wavenovel Chapter 21 The Foundation Ceremony of the Empire
Chapter 21 The Foundation Ceremony of the Empire
In downtown Yangon, sunlight pierces the morning mist, illuminating the newly renovated "Yunnan Jade Building." This iconic building, once owned by the Karen Group, has now been completely taken over by Lin Yu and serves as the headquarters of the newly established "Global Jade Trading Center."
In the plaza in front of the building, a red carpet was laid out, and a military band played a stirring welcoming tune. General Aung San himself was present, followed by ambassadors from various countries, top jewelers, and a barrage of cameras from global media. Lin Yu, dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, stood on the makeshift stage, next to Su Ya, dressed in traditional Burmese attire. Although she smiled, her fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt—the experience at the lighthouse the previous night left her with a mixture of anticipation and unease about the peaceful life that was about to begin.
"Today, we are not only opening a trading center, but also ushering in a new era." Lin Yu took the microphone, his voice amplified throughout the venue, "From today onwards, every jadeite rough stone passing through here will possess a unique 'pedigree code.' We will use technology and integrity to sever the greedy hands lurking in the shadows!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Acha and her SWAT team stood ready in the crowd, their sharp eyes scanning every corner.
The ceremony reached its climax. Lin Yu, Su Ya, and General Aung San together picked up golden scissors and cut the red ribbon symbolizing blockade and monopoly.
With a crisp "crack," fireworks burst forth.
Amidst the jubilation, a man in a courier uniform stealthily crossed the police line, shoved a brown paper package without any sender information into the hands of a staff member maintaining order on the side of the platform, and then quickly disappeared into the crowd.
The staff member carrying the package quickly walked to Lin Yu's side and said in a low voice, "Mr. Lin, someone just handed this to you, saying they had to give it to you personally."
Lin Yu frowned slightly. At this sensitive moment, any unknown object could be a deadly threat.
"Give it to me." Lin Yu took the package; it felt light and airy, not like a bomb.
Suya noticed his unusual behavior and leaned closer to ask softly, "Big brother, what's wrong?"
"It's okay, don't be afraid." Lin Yu patted her hand reassuringly, then tore open the package.
There were no explosives inside, only a yellowed black-and-white photograph, which quietly slid out.
Lin Yu instinctively reached out and caught it. The moment he saw the contents of the photo, his blood seemed to freeze, his calm and composed expression collapsed instantly, and his pupils contracted sharply.
The background of the photo is a dimly lit laboratory, or rather, a nursery filled with test tubes and instruments. A figure in a white coat is facing away from the camera, bending over to look at a sleeping baby in a glass incubator.
There was a clearly visible red birthmark on the back of the baby's neck.
Simple and elegant!
"What's wrong?" Su Ya asked, seeing Lin Yu's pale face and reaching for the photo. "What is it?"
Lin Yu suddenly clenched the photo in his palm, his knuckles turning white with force.
"Nothing much." He turned around, his back to the camera and all the media, the shock in his eyes quickly turning into overwhelming murderous intent. "Just some boring GG flyers."
"But..." Suya asked, puzzled.
"Suya," Lin Yu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, his tone more serious than ever before, "Listen to me, go with Acha right now. Go back to the General's Mansion, don't go anywhere else, and don't leave Acha's sight for even a moment."
"Why? Big brother, what happened?" Suya had never seen Lin Yu with such an expression before, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Lin Yu looked into her clear eyes, his heart aching.
On the back of the photograph, written in small, alarming red ink, was a line of text:
"You think you've rescued the swan, but you've only picked up a 'guinea pig' that escaped from the lab. The game has only just begun, Mr. Lin. —Your old friend, 'Phoenix'."
That mysterious organization knew more than just about Suya's existence.
They seem to be implying that Suya's background is far more bizarre than imagined—she may not even have been born in a regular hospital, but rather is the product of some kind of scientific experiment.
Lin Yu slowly released his hand, looking at the blurry figure in the photo, a cold smile curving his lips.
Is it a "phoenix"?
Since you want to play, then I'll wreck your lab!
"Mr. Lin, the speech segment is about to begin," the emcee reminded him from the side.
Lin Yu took a deep breath and stuffed the photo, along with his overwhelming hatred and doubt, deep into his suit pocket.
He turned around, facing the bright sunshine and countless cameras, and his face once again wore that confident and composed smile, as if the thrilling experience had never happened.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Lin Yu raised his champagne glass and announced loudly to the entire audience, "to celebrate the establishment of the trading center, I hereby announce that all profits from the first transaction will be donated to an orphanage relief fund in Myanmar!"
Applause erupted again.
No one knew that behind this magnificent groundbreaking ceremony, an ultimate storm of mystery, conspiracy, and redemption had quietly begun.