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Chapter 491 This boy has the potential to be a leader
"Illuminati?"

As soon as these three words were uttered, everyone subconsciously repeated them, inexplicably feeling that the name was both ancient and mysterious.

Ye Zhiren was slightly taken aback, and his eyes behind his glasses flickered.

He pondered those words carefully, muttering to himself thoughtfully:

"Will the light... illuminate the world and dispel endless darkness...?"

Lin Chuqiao's eyes flickered slightly, and her gaze towards Fang Cheng became even brighter.

It was as if I was instantly reminded of that night at the Grand Hotel, of the man whose body was engulfed in golden flames, floating in the night sky like a blazing sun.

The Illuminati – this name seems perfectly fitting.

Seeing that everyone's attention was focused on him, Fang Cheng had already made up his mind, so he continued his introduction:
"The meaning of this organization's name is very simple."

He spoke in a deep voice, not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Light represents knowledge, truth, and reason, and is the cornerstone of our understanding of the world."

“And ‘illumination’ is our action, using light to illuminate the truths that have been deliberately concealed, dispelling the darkness lurking in the corners, and ultimately clearing away the decay and bringing new life.”

"I founded this organization with the intention of dealing with those monsters who lurk in the shadows, endanger society, and treat human life as worthless."

"At the same time, it is also to shelter all those like us who yearn for a normal life but are not accepted by the world."

Fang Cheng's gaze slowly swept over everyone present.

From Bai Ling's excited face to Li Dingjian's complicated expression, then to Lin Chuqiao's gentle gaze, and finally settling on Ye Zhiren's deep eyes.

"Although we walk on the edge of darkness, we still yearn for the light. The goal of establishing this organization is not to fight for power, nor to pursue personal desires."

"It is not so much to seek common ground while reserving differences, but to unite the strength of more like-minded people."

“We all have our own past and our own secrets, but that should not be a reason for us to distance ourselves from each other.”

"There is too much injustice and darkness in this world, and too many people are rejected and persecuted because of their unique characteristics."

"We may not be able to change the whole world, but at least we can provide shelter for those in need, letting them know they are not alone."

Seeing that everyone looked thoughtful, Fang Cheng paused for a moment to let them process the information, and then suddenly raised his voice a few decibels.

"The Illuminati will never become a second Utopia! We will not treat ordinary people like ants, nor will we abuse our power to oppress the weak."

"On the contrary, we should be a lighthouse, a ray of light in the darkness, to illuminate those who have lost their way, and to give them hope and strength."

"The Illuminati aims to unite all like-minded forces and rebuild an order for the Inhumans in this chaotic and dark world."

"Use the absolute power we possess to protect everything that is worth protecting, whether it be innocent lives or our comrades!"

Fang Cheng then fully elaborated on the ideas he had shared with Xiao Sa in the teahouse, combining them with his own understanding of the "Way of the Sun."

These words, filled with a sense of mission, resonated deeply in everyone's hearts, like the morning bell and evening drum.

It seems to have transcended simple revenge and self-preservation, rising to a higher level.

Bai Ling and Li Dingjian, in particular, felt the same way.

One of them was an orphan who was once a "monster" hated by everyone, and the other had witnessed the tragedy of sudden disaster and the separation of his family.

The vision described by Fang Cheng struck a chord with the two men, touching the softest spot in their hearts.

Bai Ling bit her lip, her eyes slightly red.

She recalled the days of hiding and fleeing in the past, and the experiences of being discriminated against and driven away when she was a child.

Li Dingjian took a deep breath and looked at his nephew with a complicated expression.

Over the years, he has lived in constant fear, afraid of revealing his identity and also afraid that his nephew would follow in his father's footsteps.

Hearing Fang Cheng's words, the emotions that had been suppressed in his heart for so long seemed to finally find an outlet.

Fang Cheng took in everyone's expressions and then said:

"Right now, the Illuminati is newly established, with only two members besides myself, and we are short of manpower."

"If you agree with what I just said, you can consider joining this organization."

As soon as she finished speaking, Bailing raised her hand, eager to be the first to respond:

"I'll be the first to join any organization founded by you, sir!"

"Count me in too."

Li Dingjian immediately nodded in agreement.

The fact that his nephew had started such a big organization without revealing a single word made him feel uneasy.

But now is not the time to dwell on these things.

It's rare to see Fang Cheng take the initiative to step forward, wanting to achieve something great.

As a family member, he had to express his unwavering support immediately.

Lin Chuqiao's eyes flickered as she looked at Fang Cheng, then at their excited expressions, and said with a smile:
“There is already an existing organization, so there is no need for us to start from scratch. Why don’t we just join the Illuminati? Everyone can trust Fang Cheng’s strength and character.”

After saying that, she gazed intently at Ye Zhiren sitting opposite her and handed over the final decision to him.

After all, the professor had once been the nominal leader of their small group of a few people.

Many of his previous plans, including this trip to Tiannan Province to hunt down Xuanzhen, were all orchestrated by him.

His opinion is very important, and may even directly influence the choices of Da Chui and Hou Zi, who are far away in Dongdu.

Moreover, the professor was the one who first proposed the idea of ​​establishing the organization, but now Fang Cheng has "usurped the initiative."

Lin Chuqiao's words were both an attempt to persuade the professor and a way to smooth things over for Fang Cheng.

Ye Zhiren frowned slightly, seemingly still pondering Fang Cheng's words, or perhaps carefully weighing the pros and cons.

He remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded:
"I have no opinion."

Lin Chuqiao felt relieved upon hearing this and smiled sweetly:

"Since everyone has agreed, from today onwards, the four of us will officially join the Illuminati and become comrades-in-arms."

"Great! We're part of an organization now!"

Bai Ling immediately clapped her hands excitedly and said:

"The name 'Illuminati' is excellent. It sounds powerful and has a meaningful connotation. It's clearly destined for great things. Once it grows and expands, we'll be the founding members and big shots!"

Li Dingjian also smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

Ye Zhiren's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of relief appeared in his eyes behind his glasses.

He wasn't actually very interested in power.

The reason for my previous hesitation was that I was worried that Fang Cheng was too young and inexperienced to shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading an organization.

However, judging from what he just said, this young man not only possesses extraordinary martial arts skills, but also a maturity and broad perspective beyond his years.

As a result, Fang Cheng's impression of him changed greatly. He no longer regarded him as just a simple henchman, but recognized his potential as a leader.

As his thoughts raced, Ye Zhiren picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

Moreover, it was clear that the other party was sincerely convinced by the others.

One is a blood relative, and the other is a close partner.

As for Bailing, she practically had "I'm the boss's number one fan" written all over her face.

Even if he wanted to offer a different opinion, it would probably be meaningless and would only make him seem out of place.

The group exchanged smiles, looking relaxed.

A feeling of belonging quietly spread through the lounge. Suddenly, a discordant voice rang out.

"Wait...why are there four people?"

Pan Wendi pointed to herself, looking aggrieved and neglected:
"Hey, hey, hey, don't forget me! You've all joined the organization, what about me? I want to join too!"

Lin Chuqiao glanced at him and said irritably:

"Why don't you go back to being a pampered rich kid? Why join this kind of violent organization? Aren't you afraid your aunt will find out and punish you?"

"How would my mom know if you don't tell her?"

Wendi Pan refuted this with righteous indignation:

"I'm definitely going to join. How can I miss out on something so interesting, no, so meaningful?"

The scene before him resembled the secret formation of an underground organization, which made him feel a surge of excitement, and he was determined not to miss it.

Ye Zhiren looked at Pan Wendi, his eyes behind his glasses flickering slightly, and said:
"This young man is also being targeted by Utopia. It would be best if he could stand with us and ensure our safety."

"Moreover, his family background is very powerful, which may provide unexpected help to our future actions."

The professor's words gave Pan Wendi a way out.

He immediately took the opportunity to climb up, proudly puffing out his chest:

"Did you hear that, cousin? Don't underestimate me. With my abilities, I'll definitely be a core member of the organization in the future, more than qualified to be a leader."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuqiao sighed helplessly and stopped objecting.

Fang Cheng scanned the crowd, and seeing that everyone had reached a consensus, he said in a deep voice:
"Alright, from today onwards, the first batch of core members of our Illuminati are officially gathered."

He paused, his gaze becoming sharp and resolute:
"The days ahead may be dangerous, but as long as we are united, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome."

"We, the Illuminati, will surely dispel all darkness and defeat all enemies!"

"it is good!"

Bai Ling immediately clapped her hands vigorously, her face turning bright red.

Lin Chuqiao and the others then clapped and congratulated them, their expressions filled with excitement and anticipation.

Looking at the people in front of him, Fang Cheng felt a surge of passion.

From this day forward, I will no longer be alone in facing the enemy; I will have true comrades-in-arms by my side.

A few birds chirped outside the window, as if celebrating this important moment.

Even the morning light that streamed in seemed to grow warmer and brighter.

An organization destined to influence the future and stir up a storm was quietly born this morning in a secluded lounge in the Chen family mansion.

Although it is still immature at this moment, like a seed, it will eventually take root and sprout in this land and grow into a towering tree.

The applause gradually subsided, but the excitement on everyone's faces had not yet faded.

"Does this... mean we've joined the organization?"

Bai Ling blinked, and asked, somewhat unsatisfied:

"No need for any ceremony, like taking an oath or reciting some words together?"

Li Dingjian chuckled:

"You little rascal, do you think this is a party membership oath?"

Lin Chu smiled and nodded:

"A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions. As long as we are willing to entrust each other with our lives in the future, that is the strongest vow."

"Chu Qiao is right."

Ye Zhiren nodded in agreement, then added:
"However, as a formal organization, it will indeed need some rituals and norms in the future to enhance members' sense of belonging and cohesion."

"As startups, we should keep things simple."

As he spoke, he looked at Fang Cheng with a questioning gaze, having already switched to the role of "strategist":

"As for the organizational structure, personnel arrangements, and code of conduct, I will assist Chairman Fang in carefully planning and refining these after we return to Dongdu."

Ye Zhiren handled matters with great clarity and efficiency, seemingly considering himself the number two figure in the organization.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded slightly, offering no objection.

After the excited atmosphere in the room subsided slightly.

Ye Zhiren pushed up his glasses, then spoke in a deep voice:
"There is one more thing that must be dealt with as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, a knowing glint flashed in Lin Chuqiao's eyes:
"Is it about the Chen family? I've already told Chen Xu'an to keep his mouth shut and clean up any mess."

"not enough."

Ye Zhiren shook his head, his gaze behind his glasses sharp:

"It is no coincidence that Utopia has its eye on the Chen family; there must be some kind of ulterior motive behind it that we are not yet aware of."

"Although Xuanzhen is dead, their plans may still be ongoing. We must keep a close eye on things here in order to prevent any unforeseen problems."

At this point, he looked at Fang Cheng and solemnly proposed:
"President, our Illuminati has just been established and everything is in need of rebuilding. Whether it's building safe houses, purchasing weapons and equipment, or collecting intelligence, we need a lot of financial support."

"The Chen family runs a jewelry business and is extremely wealthy, making them one of the richest families in the region. If we can develop them into stable supporters in the secular world, many things will be much easier in the future."

Although these words were blunt, they also pointed out the most realistic predicament that this newly formed organization is currently facing.

Fang Cheng's eyes were calm, and he nodded slightly.

Then he turned to Lin Chuqiao beside him and instructed her:

"Chu Qiao, go and call that young master Chen over. Tell him we have something to discuss with him."

Lin Chuqiao understood immediately, nodded in agreement, and then got up and opened the door to the lounge.

A moment later, Chen Xu'an followed Lin Chuqiao in.

He changed into a well-fitting suit, and his hair was styled meticulously, making him look much more composed than before.

But when I saw the serious expressions on everyone's faces in the lounge, my heart skipped a beat and I felt a little uneasy.

Lin Chuqiao casually closed the door, shutting out the outside noise.

Chen Xu'an first smiled apologetically at Ye Zhiren and Li Dingjian, expressing his regret for his previous deliberate concealment.

Then he looked at Fang Cheng, his expression showing some worry:

"Mr. Bai, what brings you here? Is it... related to the current situation of our Chen family?"

He was quite sharp-minded and directly pointed out the core of the problem.

Fang Cheng looked at him and, without beating around the bush, went straight to the point:

"The evil spirit that resided in your grandfather's corpse is dead. This is a serious setback for that organization's plans, and they may come back again."

“Because of this matter, your Chen family will certainly not have peace in the future, and may very well face retaliation.”

"If you want to protect yourselves, you must make a choice now."

"What choice?"

Chen Xu'an asked nervously, his palms unconsciously sweating.

Fang Cheng looked at him sharply and said in a deep voice:

"Cooperation."

(End of this chapter)