The twelve former Big Goose employees and their families were ushered into a fleet of luxury Mercedes-Benz sedans by the group of men in black, feeling completely dazed.
It wasn’t until the cars began to pull away slowly that they dared to whisper among themselves in low voices.
When did our boss get mixed up with the underworld? Wanlong Society doesn't sound like the name of an internet company.
Don't ask me, I have no idea. I just want to know if this new company is actually legitimate.
Maybe the name is just for show? Didn't the boss say our new employer is a woman? A woman can't be a mob boss, right?
Exactly. I've never even heard of a female mob boss. These guys in black are probably just actors hired to put on a grand display.
If that’s the case, the new boss certainly went through a lot of trouble. She definitely scared me, though.
We're already here, so we might as well make the best of it. Let's not overthink it.
.........
Two hours later.
The group followed the reception staff into a five-star hotel. By this point, their nerves had actually calmed down quite a bit. However, the moment they stepped into the second-floor ballroom, they were so stunned they couldn't move another inch.
The massive ballroom was packed with countless men in black. A rough estimate put the number at no less than a thousand.
The sheer, terrifying pressure of the scene made their legs go weak.
Had they taken a wrong turn and stumbled into a summit for a massive crime syndicate?
Once they confirmed they were in the right place, only one thought remained in their minds: We're finished. We've boarded a pirate ship—the kind that sails straight into the deep ocean the moment it hits the water, without even providing life jackets!
Even Zhang Dalong himself was startled by the incredibly exaggerated scale of the event.
Was it really necessary to call out over a thousand people for a welcome banquet?
This was beyond ridiculous!
Everyone, please don't be nervous! We’re all on the same side. Relax, your seats have already been arranged. This way, please, Zhang Tao said, leading them to a table near the front.
Like little lambs that had wandered into a pack of wolves, the former Big Goose employees and their families could only follow instructions and sit at a round table near the front, too tense to even breathe.
As Zhang Dalong was about to sit down with them, Zhang Tao stopped him. Brother, your seat is over there.
He pointed toward the very front of the ballroom, to the only head table.
Zhang Dalong nodded and, forcing himself to remain calm, walked over to the head table and sat down.
Yu Xin, Li Xiaohui, and the others welcomed him warmly. They had already heard from Liu Yutong that this man was a great talent.
If Liu Yutong described someone as a great talent, they had to be extraordinary. Yu Xin even knew that the acquisition of the Six Minute company in Shanghai a while back was merely to pave the way for the project Zhang Dalong was about to lead.
It was clear just how significant the project must be for the Young Miss to place such importance on him.
Inside the ballroom, a thousand people were seated in absolute silence.
Time ticked by, and just as the solemn atmosphere was reaching its peak...
Suddenly!
The ballroom doors were slowly pushed open by two men in black.
Without any warning—
Whoosh!
The thousand men who had been seated stood up simultaneously, their gazes snapping toward the entrance.
Seeing this, Zhang Dalong and his former Big Goose colleagues scrambled to their feet in a panic, staring nervously at the door, having no idea what was happening.
In the absolute silence, the crisp click of high heels began to echo. The sound alone carried an invisible weight of authority.
Soon, against the backlight of the doorway, a slender silhouette came into view.
The newcomer wore a custom-tailored black suit for women. The color wasn't a flat, dull black, but a deep charcoal with subtle, dark patterns. She looked very young, likely not even twenty. Her skin was as fair as jade, and her features were as exquisite as a lady from an ancient painting.
Most striking of all were her eyes—clear and bright, devoid of any youthful playfulness, containing only a calm, piercing authority that seemed to see through everything.
Her beautiful long black hair wasn't styled into an elaborate updo but flowed naturally over her shoulders. A simple platinum hairpin in the shape of a dragon was tucked behind her ear, echoing the striking gold dragon badge pinned to her chest.
As this extraordinary young woman walked fully into the ballroom...
The next second.
The thousand men in black bowed slightly in unison and greeted her loudly.
Eldest Miss!!!
The roar of a thousand voices made the very ceiling of the ballroom tremble and resonate.
The hearts of the former Big Goose employees nearly leapt out of their throats at the sound of that title.
They would have to be fools not to realize who had arrived. This was their new boss.
Although they had known their new boss was a woman, seeing her in person allowed them to truly feel her incomparable and powerful aura.
So cool!
Liu Yutong walked straight toward the main stage. As she passed the head table where Zhang Dalong sat, her gaze lingered on his face for less than half a second. She gave a slight nod, acknowledging him.
That casual glance made Zhang Dalong’s heart skip a beat, as if he had been struck by an invisible force. His entire body felt a tingling sensation.
Liu Yutong stepped onto the stage and turned to face the thousand silent, core members of the Wanlong Society.
She didn't pick up a microphone. She simply raised her hand and pressed it down slightly.
Sit.
Whoosh!
The thousand men in black sat down in perfect unison. Only a few newcomers were a bit clumsy, looking out of place in their haste.
Liu Yutong stood on the stage, her calm gaze scanning the room. Her stunning face betrayed no emotion.
Today, there are two main items of business.
First, to welcome our new colleagues.
Second, to hold the third core member promotion ceremony of the year.
As her words fell, the members of the Wanlong Society, especially the probationary members, were instantly filled with excitement.
It was finally their turn!
