"This isn't being contrary for the sake of it; it's about taking responsibility."

"Responsibility? In the face of society's will, an individual's responsibility is useless."

Although Li Luoya had shown a liking for Lu Luo before, it didn't prevent her from clashing with him on certain matters. However, Lu Luo scoffed at this statement.

"Do you really think individual will and responsibility are useless?"

"Yes. What does an individual's will and responsibility count for when compared to the collective?"

"What about the Judgment Chief, then? Does her individual will matter?"

Lu Luo's question immediately put Li Luoya on the spot.

"The Judgment Chief… she's different."

"How so? Is the Judgment Chief not human?"

Li Luoya immediately realized she had fallen into Lu Luo's verbal trap.

"I never said that."

"Since the Judgment Chief is human and her individual will can influence society's will, that proves I'm right."

"Mr. Lu Luo, are you comparing yourself to the Judgment Chief? Although I've always thought you're an outstanding person, such an idea isn't very rational!"

Any normal person would avoid the same verbal trap. But avoiding such a trap would mean the verbal sparring ended in a draw. This would deviate from the negotiating requirements Zhang Yifan had mentioned before their arrival: to win over the crowd. If Lu Luo wanted to take the initiative in this distribution of benefits, he needed to be outstanding; he needed to win over the crowd! Language, capability, or strength—all could work. His conversation with Li Luoya was precisely such a sparring of words.

"I think a person should have dreams."

"What do you mean?" Li Luoya frowned.

"Even people from the Fourth Ring have dreams?" someone from another family chimed in.

Lu Luo took a deep breath, and as he did, the living room seemed to fall silent.

"If a person has no dreams, what's the difference between them and a salted fish? Even though I come from humble beginnings, even though I'm a person from the Fourth Ring, even though I'm an orphan, I still believe that though life may be as lowly as an ant's, one should harbor the ambition of a swan. I, Lu Luo, want to become someone like the Judgment Chief—able to influence this society, even this world, with my individual will."

For example, becoming the King of the Wasteland?

Li Luoya stared at Lu Luo, somewhat dazed. She felt that at this moment, he seemed to radiate an exceptional aura. This radiance was too dazzling! Perhaps Lu Luo's so-called dreams were an extravagance, but merely expressing them in such an environment was already a remarkable feat.

Li Luoya pursed her lips. There was nothing wrong with Lu Luo's argument, yet she still felt a vague sense of unease. She turned her head away, silent for a moment, then turned back.

"A person who takes responsibility is indeed attractive. Ms. Bai Yuetong is very lucky."

"If you're complimenting me, then thank you!"

Bai Yuetong stared intently at Lu Luo. She was the only one who took his words and promises seriously! So, she was ready to flee at any moment.

After Lu Luo finished speaking, the others began to understand. Some wanted to scoff at him, but the words caught in their throats. At least Lu Luo was someone who dared to dream. Although it seemed presumptuous, daring to dream was a sign of progress, whereas they didn't even dare to entertain such thoughts.

Lu Luo's gratitude was, of course, insincere; he no longer needed these people's approval. Li Luoya sensed his perfunctory attitude but didn't mind it much.

"Mr. Lu Luo, you're as unique as ever. I just didn't expect you to represent the Luo Family here."

"What's so unexpected about that? After all, the Inner Ring is the center of this world. It's only natural for me to come to the Inner Ring to develop."

Lu Luo said it so naturally that it sounded like the truth.

"So you think so too, Mr. Lu Luo? You are, after all, from the Fourth Ring. I've heard that many from there have begun to form their own opinions."

Lu Luo knew this was because the winds of reform in the Fourth Ring had reached the Inner Ring. He waved his hand dismissively.

"Those people are uncultured; they just love to spout nonsense! We educated folks would never dream of such unrealistic things!"

"Heh! Is that so?" Li Luoya glanced at Bai Yuetong beside Lu Luo and chuckled softly.

After their conversation, Li Luoya genuinely acknowledged Lu Luo. The Li Family was backed by Sea Star Civil Affairs and connected to several Inner Ring Council families, so her recognition was a critically important step. However, this was just the first step.

Lu Luo and Li Luoya nodded to each other, then Lu Luo cast triumphant glances at the others. Fine, a moral victory is still a victory, he thought.

"Is anyone else expected? Can we start now?"

Zhang Yifan looked at Lu Luo with a complex expression and said in a low voice, "We may have to wait a bit longer. The Shi Family hasn't arrived. They are the Speaker's family and currently the most powerful family. The Shi Family usually arrives last."

"Got it! The kind that likes to put on airs."

Lu Luo had conducted a very detailed investigation of the Shi Family because they controlled Lan Tian Biotech. The dealings between his Circle Studio and Lan Tian Biotech naturally went without saying.

Family Head Shi Haoxuan is the current Speaker of the 13 council members. The Speaker holds significant power, including veto power within the Alliance Council. This means if the Alliance wants to pass any bill, it cannot proceed without Shi Haoxuan's agreement. This power is quite extraordinary. Even though the Shi Family's current situation isn't ideal, they still hold the title of the strongest family in the Inner Ring because of this veto power.

"Since not everyone is here yet, let's walk around and see what good stuff is left in this Ji Family estate!" After nodding to Li Luoya, Lu Luo led Bai Yuetong aside. Zhang Yifan hesitated, raising his hand but ultimately remaining silent.

Just as Lu Luo was about to go upstairs for a look, someone stopped them.

"Hey, not everyone has arrived. Going upstairs now is against the rules, isn't it?"

Lu Luo was taken aback. Frankly, he hadn't realized that going upstairs at this time was a breach of conduct. Moreover, Zhang Yifan, who was more familiar with these matters, hadn't warned him.

Is he trying to make me look foolish? Or does he just want to see how I'll respond?

Instead of arguing, Lu Luo calmly turned to look at the person.

"My apologies, I wasn't aware of such a rule here. If there are any other rules, please tell me all of them now so I don't make any more mistakes."

Although he was admitting his mistake, his words carried an air of arrogance and unreasonableness.

The speaker was Jin Xing, Jin Chen's older brother. Looking at Lu Luo, his expression was unpleasant.

"Your attitude is terrible!"

"In this world, when you make a mistake, you admit it. When you take a hit, you stand firm. I don't think there's anything improper about my attitude."

Lu Luo took a step forward. Though he didn't release any intimidating aura, there was still an overwhelming presence about him. He knew Jin Chen was the second person he needed to win over!

Facing Lu Luo, Jin Xing involuntarily took a step back, feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

"You're from the Fourth Ring, right?"

"Yes. So what?"

Seeing Lu Luo admit he was from the Fourth Ring, Jin Xing acted as if he had found Lu Luo's weakness.

"You shouldn't be unaware of the current state of the Fourth and Inner Rings, right? At a time like this, we really need to investigate those joining the Inner Ring to prevent spies or similar individuals from emerging."

Jin Xing was clearly not as formidable an opponent as Li Luoya. Lu Luo looked at him with disdain.

"Spies? If a spy could appear in the Inner Ring, then shouldn't all the Wall Guardians on the High Wall be executed? Besides, does the Inner Ring really need to worry about spies right now? Are you suggesting the Inner Ring is afraid of the Fourth Ring?"

"How could the Inner Ring be afraid of the Fourth Ring?"

"Exactly. So, let's not change the topic. Tell me, what are the other rules here? Just state them, and I'll follow."

Watching the composed Lu Luo, Jin Xing felt unable to gain the upper hand. Standing before Lu Luo, he always felt a strange pressure. This pressure wasn't like the authority of an elder but more like the presence emanating from a Bishop during prayers. Why does this man from the Fourth Ring have such confidence? Where does it come from?

"The rules here are..." Jin Xing struggled to speak, but fortunately, someone came to his aid.

"There aren't many rules here; there's no need for our friend to act like this."

The newcomer was a very tall woman. Lu Luo briefly estimated her height to be close to 1.9 meters. In high heels, she was even taller than Lu Luo, who had undergone two growth spurts. Even Li Qinglian, the leader of the Qinglian Gang whose tricycle Lu Luo had once ridden, would probably be much shorter than this woman.

Observing the woman's aura and the timing of her appearance, Lu Luo roughly guessed her identity. Someone from the Shi Family!

If I were a man from the Inner Ring and didn't have a wife, I might have taken an interest in her. Unfortunately, I already have wives—more than one, in fact. So, naturally, I must remain as upright as the midday sun.

"May I ask your name?"

Human female, Fifth Tier Transcendent. Possesses Dark Energy reactions and some Holy Radiance reactions. Abilities unknown. Sequence factor fluctuation detected. Sequence B-Scan: Partial ability information obtained. Attributes: Strength 75, Agility 110, Constitution 65.

As Lu Luo observed her, the woman from the Shi Family also observed him. Lu Luo's Observer analyzed her, and the woman, in turn, took the opportunity to scan Lu Luo.

A scanning Sequence, huh? This kind of observational Sequence indeed gives a person a huge advantage during negotiations.

This woman is undoubtedly strong and capable. Her abilities are comprehensive, and her attributes are well-balanced. Such attribute levels can't be achieved merely through resources; exceptional talent and persistent training are essential. She even possesses both Dark Energy and Holy Radiance. Could this be the legendary Trinity? Unfortunately for me, this Trinity is far too weak.

Shi Tingyu stared at Lu Luo. When she looked into his eyes, she felt as if she were gazing into an abyss. She had experienced this sensation once before—when she used her scanning ability on the Pope. Shi Tingyu had never told anyone about this. As time passed, she had begun to think that her earlier impression was merely an illusion. But to her surprise, Lu Luo now gave her the same sensation, and it was much stronger than what she had felt from the Pope—many times stronger, in fact.

"You..."

"Me? You haven't introduced yourself yet, have you? My name is Lu Luo. The 'Lu' from Lu Luo, and the 'Luo' from Lu Luo."

What kind of self-introduction is that? It's as if he said nothing at all, Shi Tingyu thought, feeling powerless to retort. Through her scan, however, she sensed something extraordinary about Lu Luo. The aura he had concealed still exerted immense pressure on her.

"My name is Shi Tingyu. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lu Luo."

Shi Tingyu... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere, Lu Luo mused.

The maid from last night was sent by Shi Tingyu. This means this woman is monitoring the Luo Family through certain means.

Upon hearing this, Lu Luo's expression soured. He had no interest in what the male members of the Luo Family were up to. Even with Zhang Yifan, the biggest mole, present, Lu Luo couldn't be bothered to expose him. But the female members were a different matter—his wives were here. What if that maid spreads some malicious gossip or scandalous news, or even takes some inappropriate photos? What then?

At this thought, Lu Luo's expression turned colder, and he released some of the aura he had been suppressing. Others couldn't perceive it, but Shi Tingyu, standing before him, felt it directly.

This guy... he's pressuring me, Shi Tingyu thought.

"Miss Shi Tingyu, don't you know that using a Sequence to scan someone upon first meeting is extremely impolite?"

Lu Luo's blunt exposure of Shi Tingyu's Sequence took everyone by surprise.

Sequence abilities were usually very private matters, constituting a Transcendent's trump card or a battle secret. Without an extremely close relationship, no one would reveal their Sequence. Even Lu Luo, after all this time, had never revealed his three Sequences to others.

For Lu Luo to directly mention Shi Tingyu's Sequence like this was almost a deliberate offense. However, his reasoning was sound: Shi Tingyu had scanned him, and he had detected it.

"How... how did you know?" Shi Tingyu lowered her voice. Many present knew her battle Sequence, but her scanning ability was something she had always kept hidden. Battle Sequences could be figured out after a few fights and would naturally become known. However, hidden auxiliary abilities like scanning were very difficult to detect.

Lu Luo tilted his head up slightly.

"When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

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