Chapter 260 Chapter259-Amelia's Invitation
The conversation between John and Elder Anderson did not last for an extended period.
Elder Anderson had already booked his flight, and although the conversation between them left much to be desired, he had to head to the airport on time to fly back to the capital.
After all, this elder was burdened with matters concerning the life and death continuation of the entire human civilization, leaving him without much spare time.
Meeting with John this time was only possible due to carving out a small window before the flight's takeoff.
What John had brought to light broadened Elder Anderson's perspective significantly.
Before leaving the café, with a heavy countenance, he said to John, "Young man, you are now a special consultant for our national scientific institute. We may need to consult with you on various matters in the future. Just as today, feel free to speak your mind..."
"Rest assured, our scientific institute is a pure research organization devoid of the murky politics of the bureaucratic world; nothing extraneous will disturb you. If you encounter something you can't handle on your own, you can reach out to Shadowswift. I believe there is no issue in this country that he cannot resolve when he steps in."
John nodded with a light smile.
Elder Anderson's final words came from recognizing the enormous potential that John harbored.
With the continuous updates in the Godslayer game, it was evident that the distance between that different world and the real world was shrinking.
Elder Anderson was well aware that at this stage of events, the fusion of the two worlds was unavoidable.
Given the current level of human technology, it was impossible to prevent such a world amalgamation from occurring.
Consequently, the most urgent issue facing governments worldwide was how to deal with the invasion incidents arising from the merging of the two worlds.
War was inevitable, and acceptance was the only recourse left.
John and Elder Anderson stepped out of the coffee shop together, with John lifting his head, half-closing his eyes to gaze at the splendid sunshine in the sky.
After a prolonged silence, John asked softly, "I have been quite curious about one thing; now that the governments of various countries are aware of the invasion from the other world, how exactly are they handling this matter?" noVe(lB-In
Elder Anderson shook his head with a bitter smile.
"To tell you the truth, most governments are actively preparing for war at the moment. However, there isn't a shortage of nations adopting a pessimistic approach; among them are some with substantial significance in our current world, housing incredibly large populations."
"But instead of contemplating how to rise to the challenges of the impending war, these governments harbor illusions about the people of the other world. They even believe that we can resolve the issues of the merging worlds through peaceful negotiations."
John's lips twitched slightly, unveiling a strange smile.
"So, have these nations already given up?"
Elder Anderson nodded gently, expressing stoically, "You could see it that way. In any case, they do not intend to uphold their national dignity through battle. Their choice is to wait until the fusion of the two worlds takes place and then send envoys to engage with the beings of the other world..."
John exhaled deeply, nonchalantly remarking, "Good words can't persuade the doomed. Let them be. They will only understand that some issues cannot be settled through negotiations when the true enemy descends."
Elder Anderson lifted the briefcase in his hand, revealing a rare smile on his face.
"You are right. We can no longer afford to concern ourselves with the thoughts of other countries. At least in our nation, the higher-ups in the government do not harbor this kind of passive war-avoidance mentality. We are already preparing for war. Regardless of the outcome, even facing death, humanity will choose to die standing..."
John watched the bustling crowd around him, feeling incredibly heavy-hearted. He wondered how much longer this world, still peaceful and stable for now, could last...
...
After parting ways with Elder Anderson, John returned to his apartment. Without Emma by his side, he reverted back to his solitary lifestyle of the past. He browsed through gaming forums to understand other players' perspectives and engaged in some basic physical training, striving to adapt to the torrential energy surging within him.
Soon enough, night descended.
After dinner, just as John lay down on the sofa, his phone suddenly rang, the screen displaying an unknown number.
Today had indeed been unexpectedly busy.
John shook his head helplessly, and upon answering, a gentle and warm female voice asked, "May I speak with Mr. Foster?"
John responded with some surprise, "Speaking. Who is this?" He felt a sense of familiarity with the voice as if he had heard it somewhere, yet couldn't pinpoint who it belonged to, assuming it must not be someone he knew well.
The voice on the other end perked up, "It's Amelia. We met at Chairman Taylor's villa last time, do you remember?"
John paused slightly, recalling Amelia's lonely figure sobbing softly while clutching a sheet.
"Oh, it's you. I was wondering why this voice sounded so sweet," John said teasingly with a light laugh.
Amelia on the other end giggled, covering her mouth and remarked, "Mr. Foster, you really have a way with words. You weren't this humorous when we met last time, were you?"
John shrugged nonchalantly, stating, "I've always been a giant on the internet, just a bit shy in real life. But over the phone, that's not an issue..."
Amelia's laughter was joyful, and she sounded genuinely happy.
"I took the liberty to call you to invite you to a music bonfire party taking place at the West City Square in our city a week from now. I was wondering if you'd be available?"
John paused for a beat, then asked with a light chuckle, "What prompted you to invite me to such an event all of a sudden?"
Amelia's laughter lingered, her gentle voice carrying a touch of playful teasing, "I just wanted to thank you for helping me last time. This music bonfire party is co-hosted by several entertainment companies, it's quite a large event with many internationally renowned singers invited. You will definitely enjoy it."
"I am among those inviting, so the officials specially gave me a few tickets for seats very close to the stage. You know I don't have many friends and I know few people in this city, so I wanted to invite you to give me some support..."
John didn't respond immediately.
He paused, his voice tinged with confusion, "As far as I know, you are developing your career in the film and television industry, right? How come you are participating in a singing event?"
Amelia chuckled softly, "It seems Mr. Foster rarely pays attention to the entertainment industry. How could someone like me, without any background, put all eggs in one basket? I am not just involved in films and TV shows, I have also released several singles..."
Only then did John realize.
He hadn't expected Amelia, who appeared gentle yet harbored a strong inner self, to be a triple-threat star in acting, singing, and television.
Initially, he intended to decline Amelia's invitation.
Given his commitments to the game Godslayer, he felt unable to spare any additional focus or consideration to other matters.
However, upon reflection, he acknowledged that no amount of effort could alter the imminent fusion of the two worlds.
He had to continue living his own life.
Moreover, John was genuinely curious about an event like the music bonfire party.
Come to think of it, aside from attending some parties during his university days, he had never been to such a large-scale gathering.
"Do you not wish to come, Mr. Foster? I understand; it was somewhat abrupt of me to extend this invitation out of the blue..."
On the other end of the phone, Amelia seemed to perceive something from John's silence, her tone gradually filling with a note of despondency.
Such a beautiful and earnest request from a girl blooming with beauty could hardly leave any young man untouched.
Therefore, after pondering for a moment, John spoke softly, "It's not that I'm unwilling. How could I possibly reject an invitation coming from a big star like you? It's just that I am unsure about my schedule at that time..."
"Let's do this, I will check my schedule closer to the date, and if I'm available, I will definitely come."
Upon hearing John's agreement, Amelia's mood instantly shifted from overcast to sunny.
She hurriedly responded, "Great, great, it's settled then. I will send you the electronic invitation for the VIP seats shortly... "
"I am very much looking forward to meeting Mr. Foster again!"
After ending the call, a mischievous smile curled at the corners of John's mouth.
From Amelia's tone, he perceived an intriguing undertone that piqued his interest. Could it be that this girl harbored some feelings towards him?
John considered himself a seasoned veteran in the realm of romance, confident in his understanding of women's nuances.
Considering Amelia's celebrity status, he expected her to maintain a more aloof demeanor.
Even though he had helped her before, this attitude seemed somewhat excessive, didn't it?
Soon, the electronic invitation for the VIP seats arrived on his phone.
Looking at the long list of renowned stars mentioned, John realized Amelia wasn't exaggerating; the music bonfire party was indeed a grand event.
He casually searched online and indeed found the singles Amelia claimed to have released.
Her voice was as gentle and tranquil as ever, mirroring her personality well.
It was indeed pleasant to the ear.
Accompanied by Amelia's soothing, tender voice, John gradually drifted into the realm of dreams.