Chapter 1 The Meeting

In a spacious conference room, several people sat around a long table.

At the head was a woman of average appearance but outstanding temperament.

Lin Wan'er tilted her head, glancing at the empty seat on her right. Before she could speak, a voice sounded from her left, "Rare indeed, Mr. Lin to call a meeting and Number 3 is absent." The speaker was a man in a striped shirt, head tilted, a cowboy hat resting on the table in front of him, giving off an unrestrained air.

"Number 3 isn't absent. I assigned him a task yesterday. He overspent his mental energy and needs to rest," Lin Wan'er said, resolving Number 2's doubts in a few words.

"Mr. Lin, shall we wait for him?" Number 7 cast an inquiring glance at Lin Wan'er.

"Let's wait, someone has already gone to find him," Chen Ran said, his tone unusually gentle as he answered Number 7's question, while simultaneously looking towards the door.

A moment later, a polite double knock sounded on the conference room door, followed by the door being pushed open and two people entering, one after the other. "Sorry for the wait, sorry for the wait." Number 8 followed behind Number 3, today wearing a little black dress, giving off a kind of dark, cute vibe.

Number 3, on the other hand, didn't seem to be in good spirits. His entire demeanor was much weaker.

"Mr. Lin, I apologize, I rested a little too long." Arriving at his seat, Number 3 didn't immediately sit, but first gestured to Lin Wan'er, his pair of azure blue eyes lowered.

"How's the rest?" Lin Wan'er asked, looking at him.

"Much better."

Just as Number 3 sat down, Number 8, who was behind him, started complaining, "What's going on? Where's my seat?" There were only a few chairs near the long table, and each one was already occupied.

Wan Yuanning, who was responsible for arranging the venue, frowned. It wasn't a big deal, but the key was that Number 8 was the one without a chair. This impish child had a bellyful of tricks, and no one knew if she would make a fuss.

Besides... she had checked the number of chairs. There shouldn't be one missing.

"Hehe, truly the heavens have eyes. Number 8, you're not doing your job, and even the heavens can't stand it anymore." Seeing this scene, Number 13 breathed a sigh of relief. He was very happy to see Number 8 being thwarted.

Unexpectedly, Number 8 didn't throw a tantrum at Number 13 or Wan Yuanning, but instead sidled up to Number 3, saying in a sweet voice, "Number 3, people don't have a chair to sit on. Can I... squeeze in with you?"

Number 3 frowned slightly.

In an instant, those who understood, understood.

Number 8 revealed a delighted expression. Just as Number 3 was about to reluctantly nod, suddenly, a discordant note sounded, "Hold on!" Number 13 stood up, took a few quick steps, and dragged a chair out from under a hidden corner.

Anyone with eyes could see that this chair had been deliberately hidden here.

The moment she saw the chair, Number 8's face darkened.

"Hehe." Number 13 trotted all the way, dragging the chair out and placing it properly next to the long table. He even dusted off non-existent dust with his hand, then looked up, his face as radiant as a flower, "No need to squeeze. Everyone has a seat."

Number 8 clicked her tongue and glared at Number 13. "I really thank you!"

"You're welcome." Number 13 turned and slipped back to his seat.

After Number 3 had defeated a portion of the chairman's mental power, the pressure within Crimson had lessened considerably. Lin Wan'er looked at everything before her, revealing a helpless expression.

More importantly, they understood the Night Watch's intentions.

"Judging from last night's events, the Night Watch's target is Mr. Lin. I think... Number 10's murder is also related to the Night Watch. The fortress is easiest to break from within." Number 2 grabbed his hat. When he mentioned Number 10's murder, everyone became serious.

Chen Ran leaned back in his chair, his eyes chillingly cold. "I agree with what Number 2 said. As long as they control Mr. Lin, then, with the help of Mr. Lin's abilities, they have a chance to forcibly modify Wu's memories, and thus use Wu to kill Number 10."

A strange look flashed across Lin Wan'er's face. After a few seconds, she turned her head and looked at Number 3, who was frowning slightly, his face also appearing somewhat pale. "Number 3, what do you think?"

"Theoretically, this is possible, but it's difficult to implement," Number 3 replied truthfully. "First of all, to modify Wu's memories, the prerequisite is to completely control him. Just that point alone is difficult for us in our current state."

"We can ambush him," Number 13 said with a sinister expression. "Hit him with a sap."

Number 3 was taken aback. It seemed that this option didn't exist in his understanding. He suddenly felt a little dizzy. He hadn't rested well last night and kept having dreams, all kinds of strange dreams, bizarre and fantastical, as if he was traversing between his past and present lives.

A voice kept repeating something in his ear. He didn't know who it was, but he instinctively felt familiar and subconsciously chose to trust it.

"Sorry, perhaps I'm being too cautious," Number 3 said, reaching out to gently rub the sides of his nose, looking somewhat tired. "If we connect all of this, it should be as you say."

"First control Mr. Lin, then use Mr. Lin's abilities to modify Wu's memories, and finally use Wu's abilities to kill Number 10, causing Ling to fall into complete despair and open the abyss gate."

Number 8 immediately chimed in, "Number 3 is right, it must be like this!"

Following this line of thought, the meeting discussed some of the upcoming plans. In short, after learning that Number 10 was no longer in danger, the atmosphere in the entire meeting relaxed considerably.

The meeting ended, and everyone left in turn.

After the sound of everyone's footsteps had disappeared, Lin Wan'er stood up and turned to walk towards an inconspicuous wall.

Hanging on the wall was a huge painting that took up almost half the wall.

With a flick of a switch, the painting slowly rose, revealing a door embedded in the wall.

Inside, a figure had been waiting for a long time.

"How is it? Number 10's matter is really over, right?" The person was wearing a black robe, revealing a pale face, a young man with a scholarly air.

Also Crimson Number 1.

Lin Wan'er nodded, whispering, "It's over. Number 10 will no longer be in danger, but you shouldn't be here today." Her tone changed. "You should know that hiding just a wall away from Number 7, you are very likely to be exposed."

"It was my fault this time. There won't be a next time. I just..."

Naturally knowing that Number 1 was worried about Number 10, Lin Wan'er didn't overly scold him. She took out something and handed it to Number 1. "It's good that you came. I have something to ask you. Find a way to get this to that car, quickly!"

Number 1 took it in surprise. It was a handkerchief. When he opened it, a bell lay quietly inside.