Chapter Sixty-Seven: Siville's Decision

“Secretary General, perhaps you should reconsider. The Federation still needs you to lead,” Minister of State Goda continued to urge.

“Needs me?” Siville laughed softly. “Don’t put me on such a pedestal. The world doesn’t stop spinning because someone is missing. If I’m gone, there are plenty of others who can fill this role. No one is irreplaceable.”

“But you’ve reached such heights already—why take this risk? In my opinion, it’s not...”

“Not worth it?” Siville cut him off, her eyes narrowing.

“Yes,” Goda said solemnly.

“Never let yourself be bound or deceived by what you already possess, or you’ll never progress,” she replied, a strange light flickering in her eyes. “When I was young, my father clung desperately to his impressive savings, but after the financial crisis, all his advantages vanished. The capital you have now doesn’t mean it will always retain its value. In the march of great eras, if you’re afraid to move forward, even the strongest capital will become insufficient.”

“But how did you recognize this as an opportunity?” Goda still couldn’t understand.

“Because I’m relatively young,” Siville smiled. “Well, that's not entirely accurate, but at least I'm much younger than you old relics. My mind is more open. From the start, I noticed something odd about those gaming pods. Most had their exterior lights turned gray, but a few displayed different colors. I even checked the surveillance footage from when the pods were imported. I’m certain that the unused pods all showed gray. So I wondered—does that mean the pods have been reset? In other words, besides those pods with colored lights still flashing, the others have been reset. From a gaming perspective, those players must have reached 'Game Over.'”

“Which brings us to the question,” Siville’s smile grew broader. “What is the purpose of such a high elimination rate? The players who successfully return are clearly not under anyone’s control, and according to current data, the military has less than a three percent chance of successfully eliminating those people. What does that signify? Their actions are highly strategic; it’s not just a matter of enhanced physical abilities, but overall quality. This isn’t something that could be produced by mere human experimentation.”

“So you believe this is an opportunity?” Goda asked cautiously.

“Yes. There are deep secrets in these gaming pods—things we can’t even imagine. The ones who returned have gained extraordinary treasures from within. We’re already a step behind. If we keep hesitating, we’ll be discarded by the times.”

“But you yourself said the probability is extremely low. Out of thousands of pods, only one displays the colored lights you described. Why risk it personally?”

“If I don’t take the risk myself, who should I send?” Siville sneered. “Should we use the military as guinea pigs? Do you know what they’ll experience inside? Do you think they’ll obey you once they come out?”

“But it’s far too risky!” Goda persisted, still frowning.

“That’s why, after three terms as Minister of State, you’ve never gone further—you lack the courage to gamble!” Siville shook her head and sighed. “Everything in this world has two sides—benefit and risk. The greater the benefit, the greater the risk. For ordinary mortals like us to possess extraordinary abilities, life itself becomes the cheapest wager.”

Goda was stunned. He saw the gleam of a gambler’s excitement in Siville’s eyes and recalled what the former leader of their region had once told him: There are those who follow the rules, and those who dare to stake their lives. Siville is the purest gambler I’ve ever seen. No matter how much she possesses, she is never shackled. When opportunity arises, she’s willing to risk everything she’s won. Such people may be extreme, but they possess a unique charm. Only people like her have the potential to become kings!

The old leader was absolutely right. She was truly a person of unrivaled charisma. Goda gazed at Siville, feeling that the radiance emanating from her was intoxicating.

Had Guo Lang been present, he would have understood why this woman, who came five million steps behind the rest of the world, ultimately became the strongest in the Federation, the one closest to legendary status.

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In the morning, after finishing his run and parting ways with his father, Guo Lang went to get a haircut, then stopped at the shopping district for a new outfit before heading home. He planned to tidy up before going to Uncle Xie’s house to pick someone up. When he returned, he found Lin Meiru and Guo Xiaoting, who were making dumplings, staring at him in surprise.

Guo Lang felt uneasy under their gaze, scratching his head. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Lin Meiru laughed. “That’s better! Boys should keep their hair short—makes you look more spirited. Your old hairstyle had no energy at all. No wonder your dad was always displeased with you.”

Xiaoting ran over and fussily inspected Guo Lang from head to toe. He pinched her chubby cheeks, exasperated. “What are you doing? I just bought these clothes. Your hands are covered in flour from making dumplings!”

“Brother, is this the new JS sportswear summer collection? How much did it cost?” Xiaoting asked.

Guo Lang raised an eyebrow. “Two thousand five hundred.”

Lin Meiru was astonished. “Where did you get so much money?”

Guo Lang grinned proudly. “Dad gave it to me—five thousand yuan as a fund for wooing girls!”

“Oh!” Lin Meiru smiled. “Old Guo is generous this time.”

“Five thousand!” Xiaoting’s eyes sparkled. “Brother, are you taking her out to dinner tonight?”

Guo Lang was about to nod, but caught himself and looked at Xiaoting warily. “What are you up to? Don’t even think about it—I definitely won’t take you!”

“Ugh...” The little chubby girl immediately looked pitiful, turning to Lin Meiru for backup. Her expression made Lin Meiru laugh, and she patted Xiaoting’s head. “Your brother has proper business to attend to. You’d just be a distraction for the two of them.”

Xiaoting’s expression changed instantly, now full of disdain as she looked at Guo Lang. She snorted, “Him? Mom, you think he can handle being alone with her?”

“Huh?” Lin Meiru was puzzled.

Xiaoting explained, “Uncle Xie’s daughter is famous—a goddess in the circles. Lots of people pursue her, not just here in City C but in the Beijing circles as well. Every time she visits her grandfather in Beijing and returns to City C, there are always a few young men from Beijing trailing behind.”

Guo Lang sneered. “Beijing princelings—what do they have to do with me? Don’t you know I’m the local kingpin?”

Xiaoting scoffed, “Brother, you’re shameless, calling yourself a kingpin. I’ve checked—when she arrives, the mayor’s son, the chief’s son, and your nemesis, Uncle Huang’s son from Jiulongpo District, will all be at the airport. Those are the real kingpins who can compete with the strong, and you’re just a side character.”

Guo Lang rolled his eyes. “Then why do you want to go?”

“If you take me, it’ll be different!” Xiaoting grinned. “Everyone else goes solo, dressed to impress, too aggressive. But if you bring a cute little girl like me, you’ll stand out and lower her guard. When the time is right, I’ll act cute and give you some space!”

Lin Meiru ruffled Xiaoting’s hair, laughing. “You little devil—where do you learn these things?” Then she turned to Guo Lang, “But there’s some sense in what she says.”

Guo Lang’s face darkened. “What sense? She just wants a free meal, and you believe her?”

Xiaoting raised her nose. “Comrade Guo Lang, you’re still so clueless. You lack charm, looks, and even a car. If you don’t bring me, you’re doomed tonight—might even get humiliated!”

Guo Lang: “...........”

Lin Meiru laughed so hard she almost couldn’t stand. Still, she sided with Xiaoting. “Alright, just take her with you.”

Guo Lang sighed, and Xiaoting squealed with delight, running off to her room to change. Watching her cheerful figure, Guo Lang felt a pang in his heart. She was supposed to be a carefree, happy little girl, destined for a life of happiness. But because of his own incompetence, he dragged the whole family down. The fate that awaited this joyful child...

Having lived again, Guo Lang found he couldn’t refuse any of his quirky sister’s requests. Yet tonight, he truly didn’t want to bring her. In the previous life, he hadn’t gone to meet the heiress from Uncle Xie’s family, but he’d heard about the dinner afterwards. Just as Xiaoting deduced, many people attended—a small gathering of the local elite. This time, only one Beijing princeling was coming with Xie’s heiress, and he was also a City C scion: Gong Shaolin, son of Chairman Gong.

A true third-generation red aristocrat, from a distinguished Beijing family with immense influence. His grandfather, Elder Gong, was a former military commission leader—retired, but still powerful enough that his slightest move could shake the capital. His father had just been transferred to City C as chairman, leading the Gong family’s bureaucratic advance. Gong Shaolin himself had already made a huge mark in business, owning a company worth billions at just twenty-five. In every way, he was the pride of the era.

Regrettably, this era’s protagonist was one of Guo Lang’s enemies in his previous life. His father had lost the use of his legs and, desperate to find Guo Lang, was lured into their faction by the newly transferred chairman. Used and then ruthlessly discarded, his father died in despair. With the family’s pillar gone, Xiaoting and his mother suffered as well. His father’s alliance with the chairman angered the local powers, and the family was relentlessly targeted.

The most pathetic thing was that, after returning, Guo Lang didn’t even have the qualification to meet that man, let alone seek vengeance. He endured for years, watching the gap in power widen, until he died in an unknown corner, never even gaining his enemy’s attention. Truly, he had been utterly useless!

Now, having returned as one of the first wave of players, Guo Lang was curious to finally see the person who had destroyed his family, whom he’d never even met. He wanted to see what this favored child of fate looked like, to witness firsthand the charisma of a true scion of the times.