Apocalypse Circular-Chapter 510 - 508 Tea Party

The conversation grew increasingly bizarre. He didn’t know what Wu Liji had gone through these past two years, but it seemed she had new ideas now.

However, Lu Luo wasn’t surprised. After all, in getting to know Wu Liji, he’d realized she was a woman who couldn’t stay idle. In a sense, she was also highly ambitious. It was just that her ambitions, unlike Wu Yi’s, weren’t focused on political power or military strength. She had her own thoughts and acted on them, which wasn’t a bad thing at all.

In Wu Liji, Lu Luo saw a reflection of Han Shiyu.

In this way, it was indeed very good!

The two didn’t continue their conversation and left much earlier than Wu Yi had expected. She glanced at the ever-calm Lu Luo and asked curiously, "How come you’re out so soon? I thought you’d talk for much longer."

"There’s nothing more to discuss. We all have our own ideas and our own paths. Everyone’s pursuit is different; we just need to watch quietly."

Lu Luo’s words were so unexpected that Wu Yi was left speechless, unsure how to respond.

Hmph, what an absurd man, Wu Yi thought.

The next day, after Wu Yi sent Wu Liji back to her residence, she transferred Lu Luo back to the Inspection Department headquarters.

Upon returning to the Inspection Department base, Lu Luo discovered that the dormitory he had been staying in was indeed Wu Yi’s.

To put on an act, she had actually given up her own dormitory; that was quite a commitment, Lu Luo mused.

However, given Wu Yi’s character, such an act wasn’t unexpected.

"Alright, here are the standard suits, ties, and shoes. Besides these, there’s other equipment to choose from. Take whatever you want."

Lu Luo looked at the pile of equipment, clothes, and weapons before him.

Truth be told, at my current level of strength, such things really aren’t important anymore.

But Lu Luo felt that since he was to serve as a bodyguard, he should look the part. So, he put on a black suit and donned a pair of pure black sunglasses. After tying his tie, Lu Luo also selected a handgun.

He could easily unleash attacks a hundred times more powerful than a handgun now, but as a bodyguard, having one to scare people off was never a bad idea.

Dressed up, Lu Luo’s trim figure stood before Wu Yi, making even this well-experienced Twelfth Imperial Princess shift her gaze slightly.

Clothes make the man, and Lu Luo’s appearance is indeed striking, Wu Yi observed. The sunglasses can’t hide his handsome face. In this getup, he looks less like a bodyguard and more like a handsome favorite she kept.

"You’re so handsome. If I take you out like this, people will likely gossip about me."

"Oh? You’ve reached the position of Twelfth Imperial Princess, and you’re still afraid of gossip?"

"What are you saying? Do you think every Prince and Princess is that indulgent type? Let me tell you, they’re not. Many Princes and Princesses are like me, maintaining their propriety. Not everyone behaves as promiscuously as the rumors say."

"Oh, my apologies then. I’ve evidently been misunderstanding your kind all along."

"Tsk, not sincere at all."

"Heh."

The two exchanged words with forced smiles for a while. When Lu Luo had finished getting dressed, Wu Yi handed him a stack of documents.

"In a moment, I’ll be attending a tea party exclusive to Princes and Princesses, mainly to chat and share information."

"So? You want to take me with you?"

"Of course. Asserting my claim to you must naturally begin with my brothers and sisters." Wu Yi blinked, a hint of playful pride in her eyes, but unfortunately, Lu Luo wasn’t falling for her act.

This woman is actually thirty years old.

It’s not that I dislike older women—Han Shiyu is even thirty-three—but I still feel very cold towards Wu Yi.

I always feel that this woman is from a different world; our worldviews aren’t on the same frequency at all.

At noon, Wu Yi led Lu Luo out of the Inspection Department’s base.

When verifying Lu Luo’s identity, Wu Yi produced a new identity card. This ID card could pass through security and also recorded Lu Luo’s brand-new identity.

"From now on, you’re my subordinate, Corporal Lu Luo," she announced.

"Just a Corporal?"

"Starting as a Non-Commissioned Officer is already much better than starting as a private. The Imperial Military’s rank distribution is very strict. You haven’t earned any military achievements yet, so getting directly to this point means you should count yourself lucky," she explained.

Lu Luo took the identity card and glanced at it casually. It wasn’t much different from a normal ID card. However, one corner bore a gold and black symbol. Lu Luo recognized the black symbol. It had to be the mark of the Inspection Department. As for the gold, it should be the emblem of the Imperial Military.

Who would’ve thought I’d end up as a Non-Commissioned Officer here? "Well then, Your Imperial Highness, what should we do next?" he asked.

At that moment, Wu Yi was dressed in her finery: a pleated long skirt and a low-cut corset. Although she wasn’t particularly beautiful, her attire certainly enhanced her appearance.

"Today’s tea party is just a few familiar people getting together. Consider it me taking you to enjoy some of the Imperial Capital’s delicacies," she said.

"Oh, I am interested in things like good food," Lu Luo responded.

When Lu Luo followed Wu Yi to an elegant, high-end venue, he realized that what she referred to as a simple tea party among her siblings was not so simple after all. Dignified maids and waiters, a large number of guests, luxurious decorations, and countless experts!

From the moment he entered, Lu Luo had encountered more than ten Sixth Tier experts, and even two Seventh Tiers. In any other city, such numbers would represent overwhelming force. But in the Imperial Capital, it was just a party—an exceedingly ordinary one at that.

This was the Imperial Capital, a gathering place for power and strength. Lu Luo’s talent and strength were still decent, but here, he also needed to exercise restraint.

"This situation is a bit different from what you described," he remarked.

"Oh? How is it different?" she asked.

"Is an event of this scale and attendance still considered an ordinary tea party?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Lu Luo frowned slightly. He didn’t like being deceived, even by a collaborator.

However, Wu Yi just laughed. "Lu Luo, oh Lu Luo, your experiences are still too limited. For us members of the Imperial Family, such banquets are indeed just ordinary tea parties. Here, those in higher positions communicate, exchange intelligence, and expand their networks of protégés and spheres of influence. This place is a clubhouse for the upper echelons, where power under the Emperor’s authority is interwoven. If you truly wish to enter the upper echelons of the Empire, such meetings are indispensable."

This woman is so eloquent, Lu Luo mused, feeling uneasy. How much of what she said is true?

"Really?" he questioned.

"Are you scared?"

"Tch, a scene of this level? I’m hardly scared!"

Just as Lu Luo was deep in thought, several beautiful young women walked over.

"Twelfth Sister."

"Your Highness, the Twelfth Princess."

These young women were accompanied by guards, and some were other Princesses, whom Lu Luo didn’t recognize. Moreover, since he wasn’t in the habit of greeting people respectfully, he simply turned his head away, ignoring them.

This action, in the eyes of others, was undoubtedly very rude. However, Lu Luo’s straight posture and handsome appearance still made the Princesses raise their eyebrows.

"I haven’t seen him before. Is he a new bodyguard for the Princess?"

"Yes, Lu Luo is my newly recruited bodyguard, the kind with strong abilities."

"Strong abilities? Which kind are you talking about, Sister? It wouldn’t be his skills in bed, would it?"

After saying this, the Princess and her companions all burst into loud laughter. They laughed unrestrainedly, and Lu Luo had never expected these Princesses to be so outrageous, speaking so bluntly about such taboo subjects.

"He doesn’t like to joke around, and as you all know, I never bring a pretty face just for show. Even if that pretty face is a man, it’s not permissible."

"Oh, oh, is the Twelfth Princess offended? Don’t be like that; we were just joking. Right, handsome bodyguard?"

Princesses? More like brazen hussies!

Lu Luo turned his head away with a hint of disdain, his gaze carrying both contempt and a great deal of coldness. This made the young women very uncomfortable, to the point where they couldn’t even bring themselves to retort harshly.

"Why are you looking at us like that?"

Lu Luo remained silent. Wu Yi, standing nearby, didn’t want Lu Luo to cause too much trouble either.

This is only his first time here, Wu Yi considered. We need to play the long game. No need to make a scene now!

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Lu Luo isn’t the kind of person who appreciates being joked with. Besides, his strength doesn’t permit you to joke with him, understand?"

These Princesses were all ordinary women, without talent or potential. According to the rules of the Imperial Family, if they hadn’t achieved anything by the age of thirty, these Princesses would be cast out by the family, becoming tools for bartering or rewards for officials. This was the outrageous and cruel reality of the current Imperial Family.

Hearing Wu Yi’s warning, the Princesses’ expressions turned sour, but they indeed became much more subdued. With Wu Yi’s words, they realized Lu Luo’s strength was not something they could afford to challenge. What good was being a Princess? The Empire had no shortage of Princes and Princesses. Compared to a Seventh Tier expert, these untalented Princes and Princesses could be considered worthless. They didn’t dare to truly challenge Lu Luo; at most, they would only talk big. After all, high-tier Transcendents were considered strategic weapons.

"Tch, as if he’s anything special."

As the Princesses passed by Lu Luo, they continued to grumble, though their actions no longer held any provocation.

The Imperial Capital is even more chaotic than I imagined, Lu Luo thought, a sense of boredom mixing with other emotions.

"Do you feel that the Imperial Capital is different from what you imagined?"

"Indeed."

"Well, the Imperial Capital is a battlefield of strife. Everyone here must fight, whether actively or passively. If you don’t fight, you’ll be eliminated. People who are eliminated don’t end up well. There might not be many kind-hearted people here, but there’s certainly no shortage of those who would devour you without spitting out your bones."

"Is that a warning?"

"It’s a stern warning to my subordinate."

The two joked as they spoke.

Then, Wu Yi proactively took two glasses of red wine from a passing server’s tray and handed one to Lu Luo.

"Here’s to our pleasant cooperation ahead."

"To pleasant cooperation!"

Lu Luo and Wu Yi clinked their glasses and then gazed out at the glittering banquet hall, momentarily lost in thought.

"What should I do next?"

"Nothing. I brought you here today mainly to show you off, to let interested parties see that you’re with me now. As for those who aren’t interested, they wouldn’t know who you are anyway."

"I see!"

Thinking there was nothing for him to do, Lu Luo simply started to help himself to the food. Just as Wu Yi had said, she brought Lu Luo here primarily to eat. As for the affairs between these Princes and Princesses, he couldn’t be bothered with them right now. Especially since his strength had already reached the Seventh Tier, his status had long surpassed the squabbles of ordinary Princes and Princesses. Being brought here by Wu Yi today truly served the purpose she had mentioned: for him to make an appearance.

"Twelfth Sister." Suddenly, a gentle voice came from Wu Yi’s direction.

Lu Luo turned toward the voice and saw a refined man standing there. The man appeared to be in his thirties, significantly older than Wu Yi. Judging by his tone, he must be Wu Yi’s elder brother.

A high-ranking Prince, perhaps?

Lu Luo, lacking interest in such matters, simply continued eating.

"Second Brother."

Wu Yi bowed politely to the Second Prince. In that moment, she was the picture of ladylike grace, showing none of the explosive temperament she displayed in military mode.

"Twelfth Sister, there’s no need for such formalities. You’re usually so busy with the affairs of the Inspection Department. It’s rare to see you free enough to attend a tea party like this. Your motives are probably not simple!"

As he spoke, the Second Prince’s gaze landed on Lu Luo with an insinuating look. His gaze didn’t put Lu Luo on alert because Lu Luo was quite sure that this Second Prince was nothing more than a Sixth Tier Transcendent. A Sixth Tier Transcendent was not a threat to him now unless there were a significant number of them. Therefore, Lu Luo wasn’t particularly concerned about the gaze of a Sixth Tier Transcendent.

However, when the Second Prince mentioned him, Lu Luo still glanced in that direction. Because he sensed the presence of someone who could pose a threat to him.

A Seventh Tier expert!

The Second Prince’s guard, huh.

[Seventh Tier Human Expert, profound energy, Sequence: A-Life Spark.

Strength: 440, Agility: 315, Constitution: 600]

A Transcendent specializing in Constitution? That’s rather unusual.

It might be related to his Sequence, Life Spark—one that could instantly restore vitality in battle, Lu Luo guessed.