Recently, the world has been unstable.
Riots and terrorist attacks have been frequent. Surprisingly, governments around the world seem to have foreknowledge, nipping situations in the bud before they escalate further, preventing uncontrollable outcomes.
In addition, some multinational corporations have experienced issues with capital flow, and inexplicably generated financial storms have left everyone on edge.
Internationally, there is a very secretive forum. Only internal senior members can send invitation codes to others. Holding an invitation code and paying one hundred thousand US dollars as initial capital allows one to become a member and enter the forum.
This is the vast online black market—Black Tempest.
Users on the forum are automatically assigned virtual IPs; their real addresses and the faces hidden behind the accounts cannot be traced by any means.
【fuck！】
【Fuckyouthefuckingfucker!】
【Thefuckingmofo,lwanttokillyou!Cocksucker!】
"I can't understand this. Can't it be translated into Chinese?"
"No need to understand."
"No! I want to see. I have a feeling 'fuck' isn't a nice word."
"Obviously. You cause trouble for them every day, and you expect them to praise you?"
Tong Yang switched the "Black Tempest" to the Chinese version with one click and continued scrolling.
【Who knows the addresses of those bastards? I will definitely kill them】
【They ruined two of my deals. I want to kill them】
【Why? Why? Why can't anyone track their address?】
【Who exactly are they? Country Z? Country M? Country Y?】
【Can't be sure. The P5 haven't made a move】
【They call themselves 'The First World'】
【Shit! It couldn't be...】
...
The forum response was extremely intense.
After final exams ended, Tong Yang rushed to Country M that very day. After a brief rest, she set her sights on the black market.
Long before Tong Yang went to Country M, Dr. Wu had already masked her coordinates. The parallel world had long since lost track of her location, and the real-world humans cooperating with her knew even less.
Coupled with the complete disappearance of her information online, few people abroad knew what she looked like, so the plan proceeded very smoothly.
"Black Tempest" wasn't just for various illegal transactions. Due to its powerful confidentiality, it also served as a secret base for some terrorist organizations. Occasionally, there were invitation posts hiring organization members for terrorist attacks via bounties. Tong Yang used the forum to leak information to various countries in advance, profiting from it.
As for the "Black Tempest" account in her possession, it originally belonged to Gao Changdong.
【I reasonably suspect there's a traitor in the forum】
【Yes, there's only one way to explain it】
【But each of us has committed crimes. Who would give up profit to contact national governments?】
【Perhaps, someone's account was stolen?】
【Possible】
【Mr. Maynard, hold a banquet! Let everyone gather together, bringing the item that only we possess!】
【Guests who cannot arrive in time, please send a trusted person with that item】
【Enter the banquet with your ID. Accounts without a representative present will be purged】
More and more people in the forum called for an offline gathering. Finally, an account with the ID "Maynard" appeared below. His ID was different from others on the forum; the font was bright red, standing out prominently among the black text.
Maynard: 【Thank you all very much for the suggestion. I also suspect a traitor has appeared in "Black Tempest" and have decided to seek your opinions on holding an offline gathering. To prevent military tracking, I will send a location link that can only be used within "Black Tempest". Accounts cannot be logged into from multiple locations. Please, all members, bring the "token" and arrive at the banquet location before 5:00 PM on February 10, 2025.】
Maynard: 【At that time, I will prepare an unparalleled banquet to receive you all】
【Wow!】
【Thank you, Mr. Maynard!】
【Finally, I can see Mr. Maynard again. I've missed you terribly since our first meeting】
【My dear friends, looking forward to meeting you】
【You rat hiding in the sewers, dare you come?】
【If you come, I will definitely kill you; if you don't, then never think of entering "Black Tempest" again】
【I'm excited! What kind of surprise will Mr. Maynard bring us this time?】
...
Scrolling further down revealed similar comments.
Tong Yang clicked the link sent by Maynard and found it was a navigation route that blocked all surrounding landmarks, with only a single marker pointing to a location.
Tong Yang tried to zoom out the map to see the destination but failed.
He Jingjing said, "It seems we can only follow the navigation; we can't see the destination in advance."
"Then when should we set off to get there before 5:00 PM on February 10th?" Xu Junyue asked.
Tong Yang said, "Maynard only said to arrive early, not how early. We'll have to manage the timing ourselves."
"Are we going?"
Tong Yang answered without hesitation, "Of course we're going."
"Just us?"
"Hmm, first, let's go discuss it with Mr. Meng."
He Jingjing called Mr. Meng to arrange a meeting.
Mr. Meng said, "I'm shopping with Tingting right now. Where are you? Let's have dinner tonight, and you can meet her then."
He Jingjing gave their location, and Mr. Meng said he would send someone to pick them up shortly.
"Mr. Meng wants us to have dinner together tonight."
Tong Yang nodded without further comment.
Regarding the token mentioned in the forum, Tong Yang had no clue. Gao Changdong must know something.
Tong Yang wanted to ask Police Officer Lin, but she couldn't contact the police privately. So, she called Wu Pingxue and explained the situation.
"I understand. Hand the phone to Jingjing, please wait a moment," Wu Pingxue said.
Tong Yang handed the phone to He Jingjing.
After waiting a few minutes, a call came in.
He Jingjing looked at the phone screen and said, "It's Police Officer Lin."
Tong Yang cursed Wu Pingxue under her breath, then raised her head and said, "Answer it. Put it on speaker."
He Jingjing did as told, answering the call and turning on the speakerphone.
"Hello."
"Tong Yang?" Police Officer Lin asked tentatively.
He Jingjing glanced up at her and said, "I'm not Tong Yang, but she can hear you now."
Police Officer Lin let out an almost inaudible sigh and said, "I've heard from the people at the 749 Bureau. You have questions for Gao Changdong, right?"
He Jingjing said, "Yes."
"Where are you now?"
"Sorry, that's a secret."
Very few people knew they had gone to Country M.
"I know you're abroad." Police Officer Lin hesitated, connecting the recent series of international events; it wasn't hard for her to guess they were related to Tong Yang.
"Please hand the phone to Gao Changdong and have him cooperate with us."
Police Officer Lin didn't ask further, simply saying, "Okay."
Shortly after, a man's weary voice sounded through the phone.
The crimes he committed were sufficient for the death penalty under our country's current laws. However, because Gao Changdong cooperated extensively with the police after his arrest, his life was spared.
"What token does 'Black Storm' have?"
Gao Changdong was stunned for a few seconds. "A token?"
"Maynard is holding a banquet in five days. Members of 'Black Storm' need to bring a token to gain entry. Those who fail to attend will have their accounts permanently deleted."
Gao Changdong said, "I attended a banquet once. Apart from members wearing masks, there was no requirement to bring a token."
Tong Yang asked, "So, does such a token exist or not?"
"It does exist, but it's pretty useless."
"What is it?"
"An ID card."
"An ID card?" Tong Yang frowned. "What kind of ID card? How do you get it?"
"It's just an ordinary ID card. After joining 'Black Storm,' an ID card is generated. You fill in any address, and the card gets sent to you."
Tong Yang's expression turned grave. "Where is the ID card?"
"In my home safe. Mr. Maynard never mentioned the use of the ID card."
"Aside from that, are there any other precautions for the gathering?"
Gao Changdong held nothing back: "You cannot bring more than five accompanying personnel. No weapons or electronic devices are allowed, to prevent tracking. At the last gathering, a foreign entrepreneur secretly sent his location to the military. Mr. Maynard killed him on the spot, and the message was intercepted."
"Members of Black Storm don't want to expose their real identities, so they put on masks before getting close to the destination."
"Mr. Maynard is a very mysterious man. He arranges for his subordinates to monitor attendees dozens of kilometers away from the venue to prevent anyone from being followed and the location discovered. Also, everyone attending the banquet needs to paint the same symbol on the vehicle they arrive in."
Tong Yang asked, "What symbol?"
"It's the same as the one on the ID card. It's locked in my safe too."
"Would you lie to me?"
Gao Changdong's voice became fearful. "I don't dare lie anymore! If Mr. Maynard finds out I betrayed 'Black Storm,' he'll definitely kill my whole family! I can only seek your protection!"
Tong Yang believed he wouldn't lie; otherwise, he had a death wish.
"Hand the phone to Police Officer Lin."
"Police Officer Lin..."
After Police Officer Lin took back the phone, He Jingjing stated their requirements. The former said he would need to consult with Mr. Du from Department 749 before making a decision.
After hanging up, Tong Yang called Wu Pingxue again.
"Tang Li and the others have returned. Have them send that S-class ID card over as well."
After the defective virus appeared, Tang Li led several members of "Spider" to a parallel world. They returned to the real world not long ago, quite injured but with substantial gains. Wu Pingxue didn't tell her exactly what information they obtained, only that Yan Qing's S-class ID card from the parallel world played a significant role.
"What do you need the ID card for?" Wu Pingxue asked.
"Never you mind."
"Alright, I'll relay the message."
Before he could finish, Tong Yang hung up decisively.
She suspected that the ID cards held by "Black Storm" members, like the S-class ID card, all originated from the parallel world.
Half an hour later, Wu Pingxue called back. The two ID cards and the "Black Storm" emblem symbol would be delivered to her within two days.
Tong Yang acknowledged and hung up.
The vehicle sent by Mr. Meng to pick them up for the meal had arrived.
Getting into the car, Tong Yang looked at Xu Junyue through the rearview mirror.
"Aren't you going back to your aunt's place?"
Xu Junyue said with a straight face, "When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, how can I abandon the greater good for the sake of my small family?"
Tong Yang curled her lip and asked, "What about your dad?"
Xu Junyue said, "He's shown no abnormalities, acting the same as usual. Police Officer Lin said they need to observe him for a while longer."
"I see." Tong Yang withdrew her gaze, looking ahead thoughtfully.
Upon arriving at the dining location, the four got out and were led inside by a waiter—a quiet music restaurant.
"Miss Tong."
The lighting was soft. A white piano was placed in a fountain pool, where a foreign woman was playing a gentle melody.
There were no other guests in the restaurant.
Walking to the table, Mr. Meng stood up and made a "please" gesture, inviting them to sit.
The four sat at the table. Mr. Meng said, "I've ordered some signature dishes. I hope they suit your taste."
"Thank you, we're not picky."
"Is this your daughter?" Tong Yang looked at the silent girl beside him.
The girl looked exactly like Meng Ting from the parallel world. Compared to the other's sickly pallor, her complexion was rosier, and she seemed somewhat shy, offering them a timid smile.
"Yes, this is my daughter, Meng Ting."
Mr. Meng continued, "Tingting, this is your savior, Tong Yang, Miss Tong."
Meng Ting's moist eyes looked at her, and she smiled slightly. "Miss Tong, thank you."
"You're welcome."
Mr. Meng said, "Let's eat first."
"Alright."
The meal proceeded quickly. Chu Shiyu from World A and Xu Junyue had no regard for dining etiquette, eating however was comfortable for them. Mr. Meng and Meng Ting didn't mind, only reminding them to order more if it wasn't enough.
"Miss Tong, the other me... is she okay?"
Meng Ting put down her chopsticks and asked softly.
Tong Yang looked surprised, not expecting Mr. Meng to have told his daughter about the parallel world's Meng Ting.
Seeing Tong Yang's surprise, Meng Ting explained, "Dad didn't tell me. I found out myself."
Tong Yang was puzzled. "How did you find out?"
Meng Ting sighed. "During my recovery after the surgery, I kept having the same dream repeatedly. Another me was lying alone in bed, seeming very ill."
"Dad didn't tell me the specifics. I only know another version of me exists."
It seemed she didn't know about the existence of the parallel world.
Tong Yang said, "She's doing quite well. Her health has been nursed back."
"Could I meet her someday?"
"I'm afraid not."
It wasn't impossible, but Tong Yang didn't want them to meet and cause unnecessary trouble.
"Is that so?" Meng Ting sighed with regret but didn't insist. "It's alright. As long as she's okay."
After the meal, Mr. Meng had the driver take Meng Ting home first and stayed at the restaurant with them.
Tong Yang explained to him about the upcoming "Black Storm" banquet.
"Miss Tong, what do you plan to do?"
Tong Yang shared her thoughts.
"I want to go and take a look. I might discover something."
The growth and expansion of the black market are inextricably linked to the parallel world. Without a doubt, there are agents from the parallel world within it.
Wiping them all out in one go through the banquet is absolutely impossible. Setting aside whether it could even be done, if they were to collapse the entire network at once, the resulting financial crisis and turmoil would likely be more than any country could bear.
Therefore, they need at least four months to achieve their goal step by step.
Exposing the agents from the parallel world early is nothing but beneficial.
"I admire your courage, but isn't this too risky?"
Tong Yang was well aware this was a trap. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If they refused to attend the banquet, Gao Changdong's account would be destroyed. What other way would they have to infiltrate the "Black Storm"?
Whether to get to the bottom of things or to preserve Gao Changdong's account, she had to go personally.
"We have to go." Tong Yang said resolutely.
Mr. Meng offered no further objections. "In that case, I will negotiate with the authorities to have people provide backup for you."
Tong Yang shook her head. "The banquet location isn't specified, and Menard will have people monitoring from dozens of kilometers away. Government personnel would only expose us more easily."
"Besides, the M-government probably doesn't want a direct confrontation with 'Black Storm,' right?"
Otherwise, there would have been no need to cooperate with Dr. Wu and utilize his identity from the parallel world for operations.
Mr. Meng frowned deeply. "You intend to go alone?"
"The area near the banquet venue will definitely be under surveillance. We have no choice."
"What's the maximum number of people we can bring?"
"Five."
"There are only four of you. Why don't I come along?" Xu Junyue exclaimed, "Have you finally lost your mind?"
"I always thought you weren't normal," the Chu Shiyu from World A chimed in.
Tong Yang shot them a glare.
Mr. Meng explained, "Business dealings will inevitably be discussed at the banquet. I'm worried you might not understand, and besides, you're all so young, you might be recognized."
Xu Junyue waved her hand dismissively. "You're underestimating our boss too much. If she covers her face, her aura alone is at least nine feet tall."
The Chu Shiyu from World A sneered, "Why don't you just say she looks old?"
"I didn't say that."
Tong Yang's face darkened at their remarks. "Listen if you want to, otherwise get out."
Mr. Meng said helplessly, "Miss Tong's demeanor is indeed different from others her age. I'm not worried about you, but..." He glanced meaningfully at Xu Junyue and the Chu Shiyu from World A.
Tong Yang said with a cold laugh, "Please don't mind them. When the time comes, I'll sew their mouths shut, ensuring not a single sound escapes."
Xu Junyue quickly made a zipping motion over her lips.
The Chu Shiyu from World A lowered her head, focusing intently on her own nose and heart. She didn't know if Tong Yang would actually do that to Xu Junyue, but she believed Tong Yang was fully capable of doing it to her.
Tong Yang ignored the two again and said to Mr. Meng, "Mr. Meng, your identity is special. If discovered, it would definitely bring trouble to the Meng family. If possible, I hope you can find someone absolutely trustworthy to attend the banquet with us."
The "Black Storm" banquet is a trap. We cannot have any ties to the military. If discovered, we won't make it back. We can only bring five people, which is too few.
Tong Yang added, "However, this operation is extremely dangerous. One must be prepared for the possibility of not returning."
"If there's no absolutely trustworthy person, the four of us can manage. At least there won't be any dead weight."
Tong Yang's meaning was clear: they didn't need liabilities.
Mr. Meng said seriously, "I will try my best. If I can't find such a person, everything will be entirely in your hands."
"Alright."
After finalizing the plan, they each returned to their accommodations.
Apart from the first two days spent at Mr. Meng's estate, they had moved elsewhere.
A day later, two ID cards and a palm-sized seal were delivered to Tong Yang via a special courier on a private jet.
The two ID cards: one was the S-level ID card for Yan Qing from the parallel world, the other was a black membership card for "Black Storm." In appearance, the two bore no resemblance, whether in pattern or color.
Despite this, Tong Yang hadn't abandoned her theory, still believing the ID cards were inextricably linked to the parallel world.
As for the seal, its design was a hand clasped with a venomous snake, as if implying making a deal with the devil. It was called the "Devil's Contract."
Tong Yang searched online for similar patterns. There were imitations, but the differences were obvious at a glance.
Most importantly, it used a special ink. When stamped on an object, it appeared transparent and could only be seen with other equipment, making it highly secretive.
Unclear about the exact location or how long it would take, Tong Yang and her group decided to set off three days early. Once they could see the specific location, they would use the "Devil's Contract" seal.
Before departure, Mr. Meng found them.
"Miss Tong, I've found an ally. He will rendezvous with you from another location."
"Who is it?" Tong Yang asked.
Mr. Meng said, "I don't know the specific details either. But he is absolutely trustworthy. You might even know him."
"We know him?" Tong Yang frowned. It couldn't be Ye Huai, could it?
Going to such a place with him would be asking for trouble.
Seeing her grave expression, Mr. Meng comforted her, "Trust me, he will definitely be of help to you."
Tong Yang lowered her eyes. "I hope so."
After making thorough preparations, Tong Yang's group set off from the capital of M-country.
He Jingjing drove a car registered under Xu Junyue's aunt's name, planning to switch to a helicopter at a nearby location. The M-government would coordinate and make preparations at the designated spots.
During this time, Tong Yang maintained smooth communication with the mysterious contact. They ultimately agreed to meet in a coastal city, then proceed by helicopter.
The link's coordinates pointed to the ocean.
The location for the "Black Storm" banquet was likely on a remote, unknown island in the sea.
Upon arriving at a certain coastal city, Tong Yang and the other three waited at the rendezvous point for the mysterious ally.
"Boss, who do you think it is?" Xu Junyue asked curiously.
Tong Yang said, "I only know so many people. Who do you think?"
"CEO Ye?"
"He might die on the way."
"Chu Shiyu?"
"How would we explain the two of them standing together?"
"Tang Shuyan?"
"Him? The possibility isn't high, but it's not low either."
Xu Junyue shook her head on her own. "I heard he was dragged back by his father for matchmaking arrangements. No time to play with us."
"Then it's someone else."
"Who could it be? It can't be Tao Bai and them, right?"
Tong Yang looked down, sliding her phone. "Whoever. If they hold us back, we'll leave them behind and go ourselves."
"Wow! Then let's just go by ourselves."
She sent a message to Ye Huai, asking if he had heard any rumors. He might have been busy, as there was no reply.
At the same moment, Tong Yang felt a shadow fall over her.
Before she could look up, a soft body was already leaning against her shoulder.
Tong Yang was momentarily stunned. She hadn't sensed anyone approaching at all?
"Sister, long time no see." The woman's soft chest pressed against her arm, and she affectionately nuzzled her chin.
Tong Yang narrowed her eyes. "Tang Li?"
"You actually remember me? I'm so touched! I thought you'd forgotten long ago." Tang Li lifted her head, gazing at her with tender affection.
Tong Yang pushed her away, giving her a once-over.
Tang Li was wearing a lilac-colored cheongsam, its fuzzy collar brushing against Tong Yang's cheek.
"I heard you all were quite badly injured?"
Tang Li said in surprise, "Could it be you're worried about me?"
"Big sister, get a grip. She's worried you're injured and will hold us back," Xu Junyue said with an eye-roll.
"Nonsense, I don't believe it!"
Tong Yang said, "You're wearing high heels. If a fight breaks out, can you run?"
"What do you mean? How can you look down on your sister like that?" Tang Li straightened up, propping her chin with one hand in a seductive pose that accentuated her curvaceous figure. Suddenly, her long leg swept out in a horizontal kick, her high heel slicing through the air like a blade, whipping up a gust of wind.
Fortunately, Tong Yang and the other three reacted swiftly, stepping back simultaneously to dodge.
Tang Li slowly retracted her long leg, knee bent, high heel planted on the edge of a table. She curved her phoenix eyes and chuckled, "Not bad reflexes."
"Psycho."
"Fighting at the drop of a hat, are you insane?"
The other two cursed, while He Jingjing just rolled her eyes.
Tong Yang brushed the dust off her clothes and said, "As long as you can run, that's fine. Let's go."
The four of them couldn't be bothered with her further and turned to leave.
"Wait..."
"Wait... my heel is stuck!"
Tong Yang and the others had walked several dozen meters ahead when Tang Li caught up, panting heavily.
"You guys... wait for me a second. It was just a joke." Tang Li leaned on Xu Junyue's shoulder, her cheeks flushed red from running, any trace of elegance gone.
Tong Yang called the M military and located the helicopter they had prepared in advance.
After stamping the "Demon Contract" seal on the car door, Tong Yang looked back at Tang Li and asked, "Can you fly a helicopter?"
Tang Li shook her head. "No."
Tong Yang pushed the A-world Chu Shiyu into the pilot's seat and took the co-pilot's seat herself.
She also checked; the helicopter cabin was relatively spacious and loaded with aviation fuel for resupply. If the banquet location wasn't too far, a round trip should be feasible.
The helicopter rose from the coast and slowly flew out over the sea.
At this moment, there was one day left until 5 PM on February 10th.
After flying along the markers for an hour, the destination finally appeared on the computer—it was on a sea island.
"Check what this place is," Tong Yang said.
He Jingjing said, "No signal."
"No signal?"
Tong Yang frowned, checking the computer's network status. She found the connection sent by Maynard; opening it didn't require internet at all.
Tang Li said, "Satellite signal, maybe?"
"Possibly."
As the destination on the screen grew closer, Tong Yang looked up ahead. Sure enough, a mist-shrouded island appeared in the distance.
"Get ready, we're almost there."
He Jingjing glanced at the time. "We're twenty-three hours early."
Tong Yang said gravely, "It shouldn't matter. Just now, there were several yachts in the southern waters; their destination is probably the same as ours."
Xu Junyue said, "That 'Mei De' didn't announce the specific location. Who knows if people will be late or not?"
He Jingjing corrected, "Maynard."
Tang Li retrieved masks from the back seat and handed them to the others.
In a place with such a mixed crowd, they absolutely must not have their identities exposed.
The helicopter slowly approached the island. Parting the mist, they saw the island's appearance—larger than the entire old city district, with several villas and numerous entertainment facilities built on it, like a private resort island.
"Woo—"
Suddenly, the sound of a ship's horn rang out.
Everyone looked down at the sea. A massive ship was anchored by the coast.
Then, a loudspeaker on the ship sounded, and a man's voice came through.
"What's he saying?" Xu Junyue asked, confused.
"He's telling us to land the helicopter over there," Tong Yang explained.
The A-world Chu Shiyu piloted the helicopter down, gradually descending towards the ship's deck.
Only now did they truly realize how enormous the ship was.
Tang Li frowned. "What exactly is Maynard's background? How could a ship of this scale be privately owned?"
Tong Yang's expression wasn't much better. "He's openly using this ship as a landing point, which means this ship has never appeared before anyone, so it won't expose his identity."
"But how many people in the world can build a private ship this big?"
Tong Yang shook her head. "Not many, but certainly not few either."
"Boss! Look over there, someone's already arrived ahead of us."
Tong Yang followed her pointing finger. Four helicopters were already parked on the ship's deck, and several yachts were also moored close to the shore.
"No way..." He Jingjing looked towards the other side of the island, where a luxurious private jet had landed on the airstrip on the island's southern side.
"Holy crap? It even has a landing strip? This place is way over the top!"
Tang Li pursed her lips. "These are all diamond bachelors/bachelorettes. If I could hook up with a sugar daddy or mommy, I'd be set for life."
"That makes sense!"
"If there are a few good-looking ones too, my old problem of being unable to walk past a beauty might relapse."
Xu Junyue said eagerly, "There should be some, right?"
"My standards aren't high. Someone like President Ye would be just right for me."
He Jingjing gave her a sidelong glance. "President Ye for you? Have some shame."
"The President Ye you're talking about, is that the underage hottie we saw at the research institute?"
"Yeah."
Tang Li shook her head. "Don't even think about it. A great beauty like me stood right in front of him and he didn't even bat an eye. You guys can't handle him."
"Not necessarily. Maybe he doesn't care about looks?"
"Let me put it this way: men are carnivores. No matter how young, if he wasn't interested in a stunner like me, he either doesn't like women, or his standards are extremely high and he's deeply devoted and loyal." Tang Li sighed regretfully. "If only he weren't underage, I'd really like to try forcing the issue."
Tong Yang fastened her mask and said vaguely, "Then you might end up with a death on your hands."
"Huh? Why?"
Tong Yang smiled but didn't answer.
Why? What else could it be?
A gentle kiss gave him a heart attack, and you want to try forcing the issue?
You'd probably barely get his clothes off before he was gone.
"We're here."
Not continuing the topic, Tong Yang reminded them.
The helicopter landed on the deck. The five of them gathered their personal belongings, put on their masks, and disembarked one after another.
A foreigner, also wearing a mask, a waistcoat, a shirt, and a bow tie, stood on the deck to greet them.
"Follow me, please."
Following the attendant, they walked towards the other side of the deck.
Moist sea air blew against their faces, carrying a salty scent.
The attendant said in English, "Ladies, please present your token."
Tang Li tilted her head slightly, signaling to the person behind her.
He Jingjing bent down and presented a black identification card with both hands.
"Beep—Black Storm member, ID477277, identity verified successfully."
"Please extend your hands."
The server held a stamp, seemingly using the same kind of ink as the "Demon's Contract."
The server lightly stamped the back of their hands and said, "Please don't mind, this is to identify those in your party. Do not cover it with anything; the stamp will fade in three days."
Tang Li crossed her arms, leaning her body toward the server, and chuckled, "It's fine, I don't mind."
"Your skin is quite cool; remember to wear more clothes so you don't catch a cold."
Tang Li's voice was very pleasant, and when she spoke English, it carried a lazy drawl, as if she had just woken up.
"Th-thank you!"
No matter how professional the server, under Tang Li's teasing, they would become distracted.
This woman was truly beautiful and sexy, yet she had such an innocent look in her eyes.
Compared to her aura, Tong Yang and the other three still seemed too green.
"Electronic devices are permitted on the island, but please do not bring them into the banquet hall."
"Please proceed. We wish you a pleasant journey."
"By your blessing, I will."
Returning the identity card to her, the server guided them onto the island.
"The banquet will be held tomorrow at five in the evening. Until then, you may freely enjoy all the facilities on the island."
"Thank you."
The server led them to a large villa. "They will take you to your rooms."
"Thank you."
Entering the villa, a female server also wearing a mask glanced at the stamped areas on their hands, bowed, and said, "Please follow me; I will take you to your resting rooms."
"Okay, thank you."
She led them to the north side of the villa, where there was a suite.
The suite was an ordinary three-bedroom layout with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
"This is your accommodation. Please enter."
"Thank you."
"Goodbye. We wish you a pleasant journey."
After the server left, they entered the room and closed the door.
"Damn! What a beautiful ocean-view room!"
"Maynard is so rich! If only he were young and handsome."
"What are you saying? Couldn't Maynard be a woman?"
"What about a woman? I'm open to that too."
"So lavish! Really too lavish! A five-star hotel can't compare to a single strand of hair here!"
"You guys, wouldn't it be great to live here forever?"
Tong Yang couldn't be bothered listening to their chatter and inspected the room thoroughly.
"No cameras or listening devices."
"Maynard is truly an upright person!"
"Enough already," Tong Yang rolled her eyes at her.
Xu Junyue asked, "Boss, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"If Maynard were an incredibly handsome man who wanted to marry you and split all his assets with you, on the condition that you join him in doing bad things, would you agree?"
"Are you awake yet? If not, go out and swim a few laps," Tong Yang said with an eye roll.
"What's wrong with asking? You have no sense of humor."
"It depends on the feeling," Tong Yang answered anyway.
"What kind of feeling do you have?"
"Money."
He Jingjing said helplessly, "Can you two be serious for once?"
"Alright, alright, no more joking," Xu Junyue shrugged.
He Jingjing said, "Our accommodation is probably the lowest-tier treatment on the island. Earlier, a few people were taken directly to private villas."
"Tsk! Even here they have to create a hierarchy," Xu Junyue shook her head and sighed.
Tong Yang took out her phone. There was a signal on the island, but when she tried to send a message, it was inexplicably blocked.
She then opened a map app to check her location.
After a while, Tong Yang handed her phone to Tang Li.
"Ocean?"
"On the map, this is just a stretch of ocean?"!
