Chapter 66: The Red Party (2)
Ren trailed behind an alpha into a private elevator.
The alpha in front of him was strikingly attractive, his facial features were gentle, even softer than most female. Still, his physique was robust, projecting a subtle strength. With one look, Ren knew he was in the company of a powerful warrior.
Ren guessed that the alpha’s psychic incarnation might be a reptile or some cold-blooded creature like a snake or a lizard because the guy’s eyes always held a touch of coldness, even when he was smiling.
The alpha introduced himself to Ren as Rojo, the main bodyguard of Malenia.
The private elevator they were in began to rise.
"You’re lucky. Being liked by the minister, you’re in for a big promotion," Rojo evaluated Ren with a relaxed stare in the tight space of the elevator. His eyes sparkled as he said, "Do well, and you could overtake Mr. Chow soon."
Rojo’s bold gaze at Ren was as if he was looking at a filleted fish on a cutting board.
Ren knew such stares well and comprehended their meanings.
Ever since he started going to these parties, he frequently met people with such belittling glances. Holding a bit of power, they thought they had the right to trample on others’ dignity and even lives, thoughtlessly stepping on them, rudely disrespecting them.
Rojo guided Ren to the top floor of the central building in the complex.
It was a bedroom with a plush, large bed and various chairs at different heights. Mirrors adorned the walls and a sweet fragrance wafted from the incense burner. The ceiling was entirely see-through, with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows offering an excellent view of the lovely garden below and the star-filled sky above.
Rojo only permitted Ren to sit on a specific couch.
"You need to get used to the rules here, learn to follow," Rojo counseled, "Speak softly later, do not contradict her in any way, not even a bit."
Ren nodded, saying, "Okay."
His voice was incredibly soft, sounding like a docile lamb.
Rojo found Ren quite pleasant. He preferred those who grasped the realities of the situation, as it made things smoother for everyone. He knew Ren would face some ’difficulties’ later, but he would also gain rewards.
A cooperative Ren made Rojo’s work much easier.
Sometimes the minister took a liking to some disobedient people, causing Rojo a lot of problems, even leading to an ugly scene. Cleaning up after such events was always a bother.
Bigwigs like the minister only concerned herself with her own enjoyment, leaving the unpleasant tasks to those beneath her.
"The minister dislikes others nosing around her private life. Do not disclose your visit here to anyone, including Mr. Chow," Rojo said, "I brought you up here by a secret route on purpose, so no one else would notice."
"Alright, I won’t tell anyone," Ren obediently responded, his voice seeming somewhat cheerful.
Rojo left the room, seemingly content.
The night was deepening, and the party was in full force. Most people had grown bored of drinking and were instead pursuing their own kinds of fun. The lights in the trees, clusters of flowers, and various rooms were dimmed, letting all sorts of wild scenes unfold in the shadowy corners.
Ren sat on the assigned couch, looking out at the garden and the star-filled sky above. All of a sudden, he was reminded of a different sky brimming with stars, under which he and another person had held hands and sprinted together. They ran against the wind on the road and swam freely in the sea.
Shaking his head, he forcefully erased these images from his mind, feeling that he shouldn’t think of her in such a dirty place. He shouldn’t think of such an innocent person here— even the thought felt disrespectful.
Rojo brought some tools, thoroughly checking Ren from top to bottom, even using a metal detector to scan his front and back.
"We have to be cautious," he said, "We always need to be alert for killers. There’s always individuals trying to get close to the minister and cause trouble."
As he spoke, he took out a syringe and pressed it into Ren’s neck.
Ren sat there, giving him a look but not making any effort to fight back. He understood what these people wanted to do, how repulsively low they were. They preyed and stepped on others’ lives at their whim, all while cherishing their own lives, taking every precaution against potential murder or revenge.
Rojo was quite pleased with Ren’s cooperation.
"It’s nothing major, just a little something to boost the mood," Rojo said cheerfully, "It’s only meant to make you a bit more yielding, to lessen your ability to resist too much. You’ll get accustomed to it soon. You’ll find that this is much better than risking your life on the battlefield. Soon you’ll have everything you desire."
Thinking for a moment, he reached for a second syringe on the tray.
Ren suddenly reached out and stopped his wrist.
"I have to do this for the minister’s safety," Rojo said.
"Once there was an alpha, a girl, who was given just one shot. I didn’t expect that she still had the strength to fight back at a crucial moment and almost killed the Minister." He gestured towards his throat, "She slit the minister’s throat. The minister was saved only because of immediate medical intervention using a high-end healing pod."
"I was there at the scene and managed to subdue the girl," he grinned at Ren, "Want to know what happened to her in the end?"
Ren didn’t speak, just held his hand and looked at him coolly.
"Now that’s more like it, the kind of look an alpha who has served on the front line for years should have," Rojo’s smile never faded. "I always thought you were too compliant, and that look now makes things easier for me. It’s okay, once the two shots are given, it doesn’t matter how strong you are."
"If you don’t agree," his expression turned cold, "the minister won’t come to meet you. And you won’t have a pleasant time."
Ren looked at him for a long time, then let go of his hand, sat up straight, and stopped talking.
Rojo’s smile returned, and the sharp needle of the syringe was again aimed at Ren’s neck. "It’s okay, don’t be scared. At most, you’ll need to rest in a healing pod for a bit. I promise you won’t die."
The chilly liquid was injected into Ren’s bloodstream, and Rojo whispered into Ren’s ear, "Soon, you won’t be able to move at all, and you’ll be at the mercy of everyone. But don’t worry, I’ll be with you the whole time."
The sound of the door opening echoed, and Ren was already unable to sit up straight. His straight back slumped, and he completely slouched on the couch.
His eyes were wide open, gazing at the sky overhead. His vision was clear, and he could still speak, but his limbs were limp, unable to move.
