Seeing that this little girl who had experienced a bit of pity had calmed down a little and seemed to have found some clear direction, Qi Ji smiled secretly with relief.
The tone remains the same leisurely and indifferent:
"All the staff members in your orphanage were killed, right?"
Claire's face was startled, and then she showed obvious fear, as if she recalled some unpleasant scenes.
She lowered her head slightly, took several seconds to calm herself down, and then answered in a very sad and mournful voice:
"Yes, Dean Choudhry, Mr. Lorne, Aunt Maureen...they all..."
Qi Ji's tone remained unchanged, but he did not delve into the other party's psychological shadow. After confirming the basic situation, he raised another question:
"In this case, who will manage this orphanage in the future?"
With almost all of its former managers and ordinary employees wiped out overnight, the Stoner Orphanage would certainly not be able to continue operating as usual.
The only reason these kids still live here is because enforcers and police officers stay here to maintain basic operations.
However, it is impossible for the security team and the Super Management Bureau to put their limited manpower into maintaining the operation of the orphanage. After a period of time, when the risk period initially assessed has passed, they will definitely be transferred away.
This won't be long, a week at most.
With such a short time, the orphanage definitely does not have enough time to start from scratch, recruit staff, and reorganize.
In other words, in a week at most, this orphanage will be completely disbanded.
What would happen to these eleven generally young children then?
"My uncles and aunts said that this place is going to be disbanded," Claire said, her expression becoming increasingly sad, tears welling up in her eyes, "We might be separated..."
Qi Ji was not surprised by this result and continued to ask:
"So, did they explain or hint at where you would be going then?"
Qi Ji believes that the Super Management Bureau, the local government and the church will not let them be displaced and left to fend for themselves, and that they will definitely make some arrangements by then.
But she really didn't know what the specific arrangements were, and she couldn't guess.
So, I wanted to ask Claire, the person involved, maybe she knew some more in-depth information.
“They seemed to have said…”
Claire lowered her head and thought carefully for a moment, then said uncertainly:
"We will find a few suitable gentlemen and ladies to adopt us."
"That's it..."
Qi Ji nodded thoughtfully, then lowered his head and said to the two little guys:
"We're done talking, go play."
Then he walked out of the room, leaving time and space to his three children.
About an hour later, Qi Ji estimated that it was about time and Joan and Dick's sister would be back from work, so he decided to take them home.
The two children were also very sensible. They did not argue and said goodbye to Claire politely. They returned to the low and dilapidated apartment with Qi Ji.
After staying in the narrow and smelly room for less than ten minutes, the woman who hired Qi Ji came back.
After receiving thanks and today's salary of 30 ferums, Qi Ji left.
Sometimes he would go to Gary's house for meals, sometimes he would teach Chinese to Joan and Dick and get paid, and sometimes he would play with Claire, a little girl living in Stoner Orphanage.
After spending two days doing nothing and being a rogue, on the morning of the third day, Qi Ji finally got what she had been waiting for.
"It's finally started..."
She sat on the edge of the bed in the hotel room, holding a morning newspaper that she had just bought from the newsboy downstairs. The corners of her mouth slowly formed a slightly cold, yet interested smile.
In the prominent page of that morning newspaper, there was a "tender notice" written by the government:
《通告！斯通纳孤儿院惨案遗留的十一位可怜的孩子需要好心人收养，请符合以下正文中要求并有意愿者，于本月15日晚上8:00~10:00携相应文书证件至“暮光城堡”大酒店第一堂厅参与竞标！》
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A big chapter of 3,000 words, posted continuously.
Chapter 212 Charity Adoption Society
The deep, brilliant night hangs down like a curtain, covering this brightly lit metropolis.
In a magnificent luxury hotel located in the most prosperous eastern coastal area of Sunset Harbor.
The most spacious and upscale lobby was now crowded with people. A waiter dressed in a crimson tuxedo, with a straight figure and elegant manners, walked towards a dining table covered with white cloth, holding a tray in one hand.
His steps were bold and steady, but the drink on the plate in his hand did not shake at all; even the liquid level in the cup was so stable that it was almost still.
"Viscount Mossante, please enjoy your meal."
The waiter walked to the table, leaned over respectfully but not flatteringly, placed the plate in his hand steadily on the table, and with an impeccable smile on his face, whispered a reminder to the leader of this table.
Opposite him, a lean and vigorous old man stood straight with a deep and elegant face, a decent smile on his face, and nodded slightly.
"Viscount Mosante, are you here to participate in this charity event to choose a successor for yourself?"
At this moment, a man dressed like a reporter, wearing a formal suit and holding a booklet and a pen in his hands, came up to the old man impatiently.
Hearing such a sharp and direct question, the others at the same table with the old man couldn't help but frown.
Viscount Mossante is a well-known nobleman in Sunset Harbor, and also a respectable philanthropist with the virtue of benevolence.
He has always been in good health. Even though he is over 60 years old, he does not show any of the weakness and sluggishness commonly seen in the elderly. Instead, he is still as quick-witted and agile as when he was young.
Even his voice is as powerful and magnetic as that of a young and energetic person.
If it weren't for his face that was already marked by the traces of time and his completely white hair, no one would have thought that he was a man over fifty years old.
To bring up the subject of "heirs" in front of such an old gentleman without any warm-up or euphemism seemed to imply that his life was coming to an end, which was quite offensive.
In addition, Viscount Mossante's participation in this charity adoption meeting must have been to help those poor orphans who had suddenly suffered bad news and had experienced horrific experiences find a new family.
To utter a word like "heir" in such an occasion, which is full of connotations of exchange of interests and division of money, is really to tarnish the kindness of a gentleman of noble character.
All in all, no matter what the content is, this way of asking questions is really rude!
Just when most people thought that this elderly but still healthy nobleman was going to be angry, Viscount Mossante just smiled calmly:
"Sir, your question is very good."
Without waiting for others to react, he picked up the red wine glass from the table with one hand and shook it gently in front of himself, his deep eyes staring at the dark red clear liquid in the glass.
In a magnetic low voice he said:
"This is an unavoidable reality. I have lived for more than 60 years in this world. No matter how others view me or praise me, my life has indeed been rapidly and irreversibly weakened."
“Your Excellency, there is no need to be so self-deprecating. With the increasing development of spiritual technology and medicine, people’s life expectancy is visibly increasing every year.
"Besides, your kindness is enough to move the gods, and make the noble and great setting sun look down on you and wipe away the weakness of your body..."
Someone hurried to please, but was interrupted by Viscount Mossante's eyes.
"I must admit that if I had continued to live in my original family situation until I passed away in an ordinary sleep one night...
"Then, the Mosante family's business and wealth that have lasted for two hundred years will face a very embarrassing situation."
Viscount Moissant was in his prime in his early years, and like countless other young noblemen, he had many beautiful and erotic romances.
But until the death of his father, Viscount Moissant, he still had not found a true spouse and married.
This situation continued, resulting in this gentleman of great wealth, high status, high morals and outstanding appearance remaining unmarried throughout his life and of course without having any children.
Some people said that he was deeply hurt by a failed relationship and no longer believed in love; some people said that he was obsessed with his career and charity and had no mood for love.
Whatever the truth, the result is certain: Viscount Moissant remains single.
Viscount Mosante, who had a charming face and elegant manner, spoke slowly, and suddenly laughed a few times in a self-deprecating manner, with a hint of sadness in his words:
"It's not that I'm thinking about those properties. After a person dies, these are meaningless. Only the soul will return to the residence of the setting sun and rest in peace in the dusk temple that is eternally illuminated by twilight."
One of the audience members rolled his eyes and said tactfully:
"I heard that there are several branches of your family that have not inherited your kindness and selflessness. It is rumored that they are always eyeing your huge wealth."
"That's true," Viscount Mosante glanced at the man and nodded imperceptibly. "I cannot expect everyone to have a lofty spirit of dedication and benevolence. I fully understand that those side branches are eager to obtain my future inheritance."
"But."
He paused, took a sip of the mellow and sweet red wine in the glass, and shook his head bitterly:
"After all, I don't want my compatriots who carry the blood of the Mosante family to fight over the money I left behind, or even go to war with each other. This is too cruel."
"Then you mean..."
Another bystander echoed at the right moment, with an expression of sudden enlightenment on his face, but he did not continue, leaving room for the owner of this place to speak.
"After careful consideration, I decided to find a successor to the Mosante family."
Viscount Mossante continued without pause:
"In this way, after my property has been undoubtedly and absolutely legitimately traced, my compatriots who have been temporarily blinded by interests may be able to regain their original kindness."
"I see……"
Everyone expressed admiration and offered praise and blessings for the old nobleman's wisdom, nobility and virtue.
"Boom!—"
At this moment, the big bell on the center stage of the hall was suddenly struck. The loud and heavy bell sound instantly echoed throughout the venue, causing everyone to stop talking and subconsciously turn their eyes to the source of the sound.
"Gentlemen and ladies of noble qualities such as kindness, goodness and friendship."
A slightly plump middle-aged man in formal clothes and a half-high silk hat stood next to the metal clock, with an exaggerated smile on his face:
"Welcome to the charity adoption event jointly sponsored by the Sunset Harbor Super Management Bureau and the Sunset Harbor City Government. Your good character will be favored by the setting sun, witnessed by the light of the distant stars, and loved by the gaze of the ideal country!"
He went through the blessing speeches of the three most common orthodox churches in the country, trying not to offend any visitor with a different religious belief.
After all, those present were either nobles, big businessmen, or high-ranking officials. They were either rich or noble, and any one of them was not someone a small figure like him could afford to offend.
"Next..."
The slightly plump middle-aged man maintained an exaggerated smile as he walked to the center of the stage in the hall, then pointed to his right:
"Please welcome Mr. Victor from the Extraordinary Affairs Administration, and the protagonists of this banquet, eleven lively and lovely children!"
As soon as he finished speaking, an old man wearing a red robe with white patterns, with white hair and beard, a small mustache on his chin, and an ordinary but gentle and coordinated face, walked out briskly from the direction he pointed.
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There will be a chapter later.
Chapter 213 Viscount Mossante
"It's really him... Such an important figure is actually here?"
At a bar in a remote location in the venue, Qi Ji sat on a high stool, his toes barely touching the ground, holding a bottle of sparkling juice in one hand and sip it with a straw, while his other arm was pressed on the bar beside him.
The dark brown eyes seemed to be looking casually towards the center stage in the distance, sizing up the old man in a red robe with white patterns.
This old man was not completely a stranger to her.
Just a few days ago, she had met him on the street.
It was this powerful man from the Super Management Bureau that she met on the road when she left the "under the overpass" in the Garland area and headed for Gary's home in the Midtown area!
A top-level magician who has reached the level of "Metallurgist"!
"It seems that the Super Management Bureau attaches great importance to this charity event. They have invited the "treasures of the bureau" level people..."
"Excuse me, young lady. Are you alone?"
A gentle male voice interrupted her thoughts.
Qi Ji turned around and saw a young man in his early twenties holding a wine glass in one hand, walking towards him.
...Another flirtation?
She looked away as if she was used to it and ignored him.
The young man was frustrated by this cold attitude, but he did not look angry or humiliated. Instead, he had an expression that showed he had expected it.
He walked slowly and leaned on the bar, about two meters away from Qi Ji, looking like just a passerby who happened to be leaning nearby.
