blogombal Page 11
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It was as if this person, and the groundbreaking technologies he possessed, had suddenly appeared in this world six years ago.
His technique is unanalyzable.
His ideas cannot be replicated.
His past is a blank.
Su Chen is a completely, utterly uncontrollable variable for the "museum".
A massive threat capable of overturning the existing order of Fengdu.
Su Chen keenly caught the fleeting surprise and seriousness in her eyes.
The smile on his face deepened even further.
"So, is the Sonozaki family planning to use a seemingly friendly dinner to try and unravel these mysteries that are troubling you?"
Without any hesitation, he revealed the true purpose of Sonozaki Saeko's trip and the hidden meaning behind the invitation.
In this seemingly simple verbal exchange, Su Chen held the absolute initiative from the very beginning.
He skillfully avoided all the core questions about his origins.
Instead, she used a series of precise rhetorical questions, peeling back the layers of an onion, to reveal the intentions of the Sonozaki family, and subtly threw that invisible pressure back at Sonozaki Saeko.
This "queen" is known in the underworld of Fengdu for her ruthless decisiveness and iron-fisted rule.
This is the eldest daughter of the Sonozaki Foundation, who is used to making countless people bow down with just her eyes and aura.
For the first time, she clearly felt a sense of helplessness and frustration in front of a man much younger than her.
This feeling was both unfamiliar and made her wary.
She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart.
"So, what's your answer?"
She asked in a cold voice, trying to maintain her dignity with her last bit of toughness.
"My answer?"
Su Chen's gaze shifted from her slightly tense face and returned to the exquisite invitation.
He reached out and gracefully picked up the invitation with two fingers.
The gold foil patterns flow across your fingertips.
He casually toyed with the invitation between his fingers, his movements unhurried.
Then, he raised his eyes and met Saeko Sonosaki's sharp and complex gaze, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"of course……"
He deliberately drew out his words, and you could clearly see Sonozaki Saeko's brows furrow slightly during that brief pause.
"...I gladly accept."
"I will be at the banquet on time tomorrow night."
This answer, though understated, was nonetheless powerful.
This was completely unexpected by Sonosaki Saeko.
She was stunned again.
She anticipated that Su Chen might agree half-heartedly, and she also anticipated that he might propose various conditions.
They were even prepared to take further pressure measures if the other party firmly refused.
But I never expected him to agree so readily.
There was no hesitation.
There was no dragging of the feet.
This is a courage that borders on recklessness.
This is the spirit of knowing that what lies ahead may be a den of dragons and tigers, yet still choosing to go forward with composure.
This caused a ripple to quietly stir in Saeko Sonozaki's heart, which had long been shrouded in layers of power and coldness.
It was a strange vibration that she herself had not noticed and could not accurately describe.
It was as if a small pebble had been thrown into a calm, frozen lake.
"very good."
She quickly suppressed the fleeting ripples in her heart and resumed her cold and arrogant queenly demeanor.
However, she herself did not realize that her tone at this moment was less arrogant than before, and more subtly complex.
"I hope Mr. Su Chen will not regret his decision today."
Leaving behind this polite remark, she turned away decisively without lingering.
The high heels clicked crisply and rapidly on the polished floor.
The voice still carried the queen's pride and determination.
But her departing figure seemed to carry a hint of imperceptible haste compared to her arrival.
She seemed eager to leave this space, which she felt was out of control for the first time.
Chapter Ten: The Sonozaki Family's Feast at Hongmen
The sound of Saeko Sonozaki's high heels clicking on the floor gradually faded away, eventually disappearing at the end of the corridor.
Behind Su Chen, the figure of his secretary, Izzy, appeared like a ghost, without the slightest warning.
Her presence is always so subtle that you would almost ignore this ever-present smart assistant unless you consciously try to perceive it.
"President, based on a comprehensive analysis of Ms. Sonozaki Saeko's words, micro-expressions, and fluctuations in physiological parameters, the risk factor for tomorrow night's dinner at the Sonozaki family is assessed at 98.5%."
Izzy's voice was as steady as ever, devoid of any personal emotion, like the most sophisticated instrument broadcasting data.
"There is a very high possibility that the other party set up an ambush at the banquet. Judging from all the indicators, this is definitely a 'trap' aimed at you."
"A trap, perhaps...?"
Su Chen's gaze drifted out the window, the neon-lit nightscape of the capital city flowing through his deep eyes, yet leaving little trace.
"That description is quite apt."
A subtle, enigmatic smile, a mixture of amusement and indifference, played at the corners of his mouth.
Su Chen understood the purpose of Sonozaki Ryubei's banquet, the uncrowned king of Fuuto's underworld.
It was nothing more than a test.
One attempt to win them over.
It was even an undisguised warning.
However, behind every risk lies a tremendous opportunity.
This is an excellent opportunity to delve into the heart of the "museum" and observe the mysterious "Well of the Earth" up close.
This is also a rare opportunity to obtain more data about the origins of the Gaia Memory and to deconstruct the source of its power.
For Zero One's technology tree to climb higher and reach new heights, this raw data is an indispensable foundation.
Therefore, this mere "Hongmen Banquet" was a risk that was entirely within his tolerance.
It's even worthwhile for him to take the initiative to enter.
……
The following day, night fell.
The Sonozaki family mansion is located in a quiet and heavily guarded area of Fuuto.
At this moment, the manor is brightly lit, and its luxury and splendor far surpass any of the top hotels open to the public in the city.
Every detail reflects the owner's extraordinary wealth and supreme power.
Su Chen was all alone.
He did not bring any bodyguards, not even Izzy.
And so, dressed in a well-tailored suit, he calmly walked into this enormous estate, known as the "heart of the Wind City."
The air was filled with a faint scent of precious flowers and high-end fragrances, yet it couldn't mask a subtle tension.
Inside the restaurant, a huge crystal chandelier casts a soft yet bright light, illuminating the long dining table.
Almost all of the core members of the Sonozaki family were present.
In the main seat is the head of the household, Saki Ryubei.
He was over fifty years old, his hair was neatly combed, his eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and he exuded an imposing aura without being angry.
To his left was his eldest daughter, Sonosaki Saeko.
She was dressed in an elegant evening gown, exuding a cold and arrogant aura, with a scrutinizing gaze.
To the right is the second daughter, Saki Wakana.
The popular idol from Fukuto looked like a delicate porcelain doll at this moment, with a sweet smile on her face, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
At the very end sat a young man who looked slightly uneasy, Sonozaki Kirihiko.
He was the son-in-law of the Sonozaki family and Saeko's fiancé, but in this setting, his presence seemed somewhat insignificant.
Everyone wore a smile, polite yet distant.
But beneath that smile lay a barely perceptible scrutiny and a hint of ill will that was not easily detected.
The atmosphere at the dinner was oppressive and almost suffocating from the very beginning.
The slight clinking of cutlery against plates sounded rather jarring in the overly quiet restaurant.
After a long and insincere exchange of pleasantries, and several rounds of subtle probing in conversation.
Su Chen handled the situation with ease and without making a single mistake.
He showed neither excessive humility nor the slightest arrogance.