Game Mansion, the top floor meeting hall.
Sitting in the chair, Luodeni watched Losa 11 leave the meeting hall and couldn't help but smile.
This smile contained relief as well as disdain.
However, the latter was fleeting and soon covered by other emotions.
At the same time, the tense atmosphere that had just pervaded the meeting room had disappeared.
The representative of the Hera Family, Donna, although wearing a veil, at this moment, anyone could feel her sense of relaxation.
A sense of relaxation just like Luodeni's.
Wittes, the representative of the Amiel Family, was no exception.
His body sat upright, but his face no longer held the seriousness it had just before.
"Heh, a flower that has grown in a greenhouse."
The representative of the Gibson Family, Luodeni, let out another light laugh.
Once again, a feeling of disdain surfaced in his tone.
But at this, the other two family representatives, the proxies Donna and Wittes, both nodded in agreement.
"Who else but the young master of the Losa Family?"
"Even flowers from a greenhouse can live without worries."
Gently swaying her folding fan, Donna's words carried a hint of resentment, but then turned into a soft sigh.
Full of helplessness and a touch of powerlessness.
Luodeni and Wittes both tightened their lips.
They shared the feeling deeply.
As representatives and agents of the Hundred Major Families, they knew all too well what kind of status they held. To outsiders, they were second only to one, but in reality?
To the Hundred Major Families, they were just 'workers' who could be replaced at any time.
'Worker' was the polite term they found.
That would be an overestimation.
When their masters give them a bone, they have to wag their tails nonstop and carry out various commands.
Do well, and it's their duty, as expected.
But what if they don't perform well?
Chastisement and punishment are also to be expected.
After all, this is part of 'training a dog'.
Even more so, to some extent, they are even less than 'dogs'.
At least dogs have some freedom.
Beneath the glitzy exterior lies only the 'loyalty' to their respective families!
A hundred percent loyalty!
Beyond that, there are no other impurities.
Luodeni, Donna, Wittes—these three family representatives, proxies, almost simultaneously looked towards the spot where Xilin had committed suicide with a gun, and though it had been cleaned spotless, in their eyes seemed to reappear the color of blood, and the scent of blood filled their nostrils once more.
After that, all three became unnatural.
Luodeni's smile stiffened.
Donna closed her folding fan and then opened it again.
Wittes straightened his posture, yet again puffed out his chest as if wishing to be even more upright.
They seemed to see their own fates at this moment.
At the same time, they also felt fortunate.
This time, it wasn't them.
But what about the next time?
And the time after that?
The atmosphere that had just relaxed became heavy again at this moment.
This mood lasted for about ten seconds, but it was ultimately Donna who broke it.
This lady, dressed in a black veil and a bright red dress, tapped her palm with her folding fan. Amidst the crisp snapping sounds, she said,
"Now is not the time for silence, we are the victors."
"This time is, and the next will be too."
"After all, we've joined forces."
Donna declared emphatically.
"With the three of us allied, we're secure, and no one in District F can stop us. As long as we keep going, it won't take us ten years to become members of the 'Council of Elders' of our respective families. At that time, we can finally breathe easy and truly enjoy life," Wittes nodded and spoke a string of words unusually.
On the face of the representative and proxy of the Amiel Family, the longing was evident.
Without a doubt, he was looking forward to that moment.
Or to put it more accurately, it's because of that anticipation that he was able to persevere.
"I somehow regret not having met the two of you earlier."
"Had I met you sooner, I might already have my own life by now?"
Luodeni, the oldest representative and proxy of the Gibson Family, couldn't help but sigh.
Time is the most impartial.
Every minute, every second, every instant leaves its mark on everyone.
Because such marks are irreversible.
Luodeni twisted his stiff back, feeling the pain, and couldn't help but sigh again.
"Is it too late now?"
Wittes looked at Luodeni.
His gaze carried a kind of scrutiny.
A scrutiny among allies, as well as that between adversaries.
To such scrutiny, Luodeni laughed in his heart.
Their alliance was fragile, based entirely on shared interests, without any so-called affection, let alone a helping hand at a critical moment.
At that time, not to betray would be considered having strong character.
He didn't blame the others.
Nor did he harbor any resentment.
Because he was the same.
Luodeni's face showed a smile again.