Chapter 63: Purpose of the Hermit Union

At 2:55 PM, nearly all seats around the massive circular table were occupied, with only three positions remaining empty.

There were twenty seats in total, and currently seventeen attendees had arrived. Even if some hadn’t met before, they were well aware of the influential individuals seated here. Gradually, silence fell as the guests either closed their eyes to rest or lowered their gaze, deep in thought.

The enigmatic Hermit Union, capable of stealthily infiltrating their heavily guarded bedrooms to leave calling cards, and even controlling their dreams to convey messages, was the greatest concern for these wealthy elites.

Additionally, the fact that the Hermit Union dared to choose the globally recognized Global Building in Jindar Empire raised questions - whether it was due to genuine prowess or mere bravado.

Upon learning about the meeting at the Global Building, it was promptly emptied on the same day, with everything inside thoroughly replaced to ensure no potential issues remained. Besides Margate’s police force, at least five separate mercenary teams patrolled openly and covertly, while dozens of top-notch snipers were positioned throughout the building.

If the Hermit Union truly appeared today, both sides would have to carefully weigh their capabilities.

At 3:00 PM, as the clock’s second hand reached twelve, a withered-looking old man seated at the round table instinctively straightened his posture. “It’s time.”

The seventeen wealthy individuals present held their breaths slightly.

Creak…

Almost simultaneously, the tall golden doors of the meeting room slowly swung open, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps outside.

“Hey, three people missing? Did Little Brother Wang ask Vena to eliminate those disobedient ones?”

Leading the group was a gothic-dressed girl with long brown hair and a small red hat adorned with delicate lace trimmings, appearing quite refined. However, her heavy makeup gave her a somewhat eerie and neurotic look.

After the girl spoke, another young man, approximately in his twenties, stood beside her, dressed casually in a sweater and pants. He wore a mask and a baseball cap, clumsily attempting to conceal his identity. Upon hearing the girl’s words, he blurted out fearfully, “No, no, don’t resort to killing so easily.” Seeming unconvinced, he added, “Absolutely not, do you understand?”

The young girl tugged at the various intricate wooden dolls hanging from her long dress, pouting slightly. “Fine, fine. Who am I to argue with Little Brother Wang?”

Nader gave a meaningful glance to the bodyguard behind him.

Understanding the intent, the bodyguard took on the role of a brash antagonist, exclaiming, “Who do you think you are? Throwing around threats of murder like that is utterly disrespectful!”

As the approaching group paused momentarily, one elegant man dressed in a white suit, adorned with a white rose pinned to his chest, turned his head slightly and said, “Perhaps it’s best for those uninvolved to take a nap.”

A card depicting the Ten of Diamonds spun between his slender fingers. The backside of the card featured an image unlike any other—a sleeping giant. Upon closer inspection, the giant’s abdomen and chest subtly moved as if mimicking the rhythm of breathing.

Thud, thud, thud.

One by one, the seventeen bodyguards accompanying the wealthy individuals suddenly went limp, collapsing onto the ground. A few, presumably with specialized training, managed to struggle for six or seven seconds but ultimately succumbed to irresistible drowsiness.

As soon as the first guard collapsed, some of the seventeen individuals had already started using their small personal phones to contact the outside world. These devices relied on dedicated satellites for maintaining signals, ensuring they would never face dead zones anywhere on Xuanlan Star.

Yet now, they encountered one.

“Gentlemen, there’s no point resisting. Wouldn’t it be better to cooperate obediently?” A massively obese man slowly moved to the podium at the front of the meeting room, squinting his eyes, which gave him a far from innocent appearance.

In reality, when this group unexpectedly appeared at the door without any prior notice precisely at 3 PM, the tycoons sensed something was amiss.

They had overestimated the Hermit Union countless times, but still, they underestimated them once more. Despite the comprehensive surveillance by modern equipment and hired mercenaries, the intruders arrived undetected.

Nader quietly drew a breath, his stern yet astute gaze gradually softening with warmth and sincerity. He stood up again, looking at the five representatives from the Hermit Union, “Gentlemen, what you’ve said makes sense. Let us hear your proposed collaboration method first. After all, we didn’t gather here merely for casual dining and conversation.”

“Nader is right; we’re here to explore cooperation. As merchants, there’s always potential for collaboration where mutual benefits exist.” The wrinkled old man chimed in with a cheerful agreement.

“Wonderful! I love your pragmatic approach,” Vena exclaimed, hugging her doll and twirling around excitedly.

“Alright, let me briefly introduce us then.” Nader gestured towards the elegantly dressed man in white, who smiled warmly. “In the Hermit Union, each of our identities corresponds to a playing card. You can call me License Holder Cardmaster, and she is License Holder Dollmaker.” He pointed to the fat man next, “License Holder Straw Figure, and this gentleman is License Holder Devourer.”

Lastly, only the young man wearing a mask remained unmentioned. Despite not seeing his face clearly, one could sense his apprehension and helplessness.

“Call…call me Little Wang,” the young man hastily interjected before quickly falling silent. Compared to the others, he seemed like an ordinary person inadvertently caught among extraordinary beings.

However, it was evident that these four peculiar individuals showed considerable deference and respect towards him. The license holder chuckled good-naturedly and turned back to address the wealthy attendees present.

“Having completed our introductions, please allow me to explain the origins of the Hermit Union. The Hermit Union was initially founded during the Ang period by a group of ordinary individuals without extraordinary abilities, aiming to break free from their predetermined fates.”

The Ang period?

Nearby, Muke exchanged glances with Nade. The Ang period could be considered as the final glorious era in the history of the Jindar Empire, known then as the Golden Sun Empire. After Ang, the empire dramatically collapsed. Counting from that time, it has been nearly a thousand years since.

“Before the Ang period, this planet, serving as the motherland, possessed boundless mystical powers. Daoist techniques of the Southeast Alliance, Maoshan spells, martial arts, along with witchcraft and berserk powers of the Far West Alliance thrived and shone brilliantly across the world.

The demise of the Golden Sun Empire coincided with the waning days of the Ang period, when mystical forces significantly diminished. This compelled numerous mystical factions to retreat into their strongholds. Seizing this opportunity, the Hermit Union quietly emerged amidst the chaos.”

“The Hermit Union’s mission has always been to research and explore, aiming for everyone to have the opportunity to harness mystical forces. Rather than allowing a select few to advance leaps and bounds before the mysteries, controlling our destinies, we strive for collective empowerment.

Over these past thousand years, unlike those mystic entities hiding and recuperating while awaiting resurgence, the Hermit Union has remained active worldwide, relentlessly pursuing our goals through every possible means.

With this global transformation underway, we’ve already discovered that the emerging new power on Xuanlan Star differs from what existed millions of years ago. This poses a setback for organizations with strong legacies but presents a significant opportunity—a chance for transcendence—for the Hermit Union.”

Winter’s gaze swept over the assembled tycoons. “Therefore… the Hermit Union sincerely invites all of you to invest funds and resources, enabling us to strive together for our shared future. The unexpected advancements in new technologies within society are also immensely beneficial to us.”

“What can we gain?” When it comes to investments, this is where the tycoons excel.

“You?” The warmth in Winter’s voice slightly faded, and after a moment, he slowly said, “If you get involved in any dangerous matters, we will assess the situation before deciding whether to rescue you. If significant research results are achieved, rewards will be provided based on your contributions.”

His words were practically meaningless, essentially amounting to a one-sided demand.

As discontent gradually surfaced among the wealthy individuals, Vena suddenly released the toy she had torn from her dress earlier. The toy promptly jumped to the ground and unexpectedly charged forward.

In the next instant, the most dissatisfied tycoon instantly covered his eyes with a shriek as the toy, wielding a ten-centimeter-long miniature sword, directly pierced through his left eye.

Having accomplished this, the toy hopped back onto Vena’s arm.

Vena smiled, her voice crisp. “Not killing you, is that considered a benefit for you?”

What terrified the present tycoons was that apart from the young man wearing a mask, the other four license holders all displayed mocking expressions. Even Winter, who consistently exuded elegance and nobility, now conveyed a threatening demeanor.

The pleasantries had already been exhausted.

Mary Walton, the only woman among the seventeen wealthy attendees, raised her hand and, under Vena’s gaze, mustered courage to speak, “I pledge one hundred million golden taels to the Hermit Union, hoping to earn its friendship.”

“Congratulations, madam! You have indeed secured our union’s friendship. Should there be any future needs, we hope for your continued support,” the fat man courteously gestured for Mary to sit down.

Mary sighed with relief.

Following this lead, the remaining sixteen affluent individuals, though grimacing, began making their contributions.

“Gentlemen and ladies, we truly hope that after leaving here, you will not engage in irrational actions. The mission of our Hermit Union is to empower ordinary people to control their own destinies. However, progress always requires pioneers who may have to make sacrifices along the way.

In time, you’ll realize that compared to us, the emerging mystical forces treat humanity much like we regard weak ants—indifferently and arbitrarily, from a position of superiority. Just as we might casually offer ants crumbs for amusement or destroy an ant hill on a whim, so too will they view humans. Eventually, you will understand that only the Hermit Union can help you escape such a fate.”

Ultimately, those who donated amounts exceeding one billion golden taels each received a card with the Three of Diamonds, featuring an illustration of a small elf holding a shield on its back.

“This is a replicated protective device from our Hermit Union, usable even by ordinary individuals. With just a drop of blood on the card, it will emit a protective shield lasting three minutes, potentially saving your life in critical moments. However, it can only be used three times. This card symbolizes the friendship between the Hermit Union and you, as well as our gratitude for your generous contributions.”

Gazing at the mysterious card quietly floating before him, Nade extended his hand and grasped the slightly cool card within his palm.