Anna Manor.
Early in the morning, the Angier family sat at the dining table, eating breakfast together.
Li Xiao stood behind Anna, his gaze directed at an unfamiliar face whose name he had only heard.
At one end of the dining table, next to Xu Jiaojiao, sat a woman in professional attire with her hair pulled up in a high bun.
From her appearance alone, it was impossible to tell that this person was Xu Jiaojiao’s mother.
Ms.
Xu exuded a capable aura, with the soft features of an Eastern woman, paired with phoenix eyes.
Her long tenure in a high position gave her the demeanor of a strong career woman.
Ms.
Xu was the de facto manager of the Angier Group and the only Familiar of Patriarch Thorne.
Xu Jiaojiao’s treatment at the Manor, not much lower than Anna’s, was thanks to her obvious status—an open secret.
However, as a Mixed-blood, she still didn’t have the right to attend some important official occasions.
Last night’s dinner for Marcus was the best example.
At the dining table, Thorne looked at Marcus, who was beside Anna, and said, “Marcus, you’ve just arrived in Eternal Night City.
If there’s anywhere you’d like to go, Anna and Jiaojiao can be your guides.” “I will.
Thank you for your consideration, Patriarch Thorne.” Compared to Anna’s absentmindedness, Xu Jiaojiao was very curious about Marcus, this noble young master from the Holy City.
“Young Master Marcus, you’ve always lived in the Holy City.
Could you tell me about some interesting people and events there?” “Of course, I’d be happy to.” Marcus put down his cutlery and wiped his mouth: “In exchange, Miss Jiaojiao, would you be able to show me around the interesting places in Eternal Night City?” “I’d be delighted to, Young Master Marcus.” Xu Jiaojiao’s heart leaped, like a country landlord’s daughter meeting a noble young master from the city.
Marcus’s every word and action seemed to have a filter over them in her eyes.
Showing such infatuation in front of the other party’s fiancée didn’t seem to be an issue among the vampires.
The fact that Ms.
Xu could dine at the same table as Irina was proof enough.
Breakfast ended quickly.
Thorne put on a formal suit and left the Manor accompanied by Ms.
Xu.
In the car, Ms.
Xu immediately entered work mode, opening her notebook.
“Patriarch, as per your instructions, I have already scheduled Situ Jingyuan for a financial and business audit of Yongxing Group at ten o’clock.” “Mm.” Thorne nodded, his eyes seemingly deep in thought: “Don’t reveal our purpose.
Find the location of that item as soon as possible.” “Understood.” “Oh, and one more thing.” Thorne took out a paper business card and said, “Go investigate this ‘Wish Fulfillment Company’ discreetly.” Ms.
Xu took the business card and nodded in acknowledgment.
She didn’t question Thorne’s purpose; a competent subordinate only needed to fulfill their master’s command.
As for anything else, Thorne would naturally tell her when he wanted to speak.
After the instructions were given, silence fell in the car.
Thorne closed his eyes in contemplation, Li Xiao’s image occasionally appearing in his mind.
Last night, at a nightclub, nearly two hundred people died.
Besides the top floor, where two bodies that died from excessive blood loss were preserved intact, the rest were mere remnants.
For the general public, the eradication of a criminal organization was met with applause and became a topic of conversation after meals, with people speculating about the perpetrator’s identity.
But for the higher-ups of Eternal Night City, the biggest suspect had long been identified.
The annihilation of the Dark Cult and their rampage at the Wish Fulfillment Company were only a few hours apart.
The Wish Fulfillment Company naturally held the greatest suspicion.
Others might not know the background of the Wish Fulfillment Company, but Thorne, who had Micah constantly monitoring Li Xiao, was certainly aware.
He just couldn’t understand it.
However, from the traces at the scene, everyone in the nightclub was eliminated by one person with absolute power.
The person who acted did not deliberately hide; besides the mask on their face, there was no other concealment.
The surveillance cameras in the building clearly captured his entire crime process.
But what Thorne couldn’t understand was that Li Xiao had only just begun to practice martial arts.
Even if Micah had briefly sensed his suspected third-tier martial arts aura, that wasn’t enough.
Ske, the leader of the Dark Cult, was a fourth-tier mage.
Although he was a Mixed-blood, he was very skilled in blood magic.
Yet, such a person died without any ability to resist.
However, the surveillance footage from the scene indicated that the person who acted was at least a fifth-tier transcendent, though the possibility of a battle aura system was ruled out.
To achieve such an invisible killing, only the ‘Qi’ of martial arts and the Chaos Power of a mage could do it.
This morning, he also secretly investigated Li Xiao.
The result was that Li Xiao’s martial arts realm was only second-tier.
Although he had only been exposed to martial arts for about a month, it was still within the realm of understanding.
Thorne wouldn’t know that Li Xiao, with the help of the [Dark Veil] ability, could perfectly conceal his true strength.
With the glaring facts before him, Thorne had no choice but to temporarily put aside his suspicions about Li Xiao.
However, a greater question arose in his mind.
He had investigated Li Xiao’s background very thoroughly: an orphan who, at the age of thirteen, during the period of federal compulsory education, completely left his former orphanage.
However, that orphanage was later closed for unknown reasons.
His social network during his schooling was also normal, with no suspicious points, and his motive for coming to Eternal Night City was very clear.
He had also asked Micah, and the reason Li Xiao was arranged into that night’s banquet was completely unintentional.
Thorne would not doubt Micah’s words, as he was an old man who had served the family for over a hundred years.
However, what happened at the nightclub last night felt like a thorn, giving Thorne a sense of losing control.
A subordinate seemed to have connected with something extraordinary.
This sense of crisis forced Thorne to take the Wish Fulfillment Company, founded by Li Xiao, seriously.
“Perhaps someone is hidden behind Li Xiao.
What could their purpose be?” Thorne pondered all the way.
Until the car stopped below the Public Security Bureau building, Thorne could only walk into the building with this question.
— — — — When Ms.
Xu’s car stopped below the Yongxing Group building, Situ Jingyuan, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly walked forward.
“Welcome, welcome.” Ms.
Xu got out of the car and completely ignored Situ Jingyuan’s outstretched hand.
“Chairman Situ, there’s no need for pleasantries.” “Patriarch Thorne has fully entrusted 50% of Yongxing Group’s shares to the Angier Group for management.” “I am here on behalf of Patriarch Thorne to understand Yongxing’s accounts and operations.” “Of course, of course, it’s only right.” Situ Jingyuan showed no embarrassment on his face and stepped aside: “General Manager Xu, please come in.
We can discuss the details in the conference room.” Ms.
Xu nodded, her expression indifferent, and walked into the building.
Situ Jingyuan watched her retreating figure, his eyes chilling slightly.
In the conference room, Situ Jingyuan showed no impatience.
He instructed his secretary to hand several thick stacks of reports to the audit team brought by Ms.
Xu.
“General Manager Xu, the company’s accounts and operations are all here.
Take your time to review them if you’re not in a hurry.” He spoke without any hint of distress, as if the 50% of shares he had previously given up did not belong to him: “General Manager Xu, you and Patriarch Thorne can rest assured.” “My son made a mistake before, and Patriarch Thorne was magnanimous, only asking for 50% of our Yongxing shares.” “Rest assured, I will absolutely not play any tricks.
Not a single cent of Patriarch Thorne’s 50% profit share will be missing.” Ms.
Xu didn’t respond, picking up an account book and flipping through it, appearing somewhat uninterested.
Thorne’s task for her wasn’t truly about the audit; it was just an excuse.
Ms.
Xu closed the documents in her hand: “Chairman Situ, these documents cannot be audited in a short time.
Today, I’d like to first visit Yongxing Group’s Ranch and processing workshop.” “This…” Ms.
Xu’s request caught Situ Jingyuan off guard.
His eyes shifted, then quickly returned to enthusiasm: “Yes, yes, but the Ranch is quite far outside the city.
How about General Manager Xu visits the processing workshop first?” To avoid arousing Situ Jingyuan’s suspicion, Ms.
Xu didn’t insist, nodding in agreement to the arrangement.
“Alright…”