Liu Lu stroked the cool, gold-embossed lettering on the invitation, trying to find more clues.
Aside from the cryptic name "Key to the Future" summit and its ouroboros logo, there was almost no useful information.
The address was so vague it was like looking at flowers through a fog, only mentioning a resort in a remote mountain area, without specifying its exact location.
The timing was even stranger, set for the night of the full moon a month later.
This didn't resemble a formal business summit; it was more like a secret gathering.
"Secretary Chen, investigate this ouroboros symbol and see what its origin is," Liu Lu instructed, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.
Secretary Chen immediately began working, but the information she provided only made Liu Lu more confused.
The image of the ouroboros appears in many cultures, representing cycles, eternity, and even—evil.
This made her even more convinced that there was a huge secret behind the invitation, or even a carefully planned conspiracy.
With the investigation at a standstill, Liu Lu decided to utilize the connections she had built up in the business world over the years.
She contacted an intelligence expert known for his extensive information network and decryption capabilities.
After receiving the invitation, the experts made initial discoveries in just half a day.
“Mr. Liu, according to my investigation, this ouroboros logo is very likely related to a mysterious business organization called ‘Nirvana’,” the expert said in a low voice. “This organization operates covertly and is said to engage in some illegal business activities, even involving…” He paused, seemingly hesitant, “…some gray areas.”
“The gray area?” Liu Lu raised an eyebrow, a cold glint in her eyes. “Continue investigating. I need to know everything about ‘Nirvana,’ especially their purpose at this summit.”
The expert accepted the order and left, while Liu Lu fell into deep thought.
She vaguely sensed that this invitation was like a ticket to an unknown and dangerous place, and once she stepped in, she might face unpredictable dangers.
But she did not back down. Years of ups and downs in the business world had honed her composure and decisiveness.
Just then, Secretary Chen rushed in, his face pale: "President Liu, I just received news that the expert... he... he's in trouble!"
Liu Lu suddenly stood up and grabbed Secretary Chen's shoulder: "What's going on?"
Secretary Chen said, trembling, "He...he was found dead in his apartment, the cause of death is unknown..."
Liu Lu's fingers gripped the invitation tightly, her knuckles turning white. The ouroboros pattern looked particularly sinister and terrifying to her.
"It seems this mess is deeper than I imagined..." she said in a low voice, her tone as cold as the wind from hell.
She walked to the window, gazing at the brightly lit city outside, her eyes revealing an unprecedented determination.
"Get the car ready," she said firmly. "We're going to that resort."
After arranging her daughter Liu Bei's daily routine, Liu Lu gently stroked her hair and said, "Mommy has some things to take care of, I'll be back soon." The little girl hugged Liu Lu's neck tightly, her big eyes filled with worry: "Mommy, be careful." Liu Lu felt her daughter's soft embrace, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
She became even more determined. No matter how many dangers lay ahead, for her daughter and for the truth, she would bravely continue.
Before setting off, Liu Lu carefully studied the invitation again, trying to find more clues from it.
The resort is called "Tranquil Mountain Villa" and is located deep in a remote mountain on the outskirts of City A.
She contacted a private security company and hired several experienced bodyguards to accompany her.
The atmosphere was unusually heavy on the way to the tranquil mountain villa.
Liu Lu sat in the car, her brows furrowed, pondering the possible situations that might arise next.
Suddenly, the phone rang. It was Secretary Chen calling: "President Liu, something bad has happened! There are a lot of negative news about our group online. Someone is maliciously spreading rumors, saying that our company..." Secretary Chen's voice sounded flustered.
Liu Lu immediately understood that this was the "Nirvana" organization demonstrating against her and trying to prevent her from continuing her investigation.
She snorted coldly, a glint of cold light flashing in her eyes: "Don't panic, proceed with the crisis management according to the plan. I want to see what tricks they can pull!"
The Tranquil Mountain Villa is nestled in a dense forest, and the surrounding environment is eerily quiet.
When Liu Lu and her bodyguards arrived at the entrance of the villa, it was already getting dark.
The villa's architecture is simple and elegant, exuding a mysterious atmosphere.
A man in a black suit stood at the door to greet them, a professional smile on his face: "Mr. Liu, welcome. We've been waiting for you." The man's tone was respectful, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.
Liu Lu silently observed the man, her inner alarm bells ringing.
She keenly sensed that this mountain villa was far more dangerous than she had imagined.
Upon entering the resort, Liu Lu was assigned to a luxury suite.
The room was luxuriously and comfortably furnished, but Liu Lu remained vigilant.
She walked to the window, looked at the dark night outside, and felt a vague unease in her heart.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Liu Lu walked to the door and looked out through the peephole. She saw a tall man in black standing outside, holding a letter in his hand.
Liu Lu opened the door, and the man in black handed her the letter before turning and leaving without a word.
Liu Lu opened the envelope; inside was only a note with a line of text written on it:
"Curiosity killed the cat."
Liu Lu gripped the note tightly, her expression turning unusually grave.
She walked to the window, pulled back the curtains, gazed at the deep night sky outside, and whispered, "The game has begun..." Suddenly, she noticed something flickering in the distant woods.
She squinted and looked closely...
Liu Lu Group's public relations team, like well-trained soldiers, demonstrated astonishing efficiency in the face of crisis.
They quickly released a series of positive news reports about the group's charitable donations and technological innovations, and skillfully guided public opinion, shifting public attention to the group's positive contributions.
The maliciously spread rumors were like pebbles thrown into the ocean, creating a few ripples before quickly dissipating. Instead, they made the group's public image more positive, and the mysterious organization's conspiracy failed, leaving them feeling as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed a fly.
Following the clues left by the intelligence experts, Liu Lu discovered that the funding sources and some business activities of the "Nirvana" organization were intricately connected with several of her previous competitors.
These people outwardly maintain a normal business competitive relationship with her, but behind the scenes they seem to be secretly colluding with the "Nirvana" organization, plotting some unknown conspiracies.
The waters behind this were far deeper than she had imagined, like a giant whirlpool that could swallow her up at any moment.
Just as Liu Lu was preparing to conduct further investigations and expose the masterminds behind the scenes, she received an anonymous email.
The email was brief but chilling: "Mr. Liu, your curiosity is too much, and it's not good for you. We advise you to stop now, otherwise, you'll bear the consequences." At the end of the email was that terrifying ouroboros logo.
This blatant threat did not intimidate Liu Lu; instead, it fueled her even stronger fighting spirit.
She snorted and threw the email into the shredder: "Trying to make me back down? Dream on!" She immediately strengthened the security around her and secretly arranged for people to protect her daughter Liu Bei's safety.
She knew that this game had only just begun, and since the other side dared to issue a warning, they must have a backup plan.
As night deepened, Liu Lu stood by the window, gazing at the flashing neon lights outside, her eyes gleaming with unwavering determination.
Suddenly, her phone, which was on the table, vibrated; it was an encrypted text message.
Liu Lu opened the text message, and her expression instantly turned serious.
The text message contained only a few words: "They're here." Liu Lu turned sharply to look at the tightly closed door...
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