Girls' Frontline: My Apocalypse with Dolls

Page 432

Apply foundation and lipstick

......

"I must admit, Miss Yingque, you are much more intelligent than I imagined."

"Intelligent? Perhaps not. I've been lingering here for almost half a year in near-foolishness, and I'm quite content with it. Because I once told him that I'm willing to be a fool who stays by his side, not thinking, not doing, living like a complete idiot without knowing anything... Isn't that good enough?"

She looked at her increasingly refined face and those dark golden pupils, and a wave of bitterness washed over her...

"But it seems I can never go back to the past. Should I say goodbye to my past one day? Am I really ready? Should I accept this filter, or actively remove it and deny it all? To be honest, I don't know. All my motivations stem from it, but now I feel lost..."

......

“Perhaps after tonight, you will get some answers…” Melper took the coat from the wardrobe and handed it to Yingque: “And in the meantime, please allow me to stay by your side and help you find your answers…”

PS: We saw the interlude in yesterday's chapter, and I believe that more than a few readers were confused by it. Now, let me reveal some details. Most of the foreshadowing was actually planted in the previous chapters, and we will also revisit them later.

First, the Reverse Kabbalah Factor is a hidden theme throughout the entire text. This substance is present not only in Luo Fan and Ying Que, but also in the current Madame Grey and Umbrella. Rosalia, Ethel, Nekitia and all the members of her band, as well as Morse, are all aware of the nature and existence of the Reverse Kabbalah Factor. Furthermore, the members after Rosalia are not defined as human, and their actions revolve entirely around the Reverse Kabbalah Factor.

The reverse Kabbalah factor present in Luo Fan and Ying Que has caused serious changes in their bodies. Currently, this manifests as abnormal pain, overactivation and rapid death of their own cells, and accelerated EGO manifestation. Ying Que's extreme and terrifying longing for Luo Fan has caused her EGO to be over-activated and manifested at a rate far exceeding that of Luo Fan (manifested as the shadow mentioned earlier, which is a special manifestation of her EGO).

Conductor Nekitia and Morse have a deep connection from long ago. Their era collapsed due to the Reverse Kabbalah Factor. The two have different attitudes toward this matter, but they have temporarily reached an agreement based on the performance of Lofan and Yingque, and will serve Lofan and Yingque.

Currently, Rosalia and Ethel's attitudes are unclear, and Ethel is secretly grooming another eldest daughter of an old German noble family, who will meet the readers later.

The band members showed curiosity and adoration for Lovan's existence, which began with the reverse Kabbalah factor and sublimated through their daily interactions (learning from the Sinners, Villains, and Carnival about Negitia's emotional deficiencies, Rhea's sacrifice for her mother, and Chris's sense of responsibility and courage despite her cowardice). Lovan complemented the emotions of the remaining band members (Sena and Carmen were similar, experiencing emotional deficiencies and longings, as well as Lovan's affinity for the reverse Kabbalah factor, although the rejection reaction was still very severe).

Because Morse had never met Lovan, he felt a greater affinity for the strong and melancholic Yingque, a conservative, old-fashioned but extremely responsible and powerful warrior.

That's all that can be revealed at the moment.

694 Venue

2022.9.4. Night 20:45pm

Second floor venue of the Diesel Club

......

"Thompson, aren't you attending tonight's event?"

"Not for now. Williams and I will discuss taking control of the jewelry stores throughout New York in a nearby private room. Nieto will let me know if anything comes up, and I will handle it then. For now, don't reveal my presence."

"Understood, but it's best to be careful. The Shrike has been keeping this in mind, and if anything unexpected happens tonight, we won't be able to explain to the Commander."

"Don't worry, the bodyguard lineup tonight is top-notch, and I've given them permission to use force. You just need to observe the situation and maintain order on site."

......

Dandley leaned against the railing on the second-floor edge, looking down at the people on the first floor of the hall who were enjoying their foreplay. Most of them had ulterior motives, wanting to get on the good side of the Thomson family. But that wasn't the point. The point was the distinguished guest tonight... Their attitude toward this distinguished guest would influence Thomson's attitude toward these people who wanted to cooperate.

"So how will this farce unfold tonight...?"

Looking down at his phone, he saw a message from the martyr informing him that Operation Dandre had begun.

......

"Watch your step, Yingque..."

The darkness inside the car was torn apart by the opening of the door and the sound of the alarm. Yingque looked up and saw Juno standing outside the car with a smile. Her expression said it all: it was time to participate in tonight's performance...

So, having come this far, there's no reason to hesitate any longer, since many people will be with me tonight.

“Let’s go, our heroine,” Melper gently took her hand. “You will shine brighter than you have at any point in the past decade or so.”

"Um..."

Although timidity was inevitable, Yingque ultimately chose to take this step, and from now on, her eyes would have to adjust to the dazzling flashes of the headlights in the dark car.

Freyne immediately shielded Yingque, and Aphrodite whispered into the walkie-talkie on his collar, "Immediately drive away the reporters and make the onlookers leave."

As soon as he finished speaking, Nieto and his men came out of the venue and began to disperse the reporters in the vicinity, while the members of the Shrike protected Yingque in the center, trying to avoid any hidden cameras.

On the way into the venue, they also saw Morse and Rosalia, who had arrived at the same time, and even Ethel, whom they hadn't seen in a long time...

"Oh my, Miss Yingque looks much better now, she's starting to resemble Madam Luo."

It's unclear how Aether managed to see Yingque's image while bypassing the cover of the shrike and the group of Nieto, but judging from her delighted expression, she does seem to have that ability.

Morse glanced at her, then said coldly, "Gagsherav, keep your eyes to yourself and don't get noticed at this time."

“Let her watch for a while if she wants to,” Rosalia shook her head. Her height limited her ability to see what was happening around her, so she could only frown. “Anyway, I’m going back to Germany to see that young lady soon, and I probably won’t be back for quite a while.”

"Oh? Does Asmodeus not want us to leave? Should we be moved for a moment?"

“I’m worried that if you don’t complete the necessary insurance work, and then there’s a problem with the balance, and the Glutton’s original body is gone, no one can save her.”

"Rest assured, Miss Yingque's performance is far more satisfactory than expected..."

"Hope it..."

After a brief chat, the three followed the group into the venue. With that, apart from the various bodyguard teams that had arrived earlier, all the members of the Thomson family were present for the night.

The shrike finally loosened its concealment, allowing the image of Yingque to appear at the venue.

"Stay calm, Yingque, just like we taught you before we left, don't show any expression."

Aphrodite whispered another reminder, and Yingque nodded in response with an imperceptible gesture, before beginning to examine the situation in the room.

It's unclear whose perverse taste it is, but this combination of a noisy, decadent nightclub with a classical royal court is quite unusual. Not far from the dance floor are neatly arranged tables, with entertainment and dining taking place in the same environment. Is this really befitting of a White Eagle-style entertainment venue? Even the most basic venue arrangement is unclear, and they've even mixed things up.

Fortunately, this wasn't the Thomson family's home turf, otherwise Yingque would definitely have questioned the nature of Luo Fan and the girls' work...

But at least it made Yingque realize that sometimes having a friend who works in the clothing industry and is too skilled isn't necessarily a good thing... This coat made her stand out too much at the event.

Perhaps it was her exquisite beauty, or perhaps it was the hallmark of the Thomson family, or both, but all eyes turned to the central corridor, unanimously fixed on the princess who wasn't on the guest list...

"Damn, it's so beautiful..."

"Stop looking at her, she's not someone you can mess with. Be careful someone gouges your eyes out tonight."

"That's outrageous, who is she?"

“The biggest gang in New York that you know right now, she’s from there, and this outfit was supposedly custom-made by the Marquis de Tuscany… Look, the Marquis is right there.”

People might have doubts about Yingque's identity when they first meet him, but once they notice Melper's presence, any doubts become meaningless.

Even if you don't know about Yingque, you should at least know about Melper, right?

This unidentified girl is definitely someone important...

"The main character has entered. All departments are on standby to maintain order on site."

......

"This way, Thomson has arranged seats for you all in advance. You just need to sit here."

Nieto, dressed in a suit, reappeared and led everyone to the dining table, an area near the aisle, before hurriedly leaving. The group then sat down and waited to see what would happen.

Just as the shrike had predicted, Yingque remained expressionless, dressed in a black and gold coat with dark gold patterns, silently watching the center of the stage until a host appeared...

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Dessell 3 Club at 86 Times Square. As you all know, our theme tonight is to witness the complete transfer of the Rothschild family's assets to the Thomson family, symbolizing the change of dynasty and the restructuring of New York's economic system. Now, let's welcome the representatives of both sides..."

Yingque was initially a little surprised by the theme, but quickly came to terms with it.

This is perfectly normal. The cocktail party might just be a front, or perhaps it's a gray area where a series of activities are often conducted under false pretenses, and tonight is just one of them...

695 The show is about to begin

Oh well, I'll get used to it. Anyway, tonight I'll probably just be a pretty face, all I need to do is put on a good show and quietly act cool...

However, Yingque was greatly surprised by the fact that the person representing the Thomson family signed the document.

"Is that Mrs. Grey?"

Isn't she currently in charge of the largest pharmaceutical giant in New York? And her public image can be described as that of a doctor who is dedicated to healing the sick and not interested in fame or fortune. How could she be involved in this kind of activity?

Juno nodded in agreement and explained, "Yes, it would have been quite difficult for Mrs. Grey to get to where she is today on her own. She definitely needed some help, namely Thomson, although the process didn't seem as friendly as practicing medicine..."

"what......"

Never mind, I guess I already knew this would happen. It's nothing new...

Ying Que rubbed her forehead. This was the first time she had ever learned that someone close to her was involved in these gray-area industries. As for whether the details were legal and compliant, she really didn't know... Luo Fan, he probably wouldn't, he probably wouldn't go that far.

Watching the two people on stage each reviewing a document resembling a contract, Yingque secretly asked again, "What is the nature of this event?"

“As the host said, it’s a change of giants,” Melper said, cutting a well-done steak and placing it in front of Yingque. “Thomson has ‘outshone’ the Rothschild family in every way, leaving them with no way out. At that time, the old Rothschild only had two choices: to be buried in the vault of JPMorgan Chase with his wealth, or to voluntarily abdicate, ‘legally’ transfer most of his wealth, and then spend the rest of his life with his family with a small portion. The old Rothschild rationally chose the latter… Considering that you are from Donghuang, you should prefer well-done, so this was specially prepared for you.”

"Hmm, thank you... What would have happened if old Rothschild had chosen the former?"

The steak was cut into small pieces, making it very convenient to eat, and the black pepper sauce was applied just right, giving Yingque time to chew slowly.

Melper crossed his arms and sneered, "Then his assets will be divided and recovered in various forms. The banks will start to make shareholders tighten their control over his companies. Rival companies will also try to acquire and undermine him from all sides, while increasing the voice of their representatives in parliament. Correspondingly, the representatives of his own company will gradually lose their voice, and the family will lose its space for political activities. If the family is harmonious, it's fine... but I'm afraid that his children will all be thinking about how to get a share of that money. He won't even be able to enjoy his old age. It's really a bit pitiful."

"That's it..."

It seems to be more brutal than expected, but perhaps we should be thankful that they are the ultimate victors?

But the Eastern Huang people always have the saying, "If you walk by the river long enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet"...

......

“Let’s begin, Gray…”

......

"Next, we would like to invite Ms. Q. Ying, one of the representatives of the Thomson family, to give a speech..."

......? !

Yingque's heart was pounding like a drum, and she panicked instinctively. But when she looked at the shrikes, they had the same reaction. They seemed to be completely unprepared for Yingque's performance on stage. What was going on? This step wasn't in the plan.

"Damn it, what's going on? Melper, do you know something?!"

Freyne immediately grabbed Melper's collar, but Melper quickly pressed the hand down, her brow furrowed: "I don't know either. You need to understand that I'm now also under the Shrike's command. How would I know what their plans are?"

"You've clearly collaborated with Morido multiple times, how could you not know?! You...!"

But they weren't given time to get to the bottom of things. All eyes were gradually drawn to this spot, and perhaps the only solution now was to go up and give what they thought was a speech.

But without a script, a teleprompter, or a tactical doll, what could a human do when she knew absolutely nothing?

She appeared calm on the surface, but only those close to her knew how terrified she was. Even those who had never participated in such activities knew that if she said the wrong thing, it could lead to a series of devastating consequences.

Little did they know, this was all part of Thomson, Gray, and Dandley's plan...

All eyes were on her, and everyone showed great interest in this girl they were meeting for the first time. What were her abilities? What could she say? Where could she lead this meeting, which was full of undercurrents?

Fortunately, they couldn't see the girl's anxiety and difficulty in taking a step...

Her white hair and invisible aura became her best camouflage; her lack of expression was the best mask.

Upon arriving on stage, Yingque and Grey exchanged a brief glance, as if the other was implying that she could improvise freely and that they would take care of everything.

But you have to have that awareness first...

call......

"It is a great honor to represent the Thomson family at this exchange meeting and to speak as one of the representatives. I believe you all understand what this means for the Rothschild family, the Thomson family, and all of New York."

Within seconds, Yingque quickly integrated the information and organized his thoughts based on the current situation of the two families and Melper's analysis. Some things didn't need to be explained too clearly; the audience could analyze them themselves. After all, for those in high positions, it was always the audience who analyzed them, not them who had to explain every word.

"Mrs. Grey's position in New York has been established. As a beneficiary, she naturally wants to express her gratitude for the Rothschild family's 'assistance.' Grey Biotechnology will continue to develop in New York while trying to maintain a balance of interests among all parties. I'm sure everyone here understands the purpose of your presence. There's no need to be impatient; the restructuring of the pie takes time."

...That was unexpected. Her performance was much better than I expected. Although she didn't explain many things clearly, that's the kind of effect this type of speech should have. Don't make things clear, leave it to the audience to figure out for themselves before making a statement. That's one of the arts of speaking.

Dandre was still observing from above, and the lack of movement made the corners of his mouth unconsciously turn up.

Then we can prepare for the next step...

"Young Rothschild, you can get ready. Tonight's success or failure depends on you."

"......I see."

The real show tonight is just about to begin...

696 Rothschild

"So, given the escalating biohazard crisis, what stance will Gray Biotechnology maintain in the White Eagle pharmaceutical market going forward? Will it stay true to its original mission and continue serving the health of the White Eagle people, or will it leverage macro-market forces to grow stronger and achieve unparalleled success?"

During the breaks in the speech, reporters in the audience immediately seized the opportunity to ask questions.

It seemed to be a question about future prospects, but Yingque's face immediately darkened...

This is clearly a question with a misunderstanding nature, requiring Gray Biotech to clarify its position on development. If they choose the latter, it would imply that they have monopolistic ambitions and want to become the number one pharmaceutical giant in the White Eagle, above Umbrella. Conspiracy theories would then have reason to doubt their original intentions, thus steer public opinion in a way that is unfavorable to them.

After a brief moment of thought, the young woman on stage slowly shook her head, looking at the reporters below. Her faint smile betrayed both politeness and insincerity, making one uncomfortable...