Banquet

  Yi Chen was cooped up in the room for a whole day. He asked all his connections on the road, and those guys all shook their heads at Phil: "No news, no suspicious people were smuggled in. Dear Mr. Phil, maybe you should keep an eye on the airport, some private planes can bring people in."

  For these old relationships, Phil didn't hide them from them. He directly told them that Chikov might have been caught by the military intelligence agency, of course with some changed reasons, saying that his boss assisted in smuggling arms and was targeted by those guys. These guys responded with deep sympathy one after another, and then desperately helped to come up with a plan. If Yichen was really caught, they would also be pulled out along with him, and no one would be spared.

  But they really didn't have any news. Those MI6 agents gave Chekhov a strange injection, turning him into an adorable hibernating polar bear cub, with all physiological functions reduced to the minimum. Then, a trading company controlled by the military, imported a batch of deep-sea fish from Japan, and Chekhov was packed in a thermos container and smuggled in like that, hidden in a cold storage cabinet.

  Everything was in order, with no irregularities to be found, so naturally there were no clues to the underworld connections. The suspects were all involved in smuggling goods through illegal channels. When British customs officials inspected the refrigerated container, they also used advanced detection equipment, but unfortunately Chikov's body temperature had dropped to an extremely low point, and on the detector he looked just like a giant tuna fish, with no obstacles in sight. Chikov was transported to the Royal Air Force base in the London suburbs.

  Satisfied, he looked at Chekhov, who was still dozing off: "Thank the CIA friends for me, they provided the clue, and now they want us to take the blame... Are you sure no one was killed in that RV?"

  Several agents who carried out the operation shook their heads in a hurry: "No, boss, we only arrested Chikov, the people on that RV, according to Mr. Er's judgment, were just the little rascals he found, of no value at all... Did something go wrong?"

  M furrowed his brow deeply: "Forget about them... Four girls who were involved in prostitution had their necks broken, right in that RV. But according to your report, there were two men, and they've gone missing. Did Chikov go to Japan to avoid the heat or was he up to something else? That's really a headache. You must have been discovered when you took action, and those two people had to be silenced to keep the secret."

  Several agents exchanged helpless glances with each other.

  M smiled lightly: "Alright, gentlemen, don't be tense, I didn't mean to blame you. My order was to bring Chekhov over, and now your mission is complete, I'm very satisfied. Do you want a bonus or a vacation? I hope it's a bonus, I'm short-handed at the moment and can't give you a vacation... Let's just assume that all of you gentlemen have requested a bonus. Go back to your posts, don't waste time."

  Her gray eyes rolled lightly a few times, and M revealed a mischievous smile: "Dear little Chinese boy, what do you want to do? Attack the military base? Hehehe, I'm afraid there's never been such a crazy underworld boss in the world?"

  He pulled out his own cell phone and dialed David's internal line: "Mr. David, you don't have to arrange for the capture of Chikov anymore. Yes, our Japanese colleagues have already caught him... Now I want you to carefully investigate the mastermind behind this incident. That's right, investigate the background of those Russians. You'd better try to check the accounts of several major banks in Switzerland to see if there are any huge sums of money coming in. Hmm, good luck, dear."

  She hung up the phone, took a light breath: "These young men, really don't let people put their minds at ease, why are they so impatient? Must everything be handled by this old lady?" She sternly swept her gaze over the dozen or so subordinates behind her: "Gentlemen, get to work. Take Mr. Chekhov down to the basement and wait for him to come around. I'll personally interrogate him then."

  "She added, 'Fifty people who look like special forces attacked a house in Tokyo? That's interesting. You'd better start working on it. I want to know who launched this attack... Our Chekhov boy was not far from that place at the time, wasn't he? I want to know if they have any connection... Gentlemen, this is your job... Speed up, speed up, don't always make our British colleagues laugh at our slow and noble aristocratic style. We are not nobles, I hope you understand.'"

  David sat in his office, trembling all over, with big drops of sweat oozing out on his forehead. Chekhov had been caught, and Yichen would definitely not let it go, he must do something, God, what if Yichen got into trouble, the first to suffer would be himself... Chekhov was not in the temporary headquarters, if someone was sent here, he would know no matter what. But he's not here now, so there's only one possibility, being put in a military base, M this old lady has good relations with the military, no, she is still a member of the military department, she must have sent Chekhov that bastard to a military base for safety.

  David covered his face, feeling a deep sense of despair and hopelessness. Mr. Zhang had a firm grip on him. His wife and children were now traveling in China, but the expenses were being paid by a large trading company in China. If things got out, he would be finished immediately. Mr. Zhang was a devil, even more vicious than Yi Chen. Yi Chen only wanted him to sell some information to facilitate his expansion in the underworld, but Zhang had forced him to betray everyone, all the people under his control in Europe, including ambassadors, military officers, and other high-ranking officials. They were now all being controlled by China's intelligence system.

  David is clear that what he has done is enough to be secretly executed a hundred times. The results of more than a decade of work by the British intelligence agency were sold out by Mr. Zhang with just a few casual words and $10 million. I wonder if his Chinese counterparts are celebrating? But here, David is anxious and can't sleep or sit still.

  Someone knocked gently on David's office door, and David immediately returned to normal. The cold sweat on his forehead also mysteriously disappeared. He said sternly, "Come in, what's the matter?"

  A new subordinate, David, who didn't even know his surname, came in and pointed to the phone on the desk: "Boss, external call... The person is very anxious, but you... haven't answered the phone?"

  "David snorted: 'The boss is assigning tasks, do I dare to answer a private call? Get it again for me...' The man nodded repeatedly and walked out, gently closing the office door. David sighed, it seemed he had been too distracted just now and completely ignored the external phone."

  He picked up the phone, and on the other end was Yichun's cold voice: "Dear David, it's been a long time. I've prepared an Italian feast, hope you'll do me the honor." Then Yichun hung up abruptly.

  David was on the verge of shouting out loud: "I don't know anything, I don't know where Chekhov is..."

  David had the urge to pull out a gun and put a transparent hole in his own head, damn it, Yi Chen this guy, wouldn't even let himself live? He wasn't a cow that could be milked endlessly. If he were to investigate the Russian's background, but what if he found out, he would definitely drag down Yi Chen, as soon as Yi Chen was done for, he would be done for too, so he absolutely couldn't find out about the Russian. But if he did nothing for a long time, he wouldn't be able to keep this position either, and if he were to step down, Mr. Zhang would definitely not be satisfied.

  "Oh God, teach me, what should I do?" David cried out from his heart.

  Paris, Bai Jiatu looked at the group of young masters with satisfaction, looking at the shocked expression in their eyes. More than a dozen exquisite silver sculptures, with blue gemstones inlaid in their eyes as he had instructed, were all prepared within just one day... Those counterfeit art dealers were all masters, and Bai Jiatu knew this deeply. Especially, being able to make the jade-inlaid silver sculptures look like pure silver ones, Bai Jiatu couldn't help but admire their craftsmanship.

  Cain stood near Whitechapel, saying as he had previously instructed: "Sir, I'm going to arrange the security work. I've arranged for someone else to be by your side and you should also be more careful. This is not your territory."

  Bai Jiatian nodded proudly and waved his hand, indicating for Cain to leave. Two 'Black Magic' subordinates walked over and followed behind Bai Jiatian, as if they were two door gods.

  "Good heavens, dear Marquis, you still have a fiefdom?"

  "Oh, a small piece of worthless territory, two or three lakes, a few hills, three ancient castles, that's all. And those vineyards and wine cellars? I only kept them as a little amusement, yes, to make me look happy. Honestly, who wants it? I can sell it for cash, the territory barely earns me less than $1 million per year. I'd rather settle in Paris, they're useless."

  A young nobleman who didn't know his place asked: "So, Duke, how much are you asking for that piece of land?"

  He muttered to himself, "As for this, the vineyard and that workshop, a winery once offered 300 million. The castle, some eccentric collector wanted to buy it along with all the artifacts and artwork inside for $3 billion. Those mountains and lakes, a large investment company wanted to develop a tourist attraction and negotiated with me for 1.7 billion, but I didn't agree."

  Bai Jia De was bragging here, blowing the young masters' eyes wide open and their mouths agape, staring dead at this rich and wealthy man shrouded in golden light. Finally, they understood that it would be extremely unwise to ask about the Marquis's background again, as the situation he had inadvertently revealed with his words was enough to make their meager pocket money feel ashamed of itself.

  Then a young nobleman who was on good terms with Biancade changed the subject: "Dear Marquis, what has become of that bodyguard of yours? Has he gone to arrange for security measures? You are quite safe here, there is no need for any additional precautions... Of course, if you are accustomed to being surrounded by a thousand private soldiers in your own domain, we can understand that." His eyes were full of curiosity.

  "Oh, no, dear, I don't value my own life to the point of being abnormal... What's a person's life worth? I've personally fought with daggers and tigers, experiencing the thrill of life and death. That's what men should do. I don't value this life of mine, yes, that's right."

  The crowd gasped: "Good heavens! You're wrestling with a tiger?" Their eyes were filled with disbelieving expressions.

  Bai Jiade handed his cane to the 'Black Magic' soldier behind him, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. The terrible scars that had been camouflaged by a master craftsman appeared before the young people. Bai Jiade had a self-satisfied expression: "Yes, I spent a month in my own hospital, and that poor little kitten was beheaded by me."

  Bai Jiade covered up his clothes, and the young masters responded with admiring applause. Then, it was that guy again: "So, why do you want to reorganize the security? Look, we don't even have a single bodyguard around us, Paris is a safe place."

  Bai Jiatu took the baton, lightly dancing a baton flower, and at the same time showed his profound skills in flower sword. He slightly raised his head and said: "Me? I'm going to hold a grand dinner party in these few days, yes, a grand event that will officially bring me into the Parisian social circle. If possible, I'll invite all the celebrities to attend."

  The rich young men slightly opened their mouths, widened their eyes, and let out a meaningful sound: "Oh..."

  Bai Jiatu bowed slightly: "I understand, I don't have much reputation or influence in Paris yet, but I have you all, my dear friends, don't I? You'll help me, won't you, gentlemen?"

  The young masters were delighted, nodding in agreement: "Yes, of course we'll help you. Why not? We're friends and would love to see the Parisian elite gather together. This will surely be the most attractive party of the year, with your grand vision, we believe it."

  Cain walked over slowly and reported, "Sir, as per your request, our company has assembled two hundred security guards to be in charge of the banquet's security work. I have surveyed all the blind spots and guarantee absolute safety."

  Bai Jiatu nodded slightly at Caine, following the noble's habit, and then made a flamboyant gesture: "Gentlemen, please come in. I've brought some wine from my small workshop. You can try the flavor of these wines, which were just transported today. I asked them to select the best ones, hoping you'll like them... Ah, yes, these wines used to be only for my family members to taste. Now, I want to promote them to the world. You understand, one must learn to manage and operate a business in order to sustain it, or else the family fortune will decline."

  The young masters let out a chorus of admiration and curiously followed Bai Jiatian towards the house, eager to taste the fine wine he recommended.

  Cain looked at this group of indistinguishable young masters with disdain, his head turned to the east, and a strong killing intent slowly overflowed from his sharp eyes.

  David sneaked into Yee's Chinatown alone, the old Chinatown had been abandoned after Yee himself bombed it to collect a huge insurance payout. Now, a luxurious entertainment city was being built, with Yee still as the boss. The current Chinatown was just a signboard, actually a luxurious nightclub owned by the stubborn boss.

  David looked at the food in front of him and couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. The so-called Italian dishes that Yichen had ordered were just two plates of spaghetti.

  Yi Chen smiled, gently using a fork to twirl a few strands of fettuccine: "Come on, dear, don't be polite, eat up, it's just been delivered from the fast food shop, tastes pretty good. Try some, try some, in London, eating Italian fettuccine is a rare opportunity."

  David opened his mouth, not daring to refuse, and wolfed down a plate of noodles. David shook his head: "Sir, the fast food restaurant you frequent must be going bankrupt, the serving is too small, too small... oh."

  Yi Chen took a bite, wiped his mouth with a napkin and smiled: "I've been dieting lately, yes, eating too much is bad for the body... So I ordered the children's set meal, maybe the portion was smaller, but it was just right for me. Where's Chekhov?"

  David's eyes widened: "I don't know, sir, I really don't know..."

  "David, oh dear David, don't you know? Good heavens, your men have taken Tchekhov away and yet you tell me: 'I don't know where the poor Tchekhov is...' Damned God, are you making fun of me? My patience has its limits, do you understand?"

  David raised his hands, with an honest face: "Yi, don't get angry, listen to me. It wasn't my European department that caught Chekhov, my people aren't that quick. It was the Asian department's Tokyo action group that caught Chekhov, I just got the news from their leader... You see, as soon as you said you wanted me to come over for dinner, I immediately went to help you investigate... And it wasn't Military Intelligence 6 that found Mr. Chekhov, he made a mistake himself."

  "Ah, I'm listening, sir, go on."

  David licked his lips: "Chekhov bought marijuana in a Japanese hotel and had connections with several drug dealers, the CIA was watching him... Recently, a large quantity of marijuana was smuggled from Japan to San Francisco, the CIA people were investigating these things, and then Chekhov was discovered."

  Fei Li walked closer to Yi Chen, gently massaging his shoulders, and asked in puzzlement: "So, how did you guys find out about the news?"

  David smiled wryly: "The head of the Tokyo Action Group and their people exchanged messages, this is our usual practice, from time to time to exchange information, see if there is any help for each other, after all, we are partners in two countries... Chikov was exposed like this, M directly ordered his arrest."

  "Damn Chekhov! I should have known better than to let him bring that large suitcase of hemp to Tokyo. Now... Do you really not know where he is?"

  David nodded heavily: "Guess, just a guess... Maybe it's some military base near London, who knows? M is from the Ministry of Defense, she's familiar with those generals, sending a few people to a military base is nothing unusual."

  Yi Chen was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing: "A military base? Now that I know, it's easy to handle... Hmm, thank you, David. Don't feel resentful, by cooperating with me, you'll definitely benefit. I won't do anything too excessive, so rest assured."

  David could only smile wryly.

  Yi Chen lightly clapped her hands, and as if by magic, a row of neatly dressed black men held pure silver plates, bringing Italian dishes to the dinner table. The lights dimmed, and Feili gently lit the silver candles on more than a dozen candelabras nearby. From a corner of the dining hall, ethereal music drifted in faintly.

  Yi Chen smiled strangely: "I occasionally like to try the life of a noble, especially when one of my friends is showing off with my money... You see, Mr. David, I said it before, a table of Italian dishes, I never go back on my word... Hope that plate of spaghetti didn't satisfy your appetite."

  Fiona gently placed a credit card beside David.

  "Look, the money in here is enough for you to get a new face and live comfortably in a nice country for the rest of your life. I've always liked to reward people who help me with precision and care, David. As I said, working with me is a very pleasant thing... Don't worry, if you're exposed, I have confidence that I can get you out of Britain safely."

  David smiled bitterly: "That way I would lose my honor."

  "You don't have any honor now, do you? There are many things that you can't handle, no need to blame yourself. In this world, one's own interests are eternal. You've betrayed your own country, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Come, taste it... This wine is a private workshop of an art collector, carefully brewed, the taste is not inferior to the top French wine... Of course, their few bottles of brothers are now in Paris, maybe they have been drunk already."

  David vaguely felt that Yichen was hinting at something, but he didn't know what he was saying. Forget it, Yichen wouldn't be happy if he investigated thoroughly. Looking at the credit card, David suddenly thought Yichen was a lovely person, even more lovable than Mr. Zhang. David even began to feel grateful to Yichen. It's hard to say how David would react if he knew that half of the money in the credit card was provided by Mr. Zhang.

  M furrowed his brow in his office: "'Black Magic' security company's people, all went to Paris? To do security for some inexplicable noble? The security cost is around five million US dollars? In other words, you can't find out if they suddenly lost fifty people?"

  A senior agent looked at M with a shrinking expression: "Boss, can we call our colleagues in Paris..."

  He glared at him: "Idiot, how far is Paris from Berlin? This distance is enough for them to replenish their manpower, and even more. Don't forget that Colonel Cain has also gone... Maybe I'm overthinking it, why would they raid Tokyo's civilian residences? There's no benefit to it at all. If they were going to attack the vault of a Swiss bank, I'd be more willing to believe it."

  Another agent from the Tokyo Action Group rolled his eyes: "That civilian house is under the name of Yamaguchi-gumi's leader, Yamaguchi Ki. Maybe it's a case of thieves stealing from each other? Then that Chinese guy, to avoid us finding out anything, quickly sent everyone away and replenished personnel in Paris, forging documents, pretending they had nothing to do with them?"

  Another operative in London countered: "Come on, the Chinese and Yamaguchi-gumi are partners, and so far there's been no exchange of money, nothing worth eating."

  M's head ached slightly, and he waved his hand weakly: "Go to work, gentlemen. It seems that we've been occupied by this dark society for too much of our energy. Maybe we're being too sensitive. This shouldn't be the case, do you understand? We shouldn't... Oh God, we can't let one goal occupy us for too much of our energy. There's still so much work to be done all over the world. Alright, let me calm down, you guys go to work now!"

  She carefully analyzed the information provided by her subordinates and found that everything seemed reasonable and there was no unreasonable place. Yi Chen had no reason to kill the leader of Shan Kou group, and the nobleman in Paris also had no reason to cover up for Yi Chen, hiring so many bodyguards, maybe he wanted to prepare for a large-scale event, which is common among those flashy nobles. Everything seemed normal, maybe she was just too sensitive, and Yi Chen only had some connection with Russians, don't put everything on him...

  Taking a deep breath, M smiled: "Alright, dear Chekhov, let's see what you can tell me."

  But thinking of what his subordinates reported, Chikov's performance during the last trial made M's head ache again.

  Paris, the banquet hosted by Blanc was also a great success. In today's society, preparing for a large banquet is much simpler than it was 100 years ago, or even just 50 years ago. Back then, all sorts of items had to be transported from far away, taking up a lot of time and effort, with some people spending a year or even two years preparing for a luxurious banquet. Now, with advanced transportation, as long as you have the money, you can prepare everything within three days, and if you're extremely wealthy, just one day is enough.

  What does it take to host a luxurious banquet?

  A mysterious master, a wealthy master, a tasteful master, and an extremely unique master, best with a noble and attractive identity... Bai Jia De meets all the standards.

  Then, it was the exquisite tableware, which was not a problem at all. With a cost of $100,000, Bai Jiade rented a set of silverware from an old client, which was said to be from the Holy Roman Empire period, as dinnerware. Of course, in case of any damage, the compensation would be sky-high, and Bai Jiade promised many benefits before the old man agreed to lend it out.

  Now, it's about food. But at this kind of social gathering, who cares about the food? Aren't all the guests big shots who have tasted all sorts of rare delicacies? Can you really find a dragon to entertain your guests? In that case, the food is not important at all. As long as it's exquisite, hygienic and served well, who would actually come to fill their belly at the banquet?

  Of course, out of courtesy, food and drinks are absolutely indispensable, and they must not be too ugly to look at. If you only use two pieces of tofu and cheap champagne to entertain your guests, then the gates of Paris will be completely closed to you.

  So, knowing that the guests would not be interested in them, bucket after bucket of Australian oysters, one by one South American lobster, even China's swallow nest and shark fin, countless precious wines, were sent from all over the world by special plane.

  Bai Jiade said to a young master beside him, "In ancient Rome, slave owners would have slaves relay fish in wooden basins for two days and nights just to eat a fresh and delicious fish that was still jumping... We are not as ruthless. What we need to pay is only a tiny bit of money, but we can enjoy more luxurious services than the Roman emperor."

  A young master nodded repeatedly: "Oh God, you are really knowledgeable."

  "No, gentlemen," Bai Jiade said with a humble smile, "it's just that the circle I live in requires me to understand these things. A little bit of unique knowledge is necessary to match my identity."

  A live dromedary from the Sahara was led by one of Cain's servants towards the backyard, followed by a bull from Kobe in Japan, then a ram from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China, next a plump goose that came from rural England, a proud rooster from Germany and a small pigeon from Italy.

  Bai Jiade smiled and said: "Perhaps the food I've prepared will interest our guests, in any case, a roasted camel's head will be a surprise."

  The young masters applauded one after another, and then rushed out in a hurry, driving their luxury sports cars to various clubs, releasing the news of Bai Jia De's luxurious banquet at the first time.

  A chef from a big hotel in some oasis of the Sahara, standing respectfully beside Blancard: "Sir, roast camel needs to be roasted over low heat for three days and three nights, but time..."

  "Look, idiot, I didn't mean to insult your traditional culture, but in my place, we do things my way. Those guests won't care how long you've been roasting this camel, separate the parts and roast them individually, then fill them back up later. Yes, just follow my instructions, it'll be done in a day or two at most, and then I'll give you twelve hours... The guests won't notice the flavor because they've never had it before, got it?"

  The chef stared at Bai Jia De with his eyes wide open, and Bai Jia De helplessly signaled the butler to stuff a stack of cash into his hands: "Sir, you just don't know how to be flexible, that's why you've always been living in the desert... Alright, listen to me, it won't go wrong. You can say this isn't roasted camel hump, but who cares? As long as it's edible, you can give it any name you want, like, uh, convenient type roasted camel hump?"

  The chef was speechless and shook his head as he walked towards the backyard.

  Bai Jia De smiled complacently: "These blockheads, they won't do anything unless I spell it out for them... Dear, send out the invitations... You've discovered me, and I didn't even act that well."

  The housekeeper struck him mercilessly: "Dear, those people are too stupid..."

  "How can you say that?! I'm a genius... Hmph, although deceiving people doesn't suit my status. I am now Marquis-sama..."

  The housekeeper ignored him and walked away.

  Two days later, at 7:00 in the evening, White's luxurious banquet began. Cain and others were all dressed in formal attire, with over two hundred tall and short men, all of whom were polite and courteous, patrolling inside and outside the mansion, or helping guests park their cars. The demeanor and manners they had cultivated through strict military training made all the guests feel the true aristocratic style of White, the host.

  Like a truly noble and well-informed aristocrat, White Jade did not wait at the gate of the courtyard but on the steps of the banquet hall with two stewards and six servants to welcome the guests.

  Bai Jia De wore a black formal attire, steady and solemn, while the delicate silk flower on his left chest and the thin silver chain extending from the button to the pocket watch added a touch of youthful vigor. His pale skin and slender yet powerful fingers showed that he was indeed a noble gentleman who had never done any manual labor.

  For any guest who came, Bai Jiateng could immediately judge their hobbies and character based on their dress and age, and then add a few sentences of moderate flattery, making all the guests feel like they were treated with great courtesy, and had a very good impression of Bai Jiateng.

  "Madam, you are truly beautiful tonight... Oh, what a pity that this pearl is worn on your body... Your radiance overshadows all its luster, it can't even set off your beauty... Yes, you are dazzling, thank you for coming."

  "Dear sir, good evening, thank you for your favor... Oh, the work of the Chamber suits a majestic gentleman like yourself so well... Long live France..."

  The butler quietly reminded the guests of their identities and names in the back, while Bai Jiatu was warmly greeting the guests with courtesy, perfectly coordinating with each other.

  Temporary female waitresses hired from several nearby five-star hotels, wearing uniform long skirts, holding various drinks in their hands, quietly walking back and forth in the hall, as required by Bai Jia De, they are not enthusiastic, but have a quiet beauty, conforming to the identity of the nobility.

  The guests who arrived, after exchanging a few greetings with others, naturally formed small circles and started chatting among themselves. There were those from the Academy, Parliament, business, and even those whose ancestors had noble titles - this was the state of high society. Even if you managed to enter the upper echelons of society, you still had to make an effort to penetrate these smaller circles, and you had to choose carefully which ones would welcome you, as some would not be welcoming, or even hostile towards you.

  For example, those big shots who once had noble titles in their ancestors, they have a natural estrangement from the big shots in parliament, after all, the glory of their ancestors was deprived by them.

  Of course, there are exceptions, some people will be welcomed in any circle. Just like this one who is coming in now.

  The security guard at the entrance shouted: "Mr. Sheng Lanren has arrived."

  San Laren, yes, that drunken young man in Venice who let Bai Jiarde run amok here at the cost of one billion US dollars, walked in with a big step, his weak golden hair fluttering, and his facial muscles slightly twisted. A plain suit, but paired with his identity, this suit also had a layer of glory.

  Bai Jiatu carefully measured him, and he also carefully measured Bai Jiatu, then they saluted each other.

  "It's a lovely evening, sir, isn't it?" said Bai Jiatu in a low voice.

  "Indeed, it's very good. I hope it will be even better in the future, Mr. You've done a great job."

  Bai Jiade smiled: "What did you say?"

  "Ah, yes, very well. I didn't say anything, sir. See you later." Saint Laren nodded stiffly and walked into the banquet hall with big strides after exchanging a slight bow with White Card.

  Some people are born with a brilliant aura that can attract all those who are inferior to him. Saint-Lanrent is such a person, although in Yichun's mouth, he was evaluated as a prodigal son, a narrow-minded little man for the sake of emotions, but among these high-society people in Paris, he is a precious treasure.

  A tall, thin old man with several honorary professorships, who was also the director of a laboratory at a university and the dean of one of its colleges, was the first to see Saint-Loup and the first to approach him: "Good evening, Monsieur de Saint-Loup... Our institute is extremely grateful for the research grant you donated last time, which enabled us to solve several major problems. You have made a contribution to the progress of science in France, sir."

  Saint Laren smiled: "Professor Jersey, if necessary, I will increase the investment in the fund... Have you made any unusual discoveries recently?"

  "Sir, science is serious business, there's nothing mysterious about it, they just exist out there waiting for us to discover them... Yes, this is objective truth, just like the stars in the sky, even if we can't see them today because of thick clouds, they must be there... The things we study, they also exist, yes, since ancient times..."

  St. Leger and Jersey had a row, the representatives of various small circles nearby were annoyed in their hearts, this old Jersey, moved too fast. But interrupting others' conversations is impolite, how could people like them make such mistakes?

  The herald boomed out again: "Marshall De Large, Esquire, and Mrs. Martha De Large, accompanied by Miss Ellenor and Master Viscount!"

  Bai Jiatian's spirit was lifted, Ha! It's too perfect, the protagonist has arrived.

  Mr. Dail was a tall, gaunt man with deep-set eyes; his wife still had a certain charm, in a long dress and with a few pale ornaments; Ellen, the target of Mr. Whitechapel's attentions, was only about 165 cm tall, slender and weak, with a narrow waist that seemed to be broken by her hands, wearing a white gauze dress, light brown hair, a delicate and lovely face, holding a small bunch of lilies in her hand; as for Viscol, he looked like a young boy of fifteen or sixteen.

  Bai Jiatu went forward to welcome them, a tide of flattering words surged towards Mr. and Mrs. Dai Le, while for Allen Su, he only gave two light compliments, even the words he spoke to Weiskol were more than those spoken to Allen Su by one sentence.

  The people in the hall, their footsteps involuntarily moved towards the door, the Dai Le family, especially Mr. Dai Le, who still has great potential power in the political arena, cannot be underestimated, infinite invisible benefits are on his body, even the air around him seems to carry the taste of power and wealth.

  Young masters, on the other hand, have different expectations. They hope to dance with Eriol and be able to put their arms around her waist. Who can blame them? After all, she is an ice beauty. It's said that no one has ever touched her heart yet. As for Viscol, a nobody, no one wants to pay attention to him.

  Sheng Lanren had long since secretly slipped into the corner of the hall, disregarding his identity and dignity to grab a bottle of red wine, gulping down several mouthfuls. Ailunsha's unintentional gaze met his for an instant, both of them seeming to dodge each other's line of sight as if they had been stung by a scorpion.

  Bai Jiatu curiously watched the scene, secretly observing and using his artistic brain to think about what had happened between the two: "Could it be that Sheng Lanren was jilted by Ailunsha and then ruthlessly abandoned? Otherwise, how could he hate her so much? God forgive me, this is something that Mr. Yi and his friends would think of, not someone as refined as I am... Just now the devil tempted me, it wasn't my intention."

  The butler lightly tapped on Bái Jiādé's back, indicating that all the guests had arrived. Bái Jiādé smiled and looked at Dài Yuè and the others: "Indeed a big shot, must be the last one to make an entrance, heh heh, isn't this kind of pretentiousness tiring?"

  Everyone involuntarily looked at Bai Jia De, and Dai Le smiled magnanimously as he stood aside with his family. The enthusiastic but not over-the-top flattery from Bai Jia De earlier had made him feel extremely pleased, and his heart was still warm. This young man was worth befriending, a person who knew the rules of social conduct; perhaps he could slightly help him out.

  Bai Jiade humbly walked to the center of the hall, picked up a glass of red wine, and in that classical French tone said: "Gentlemen, please allow me to express my deepest gratitude for your presence... I am just a young man who has just arrived in Paris, and you have honored me with your presence, it is truly my honor."

  A whole set of polite words came out, and Bai Jia De was still desperately lowering his identity, but not to the extent that it seemed pretentious. At the same time, he gave a moderate slap on the back to everyone present, as if they were all social elites and pillars of the world, although in terms of status, these people indeed were.

  Bai Jiatuo raised his wine glass, and the guests also raised their cups. After a brief exchange of glances, they drained their glasses in one gulp.

  As usual, Bai Jie should have said something to let everyone relax and enjoy themselves freely. Then, as the host, Bai Jie would follow several guides, those young masters, to visit the distinguished guests one by one, which is the significance of social gatherings.

  But Bajie acted against common sense, and with a smile, he said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I have prepared something special for you. I think that in this modern city of Paris, there are still very few people who would do such a thing? Please, follow me, I think everyone should be interested in seeing the largest wine feast of the nomadic nation."

  The guests came with interest, chattering and following White Gard to the backyard. It was very strange that Allenza, who didn't like noise usually, pulled her mother to the front, while Saint Lanren, as a young man, lagged behind.

  In the backyard, the guests exclaimed in admiration. Several young masters kept saying: "Ah ha, see? Gentlemen, this is what we said before, but at that time, how many people believed it? Look, magnificent!"

  On the huge oak frame, a giant roasted camel emitted an enticing aroma. As several burly men turned it, the entire frame slowly rotated with the camel, and drops of bright yellow oil dripped onto the charcoal below, producing a sizzling sound, and small flames flashed by.

  The guests applauded lightly, nodding their heads in appreciation of this scene. Especially those big men were only wearing a pair of leather shorts, revealing the robust muscles on their bodies, with a somewhat primitive and mysterious style.

  Several women wearing Islamic robes slowly emerged from the shadows of the trees in the backyard, followed by several men with hawk-like noses, yellow skin and rough skin, holding long curved knives in their hands. The women held large silver trays with ancient flower patterns, and the slightly worn-out tray body proved their age and preciousness.

  Those high-paid hired chefs quickly and skillfully cut open the camel's belly, several strong men helped to take out the small cow inside with a fork, then cut open the cow's belly and took out the ram inside... until finally they took out that roasted egg soaked in oil.

  Several high-society figures in Paris were at a loss, some of whom had tasted such banquets in the Middle East and naturally knew that this egg would be presented to the most noble person present. So, who would Blanc give the egg to? Whoever it was, he would get that person's extreme favor, but he would also incur the resentment of several others. As long as those gossiping journalists added a bit of oil and vinegar, within twelve hours, all of Europe would know that in the eyes of a certain marquis, one person was more noble than another. What difference did they have? Was it going to be some change in their political careers or some kind of mishap in their companies?

  Even so, perhaps they themselves will also leave some unpleasantness between each other because of this egg.

  Several big shots looked at each other, their minds racing... That damned White Jade, what is he preparing this thing for? Who does he want to give it to? Is he going to eat it himself? That would be utterly impolite.

  Bai Jiatu picked up the fragrant egg with a silver fork and walked towards Dai Le. In his heart, Dai Le felt a slight surge of joy, good kid, I'll remember you, if there's an opportunity in the future, I'll take care of you.

  Several other big shots almost immediately changed their faces, wondering what they were thinking. In their minds, compared to Dai Le, they seemed to be not much worse off.

  Dai Le was ready to take over the fork and then took a bite, but Bai Jia De handed the fork to Viscol.

  Everyone was stunned, and Viscol was also stunned, looking at the fork in his hand and thinking, can this kind of egg be eaten? It seems that no one around wants to eat it, is this guy intentionally making things difficult for me, intentionally giving it to me, or am I being bullied?

  " Gentlemen, this egg is to be presented to the most noble guest among you. But I really can't tell who is more worthy of respect and who is not. In my eyes, all guests are equally noble. Why should I deliberately distinguish between them? Gentlemen, I can only offer it to Mr. Viscol... He is young, he has vitality, he comes from a noble family, he represents the future of the French Republic, isn't he the best person to enjoy this egg?"

  Dai Le burst out laughing, applauding vigorously, and the other big shots also showed their approval with a smile, applauding vigorously. Ha, kid, not bad, you're someone worth our cultivation... But, if Viscol wasn't here, what would you do? Hmm?

  Visco was licking his lips, staring intently at the silver platter of barbecue: "God, this egg is a bit too greasy, but it tastes good, yeah, not bad... So these meats should be even more delicious? This guy isn't teasing me, right?"

  The banquet went smoothly and perfectly, beyond the expectations of those young masters. Bai Jiateng became the first person to dance with Ailunsha, and also the last one...

  Bai Jiatian no longer needs those rich kids to introduce him, he has already left a deep impression on these big shots, and he has successfully taken the first step. Dai Le is constantly discussing some strange questions with him, and then marvels at Bai Jiatian's versatility in art, language, history, and economics, making the several big shots next to him gasp in surprise.

  Far away in the London military base, Chekhov slowly opened his eyes. In front of him was a cup of cold coffee and two small round breads, nothing more. The twists and turns of life can sometimes make you sigh...