Luo Yu urgently stopped at the entrance of the neighborhood, confused, and turned around: “What are we waiting for?”

Song Lingyuan looked toward the nearby construction site of the second phase of the neighborhood and lifted his chin slightly: “First, call your senior to let him know to come out and pick us up.”

“President, why are you acting so high and mighty?” Luo Yu gasped, shooting him an exasperated glance. “We’re already at the entrance, and you still want someone to greet us? Have you forgotten there’s an army chasing us? We’re wasting time!”

Yet Song Lingyuan stubbornly remained still, squinting at their destination.

There were several workers standing there who didn’t seem to be working but rather were guarding the entrance, looking back at him with unfriendly expressions.

Song Lingyuan withdrew his gaze and scoffed: “Didn’t he say many people were waiting to tear me apart? I don’t feel safe just walking in like this.”

“Luo, I’m the person you brought here; you need to protect me.”

“…” Luo Yu’s mouth twitched. “Can I tell them we just happened to bump into each other on the way?”

As he spoke, he followed Song Lingyuan’s gaze.

Those bare-chested uncles were indeed giving off unfriendly vibes.

Who would have thought that yesterday, when he came alone, he was greeted with cheers and fanfare, but today, bringing Song Lingyuan here, he had to face a life-and-death situations!

Considering that if Song Lingyuan were torn apart, he might also be implicated, Luo Yu ultimately dialed Wen Li’s number.

Wen Li responded softly to their request.

Before long, a deep black small cargo truck slowly emerged from the construction site.

Half a minute later, it stopped at the truck passage at the neighborhood entrance.

The side door of the truck opened automatically, revealing no one inside, just some scattered bricks.

Luo Yu understood this was how they were being greeted and skillfully jumped onto the truck, turning to pull Song Lingyuan up.

But he saw Song Lingyuan raise an eyebrow and directly step onto the cargo platform.

Luo Yu: …

Hmph, so what if he has long legs?

The truck door closed, and Luo Yu used his phone’s flashlight to illuminate the interior, pointing at a brick: “Sit wherever you like.”

Song Lingyuan frowned in distaste, gripping the door handle to steady himself.

Before long, the truck came to a stop again.

The truck door opened slowly.

The workers who had been standing guard at the construction site quickly gathered around upon hearing the noise.

Not far away, several workers who had been resting exchanged glances and got up, shovels in hand, walking toward them.

Song Lingyuan glanced around in the dim light of dawn and turned back to Luo Yu: “You stay in the truck.”

With that, he stepped down onto the ground.

Luo Yu obediently sat on a brick, valuing his life, but couldn’t help peeking outside.

A row of tall, muscular workers with bare chests linked arms, blocking Song Lingyuan’s path.

Each person standing there seemed to have fire in their eyes, burning with furious rage.

Luo Yu swallowed hard and heard Song Lingyuan suddenly speak in an icy tone: “If you don’t want more people to die, step aside.”

Luo Yu’s heart raced as he saw those workers indeed get enraged, with one even hurling a shovel directly at Song Lingyuan!

Luo Yu’s warning “be careful” got stuck in his throat as he watched the shovel get caught in mid-air by Song Lingyuan, who casually threw it several meters away.

The shovel clattered loudly as it hit the ground.

Luo Yu’s racing heartbeat finally began to settle.

“Everyone, please calm down.”

Wen Li had emerged from the basement at some point, but he had not spoken or stopped the workers from venting their anger.

Only now did he step forward slowly from behind the row of workers.

The smile on his face didn’t reach his eyes.

“President Song is here today to discuss cooperation with us.”

“I would rather die than cooperate with scum like him!” shouted a nearby worker, his voice hoarse yet determined.

Wen Li comfortingly patted the shoulder of that worker, walking directly to Song Lingyuan and speaking in a steady voice: “Where’s Luo?”

Seeing the situation, Luo Yu quickly jumped out of the truck: “Senior, I’m here.”

Wen Li reached out a hand and pulled him behind himself, seemingly indicating which side he was on.

Luo Yu immediately heard Wen Li’s tone become increasingly rude:

“Song Lingyuan, if you have something to say, say it here.”

“Senior, this place isn’t safe.” Luo Yu hesitated for a moment and gently tugged at Wen Li’s sleeve. “President Song is being chased by the army; we just escaped for our lives.”

“You’re not hurt, are you?” Wen Li turned to look at him, his voice instantly softening with concern in his eyes.

Luo Yu shook his head. “No, but I’m afraid those people will find this place soon… and that will involve us too!”

Wen Li pondered for a moment before turning back to Song Lingyuan. “For Xiao Luo’s sake, I’ll take you into the base first.”

Saying this, he grasped Luo Yu’s wrist and turned to lead him toward the safe house.

Luo Yu glanced back to signal Song Lingyuan to follow, but he saw the workers had formed a row again, watching Song Lingyuan with fierce eyes after they had left.

“Have we met before?”

Song Lingyuan suddenly spoke.

“We?”

Luo Yu was taken aback.

He saw Wen Li stop, letting out a long breath: “I wish my parents hadn’t saved you two brothers back then!”

“Is that so?”

Song Lingyuan nodded, disregarding the workers blocking their way, effortlessly pushing them aside and stepping forward.

“Your parents were good people.”

“They were certainly good people, but in this world, good people are destined to receive no rewards!”

Wen Li suddenly turned his head, glaring at him with barely contained rage in his eyes:

“Song Lingyuan, your anti sleeping pills caused their allergic reaction and led to their deaths. Shouldn’t you pay with your life to atone for it?”

A flash of surprise crossed Song Lingyuan’s face, and he quickly understood, his expression darkening completely.

“I’m sorry.”

“What good is ‘sorry’?” Wen Li let go of Luo Yu, rushing up to Song Lingyuan and grabbing his collar with one hand.

But Song Lingyuan’s strength was evidently greater than his; he easily caught Wen Li’s wrist through his white gloves and flung it away, causing Wen Li to stagger back several steps.

Song Lingyuan’s voice was calm:

“Your parents didn’t die from an allergic reaction; they died from taking a medication with abnormal ingredients. That was poison mixed in with the drugs distributed by Duan Yixun, the highest commissioner of Zone A.”

“I said I’m sorry because I’m sorry that I couldn’t uncover this earlier; that’s a failure of the Association.”

“Of course ‘sorry’ is useless. That’s why I’m here to talk to you about cooperation, to bring the true culprit to justice.”

As Song Lingyuan spoke each word emphatically, everyone around fell silent in shock.

“How could it not be an allergic reaction?”

“What does the Association want to do?”

“What nonsense is this!”

Surrounding murmurs arose. Wen Li’s expression flickered, revealing no indication of belief or disbelief. He ultimately turned back, pushing open the door to the break room, and quickly swiped to open the underground passage.

“Go in and tell everyone who has lost loved ones.”

“Let’s see if they believe you.”

Luo Yu looked back at Song Lingyuan with some concern, but saw him raise an eyebrow at him.

Luo Yu: ?

As Luo Yu watched Song Lingyuan withdraw his gaze, he stood tall, exuding an imposing presence as he walked up the gangway.

It seemed this wasn’t a resting place for the Hypnos League but rather the headquarters of the Association.

Luo Yu felt he had worried for nothing.

At the moment Song Lingyuan stepped onto the gangway, a sudden ringtone broke the tension.

Everyone stopped in their tracks, watching Song Lingyuan’s movements warily.

Song Lingyuan took his time answering the call and pressed the speakerphone.

“President, according to your instructions, I investigated the sleep hospital in City A and found issues with Warehouse No. 7 underground!”

Song Lingyuan’s eyes turned cold: “Found any abnormal drugs?”

“Not yet.” Li Rui gasped. “But that warehouse is heavily guarded by the military. The hospital says the military won’t allow anyone near, and the internal surveillance has already been destroyed! I wanted to enter for an investigation in the name of the Association, but they said I needed permission from the highest commissioner to go in!”

“I can now completely suspect that every shipment of sleeping pills transported to the City A sleep hospital has been swapped in Warehouse No. 7! I suspect that Warehouse No. 7 is where the lethal drugs are hidden!”

Everyone around, including Wen Li, instantly changed expressions.

Only Song Lingyuan remained calm: “Retrieve the external surveillance from the warehouse and individually check everyone who has entered.”

After hanging up, Song Lingyuan quickly dialed another number.

“Everyone in the bodyguard team, immediately surround the City A sleep hospital. Inspect all incoming and outgoing vehicles, and prohibit the external transport of anti sleeping pills.”

The moment the bodyguard team was truly needed had arrived.

Song Lingyuan didn’t need protection; the crime scene was where protection was truly required.

Luo Yu saw Wen Li standing at the bottom of the gangway, watching Song Lingyuan’s every move, seemingly wanting to say something, but he moved his mouth without speaking and continued pulling him downward.

When they reached the ground, Luo Yu noticed everyone in the basement had gotten out of bed and stood on both sides of the corridor.

Like a pack of wolves filled with hatred, they stared at the direction of their arrival.

He thought Wen Li wouldn’t intervene, allowing everyone to vent their anger toward Song Lingyuan, but unexpectedly, this time he heard Wen Li tell everyone:

“Everyone, please calm down. Let me understand the situation first.”

Saying this, he turned to Song Lingyuan: “Come with me.”

As Luo Yu walked between the two rows of people, he felt their bodies trembling.

The moment they saw Song Lingyuan, they likely all remembered their deceased family members…

Luo Yu walked on, feeling their pain and anger, which resonated within him, shaking his own heart as well.

“Xiao Luo Yu, are you okay?”

Just as Luo Yu was about to reach the bedroom, one of the sisters he had seen yesterday lightly tugged at his clothing.

“I’m so worried here…”

She glanced at Song Lingyuan and quickly looked away, whispering to Luo Yu:

“The Association people are heartless. They didn’t bully you, did they?”

“I’m fine,” Luo Yu replied softly. “Sister, don’t worry.”

As he spoke, he squinted his eyes and gave her a reassuring smile.

Only then did she let go of him.

Eventually, the three of them entered Luo Yu’s bedroom.

Luo Yu sensed something was off in the atmosphere, a tension that seemed to envelop the whole room like an approaching storm.

They’re not going to start fighting here, are they?

He quietly asked, “Why don’t you two talk, and I’ll step outside?”

“Just stay here; this is the safest place right now.”

“No need for that.”

To his surprise, both of them answered him in unison.

Luo Yu rubbed the back of his neck and reluctantly sat down cross-legged at the edge of the bed.

Seeing this, Wen Li also sat down beside him on the bed, while Song Lingyuan stood nearby, glancing at the two of them:

“As far as I know, according to customs from thirty years ago, guests shouldn’t casually sit on someone else’s bed.”

Wen Li wore a polite yet distant smile: “Is that so? But I believe Xiao Luo doesn’t mind me sitting next to him.”

“…” Luo Yu forced a smile. “You two can sit however you like; I don’t mind. President Song, you can sit down too?”

Song Lingyuan gave Luo Yu a blank look, then moved a wooden chair from against the wall in front of him and sat down with his knees bent.

The three of them formed a strange triangle in that small space.

Luo Yu awkwardly brought his legs together, relieved when Wen Li broke the silence first:

“Song Lingyuan, even if I believe your word, how do you plan to take down the real culprit?”

Even seated on a low wooden chair, Song Lingyuan remained upright, his presence unchanged:

“The management president of A City controls the military. We have no chance against him head-on. The only way to defeat him is to leverage public opinion to pull him down from his position.”

Wen Li raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Song Lingyuan raised a finger, his expression cold:

“One week from now is the vote for the A Zone’s Management President Election.”

“We have one week to expose the truth and overturn public sentiment, preventing Duan Yixun from obtaining enough consecutive votes, thus stripping him of control over the military.”

“But to accomplish this, the Association alone isn’t enough.”

“I need the cooperation of everyone from your Hypnos League. I hope you can share your real stories to warn the public about Duan Yixun’s actions.”

Wen Li lowered his eyes, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, but quickly shook his head:

“Overturning public sentiment shouldn’t require everyone’s cooperation. We have here a famous streamer, Xiao Luo; with just one of your live broadcasts, can’t we achieve that?”

Luo Yu looked up in astonishment, meeting Wen Li’s eager gaze.

Me again?

He really didn’t want to get involved in these dangerous matters anymore!

“That’s not fair to Luo Yu.”

Just as Luo Yu was about to refuse, he heard Song Lingyuan decisively interrupt Wen Li before he could speak!

“Luo Yu is a victim himself; yet you keep putting him in the crosshairs!”^[1]Idioms. (caught) in the cross hairs. in a situation in which you are the target or victim of somebody’s anger, violence or blame.

“Is this what your organization is capable of?”