This extremely confidential video meeting was held over a secure military channel. Even Kevin wouldn't be able to crack this encrypted line in a short time.

The six attendees were scattered across different locations; each person saw only the virtual holographic figures of the other five. Before Yang Ying, besides the five figures, a virtual conference table also materialized.

"I believe everyone here understands that Horace is employing guerrilla tactics against us. From the current situation, his Pirate Alliance Fleet poses a massive threat to the front lines and the asteroid belt itself. All of you present have suffered damage from him to varying degrees. That is why I have called you together for this informal meeting to discuss how to handle this major problem that is Horace. If we can reach any constructive outcome, that would be excellent; even if we can't resolve some of the internal conflicts today, this meeting can at least lay the groundwork for future cooperation."

Randolph began with an opening address. As he mentioned "conflicts," his eyes inevitably drifted toward the old adversaries, Saint Ladis and Old Locke, and then toward the newer rivals, Yang Ying and Royd.

The four commanders seated around the virtual conference table were precisely two pairs of rivals!

"General Randolph is correct," stated Chairman William of the Mercenary Alliance, clearly having conferred with Randolph beforehand. "At this stage, the enemies of both our mercenary faction and the military are that butcher Horace. Unity will benefit both sides."

"Enough of this empty rhetoric; let's get straight to the crucial matters," Old Locke abruptly cut William off. He carried the profound, bloody vengeance of himself and countless subordinates. His remaining patience had been utterly eroded by the grief of learning of his family's tragic demise, making him intensely intolerant of wasted time—so much so that he felt close to madness with hatred.

"We are here to discuss cooperation. This is a time of war; let's keep things simple and address the main business directly," Saint Ladis said, sitting perfectly upright, his gaze level with Randolph.

Although his eyes weren't fixed on any specific person, everyone felt his attention upon them. Even when this Paladin did nothing else, an aura of justice and solemnity naturally radiated from him.

If a person with a weaker will harbored evil thoughts under his scrutiny, they would instantly feel utterly exposed, crushed by the invisible pressure generated by their own conscience.

Seeing this, Randolph spoke up: "That's good. First item: regarding the formation of a United Mercenary Fleet. I would like everyone present to cast an initial vote on whether you believe this matter is feasible. Please raise your hand if you agree."

With that, he raised his right hand. Yang Ying followed suit, raising his own, and the other four hands followed almost simultaneously.

Randolph brought his right hand down with a sharp slap on the table, laughing heartily. "Excellent! Since everyone finds this feasible, the next step is implementation. I have sent an electronic document to everyone's communicators detailing some specific terms of execution. Please review them; feel free to offer any corrections or raise any objections."

Yang Ying tapped the screen that appeared on his communicator, and the electronic file materialized before him.

Everyone began poring over the document, and a brief silence settled over the conference table.

Randolph looked left and right, trying to glean something from the expressions on their faces, but he gained nothing.

Everyone at the table had internalized the art of inscrutability into instinct. Their expressions only shifted when necessary, never betraying their inner workings. Even Old Locke, whose internal turmoil was the most violent, maintained a look of icy indifference.

Though Yang Ying was the youngest and lacked the vast experience of the other old foxes, as an Awakened at the level of a Mid-Tier Psionicist, controlling his expression was child's play—effortless.

The document was not lengthy, consisting mainly of guiding principles. Yang Ying committed it to memory after only a few glances.

The content primarily focused on gathering the various mercenary fleets together and submitting to unified command; all clauses were designed to achieve this objective.

As for who would issue this unified command, the document made no mention, clearly leaving that position vacant.

A few minutes passed before Randolph surveyed the room and announced, "Have you all finished reading?"

"Who will command this United Fleet?" Old Locke asked directly.

"According to the agreement between General Randolph and myself," Chairman William coughed slightly, "the candidate should, as much as possible, be chosen from the four major mercenary groups."

Yang Ying nodded slightly; this choice was not unexpected.

Old Locke snorted and pointed at Saint Ladis. "With the Kowloon Mercenary Group so severely wounded, my chances of contending for that position are slim, perhaps. But if those hypocrites from the Order of the Holy Light are to take command, the Kowloon Mercenary Group absolutely refuses!"

Randolph was taken aback by the immediate intensity of the argument. He shot a look toward Chairman William, as if urging him—since he was closer to Locke—to intervene quickly.

William, who had formed a defensive alliance with Randolph, saw the look and nodded slightly, hastily interjecting, "Locke, this is about better integrating our military power to fight Horace. For the sake of the fallen, can you not set aside past grievances?"

"Past grievances? Easy for you to say," Old Locke sneered. "Those religious fanatics slaughtered our ancestors time and again on the pretext of heresy and unbelief. The number of people they killed is surely no less than those Horace has slain. Since they were old enough to understand, the people of the Kowloon Mercenary Group were made to swear eternal enmity against your organization. How can you dismiss that with a mere brush of the hand?"

By the time he finished, Old Locke's eyes were blazing, his voice sharp and fierce, radiating the intense energy of someone about to overturn the table. If the virtual conference table hadn't been a holographic projection originating from Randolph's physical table, Old Locke might genuinely have flipped it.

After calming himself slightly, Old Locke pointed at Saint Ladis and addressed the assembly. "Forming a united fleet with those hypocrites already carries immense risk among my soldiers. If he is allowed to lead us as well, the entire Kowloon Mercenary Group might mutiny. I am not speaking wildly."

Everyone turned their gaze to Saint Ladis, waiting to see his reaction.

Saint Ladis sighed and said, "The Crusade Army did indeed commit many wrongs back then. But after my teacher's teacher, Mr. Saint Hayden, criticized the Church's directives and led the Order of the Holy Light away from that madness, we have set ourselves on the right path."

He turned to Old Locke. "How many more times do we need to apologize before you will listen?"

Old Locke roared, "No amount of times! Do you think a few apologies can mend the sins you committed back then?"

"But even if you kill us all, your kin cannot be resurrected," Saint Ladis countered.

"Though their people cannot return, their hatred has been passed down to us, rooted deep in our souls. Only the fire of vengeance can extinguish that hatred," Old Locke declared, word by measured word.

"Vengeance only brings emptiness; forgiveness is what quells hatred," Saint Ladis pointed to himself. "Although, as a direct participant, I am not in a position to ask for your forgiveness, for the sake of those lost to the Pirate Alliance Fleet, I implore you to set aside your hatred for now and face the threat of Horace together. Today is not the day to dredge up that ancient feud."

"Empty words!" Old Locke coldly dismissed him.

Saint Ladis shook his head, closed his eyes in thought for a moment, then stood up and declared, "Then, as a gesture of our sincerity, I hereby announce that I will not accept the position of Commander of the United Mercenary Fleet."

A cold silence fell around the conference table; no one spoke for a moment.

Yang Ying was surprised that Saint Ladis would genuinely renounce leadership of the United Mercenary Fleet based solely on Old Locke's words. However, when he looked at the expressions of the others, he noticed no one seemed particularly surprised.

Was it because they were masters of emotional restraint, or had they perhaps anticipated this outcome all along?

While Yang Ying pondered, Saint Ladis sat back down and asked Old Locke, "Are you satisfied?"

Old Locke snorted. "That’s more like it."

"But I expect you to make a statement as well: withdrawing from the competition for the Commander position," Saint Ladis requested of Old Locke.

"Why!" Old Locke glared.

"Because if you take command, the Crusade Army will certainly be sent to their deaths. To prevent my subordinates from becoming sacrifices to your personal vendetta, I cannot allow you to become the commander."

Every word and action of Saint Ladis effortlessly exerted pressure. Though he had only spoken two sentences, his measured delivery carried more persuasive weight than Old Locke's previous outburst of anger.

Old Locke fell silent.

The commanders around the table recognized the resolve in Saint Ladis's words: if Old Locke became commander, the withdrawal of the Crusade Army would be a certainty.

Cough! Cough!

Seeing Old Locke's prolonged silence, Randolph couldn't wait any longer and cleared his throat. "Commander Locke, I believe Commander Saint Ladis has made his position perfectly clear. Are you willing to make an equivalent declaration?"

To claim Old Locke had no ambition for the Commander's throne would be a lie, but he knew now that his momentum was lost. The Kowloon Mercenary Group was already damaged at its foundation, dependent on others, and its influence had greatly diminished. Moreover, Saint Ladis occupied the moral high ground, leaving Locke no logical basis for rebuttal.

"Fine," Old Locke grated the single word from his throat.

As soon as Old Locke finished speaking, Yang Ying noticed Royd dart a quick glance his way, an expression brimming with complex information in his eyes.

Now that the commanders of the Crusade Army and Kowloon had both withdrawn from contention, according to what William had said earlier, the position of Commander of the United Fleet would be decided between him and Royd.

However, Yang Ying had his own methods. After all, having the Teran Mercenary Group integrate with others in the United Fleet carried too high a risk of exposure.