After a brief rest, the five of them decided to explore the island.
There were many possible explanations for the island's absence on maps: a parallel world, a private island, a leased maritime zone. To some extent, one could apply to have it removed from maps or block satellite signals to keep it undetected.
Seventy-one percent of the Earth is ocean; there must be islands unknown to the world.
They just didn't know the reason for this particular island's existence.
"It doesn't seem as cold on the island."
"Really, I wonder if there's some high-tech reason for it."
As dusk fell, the group decided to find a place to eat.
They entered a Western restaurant, were led to their table by a server, and placed their orders.
Quite a few guests had arrived on the island, some even bringing their families, seemingly convinced this would be an extremely safe place.
At the table behind them sat a family of three, wearing half-face masks inlaid with expensive, dazzling diamonds, exquisitely crafted.
"That child is only five, right?"
"Are the members of Black Storm all mad? Bringing their families to a place like this?"
Tang Li said, "What we see as a potential trap, they likely see as a high-society gathering for socializing and expanding their connections."
"After all, the members of 'Black Storm' are exceptionally wealthy and influential, not your average crowd."
He Jingjing lowered her voice, "Those high-society types are definitely loyal members of 'Black Storm.' The real identities behind those masks are probably major figures in their respective fields."
"They could skip the parties held before, but this time, anyone wanting to remain in 'Black Storm' has to attend. Who knows what kind of spectacular scene tomorrow night will bring."
They spoke very softly, ensuring others couldn't hear.
Throughout this, Xu Junyue and Chu Shiyu from World A remained silent.
Before going out, Tong Yang had warned them to speak as little as possible, to act as if they were mute.
"Excuse me."
Something from the little girl at the table behind them fell near their table.
"Miss, could you pick that up for me?"
Xu Junyue bent down, picked it up, and handed it to the girl.
"Thank you, miss."
"You're welcome."
Everyone got a clear look at what the girl had dropped: a blue diamond pendant.
"The Mermaid's Tear. Seventy million," Tang Li whispered.
Tong Yang couldn't help but take another look. A stone the size of an almond, seventy million?
The world of the wealthy was beyond her comprehension.
"The necklace her mother is wearing is close to two hundred million. Legend says it's a relic of the first queen of Country Y, bought by an anonymous collector at an auction last year."
"That guest over there, the ring on his right hand is worth over a hundred million."
"That gentleman over there, his tie is priced in the seven figures."
Tong Yang glanced around. In comparison, they looked downright shabby.
Tang Li continued, "Don't worry, I came prepared."
"What preparation?"
"You'll find out tomorrow."
After the meal, the five didn't head back immediately.
Tang Li took them to a tasting room in a gallery.
Inside the gallery, the lighting was soft and dim, the intoxicating aroma of wine lingering in the air. Many guests in suits and gowns chatted over drinks, appearing completely at ease, sophisticated, and elegant.
Tong Yang and the others, with no prior experience of such settings, felt somewhat out of place.
Fortunately, Tang Li was there. She introduced them to the vintage, origin, and flavor profiles of the red wines while tasting them herself, seeming far more accustomed to it all than they were.
"Miss, you seem quite knowledgeable about wine," a man wearing a cyan mask approached and struck up a conversation.
Tang Li tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "I know a little."
The man glanced at Tong Yang and the others behind her. "Your sisters?"
Tang Li smiled. "No, new girls. Just showing them the ropes."
The man immediately understood her implication. "Very lovely."
"You can tell even with the masks on. It seems they could earn me quite a bit of money."
The man nodded, a slight smile curling his lips. "A pleasure to meet you."
Tang Li clinked her glass against his. "The honor is mine."
"Care to have a few drinks? I'd like to learn more about wine from you."
Tang Li pretended to hesitate, looking back at the others. "But..."
The man smiled graciously. "I'll have someone keep an eye on them."
Tang Li ran her pale finger suggestively over the man's cufflink. "They're... different from the others."
The man said, "Yes, I can see that."
"Well then, I'll trouble you."
"Please."
Tang Li said to the four, "Look around, but behave, understand?"
"We know, sis," He Jingjing responded.
With that, Tang Li, holding her glass, walked with the man towards a sofa area.
"What is she trying to do?"
"No idea."
"She's not going to ditch us here and have fun on her own, is she?"
"That guy doesn't seem bad."
Tong Yang whispered, "Someone's watching us."
"The man's subordinates?"
"Probably, yes."
Unclear of Tang Li's true intentions, Tong Yang and the others could only wander around the gallery. Xu Junyue and He Jingjing occasionally sipped some wine.
"They went outside!" Xu Junyue alerted them.
Tong Yang looked towards Tang Li's direction just as she turned her head, giving them a playful wink before following the man onto the balcony.
The man gallantly draped his jacket over her shoulders, wrapped an arm around Tang Li's slender waist, leaned down, and kissed her.
Tang Li hooked her arms around his neck, responding in kind.
"Holy..."
"Is this the adult world?"
"She's not just here to pick up a sugar daddy, is she?"
Tong Yang said, "It's not like she needs the money."
"How do you know?"
"I looked it up online. The qipao she's wearing costs over forty million. All her jewelry combined is worth over a hundred million."
"She's that rich??"
"Of course. Most members of 'The Spiders' come from established families. Their starting point is different from ordinary people's."
"No wonder she's so at ease."
"Are they going to do... other things tonight?"
"Who knows."
However, Tang Li's presence just made them seem less conspicuous.
Two minutes later, their entangled lips finally parted.
The man twirled a strand of her hair. "May I have your contact information?"
Tang Li retrieved her hair, smiling. "Sorry, I'm not inclined to share that."
"Is that so?" The man seemed somewhat disappointed.
"But..." Tang Li straightened his collar, stood on her toes, and whispered something in his ear.
The man's expression shifted momentarily, then he smiled. "I'll wait for you."
Tang Li didn't answer, just patted his chest, picked up her glass, and left the balcony, leaving the man alone to savor the moment.
"Let's go, back we go."
The four followed Tang Li out of the gallery.
"Sis, aren't you going to return his jacket?" Xu Junyue asked curiously. Not long ago they were at odds, and now she was already calling her "sis."
Tang Li adjusted the suit jacket on her shoulders and smiled mysteriously. "No."
"Why not?"
"I quite fancy him."
"Then why didn't you give him your contact info?"
Tang Li scoffed, "Are you stupid? If I gave it back immediately, wouldn't that make me seem too easy to handle?"
"Then what did you say to him before we left?"
"I said I'd return his jacket later, and hoped he'd be sincere enough to take the initiative to remove his mask."
"Are you really going to find him tonight?"
Tang Li shook her head, took off the suit jacket, and casually tossed it to Xu Junyue. "Of course not. Just teasing him a bit."
"Someone who falls for it with the slightest hook is boring. He's just a bit of fun to play with in our spare time."
Xu Junyue exclaimed in admiration, "Wow! I want to be like you, sister, and play those rotten men like fiddles."
"Oh? Want me to teach you?"
"Yes, please!"
"First, you need a face like mine."
"That's no problem..."
"That's the biggest problem!"
Tong Yang and the other two followed behind them.
She unintentionally glanced back. The man was still leaning against the balcony railing, watching them with a deep gaze.
Meeting Tong Yang's eyes for a moment, he raised his hand and waved at her.
Tong Yang nodded slightly and looked away.
Only an idiot would believe Tang Li's words.
Like Xu Junyue.
In this kind of situation, who would have the leisure to talk about love?
Those two definitely each had their own ulterior motives.
Back in the room, Tang Li asked Xu Junyue for the suit jacket back.
She turned, dipped her finger in tea, and wrote three words on the table: Listening Device.
"Wh..." Xu Junyue and the A-world Chu Shiyu spoke simultaneously.
Tong Yang and He Jingjing were prepared. Each covered one of their mouths, eyes warning them to shut up.
Xu Junyue nodded, indicating she understood.
"Sister, what are we doing tonight?"
"What can we do? Sleep."
"Are we in any danger?"
"Don't worry. Mr. Maynard will definitely protect us."
"Okay."
"What about the clothes?"
"Leave them. Put them here. We'll return them when we get a chance. You all go back to your rooms and rest."
"Alright, we understand."
"Goodnight."
The conversation ended there. They walked softly into the same room and closed the door.
"There's a listening device in the jacket?" Tong Yang asked quietly.
"The first button on the left side of the suit. We've probably already drawn attention."
Xu Junyue asked, puzzled, "Why? We just had a meal, didn't we?"
Tang Li said, "You're different from the people here. Too green."
"That little girl who came is only five years old. Isn't she greener than us?"
"It's different. Did you see the pendant in her hand? That's not something an ordinary wealthy family can afford."
Tong Yang said gravely, "It has nothing to do with age or demeanor. We don't have anything impressive on us."
"It's you, not us," Tang Li corrected.
"So what do we do?"
Tang Li smiled mysteriously. "It's fine. I came prepared."
"Prepared what?"
"What preparation?"
"You'll know tomorrow."
"Even if we've drawn their attention, it shouldn't be a big deal, right?"
Tang Li flicked her hair. "Of course not, with me here. After all, I'm a battle-hardened veteran."
"That's good then."
"Then let's go back and rest. We'll talk more tomorrow."
"Tang Li in one room, me and Xu Junyue in another, you two together. Move quietly."
"Got it."
They each returned to their rooms to wash up. The night passed without dreams.
The room's soundproofing was excellent. Even though planes occasionally flew low overhead, not a sound could be heard.
In the morning, a server delivered breakfast to their door.
As time approached five in the evening, more and more people arrived on the island. Not everyone was as fabulously wealthy as that little girl; some appeared to be in a situation similar to Tong Yang and her group.
"Ta-da!" Tang Li opened her luggage, which was filled with gorgeous gowns and jewelry. "Girls, it's getting late. Come pick out a dress that suits you. I'll take you to broaden your horizons tonight."
"What's all this?"
"Evening gowns. Basic social etiquette in high society. Next time, you'll have to prepare your own."
"Okay, sister."
"After you pick your dresses, come show me."
Tong Yang bent over and picked up a few dresses from the suitcase. They were completely different from her usual style.
"You all are just too inexperienced, fresh out into society. I have high hopes for you, which is why I brought you here. I hope you show some real capability and don't disappoint me."
"We understand, sister."
"Pick!"
Tong Yang rummaged around and chose a black short dress that allowed for easier movement. It had an inner lining, useful for running fast in an emergency.
Xu Junyue picked a pink princess dress, not really her everyday style, but she loved flashy colors.
He Jingjing wore a golden mermaid gown that perfectly accentuated her figure.
"Does it look good?"
Xu Junyue said honestly, "You'd be at a big disadvantage in a fight."
"Fight what? With who? Think you're still in school?" Tang Li tapped her on the head. "Behave yourselves today. Who knows, you might just land yourselves a prince charming."
"I know, sister!"
The A-world Chu Shiyu wore a white long dress, similar in style to the real-world Chu Shiyu's.
"Hmm, not bad. I knew this dress would suit you."
"Why?" asked the A-world Chu Shiyu.
"Don't play dumb," Xu Junyue said, rolling her eyes.
"What's it to you?"
"I..."
"Stop! I've already matched accessories and high heels for each gown. Oh, and masks too. After you're dressed, come find me, and I'll do your makeup."
"Okay, sister."
Tang Li had clearly done her homework beforehand. The clothes and shoes were their exact sizes, fitting perfectly.
Tong Yang wore a pair of stiletto heels, her hair pinned up at the back. Her blonde hair had been dyed back to black before they set off.
Tang Li did their makeup and had them put on their masks and stand together.
"See? Clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse. You look absolutely stunning, girls!"
Tong Yang wore a silver half-face mask with silver clip-on earrings dangling from her earlobes. Her muscles were well-toned, her skin fair, and her gaze sharp, giving her a unique charm.
The other three were similarly striking, each with their own distinct beauty.
"Perfect! Remember, girls, smile more, talk less."
"We know, sister."
She had them wait to the side while she worked on her own outfit.
She had a fondness for cheongsams. She changed into a purple one, draped a dark purple shawl over her shoulders, and swept all her long hair to one side, letting it fall over her chest. Her curvaceous figure was enough to make one's heart race, and her every movement exuded the allure of a mature woman.
After applying suitable makeup, Tang Li turned and threw a flirtatious glance at the group. "How do I look?"
"Very beautiful," Tong Yang said sincerely.
Purple was indeed a magical color. Not everyone could pull it off, but those who could were exceptionally stunning.
"It really is gorgeous!"
"Sister, I don't need you as a backup anymore. Let's be together!"
"In your dreams! It's too late for that now."
Tang Li put on her high heels, gathered her shawl, and said to everyone, "It's about time. Let's head to the banquet hall."
"Alright."
"We understand."
The time was approaching five o'clock. Well-dressed pedestrians could be seen everywhere on the island. The banquet hall was located in a standalone grand villa at the island's center. Given the island's considerable size, some people had even transported their vehicles over and were using them to get there.
Tong Yang's group naturally had no such transportation.
However, Tang Li had no intention of walking.
She stood by the roadside and casually flagged down an unlicensed luxury car. "Excuse me, it's quite a distance. Would you mind giving us a lift?" she asked.
There was only a driver and one man in the car.
The man sat in the back, looking to be in his thirties or forties, legs crossed and hands resting on his knees. He readily agreed, "Of course."
"It seems the car can't fit everyone," Tang Li said, implying something more.
"I can have the driver come back to pick them up."
"Thank you."
With that, Tang Li opened the rear door and got in.
The door closed, and the car sped away.
"What did they say?"
Since the two had conversed entirely in English, Xu Junyue hadn't understood.
"Getting a ride. He'll come back for us in a moment."
"Oh..."
About ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of them again.
The four got in and were driven to the villa housing the banquet hall.
"The gentleman and the young lady have already gone inside. Please make yourselves at home," the driver said.
Tong Yang thanked him, got out of the car, and entered the villa.
By now, quite a few guests had already arrived.
Seeing Tang Li sitting on a sofa in the banquet hall, chatting happily with others, the four didn't approach immediately and instead began to stroll around the hall.
The banquet hall was vast, filled with various drinks and foods. Everyone wore masks, making identities unclear, yet they all seemed to chat happily.
"Let's split up," Tong Yang whispered quietly.
The four of them walking together was far too conspicuous.
He Jingjing and Chu Shiyu from World A headed elsewhere, while Tong Yang and Xu Junyue continued their stroll.
"Would you two lovely ladies care to have a drink with me?"
A young man wearing a gray mask called out to stop them.
"Of course."
Tong Yang nodded in agreement, picked up a wine glass, and took a small sip.
"You seem quite young, miss."
Tong Yang replied, "I came with my sister."
"I hope you enjoy yourself."
"Thank you."
After bidding the man farewell, they continued walking.
From time to time, people came up to strike up conversations. Tong Yang drank some wine and responded fluently, while Xu Junyue followed her closely like a shadow the entire time, saying very little.
At the rear of the banquet hall stood an antique-looking clock. The time was gradually approaching five in the evening.
As the minute hand pointed straight up, a long, resonant hum suddenly echoed over the island, like the sound of a ship setting sail.
"Hmm—"
With that sound, the red curtain on the right side of the banquet hall suddenly fell, revealing an electronic screen on the wall.
On the screen, against the backdrop of a boundless sea under a gloomy, cloud-churned sky, a massive ship docked at the coast slowly began to move. Carrying dozens of helicopters, it sailed out to sea. Yachts, tethered to the ship by chains, also moved with it, departing from the shore.
On the other side, a glass barrier slowly rose from the tarmac where over a dozen private jets were parked, forming a dome that completely enclosed the area.
All means of transport capable of leaving the island had been temporarily put away.
Seeing the glass barrier over the tarmac, Tong Yang and Chu Shiyu exchanged a glance. It was identical to the dome they had seen over the First District.
This place was indeed connected to the parallel world.
Tong Yang discreetly observed the people around her and noticed they showed not a hint of unease or displeasure at Mr. Maynard's actions.
It was as if they wholeheartedly trusted that Mr. Maynard would never harm them.
This blind trust was utterly chilling.
The ship gradually disappeared from the screen, swallowed by darkness.
The banquet hall fell silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are deeply honored to have you all gathered today on Harker Island. The banquet will officially commence in ten minutes. Please wait a moment."
"Before that, Harker Island will temporarily take custody of your means of transportation. They will all be returned to the coast in three days' time. We hope you don't mind."
A blonde, blue-eyed woman stood on the stage. The lights in the banquet hall dimmed, and two spotlights converged on her.
"Before the banquet officially begins, Ali Buckley will explain the origins of 'Black Storm' and the purpose of convening this conference."
"Let me introduce myself. I am Ali Buckley. You may affectionately call me Miss Ali."
The woman bowed slightly to the audience, a perfectly measured smile visible below her half-face mask.
The audience did not interrupt. They raised their glasses of red wine and clinked them together in silent toast.
"In 2010, triggered by governmental inaction, a global financial crisis erupted. To stabilize the situation, provide a favorable employment environment for the middle and lower classes, accelerate capital flow, achieve global mutual benefit, and benefit all humanity, the Maynard family established 'Black Storm.'"
"To ordinary people, 'Black Storm' may seem like a paradise for lawbreakers. But only we know that 'Black Storm' is a vast world. It provides us with a platform to know each other, an opportunity to realize our dreams. Because of 'Black Storm,' countless impoverished people have been saved, countless people suffering from illness and pain have been rescued."
"We have created unparalleled value for society and humanity, brought joy to ordinary people. We dare to confront societal and national injustices, dare to fight for our own interests, and face human selfishness head-on."
"We are just a group of ordinary good people."
Ali Buckley spoke with great seriousness and passion.
The audience below seemed to chat and agree amiably, but their eyes were sharp and clear.
Every person in the banquet hall was an ambitious fox.
How could they not know what kind of entity "Black Storm" was? How could they not know that Ali Buckley's rhetoric was merely a brightly colored fig leaf?
Yet, they needed this fig leaf, needed a pleasant-sounding excuse.
Even though everyone present, including Ali Buckley on stage, knew it was just an excuse.
"Black Storm" was a black market operating outside the law.
Not a single transaction conducted here could see the light of day.
Just like the masks worn by the members of "Black Storm."
"Originally, everything was normal in the paradise we lived in. But last year, the appearance of one person completely shattered our peace."
"Everyone, please look—"
Ali Buckley made a gesture, directing everyone's attention to the large screen on the left side of the banquet hall.
Tong Yang followed the crowd's gaze. A sketched face appeared on the electronic screen, bearing about a fifty percent resemblance to her own, with a strand of golden-yellow hair on top of the head.
"This is Tong Yang."
"Very regrettably, we were unable to preserve a photograph of her. All her information has been destroyed. Because of her, over a dozen of our offline suppliers were arrested, and precious cargo was entirely confiscated."
Tong Yang's heart sank violently. Fortunately, she had dyed her hair black before setting out, otherwise she would have been exposed immediately.
The crowd looked at the sketch on the screen, their expressions beneath the masks growing somewhat angry.
"Is she from Country Z? Did the Z government erase her information? Are they shielding her?"
Ali Buckley said, "Please, everyone, let's not shift the focus to the national level. The Z government merely did what they had to do. The only person we should hate is her."
Tong Yang almost laughed out loud. The only person to hate is her? They probably didn't have the guts to confront a national government, so they were picking on a soft target like her, right?
"The Z government has protected her very well. Our repeated assassination attempts have ended in failure, recently as well."
Recently?
Tong Yang couldn't help but frown. Recently, she had been in Country M the whole time and hadn't encountered any pursuit. Moreover, Dr. Wu had already shielded her coordinates. So who were they pursuing recently?
"Tong Yang is indeed detestable, and 'Black Tempest' will absolutely not stand idly by. We will remember every single person who died because of her, one by one, and one day we will collect it all from her."
"But the reason Mr. Maynard is hosting this banquet is for people even more hateful than her."
"A group of people calling themselves 'The First World' have been frequently appearing in the black market. They disrupt market order, sabotage transactions between members, leak our covert operations to various governments, repeatedly challenge our patience and bottom line, and have even infiltrated 'Black Tempest', becoming traitors among us, sabotaging our bonds. This is something 'Black Tempest' absolutely cannot allow!"
"Do you remember what Mr. Maynard once said? Outside of 'Black Tempest', we might be strangers, friends, or even enemies. But within 'Black Tempest', we can only be family, be friends! As long as 'Black Tempest' exists for a day, and as long as you are a member for a day, you absolutely must not betray 'Black Tempest'. Otherwise, Mr. Maynard and all members will judge and punish you! To the death!"
"Mr. Maynard is a kind-hearted man. He clearly gave us the chance to leave 'Black Tempest', yet that particular member chose betrayal! Mr. Maynard will never forgive a traitor, and 'Black Tempest' will never forgive a traitor either!"
"We absolutely cannot forgive traitors!"
"Mr. Maynard gave us everything; he would never forgive those who betray him!"
"Who exactly are they?"
"I will definitely not let them go!"
Mentioning the recent events stirred intense reactions among the banquet guests.
During this period, the trouble caused by Tong Yang and her group had earned their deep-seated hatred.
Tong Yang hadn't expected these people to have such a strong sense of contractual spirit?
Without their masks, they could be anyone, including enemies; with masks on, they must shed their identities and act as family, as friends.
It was truly nauseating!
Ali Buckley continued, "Eyewitnesses report they are few in number, wearing bulky hiking clothes, each agile and skilled with weapons, seemingly professionally trained agents from some country."
"Agents? Could it be related to Country Z or Country M?"
"Although they appear frequently in Country M, they are not M's agents, as the relevant government departments have not issued any orders related to 'Black Tempest'. As for Country Z, from what I know, they have expended significant military resources protecting Tong Yang and are beset by internal and external troubles, truly lacking the energy to confront us."
"Besides them, which country's agents could they be?"
"They are too strange, appearing and vanishing without a trace; we simply cannot capture their trail."
"Even to this day, we don't know if they are male or female."
"I've heard Tong Yang is an arrogant woman. If she weren't still in Country Z, I'd guess she'd be among them!"
"They call themselves 'The First World'—the most mysterious organization within 'Black Tempest'—could it be them?"
Ali Buckley said, "The First World is a very large organization. Recently, several of their leaders have had disagreements. We reasonably suspect they are people from 'The First World', trying to disrupt the market's balance and sabotage the solid friendship between 'Black Tempest' and The First World."
Tong Yang's gaze turned cold. Solid friendship with The First World? These filthy scum have quite a deep connection with the parallel world.
"What should we do? How can we find them?"
"We must catch them!"
"Black Tempest cannot have traitors!"
"This is our last pure land; it absolutely must not be destroyed by traitors!"
"No need to rush. According to our tally, all ID-holding members of 'Black Tempest' have boarded the island. This means, right now, they are among us, right here in the banquet hall!"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other.
Tong Yang dug her fingernails into her palm, maintaining her composure.
That damned fox, Wu Pingxue, had definitely hidden something from her.
Why were these people still pursuing "Tong Yang" after her coordinates were shielded? Precisely because of this, they hadn't suspected her team, "The First World," at all.
If that's the case, then who was the "Tong Yang" they were pursuing?
"Excellent! We can definitely round them up on the island."
"Who are they? What are their IDs?"
Ali Buckley said, "It's not that simple. Even though we have temporarily secured the means of transport, The First World people still have ways to leave Hack Island. Therefore, Mr. Maynard has already contacted others from The First World. They will help us catch the traitors from the shadows."
For the members of "Black Tempest," they weren't entirely clear what "The First World" actually was. They only knew many of their goods' sources came from The First World, but offline, no one knew any information about "The First World."
"Fantastic! How will they help us?"
"Regarding that, you needn't worry." Ali Buckley smiled at the crowd. "The above is the origin of 'Black Tempest' and the reason Mr. Maynard is hosting this banquet."
"Please, everyone, don't worry. Everything will proceed in the shadows. Friends, you only need to fully enjoy Mr. Maynard's hospitality on Hack Island."
"Thank you, Mr. Maynard!"
"A toast to Mr. Maynard."
"A toast to Mr. Maynard!"
"I hope all friends have a pleasant time on the island. I am Ali Buckley, honored to meet you all."
"A toast to Miss Ali Buckley!"
"A toast to Miss Ali Buckley!"
Tong Yang and Xu Junyue blended into the crowd, raising their glasses high.
Their secret presence on Hack Island had been exposed, and with people from the parallel world involved, the situation was spiraling further out of control.
The depth to which the parallel world had taken root in the real world truly shocked Tong Yang.
It turned out that within "Black Storm," the existence of parallel worlds was no longer a secret.
From Aaliyah Buckley's words, one could deduce that "Black Storm's" members even included high-ranking officials from the M country government.
This Mr. Maynard was like a nexus connecting various places, including the connection between the parallel world and the real world.
Tong Yang grew even more curious: who exactly was this person? Did he come from the parallel world or the real world?
Aaliyah Buckley glanced towards the backstage and announced, "Mr. Maynard has arrived. The banquet officially begins!"
"Mr. Maynard is finally here!"
"Mr. Maynard!"
"A toast to Mr. Maynard!"
Xu Junyue, deeply immersed in the moment, enthusiastically joined in the cheering: "La la la la la, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"You understood that?" Tong Yang asked, surprised.
Aaliyah Buckley had delivered her entire speech in English. At the beginning, Xu Junyue had been completely lost.
Xu Junyue said, "I didn't understand! Doesn't 'cheers' mean 'toast'?"
"Anyway, it's cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The banquet hall atmosphere was heating up. Tong Yang scanned the crowd but didn't find He Jingjing or the Chu Shiyu from World A. Instead, she spotted Tang Li, wearing a purple cheongsam, leaning against a table and drinking. People around her occasionally cast glances her way.
Taking advantage of the crowd's commotion, Tong Yang pulled Xu Junyue over.
Seeing them approach, Tang Li lazily rested her head on the table and mumbled, "What a boring speech."
"Tell me about it," Tong Yang said flatly.
They were in a corner of the banquet hall, not easily noticeable.
"Mr. Maynard is here!"
"Oh my! Mr. Maynard!"
Following their gazes to the stage, Tong Yang saw a young man in a deep red suit and a golden mask walk up to stand beside Aaliyah Buckley.
"Long time no see. I am Maynard."
The man's voice was deep and resonant, laced with a hint of laughter. Both in appearance and voice, he seemed to be only in his early twenties.
More importantly, he appeared to have Asian features.
Maynard stood on the stage, gave a gentlemanly bow to the crowd, and said, "Thank you all for your trust in Maynard. Not a single member is absent."
His gaze was sharp as it swept over the people below. He continued, "I am well aware that a traitor has emerged within 'Black Storm.' You have done many wrongs, you have harmed us. Yet, despite this, I am still willing to give you a chance to return from your misguided path. As long as you are willing to come to me and admit your mistake, I will forgive you this once."
"Oh my! Mr. Maynard is truly a forgiving man!"
"Traitor, please confess to Mr. Maynard! The merciful Mr. Maynard will forgive your transgression!"
"Please cherish the opportunity Mr. Maynard offers. Do not betray his goodwill."
They sang praises of Maynard's magnanimity.
"He's Asian?" Xu Junyue exclaimed in surprise.
"Seems so."
"The founder of Black Storm is actually Asian? Unbelievable."
Tang Li corrected, "The founder of Black Storm is the Maynard family. It's not necessarily him."
Tong Yang nodded. "Judging by his appearance, he's quite young. In 2010, he might have been less than ten years old."
Tang Li said meaningfully, "I wonder what he looks like under that mask. I'm somewhat looking forward to it."
Tong Yang looked at Maynard, her expression complicated.
Suddenly, Maynard turned his head and looked directly at her.
Their eyes met unexpectedly.
The corners of Maynard's mouth lifted, and he smiled without warning.
()
