Chapter 321 The guest from Stronghold 178
In the afternoon, Ren Xiaosu, Yan Liuyuan, and Luo Lan swaggered out of the house. Initially, Yan Liuyuan was a little worried. But after Luo Lan joined them, he felt much more relaxed. The fatso who could eat a lot was still a pretty loyal person at times.
After eating lunch, the three of them set off for the function. They first took a streetcar to Resurgence Road where they transferred to another streetcar that traveled north.
They were dressed in casual attire but did not feel embarrassed one bit.
After they arrived at the terminal station, they had to continue walking further north. Luo Lan suddenly said, “Ren Xiaosu, why don’t you follow me back to the Qing Consortium’s territory in the future?”
“Eh?” Ren Xiaosu looked at Luo Lan. “Why?”
“I know you aren’t an average person. The average person couldn’t survive after going through the destruction of three strongholds. Of course, I’m not trying to make use of you. You can do as you wish after we return to the Qing Consortium’s territory.” Luo Lan remarked, “Of course, if you’re willing to help us, I can also get Qing Zhen to pay you.”
Ren Xiaosu chuckled and said, “There’s no need. I’m not used to living in a stronghold.”
When he said this, it was Yan Liuyuan’s eyes that lit up. He realized Ren Xiaosu had already made his decision to leave, but he still did not know where Ren Xiaosu had decided on going.
However, it was not a big deal for Yan Liuyuan no matter where they were headed. He was fine with following Ren Xiaosu to the mountains where they could reign as kings.
Of course, this would all still have to wait until Ren Xiaosu had fully recuperated, as well as for the right opportunity to arise. The Yang Consortium would probably not let them go for now.
Luo Lan replied, “If you aren’t used to living in a stronghold, I can have you all live in town. Since you’ve all lived in town before, this shouldn’t be a problem.”
Ren Xiaosu felt a little tempted by his words. Humans were social beings. If he made friends with Luo Lan and Qing Zhen, that would probably solve many problems.
Ren Xiaosu did not answer the question directly. He said with a smile, “You might as well think about how you’re going to leave this place. I don’t think the Yang Consortium will release you.”
“That’s fine.” Luo Lan said nonchalantly, “Qing Zhen will definitely arrange for someone to come and save me. I’ll just wait patiently until that happens. When the time comes, you all can come with me if you want to leave the Yang Consortium’s stronghold!”
This time, Ren Xiaosu felt that the information revealed by Luo Lan was very crucial. Qing Zhen would definitely save Luo Lan, and Ren Xiaosu could take Xiaoyu and the others to leave with Luo Lan at that time.
Ren Xiaosu suddenly felt that Luo Lan and Qing Zhen were just as close as Yan Liuyuan and him. They did not need to explicitly convey their thoughts to each other, as Luo Lan firmly believed Qing Zhen would do things for him.
It was a kind of tacit understanding and trust to place their lives in the hands of the other. Just like back at Stronghold 108, even though the Experimentals almost caught up to them, Yan Liuyuan still stayed together with Ren Xiaosu even though he could have died.
When Ren Xiaosu thought of this, he empathized a little more with Fatty Luo.
All of a sudden, several cars drove past them. They would arrive at the Yang Consortium’s Bronze Ram Manor if they headed a little further to the north. It seemed like those people were here to attend the gala as well.
Luo Lan noticed Ren Xiaosu’s gaze and explained with a smile, “Don’t be jealous of them driving those expensive cars and being able to attend such a grand gala. The people who attend these functions are generally called socialites. For example, they could be the director of the Logistics Division or the director of the Commerce Division. They pretend to lead glamorous lives, but once they get into trouble, they will probably be much worse off than a dog.”
Ren Xiaosu was stunned. Didn’t Yan Liuyuan kill a director from the Li Consortium’s Logistics Division while they were escaping? When he thought of that, Ren Xiaosu despised them even more.
In this era where supernatural beings were starting to rise, absolute power was beginning to have an impact on the social order that was in place. Ren Xiaosu realized he was gaining a condescending mentality when he looked at these people. Ren Xiaosu shook his head. This was the mentality that came with the increase of his strength. He had to remain clear-headed as it was not the time to get arrogant yet.
Meanwhile, Luo Lan, who used to be the true controller of Stronghold 113, would naturally look down on these so-called socialites who were part of a stronghold. When the fatty returned to the Qing Consortium safe and sound, he would likely become one of the most powerful people in the world.
Of course, whether he could return or not was another matter…
As the luxury cars drove past them, no one deliberately stopped to mock them for walking in. Everyone was very busy, and they were not expecting Ren Xiaosu and company to be attending the gala as well.
In contrast, the well-dressed celebrities were sitting in luxury cars to attend the gala, while Ren Xiaosu and company had to walk inside dressed in their casual wear.
The person from the Yang Consortium who invited them here seemed to be telling Ren Xiaosu in a direct way that the refugees did not stand a chance of integrating into their social hierarchy.
When they arrived at the gate, the security guard immediately came to check their invitations. After Luo Lan handed over the invitations, Ren Xiaosu could see that the security guard was taken aback. Then he politely opened the gate and let them through.
Luo Lan said with a smile as he walked in, “The watchdogs who work for the rich families are all very clever people. As long as you have an invitation, they won’t dare to offend you regardless of how you’re dressed. It’s because his master was the one who invited you.”
A lot of people were already standing on the lawn in the manor. All of them were holding crystal wine glasses in their hands as they toasted one another.
If he had not seen this with his own eyes, Ren Xiaosu would not have believed the people here led completely different lives from the refugees.
Luo Lan stopped a servant and took three glasses of wine from his tray and handed one each to Ren Xiaosu and Yan Liuyuan.
But before Yan Liuyuan took the glass from him, Ren Xiaosu snatched it out of his hand. “You’re still too young to drink.” Then Ren Xiaosu placed the glass down on the table next to him.
All of a sudden, he heard someone say, “I heard a VIP from the Zong Consortium will be here tonight.”
Someone asked, “Do you know who it is?”
Someone said, “I heard it’s an up-and-comer who already commands an important position in the Zong Consortium. He’s in charge of the entirety of Stronghold 141’s garrison troops. And Stronghold 141 is the Zong Consortium’s headquarters.”
Luo Lan whispered to them, “The garrison troops are usually where the family members of an organization are posted. It’s a place where worthless people gather together.”
However, someone else said, “But I heard today’s main guest is not from the Zong Consortium.”
“Ah? It’s not the Zong Consortium’s people?”
“Yeah, it seems like someone from Stronghold 178 has come as well. Apparently, the most favored current subordinate of Zhang Jinglin has come to discuss a joint defense plan with the Yang Consortium and the Zong Consortium,” the person answered.
“I heard it’s not about a joint defense plan. It seems they’ll be working together to exterminate the banditry happening out there in the unincorporated zone between the Yang Consortium, the Zong Consortium, and Stronghold 178. They’re looking to reopen the trade routes between the three organizations.”
