The Governor’s Mansion
1203 Words
They desperately wished it was just a data error.
That it was simply a miscalculation by the research institutes.
But after countless experiments,
After every precision test and verification—
The results remained unchanged.
The world was ending.
And even the most ancient, deeply rooted aristocratic families
Could not remain calm in the face of such an apocalypse.
Because they knew better than anyone else—
This was not just another war, not just another economic collapse.
This was an event that would alter the entire course of human history.
Just like the first fish that crawled onto land 350 million years ago—
This was a turning point.
An irreversible evolutionary event.
Would humanity survive…
Or would it become extinct?
Even the most powerful bloodlines were left helpless and lost.
In this chaos—
There was only one pillar of stability they could cling to.
The Shen Family.
For centuries, they had been the true rulers behind the empire.
Even before the empire’s founding,
The Shen Family had dictated the fate of nations.
A long time ago, the imperial royal family had tried to overthrow the aristocracy,
Attempting to break the Shen Family’s hold on power.
They foolishly believed that,
With enough sacrifices, they could uproot the great houses
And usher in a new age free from noble influence.
In the end—
The empire was indeed reborn.
But it was the royal family who had been swept into the trash heap of history.
The monarchy was abolished,
And the Shen Family became even more entrenched than before.
The so-called "imperial nobles" simply changed their titles,
Rebranding themselves as financial conglomerates and political elites.
Living lives far more luxurious and untouchable than before.
The Shen Family was untouchable.
If the sky collapsed,
The Shen Family would hold it up.
So when the invitation arrived—
To join the Free Council Alliance proposed by the Shen Family—
The ancient families rushed to accept without hesitation.
They even felt grateful—
That they had been deemed worthy enough to join.
Such was the absolute power of the Shen Family.
Even among the apex of the empire's elite,
Even among the untouchable, god-like aristocrats,
They were still beyond comparison.
For Su Mingshuo, the Governor of Jiang City,
For the Su Family, who had only risen to prominence in the past few decades—
Receiving a direct invitation from the Shen Family…
Was like winning the celestial lottery.
That was why Blue Creek was so certain—
There was no way Su Mingshuo would refuse.
As long as he had even a fraction of intelligence,
He would seize this opportunity with both hands.
Inside the Black Car
Shen Chen gazed out the window,
His expression unreadable.
He had only asked the question casually,
He already knew the answer.
Through the tinted glass,
The entire cityscape of Jiang City stretched before him.
Bright neon lights, towering skyscrapers,
And the thriving pulse of a metropolis unaware of its impending doom.
Yet, deep within his gaze,
A dark glimmer flickered—
As he pondered one single mystery.
Su Mingshuo’s "Divine Tree".
In his past life—
Countless scholars, spies, and intelligence networks had investigated it.
Yet no one had ever uncovered its true origins.
But within the classified intelligence archives of Free City,
Shen Chen had discovered one critical detail.
Su Mingshuo’s tree was not a coincidence.
It was linked to someone.
It was directly connected to…
Su Mengning.
She was just an ordinary girl.
Aside from her demonic beauty,
She had no remarkable background, no special power.
Yet somehow—
She had been chosen by that monstrous tree.
Why?
Shen Chen’s fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.
A faint smirk curled at his lips.
"Su Mengning… I’ve brought you a very special gift."
Jiang City - Governor’s Mansion
Jiang City was one of the empire’s top-tier metropolises,
And its seat of power lay within the Governor’s Mansion.
Unlike the skyscraper-filled business districts,
The mansion was nestled among parks, museums, and elite institutions.
The surroundings were lush with rare trees,
The air clear of industrial pollution.
The Governor himself had once personally ordered—
All nearby factories to be relocated,
Replaced with gardens, lakes, and rare wildlife habitats.
The result?
A sanctuary of wealth and power,
Where only the highest elite could tread.
And today—
If one paid close attention—
They would notice a strange phenomenon.
From the break of dawn,
A steady stream of luxury cars had begun arriving at the mansion.
If one had the knowledge to recognize these vehicles—
They would surely be paralyzed with shock.
Because every single car belonged to one of Jiang City’s ruling families.
The Li Family, the Wang Family, the Yu Family…
Each an elite aristocratic powerhouse.
And yet—
Even these mighty families were filled with confusion.
Why had Su Mingshuo suddenly canceled today’s scheduled city council meeting?
For weeks, the Jiang City Common Affairs Council had been preparing major reports.
Economic policies, security assessments, military budgets—
All of it had been set for discussion today.
And yet at the last minute,
The Governor had scrapped it all.
Instead—
They had received a single cryptic invitation.
A "Welcome Banquet".
Their first thought?
"It must be an imperial official from the Capital."
Nothing else could make Su Mingshuo so anxious.
Nothing else would justify such a last-minute event.
Empire affairs were not to be taken lightly.
So they had dropped everything and rushed here without question.
The Banquet Grounds
Inside the mansion’s private estate,
A sprawling courtyard had been transformed into a reception area.
Every detail oozed wealth and elegance.
Ancient-style wooden pavilions,
Exquisite sculptures, perfectly manicured gardens.
Rows of long banquet tables had been set,
Laid with rare wines, delicacies, and imported delicacies.
The Governor’s Mansion spared no expense.
One after another,
The elites of Jiang City stepped out of their luxury cars.
These were men who held the city in their hands.
CEOs, government officials, military officers.
Each one a master of power and influence.
And yet—
Tonight, they were not the rulers.
Tonight—
They were merely guests.
In hushed conversations, they exchanged polite greetings.
Smiling warmly, yet each measuring the other’s standing.
“Ah, Director Wang! You arrived early!”
“Haha, traffic was terrible today—oh, and thank you again for last time.”
“Nonsense, nonsense, you helped me too last year, didn't you?”
Even the most bitter rivals,
Who had once fought over contracts, land, and influence,
Now exchanged fake smiles and light-hearted laughter.
Tonight, the game had changed.
Something far greater than them was at play.
And every single one of them knew it.
- Writer
