Ling Li felt a throbbing headache creeping in as the relentless questioning continued. "Of course, I know! And I have a way to verify it. Since you are meeting Otako, I could show you. Here, look at this," Ling Li exclaimed, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency as she placed a seemingly ordinary piece of paper on the table.

The paper bore a mysterious seal, piquing the curiosity of everyone in the room. Eagerly, the group leaned in to inspect the paper. Its texture was unlike anything they had ever encountered, crafted from a material that seemed to possess an otherworldly quality.

"It's a blank piece of paper aside from the seal," Shi Min observed, his brow furrowing as he examined the enigmatic document.

"Correct. Unless you put it under a certain light at a certain temperature, you won't be able to see anything. Like this," Ling Li demonstrated, revealing a hidden message that materialized under the special light, eliciting gasps of amazement from the onlookers.

"Wow."

"That is amazing."

"Where did you get the light?" Four Eyes asked, astonished by the unexpected revelation.

"Otako provided it," Ling Li disclosed. As she extinguished the light, the words on the paper vanished once more, leaving the gentlemen in a state of bewilderment.

Four Eyes regarded Ling Li with uncertainty. "Should we go?" he inquired, seeking reassurance from her. Ling Li nodded firmly.

"Definitely. You can't ignore Otako's invitation. This is the address of the meeting place. Bring Mushu and Pharsa with you. Let us have a quick breakfast, then you should all get dressed and go," she instructed with unwavering determination.

An hour later, the entire group anxiously made their way to the venue specified by Otako. Following Ling Li's guidance, they all dressed in their finest attire, understanding that it was a gesture of respect when meeting Otako.

Upon arriving at the address, they were greeted by a breathtaking sight. A beautiful Japanese-style cottage stood, nestled deep within the forest, exuding an air of serenity and seclusion. The fragrance of pine permeated the air, accompanied by the gentle rustling of leaves, creating an atmosphere that was both tranquil and charged with anticipation. Lanterns lined the path to the cottage, their soft glow guiding the group through the dense foliage. The serene surroundings sharply contrasted with the tension gripping their hearts, causing every step to feel like a journey into the unknown.

Awaiting them at the front door was a butler, who ushered them into a room with a partition that obscured their view. On the other side, they could discern the silhouette of a figure wearing a Japanese kimono and a mask seated behind the section.

"Sit." A commanding voice resonated throughout the room, sending a chill down their spines.

Without hesitation, Shi Min and the rest hastened to take their designated seats on the floor, arranging themselves as they typically would when dining with Ling Li. Four Eyes, Ling Li's husband, occupied the first position, with Shi Min beside him. Facing Four Eyes was Shun, while Fatty and Chatty sat beside him. Mushu and Pharsa stood behind the closed doors.

As they settled into their seats, Shi Min noticed a sudden sharp pain, causing him to wince. Outside the door, the distinct sounds of Mushu and Pharsa's grunts reached Shi Min's sensitive ears.

Quickly, Shi Min signaled to assure his companions that he was alright, realizing that any overt display of distress would be a breach of respect towards Otako if they got up to support him.

In that split second, Shi Min comprehended that a flying needle laced with muscle-softening powder had been employed, rendering him temporarily immobilized and his companions.

'Otako is really awesome." Shi Min thought. Everything happened in a split second.

"I was wondering if you would show up. I knew Ling would never fail me. And you all have guts. I like it," Otako's resonant voice reverberated through the room, casting a veil of suspense over the gathering.

"You are Chu Yan," the masked man declared coldly, his eyes boring into Four Eyes.

"You are young. Ling is a significant and influential figure. She is valuable to me. Don't dare to cause her pain because you will suffer worse than death. Do you understand?" The Otako's voice was low and menacing.

Four Eyes, who doesn't speak much, just stared at the masked man behind the partition and replied with, "Um."

"Speak!" The masked man's voice boomed through the room, sending shivers down everyone's spine; they were all nervous for Four Eyes, knowing he didn't speak much.

"I understand," Four Eyes finally replied.

"Ling might have accepted you, but you must prove your worth to me. Ling is my protege," the masked man continued, his tone stern, and the underlying threat remained palpable in the air.

As Four Eyes nodded in agreement, he couldn't help but feel the weight of the expectations placed upon him. The Otako's words echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the consequences of failure. This was just the beginning of a dangerous and high-stakes journey. Four Eyes knew that he had to tread carefully if he wanted to survive in this unforgiving world.

Four Eyes suddenly dropped on the floor. "This is how you will feel if you fail me," Otako declared.

Four Eyes on the floor crooned in pain.

"And this is how you will feel if you hurt Ling Li. Do you understand?" Otako's voice once again boomed.

The pain in Four Eyes' body instantly doubled.

As the excruciating pain shot through his body, Four Eyes struggled to respond. To his amazement, the agony vanished the moment he uttered, "I understand," leaving him bewildered and relieved.

'This is beyond terrifying,' Four Eyes thought to himself, slowly easing back into his seat.

"Shun Chang," Otako's voice sliced through the air.

Shun felt a sudden drop in temperature despite the beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Shi Min, I've summoned you here for a crucial mission involving Shun Chang," Otako declared, his voice resonating with authority.

"Consider it done, Grand Commander," Shi Min replied without hesitation.

"You truly are Ling's child. Shi Min, the Chinese president, has a son who has remained shrouded in secrecy. He is heavily guarded and concealed from the public eye. His name is Shun Chang.

________

Otako is truly powerful! It's too terrifying!

What could be Shun's mission???

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