Chapter 121: The Five-Member Team

Chapter 111: The Group of Five

In an instant, Liu Shaoyu seemed to grasp something. Could it be that Hai Ye was also a member of the "Group of Five"? Liu Shaoyu looked at the four people at the elevator entrance and then at Hai Ye beside him.

The near-identical clothing made his suspicion even stronger, yet this outcome was hard for him to accept. Along the way, he had constantly speculated about what kind of people the Group of Five might be.

In his imagination, there was no shortage of kind-faced elders, stern-looking seniors, or gentle matrons. But he had never pictured a group like the one before him.

To Liu Shaoyu, these people looked more like... a small social circle, or perhaps a family. They bore no resemblance to the mysterious, legendary Group of Five he had envisioned.

While he was lost in thought, Hai Ye had already stepped out of the elevator. Turning back, she called out to him, "Come on over. We’re waiting for you to have lunch." With that, she headed into the room without waiting for anyone else.

"Don't mind him, Mr. Liu. That’s just Hai Ye's personality," a woman among the four said. Her voice was peaceful; Liu Shaoyu felt he had never heard a tone so soothing.

"It's no trouble at all," Liu Shaoyu hurriedly replied. It felt just like a mother apologizing for a child who lacked proper manners. He didn't know why he had that impression.

"This way, please. We’ve prepared some food. We aren't sure if it will be to your taste," the same woman continued. With those words, the four of them began to walk toward the area where Hai Ye had vanished.

Following them, his field of vision opened up. It was a well-organized room. Beyond the screen facing the elevator was a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the sea. The dining table was set right in front of the window, and Hai Ye was already seated with her back to the view, waiting for the others.

They took their seats in turn. Liu Shaoyu looked at the sumptuous lunch on the table, feeling a lingering sense of unease and hesitation he couldn't quite shake.

Perhaps sensing his awkwardness, the same woman spoke up again. "Mr. Liu, please don't be formal. Treat this as if you were at a friend's home. Our family is very hospitable."

The expression on her face helped relax his mind. For a fleeting moment, he truly felt as if he were at the home of a long-lost friend, sitting down for a perfectly normal lunch. The experience felt both incredibly real and strangely illusory.

As the feeling of repulsion faded from his heart, Liu Shaoyu relaxed his tense nerves, and the stiff smile on his face began to soften.

"Today's lunch is primarily traditional Huaxia home-style cooking. We aren't familiar with your preferences, but if you enjoy other cuisines, our chef can prepare them for you," the woman continued, acting as a guide. When she mentioned the chef, she glanced toward a sturdy man nearby.

Observing him, Liu Shaoyu noted the same style of clothing. The man had dark skin, making it hard to guess his origins. Although the boundaries between races were no longer so distinct, his features reminded Liu Shaoyu of the people he had seen in the past.

"This is Hange, our chef," the woman finally introduced him.

"Thank you, I really enjoy today's lunch," Liu Shaoyu replied with a smile. In truth, he hadn't looked closely at the table until now, but upon inspection, he realized the dishes were all among his favorites.

"It is my greatest honor that you enjoy it," Hange said.

Finally, something fit Liu Shaoyu's logic: like his rugged physique, Hange had a deep, gravelly voice, though he spoke standard Huaxia Mandarin.

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. You can call me Katie," the woman said, as if suddenly remembering.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you," Liu Shaoyu replied politely.

"The other two are Fang Mu and Amy," Katie added, introducing the remaining members—an older man and a glamorous woman. Amy’s appearance inexplicably reminded Liu Shaoyu of Carter.

Now, Liu Shaoyu had met all the members of the Group of Five: the young woman who had greeted him, Hai Ye; the matron, Katie; the chef, Hange; the elder, Fang Mu; and the glamorous Amy.

This group was so far removed from his original expectations. Who could have imagined that the legendary Group of Five would consist of such a lineup?

"Alright, let's begin. Otherwise, the food will get cold," Hai Ye said, already eager to start.

It was clear that Hai Ye was the most lively of the group, while Katie was very warm. They all had distinct personalities, Liu Shaoyu concluded. As for the others, he hadn't had enough contact with them yet. However, Amy always projected a seductive air, and Liu Shaoyu tried his best to keep his gaze from lingering on her.

While Liu Shaoyu was having lunch with the Group of Five, back on Earth, within the borders of Huaxia:

"Our people detected some activity at that location today."

"Hmm? What kind of activity?" Yun Shichu knew that if the intelligence officer assigned to him by Ju Yehe had discovered something, it had to be significant.

"This is footage captured by our spy satellites." The officer displayed a holographic image before him.

"This is?" Yun Shichu frowned. The spacecraft shown in the image was quite unique.

"It's a ship sent from that location. According to reports, it headed for the Young Dragon Star," the officer replied.

Yun Shichu remembered the name "Young Dragon Star" because there was an interesting little fellow there—that was his impression of Liu Shaoyu.

"Hmm, why go there? At a time like this?" Yun Shichu asked, as much to himself as to the intelligence officer.

He fell into deep thought, quickly hitting upon a possibility. "Could it be related to Wang Weifu?" He felt confident in this theory, as intelligence suggested that the mystery surrounding Wang Weifu was no less than that of the Group of Five.

If the Group of Five had gone to the Young Dragon Star to invite Liu Shaoyu, he could only conclude it was tied to Wang Weifu.

"Continue to track this matter, but we won't intervene for now," Yun Shichu ordered. He had more pressing matters, so he would keep an eye on this subplot for now; perhaps as it developed, he would see more clearly.

After the officer left, Yun Shichu calculated the forces at his disposal. Fortunately, his conversation with his father-in-law had gone smoothly. With him there, at least the majority of the Huaxia Inner Star Circle was safe.

The first batch of mass-produced clones had already begun moving to the front lines, but everywhere he turned, people were complaining about their lack of resources, using endless excuses to delay the deployment of troops.

Yun Shichu's plan was simple. Since things were already in chaos, he would make them even more chaotic. Only in the midst of total disorder would the possibility of a miracle arise.

As he was thinking, his computer signaled an incoming message.

"Commander, the Unified Command Department has sent a video request. They wish to speak with you."

Hearing this, a smile tugged at the corner of Yun Shichu's mouth. He muttered to himself, "It’s finally time. You couldn't sit still forever, could you?" With that, he sat back down at his desk.

"Connect them," Yun Shichu said.