Chapter 134: Prophecy of Seven

“I told you about the risk assessment model done by an awakened mathematician, didn’t I?” White Rabbit turned to Gao Yang. “Remember?”

Gao Yang nodded.

“Well!” Wu Dahai cut in loudly. “That guy also said that the moment the seventh Rune Circuit was found was the moment a civil war between awakeners would break out. That’s known as the Prophecy of Seven.”

The meeting room fell silent.

Gao Yang was immediately reminded of Mad Red, of Ghost Horse’s betrayal, of the unknown entities that were Fresh Snow and the white cat, and the mysterious mission Dragon gave him.

Perhaps the Prophecy of Seven was right, and a storm had already been brewing.

War Tiger clapped and said, “Let’s not stray too far from the main agenda.”

“About our three newbies getting headhunted.”

War Tiger smiled carefreely. “I believe we should respect their wishes and allow them to decide whether to stay, but White Rabbit believes that we are a team, and that the decision should be made by everyone.”

White Rabbit still sounded angry. “Neither of us can convince the other.”

“So, let’s put it to vote.” War Tiger stood up and put his hands on the table. “Outside of the three members in question here, everyone else is to cast a vote. Those who agree with me, put out rocks. Those who agree with White Rabbit, go with scissors.”

“Let’s get started!” White Rabbit urged. “Don’t hesitate and don’t look at each other. Follow your heart, you hear me?”

Everyone raised their hands one after another.

Lovely Lamb, Wu Dahai, and Dead Pig went with scissors, while Songstress, Heavenly Dog, and Mischievous Monkey made rocks.

That was about what Gao Yang expected.

Lovely Lamb and Wu Dahai probably simply didn’t want them to go.

Dead Pig might look easygoing, but he was an adult who had been through his fair share of difficulties and would think about the matter more practically. Thus, he wouldn’t want the organization to lose valuable manpower.

Songstress seemed like an artistic soul, and Heavenly Dog was a free spirit. Both would value freedom and disapprove of restrictions. It was only natural that they wouldn’t impose limits on others.

As for Mischievous Monkey, someone his age would be beyond rules and follow the flow rather than trying to force a matter to change course.

“Three and three. That’s a split.” War Tiger seemed conflicted for a moment before he suddenly raised his fist. “I vote myself!”

“I vote myself too!” White Rabbit quickly made a scissor. “That’s four to four.”

“Have you forgotten something, Rabbit?” War Tiger reminded her with a grin.

Gao Yang was the first to come to the realization. “Teacher War Tiger is the vice-captain, and according to the rules, the votes of Captain and Vice-Captain are weighted in a split vote, each considered 1.5 votes.”

“That’s right, haha!” War Tiger put his hands on his hip and stuck out his tongue at White Rabbit. “I win!”

At that moment, everyone had to wonder if the middle-aged man had the mental maturity of a three-year-old.

White Rabbit tamped down the urge to punch him and inhaled deeply to calm herself. “Fine. It’s the result of a vote. I’ll accept it.”

She turned to Gao Yang, Qing Ling, and Officer Huang. “Whether you’re going to leave or stay is up to you.”

She immediately turned to stalk out of the meeting room and slammed the door shut. It seemed that she didn’t want to face the results that were to come.

“No rush. You should sleep on it and give me the answer tomorrow.” War Tiger clapped. “Alright. That’s it for today. You’re dismissed.”

...

Three o’clock in the morning, Officer Huang offered Gao Yang and Qing Ling a ride home.

Officer Huang drove out of the Millennium Tower, but instead of going straight to their homes, he stopped at an old street in the neighborhood.

Inside a quaint alley was a laundromat that seemed to have gone out of business. The rusty rolling door was half open. The signboard hanging precariously over the door said, ‘Ah-Qiang Laundromat’.

“Are you sure this is the place?” Gao Yang asked Officer Huang as he closed the car door.

Officer Huang checked the name card in his hand. It was for ‘Ah-Qiang Laundromat’, and on the back, someone had written, ‘All three, 2 a.m.’

Officer Huang wasn’t sure what was happening either, but War Tiger had handed him this name card after the meeting.

“Let’s check.”

The three of them scanned around to make sure they weren’t followed and that the old street lights weren’t equipped with surveillance cameras. Only then did they cautiously bend down to enter the laundromat.

The rolling door dropped close, making the sound of metal unfurling. With the light turned off, the interior was pitch black. And the dozen washing machines started at once, making rotating sounds. The chorus of sounds blended and morphed into white noise, which wasn’t unpleasant to the ears.

Suddenly, there was a spark on the far side of the laundromat, lighting up the dark corner.

Someone was smoking.

Then War Tiger’s icy voice came from the corner, “Come here.”

After a pause, Officer Huang said in a purposefully casual tone, “It looks like you’re going to assassinate us, Teacher War Tiger.”

“Yeah, I don’t even dare approach,” Gao Yang agreed.

“I’ll give you three seconds,” said War Tiger. “If you don’t come here, I’ll go to you.”

The three of them walked up to him.

Only when he was close enough did Gao Yang get a good look at War Tiger. Awash in shadow, the man sat on a blue weathered plastic stool dressed in a pair of shorts and a wife beater. He smoked leisurely with his legs crossed and his back pressed to the wall.

“Do you know why I called you here?” asked War Tiger.

“For the headhunting thing?” asked Gao Yang.

“That’s right. What do you think?” War Tiger took a drag and slowly exhaled the smoke. “Uncle Tiger isn’t the devil, but I hate liars. Understand?”

“Loud and clear.” Officer Huang was quick to swear allegiance. “I’m not going to the Qilin Guild.”

“Because?” asked War Tiger.

“Because I believe in the future of our organization more.”

“Spare me the empty words.”

“And the base is close to both my home and my workplace,” Officer Huang said seriously. “The Qilin Guild’s base is too far.”

“Well, I suppose it counts as a reason. What else?”

“You’ve agreed to help me figure out my wife’s pregnancy.”

“Yes, and I will do everything I can to help you. Just wait for good news.” War Tiger waved him away. “Alright. Next.”

Qing Ling went ahead and gave her answer, “I’m not going to the Qilin Guild.”

“Because?” War Tiger asked the same question.

“You can make me stronger.”

War Tiger smiled. “Does that mean you will stay with us until you can defeat me?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” War Tiger took another drag of his cigarette, pleased. “How about you, Dark Horse?”

“I’m not going,” Gao Yang said before he even recognized what he was saying.

“Because?”

Because your other hand is holding a dagger. Do you really think I wouldn't notice? Who knows if you wouldn’t execute me here if I say I wanna leave? You sure are crazy enough to do that.

“My companions are here,” Gao Yang said honestly. “And Captain told me he had high expectations for me. He promised to reward me as long as I do my job well.”

He couldn’t reveal Dragon’s mission in full, but War Tiger should be smart enough to figure it out.

After a short pause, War Tiger nodded.

Then he slowly tipped his head back and exhaled white smoke into the darkness, casting the dagger in his other hand aside. It clanged as it hit the floor.

“Good. The three of you will get to walk out of this place alive.”

Gao Yang shuddered.

He’s crazy! Totally mad!

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

“Don’t blame me for being heartless.” War Tiger’s smile was somewhat rueful and resigned. “There’s something Dragon and I agree on.”