On the outskirts of Shanghai, there was a huge private estate. This land belonged to one of the richest conglomerates in China, the T Group. Not many people knew about this place since it was hidden from the public eye. The only way to enter was to pass through several layers of security.
At that moment, several cars approached the place. The large metal gates in front opened. Several guards came out, each one approaching a car and checking invitations.
Inside one of the cars, a red-haired guy lay back with his eyes closed. It was Baki Hanma. This car belonged to the Logan Corporation, a large conglomerate from the USA. The eldest son of Logan Corporation, Jeff Logan, was also inside the car. He was one of the students of Cho Gwigwan, the leader of the Tian Wai Tian group.
Inside the car, there were a few more guards. The number of guards they could bring was limited, though they were allowed to bring their own weapons.
After passing through several security checks, they finally reached the true headquarters of the T Group. All the cars stopped in front of a grand staircase that led up to a structure resembling traditional East Asian architecture, like Chinese imperial palaces.
At the top of the staircase, there was a veil. A vague figure could be seen through it. Two servants waited beside the veil. Several men got out of the cars, including Baki, Jeff, and their security team. All the guests stood in a semicircle while the guards stood behind them.
Several men carried large herald trumpets. They played the trumpets as the servants slowly removed the veil. The chubby figure of Wang Wei became visible. Wang Wei spread his arms wide, a broad smile appearing on his face. "Hoho~ Welcome to the T Group, gentlemen." Instead of looking majestic, his gesture looked comedic because of his chubby figure.
Wang Wei clasped his hands behind his back. "I hope you all had a pleasant journey here. I'm sure you know the reason I invited you here, but I would like to inform you once again. From all the young heirs present, I will choose the perfect groom for my one and only daughter."
Most of the heirs looked expectant upon hearing this. However, some of them didn't seem particularly interested. They were the ones belonging to the high-tier conglomerates. But Wang Wei didn't mind. As long as they satisfied his daughter and could take away her interest from that bastard Xiaolong, he wouldn't mind anything.
Wang Wei continued speaking. "My daughter is precious to me. She deserves only the best. That is why I have invited the finest young men from the most powerful families across the world. You will all have the chance to meet her and show your worth."
He paused and looked at each group of guests. "During your stay here, there will be various activities—banquets, tournaments, and other events. My daughter will observe all of you. She will make her choice based on what she sees. Of course, I will also have my say in the matter."
Some of the heirs nodded. Others whispered among themselves. The guards remained silent and alert.
"The first event will be tonight," Wang Wei announced. "A grand banquet in the main hall. All of you are expected to attend. Dress well and behave properly. This is your first chance to make an impression."
As Wang Wei continued his speech, Baki was planning how to kill him. The only reason Baki wasn't attacking now was because of the distance and the guards. The guards weren't a problem, but he didn't want Wang Wei to run away and hide. So Baki held back.
Baki observed the layout of the place. The staircase was wide and open. Wang Wei had guards positioned at various points. They were armed and looked trained. Behind Wang Wei, there were more servants and likely more security inside the building.
Baki noted the exits. There were paths leading to different parts of the compound. The main building had multiple entrances. If Wang Wei ran, he could disappear into the complex. That would make things difficult.
Jeff stood beside Baki. He also studied the area. He knew Baki was thinking about the kill. Jeff had agreed to help Baki since he owed him for saving him previously. Jeff was one of the students who had been previously kidnapped to make Gwigwan surrender his position of the successor. Fortunately, Baki had saved them in time.
Wang Wei finally finished his speech. He clapped his hands. "Now, my servants will guide you to your manors. Rest well. The banquet begins at eight this evening. I look forward to seeing all of you there."
Several servants came forward. They approached each group and assigned them a manor. The manors were spread across the compound. Each one was large and well-furnished. Wang Wei had spared no expense.
Baki's group was led to a manor on the eastern side. It had traditional architecture with modern interiors. The rooms were spacious. There were enough beds for everyone. The guards checked the place for any threats or surveillance devices.
Entering their manor, Jeff asked Baki, "Baki-ssi, when will you take action?"
Baki tapped his foot against the ground. "Not too soon. I don't want to let him escape. There's supposed to be a banquet, right? I'll have him there."
Jeff nodded. "The banquet is in the main hall. It's inside the central building. There will be many people—other heirs, their guards, Wang Wei's people. It will be crowded."
"Good," Baki said. "Crowded means he can't run easily. I'll get close during the banquet. When the moment is right, I'll strike."
"What about the guards?" Jeff asked. "Wang Wei will have heavy security."
Baki smirked. "Guards are nothing. The problem is making sure he doesn't escape before I finish him. At the banquet, he'll be focused on the event. He won't expect an attack in front of everyone."
Jeff frowned. "It's risky. If you fail, we'll all be in danger."
"I don't fail," Baki said simply. "Just make sure your men are ready. When things get chaotic, you guys can leave first."
Jeff had already instructed his guards to prepare. They would need to secure an exit route. If Baki killed Wang Wei, the entire compound would go into lockdown. They had to be ready to fight their way out if necessary.