The leader announced a small break of refreshnts after which everybody dispersed into small groups.
Jia quickly pulled Mingshen aside and asked, "What did that leader do to the boy? He was so fierce and furious before and now he has suddenly toned down. Look, he is happily playing his ga."
Mingshen stared at the leader at the corner of the hall, rrily talking with so of the cult mbers. He then glanced at Jia.
"I am not sure yet, but it does seem a kind of a mild hypnosis," he tilted his head. "That’s why he is feeling so numb. Not bad."
He could feel her glare from within her mask. "Not funny."
"Hey I am just appreciating the leader’s resourcefulness. He wants to act like God and wants his so-called following to also believe that he is God. Of course, God should have powers," he nodded.
Jia felt a light sound crackle in her ear that ca from her right earpiece. With the excuse of adjusting her hair locks, she discreetly pressed a button.
"How’s everything going?"
"The leader wants to be the ssiah of all troubled n."
"Anti-won?"
"To the point that Ehuang isn’t the only victim," she whispered in the shadows.
Huojin went quiet.
"You are kidding. He is brainwashing n to let the girls and won in their families have those horrendous surgeries done on them?"
"You will be surprised to see won nodding their heads too."
"Fuck, what the world has co to? So what are we going to do?"
"On my signal, station all officers at both the exits of this hotel. Everybody will escape once chaos erupts. It’s now or never."
"Roger."
They kept it short and hung up. When Jia turned, she only saw an empty space where Mingshen once stood. She looked left and right and found him heading towards the leader.
Her heart almost stopped.
What is he doing?
She figured he might be wanting to wring so answers out of the leader with a conversation, but it was too risky.
Ugh, I cannot even go and stop him now or it would look too suspicious...
She stepped out of the corner and mingled in the crowd. She tried to be out of the teen and his father’s sight lest they would cause a big scene. But instead of avoiding one problem, she landed into another.
The woman who Jia was sure was Mrs. Lai crossed her path.
Jia slightly stiffened for a mont but quickly regained her composure. "Hello."
"Oh hello," Mrs. Lai said with a hint of slight nervousness. "Sorry, I almost bumped into you."
"It’s okay," Jia asked a mont later, "You are new here, right?"
"Yes, yes. That’s why I am a little nervous..."
"Ah, I understand. I feel sorry for your troubles. It must be difficult to co out with it."
"At first, it was. But everybody was so open with their issues. It gave courage" she slightly choked. "I finally found a place where I could share all my worries. It’s so nice to see won being a part of this too. This century has just been hypnotized with all that independent and feminism stuff," she harrumphed. "Our roles were always to be the supportive homaker while n earned."
It was a challenge to not show her utter displeasure for such patriarchal thoughts. She understood that patriarchy had deep roots and every generation went through the sa cycle of passing down the sa misogynistic values. It was an ingrained conditioning. But it was also upon the people living in the present to try and break the cycle, though only few showed that courage.
Mrs. Lai threw Jia a skeptical look. "I must say that it’s a little surprising to see a young woman like you here. Aren’t you all about demanding equality?"
Jia understood her confusion because the minority of won here mostly belonged to the middle aged group who preferred the old generation and values over the present.
"Also, your clothes are too bold. You should tone down a little on that skin exposure. Hmph, won wear all these revealing clothes and then expect n to not get seduced."
Jia kept calm. "The dress actually wasn’t my choice. I was kinda forced into it."
Which was technically true.
"As for the reason I am here, I ca here to get so guidance on my little sister," Jia faked a somber expression.
"Oh my."
She told so random fake story that ca to her mind to which Mrs. Lai expressed her sympathies. "That’s a pity."
"So I thought I could co here which might help in changing my sister’s mind."
She nodded. "Don’t worry dear. You are in good hands."
"Indeed," she then nudged the topic, "So, I am curious. It’s your first ti here. I wonder how you ca to know about this esteed gathering."
Jia wished to puke at her own words.
Mrs. Lai made a face. "Ironically, it’s because of my granddaughter that I loathe so much."
"Your granddaughter?"
"Yeah, she keeps playing these gas on her mother’s mobile phone. One day, she asked to play with her on a console. I am not really interested in your modern gas but she insisted. It was a kind of a battle royale type ga. At first, I wasn’t so thrilled but then I started to like it. It was actually addictive and very refreshing I must say."
Out of all the reasons in the world, Jia found this one to be very bizarre.
"How is a ga related to this place?"
Mrs. Lai frowned in confusion. "I don’t know. I guess the whole look and feel of one of the ga levels felt very...inviting and..fortable? I started playing all by myself and one day, I got a popup ssage on my screen that I will get a chance to et all my ga friends in real life. I excitedly clicked yes and I got an invitation!"
Jia stared at her.
"Oh my, this ga seems really interesting. What is the na of the ga if you don’t mind? I am a little gar myself haha..."
"Oh why not? Survival Grounds it is. I think I also rember the company na who made it. Quantum Gas."
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