535: Chapter 535 Restarting the New Year's Banquet

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

As soon as the voice rang out, the communication connection was severed, and a large amount of surveillance footage was lost, causing the base's high-ranking officials in the monitoring room to break into a cold sweat.

"Damn it, what on earth happened?"

Today was the day for a meeting of the top-level figures who held real power within the base.

Therefore, as the head of the security department and one of the base's high-ranking officials, he was patrolling the base's security as per routine.

But just as he arrived at the monitoring room, he discovered that the screens, which had been normal, were rapidly going black.

This abnormal situation instantly made him alert. He was prepared to gather some manpower to check whether the monitoring System had malfunctioned or been invaded by a virus.

He didn't expect that what he would get instead were cries of "enemy attack" in the communication System that were quickly cut off as soon as they began.

He immediately pressed the alarm button, putting the entire base into motion, but this still left him with some lingering fear.

"Supervisor, should we go and inform the lords who are currently in the meeting?"

A young man, looking equally anxious, asked him with a face full of trepidation, waiting for his reply.

"But the lords have only just started the meeting. If we interfere with its progress, it would be a major mistake."

"Furthermore, we've already triggered the alarm, and someone will deal with it soon. If this is just a minor matter, then it would be an even greater offense."

Seeing the high-ranking official's cowardly appearance, a flash of disdain appeared in the young man's eyes, and he then spoke with righteous indignation:

"Supervisor, the enemy was able to sneak in, so they must have come prepared. Looking at the speed at which the surveillance is falling, we can only receive intermittent messages."

"No matter how you look at it, the enemy is coming on strong. Only if the lords take action can we minimize the losses. If we resist first and report later, who knows what the consequences will be!"

"What the lords need most right now is efficiency; this has always been the tenet of our Truth Cult."

The young man spoke with increasing enthusiasm, and his chest couldn't help but puff out.

But the security supervisor still shook his head and rejected him, his words sounding even more cowardly.

The young man looked down on the security supervisor more and more, finally resolutely taking the initiative to go and report, cursing him as a coward.

At this moment, the young man was already imagining that after this incident, he would get a promotion and a raise, and might even be appreciated by the big shots, allowing him to take over the supervisor's position.

Little did he know that after he left, the originally cowardly security supervisor changed his demeanor, his face turning gloomy.

A meeting happening right when someone attacked—how could there be such a coincidence? It was most likely that a spy had appeared internally or one of their own was stabbing them in the back.

He was the security supervisor; there weren't many people who could plant a spy under his nose, so it was probably one of their own taking action.

"Young people are just young people, always thinking about reaching the heavens in a single bound without having the matching strength and insight."

He had already made up his mind: if that young man didn't return, he wouldn't get involved in this matter.

Inside the familiar pure white conference room, it was the same familiar people gathered around the table once again, except for one additional person.

Lord Canglan looked toward the new seat. The person was sitting opposite the School of Mathematics, so it was likely the legendary Xieli.

However, her appearance made Lord Canglan feel incredibly surprised.

Yesterday, Lord Canglan had just completed synchronization with Zhou Yan and obtained information regarding Xie Bian.

And her appearance had eerily appeared within that information.

Xieli's appearance was that of a young girl with twin-braided pigtails, wearing large glasses on her face.

Her clothes were just more magnificent and her expression colder, but she was definitely the same person.

Seemingly sensing Lord Canglan's gaze, Xieli gave him a cold look before turning her head away, looking at Li Heng with an arrogant posture.

Was this... truly the same person?

At that moment, Aleph tapped the tabletop, pointing at a cover in front of him with a displeased expression as he said:

"What is the meaning of this? Last time someone said this was a tea party, so you're actually doing it this time, is that it?"

"If King Heng maintains this attitude, I think it's time I had a talk with Mr. Adam."

At the round table, everyone had a large plate in front of them covered with a food dome. It didn't look like a formal meeting, but rather like a high-end restaurant.

But before Li Heng could state his position, Winter spoke with interest:

"Don't be like that. I actually think doing it this way isn't bad; at least this meeting won't be so boring."

Watching the two of them clash, Lord Canglan secretly took note and transmitted the information to Zhou Yan.

This Winter was quite interesting. Last time, he was the one who took the lead in turning hostile and leaving early, yet this time he was the first to smooth things over.

He perfectly epitomized what it meant to be unpredictable.

Just when Lord Canglan thought Li Heng would speak, Yun Mingtian chimed in at the right moment.

"To be honest, the items in front of you all are indeed food, and they were personally prepared by the Bright King."

"Everyone should know about the Taiyi Sect, as one of the more prominent emerging powers."

"Their main business is catering, and what is before you is the very top-tier gourmet food from the Taiyi Sect. The Bright King specially prepared this, thinking that this meeting could bring everyone closer together."

"I trust that you all won't disregard the Bright King's kind intentions."

As soon as these words were spoken, except for Winter, who stared at the plate with glowing eyes, everyone else's gazes turned toward Lord Canglan with scrutiny.

Li Heng clapped his hands at this moment, signaling that this meeting—or rather, this gambit—had officially begun.

"It seems everyone is getting along well. This meeting is much more harmonious than the last one."

He told a blatant lie with his eyes wide open, then gave Lord Canglan a look.

"I know you are all great experts of the Soul Transformation Stage and have long since lost the habit of eating."

"But our Bright King has specially brought some Spirit Food today for everyone to taste."

"We can certainly eat and talk at the same time to foster some good feelings."

Originally, some people wanted to slam the table and say this was a joke, then leave immediately.

But when Lord Canglan quickly removed the food covers and the overflowing aroma tugged at their heartstrings, they suppressed that thought.

This was the temporary plan Zhou Yan had formulated yesterday.

He would go all out, using the Law of Consumption to create the most top-tier delicacies to build rapport.

There was nothing easier for hiding oneself than packaging oneself as an enthusiastic logistics staff member.

When the time came, as long as Li Heng spoke and gave Lord Canglan an excuse to send this food out, Zhou Yan didn't believe they could resist it.

As for why they were doing this, building rapport was one thing, but leaving a trump card for the future was the primary reason.

Li Heng was also looking at the food in front of him with some surprise. He knew how large the Taiyi Sect's Spirit Food industry was, but he really hadn't expected someone could make Spirit Food to this level.

Seeing everyone eating the Spirit Food—even the two old fogies from the School of Mathematics were rarely not nitpicking and were eating small bites with sour faces.

Li Heng couldn't help but sigh. He really hadn't expected that a casually agreed-upon thing could have such an effect. It seemed the start of this meeting could indeed be a bit more harmonious.

"Very well, everyone. Since no one has any objections, let us begin today's meeting."

"First, let us welcome Ms. Xieli to the assembly. You should know that Ms. Xieli was still conducting experiments last night and only rushed to the Dream City at the fastest speed early this morning."

"This kind of spirit is very admirable."

Xieli did not acknowledge the compliment, merely crossing her arms and giving a cold snort.

But Lord Canglan harbored doubts about this. The other party had clearly appeared in the Dream City the night before last, so why did Li Heng say she only arrived this morning?

"There's no need for introductions. If two days of meetings are just spent introducing each other, then continuing such a meeting is truly pointless."

An unexpected person suddenly spoke those words.

Lord Canglan cast his gaze over and found that the person saying this was actually Isaac from the School of Physics.

"Fine, it seems you all hate it when I talk nonsense."

"Then let's get straight to the point. Regarding the goal of this project, I assume you all understood it before coming here."

"A long time ago, a certain school within the Truth Cult conducted an experiment in West River and created a very terrifying creation named Sui."

"But now, according to the research of our School of Physics and the newly established Time School."

"It is no longer out of control; it is a tool that can normally serve the future."

"With it here, our path toward the Truth is destined to become increasingly clear."

"Then, let the formal discussion of the plan begin. The plan's name is tentatively set as 'Sui Banquet'."