou couldn’t be certain she hadn’t exposed herself, because Gand’s words were so strange that she couldn’t help but be on guard.
After leaving the study, Tan Rou indeed saw Samiyi in the living room, happily chatting with Ina, as she combed the little girl’s hair, who was clearly enjoying the process.
“Sally, it’s time for us to leave,” Tan Rou called out.
Samiyi responded, “Wait for me, I want to finish combing Ina’s hair first.”
...
Ina held a mirror in her hands and looked very happy, the smile on her face was sweet, not the eerie smile that Tan Rou had seen before.
“Done,” Samiyi returned the comb to Ina, “Does your hair look pretty, Ina?”
Ina nodded very happily, “It’s very pretty, thank you, Sister Sally!”
Samiyi said, “Then we should leave now, next time I come, I’ll comb a new hairstyle for you.”
Ina squinted and smiled, waving goodbye to Samiyi and her, “Make sure to come next time, sisters.”
After leaving the Dawn Society, Tan Rou and Samiyi did not head straight back to the royal city but made a large detour before taking a small path back to the royal city.
On their way back, Samiyi and Tan Rou chatted about Ina’s story.
“Ina is an orphan,” Samiyi said, “She isn’t from the royal city; she came here after being adopted by the Dawn Society. The person who adopted her was Gand, but usually, she only calls Gand uncle. Her parents died in a terrorist attack that occurred in a border area where the control has always been chaotic. After her parents died, Ina started to drift.”
“That’s quite pitiful,” Tan Rou felt sorry for the little girl, “Such a young age and she’s lost her parents.”
Samiyi was silent for a moment, then said, “She is a pitiable girl, but she doesn’t seem to be sad about her parents’ departure, how should I say this, there seems to be something wrong with her mind.”
“Something wrong with her mind?” Tan Rou recalled Ina’s behavior, “Her actions were indeed a bit strange, but she doesn’t seem to have intellectual issues.”
“Not an intelligence issue,” Samiyi said, “She seems to lack empathy, unable to feel sadness or pain. And when I asked her how old she was, she couldn’t give a clear answer, maybe ten, maybe twenty. After that, she just laughed at me.”
Connecting this to the scene of Ina handing out clothes the night before, and considering her own conjectures on stage today, Tan Rou came to a conclusion.
“Samiyi, this girl named Ina is definitely not as simple as she seems,” Tan Rou said, “Perhaps she noticed us from the beginning, she was already following us when we came out from the Faler family.”
“Ah?” Samiyi, hardly believing, “How would she have discovered us?”
“I don’t know,” Tan Rou shook her head, “The reason Gand had me perform on stage to dismantle guns is because he said he knew my strength. I remember that night we met Ina later on, if she was the one who told Gand, that means she had been following us before we noticed her.”
Samiyi’s mood was very complicated; she didn’t want to imagine Ina as a frightening person, but Tan Rou’s words left her conflicted.
“We should be more cautious, and try to avoid contact with Ina in the future,” Tan Rou saw that Samiyi was a bit upset; after all, Samiyi had just combed Ina’s hair, which showed she liked Ina to some extent.
“By the way, how did you start chatting with Ina?” Tan Rou realized another problem, “Did Ina approach you to talk, or did you approach Ina?”
Chapter 1510: The Crisis in the Shadows
“Ina came to me on her own,” Samiyi said, “She brought a foreign magazine and pointed to a young model in a photo saying she liked the model’s hairstyle and wanted me to do a pretty one for her. So I did her hair.”
“Have you not noticed a problem?” Tan Rou asked.
Samiyi didn’t think there was an issue, “What problem?”
“After staying up all night, what do you feel like doing now?” Tan Rou said, “Anyway, all I want to do is sleep.”
Samiyi seemed to have realized something, her eyes suddenly widened, “That’s not right, we’re about to go to sleep, why would Ina want me to do her hair? And Ina is a child, why would she attend a meeting with us?”
Ina didn’t look very old, and a child of that age shouldn’t stay up late. Also, could Ina really understand what they were talking about? Samiyi couldn’t figure it out.
...
Tan Rou still remembered the smile she saw on stage, a smile that wasn’t of an innocent young girl.
“When I was on stage, she smiled at me,” Tan Rou told Samiyi what she had seen, “Her smile was terrifying, and her expression was strange, like a hunter watching their prey walk into a trap.”
Samiyi felt a chill creep over her scalp, “How many secrets is this Dawn Society hiding?”
When it came to secrets, Tan Rou was upfront with Samiyi, “My cover about not being fluent in J-country’s language has been blown. Gand noticed our abnormal behavior early on, and he also realized that you don’t speak our national language, so we can no longer use that as an excuse.”
This time Samiyi wasn’t surprised, but rather annoyed, “It must have been while we were communicating that he found out.”
“It’s not just that,” Tan Rou said, “Haven’t you noticed he’s been separating us? Last time it wasn’t obvious, but this time he keeps talking to me alone, and we haven’t shown too much irregularity.”
“According to my previous cover, I should have found much of what he said incomprehensible, but we overlooked this point in our communication, sometimes I spoke more than you did.”
Samiyi felt so stupid she could cry, holding her forehead, she said, “I’m such an idiot.”
Tan Rou laughed, “We’re both fools.”
The two careless “fools” cautiously head towards the royal palace, unaware that a greater crisis awaited them in a place they couldn’t see.
In the study of Dawn Society’s villa, Gand was watching the video from early this morning, satisfied with today’s performance.
“Have they left?” Gand asked.
“They’ve left,” Ina said cheerily, “I watched them head towards the royal palace with my own eyes.”
“My dear Ina, you did very well!” Gand reached out to stroke Ina’s hair, “Sweetheart, your hairstyle looks very pretty today.”
“Hehe, Princess did it for me,” Ina replied.
Gand corrected her, “Ina, there are no princesses here, only Sally.”
Ina nodded and corrected herself, “It was Sally who did my hairstyle, I like it a lot.”
“But you need to go rest now,” Gand said.
“I’m not sleepy,” Ina replied happily, “I’m going to Grandpa Faler’s to get some tasty pastries.”
Gand agreed, “Okay, but be careful on your way, don’t talk to strangers, and don’t hurt them either.”
Ina looked at her hands and said, “I know, I won’t hurt them, I only hit bad people.”
“Go on, Ina,” Gand instructed, “Remember to send my regards to Faler, and tell him the future he’s been waiting for will arrive soon, as long as he doesn’t favor the royal family, then no one will have to be oppressed anymore.”
“Mhmm, I’ll tell Grandpa Faler,” Ina replied.
Once Ina left, Gand turned off the video. He pulled out a new file, most of which was blank, showing only the protagonist’s name and some information after she entered J-country. At the top of the file was a color photo, seemingly taken from surveillance footage, not very clear.
“Tan Rou, from C-country,” Gand murmured, “Strange, why can’t I find any information about her in their country?”