Chapter 79
Chapter 79
Xia Guofeng reviewed the data, his expression exceptionally grim.
Based on the intelligence gathered from other countries, the identities possessed by these “Hidden Chosen Ones” varied greatly.
Furthermore, it was highly likely that the clear conditions for a Hidden Chosen One were in direct opposition to Jiang Li’s.
In a neighboring country, a high-ranking government official had been selected for this role.
That leader had openly announced his identity as a Hidden Chosen One during a live broadcast.
The last words he spoke before committing suicide were:
“For the sake of my country, I would rather sacrifice myself than become an enemy of the Chosen One!”
Moreover, in this Instance, even if a Hidden Chosen One successfully cleared the level, it would bring no benefit to Huaguo.
Rather than being a member of Huaguo, this Hidden Chosen One was more like a member of the Aberrations.
They were essentially an “accomplice” handpicked by the Aberrations.
Xia Guofeng slammed the documents onto the desk, his anger flaring. “Damned Aberrations, playing their dirty tricks behind our backs again!”
A member of the Intelligence Department standing nearby suggested:
“Director, we have two Communication Opportunities left. Should we use one to contact Jiang Li? We could warn her to be on her guard.”
Xia Guofeng pondered for a few seconds before shaking his head.
Frowning, he said, “Not yet.
According to the rules of communication, if we send a message to Jiang Li, that Hidden Chosen One will definitely receive it as well.
Speaking out now would surely alert the enemy!
It might even provoke the Hidden Chosen One to move against Jiang Li prematurely.”
The Intelligence Department member wanted to persist. “But…”
“The Director is right!” a clear male voice rang out from the doorway.
Everyone turned to look.
A young man wearing glasses walked into the office, carrying a thermos filled with goji berry tea.
He adjusted his glasses and placed Xia Guofeng’s thermos on the desk. “We need to prepare for two things right now.
First, we must identify the Hidden Chosen One. We need absolute proof; we cannot afford a mistake, or the consequences will be disastrous.
Second, we need to find a way to bypass the Hidden Chosen One so our communication only reaches Jiang Li.
Right now, we lack any critical information. If we contact Jiang Li rashly, we won’t just fail to help her-we’ll likely get her killed.”
The Intelligence Department member worried, “But if Jiang Li knows nothing, isn’t she in great danger?”
“Heh,” the young man with glasses chuckled softly. “Do you think Jiang Li is a fool? What do you think got her this far?”
The young man looked up at the live broadcast screen.
A smirk played on his lips. “Maybe… she’ll find that hidden person before we do.”
On the screen.
Jiang Li sat calmly inside the classroom.
Class was currently in session.
Yingying, who sat at the neighboring desk, tried to strike up a conversation with Jiang Li several times.
However, Jiang Li acted like a block of wood, intentionally feigning ignorance and refusing to pay her any mind.
Intuition told Jiang Li that Yingying was not simple.
Rather than becoming friends, it was better to treat her as a stranger.
Otherwise, the more they interacted, the harder it might be to handle the fallout later.
Yingying was naturally proud. After being ignored several times, she felt slighted. She gave Jiang Li a subtle, resentful glare before turning back to listen to the lecture.
During the break between classes, Jiang Li remained alone.
Her desk was a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere surrounding her neighbor.
A crowd gathered around Yingying as soon as the break started, especially the boys.
They all seemed to adore Yingying, who was both pretty and possessed a cheerful personality.
For a moment, Jiang Li couldn’t figure it out.
Logically, this Orphanage only took in children with physical disabilities.
Every child here should have some sort of issue, to a greater or lesser degree.
But Yingying was the only one Jiang Li couldn’t find a single fault with.
Yingying stood out here, appearing exceptionally radiant.
Whenever Jiang Li had a break, the Black Kid would come over to chat with her.
The Black Kid was quite talkative, and Jiang Li would always respond by writing brief notes on paper.
Classes followed one after another.
When the morning lessons finally dragged to an end, Jiang Li thought she would be able to head back.
Unexpectedly, the male teacher read out a list of names before dismissing the class.
He instructed the children on the list to head to the “Activity Room.”
He called not only Jiang Li but Yingying as well.
She followed the teacher, walking one after the other with Yingying.
There were seven or eight children going together, both boys and girls, including the Little Shota and the Black Kid.
As the children stepped through the door of the Activity Room, they were greeted by the “pop-pop-pop” of party poppers spraying streamers.
Colorful ribbons covered the children’s heads and bodies.
They were led to the center of the room.
A ten-inch birthday cake sat there, its surface piled high with fruit.
“Congratulations to our little birthday stars of the month!” a female teacher’s cheerful voice rang out.
Next came a rendition of the Happy Birthday song.
There were eight children in total, including Jiang Li, and they all took turns receiving blessings from the teachers.
It was a tradition at Sunshine Orphanage to use the day a child first entered the Orphanage as their birthday.
As for their birth year, it was determined through a comprehensive assessment based on the child’s own description and physical development.
This time, eight children were celebrating together, four of whom were about to turn seven.
The two boys turning seven were the Little Shota and the Black Kid.
The two girls turning seven were Jiang Li and Yingying.
Among them, Jiang Li was the oldest, followed by Yingying, the Little Shota, and then the Black Kid.
After eating the birthday cake, the other four younger children were led away by a Caregiver.
Jiang Li and the other three were kept behind.
Strangely, however, the atmosphere was no longer festive; it had turned somewhat somber.
Jiang Li and the other three stood in the center.
All around them, whether they were teachers or Caregivers, everyone watched them with tearful eyes, weeping silently with grief-stricken expressions.
The atmosphere in the Activity Room seemed to grow heavy.
After a moment of silence, the male teacher stepped forward and handed Jiang Li and the others a cartoon card each.
“Children, whatever birthday wishes you have, you can write them down.”
Jiang Li received a card as well.
She scribbled a few words casually and hung the card on a decorative tree in the corner.
There were many cards on that tree.
Every card represented a child’s birthday wish.
When Jiang Li went to hang her tag, she saw a familiar name in the signature-Red Infant.
However, that line of text didn’t look like it had been written by a human at all.
Instead, it looked like symbols drawn by someone who didn’t know how to write but had forced themselves to copy the standard characters.
That brat Red Infant-who knew what kind of mischief he was up to now.
Jiang Li silently noted Red Infant’s birthday wish, and after hanging her own tag, she stepped away.
Jiang Li and the other three stood in a row.
A woman with short hair and glasses walked up to address them.
She said sternly, “After you finish lunch, make sure to dress yourselves up properly.
“This afternoon, a couple is coming to the Orphanage to adopt.
“I will try to persuade them to take both a boy and a girl if their circumstances allow.
“You must show some spirit and seize this opportunity.
“If you miss this chance, there won’t be a next time. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” the other three children answered in unison.
Jiang Li couldn’t speak, so she simply nodded along.