Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1160 - 564
Previously on Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups...
The quiet hush in the chamber persisted for several moments.
Jiang Yun shifted her gaze toward Xu Kuan at her side.
Their gazes locked, and though no words passed between them, a shared determination shone in each other's eyes.
It resembled the desperate grasp at a floating log after plunging into the depths.
Drawing in a steady breath, Jiang Yun shattered the quiet first.
"Chairman Fang."
Rising to her feet, her complexion remained ashen, yet her tone had steadied without the prior quiver:
"If the Illuminati regards folks like us as true allies, as you've claimed... then count me in."
Xu Kuan scrambled up right after, springing to his feet without delay.
In his rush, he knocked against the nearby bamboo seat, eliciting a sharp "scratch" noise.
Embarrassed, he fidgeted with his hands and bobbed his head vigorously:
"I... I'm on board too, just need a spot to call home, I'll handle whatever, I've got muscle and some skills..."
Seated at the head position, Fang Cheng held off on responding right away, letting his eyes drift past the pair to settle on the dim corner's shadow.
Curled there was a tiny form.
Bean kept her face buried low, gripping those pair of sweets tightly, the wrappers rustling faintly.
She appeared utterly lost amid the grown-ups' talk of "ideals" or "home."
More akin to a startled tiny bird, yearning to tuck her head beneath a feather.
"And you, little one?"
Catching Fang Cheng’s look, Lin Chuqiao pivoted and posed the query gently to the nook:
"Would you like to remain here with big brother and sister, joining us as family?"
The words hit Bean like a jolt, making her shudder and huddle her neck deeper.
A muffled whimper escaped her throat, too timid to lift her eyes toward the striking lady.
At this sight, Jiang Yun hurried across.
She knelt down, softly tugging Bean's grimy arm, coaxing her away from the wall.
Then, embracing her like a shielding parent, she addressed Fang Cheng and Lin Chuqiao:
"She's in."
Jiang Yun's hand soothed the child's frail back, her assurance laced with sincerity:
"This kid may not chat much and her thoughts move a tad slowly, but she follows directions perfectly and won't trouble the group at all."
"Don't worry, Chairman Fang, I'll keep an eye on her."
Fang Cheng eyed the trio clustered close, offering a subtle nod.
To Xu Kuan and Jiang Yun, their pledges in that instant stemmed less from the lofty visions he had painted and more from yielding to cruel circumstances.
After all, smooth talk comes easy to anyone.
No one could truly confirm if the Illuminati stood as the guiding light in the Dark World as portrayed.
Rumors deceive, but sights confirm.
Within the realm of grown-ups, faith doesn't solidify from mere passionate addresses.
It demands time for proof; faith remains a rare treasure.
Yet for Xu Kuan and Jiang Yun, their mindset stayed simpler and more straightforward.
Regardless of the Illuminati’s true aims, one fact stood undeniable.
The fellow before them possessed real power.
Power vast enough to toy with armed military choppers, power immense enough to reduce the haughty Abnormal Mercenary Group to lifeless husks.
That sufficed.
In times when lives scatter like weeds, serving under a figure like Fang Cheng beats roaming free and getting mauled by strays.
Survival trumped all, even if this spot turned out another predator's lair, they'd embrace it.
"Now that you've decided to align with the organization, I must outline some matters clearly from the start."
The Professor, positioned close by, began to voice suddenly, his prior casual air dissolving into a stern, professional facade.
"Every nation has its laws, every trade its codes. The Illuminati isn't a shelter, nor a haven for idlers."
Adjusting his spectacles along his nose, the Professor's lenses gleamed with an icy sheen.
"From this day forward, you three enter the Illuminati’s watch list. Your rank shall be ’Preparatory Member,’ demanding full adherence to every organizational guideline and protocol."
"Preparatory Member?"
Xu Kuan paused briefly, echoing the phrase.
"Precisely."
Lifting three digits, the Professor delineated the stipulations with precision:
"One, the trial spans three months. In that time, we'll evaluate your skills, behavior, and devotion thoroughly."
"Passing that test alone grants full membership, unlocking the group's essential assets and perks."
"Two, throughout the trial, obey directives without question."
"Commands from the Chairman or section heads require total fulfillment, be it fixing vehicles or mopping halls."
"Naturally, voice concerns beforehand if needed, but in official operations, adhere to instructions rigidly."
"Three, the crucial rule."
The Professor's tone lowered here, his stare sharpening to a blade's edge.
"The Illuminati forbids treachery and infighting utterly."
"Should any of you turn traitor or leak secrets from this place, expect the harshest retribution, one that leaves you wishing for oblivion."
He left it implied, merely gliding a frosty glance across their necks.
The implied menace sent shivers through Xu Kuan and Jiang Yun, prompting frantic nods like hammering cloves.
"Got it, we get it!"
The regulations rang severe, almost brutal, yet they instilled greater security in their cores.
Never having joined an Abnormal Organization, both had held regular employment, grasping a basic principle.