Chapter 57: Reunion

Chapter 57: Reunion

Hilmeth's gaze passed over Qin Yan and landed on Cang Cheng, who was opening the door.

The setting sun bathed Cang Cheng in a soft golden light, lending him an air of serenity and timelessness, like a figure from a cherished painting.

His pure black eyes seemed to hold a faint smile, and his slim figure gave the impression of someone who was easy to bully. But Hilmeth knew that Cang Cheng was completely the opposite of his seemingly non-threatening appearance.

However, after not seeing him for a few months, Cang Cheng seemed to have lost some weight, and his aura had become sharper.

Hilmeth couldn't help but ponder.

The next moment, his clear blue eyes fell on the black fur ball brooch on Cang Cheng's chest, and the ice that had coated his gaze instantly melted away.

A red-eyed black fur ball brooch... Was this made in his image?

Cang Cheng noticed the striking pair next to him.

The red-haired man who was speaking loudly was someone Cang Cheng had seen in the virtual world—Hilmeth, his recent Spirit Runes experiment subject.

And the person next to Qin Yan... Cang Cheng remembered him—Hilmeth, the top warrior of the Canglan Star Region and the military's most promising pillar.

The man was currently dressed in a dark military uniform, which made his silver-white hair appear even more cold and distant. His clear and deep blue eyes held more warmth than what was reported.

Cang Cheng felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity toward him.

Logically, they had never met before, so Hilmeth should have been a complete stranger to him.

But... the other's voice felt familiar to Cang Cheng, and the gaze seemed like something he had seen before.

Where had he seen it before?

As Cang Cheng pondered, he politely nodded at the other before entering the house and closing the door.

Watching the figure disappear behind the door, Hilmeth pressed his lips together.

He could sense Cang Cheng's aloofness and coldness.

It seemed that without the identity of a contract holder, Cang Cheng wasn't willing to spare even a glance for him. He would leave no impression on Cang Cheng's heart, just like any other stranger.

It seemed that neither his appearance, status, nor power held any appeal for Cang Cheng.

Perhaps... even a fluffy tail would be more appealing.

This realization left Hilmeth feeling heavy-hearted.

Qin Yan stepped forward, "Commander, who was that person just now, do you know him?"

Hilmeth said nothing, turning away with a cold expression as he entered the room.

Qin Yan, with a head full of questions, followed behind Hilmeth.

He felt the boss had been moody lately—was it just his imagination?

The next day, all attendees were required to attend the opening banquet of the conference, so Cang Cheng changed into the formal attire made by Philip.

*

The pure white formal attire was decorated with dark blue gems and embroidery, perfectly matching Cang Cheng's demeanor.

The suit was a fitted tailcoat design, which wasn't something Cang Cheng particularly liked. However, since Philip had gone through the trouble of making it, he figured it was worth wearing occasionally.

Fastening the black fur-ball brooch and the ruby ring, Cang Cheng opened the door, planning to take a stroll while heading to the banquet hall.

At the same time, the door of the neighboring villa opened.

Hilmeth was wearing a black suit, with silver threads woven into the fabric, giving it a subtle shimmer in the sunlight.

The collar and cuffs of the suit were adorned with pale blue gemstones, the same color as Hilmeth's eyes, exuding a clean, almost icy elegance.

Cang Cheng and Hilmeth’s outfits were strikingly different.

Yet, the contrasting yet complementary colors of white-blue and black-blue created a balanced look, making their attire seem somewhat harmonious.

"Good afternoon, Governor Cang Cheng."

Hilmeth took the initiative to greet him first.

Cang Cheng replied politely, "Good afternoon, General Hilmeth."

Cang Cheng was somewhat surprised that the other party knew his name.

Although his tone was cool and reserved, Cang Cheng could detect a warmth in his voice that wasn’t present in his public addresses.

And… Still, Cang Cheng couldn’t shake the feeling that Hilmeth was familiar to him.

How strange.

Why would he feel familiar with a stranger?

The other party wasn’t an exotic or anything…

Hilmeth extended an invitation, "Are you heading to the banquet hall? If you don't mind, we can go together."

"Thank you for the invitation, but no need."

Cang Cheng immediately declined, "I want to look around the area, and it's not on the way. I won't disturb your schedule, General. I wish you a pleasant time at the banquet."

As he spoke, Cang Cheng nodded to Hilmeth in farewell and boarded the shuttle bus with Mu Xing, who was wearing a mask.

*

The site of the C20 summit was vast, roughly half the size of the central district of Luo Ri.

Following the map navigation, Cang Cheng had the shuttle bus stop 20 minutes away from the banquet hall, then got off to take a casual walk.

This was a man-made garden, lush with greenery and budding flowers of various colors, their delicate petals adorned with clear droplets of water.

The scenery was pleasing to the eye.

"Because of this summit, we haven't been able to find anyone to hang out with recently. They're all hiding like cowards, it's so boring."

"Bro Jia, Bro Jia, I wonder if we can find someone to hang out with at the evening banquet tonight? Otherwise, it's going to be so dull."

"We'll find someone to hang out with."

Mu Jiayue took a sip of his wine, the ruby-colored liquid reflecting his determined expression.

Last night, he met little beauty in his dreams, and today, he intended to turn that dream into reality.

"Bro Jia never fails to impress!"

The person next to him flattered, "When it comes to connections, no one beats our Bro Jia."

Mù Jiāyuè felt pleased, "I'll give you a 50 million credit contract when we get back."

"Ah, Bro Jia, you're the man!"

A group of people who had spent money and used connections to get in were talking loudly in the small garden. Whether they had real talent or not didn't matter. Being able to attend the evening banquet at the summit was enough to brag about for a lifetime.

"By the way, who's the identity of the little beauty from Bro Jia's live stream yesterday? Can your brother here get some inside information?"

"Heh..."

Mù Jiāyuè recalled the fleeting glimpse at the check-in counter and was about to speak when he noticed a figure turning away.

It's him!

Fifth Prince Cang Cheng.

Mù Jiāyuè stood up abruptly and quickly walked over to block Cang Cheng's path.

He sized up Cang Cheng, who was wearing a tailored suit today that highlighted his slender waist and long, lean legs.

"May I introduce myself? I'm Mù Jiāyuè, the heir of the Mù family from the main planet, the family responsible for the production and supply of healing remedies."

Mù Jiāyuè greeted him politely on the surface, but his mind was filled with impure thoughts.

"Cang Cheng," the prince chuckled.

"So it's Prince Cang Cheng, no wonder everything around you pales in comparison."

Mù Jiāyuè complimented, "Would I have the honor to invite you to join us for afternoon tea?"

"No, I'm heading to the banquet hall. Farewell."

With that, Cang Cheng didn't spare Mù Jiāyuè another glance and left without any hesitation.

While Mù Jiāyuè was irritated by the rejection, Cang Cheng’s aloofness only fueled his desire to do something reckless.

The evening banquet?

What a perfect opportunity...

Mù Jiāyuè secretly made a plan, but when his eyes met the gaze of the masked figure next to Cang Cheng, he felt a chill down his spine.

"Who is this guy? His gaze is intense!"

Mù Jiāyuè glared at the masked figure and then returned to his little group.

"Hey, Bro Jia, who was that guy? Was it the one from yesterday?"

"There’s someone like that in the Canglan Star Region, and I didn’t even know about it?"

"I’ll be watching you tonight."

Mù Jiāyuè shot a glance at the masked figure. He then turned back to his group.

"Need any backup tonight, Bro Jia?"

Mù Jiāyuè leisurely revealed her plan, "It's that pretty-boy fifth prince. He does have some looks. Tonight, I plan to have some fun with him. If things go well, everyone gets a piece of the pie."

"Wow! This summit is getting interesting."

"Following Brother Jia means getting meat to eat."

"Bro Jia, I salute you with a cup."

*

At 7 PM, the evening banquet of the C20 Summit began as scheduled.

Hilmeth, representing the military department, took the stage to deliver a speech. This once-reclusive powerhouse, who had been out of the spotlight for months, immediately captured everyone's attention as soon as he appeared.

The once-noisy hall fell silent like someone hit the mute button. Not a whisper broke the silence as Hilmeth spoke.

Rumors had circulated that General Hilmeth was severely wounded and near death, and that the Canglan Star Region was about to welcome a new leader. But these whispers were swiftly dispelled by Hilmeth's commanding presence.

Severely wounded and near death?

More like your whole family’s on the brink of death!

Hilmeth, with his silver hair, stood under the spotlight, calmly delivering his opening speech. But his gaze paused for a brief moment on someone in the corner.

His icy blue eyes gained a hint of warmth because of this.

After the speech, thunderous applause echoed throughout the venue.

What followed was the free networking time of the banquet. Most people used this opportunity to meet reliable partners, and the more popular collaborators were already surrounded.

On the left, Simon, ANKEN's agent, was already fielding offers from wealthy patrons.

Simon had lost 30 kg after a serious illness three months ago. Now, except for his still-plump cheeks, he had lost a lot of weight, giving off the impression of a shrewd businessman rather than a dubious merchant.

"Hey, Simon, when are you bringing those Spirit Runes to the main planet? We could really use them here!"

"You already have a plan? Great! I have a few shops lying idle. Take a look?"

"You might not stay permanently? That wouldn't be very generous! How about I offer you rent and tax exemptions, just bring ANKEN's Spirit Runes to the main planet."

Simon: "ANKEN has recently developed an interest in satellite defense systems. Got any obsolete systems? Let's see if there's a suitable one."

"Alright, alright..."

Simon chatted while exchanging a hidden glance with Cang Cheng, then pretended not to shift his gaze away.

On the right, Zhou Kuan, the president of the once-bankrupt food processing brand 'Sweet & Tasty,' was no longer the despondent man he had been months ago. He was full of springtime vigor.

Sweet & Tasty bounced back thanks to its exclusive apple jam, the only one in the entire star region, and had come back to life.

This luxury apple jam, priced at 8,000 star coins per 20g jar, was way out of most people's budget. Yet, despite the price, it was still in high demand.

At the same time, Sweet & Tasty had recently launched a pollution-free food product for the general public—a 50g wheat bread slice priced at 300 star coins, so cheap it was practically charity.

The wheat bread quickly became a hit, boosting the brand's reputation. Sweet & Tasty even earned a reputation as a 'Food Industry Philanthropist.'

Sweet & Tasty crushed its competition and now sits atop the food industry, basking in its newfound glory.

The president of Sweet & Tasty Food Company, Zhou Kuan, was surrounded by a group of senior researchers, all eager to know how Zhou Kuan obtained the raw materials for the apple jam and bread.

“President Zhou! Congrats on the huge success of your new product!”

“I was thinking of signing with Xingyu Food, but now I see I was wrong. President Zhou, don’t take it personally. I’m willing to offer a 2% discount. What do you think about partnering up?”

……

Zhou Kuan, wearing silver-rimmed glasses, smiled politely, looking every bit the refined businessman.

Who would have thought that three months ago, he was heavily in debt and at his wit's end due to investment failures, but… he encountered a benefactor.

Under the pretense of adjusting his glasses, Zhou Kuan nodded to Cang Cheng.

Cang Cheng raised his glass, took a sip, and gave a casual nod, signaling ‘go ahead.’

Not only were Simon and Zhou Kuan present, but Cang Cheng also noticed that the person talking to the Defense Department was Ah De, a raw materials supplier who had a technical collaboration with Luo Ri. The person coding on-site and accepting challenge codes was Ming Bai’s apprentice in network technology, and a wealthy merchant, grinning warmly, was a loyal buyer of Luo Ri’s homemade wine.

Ah… there really were quite a few of their own people at this event.

Just as Cang Cheng picked up a glass of white wine, a figure approached, dressed in rich attire, with sharp features and piercing brown eyes that exuded a dangerous intensity.

“Brother, long time no see. How have you been on Luo Ri?”

It was the third prince, Cang Junting.

“Don’t think I didn’t want to visit you on Luo Ri—it’s just such a remote place.”

Before Cang Cheng could respond, Cang Junting leaned in, his voice low and menacing. He clinked his glass against Cang Cheng’s, the sound sharp and deliberate.

“By the way, brother, you look much better than before. Could it be that you’ve found someone powerful to back you? I didn’t expect you to be so resourceful.”