Lin Xiaoyan was full of curiosity and whispered, "What happened?"
Xiao Bo: "...I signed a non-disclosure agreement."
Lin Xiaoyan: "Oh."
Lu Lan looked at Lin Xiaoyan, "Have you ever seen a ghost?"
Lin Xiaoyan’s face stiffened, and the memories of the dead resurfaced.
She quickly shook her head, trying to shake off the terrifying memories, then looked at Lu Lan, "Seen... "
Lu Lan was curious and glanced in the direction of the hotel. She had always been bold and never believed in things she hadn’t seen with her own eyes.
Although Xiao Bo and Xiao Yan looked reluctant and hesitant, she still wanted to go inside.
At this moment, the phone left by Xuan Shiyi rang.
Xiao Bo hurriedly answered it.
"Arrived? Yes, we are now at the hotel entrance...
Okay... okay..."
Lin Xiaoyan and Lu Lan stared intently at Xiao Bo, listening to his conversation on the phone.
Xiao Bo made the call and looked at Lin Xiaoyan, "The chief wants to talk to you."
Lin Xiaoyan took the phone, "Hello, hi."
"Mr. Lin, could you please describe what you saw to me once more?"
"Sure, I accidentally bumped into a little girl at Baihua School..."
"A car is coming!" Lu Lan, who had been watching the hotel entrance, suddenly saw a car entering the hotel.
Before long, more and more cars started entering the hotel...
At the same time, inside the hotel
"Did everyone understand what I just said?" The man in the suit looked sternly at the cleanly dressed children in front of him.
He looked at each child in turn, his gaze a warning and vicious, with none of the friendliness and kindness he showed at the school before.
The children who had been here before all bowed their heads silently, while the first-timers nodded nervously.
"In a moment, someone will take you out to the reception, remember to keep smiling and be careful with your actions!"
"If anyone asks about your situation, just tell them honestly..."
Then, the man in the suit looked down at a girl dressed like a princess. As he admired the girl’s exquisitely made-up face, he felt even more satisfied.
"Xiao Mi, right?"
Xiao Mi nodded timidly.
The man smiled, "In a moment, wait here. An aunt will bring you food. Once you’re full, I’ll take you to meet my friends and see if you’re suitable to be a flower girl, okay?"
"Okay." Xiao Mi nodded with joy and anticipation, praying in her heart, hoping that she could be chosen so her grandmother would have money for her medical treatment...
Upon hearing the man’s words, the older children looked at Xiao Mi with sadness and reluctance in their eyes.
Night had quietly fallen, and darkness gradually enveloped the city.
In the suburbs, thirty miles away, a group of soldiers stood ready for departure.
Lin Xiaoyan and the others had to leave the hotel entrance since the fast-food restaurant’s owner kept glancing at them, forcing them to go elsewhere.
Lu Lan couldn’t resist in the end and went into the hotel alone.
Xiao Bo and Lin Xiaoyan stayed in the car, waiting for Lu Lan’s notice.
Meanwhile, on the hotel’s top floor, the lights were bright, and elegantly dressed people were having a dinner gathering, chatting and drinking...
While those people were chatting with smiles, their eyes roamed among the staff around them.
Men and women alike were well-dressed, many of whom were chatting with children, inquiring about their family situations.
Every time they heard about the children’s family situations, their faces showed expressions of sympathy.
Though their tone was full of compassion and encouragement, their gazes scanned the children thoroughly.
Some people were talking business with others.
Others formed pairs and started dancing in the center...
The entire top floor was extravagantly luxurious, and everyone there seemed relaxed and joyful.
The children from the mountains who came here for the first time saw the scenes, showing full surprise and longing on their faces.
Everything here was new and something they had never seen before.
"Who is that unfamiliar one from which school?"
A middle-aged man pointed to a girl standing not far away and asked the person next to him.
The person next to him looked over and assessed her, showing some disdain in their gaze.
"Too shabby!"
The middle-aged man laughed heartily after hearing this.
"Shabby, but clean."
The person next to him listened to the middle-aged man’s words, looked at the girl again, and felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"Old Li, you’re really not picky!"
"......"
The middle-aged man continued searching for a target. Indeed, the previous one was a bit ugly, and he would definitely choose a better one if there was!
"Another order from Xiang City came in."
"Tsk, what’s up with Xiang City? They always ask for such big parts, don’t they know that once those big parts are removed, the other parts don’t keep well..."
"That’s why I’m asking for a high price this time!"
"Are there other orders? Don’t let them go to waste, and remember to replenish the supplies."
"The people below are all eyeing it."
"Yes, make sure nothing goes wrong, have them be cautious."
"Rest assured."
...
The same things were happening among other people as well.
The people who could come to this gathering shared similar objectives, having done the same kind of work, with common hobbies.
Everyone here revealed their true selves without reservation.
The ugliest, darkest sides of humanity were being displayed here...
Meanwhile, Lu Lan had already successfully avoided the surveillance and reached the top floor.
She was now hiding in the fire escape on the top floor.
The door was locked, but she could faintly see the scenes inside through the crack.
When Lu Lan saw what was happening inside clearly, she clicked her tongue in disbelief. Such extravagance in a small fourth-tier city like Yun Province, tut-tut.
These people really thought of themselves as local emperors.
"No, please, I don’t want to go..."
Suddenly, a girl near the fire escape was called to leave.
The girl had been here before and knew what she would face once taken away, she begged in terror.
However, the people here were demons and wouldn’t let her go...
The girl’s pleas seemed to signal something.
The other people in the venue started picking quickly, afraid that someone else would snatch up their choice.
Lu Lan cursed inwardly as she saw this, immediately sending a message to Xiao Bo.
Lu Lan took out her phone with talisman paper attached. Fortunately, Xuan Wu had left two signal talismans when he left; otherwise, there were jamming devices everywhere, and they wouldn’t be able to make a call.
After receiving Lu Lan’s message, Xiao Bo immediately informed the chief.
Meanwhile, thirty miles away, the troops immediately geared up and rapidly approached the scene.
Lin Xiaoyan watched Xiao Bo start the car without a word, silently praying in her heart, hoping that those children would be rescued safely.
Hoping those devils would all be caught!
Hoping... such things never happen in the world again.
Lin Xiaoyan looked at the twinkling night sky and sighed deeply.