"Ugh... this... is it possible?"
The crowd didn't believe Lu Ming's claim. Jiang Shen wasn't a starving ghost to be tempted just by watching someone eat.
However, seeing Lu Ming speak so confidently, he seemed to have everything under control.
Su Wanran looked at Jiang Mengxin, "Then how about... we trust Lu Ming this once?"
Before Jiang Mengxin could reply, Su Ru directly said, "Sure, it's just dinner, not like we're going to the battlefield. We have to eat anyway, might as well eat a bit better. If we're extremely unlucky and die tonight, at least we'll have a full meal and become a gluttonous ghost down there."
Su Wanran quickly spat three times, "What the child says is often true, what the child says is often true, what the child says is often true."
Everyone was amused.
What nonsense, "what the child says is often true"? How old was Su Ru?!
Amidst the chatter, the plan was set.
On Lu Ming's recommendation, they decided to have a feast at the five-star hotel, Yangjing Hotel, at eight o'clock tonight.
They had booked a private room in advance.
Room 404!
Not only was the room booked, but the Su family also loudly announced that they were celebrating the consecutive defeat of the four Great Emperors.
It was utterly arrogant.
...
In the afternoon, at the city's official office building.
The Mayor's office.
Wu Du Mayor Cheng Zirong was buried in work, incredibly busy. Just then, Secretary Xiao Liu walked in, saying excitedly, "Mayor Cheng, we have a guest."
"A guest? What guest? Did they make an appointment?" Cheng Zirong asked without looking up.
The secretary shook her head, "No appointment."
Cheng Zirong replied coldly, "If they didn't make an appointment, what are you talking about? Have people become so undisciplined?"
The secretary said, "This guest is a bit special."
Special?
Heh!
Cheng Zirong scoffed, "I don't do special here. No matter whose relative, friend, or classmate they are, everyone is treated equally! Go and tell him to follow the procedure, make an appointment first, and perhaps I'll see him when I have time."
"Cough, cough." The secretary glanced around, then bent down and whispered, "Mayor Cheng, I'm actually not sure, but this guest said he is a Five-Star General – the Dragon King!"
Hmm?
Cheng Zirong was startled, his pen stopped, and he looked up at the secretary, "Really?"
The secretary nodded affirmatively.
Cheng Zirong was speechless, "A Five-Star General, how many levels higher is that than my position? This isn't a guest, this is a superior leader coming for inspection! You, you, you can't even distinguish the situation, hurry up, take the leader to the reception room!"
"We're not following procedures anymore?"
"Follow what procedures, hurry up!"
"Oh, oh, oh, okay."
Secretary Xiao Liu quickly ran off, bringing the Dragon King to the reception room. Cheng Zirong was already waiting there, having prepared snacks and tea, being extremely polite.
Upon seeing the Dragon King, Cheng Zirong waved his hand, signaling the secretary to leave.
Before Cheng Zirong could speak, the Dragon King proactively handed his identity token to Cheng Zirong, saying, "I came in a hurry. Mayor Cheng can examine my identity token first to confirm I'm not an impostor."
Cheng Zirong examined it very carefully and confirmed it was real, then returned the token to the Dragon King.
He smiled and asked, "Leader, why did you come so suddenly? Without any prior notice. Has something major happened in our Wu Du?"
In Cheng Zirong's mind, something extremely important must have happened in Wu Du to attract a Five-Star General.
But after thinking it over, Cheng Zirong couldn't figure out what major event had occurred in Wu Du.
The only matter worth considering was the dispute between the Fan family and the Su family, which had attracted the five Great Emperors to Wu Du, creating quite a scene.
However.
The five Great Emperors, while powerful, were only so relative to ordinary citizens. In front of a general like the Dragon King, they were nothing!
As long as the Dragon King willed it, he could annihilate the five Great Emperors in an instant.
Let alone the Dragon King, even a random Three-Star General could easily defeat the five Great Emperors; they were not on the same level.
So... it shouldn't be about the five Great Emperors.
But besides that, there were no other major events in Wu Du.
The Dragon King smiled faintly and said, "Actually, it's not me who wants to see you. It's the Dragon Warlord who wants to see you. I'm just here to deliver a message."
What?
Cheng Zirong was so flattered he almost jumped out of his skin.
The Dragon Warlord?
The legendary invincible Dragon Warlord?
A national hero, a legend of Huaxia!
A Five-Star General was already an unattainable goal for Cheng Zirong, and a Warlord was something he looked up to, a difference as vast as the ocean and a drop of water.
Cheng Zirong asked excitedly, "What does the Dragon Warlord want with me?"
The Dragon King casually uttered two words: "Dinner. The Dragon Warlord wants to invite you to dinner."
Huh?
Cheng Zirong didn't know what to say.
For such a distinguished figure as the Dragon Warlord to come to Wu Du from so far away, just to invite him to dinner? What an honor this was!
The Dragon King continued, "It's not just you. The entire leadership team of your Wu Du has been invited by the Warlord."
Wow.
This was significant!
It seemed the Warlord intended to cooperate with Wu Du.
Cheng Zirong was overjoyed, "Of course, we will definitely be there!"
The Dragon King provided the time and address, "Tonight at eight o'clock, Yangjing Hotel, private room 402. You must all be there. Oh, right, when you come, be low-key. Don't drive official cars or luxury cars. Try to drive ordinary, unassuming vehicles to avoid drawing attention."
Cheng Zirong had no doubts about this.
Everyone knew that the Dragon Warlord preferred to be low-key.
"Alright, no problem! The leadership team of Wu Du is inherently low-key and never extravagant. We guarantee not to cause any trouble for the Warlord." Cheng Zirong replied affirmatively.
"Good, then that's settled." The Dragon King stood up. "Then I'll go to the hotel to make preparations. Tonight, we will dine with the Warlord."
"Yes!" Cheng Zirong excitedly saluted.
Afterward, the Dragon King left the conference room.
After he left, Cheng Zirong was beside himself with excitement. To dine with the Warlord in this lifetime was such an honor!
He had no idea that tonight's dinner would not be so 'delicious'.
In fact, it would become a Hongmen Banquet.
On the street.
The Dragon King walked out, along the curb, and dialed Lu Ming's number.
He respectfully said, "Warlord, the task you assigned is complete. I have invited the entire leadership team of Wu Du to dine at Yangjing Hotel, private room 402, at eight o'clock tonight."
On the other end of the phone, Lu Ming said, "Yes, the dinner for Cheng Zirong and them must be kept secret. Also, ensure that the central Emperor Jiang Shen knows about the Su family's dinner."
"Yes!"
Hanging up the phone, the Dragon King acted according to Lu Ming's instructions.
A trap targeting Jiang Shen was unfolding.
The Su family, Jiang Shen, and the Wu Du leadership team were all kept in the dark, unaware of the 'tragic' events that would unfold at tonight's dinner!