Because of these two incidents, the entire branch held a company-wide meeting.

The branch’s general manager looked extremely serious. He repeatedly stressed the importance of these two individuals, telling everyone to report them immediately if spotted. Corporate headquarters was offering a one-time reward of 300,000 for any successful tip.

The Administrative Department was ecstatic. Their director installed a secret camera at the reception desk and urged Aurora Sinclair and the other two receptionists to keep their eyes peeled and hold down the fort.

Aurora Sinclair glanced up at the pen holder on the high counter, which was pointed right at her, and rested her chin on her hand with a sigh.

Shauna, who was applying lipstick beside her, saw her sigh and asked with amusement, "What’s wrong? Something on your mind?"

"I’m trying to figure out what to have for lunch."

"Oh, right. I heard you’re pretty close with a guy from the tech department?"

Aurora Sinclair stiffened for a moment before saying woodenly, "He’s my senior from college. We just happened to both get hired by this company."

"A senior..." Shauna drew out the word, her eyes glinting with insinuation.

June, on the other side, chimed in. "Programmers in the tech department make a ton of money. How much does your senior make? Is it over ten thousand?"

Aurora Sinclair shook her head. "I don’t know. The company doesn’t allow us to ask about salaries."

"Tch, boring..."

June pulled back and went back to painting her nails.

Just then, the sound of incoming emails chimed from all three of their computers.

"It’s the annual party announcement!"

"Holy cow, the chairman is so extravagant! They’re holding it on a private island this year? And all 50,000-plus employees in the group are required to go?"

Aurora Sinclair’s heart tightened. A moment later, a message from Alvin Morgan arrived on her phone.

Hubby: Be careful this time.

Aurora stared at the word "Hubby" on the screen, a hint of shyness in her eyes. She swiped to unlock her phone and change it, only to find she didn’t have permission to alter the setting.

’This guy...’

"Cecelia, do you have any talents?" Shauna suddenly turned and asked her.

Aurora thought for a moment. "Does playing video games count?"

Shauna immediately rolled her eyes again. She was realizing that Aurora was a total homebody, completely dense about social cues. She never went to bars or parties after work, had no hobbies besides watching Darius Lynch’s TV shows, and was clueless about everything.

"We have the annual party, and every department has to put on an act. It’s a chance to get noticed by the corporate leadership, and there’s prize money if our act wins. You knew that, right?"

"It was probably in the employee orientation and the handbook, right?"

Aurora Sinclair nodded. "I saw it."

"We’re planning to do a song and dance number. Can you sing?"

Aurora thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Great. I’ll sign us up with the director."

During lunch, Aurora Sinclair mentioned this to Alvin Morgan.

Alvin suddenly pinched the bridge of his nose. "Aurora, how about you just dance?"

Aurora: ...

***

Seawell Pharma’s annual party was a huge affair this year. Rumor had it that all employees from the Veridian headquarters and its branches were required to attend, while only upper management would come from the overseas offices.

In preparation, Seawell had started a company-wide mobilization two weeks in advance. The sales and tech departments were working around the clock, and even Alvin Morgan was no exception.

Every evening, Aurora Sinclair had to wait for Alvin at a nearby coffee shop until very late.

Finally, on the eve of the party, Seawell Pharma chartered more than ten private jets to fly the employees to the island in batches.

As soon as she got off the plane, Aurora Sinclair sensed the presence of many High Rank Martial Cultivators nearby. The fluctuations of their Power were quite subdued, as if they were deliberately concealing it.

As everyone was leaving the private airport, they were suddenly required to undergo a facial scan.

The scanning machine was a new type of smart robot, looking somewhat like a larger version of Ditto Number 2.

Standing behind it were five or six people in security uniforms. The fluctuations of Power from each of them were very strong—Great Martial Masters at the very least.

Shauna whispered to June, "Is security always this tight?"

"I’m telling you, but don’t you dare repeat this. They’re supposedly afraid those two spies might sneak in."

Aurora pushed up her round glasses and said blankly, "Spies aren’t idiots..."

Shauna glanced back at her. "That’s why you have to take precautions."

Aurora: ...

The group boarded a large bus, pulling their suitcases behind them.

The moment Aurora got on, she felt a strong, probing presence. She kept her head slightly bowed, feigning ignorance like any ordinary person as she trailed behind Shauna like a little shadow.

"Why is it suddenly so cold? The AC must be cranked way up," Shauna complained, rubbing her bare arms.

She and June sat together in a double seat, with Aurora sitting behind them.

Pretending to look for a seat, she quickly scanned the last row, by the window.

A man in a hat and dark sunglasses was sitting there.

After Aurora sat down, a heavy look filled her eyes. ’That man is a Basic-level Martial King.’

There were a dozen or so buses lined up here. If every bus had a Martial King on board, the Trent Family’s strength would be enough to dominate the entire Veridian Martial World.

Alvin Morgan hadn’t been on the same flight as her. She pretended to take a picture of the scenery with her phone and sent it to him. This time, her contact name for Alvin had been changed to "Dad," a single word.

She had only wanted to change the name "Hubby," but he had given her only three options: Hubby, Darling, or Dad.

Looking at the message on his phone from the contact labeled "Wifey," Alvin Morgan’s lips curved into a smile.

***

The bus drove for about half an hour before arriving at a massive resort. It stopped in a circular plaza in the very center, which was supposedly where the annual party would be held.

Miss Sterling’s assistant held up a megaphone and called for the Administrative Department to gather.

Aurora Sinclair was assigned to a room with an older woman named Orchid Jewel.

Orchid Jewel had severe mysophobia and OCD. No one in the department wanted to room with her, so Aurora, the newcomer, was assigned to share her room.

"Cecelia, I’m a bit of a neat freak. I hope you don’t mind!"

Aurora nodded.

But after she finished unpacking, she saw Orchid Jewel standing right behind her with a cleaning cloth, staring intently. "Wh... what is it?"

"Let me help you organize!"

Then, without waiting for Aurora to agree, she stepped forward and started organizing her suitcase.

"Wait!"

Aurora’s expression changed slightly. She snatched her suitcase back with lightning speed and relocked it. It contained many things that Benjamin Morgan had packed for her.

"It’s fine, I’m an expert at organizing..."

"No, thank you." Aurora’s suitcase had a special combination lock. Once she closed it, Orchid Jewel couldn’t possibly open it and had to give up.

After a two-hour break in the afternoon, Miss Sterling’s assistant announced in the group chat that it was the Administrative Department’s turn to rehearse.

When they arrived at the circular plaza, Drake Trent was also there, sitting right next to the director and watching the rehearsal on the semi-circular stage.

Aurora had seen his photo before, so she recognized him instantly, even with his sunglasses on.

"Hey, isn’t that Mr. Trent?" Shauna suddenly nudged June. Both of them were giddy with excitement, practically swooning.

Shauna suddenly said to Aurora, "Cecelia, when the time comes, let out some more of the ribbon so I can get closer to Mr. Trent."

Aurora looked at the ribbon wrapped around her body and nodded blankly.

DING—

"Whose phone is that?" It was almost their turn to go on stage. Miss Sterling’s assistant was already a nervous wreck, so hearing the phone ring made her furious.

Seeing everyone looking at her, Aurora lowered her head and pulled her phone out of her pants pocket.

"Didn’t I tell you to put your phones on silent? Don’t you know that simple rule?"

Just as the others were getting ready to watch the drama unfold, Orchid Jewel tried to smooth things over. "Alright, it wasn’t on purpose. Cecelia, just put it on silent quickly."

Miss Sterling’s assistant gave her some face, merely glaring at Aurora without making things more difficult.

Aurora took the opportunity to glance at the message on her phone. It was from Alvin Morgan:

Dad: I’ve arrived. There’s a Martial King on my bus too.