Chapter 1 Two Days Later

Two days later.

A sunny and breezy afternoon.

Da Du.

The Freedom Auditorium.

The light and flowing symphony echoed above the circular dome, like snow-white clouds slowly drifting across the azure sky.

In this era, it's not easy to hear a live band performance... but the Freedom Auditorium is an exception. It's funded by the council and employs many "ambitious individuals" who love classical music.

To put it more simply, taxpayers are funding this cultural treasure left over from an old era.

Like libraries, most people are inherently indifferent to spiritual culture. As long as they have it, that's enough. A book on the shelf is no longer important whether it's read or not.

The people of Da Du only need to know that the Freedom Auditorium exists.

Even though a ticket to enjoy a performance isn't expensive, costing about the same as a fast-food meal.

But clearly... in this era, most people would rather eat fast food than waste time chewing on spiritual food.

"Today is a special day."

Tomb Oni Xing Yun squatted on a seat in the last row of the auditorium. His posture was strange, like a ball hiding in the shadows. He turned his head and smiled at the young man, "Do you know what day it is?"

"I don't know. But I guess..."

Gu Shen said casually.

"Today is likely the day you get caught by your enemies and shot in the head."

He and Tomb Oni sat not far from each other, three or four seats apart. They looked like strangers, but in fact, the auditorium was empty enough that almost no one sat in the last row.

Those who truly wanted to appreciate the music were all sitting in the front rows... where there were large swathes of empty seats, the best place to immerse oneself in the performance.

"As the person in charge of the 'New World Project,' wanted by the big shots of Nagano, with who knows how many people lined up to kill you, you should know... hiding underground in Hua Zhi is the safest place." Gu Shen frowned, "At this time, you actually dare to come out to listen to a concert?"

Tomb Oni smiled indifferently.

He rubbed his fingers together and asked, "Even a true wandering ghost should have his own spiritual pursuits, right? What's wrong with coming out to listen to a concert... do you know what piece this is?"

"I'm ignorant." Gu Shen shook his head again.

For him, listening to symphonies was too lofty a hobby.

Gu Shen was always honest and knew his limitations.

He knew he wasn't a refined person, but that didn't mean he despised or scorned refined things... He had tried to understand "symphonies" and "concerts," but unfortunately, he was born with a certain window closed by God. He was purely an idiot when it came to music theory, and could only vaguely hear some emotions flowing in the melody.

That was all.

"Haydn's Symphony No. 94." Tomb Oni said softly, "I like this piece."

"..."

Gu Shen rubbed his brow, making sure he hadn't misheard.

He sorted out his thoughts, then slowly asked, "Are you serious... tomorrow is the day for nominating candidate councilors, and you asked me to come here just to listen to this symphony, and then tell me the name of this piece?"

"Yes, but not entirely." Tomb Oni smiled, "It wasn't me who invited you, but the taxpayers. The citizens of Da Du funded the construction of the Freedom Auditorium, and they support this band."

"Okay. No more jokes."

Seeing Gu Shen's expression, Tomb Oni gradually became serious.

He said in a low voice, "As you said... tomorrow is the day for nominating candidate councilors, I have to ask you to meet me. The location doesn't matter, because no matter where it is, we can't escape Cui Zhongcheng's eyes."

Gu Shen's expression was calm.

He wore a pair of glasses. A three-dimensional diagram of the Freedom Auditorium appeared before his eyes. Chu Ling was transmitting the auditorium's data in real time. He knew everything about the surveillance and the movement of people.

Not far behind him, there were three cameras covering the rear of the auditorium without any blind spots.

"Regarding... my escape route."

Xing Yun smiled and said, "I want to run away, it's no secret. Just as the big shots are used to 'killing the donkey after it grinds the mill,' that's no secret either. Once the candidate councilor proposal is passed, it's almost certain that Lu Nanzhi will be elected. In my opinion... the Awakening Act has reached its final step. And my value is about to reach its end. Once the Act is passed, the New World Project team can be disbanded, and I think Zhao Xilai would be happy to hand over 'Tomb Oni' to those old guys in Nagano City."

"Squeezing out my last bit of value can be considered the cost of protecting freedom during this time." He sighed softly, "This is probably the last concert I'll hear."

"No need to pretend to be sad, that doesn't work on me." Gu Shen said lightly, "Our meeting was purely accidental, and the New World Project has been established for several years. I don't believe you have no follow-up plans... If you hadn't met me, would you have just waited to be captured and die?"

Tomb Oni looked at the young man beside him with some surprise.

This kid was smarter than he thought... He thought he was young, but he was really hard to fool.

He smiled shyly, "I heard, you are Zhou Jiren's 'closed-door disciple.'"

Gu Shen remained silent.

"I want to apply for a 'pardon.'" Tomb Oni smiled and said frankly, "After thinking about it, there are too few people in Dongzhou who can do this... The Grand Arbiter should be one of them. To Zhao Xilai and Nagano City, I have lost my value, but to Zhou Jiren, I still have a place to be used. I can help him get re-elected."

Gu Shen was still silent.

"Even an outsider like me knows that Zhu Wang of the Tribunal has coveted the position of Grand Arbiter for a long time. In recent years, he has been launching fierce attacks on Zhou Jiren. The internal strife within the Tribunal will not subside in the future, it will only intensify. Once the Awakening Act is promulgated, the Tribunal will face enormous manpower pressure. Zhu Wang and several other qualified Arbiters will jointly request the Council to additionally establish the position of 'Grand Arbiter'—"

Tomb Oni spoke faster and faster, finally stopping slowly, and said, "Lions always get old. No matter how powerful they are when they are young, their fate will always be tragic when they get old. When the position of Grand Arbiter is additionally established, the towering tree of the past... surrounded by wolves, will inevitably wither. I am not qualified to meet Mr. Tree, I can only meet with you. I think you will pass these words on to him, right?"

"I will pass it on, but I won't give you any promises."

Gu Shen said in a deep voice, "Before this concert ends, if you regret it, I can pretend I didn't hear anything."

Tomb Oni was stunned.

His pupils contracted slightly, noticing two figures who were late to the venue in the distance.

One in front and one behind.

The woman in front wore a white dress and a top hat, very elegant.

Lu Nanzhi.

And next to Lu Nanzhi was another lady in a low-key black dress, with a thin veil hanging down, making it impossible to see her true face.

A few minutes ago, Gu Shen, prompted by Chu Ling, learned that two "big shots" had come to the Freedom Auditorium together—

Next to the Madam... was another legendary woman with a very high status in Nanwan.

Ye Ningqiu.