The surroundings were in fact quite austere — it was an underground parking garage, after all — but the tables were neatly arranged, tablecloths falling in elegant folds, the dishes gleaming with appetizing color, and the whole space was accented with lights and fresh flowers, creating the hazy impression of a lavish banquet.

Bai Youwei swept her gaze around — if every seat were filled, this venue could hold at least fifty people.

The so-called Professor Song was nowhere to be seen, but the guests who had arrived were still few, so perhaps Professor Song would be the last to appear.

After Chu Huaijin settled them in their seats, he briefly introduced the other guests — all core members within the organization: the assessment unit, the research unit, the logistics unit, the internal affairs unit, and so on and so forth.

“Professor Song never leaves his laboratory — if no one reminds him, he even forgets to eat.” Chu Huaijin said with a smile. “Please go ahead and eat; I’ll go and fetch Professor Song.”

With that, he rose and left, leaving Shen Fei behind and instructing him to take care of everyone.

Not long after Chu Huaijin departed, more guests began arriving in succession.

In addition to internal organization members, there were also “outside parties” like Shen Mo and Yan Qingwen — all, presumably, targets the organization was keen to recruit, which was why they had been invited as well.

Shen Fei sat beside Shen Mo, murmuring introductions in his cousin’s ear:

“…That powerfully built bald man has been through a labyrinth — enormous strength, can crush rocks with his bare hands… The thin one next to him is his close friend; the two of them only joined the assessment unit recently.”

“That middle-aged man in glasses was formerly a bank finance manager, very skilled in mathematics and logical reasoning.”

“The boy in the red T-shirt is young — only 17. He’s a gymnastics athlete with excellent balance and explosive power…”

Another young man walked in through the door, wearing a large hoodie and hip-hop shorts. He swept his gaze around the room, and his eyes fixed precisely on Shen Mo’s table. His mouth curved slightly upward.

Shen Fei was mildly surprised. “Brother, do you know him?”

Shen Mo frowned. “No.”

Shen Fei lowered his voice. “His name is Du Lai. He’s reportedly a street magician. He’s been through the labyrinths in Hangzhou and Shanghai — also the only person here who made it out alive from the hide-and-seek game. Incidentally, all the teammates who went into games with him… didn’t survive… Hey hey hey! Why is he walking over here?!”

Shen Mo narrowed his eyes slightly, watching the approaching figure in the hoodie, then let his gaze slide sideways to Bai Youwei, who was seated beside him.

Bai Youwei had her head down, eating.

Most of the food here was cold, so she wasn’t eating much, but she kept drinking wine in a steady, leisurely stream — she had no idea where the logistics unit had sourced it, but every bottle was aged and excellent.

Shen Mo said quietly to her, “Drink a little less.”

Bai Youwei, in the middle of a pleasant sip, paid him no attention.

He reached out and pressed his hand over her wine glass.

She pulled hard — the glass might as well have been bolted to the table. It didn’t budge.

Bai Youwei: “…”

“Fine.” Bai Youwei conceded. “Let me finish the half glass I have left and then I’ll stop — is that alright?”

At this moment Du Lai had already reached them, and greeted them with a grin:

“Miss Bai Youwei — what a coincidence! Fancy meeting you here.”

Shen Mo released his grip and looked up at him, his tone measured: “Something you need?”

Du Lai was briefly taken aback.

Meanwhile, Bai Youwei was in the middle of drinking her wine.

Du Lai’s peripheral gaze passed over the adjacent table where Yan Qingwen sat, and he quickly realized he’d mistaken the situation — Bai Youwei’s actual companion was the man right in front of him…

He smiled and replied politely, “I wanted to ask about trading for items.”

“We came today to attend a banquet.” Shen Mo’s tone was indifferent. “We eat; we don’t do business.”

The smile on Du Lai’s lips stalled slightly. “…I heard quite a few people visited today with the same idea, so I wanted to ask sooner rather than later — I’d hate for someone to get to the decoy doll before me.”

“A tool meant to lure big fish won’t be handed over easily.” Shen Mo withdrew his gaze and stopped looking at him. “You can return to your seat, Mr. Du.”

—