N-A-A Page 55
Page 55
"First: We don't do what we already know how to do, because we won't learn anything new from it."
Second: We won't do what we don't know how to do. What's the point if we can't even do it?
Third: We don't rush things; rushing leads to mistakes.
Fourth: We don't do things that aren't urgent. Why do something that isn't urgent?
"Fifth: We won't do what we don't want to do. You can arrange it as you see fit, future leader."
He and Tifa never wanted to follow the arrangements of others.
"Crack—!" A very subtle yet incredibly clear crisp sound.
Abraham had actually managed to pinch a winding white mark into the stem of the delicate crystal glass in his hand!
His eyes were bloodshot with anger, and he pointed angrily at Li Pu, but with great restraint, he turned to the White Queen and asked, "Ms. Emma, is this how he usually operates in your office?"
"Snapped!"
A crisp clapping sound rang out!
The White Queen's hand, with its well-proportioned knuckles and painted with deep blue nail polish, swiftly, accurately, and ruthlessly transformed into a diamond shape and slapped away Abraham's angry pointing finger!
Abraham's finger suddenly twisted, a slight tingling pain shooting through his joint, almost severing it!
He looked up in astonishment, only to meet the White Queen's beautiful eyes, which widened instantly!
Where was there even a trace of languor in those icy blue eyes now?
She's a complete lioness in a rage!
"All matters concerning this firm are now to be handled entirely by Mr. Li Pu!"
Before she finished speaking, almost instinctively, with a heart full of doting affection, she wanted to reach out and comfort her son who had been pointed at.
But just as her fingertips were about to touch the boy's forehead—
Li Pu suddenly turned his head! His large, clear black and white eyes quickly blinked at her!
"Director, please don't be rude!"
The White Queen's outstretched hand froze in mid-air!
Her fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly, then with a hint of regret and suppressed laughter, she withdrew them with remarkable ease, casually smoothing away any stray hairs that weren't actually there at her temples.
Tsk! The little brat's grown up! He's got a big pride now!
Alright, alright! How could I, as a mother, not give my son face?
She quickly suppressed the maternal smile that had almost ruined her composure, and once again adopted her cold, noble mask, giving Abraham a sharp, sidelong glance:
"If you have any complaints, you can tell me directly."
Abraham's face turned a deep purplish-red, and the vein on his neck, which he usually took good care of, bulged out as if a live earthworm was throbbing under his skin.
The top-level power building in the entire Eagle City.
Twelve behemoths disguised as legitimate "associations," twelve ruthless gangster families roaming the shadows.
They occupy the vast majority of important positions.
And he, Abraham, at this moment represented the Second Association, which was one of the twelve associations that believed in the "Queen of Order" and held the power of law!
Yes, the force that got the biggest slice of the pie this time was none other than their two associations.
Even when facing other chosen ones, he has the right to be arrogant and the confidence to look down on others.
But at this moment—
He was facing Emma Frost.
This woman, who is about to return to the core of the Church of Order and is regarded as the incarnation of the 'Chosen One of Order'!
The current official is more powerful than the one in charge...
To use force in her presence, or even to merely lose one's composure excessively, is tantamount to a desecration of the Holy Symbol of the Queen of Order!
This is far beyond what a temporary representative like him could handle!
He could only clench his teeth and stare at the arrogant boy.
Damn!
Abraham had spent decades in the City of the Eagles, and he'd never seen anyone so shameless as to live off a woman! So brazenly and infuriatingly so!
That brat, he's such a freeloader!
Chapter 56 Mai Shiranui: I want foreigners dead!
"Hahaha, oh dear!"
A slightly hoarse, yet overly cheerful and enthusiastic voice broke the awkward silence.
Li Pu raised an eyebrow and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw Tesla, the administrator of District Z, whom he had seen on TV, standing up with a smile, holding a glass of incongruous soda that was bubbling with cheap orange bubbles.
The loose-fitting old suit was on his not-so-tall frame. The cuffs had some frayed edges, but it was starched clean and ironed meticulously.
Seeing that Abraham was completely suppressed by the White Queen and Lip, he began his job as a peacemaker.
"Abraham, look at your old face!" Tesla, without any hesitation, stretched out his hand that wasn't holding the cup and slapped Abraham hard on the shoulder.
"Snapped!"
The slap startled Abraham, causing him to stagger and nearly spill the remaining wine from his cup!
It further slapped the uncontrollable resentment and frustration in his chest, causing him to catch his breath and let out a short, painful cough!
This kind-hearted man politely greeted everyone one by one.
"Alright, alright! Stop staring at each other like that! Let's go, let's go!" Old Tesla waved enthusiastically, his smile particularly kind, his gestures large and energetic, as if trying to dispel all the gloom.
"Today's banquet is a momentous occasion! Do you know how many orphans and widows our donations can save?! This is the important thing! It's a million times better than arguing here!"
After looking around at everyone, the old man Tesla, with a simple smile on his face, stopped and, carrying that incongruous glass of orange soda, swaggered ahead towards the small stage in front of the banquet hall, which was under the spotlight.
He seemed impatient about it.
Abraham glared silently at the kind old man, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he swallowed back the harsh words that were about to come out of his mouth.
Then, he twitched the corner of his mouth, trying to pull out an extremely forced but "decent" smile in front of everyone, but he couldn't hide the cold, fake smile in his eyes.
Since these two hot potatoes are not something I can handle for the time being...
Rather than...
His sinister gaze swept over the silent Tifa, then he glanced furtively at the White Queen, a hint of hidden calculation flashing deep in his eyes.
Let's do these two chosen ladies a favor; after all, they're nominally affiliated with the Second Association, and we'll find a way to use them in the future...
As for that damned brat, this grudge...
He is Abraham!
I'll make a note of it for now!
There's plenty of time! He refused to believe that the brat could hide under a woman's skirt forever!
Then... Hmph!
As for this overly enthusiastic Tesla...
A fleeting, almost imperceptible, sense of contempt and doubt crossed Abraham's mind.
As far as he knew, on the chessboard of the leaders regarding the ownership and interests of the "chosen ones," Zone Z, like the impoverished and remote Zone R, was not even a single piece!
Logically speaking, the selection of Tifa by the gods is an internal matter of their two associations, and it is not Z District's place to interfere!
This operation, in particular, should be kept completely secret.
But for some reason, Tesla, the administrator of District Z, suddenly reappeared with his "good guy" attitude, and kept saying things like "helping District R retain the chosen ones" and "promoting regional cooperation".
Ghost letter!
The association itself was vague about the matter, only telling him to "act according to circumstances" without giving any clear instructions or authorization.
However… Abraham glanced at Tesla’s old suit and cheap orange soda, a hint of genuine mockery lurking in his fake smile.
He's just a marginal figure with no real connections who relies on "charity" to gain fame.
A pathetic creature who can't even get a ticket to the power struggle...
Keeping him around would at least provide a way to back down and ease the tense atmosphere with the White Queen...
It was a lucky accident, I suppose?
Thinking of this, Abraham felt a little better.
Straightening his shoulders, which were still a little numb from Tesla's pats, and adjusting the cuffs of his expensive suit that had no hair to brush against, he strode off, adopting a forced "composure" demeanor befitting a representative of the Second Association, and followed in Tesla's footsteps.
Behind him, several officials from the two associations rose silently to follow, like puppets on strings.
As Chunli watched Abraham's slightly stiff back, her taut shoulders finally relaxed almost imperceptibly.
“Let’s follow them. He’s probably referring to the charity fundraising segment, the closing part of the banquet.”
She turned to Lip and Tifa, her gaze softening: "Finally... almost over."
Upon hearing the word "end," Lip and Tifa relaxed almost simultaneously.
Li Pu slumped lazily against the back of the sofa and let out a long sigh.
Tifa also quietly relaxed her straight back, her slightly furrowed brows unfurrowed, and a hint of relief after fatigue shone through her pure eyes.
Then, as Tifa and Chun-Li relaxed and looked out of the booth, the White Queen made her move!
It wasn't a passionate, stormy kiss, but rather a gentle pinch on his chin, forcing him to turn his head to the side.
The plump lips brushed lightly against the delicate skin of the earlobe, sending a subtle shiver through them.
A languid, smiling breath, as sweet as orchids, entered the depths of his ear:
"Baby..."
"I'll give you face here... so I won't get lipstick all over your face."
The warm breath continued to tease the back of the ear, bringing waves of itchiness and burning sensation.
The lips almost touched the soft flesh of the earlobe:
"But after I got home..."
"I want you to take the initiative, understand?"
Having said that, a hint of morbidly seductive triumph flashed in the White Queen's icy blue eyes. She naturally released his hand, her fingertips lightly brushing his temple, and gracefully straightened up, resuming her icy demeanor.
"Let's go," the voice was calm and even, yet a hint of irresistible sweetness lingered at the end, "After the presentation, would you like to dance with me, my little dance partner?"
Li Pu stood frozen in place, his earlobes burning, a low, hoarse voice lingering in the air.
That foreign woman... she's as unrestrained as ever...
Thinking of this, he silently placed his hand on her outstretched, cool fingertips. An irresistible force pulled him up gently yet forcefully.
The group stood up and followed the figure in the loose, old suit ahead of them to the final segment.
Behind them, in the shadows, Mai Shiranui bit her lower lip hard, her bright red lips almost bleeding.
She gripped the sealed artifact, "The Old Godmother's Fairy Wand," so tightly that her knuckles bulged from the excessive force!
Her beautiful eyes, burning with anger, were fixed on Li Pu's soft little hand, which was being forcefully enveloped by the White Queen!
That damn foreign woman!
abnormal!
nausea!
Taking advantage of his position, he embezzled public funds!
Kidnapping innocent teenagers!
I want foreigners dead!!!
Chapter 57 The Second Association and the Foreign Horse