The ancient, rustic stone steles had clearly weathered the passage of countless years, their surfaces riddled with decay. Thumb-sized tadpole script characters were carved onto the tablets, the text seemingly brushed over dozens of times with a golden liquid, causing every character to radiate a brilliant, shimmering gold under the sunlight. 1 Novel $\alpha..C$ compiled However, the reconnaissance drones spying on this base were clearly too far away; they could not make out what was actually inscribed on the steles.

The captured Romans spoke in deep voices. "Hmph? Esteemed sirs, this is the man who leaked the intelligence about Paradise Star. He must be the leader of the Hell Angels Mercenary Group. What are these steles? Why did he bring people to retrieve them while attacking the Holy Unicorn Mercenary Group?"

Polkin ordered, "Get closer and take a look!"

A Roman man forced a wry smile. "If we get closer, they might spot us!"

Yakkin spoke sternly, "I order you to approach and look! It's just a drone; is it going to cost you your lives?"

The three Romans said nothing, pretending to tap a few keys on a controller.

The camera lens zoomed in rapidly, and the writing on one stele became perfectly clear. The main computer aboard the Roman warship immediately scoured its database for the meaning of the tadpole script and displayed the translated text before everyone present.

Gu Xiachen took a deep breath. This was the stage he felt least confident about. He didn't know if the simplest metal synthesis formula he had copied from the bamboo slips would be attractive enough to the Romans. While various resources and supplies were precious, they weren't enough to make the Romans risk everything. But a special metal formula that clearly exceeded the limits of current technology—that could drive anyone mad.

The only uncertainty was whether this formula was genuine and if these Romans knew its true worth.

A profound silence followed in the communicator. All the Romans stared blankly at the translation. After a long pause, Pol Pot Holsem hesitantly inquired, "It seems to be some kind of metal synthesis equation, but the steps are a bit peculiar... Uh... Does anyone recognize this thing?"

Ducat Holsem, standing beside Pol Pot Holsem like a shadow, suddenly spoke up. "It's a synthesis method for a shape-memory alloy. Ninety percent of the steps are identical to my attempts in the lab three months ago. But my trial failed. This... this appears to be the perfected synthesis method. How did I not think of it? Preliminary processing using a super-high-temperature jet, followed by memory reinforcement using extreme low temperatures? And finally, the metallic polycrystalline network structure?"

Ducat Holsem suddenly exclaimed, "This is a new shape-memory alloy synthesis equation! And it's extremely complete, an absolutely perfect synthesis formula! Based on my calculations, its performance is at least seventy percent superior to the newest shape-memory alloy synthesized in the Roman Academy of Sciences laboratory!"

Dead silence.

Pol Pot Holsem sucked in a sharp breath, then slammed his fist, sending Ducat Holsem flying over ten meters away. Pol Pot Holsem roared furiously, "You low-caste bastard, how dare you speak of such highly classified intelligence on a public channel? You foolish, base bastard, just like your mother, damn it! Don't show off your meager talent for mechanics and metalworking here, you stupid mongrel!"

The three captured Romans suddenly shrieked, "Our reconnaissance drone has been discovered! They are attacking us!"

A split-off screen on the light display went black; the image of the Hell Angels Mercenary Group's forward base vanished.

Gu Xiachen saw an emotion flicker in the depths of every Roman’s eyes—an emotion called mania!

Polkin muttered to himself, "Was what that Evil Dragon said true? A metal superior in performance to current laboratory-grade metal? And it appeared in data left over from millennia ago?"

Yakkin coughed lightly and sneered, "Pol Pot, don't punish your 'brother.' He is, after all, a 'formal member' of your family. Having a 'half-blood' 'brother' serve as a shadow is something we never could have imagined as a benefit. Don't punish him; on the contrary, all of us should be grateful to him!"

Polkin sneered back, "Yes, we should thank Ducat Holsem. Otherwise, how would we know the true value of these steles?"

Pol Pot Holsem glared furiously at the motionless Ducat Holsem lying on the ground where he’d been struck. He said coldly, "It was a member of our family who authenticated this data. Therefore, the Holsem family has priority rights to attack this forward base!"

Gu Xiachen lightly flicked his fingers and chuckled softly, "Each of your families has the capability to easily destroy this base. It just depends on which one of you is willing to fall for the trap."

Polkin spoke sternly to the three Romans on the communicator, "You have done well. Continue to monitor every move the Earthlings make."

The three Romans respectfully acknowledged the order, but in the next instant they screamed, "Oh no, great gods, they've spotted us! Their people are advancing toward us!"

Boom-boom-boom, three small-caliber mortar shells exploded nearby in quick succession, sending two large trees flying into the air.

The three Romans fumbled frantically with their communicators and control equipment, crying out in panic, "Your Excellencies, our warship ran into a slight issue during landing; we cannot pilot it to escape now. They are closing in, we absolutely must retreat!"

Yakkin urgently called out, "Get out of there immediately! But if you are captured, you must destroy the communicators in your possession and..."

A rocket intercepted a large tree at its trunk, blasting the wood apart. The massive crown fell downward with a tearing sound.

The three Romans let out ear-splitting shrieks, quickly shutting off their communicators. They then stood aside with exaggerated deference.

The three of them shamelessly smiled at Gu Xiachen, "Your Excellency, we have perfectly completed the task you assigned us."

Gu Xiachen nodded, saying calmly, "Very good. Although we are mercenaries, we occasionally adhere to the Human Rights Act. Hmm, you may receive preferential treatment. We will release you once your families pay a sufficient ransom."

The three Romans immediately bowed deeply, smiling profusely, "Your generosity and magnanimity are as brilliant and dazzling as the stars in the heavens. There is no one more generous than you!"

Siren snorted coldly. The three Romans flinched in fright, quickly bowing and saluting her, showering her with another cascade of excessive praise.

Gu Xiachen glanced at the Romans with disgust, mumbling under his breath, "A bunch of spineless cowards!"

After a few cold laughs, Gu Xiachen clapped his hands forcefully, "Brothers, prepare for battle! If everything goes according to my plan, we can teach the Romans a beautiful lesson!"

Gu Xiachen said in a voice full of allure, "Just think, if we, the Hell Angels Mercenary Group, can annihilate a few Roman first-class warships, with this achievement, our brothers will surely make a name for ourselves."

A sharp glint flashed simultaneously in the eyes of Andov and the others. ×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× Still need recommendation votes, comrades, keep trying... This chapter is a bit short; the afternoon chapter will be longer... Hahahaha...