The Family Tree Is a Mess! My Agent Is Actually... Royal Family?

The night they returned from the high seas was destined to be sleepless.

Jian Xiu's courtyard house became a temporary "command center."

Zhang Ma, shaken and physically weak, had already been sent to a private hospital under tight protection. The black roster they had won from Old Ghost, along with the bloodstained pocket watch, lay quietly on the rosewood coffee table.

Assistant Lin had picked Su Mo up in the middle of the night.

She wore a sharp trench coat. Even though she had been woken up late at night, her makeup remained impeccable, though she could not hide the anxiety in her expression.

"What happened? Jian Ning, you went gambling on the high seas instead of sleeping in the middle of the night? Are you worried the trending searches aren't explosive enough?"

Su Mo's professional instincts kicked in the moment she entered, but her voice abruptly stopped when she saw the room full of big shots and the grim atmosphere.

"What happened?" Su Mo immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Jian Ning sat on the sofa, holding a cup of hot ginger tea as he looked at Su Mo with a complicated expression.

This is what they mean by hiding in plain sight!

I call her Sister Su every day, but she might be my... sister-in-law? Or cousin?

System, confirm it again. There's no problem with the DNA comparison, right? Don't let this turn into some ridiculous mix-up.

System: [Ding! After repeated verification by the system, Su Mo's DNA has a 25% genetic similarity to Old Master Huo (Huo Zhenhua), indicating a grandfather-granddaughter relationship, and a 12.5% genetic similarity to Huo Si, indicating a cousin relationship. Conclusion: Su Mo is the daughter of Old Master Huo's illegitimate daughter who was cast out years ago—Huo Si's biological cousin.]

Jian Ning took a deep breath, set down his ginger tea, picked up the pocket watch from the table, and handed it to Su Mo.

"Sister Su, take a look at this first."

Su Mo accepted the pocket watch in confusion.

When she opened its cover and saw the tiny black-and-white photograph inside, her pupils abruptly contracted. She froze in place as though struck by lightning.

It was merely an ordinary side-profile photograph, but Su Mo would never forget it for the rest of her life.

It was her mother, Su Wan, who had died many years ago.

"Th-this... where did you find this?" Su Mo's voice trembled, and her eyes instantly reddened. "This was my mother's keepsake... It disappeared when she died in that car accident..."

"A car accident?" Jian Xiu sneered and handed over a document from beside him. "Just like your mother, Jian Ning's parents also died in an 'accidental' car crash. But in truth, it was never an accident. It was an execution to silence them."

Huo Si said heavily, "Su Mo, your mother, Su Wan, was actually Huo Zhenhua's illegitimate daughter who had been left outside the Huo Household years ago. The Qin Household caused that car accident to cover up its commercial crimes from back then and to strike at the Huo Household."

Boom—!

The pocket watch slipped from Su Mo's hand and fell onto the carpet with a dull thud.

She staggered back two steps and collapsed into a chair.

"Illegitimate daughter... Huo Household... Qin Household..."

She had always believed she was just an ordinary orphan who had clawed her way to where she was today through sheer ruthlessness in the entertainment industry.

And now they were telling her that she carried the blood of the Huo Household, Beijing's foremost wealthy family? That the man who had killed her mother was Qin Xiaotian, the philanthropist who was constantly in the news?

Jian Ning felt terrible as he watched Su Mo break down.

He walked over and gently patted her shoulder, trying to ease the atmosphere.

"Well... Sister Su, look on the bright side. Since you're Huo Si's cousin, shouldn't we... reconsider how we address each other?"

"Should I still call you Sister Su in the future, or should I call you... Cousin?"

Su Mo looked up, her gaze somewhat blank.

Huo Si calmly added from beside them, "By seniority, she's your older sister. By position, you're the boss's wife and she's the employee. Address each other however you like."

Jian Ning: "..."

What a convenient way to put it.

But with this connection, Sister Su will definitely join our revenge alliance! The Qin Household has really kicked an iron plate this time!

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Su Mo wiped away her tears.

When she stood again, the capable coldness in her eyes was stronger than ever. It was a gleam forged in hatred.

"Qin Xiaotian..." Su Mo gritted out the name. "No wonder I've had decent resources in the industry all these years, but every time I tried to get involved with a project invested in by the Qin Household, I would inexplicably be rejected. They were guilty."

"President Huo." Su Mo looked at Huo Si, her composure as a top agent restored. "Qin Xiaotian's sixtieth birthday is the day after tomorrow. I have evidence that the Qin Household has used film and television projects to launder money over the years. I only suspected it before, but now I can connect all the pieces. Combined with the roster in your hands..."

"This birthday gift will be enough to choke him."

Huo Si curled his lips. "Very good."

"Then the day after tomorrow, we'll go give the Qin Household a clock."

Two days later, Qin Household Manor.

Qin Xiaotian's sixtieth birthday celebration was even more extravagant than Huo Zhenhua's had been.

As one of Beijing's four great families, the Qin Household had declined somewhat in recent years, but a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. Luxury cars filled the manor, and political and business elites gathered in droves.

Qin Xiaotian wore a Zhongshan suit and stood at the entrance greeting guests, his face glowing with health.

Standing beside him was his only son—Qin Yu.

Ever since he had been thrown out of the Huo Household last time, Qin Yu had been dejected for several days. Yet today, he was unusually dressed to the nines, with a strange excitement in his eyes.

"Dad, don't worry." Qin Yu lowered his voice. "Everything has been arranged on Lin Yu's side. As long as Jian Ning dares to come, I'll make sure he never leaves."

Qin Xiaotian frowned. "Is that Lin Yu reliable? Don't end up like Huo Zhenhua last time and get yourself dragged down with him."

Qin Yu sneered. "This time is different. Lin Yu has support from a mole inside KM Group, and besides... we have another trump card."

Just as the father and son were plotting, a commotion arose at the entrance.

"The Huo Household is here!"

"That's... Jian Xiu? Why is Mr. J from KM Group here with the Huo Household too?"

Three extended Lincoln limousines slowly came to a stop at the end of the red carpet.

The doors opened.

Huo Si, Jian Ning, Jian Xiu, and... Su Mo.

The four formed a suffocating lineup of "a feast for face-lovers plus the Avengers," striding forward with their auras fully unleashed.

Jian Ning wore a dark purple velvet suit today, with the ring symbolizing the "matriarch of the Huo Household" pinned to his chest—though it was actually hanging from his neck as a necklace. He looked both noble and mysterious.

He linked arms with Huo Si, an utterly harmless smile on his face.

System, scan the place. Are there any traps or ambushes in Qin Household Manor?

Huo Zhenhua had a hidden room last time. The Qin Household wouldn't have built a dungeon this time, would they?

System: [Ding! Scan complete.]

[Warning! A... signal-jamming device has been installed underground at Qin Household Manor.]

[Additionally, six snipers are concealed on the second floor of the banquet hall.]

[Qin Yu apparently has no intention of following legal procedures. He intends to play dirty.]

Jian Ning's steps halted.

Snipers?!

This is a society ruled by law! Has the Qin Household gone insane?

Huo Si sensed his unease and wrapped his large hand around Jian Ning's, speaking in a low voice.

"Don't be afraid."

"Jian Xiu's people have already secured the perimeter. Those snipers were replaced by our people ten minutes ago."

Jian Ning: "..."

Holy shit.

Is this how top-tier wealthy families conduct business wars? I thought they threw mud at each other, but you people deploy special forces?

The four walked up to Qin Xiaotian.

Huo Si did not offer a gift. He merely nodded faintly. "Uncle Qin, happy birthday."

Qin Xiaotian smiled without warmth. "A-Si is here. What, I heard you haven't been getting along very well with our Xiao Yu lately? Young people sometimes have misunderstandings. It'll be fine once things are talked through."

His gaze shifted to Jian Ning, filled with contempt. "This must be Mr. Jian. You act rather well. But... in an occasion like this, actors should speak less."

Jian Ning smiled.

He released Huo Si's hand, stepped forward, pulled the box containing the pocket watch from his jacket, and handed it to Qin Xiaotian.

"Old Master Qin is right. But... I didn't come here to act today. I came to return something on behalf of an old friend."

Qin Xiaotian accepted the box in confusion and opened it.

The instant he saw the pocket watch, his hypocritical smile froze, and his pupils shook violently.

"Th-this is..."

"Does it look familiar?"

Su Mo stepped forward from behind, removed her sunglasses, and revealed a pair of eyes eerily similar to the woman in the photograph. She looked coldly at Qin Xiaotian.

"Uncle Qin, it's been twenty years. Do you... really sleep peacefully at night?"

As if he had seen a ghost, Qin Xiaotian retreated half a step. The pocket watch fell from his hand.

"Y-you're Su Wan's..."

"I'm Su Mo." Su Mo stepped closer. "And I'm here to collect a debt from you."

The surrounding guests noticed the unusual scene and began gathering around.

"What's going on? Why does Old Qin look so terrible?"

"Who is that woman? Why does she look a little familiar?"

Seeing this, Qin Yu immediately rushed over and stood in front of his father. Pointing at Jian Ning and Su Mo, he shouted, "Security! Where's security? Throw these two troublemakers out! They're here to wreck the party!"

"Hold it."

Jian Xiu, who had remained silent until now, suddenly snapped his fingers.

"Whoever dares touch my little brother, give it a try."

At his command, black blackout curtains abruptly descended over every floor-to-ceiling window around the banquet hall.

A massive projection screen automatically lowered.

"Since it's a birthday banquet, how can there be no entertainment?"

Jian Xiu took out his phone and pressed play.

"Everyone, please enjoy... the Qin Household's 'glorious' history of getting rich over the past twenty years."

The screen lit up.

It was not some heartwarming video.

Instead, it displayed shocking account ledgers, transfer records, and... the recorded testimony Old Ghost had given aboard the gambling ship on the high seas.

In the video, Old Ghost's face was covered in blood as he gave a miserable laugh at the camera.

"Qin Xiaotian... he was the one who ordered me to do it... The Jian couple, and that woman named Su Wan... he paid for all of it..."

The entire room erupted!

This was even more explosive than what had happened with Huo Zhenhua.

Because this involved not only murder, but massive money laundering and corporate crimes as well!

Qin Xiaotian trembled from head to toe and pointed at the screen. "Turn it off! Turn it off now! This is slander! It's fabricated!"

He lunged for the remote like a madman, only for Huo Si to seize his wrist.

Huo Si looked down at him, his gaze icy.

"Uncle Qin, save your strength."

"The police are already on their way."

"This time... no one can save you."

Just as the Qin father and son were on the verge of collapse—

Something unexpected happened.

Every light in the banquet hall suddenly went out!

In the darkness came Qin Yu's manic laughter.

"Hahaha! Huo Si! Jian Ning! Do you think you've won?"

"Since I dared let you come here, I never intended to let you leave alive!"

"Lin Yu! Do it!"

Do it?!

Alarm bells blared in Jian Ning's mind.

The system's warnings rang wildly.

[Warning! A high concentration of hypnotic gas has been released into the air!]

[Source: the central air conditioning system!]

[This is hallucinogenic poison created by Lin Yu's Everyone's Favorite System! Those who inhale it will experience severe hallucinations and obey the controller's commands!]

Jian Ning instinctively covered his nose and mouth and shouted, "Don't breathe! It's poisonous!"

But it was already too late.

The guests around them began to sway, their eyes turning unfocused.

Even Huo Si and Jian Xiu staggered slightly. Their brows were tightly furrowed as if they were desperately resisting something.

In the darkness, a spotlight came on.

Lin Yu stood on the second-floor balcony in a white tailcoat like a savior, holding a microphone. His voice carried a bizarre, seductive power.

"Everyone... look at me."

"I am your god."

"Kill Jian Ning... kill Huo Si... and you will gain eternal life."

Holy shit! Is this a cult gathering?!

The Everyone's Favorite System can be used like this? He's trying to make a zombie siege!

Cold sweat broke out on Jian Ning's back as he watched the blank-eyed guests begin closing in on them.

Though Huo Si's willpower was strong, he had clearly been affected too. Sweat covered his forehead, and his hand gripped the edge of the table so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Ning Ning... go..." Huo Si gritted out hoarsely. "Don't worry about me..."

Jian Ning looked at the suffering Huo Si, then at Lin Yu standing high above them.

He was furious.

Trying to control my husband?

Trying to kill my whole family?

System! Is there anything in the system shop that can break illusions? Even if it costs a fortune, I'll buy it!

System: [Yes! Item: [All-Purpose Wake-Up Megaphone (Square Dance Hit Song Edition)].]

[Effect: Forces the playback of a brainwashing hit song, instantly shattering all mental control.]

[Price: All your gossip points.]

Jian Ning gritted his teeth.

Trade! Trade them all! Wake them the hell up!

The next second.

A large golden megaphone appeared out of thin air in Jian Ning's hand.

He took a deep breath and pressed the play button.

"The vast horizon is my love—!!!"

"Flowers are blooming beneath the rolling green hills—!!!"

The deafening music, accompanied by the most powerful bass, instantly blasted through the entire banquet hall.

Lin Yu: "???"

Qin Yu: "???"

The controlled guests: "???"

The power of a hit song was immense.

That soul-piercing rhythm instantly scattered the effects of the hypnotic gas.

One by one, the guests woke as if from a dream, clutching their ears with bewildered expressions.

"What's going on? Who's playing music?"

"What happened to me just now? I wanted to kill someone?"

Lin Yu stood on the second floor, watching the elaborate setup he had painstakingly arranged get ruined by a square dance hit song. He was so furious he nearly fell over the railing.

"Jian Ning!!! You vulgar brute!!!"

Standing atop a table with the megaphone in hand, Jian Ning flipped Lin Yu the middle finger.

"Vulgar my ass! What is national belongs to the world!"

"Hubby! Bro! Move! Take him alive!"

The killing intent in the eyes of the awakened Huo Si and Jian Xiu surged instantly.

Like two enraged lions, they charged toward the second floor.

However, just as they were about to seize Lin Yu.

A helicopter suddenly appeared above the banquet hall terrace.

A rope ladder dropped down.

Lin Yu grabbed the ladder and turned back to shoot Jian Ning a venomous glare.

"Jian Ning, don't celebrate too soon."

"King has prepared a 'great gift' for you overseas."

"That kind of poison in Huo Si's body... has no cure."

With that, the helicopter rose into the air, carrying Lin Yu away into the night sky.

Huo Si stood on the terrace and did not pursue him.

But Jian Ning had keenly caught Lin Yu's final words.

Poison?

What poison?

Jian Ning rushed over and grabbed Huo Si's hand. "Hubby, what poison was he talking about? You've been poisoned?"

Huo Si's face was somewhat pale, but he hid it well and shook his head.

"Don't listen to his nonsense. He's trying to throw you off balance."

But at that moment, the system issued a fatal red alert.

[Ding! Warning! Huo Si's vital signs have been detected as abnormal!]

[The hypnotic gas earlier was merely bait. The real killing move was... a slow-acting neurotoxin targeting the Huo Household's genes mixed into the gas!]

[Poisoning symptoms: Gradual loss of the senses, followed by brain death.]

[Antidote clue: King's main base—a certain ancient castle in Europe.]

Jian Ning's limbs instantly turned ice-cold.

He looked at Huo Si's face, trying so hard to appear strong, and tears nearly fell from his eyes.

Huo Si... you big liar!

To keep me from worrying, are you going to bear it all alone again?

Jian Ning wiped away his tears, his gaze becoming more resolute than ever.

Europe, right? An ancient castle, right? King, right?

You dared touch my man. I'm heading overseas right now to tear down your lair!