Chapter 231: A Fashion Show? Or a Fight?
Elder Shaw said gravely, "This meeting is to discuss the future direction of Cathaya’s major bases. What does it have to do with Boss Hart?"
Brian Booker didn’t back down an inch. "The superpower she possesses is the most likely thing to save humanity we’ve seen so far. You tell me if it has anything to do with her."
Quentin Carter chimed in, "Elder Shaw, I also think we should have that kid, Lily, listen in. Her influence is quite significant now."
"She’s just an unaffiliated individual and hasn’t joined any base. She has the right to refuse our invitation." Elder Shaw’s attitude was also firm.
He didn’t want Lily Hart to get involved in this mess.
Brian Booker sneered. "The moment she appeared out of nowhere with that lottery shop, she lost the right to choose."
Elder Shaw’s eyes were filled with gloom. It was as if he was utterly disappointed in this group, yet also powerless. He couldn’t win against the four of them alone.
...
Back in the lottery shop, Lily Hart had no idea that Elder Shaw had argued on her behalf. She just assumed that after refusing Logan Holland, the matter was over.
But just before lunch, a message arrived from Elder Shaw. [Boss Hart, given your profound influence now, could you attend the meeting tomorrow?]
’The tone isn’t a request; it’s rather forceful. It doesn’t sound like something Elder Shaw would normally say. He knows I wouldn’t go, so why is he even asking?’
’And the question is so formal, as if someone is controlling him.’
’Being controlled? It’s not impossible. Is it The Mysterious Clan? Or the other directors?’
’What exactly is the purpose of tomorrow’s meeting? Why do they insist I be there? They must be after the supplies I have, and the vast resources behind me.’
She didn’t want to be so passive, just being pushed forward without knowing what lay ahead. She was going to seize the initiative!
Lily Hart replied: [Okay. Time.]
There was no reply for a long time. It wasn’t until Lily Hart had finished her meal that Elder Shaw’s message came through. [2 PM tomorrow, South Gate. I’ll send someone to pick you up.]
Frost Shaw and the others hadn’t left; they were all looking at Lily Hart.
At the dining table just now, Lily Hart had told them about it—that she was going to attend the meeting at Elder Shaw’s personal request.
No one objected. Instead, they discussed the ultimate purpose of the meeting, helping her figure out how to handle it.
"2 PM tomorrow. You’re all coming with me," Lily Hart said firmly.
Roman Rowe looked at the others and asked, "All of us?"
"You, Frost Shaw, Leo Colby, Seth, Stan Sterling, and get that Owen Warren guy, too. We’ll all go. Let’s see what they’re planning. If things go south, they can just stop being directors." Lily Hart crossed her arms, slightly indignant.
She slammed her hand on the table and declared fiercely, "Worst case, I’ll do it myself!"
Roman Rowe immediately started clapping. "Yes! I’ll be the first to support you!" His eyes were practically sparkling. ’Lily is so cool!’
Frost Shaw smacked him on the back of the head, scolding, "You just had to be the center of attention."
Roman Rowe clutched his head and looked at him with teary eyes, then turned to Lily Hart pitifully. "Why’d you hit me? I wasn’t wrong! If those people can’t do the job, they should step down!"
Lily Hart agreed with that logic. ’If you can’t do the job, then step down. Stop hogging the position and doing nothing!’ And they were always pulling such disgusting stunts.
...
「The next day.」
When Lily Hart appeared at the South Gate of Central Command, leading six handsome men, each with his own distinct charm, the surrounding survivors couldn’t help but cast curious glances their way.
The person Elder Shaw sent to meet them was Julian Lynch.
"...Are you putting on a fashion show or looking for a fight, bringing this many people?" Julian Lynch said, speechless.
Then, he unconsciously joined the group, walking alongside Frost Shaw. Following behind Lily Hart, the seven big men all stayed a slight step behind her.
The scene was strikingly similar to what Lily Hart had seen before: a Base Commander going out, followed by dozens of tall, imposing bodyguards, each with a stern expression, looking incredibly formidable.
She couldn’t help but get a kick out of it...
Every time she glanced back, she saw a crowd of top-tier handsome men.
Along the way, none of them spoke, afraid that if they opened their mouths, they’d start laughing and ruin the rare, imposing atmosphere they had managed to create.
The group arrived at the conference room. Logan Holland was waiting at the door, hoping to use the time to give Lily Hart a quick word of advice, only to see her arrive with a huge entourage.
They marched forward menacingly, looking as if they were there to seize power. Every single person’s expression was dead serious.
Logan Holland took advantage of the fact that it wasn’t time yet and not everyone had arrived. He pulled Lily Hart aside and whispered, "Later, no matter what supplies they ask you for, refuse first! We can talk about everything else later! You must refuse!"
Lily Hart nodded, indicating she understood.
Soon, Elder Shaw arrived. His furrowed brow relaxed slightly upon seeing the crowd of people behind Lily Hart.
In truth, Lily Hart was also prepared. If negotiations failed and a fight broke out, she would just summon her RV and run over the whole world.
The conference room door opened, and the group walked in.
The conference room was very large. Directly opposite the main door was a floor-to-ceiling window that offered a view overlooking most of Central Command, making the room very bright.
Lily Hart casually picked a seat and sat down. Frost Shaw and the others followed suit, standing behind her as backup. It all felt rather thrilling.
There were only two main seats, and even Elder Shaw was seated in the first position on the right.
People gradually arrived, filling all the chairs in the conference room.
Lily Hart remained expressionless the whole time, wearing a look that said "keep out."
This caused some who had heard rumors of the lottery shop and wanted to get friendly to hesitate. But one look at her icy face, and then at the "bodyguards" standing behind her...
...a few of whom were even famous, high-ranking fighters...
...and they instantly lost the courage to approach.
They kept a respectful distance.
Two o’clock arrived, and Lily Hart saw that the people for the main seats had not yet come.
Just as Elder Shaw was about to open the meeting, he heard the petite woman across from him say, "Let’s wait a bit longer."
The entire room waited for another half an hour. Someone grew impatient, stood up, and asked, "Who are we waiting for? Aren’t all five directors here already?"
The petite woman, Brian Booker, said coldly, "The Mysterious Clan."
That person immediately fell silent, obediently sat back down, and waited patiently.
As for Lily Hart...
...the moment Brian Booker had said, "Let’s wait a bit longer," she had already pulled out a large bowl of chilled, sliced watermelon, about ten Wogan oranges, and a red-hearted pomelo from her storage space.
Lily Hart crossed her legs, leaned back, and made herself comfortable like she owned the place.
And Frost Shaw and Roman Rowe were perfectly in sync with her. One used a toothpick to spear pieces of watermelon for her to eat, while the other began energetically peeling the pomelo.
Stan Sterling and the other three each grabbed a Wogan orange and started eating.
Now, citrus fruits like these have a particularly strong fragrance—refreshing, fresh, and sweet—which instantly filled the entire conference room.
The group’s behavior was completely relaxed, as if they were lounging on a sofa in their own living room.
The people nearby caught the scent and cast envious glances toward Lily Hart’s group.
Logan Holland and Yael Lowell were sitting diagonally across from Lily Hart. Seeing her so brazenly relaxed, they actually breathed a sigh of relief. The more audacious she was, the harder it would be for others to control her.
While eating, Lily Hart even took out a deck of playing cards and shamelessly started a game of Dou Dizhu. Her cheerful laughter soon echoed throughout the conference room.
CREAK—