Tian Xingjian looked at the few followers outside the restaurant window, swirled the red wine in his glass, and smiled at Ann Lei, "My anti-eavesdropping device hasn’t alarmed, we can talk freely. When are you going back?"
Ann Lei’s smile was as sweet as a flower, but her words carried a tone of defiance, "Whether I go back or not is up to my boss, why do you care!" Follow current novels on ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt
Tian Xingjian took a sip of wine and smiled bitterly, "Stop playing around, it’s too dangerous here. I’ve memorized the contact list you gave me long ago, and I’ve also met the local head. What are you still doing here?"
Ann Lei kept pushing the remaining steak on her plate with her fork, lowering her eyes to avoid looking at Tian Xingjian, "Why do you care? I have other tasks besides you. You should go worry about Milan." Her words carried a hint of jealousy, making Fatty sigh deeply.
This was a famous Vibian-themed restaurant in Tanville. The middle of the restaurant featured a transparent kitchen where the chefs’ skilled and exaggerated cooking actions had a performance quality. Each seat in this round restaurant was by the window, and with the rotating platform, one could enjoy a 360-degree view.
Almost all the diners here were couples because this restaurant had a unique feature—its seats were for couples. Although sitting face to face, they were very close, legs almost touching, and could easily place their hands on each other’s legs. The table was on the side of the other person, making the whole seating arrangement an S-shape, intertwined with each other. Affectionate couples could easily feed each other or kiss. With beautiful music and delicious food, the business here was booming, and without a reservation, one might face the embarrassment of no available seats.
This restaurant, named "Reunion," had been around for over a hundred years. In Tanville, there was an unspoken rule that if a girl was willing to dine at Reunion with you, congratulations, you’ve won her heart!
Even in court, if a man produced a photo of his woman dining at Reunion with another man, the judge would unhesitatingly rule her unfaithful. This was more effective than being caught in bed. In bed, women could still claim, in a pitiful voice, to be coerced or raped. But in the public setting of Reunion, such excuses didn’t hold.
However, this rule didn’t apply to men in the Gazalin Empire. In Gazalin, the law allowed a man to have up to four wives, and for nobles, this number doubled. So, the staff here had seen men go on eight dates with different women in one day. Being served the same signature steak by different women in the same restaurant eight times a day was indeed cruel. It was said that the man never appeared at the Reunion restaurant again.
This was the tenth time Tian Xingjian and Ann Lei had come to this restaurant for a date. Since the dance ended, Fatty, under the pretense of needing Ann Lei’s cooperation for work, had openly dated her. Ann Lei had no way to refuse him, and the need for work made photographs of them as a couple appear before Bruce.
Seeing Fatty not speaking, Ann Lei, after a long silence, finally murmured, "Why must you provoke Bruce?" Seeing Fatty’s gaze shift, Ann Lei turned her head away, flustered.
Fatty gazed blankly at Ann Lei. He didn’t know how to handle their relationship. Though he tried to be indifferent, there was always a bond. Yet, before meeting Ann Lei again, there was Milan. He sighed deeply and said, "Because... I must go to Abnosk Prison."
"Abnosk Prison? Are you insane?" Ann Lei exclaimed in panic, "No one has ever come out alive from there! That’s the Gazalin Royal Family’s special prison, holding only the..." She suddenly realized something, her beautiful eyes revealing disbelief, "Oh my... you mean..."
Fatty smiled bitterly and nodded, "This is part of my teacher’s plan. From the beginning, it’s been a game of chess between my teacher and Liebgoet. Only I know that in Lucerne, Liebgoet was playing Go. His Go skills are excellent. But my teacher was playing chess, and I am just a pawn that reached the final row."
Fatty’s voice was low, "Liebgoet will never know my teacher wasn’t playing the same game. From the start, he was lagging behind. Maybe his military skills surpass my teacher’s, but he doesn’t understand Gazalin. The only one who truly understands this country and James is General Russell. War is the continuation of politics, and the key to this war isn’t Lucerne! It’s here, within Gazalin! Apart from Liebgoet, my teacher’s opponent is James. This Emperor may not be a military genius, but he’s definitely a political prodigy! The craziest of emperors!"
The Freedom Front doesn’t have the strength for large-scale attacks. Attacking energy and military targets won’t significantly harm the Gazalin Empire. We need chaos! To support the Federation’s military actions, my focus is on rescuing the political prisoners in Gazalin Empire’s prisons. Their influence outweighs that of the Freedom Fighters’ raids. Only they can truly dismantle the Gazalin Royal Family’s rule from within. Moreover..."
Fatty looked at his wine glass under the light, the wine swaying like blood, and said slowly, "Inside, there are imprisoned high-ranking Military Department officials and nearly twenty members of the Gazalin Royal Family from past purges! Including James’s brother, Prince Sidney!"
Ann Lei anxiously said, "But why must you go personally? Can you guarantee you’ll come out alive from Abnosk Prison?!"
Fatty sighed, "I have no choice but to go. Who else has a chance to enter that prison?"
Ann Lei bit her lip tightly and said, "Why do you need to go in? Can’t you attack directly? Besides, what can you accomplish by going in alone?"
Fatty smiled slightly and said, "Don’t you know the rules of Abnosk Prison? Once it faces an unstoppable attack, the prison will execute all inmates immediately!"
Seeing Ann Lei worried, Fatty held her hand and said, "Don’t worry, everything is arranged. There are people inside responsible for welcoming me. My mission is to coordinate the inside and outside, organizing the escape plan before the attack begins. We’ve already prepared all the external plans and deployment, and every attack plan and retreat route was personally designed by me. You can rest assured."
Ann Lei still couldn’t calm down, muttering, "No, you can’t go, it’s too dangerous there! Bruce won’t send you in there, he wouldn’t dare..." Before she finished her sentence, her lips were suddenly blocked by Fatty’s mouth. She was stunned, and Fatty’s voice echoed in her ears:
"If he sees this photo... for you, and for his brother... he will! He is the least afraid of the Mythical Army and George in the Gazalin Royal Family, and no one would dare offend this noble who has always remained neutral and is favored by James!"
Ann Lei mumbled, "You dead Fatty, you jerk..."
Tian Xingjian gently said, "I kissed you, it has nothing to do with him. Although he doesn’t care about anything, he wouldn’t want to see his own brother fail miserably, nor lose his chance to compete for the throne against Stephen. I belong to the Mythical Army and am a key investment target for George. Without conclusive evidence, he wouldn’t easily kill me."
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When the photos of Fatty and Ann Lei’s date were laid in front of Bruce once again, this prince who always prided himself on his composure and grace finally couldn’t control his anger. He vented his fury using more than ten antique porcelain pieces, just like his brother did!
The photo of the two kissing was placed on the smooth surface of the rosewood desk during their encounter, glaring under the light!
Bruce, like an enraged bull, stared fiercely at the photo!
The investigation into Fatty had been ongoing for a long time, conducted thoroughly, with Bruce almost mobilizing all his resources. However, Zhang Yuan’s identity indeed had little to investigate; no one paid attention to such a person. His records were so simplistic that those responsible for the investigation hesitated to report back to Bruce. Zhang Yuan rarely communicated with anyone, apart from his mechanical interests. No one knew his likes or habits, and he didn’t even have a friend.
Unlike Reinhardt, for Bruce, investigating identities was merely a means. The simpler the identity, the more suspicious it seemed. Actually, it wasn’t about suspicion but simpler identities allowed for manipulations. When Fatty and Ann Lei first dined at the restaurant named "A Chance Encounter," Bruce had already decided he must make Fatty suffer! Ann Lei was the only woman Bruce had ever fallen for, the only one he genuinely wanted to marry and make one of his eight formal wives.
How could such a woman be touched by another?!
Moreover, for a prince, having the woman he publicly liked taken away by a commoner was an unbearable disgrace! His noble status, handsome appearance, graceful demeanor, and scholarly conversation all served to spotlight another victor in the field of love! And this victor turned out to be a plump Fatty!
Every date between Fatty and Ann Lei continually provoked Bruce, pushing his anger to the edge. The more public their interactions became, the more enraged Bruce grew! The investigation into Fatty became increasingly meticulous. However, Russell did extensive work crafting Fatty’s identity, making it difficult for Bruce to uncover any flaws. Thus, despite the passionate displays between Fatty and Ann Lei, Bruce forcibly restrained himself. After all, arresting Fatty without cause would benefit neither his standing with Ann Lei nor Reinhardt.
Bruce had more than once contemplated making this loathsome Fatty disappear from the world entirely! Yet, Fatty seemed to anticipate Bruce’s intentions, staying either with Ann Lei or in the lab, rarely stepping outside. Furthermore, should he die mysteriously, Bruce would undoubtedly become the laughingstock amongst the nobles.
Standing amidst the room full of broken pieces, Bruce gazed at the electronic file his investigation had gathered. He picked up the phone, "Stephen, perhaps I can do you a favor. I agree with your plan!" Bruce’s voice was cold, his eyes gleaming with a subtle light. (To be continued. For more, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM. Support the author and read authentic texts!)