Highly sensitive to hostile attention, Ch'en Hui-chieh noticed an ill-intentioned gaze almost immediately. By reflex, she reached for Chi Xiao at her side, only to realize halfway through the motion that today was a holiday. She had not brought any weapons with her. Chi Xiao was naturally left behind in the top-floor presidential suite of the hotel.
Their lips parted. Ch'en Hui-chieh's sharp gaze shot toward the source of that stare. When she saw the pair on the overpass grinning with unmistakable gossiping expressions, her expression changed instantly. Her brows darkened, carrying a faint but unmistakable hint of murderous intent, as if she were seriously considering silencing witnesses.
Sensing danger, Hoshiguma hurriedly dragged the still-snapping-photos Swire away. Ch'en Hui-chieh let out a harsh breath. Tomorrow, she would definitely make Swire delete every single photo. She just had not expected to be seen by them.
A trace of lingering embarrassment crept over her. Not long ago, she had clearly stated in front of Hoshiguma and Swire that she wanted to focus solely on work for now and that there was no rush to talk about engagements. Yet the scene just now, clinging so closely and tenderly, had been witnessed in full.
It felt like a slap to her own face.
"Let's go."
Ch'en Hui-chieh grabbed Felix's hand and pulled him away from the bothersome spot. Felix knew exactly what had happened, and seeing her like this was honestly rather amusing.
That afternoon, the two went to Dagu Plaza together. They watched a movie, then enjoyed a spa and massage session. By the time they left Dagu Plaza, fully relaxed, night had already fallen.
Ch'en Hui-chieh looked up at the night sky, at the intoxicating glow of Lungmen City, and spoke softly, "Felix… we'll protect this place, won't we?"
"We will."
"…Yes. We must win."
Ch'en Hui-chieh closed her eyes, then coughed lightly. "Then let's head back to the hotel. I'm a bit hungry."
"Alright. No drinking tonight, then?"
"Of course not. Tomorrow's a new workday. How could we drink tonight?"
She returned to her usual dashing, resolute demeanor, smiling as she extended her hand toward him.
The next day, when Felix woke up, he found that Ch'en Hui-chieh had already left the hotel. Along with her, her uniform and Chi Xiao were gone, as well as the clothes Shirayuki had bought for her.
———
December 26.
Felix let out a soft sigh and glanced at his mailbox. A new work email had arrived, sent by Wei Yenwu.
Before lunch today, a meeting would be held on the top floor of the LGD headquarters. Three parties would be present: Wei Yenwu and Ch'en Hui-chieh representing Lungmen and the LGD; Kal'tsit and Amiya representing Rhodes Island; and Felix and Nine representing Tomorrow's Development.
Seeing Nine's name, Felix smiled faintly. Although Nine had returned a few days ago, Felix deliberately avoided visiting the Lungmen branch in person. His appearance alone would inevitably trigger full briefings and reports, and at a time when every second mattered, such disruption was unacceptable.
He did not look again at the casual clothes he might never wear again. Instead, he changed into his general's uniform, a blend of technological sophistication and modern authority, fastening an ancient-grade longsword at his waist before heading downstairs.
It was still Shirayuki, and still the same black-clad bodyguards. Yet they all sensed the difference immediately. On the day Felix first arrived in Lungmen, his mood had been relaxed, even casual, easing the pressure he exerted on those around him. Now, although he still wore a faint smile, his golden eyes seemed to see straight through people. He was the same man, yet the presence he gave off had undergone a dramatic transformation.
That presence made Shirayuki feel a distant sense of separation. Compared to her lady's husband, this man felt more imposing, more radiant, and far stronger.
Felix said little. On the way to the meeting, he casually scrolled through the forums, checking recent player activity. Tomorrow's Development players based in Lungmen had already received missions from him. They were eager for the coming war and had contacted Mr. Han and the others. With intelligence from the Brotherhood, they could easily determine when Patriot's forces would arrive in Lungmen.
Where there were informants, there were spies. Numbers, timing, and target locations were all laid out with alarming clarity.
Felix glanced over the information and noticed that the Yeti Squad was listed as one of the main assault forces against Lungmen. He merely closed his eyes briefly.
Riding the elevator upward, Felix eventually arrived at Wei Yenwu's conference room. The Rhodes Island representatives had already arrived. Kal'tsit and Amiya were seated to one side, and beside them was the hooded Doctor, silent and unreadable. It seemed that a verbal confrontation had already taken place between them, Wei Yenwu, and Ch'en Hui-chieh.
Kal'tsit remained calm as ever, while Amiya's expression betrayed a hint of frustration.
Tomorrow's Development's representative, Nine, once Wei Yenwu's trusted subordinate and Ch'en Hui-chieh's former superior, sat quietly to the side. Her expression had not changed at all, until the moment Felix entered the room, when her eyes finally lit up.
Negotiations had hit a wall?
As Felix nodded in greeting to those present, he took a seat beside Nine. He could clearly feel her body stiffen for a brief moment before she regained her composure.
"I hope my arrival hasn't interrupted your discussion."
Ch'en Hui-chieh nodded. Work was work, private life was private life. Wei Yenwu might value Rhodes Island primarily for its strength, but what concerned Ch'en Hui-chieh more was the fact that Rhodes Island was an organization composed largely of the Infected. Tomorrow's Development also employed Infected, but most of them worked in another office in the Lower City. Years of solid reputation had already earned Tomorrow's Development genuine goodwill among Lungmen's citizens. Regardless of whether they were Infected or not, people treated them equally.
Rhodes Island, however, was an entirely unfamiliar external organization. Although it had countless ties with Tomorrow's Development, Ch'en Hui-chieh still had to consider the safety and feelings of Lungmen's citizens.
"No matter what, at this point in time, Lungmen cannot place its trust in another group of Infected like Rhodes Island."
She withdrew her gaze as she spoke.
"If Miss Ch'en believes that blindly punishing the Infected is more important than Lungmen's survival," Kal'tsit replied coolly, "then I will immediately submit to local law, allow myself to be arrested, and watch Lungmen burn to the ground at the hands of Reunion from a prison cell, lamenting in silence."
She paused briefly.
"This time, Lungmen has no other choice."
Ch'en Hui-chieh was about to respond when Amiya spoke up. "We've obtained estimated figures. Excluding Reunion's Infected members, there are at least thirty thousand adventurers who have joined Reunion. They may very well take part in this attack on Lungmen."
"…Is that a threat directed at the LGD?"
When it came to Lungmen, Ch'en Hui-chieh would not back down.
Wei Yenwu spoke up. "Officer Ch'en."
"Chief Wei, allowing these foreign Infected to participate in Lungmen's classified defensive planning is, in my opinion, inappropriate."
Ch'en Hui-chieh countered calmly.
"Officer Ch'en, they are my guests."
Wei Yenwu showed no concern over her attitude. His tone was flat and detached. "I care about only one thing, strength. As long as you have it, you are qualified to sit at this table."
"Chief Wei, here is Rhodes Island's prior combat record against Reunion's Infected."
Footage began playing on the large screen. It showed Rhodes Island's operations team, led by Instructor Dobermann, engaging Reunion forces. The recording appeared to be from after the Chernobog incident. Compared to before, the operators were far more seasoned. They split into multiple squads, operating independently to repel wave after wave of Reunion advances.
Their combat style was unconventional. Because of the wide variance in individual abilities, their coordination was not perfect, but their opponents were not particularly strong. Dobermann's command was decisive, and even the smallest opening was quickly identified, with reinforcement squads dispatched immediately.
Ch'en Hui-chieh neither agreed nor objected. In her view, the LGD alone was fully capable of handling Lungmen's defensive operations. Their standardized tactics allowed them to maximize combat efficiency. However, considering that Reunion was now far stronger than before, aided by adventurers who could not die, she had to reluctantly acknowledge Wei Yenwu's stance.
If the strength was sufficient, other factors could be set aside.
"Reunion's strength lies in more than just the number of Infected rioters."
Felix spoke at last, drawing everyone's attention. "They also have information superiority and adventurers who cannot die. I told Chief Wei before, befriend the adventurers and you gain reliable allies. Make them your enemies, and you face the most terrifying foes imaginable, because they do not die."
Wei Yenwu nodded slightly. There were indeed hundreds of adventurers within the LGD, but compared to Reunion's thirty thousand, it was still a drop in the bucket.
"More importantly," Felix continued, "Reunion has a powerful leader."
Wei Yenwu's gaze grew deep. Ch'en Hui-chieh bit her lower lip as Felix went on.
"Talulah. Her flames are extremely troublesome. I can say with certainty that she could shatter the LGD's defenses in an instant."
"You've fought her before?"
Ch'en Hui-chieh could not help but ask.
"Mm. That's also why Reunion abandoned Chernobog and turned instead to seize Kursk."
Felix spoke calmly. "Her strength is on par with a roaming catastrophe. That's no exaggeration. She alone may possess the power to annihilate an entire company. Ordinary casters would be instantly vaporized by her flames."
As the words sank in, those present began to sense something was off. If Talulah was that powerful, then what level of strength did it take to drive her back? What, exactly, was Felix's own strength?
Seeing that Felix did not continue, Wei Yenwu smoothly took over the conversation and began discussing the terms of cooperation with Rhodes Island.
As for Tomorrow's Development, its branch was already stationed in Lungmen, the Venus was anchored nearby, and Felix himself had arrived in person. His determination to protect Lungmen was evident to all and did not need to be questioned.
Moreover, given Felix's relationships with Wei Yenwu, Lady Fumizuki, Ch'en Hui-chieh, Old Lin, Lin Yühsia, and the many senior figures and rising leaders of Lungmen, both sentiment and reason dictated that he would stand with the city.
"Congratulations. Lungmen places its trust in you."
Wei Yenwu spoke unhurriedly, then turned his gaze toward Ch'en Hui-chieh. "I hope that during your operations, you will comply with the commands of the Lungmen Guard Department, especially those of Superintendent Ch'en. Lungmen's gates will be open to Rhodes Island, as long as all your actions remain within proper bounds."
The meeting was temporarily adjourned. The three representatives of Rhodes Island rose and departed at a measured pace, with follow-up matters still awaiting them. Felix and Nine remained behind.
"Tomorrow's Development will fully cooperate with Superintendent Ch'en's operations," Felix said evenly. "Adventurers should be dealt with by adventurers. The Venus has far more adventurers than Reunion does. However, allowing such a large number to enter the city would cause chaos, so I will select ten thousand adventurers to enter Lungmen through official channels. As for the number of adventurers already in Lungmen proper…"
"Approximately two and a half million," Nine calmly finished his sentence.
This was no exaggeration. As a massive mobile city that welcomed all, and with a Tomorrow's Development branch established here, Lungmen had long attracted countless players. Many adventurers who invested early were unwilling to leave, and those who failed to obtain passage aboard the Venus chose to reside in the city instead, working at the local branch.
Wei Yenwu chuckled softly at the number. Nine continued, "The vast majority of them have limited combat capability, or have chosen non-combat paths such as production or logistics."
"But sheer numbers alone are enough to overwhelm Reunion's thirty thousand adventurers," Felix said frankly. "Please do not regard them as ordinary adventurers. They are no different from Reunion's Infected. Perhaps the only distinction is that they possess Originium Arts that grant them immunity to death."
Wei Yenwu felt a headache coming on. If those thirty thousand Reunion adventurers managed to enter the city, the resulting destruction would be catastrophic.
"Tomorrow's Development will stop Reunion's adventurers," Felix said. "I believe Rhodes Island will do the same."
He looked at Wei Yenwu. "Chief Wei, I know it is somewhat inauspicious to say this on the eve of the New Year, but please issue a martial law order. Any civilian casualties will be the result of our failure."
"Very well. I'll speak with Old Lin," Wei Yenwu replied. "Felix, please assist Superintendent Ch'en."
"That is my duty."
Hearing this, Wei Yenwu showed his first genuine smile of the day. "You should keep a close eye on Rhodes Island as well."
"I understand."
Felix rose from his seat with Nine. As they left, Nine cast Ch'en Hui-chieh a peculiar glance, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.