[Ladies and gentlen, the dinner is starting. Please return to your seats.]
A waiter passed in front of He Ao, raising the sign in his hand.
His steps were light, almost silent, and the sign was raised just right, allowing He Ao to see without obstructing too much of his field of view or disturbing him.
Gentle piano music resonated in the spacious hall.
Many people saw the waiter lift the sign and slowly headed towards their seats.
He Ao, along with Vigina, also walked towards their seats.
In these slow steps forward, everyone seed to tread lightly to avoid disturbing the echoing piano music, without any distinct footsteps being heard.
Soon, the group returned to their respective seats.
A small round table likely seats four, and the chairs in front of the table were already rearranged to face the platform, encircling two-thirds of the table, forming a ’U’ shape facing the platform.
However, He Ao and Vigina’s table was sowhat special, with only two chairs, ant just for them.
Thinking back, it was quite simple; their small round table was not staggered like the others but slightly protruded into the aisle.
When Furen sent He Ao the invitation, the dinner was only a few hours away, whereas invitations usually should be sent at least a week in advance.
Clearly, there was no space reserved for two guests at the start of this event.
Other attendees also seed to notice the peculiarity of this small table, but they didn’t give it much attention and quickly looked away after a glance.
The ability to have the Julia Family add a table at the last minute inherently signifies a certain ’ability’ and ’status’.
The Senator Corino, who had previously shaken hands with He Ao, was now sitting slightly in front of him. As he passed through the aisle, he saw He Ao and smiled to greet him.
As the guests took their seats one after another, the gentle and bright piano music gradually ca to an end.
Ding—
With the final note falling, the entire hall fell into silence.
Even Vigina’s gaze was now firmly fixed on that back figure.
All seats were filled, and all eyes lingered on the piano platform, the tall figure playing the piano.
"Welco, everyone, to our Ains Orphanage charity dinner," an elderly man with white hair slowly walked onto the platform, glancing at the blonde woman seated at the piano, "and thanks to Miss Selena for her performance."
The woman turned slowly, facing the attendees, and gently smiled, saying, "Thank you all for coming to this dinner tonight. All the donations raised tonight will be used to help the holess children of Ains. Your kindness could very likely bring countless children a new life."
Standing under the dim spotlight, the light outlined her perfect facial contours. Her voice echoed through the entire hall, crisp as a bird’s song, as if the elegant piano lody had yet to end.
Her smile and deanor were so perfect, as if honed by countless rigorous trainings, making her stand on this stage like a genuine, flawless princess.
He Ao watched that familiar face, montarily feeling he did not recognize the person standing on the stage.
Indeed, she was the Selena he knew, the high-ranking employee of the Federation Bureau of Investigation in Dawn City, the ’Justice Girl’ of the ’Ande’ leadership, always responding positively.
Yet, her image was far from what he rembered.
Perhaps the invisible force of the palace had a part to play.
Or maybe in Dawn City, she intentionally concealed her beauty, only fully revealing it back here.
Although He Ao initially sensed Selena’s beauty, he had never been as overwheld as he was today.
Even though he was accustod to the maid’s doll angelic appearance, at this mont, he was sowhat startled.
It seed as if the woman on the stage had transcended human norms, becoming the embodint of beauty.
"She’s so stunning!" Vigina, sitting next to He Ao, seed not to hear clearly what Selena was saying, simply admiring that breathtaking visage from the heart.
Her words were light but still heard by so "guests" around.
Though the description was rather straightforward, many subconsciously nodded, agreeing with her.
Selena quietly observed the reactions of the people below, showing neither surprise nor joy or regret.
Her gaze briefly lingered on the already reacting face of He Ao, but only for a nearly imperceptible mont, before withdrawing.
Her expression maintained that perfect princess-like smile, softly saying, "Let’s now give the floor to Mr. Risser."
Backing off gently, she walked into the scattered palace pillars behind the platform, disappearing behind a door.
Only when she completely vanished did people suddenly co back to their senses.
Vigina looked at the vacant space on the platform, her eyes flickering with a hint of loss and regret.
The majority of the audience had similar reactions.
"Alright, everyone," The elderly man referred to as Risser by Selena smiled, calling back everyone’s attention, "though the Federation’s most beautiful lady and heir of the Julia Family is beautiful, I hope you’ll spare so attention for for a mont."
He smilingly remarked, "You all can hit a couple more glances, but I wouldn’t dare to glance more; or otherwise, tonight my lady at ho will have sleeping in the living room."
Soft laughter rose from the audience.
"The Julia Family invited to deliver the opening remarks, but Miss Selena already covered half of my words," the elder smiled as he continued, seeing the audience’s attention drawn to him,
"I’ll just say what I’ve prepared,
"Most of you have seen how the Federation has progressed in recent years. Our cities are increasing, our buildings taller, and corporate convoys traverse every corner of the Federation, connecting this vast and perilous world."
His smile gradually faded, "Yet, as we observe, in the corners of the roaring huge machine, cities still have many holess children, even in Ains, there are not a few of such kids.
"They can’t afford schooling, struggle for food, and a heavy snowfall in winter might very well take their lives.
"Despite their poverty, they are not lacking in the desire for progress, perhaps so of them will beco pillars of the Federation’s future."
His voice had completely stabilized, "I once read a line in the books from the era of great cataclysms, ’The reason human civilization could persist through the apocalypse is that despite all the filth and discord, there are always people willing to help one another.’"
At this point, he smiled, "Today I heard Swinno would also co, although we haven’t seen a trace of him yet, but it seems he too is passionate about aiding children.
"Protecting these children is safeguarding the entire Federation’s future. Thank you, everyone."
Clap clap clap—
A thunderous applause erupted from below.
He Ao clapped while watching the elderly man walk down from the stage and sit in the front.
Eve had already found information about this elderly man nad Risser. He had been the Mayor of Vitland, the Vice President to the forr President before the current old President, and had served as the whip for the opposing party, the Liberal Party. Now, he is semi-retired.
The old President and the upcoming presidential candidate belong to another major political party in the Federation, the Progressive Party.
The Federation is not a two-party system; there are other parties, but only the Liberal Party and Progressive Party are major. In the past hundred years, most Presidents have co from these two parties.
As the elderly man stepped off the stage, a handso figure in his forties quickly walked in from the side door, followed by a large group of security personnel.
He was swiftly guided to a seat in the front row, where a person near him was whispering sothing.
That was Swinno, the presidential candidate for the Progressive Party and the successor appointed by the old President.
It seems the Julia Family really invested heavily this ti, inviting the forr Vice President of the Liberal Party for the opening speech and having the Progressive Party’s presidential candidate to speak.
Having these two people together is a hot topic.
It appears they genuinely want to make this charity banquet grand.
"Thank you, Elderly Risser, for your speech. After all these years, Elderly Risser remains so robust and handso, caring for the people. I once voted for you."
At this mont, a red-haired woman in a red dress with her hair tied up walked onto the platform.
Risser, who had just walked off the stage, imdiately turned his head back, smiled, waved at the red-haired woman, glanced at the audience, and sat back in his chair.
The red-haired woman withdrew her gaze, looked at the crowd, and laughed, "Hello everyone, I am the host for tonight, Sewina."
Her gaze swept over the crowd, as she laughed, "I see the disappointnt in your eyes, I know you want to see not , but the princess of the Julia Family,"
She shrugged and laughed, "But I’m just the host, so I have to trouble you to look at for a bit."
"Is that the famous singer Sewina?" At this mont, Vigina turned around and looked at He Ao.
"Hmm." He Ao looked at the red-haired woman and nodded lightly.
By this ti, the red-haired woman had picked up the cards in her hands and smiled, "I believe everyone already knows the donation thod. You can open the donation page attached to the invitation, and donate according to your wishes throughout the banquet. But please note, if you wish to donate, the minimum donation is no less than two thousand federal coins."
She put down her cards, looked at the audience, "Now let’s move to the next segnt: please welco the presidential candidate of the Progressive Party, Mr. Swinno to speak."
A few attendants brought the podium up.
The entire audience erupted in fierce applause, with so even standing up from the back rows.
Amidst the tumultuous applause, a handso middle-aged man in a dark blue silk suit, with slightly wavy hair and a nearly-cropped hairstyle, stood on the stage.
He looked at the fiercely applauding crowd below, raised his hand, and smiled, "Thank you, thank you everyone. Please take a seat, I’m tall enough for everyone to see even when seated."
Amid laughter, people sat back in their chairs.
"Thank you, thank you everyone, thank you Ains Orphanage, thank you to all the gentlen and ladies of Julia, Mr. Risser, and thank you Senators, Congressn, and all the guests seated here."
He stood behind the podium, looked at the crowd, and laughed, "I apologize for being a bit late; it’s too bustling here, my car got stuck in traffic. I still can’t afford a private helicopter like Mr. Risser."
He laughed, "But I’m lucky; the traffic jam gave the ti to and my flawed speech draft. That’s a daunting task, but I have to practice my speech writing skills,"
"Now in June, in three months the campaign will reach its most intense phase, and I won’t have the chance to make andnts to my speech."
"Of course, if I’m fortunate to face traffic again, then maybe."
Laughter erupted from the audience.
"Seriously, being here tonight, I feel imnsely honored. I’m privileged to gather together with leaders from private or public sectors. Special thanks to Ains Orphanage for the invitation.
"I’ve always been committed to improving the plight of holess children. The orphanage is an old friend of mine; once when I served as Mayor of Willens City, I established specialized community schools accounting for 10% of total schools to ensure holess children’s lives and learning."
"I truly agree with Mr. Risser’s words; protecting children ans protecting the future."
"Paserter, who laid the foundation for Ains City and the Federation, once said, ’Adversity creates strong character, and strength can turn crisis into hope.’"
"These children, having endured hardships, will surely grow to be promising pillars of the Federation."
"Similarly, for the Federation as well."
"My career ntor once told , the Federation is now in a perilous era, and it takes courage and guts to traverse this period."
"Just a few days ago he was attacked and is still lying in the hospital."
"I know many people are dissatisfied with their lives, yearning for change; we all desire to transform this era."
"The dangers ahead are many,"
He looked at the crowd, laughed, "But I believe we can steer the Federation’s great ship together, charging out from the fierce Storm Sea, and docking on the sunny land."
"Thank you all, I believe Mr. Risser and I share the sa thoughts."
"Everything will improve for the Federation, be it the economy or the lives of holess children."
"I also hope my guide can recover soon and lead the Federation again; he is an excellent President."
"Once again, thank you Ains Orphanage, thank you all seated here,"
"May God bless you, may God bless the Federation."
In roaring applause, the presidential candidate left the podium and returned to his seat.
The red-haired woman went on stage again, ward up the atmosphere, and announced the next speaker.
anwhile, Vigina below applauded while leaning toward He Ao, her gaze continuously fixed on presidential candidate Swinno.
She whispered, "He’s surrounded."
In front of their field of view, a group of Swinno’s security had unknowingly ford a ’circle,’ separating the front seats from the rear seats, ’protecting’ the presidential candidate and so figures in the front row.
He Ao’s gaze also fell on those security personnel.
At this mont, a figure passed through the area managed by the security personnel and was stopped.
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