My chat group members are all legendary criminals.

Chapter 88 The Night Banquet

Night falls at Paradisso Estate.

Towering Roman columns line both sides of the road, red carpets are laid on the main road, and even the wall lamps on both sides are made of crystal.

Only those at the very top of California's pyramid of power and wealth can enter here.

Lu Yiming pulled out the car key and opened the car door.

He was wearing a striped suit that he had just bought during the day.

Although it wasn't tailor-made, the enhanced muscle definition made the clothes look high-end.

I had just tossed the keys to the valet when I bumped into someone I knew.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Weren't you arrested?"

FBI Agent Cliff.

The guy was wearing an Armani suit, with sunken eyes and a pale face.

This guy was locked up awaiting prosecution for allegedly using illegal drugs, so how did he get released?

"You're asking me? I'd like to ask you why you're here!" Cliff stepped forward through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with venom.

Lu Yiming, hands in his pockets, said, "I'm here to eat, and maybe catch a show while I'm at it."

"This isn't a place for someone like you to beg for food," Cliff sneered, looking Lu Yiming up and down.

Lu Yiming nodded, feeling a little excited.

Based on his experience reading online novels, what follows should be the classic mindless mockery plot.

The other party will immediately loudly question whether they have an invitation, and then call security to remove them.

Then he pulled out the invitation letter from the governor from his pocket and threw it in the guy's face, giving him a good slap in the face.

The script is all ready.

Come on, hurry up and ask me if I have an invitation!

"Lu, you're here." A steady male voice came from behind.

Cliff's arrogance froze instantly, and he didn't dare utter a single harsh word before slinking away.

Lu Yiming turned around, somewhat annoyed.

It is Fremont's mayor, Gu Qiu.

"Mayor, you've arrived." Lu Yiming sighed helplessly. His pretentious act had been interrupted, giving him the same frustration as watching a movie only to have the website blocked halfway through.

"Are you trying to ask why he was released?"

Gu Qiu continued, "That guy had already been handed over, but Governor Richard personally got him out."

Why?

"Because his father is the head of FBI headquarters." Gu Qiu glanced around and lowered his voice: "He's the head of the NSB, appointed by Washington to specifically investigate the Richard Lolita Island scandal."

Lu Yiming suddenly realized.

To put it bluntly, this is a political exchange.

Richard used his privileges to send Cliff back unharmed in exchange for the FBI turning a blind eye to the Lolita Island incident investigation.

In the eyes of these big shots, anything can be a bargaining chip.

"You did a great job this time." Gu Qiu smiled and looked at Lu Yiming meaningfully.

Lu Yiming's heart skipped a beat.

I almost made you break ties with the governor, and you're praising me?

"Mr. Mayor, I hope I haven't caused you any trouble?" Lu Yiming feigned ignorance.

"My problem is solved."

"However, you're probably going to have more trouble tonight than I am."

After saying that, Gu Qiu turned and left, leaving Lu Yiming completely confused.

What's the problem?

The next second, a fragrant breeze wafted over, and Lu Yiming's neck was grabbed from behind.

"Oh my, junior, did you miss me?"

Caroline's voice rang in my ears.

Lu Yiming turned around, his eyes lighting up.

She wore a burgundy backless evening gown tonight, with a high slit and a deep V-neck design that perfectly showcased her stunning figure.

"Senior, what brings you here too?" Lu Yiming subconsciously took a half step back.

"My father insisted that I come and show my younger brother the world."

Caroline rolled her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Lu Yiming with some displeasure. "Junior, why aren't you wearing the suit I gave you last time?"

"Ahem... I came to the state capital today on some urgent business and didn't have time to go back to Fremont to get my clothes."

"You pass. Come on, let me introduce you to my younger brother."

Caroline didn't give Lu Yiming a chance to refuse. She grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the banquet area of ​​the manor.

The level of luxury here once again exceeded Lu Yiming's expectations.

A huge crystal chandelier hangs high, and the ground beneath one's feet is made of whole, cut white marble slabs.

The air smells of money.

A little boy, dressed in a black tuxedo, looked to be only five or six years old. His hair was slicked back and he was holding a glass of apple juice.

He handled the group of California celebrities with ease.

"Arthur! Come here!"

Caroline waved to the little boy. "Let me introduce you, this is your future brother-in-law!"

Lu Yiming's lips twitched.

Hey, senior! You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!

How come I didn't know about this?

The little boy turned his head and looked Lu Yiming up and down, then pursed his lips.

"Why did you choose someone so ugly?"

Upon hearing this, Caroline's smiling face instantly darkened.

"Hey! You little brat, how dare you talk to your future brother-in-law like that! Don't you have any manners?!"

Lu Yiming thought to himself: This kid definitely has a problem with his taste!

Immediately afterwards, Arthur sighed and turned to look at Lu Yiming.

"Big brother, I'm asking you a question. Why did you choose someone so ugly?"

Lu Yiming: ┐(『～`；)┌

Caroline: o(▼皿▼メ;)o

"Holy crap! No wonder they say you should beat your younger brother early."

Caroline pinched Arthur's chubby cheeks and pulled them apart. "I'm your own sister! Who are you calling ugly! Say it again!"

"Ugh... Help... Big brother, help me!" Arthur struggled desperately.

Just then, a clear, cold female voice rang out.

"I think this child is absolutely right."

The group paused, turning to look.

Mia, dressed in a pure white haute couture evening gown, walked slowly towards them.

Lu Yiming was taken aback, a chill running down his spine: "Why are you here too?"

"My dad insisted that I represent the family and make an appearance. What? Did I interrupt your good time?"

Upon hearing this, Caroline immediately released her grip on her brother's hand, grabbed Lu Yiming's arm, and pressed herself against him, defiantly meeting Mia's gaze.

"It is quite inconvenient."

A cold glint flashed in Mia's eyes, and it seemed as if arcs of electricity were crackling between the two women.

Lu Yiming was caught in the middle, feeling like he was living a life worse than death.

Caroline and Mia don't get along, and it's not just because of him.

Furthermore, behind the two men stood the Kennedy and Rockefeller families, who wielded immense influence in both the American political and business spheres.

These two families have been fighting for almost half a century, and I am merely the pretext for their mutual attacks.

Fortunately, the manor lights suddenly dimmed, interrupting the two women.

A spotlight shone on the stage in front of the banquet hall.

Governor Richard, dressed in a well-tailored suit, stepped onto the stage with a beaming smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Paradisso Estate!"

Richard spoke passionately into the microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are holding this charity auction dinner here tonight to raise funds to save underage children in third-world countries who suffer sexual exploitation and psychological trauma! Let us give our love for justice!"

Lu Yiming almost burst out laughing when he heard this.

Screw your efforts to save underage children.

You, a pervert who went to Lolita Island to party and called for your mother while licking your toes, actually have the audacity to hold a charity dinner here to save children?

Is this what American politicians are like? As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's the voters who are embarrassed.

Lu Yiming found a booth at the back and sat down, with Caroline and Mia each occupying one side, flanking him from both sides.

He looked at Richard, who was giving a passionate speech on the stage, and then at the celebrities sitting below the stage.

The Kennedy family, the Rockefeller family, and several bigwigs from the military-industrial complex also sat in the front row applauding.

Lu Yiming realized that he had been too simplistic in his thinking.

Richard's ability to remain governor of California is due to a complex web of vested interests.

A single tabloid video from Lolita Island, plus Vance's life, is not enough to bring him down.

As long as he can still bring benefits to these patrons, they will help him suppress all the negative information.

"The first item up for auction is 'Whispers of the Night' by the renowned modern painter Sabrina!"

The auctioneer loudly introduced the auction on stage, and the hostess unveiled the red cloth.

Lu Yiming squinted at it for a long time. It was just a curved line drawn randomly with a black pen on a piece of white paper.

Like a single hair.

"Is this thing valuable?"

"Starting bid, $150 million!" the auctioneer shouted passionately.

Lu Yiming patted his forehead, speechless.

Caroline leaned close to Lu Yiming's ear and said sarcastically, "You'll have to ask Mia's father about that. This great painter is her father's lover."

Mia's face flushed red. She felt embarrassed but couldn't refute it, so she could only glare at Caroline.

Soon, the dilapidated painting was auctioned off for $250 million after several consortium representatives bid against each other.

Lu Yiming was completely dumbfounded. This was high society, wasn't it?

Are you sure you're not laundering money?

Immediately afterwards, the hostess brought out the second item for auction.

It was a pitch-black stone sculpture with distorted features.

Lu Yiming felt that any random person he picked up from the roadside would be prettier than this.

"This is 'The Struggle of the Soul' by the abstract sculptor, Mr. Mohr, with a starting bid of 100 million US dollars!"

o(ﾟДﾟ)っ!

Lu Yiming felt that he still lacked experience.

Mia finally seized her chance to retaliate. She said to Lu Yiming, "This sculptor... he's Caroline's father's mistress!"

Lu Yiming was taken aback.

He turned to look at Mia. "You just said 'He,' right? Are you sure you used 'He'?"

Only male pronouns can use "He".

Caroline's previously arrogant face instantly turned bright red, and she awkwardly turned her face to the side, pretending not to have heard.

Good guy.

Lu Yiming gasped.

This entertainment industry is a complete mess!

"The next item up for auction is the Fountain of Youth, the latest product from Kara Biotechnology! It effectively reverses cellular aging, helping women maintain their youth!"

……

Lu Yiming wasn't there to film anything, and he wasn't interested in those things.

All he cares about now is when the banquet will begin.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the front row of the banquet hall.

Gu Qiu sat next to Richard, and the two were clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries. Richard even patted Gu Qiu's shoulder affectionately.

Yesterday, Richard was convinced that Gu Qiu had poisoned his drink to kill him, but today they have immediately reverted to being close political allies.

At that moment, Lu Yiming's phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took it out and looked at it.

It's a news story: "A sex worker in Sacramento dies after being disemboweled with a sharp weapon"...