“Have you all decided which club to join yet?”
Vidi didn’t pay much attention to what Steven had done. Seeing Philip and Alice approaching together, he immediately asked a more important question.
“What about you?”
Wu Ming idly twirled his pen, while in his mind, he was recalling that music box.
He had placed a mark on it, enabling a certain level of tracking. He wondered whether it would bring any results.
“I want to join the Business Club!”
After a moment’s hesitation, Vidi clenched his fist, showing his determination.
“Then your parents are definitely going to kill you…”
Philip mercilessly revealed Vidi’s secret: “On the first day of school, I clearly heard your dad telling you to pursue a political career when you grow up…”
“Can we just drop this topic?”
Vidi’s face darkened: “I’m only interested in business. I have no desire to become those politicians who lie all the time just to get votes…”
“Your personality fits both business and politics quite well…”
Wu Ming couldn’t help but interject, as he had personally experienced Vidi’s scheming abilities.
“I’m going to join the Detective Club and become a Royal Police Inspector in the future!”
Philip clearly had plans for his future: “This afternoon, I must start preparing for that. We probably won’t have much time to hang out together anymore. Sorry…”
“My mother is a researcher working at the Type Two Boiler Improvement Center in the city. She has connections in this field and hopes I’ll join the Physics Club…”
Alice said timidly.
“That’s a great choice!”
Wu Ming nodded in approval of her decision. In the world, there had never been the best choice, only the most suitable one. Being able to recognize reality and work hard showed that she was a very smart girl.
“I’m going to the Business Club. If you’re not afraid of getting your butt whipped, Vidi, you can join me!”
Wu Ming also announced his choice.
“You’re going into business?”
The several companions exclaimed in surprise, though Vidi and Alice were completely astonished, with Vidi showing delight.
“Why do you all have such expressions?”
Wu Ming found it somewhat amusing.
“With your intelligence, we thought you’d definitely go into politics and become a high-ranking bureaucrat, or become a top scientist…”
Vidi spoke for the others: “Why the Business Club?”
“Because it offers the quickest returns. My father is also involved in some business activities, and I want to help my family as soon as possible…”
Wu Ming made a face of being forced by reality to compromise, immediately earning sympathetic looks from the others.
“Truly…”
He felt even more speechless in his heart: “In this era, finance and business are the mainstream, you know? There are countless paths, but they all lead to the same destination. Once becoming a financial tycoon or trust, even manipulating an entire nation through wealth is possible…”
This was proven by his past life, and Wu Ming was quite confident about it.
Unfortunately, this “ideal” was destined to remain a secret he couldn’t share with his companions.
However, as Vidi had aspirations in business, Wu Ming thought he could develop him into a partner similar to Neville, even entrusting him with more responsibilities in the future than Neville.
Eggs shouldn’t be placed in the same basket; it’s best to spread insurance across several places for safety.
“Great! Let’s go sign up right now!”
Vidi was a man of action. Once he confirmed his goal, he immediately pulled Wu Ming to get moving.
“Why the rush?”
Philip and Alice were both very surprised.
“Because I’m afraid that if I start thinking calmly, I’ll be scared off by the beatings from my family. So while my enthusiasm is still high, I must make my decision now!”
Vidi’s expression was solemn, as if he were going to his execution, causing Wu Ming and the others to burst into laughter.
…
Time quickly passed a few more months.
For Wu Ming, the middle school curriculum was like child’s play. However, some visits and practical activities within the Business Club, even observations at the stock exchange and futures center, gave him a better understanding of the commercial operations in the Kingdom of Golden Oak, which proved to be quite beneficial.
Inside a department store in the city center.
“Welcome!”
With the sweet voices of the hostesses on both sides, a woman dressed in a black trench coat and wearing sunglasses gracefully walked in.
She was tall and had an unhealthy pale complexion, but the jewelry and clothes she wore were all designer brands, immediately catching the attention of the waiters, who recognized her as a big customer.
“Dear beautiful lady, is there anything I can do for you?”
A waiter dressed in a suit and bowtie stepped forward, asking in a voice full of magnetism.
If a male customer had entered at this moment, another female attendant would have immediately come to serve him. It was such attention to detail in service that made customers willing to spend more money, which was the secret to the success of the mall.
“I’ll take a look myself…”
The lady slightly paused in front of the counter, showing no interest in the expensive furs and luxury cosmetics.
After wandering around, just as the male waiter was beginning to feel desperate, she suddenly stopped in front of a counter.
“May I ask, madam, have you found something you like?”
The male waiter was ecstatic as he looked at the glass counter in front of him: “These items make very suitable gifts even in high society interactions. For example, the mayor’s wife really likes to come here to purchase gifts for her friends and relatives!”
“Take out this music box!”
The woman in black finally spoke, her icy tone making one involuntarily shiver.
“Of course!”
The waiter immediately opened the counter, praising: “Madam, you have excellent taste. This music box is a new arrival today, handcrafted by a master. Its melody is smooth and pleasant, and its structure is delicate. At 100 gold coins, it’s truly not expensive at all!”
“I’ll take it!”
The woman in black said casually, as if she had just spent ten cents.
“Alright, I’ll wrap it up for you right away. Our store also offers free gift wrapping service…”
The male waiter was delighted thinking about the commission he was going to earn.
“If I want another music box like this, can you get it for me?”
After checking out, the woman in black suddenly asked a question.
“This…”
The waiter was momentarily stunned: “We will try our best to contact the supply channels to fully meet your needs…”
In his heart, he rolled his eyes: “How could there possibly be another one of those things that came from some scavenger?”
“Okay, thank you!”
The woman’s eyes carried a smile, as if there was a whirlpool within them. She picked up her handbag and left the department store.
After leaving the mall, the woman quickly hailed a taxi and arrived at a hotel in the city center.
After closing the hotel room door, she took off her coat, removed her sunglasses, revealing her graceful curves and a face that was smooth, delicate, and exquisitely featured, her eyes seemingly glowing with light.
“I can feel it…”
She opened the music box, wound it up, and let the pleasant melody slowly flow out.
“Are there others like me in this city?”
The woman in black’s eyes showed anticipation: “If that’s the case, maybe I can finally end my wandering life…”
Unbeknownst to her, in the hotel lobby, two men in trench coats had already entered.
“Unit One! We’ve located the target!”
One of the men wearing sunglasses immediately went to a public telephone, reporting in a very low voice.
“Maintain close surveillance and wait for further orders from headquarters!”
A cold voice came through the receiver: “Reinforcements will arrive soon!”
…
“Chief!”
In a certain office within the city, almost everyone was in motion, quickly checking their equipment, even carrying firearms.
A new recruit was quite puzzled: “It’s just a surveillance target. Is it really worth all this?”
“If you really knew her identity, you wouldn’t think that…”
The head of this department was a burly man with a thick beard, a cigar in his mouth: “Target code A-730, codename ‘Vixen,’ is an international fugitive with a college degree. Evidence suggests she’s an expert in psychology, capable of hypnotizing an armed man while in motion! Extremely dangerous!”
He especially emphasized the last four words: “Attention! Absolutely do not maintain eye contact with the target for more than three seconds, understood?”
“Understood!”
A chorus of unified responses came.
Most of these members were well aware that in this society, armed bandits like Two-Gun Jack had little market.
No matter how capable a person is, can they fight an entire army? When necessary, a squad of archers could easily resolve the issue.
But a psychological mastermind like this was different. Through hypnosis, she could gain unimaginable power over ordinary people, such as hypnotizing a general or a mayor… Once such a situation occurred, the consequences would be unimaginable, causing terrifying damage.
In this world, a charming human is far more useful than a fireball spell, as long as the right target is found.
“Move out!”
A line of more than ten steam-powered cars shot out like black arrows, their tails flaming.
…
Evening.
The woman in black came out of the hotel, a trace of fatigue on her face.
She took a couple of steps, suddenly frowned with her pretty brows, and turned into a small alley.
“Bad, the target discovered our tail. You go call for backup immediately!”
One of the trench coat men said to his partner, then quickly chased after.
Behind the alley, there was a dark dead-end with no escape route, yet the previous Vixen seemed to vanish into thin air.
“Are you looking for me?”
Just as the trench coat man anxiously looked around, a sweet voice suddenly came from behind…
“International hounds have tracked me down here!”
A moment later, Vixen snapped her fingers. The man in front of her immediately stood straight and fell to the ground, unconscious.
“It seems I still have to leave…”
She slowly walked into the darkness, her voice carrying a touch of melancholy…
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