566: Chapter 566 From today onwards, you are all under my care.

"I'm sorry, Young Miss Chuqiao, I didn't mean to..."

Jiang Yun turned pale at the sight and hurriedly lowered her head to apologize.

Having just joined the group, she had caught a glimpse of the higher-ups' privacy, and her heart couldn't help fluttering with anxiety, fearing that this small offense would result in her being given a hard time in the future.

"It's fine, it's fine. Just don't go snooping around in private from now on."

Lin Chuqiao waved her hand magnanimously, showing no intention of blaming her at all.

That shy yet mildly reproachful look instead added a touch of girlish naivety and charm to her.

It completely eliminated the sense of aloof distance she originally had, making her feel much more approachable.

"Jiang Yun's ability is very valuable."

The Professor timely took over the conversation, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere while also giving a professional evaluation:

"Although her mental energy is relatively weak right now and her perception isn't stable enough, as long as she trains diligently, her future will be limitless."

"I think this ability is most suitable for the Intelligence Department."

"Whether it's interrogating captives, discerning the truth of the opponent's words, or spying for intelligence and acquiring key information, it plays an irreplaceable role."

"Even during routine missions, she can preemptively sense unusual movements in the surrounding crowd and root out enemies hidden in the dark."

"Used well, it is definitely a Sharp Weapon."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly, indicating his approval of the Professor's view.

Such a scarce type of talent would definitely be treated like a treasure and pampered in any organization or faction.

In his heart, he silently raised Jiang Yun's evaluation Rank by one level, listing her as a target requiring special care and protection in the future.

After Xu Kuan and Jiang Yun finished their self-introductions, it was finally Douzi's turn, who had been keeping her head down and remaining silent.

Sensing everyone's gazes converging on her, the little girl instinctively shrank her neck and wanted to hide behind Jiang Yun again.

"Douzi, don't be afraid."

Jiang Yun gently pushed her back and encouraged her softly:

"Tell our President what abilities you have and what you are best at doing."

Douzi lowered her head, her fingers tightly twisting the corner of her clothes. Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's, and she stammered:

"I... I and them... are friends."

"Who are they?"

Fang Cheng leaned forward slightly, trying his best to make his tone sound less serious.

Facing the inquiry, Douzi pursed her lips, her small face turning pale with tension, and she couldn't squeeze out another word for a long time.

"It's like this."

Seeing this, Jiang Yun hurriedly helped explain from the side:

"Douzi can communicate with animals, such as mice, sparrows, stray cats and dogs... She can understand what they are saying and also command them to do things."

"Previously when we were locked in the basement, we relied on the mice controlled by Douzi to secretly transmit messages, so we could roughly know what the situation outside was like..."

As she was speaking, a rustling movement suddenly came from under the crack of the door.

A palm-sized, snow-white little mouse poked its head in and crawled inside.

It didn't seem afraid of people at all, running all the way along the base of the wall to Douzi's feet in a flash.

Then it nimbly climbed up her trouser leg onto her shoulder, stood up straight, and squeaked twice.

As soon as Douzi saw this mouse, her originally dim eyes instantly lit up.

She extended her dirty fingers and gently scratched the mouse's chin, a relaxed and innocent smile appearing on her face.

It was as if in front of this tiny creature, she was a normal child, rather than a despised little beggar.

"It's that mouse, and its name is Xiaobai."

Jiang Yun looked at this scene and lovingly reached out to touch Douzi's messy hair:

"This child has had a hard life, having no parents since she was little, and she depended on Xiaobai for survival when she was wandering."

"Xiaobai is like her friend, helping her find food and also helping her avoid bad people."

"Not bad, she's simply a natural-born scout material."

Seeing this scene of Douzi interacting with animals, a sharp glint flashed behind the Professor's lenses, and he praised sincerely:

"Ordinary people often lack vigilance toward small things like stray cats, dogs, mice, and sparrows."

"We can completely take advantage of this psychological blind spot, letting animals act as informants to infiltrate heavily guarded places and reach everywhere."

"If utilized properly, the entire Dongdu, from dark sewers to open skies, and even government agencies and military restricted zones, will become our monitored network coverage area."

Speaking of this, the Professor turned to look at Fang Cheng and said in a solemn tone:

"President, leave this child to me to train from now on."

"I will personally teach her how to exercise her mental abilities, learn to build an intelligence network, and further cultivate her talent."

Fang Cheng did not reply immediately.

He simply gazed quietly at the ragged little girl who only dared to show a smile when facing the mouse.

In a daze, images from the depths of memory overlapped with reality.

He seemed to see Wen Xin, who always followed behind him and called out "big brother".

Equally desolate and helpless, struggling for survival in the darkness.

The hardest part of Fang Cheng's heart couldn't help softening slightly for a split second.

"Alright."

He snapped back to his senses, nodded towards Douzi, and unconsciously softened his voice a bit:

"From now on, you will study hard with the Professor. Remember, starting from today, the Illuminati is your home, and no one will dare bully you again."

Douzi seemed to feel this goodwill, and her action of stroking the mouse paused for a moment.

She raised her head, gave Fang Cheng a timid look with her large, frightened eyes, and then quickly lowered it.

Only this time, she didn't hide away again, and there was a hint of radiance in her eyes.

Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze and thought to himself.

Once that girl Wen Xin finished her exams and started her summer vacation.

It would be just right to let these two girls of similar age get to know each other and keep each other company.

Two children who had both walked through the rain could perhaps hold an umbrella for each other, open their hearts, and become close friends.

The work of interviewing newcomers came to an end here, and Fang Cheng did not immediately let everyone disperse.

He turned his head and nodded to Lin Chuqiao beside him to signal.

Lin Chuqiao understood tacitly and then walked out the door with light steps.

Soon, Lao Chen and Hawkeye, who had been waiting outside, as well as Feiying and Panghu, who were resting in the next room due to heavier injuries, were all called in.

Coupled with Xiaoya who silently followed the Professor, the not-so-spacious room was suddenly crowded with people.

"Everyone get acquainted with each other's faces."

Fang Cheng briefly made introductions for both sides.

Xu Kuan and Jiang Yun appeared a bit cramped and nervous.

After all, these few lords before them, though some were wrapped in bandages and others leaned on crutches, couldn't hide that Evil Qi crawled out of a pile of dead people.

Especially that big fellow named "Panghu", wearing a black Elasticity shirt, his body knotted with muscles, and a fierce look in his eyes; he looked at a glance like someone who lived by licking blood from the blade's edge.

Seeming to sense the newcomers' tension, Panghu scratched his gleaming bald head, grinned, and exposed two rows of large white teeth.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I just look a bit hurried in my growth, but my temper is actually very good!"

As he spoke, his originally fierce and menacing face instantly became incomparably honest and simple.

"From now on, we are all our own people. If anyone dares to bully you, just report my Panghu's name, and I guarantee I'll help you straighten them out!"

With his clowning around, the tense nerves of Xu Kuan and the others relaxed quite a bit, and they even couldn't help pressing their lips together wanting to smile.

Xiaoya, standing behind the Professor, smiled shyly and nodded gently to everyone, considering it a greeting.

"Alright."

Seeing that everyone had already met, Fang Cheng cleared his throat and began to assign work arrangements for the relevant personnel.

"For the next period of time, you will temporarily live here."

"Yunlin Cottage is located in the suburbs of Xiguan. Right now it's not yet the peak tourist season, and the surroundings are all farmland and woods with a sparse population. It's a pretty good safe haven."

Fang Cheng's gaze swept over the bandages wrapped around Panghu and Feiying, and his tone was level:

"Now the wind outside is rather tight, and the military's search efforts are intense. There is no need for our Illuminati to crash into the muzzle of a gun."

"Therefore, during this period, everyone's only task is to lie low in dormancy, peace of mind recuperating from injuries and resting, and by the way familiarize yourselves with the rules of the Illuminati and your new identities."

"Yes, President."

Everyone responded and nodded one after another, indicating they understood.

When moving in earlier, to ensure safety and cut off the ears and eyes of idlers and miscellaneous persons, the Professor directly spent a heavy sum to charter the entire guesthouse building.

This place was usually very desolate anyway, with basically no tourists.

Now that so many people had suddenly arrived, the landlady was holding a thick stack of banknotes, smiling from ear to ear.

She had long sensibly hidden far away, never asking an extra word about the God of Wealth's business.

Fang Cheng paused slightly, then looked at Xu Kuan and Jiang Yun:

"The two of you will live here for a few days. Once the limelight passes and you recover your bodies, follow Chuqiao to work first."

As he spoke, Fang Cheng pointed to Lin Chuqiao beside him and made a joke:

"She is our big financial backer and Logistics Department head, a young lady of wealth after all. We can't let her wear a safety helmet every day to move bricks at the construction site."

"At the decoration sites of those two new bases, you couple should share more of the burden and don't tire her out."

"Please rest assured, President!"

Xu Kuan immediately straightened his back and made a sworn guarantee:

"I will take care of all the dirty and tiring work, and absolutely will not let Young Miss Lin touch it."

"Rest assured, President, we definitely won't live up to the expectations of you and Young Miss Chuqiao."

Jiang Yun also smiled and nodded, her eyes full of the drive to prove herself.

After arranging the newcomers, Fang Cheng turned his head to look at the other core combat personnel.

"Lao Chen, Hawkeye."

The two whose names were called immediately stepped forward half a step, listening intently for orders.

"The two of you have relatively light injuries, and I see you have recovered quite a bit."

Fang Cheng looked the two over up and down, and seeing that their limb movements were still fairly nimble, he carefully instructed:

"Tomorrow morning, you guys go to Jiuchang Street in Jiangbei first and take over the posts of the other two organization members."

"Specific matters will be explained to you by someone contacting you then."

Saying this, he slightly increased his tone, his expression exceptionally solemn:

"That is my family's residence. Usually, you guys keep an eye on the movements there for me, and immediately report any suspicious disturbances to me. You must not take it lightly."

"Yes, President."

Hearing this, Lao Chen and Hawkeye exchanged glances, then agreed in a deep voice.

Hearing that it was the President's home, a wave of warmth couldn't help surging in the hearts of the two.

For people like them who licked blood from the blade's edge, their family dependents were the most private and most in-need-of-protection weakness.

Being able to hand over such an important rear to them to guard was enough to show the President's absolute trust and valuation of the two of them.

"As for Dachui and Monkey who are being replaced..."

Fang Cheng pondered for a moment, turned to look at the Professor, and made a new arrangement:

"Let them come back to rest for a few days, and then go directly to Wanghu Town."

Mentioning Wanghu Town, Fang Cheng's gaze became exceptionally serious:

"That is my grandfather's home, and also the grand rear base of the Illuminati in the future. I plan to let them establish a stronghold there, set up a surveillance network, and protect my mom and grandfather well in secret."

"Understood, I will prepare funds in advance and purchase relevant equipment and Materials."

The Professor pushed his glasses and kept this task in mind.

"And Feiying and Panghu."

Fang Cheng looked at the other two wounded who hadn't fully recovered, his tone a bit gentler:

"You don't need to rush; just rest well right here, nurse your injuries thoroughly, and when your bodies are nimble, take turns changing guards with the others."

"Got it! Just taking this opportunity to sleep in and save up energy makes fighting feel much better."

Panghu chuckled, clasping his hands together, his joints cracking loudly.

Feiying also shrugged and said casually:

"No problem, President. As long as the organization needs it, standing by at any time."

Looking at this packed room full of people, Fang Cheng's heart was filled with a sense of gratification.

Although last night's operation to rescue Shen Wei had some twists and turns, and even seemed full of perilous hazards to many members, the result was undoubtedly worth affirming.

With this batch of fresh blood injected, the Illuminati's core foundation was considered expanded once again.

Most importantly, these people had all experienced despair, and their Heart-Nature had passed the test of life and death. As long as enough respect and shelter were given, loyalty would not be a problem.

Fang Cheng calculated silently in his heart.

Of course, manpower was still scarce.

As the Illuminati's stall spread wider and wider, throwing this few people in wouldn't even make a sound.

However, this kind of matter could not be rushed; better to have none than substandard ones.

He could only think of ways to recruit suitable ones when encountering them in the future.

After chatting about serious matters, the sun had already tilted to the west.

The light inside the room began to turn orange-yellow, spilling onto the floor and adding a bit of relaxed warmth.

Lin Chuqiao raised her head to look at the scenery outside the window and suddenly proposed:

"Since it's rare to have so many people and new members joining, how about we have a group dinner here tonight?"

"I had people send over some ingredients, and we'll do a barbecue right in the yard."

"Great, great!"

Upon hearing there was food to eat, Panghu's eyes lit up instantly, and his saliva almost flowed out:

"I want to eat grilled chicken wings! And mutton skewers, pork belly, grilled eggplant... All of them need to be extremely spicy!"

Seeing this, Feiying helplessly supported his forehead with his hand, almost saying he didn't know him.

Looking at Panghu's gluttonous appearance, living up to his name, he really was a thorough foodie. No wonder he could grow so robust.

Lin Chuqiao's proposal immediately received a response from everyone, and the atmosphere that was still somewhat serious instantly became lively.

Even the Professor, who was always stern and unsmiling, had a trace of a curve on the corners of his mouth.

Seeing that everyone was in high spirits, Fang Cheng smiled slightly, didn't dampen everyone's enthusiasm, and then took out his phone:

"Alright, then I'll call a few more people over to liven things up tonight. Consider this the first official team-building event since the establishment of the Illuminati!"

(End of Chapter)