...Not far off lay a colossal boulder, perhaps ten meters in diameter, the vast majority of which was buried in the earth. Gu Xiye Chen, gripping Porphyres, strode to the stone and delivered a heavy kick. With a dull thud, the boulder was sent flying dozens of meters into the air, suddenly exploding into countless fist-sized shards. The violently expelled stones, accompanied by a tremendous roar of displaced air, slammed into the Roman warriors who were cautiously closing in. A dozen or so warriors cried out in pain as they were flung nearly thirty meters back, unable to even stir for some time.

Mu Jianhua and Siren’s eyes flickered; they knew precisely the immense force Gu Xiye Chen had channeled into that single kick! This kick was delivered without the slightest use of Duan Tun Zhenqi. To achieve such an effect through pure physical strength required a physical power reaching an astonishing magnitude. Both men were certain: Gu Xiye Chen had not possessed such formidable physical prowess before entering that cave.

“Is your body as tough as this stone?” Gu Xiye Chen asked Porphyres with studied restraint.

The dumbfounded Porphyres remained stunned for a moment before suddenly breaking into an obsequious grin. “My dear Vice-Commander Evil Dragon, have you forgotten? We were partners once!”

Partners? Gu Xiye Chen paused, studying Porphyres’ face, which was smeared with blood. He suddenly laughed. “Ah, Mr. Porphyres? My apologies. You Romans all look alike to me—the same nearly identical, sculpted face. I didn't recognize you for a moment. My apologies, my apologies!”

Porphyres immediately smiled, cautiously patting the hand gripping his neck, signaling Gu Xiye Chen to release him.

He stood nearly three meters tall. Being held aloft like this by his neck made him flail awkwardly, only managing to keep half of his buttocks off the ground. With so many family warriors watching, Porphyres struggled desperately to escape this embarrassing and undignified predicament.

But Gu Xiye Chen tightened his grip, speaking with grave seriousness to Porphyres. “However, business is business. One matter is separate from another. We collaborated last time, and we successfully completed the commissioned task. A single contract isn't enough to make you one of our VIP clients! So, keeping matters separate, those who aren't VIPs must settle their accounts clearly.”

Staring coldly at the ashen-faced Porphyres, Gu Xiye Chen sneered, “Why are you here? Why did you happen to barge into that specific cave? We had all gone to great lengths to find intelligence about this prehistoric ruin, so how did you manage to arrive so promptly and accurately locate the entrance that had already been sealed?”

Aredia’s face changed drastically, fine flames erupting simultaneously from the five fingers of her right hand.

Mu Jianhua glanced at Aredia in surprise, immediately stepping forward to block the space between her and Gu Xiye Chen.

Siren frowned deeply. He grabbed Aredia’s shoulder and forcefully pulled her behind him.

“I understand now!” Gu Xiye Chen turned his gaze to Siren, stating flatly, “When I was on Paradise Star, I already found it strange why there was a Spirit Race member in your squad. It seems everything explains itself now. But, Siren, didn't you swear allegiance to me? Why play such a trick today?”

Siren was silent for a moment before laughing faintly. He said calmly, “I still can’t accept it. Why is it that ever since I met you, I feel inferior to you in every way? Are you truly my nemesis? You know why I swore to follow you back then, but… I truly resent it a little.”

With a long sigh, Siren took Aredia’s hand and said coldly, “I always believed myself to be exceptional; I always thought I could manipulate anyone in the palm of my hand, but…”

Siren stopped speaking, merely gazing at Gu Xiye Chen.

Patting Porphyres’ face lightly, Porphyres managed to produce a smile that suggested he didn't mind in the slightest. Gu Xiye Chen was silent for a moment before chuckling, “So, you wanted to give yourself a…”

Siren nodded. “Give myself a reason to follow you with conviction! You’ve been in the ruin for three days; something must have happened to you. If, under my direction, Porphyres had led the clan elites rushing into the ruin and still failed to cause you the slightest harm, then it would prove that I am indeed completely checkmated by you!”

“And the conclusion now?” Gu Xiye Chen smiled.

Gazing profoundly at Gu Xiye Chen, Siren raised Aredia’s hand and declared, “Aredia and I swear: if you can help us restore the honor of the Tonggulas family, reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to our lineage, and wipe away the shame of our ancestors, we will pledge eternal loyalty to you.”

“That sounds rather complicated!” Gu Xiye Chen stroked his chin, dropping Porphyres. He strode toward Siren. “So, is this time sincere?”

Siren sighed deeply. “This time, it is sincere!” He extended his hand toward Gu Xiye Chen.

Porphyres, having been dropped onto the ground, tried cautiously to crawl away, but Jianhua stepped down hard on his head, driving half of his face into the mire.

Porphyres strained his eyes to glance at Jianhua and managed a dry chuckle. “I was merely attempting to assume a more aesthetically pleasing posture while lying on the ground!”

Jianhua’s response was a heavy kick that submerged the greater part of Porphyres’ head into the mud.

Gripping Siren’s hand tightly, Gu Xiye Chen sighed softly. “It really is difficult to win the loyalty of the Sea Folk. Honestly, if Mr. Porphyres had entered an hour earlier, he surely would have finished me. What a pity, what a true pity…”

Siren blinked, hanging his head in frustration. “Damn it, I… I concede!”

Aredia sighed helplessly, slowly extinguishing the flames on her fingertips. She said coldly, “Siren, this isn’t a bad outcome. At least… you and I have both gained much.”

Fingering the hilt of the sword at his waist, Siren immediately cheered up. “Not bad, we have gained a lot too!” He looked thoughtfully at Gu Xiye Chen and smiled, “Perhaps following you, we will gain even more in the future.”

Gu Xiye Chen smiled as well, nodding firmly. “I believe so too. You will gain more than you dream of, because I have that confidence!”

Turning sharply, Gu Xiye Chen laughed loudly. “Mr. Porphyres, Siren seeks to restore his family’s glory. As a former collaborator, don’t you feel obliged to make some gesture?”

Porphyres struggled to lift his head and chuckled dryly. “Of course. As Mr. Siren’s old acquaintance, I have a secret account at the Earth Federation Bank containing two tons of gold and billions.”

Gu Xiye Chen cried out in mock astonishment. “Heavens! You must be quite a big shot in the Roman Kingdom, after all, you once schemed against the Holsum family. Your backers must be powerful! Hmm, for a figure of your stature, your ransom is only two tons of gold and billions of worthless paper?”

Siren also sneered derisively. “Every informed person knows that paper currency is just paper; only Zakla Crystals and rare metals are hard currency. Paper money? That’s just for fooling the common folk of the Federation!”

Porphyres stared blankly, then forced a bitter smile. “Then… I also have a secret account in the Earth Federation Bank containing two hundred cubic meters of Zakla Crystals. That was the operational budget allocated by my family.”

Jianhua suddenly snatched up Porphyres and savagely stripped off his energy armor, shouting, “Two hundred cubic meters of Zakla Crystal? Are you trying to fob us off with scraps for beggars? Do you have any idea how many Zakla Crystals my junior brother brought back from Paradise Star? It would shock you to death!” Amidst the sound of ripping fabric, Jianhua tore Porphyres’ remaining clothes to shreds.

The heavy rain lashed against Porphyres’ snowy, tender skin. Pathetically, he clutched his lower body tightly, his solitary, water-beaded eyes looking up at the smiling Gu Xiye Chen, the sneering Siren, and the grimacing Jianhua. He cried out hoarsely, “Then what exactly do you people want?”

The nearby warriors of the Menbopoli family simultaneously turned their backs to the enemy.

According to Roman custom, the bodies of high-ranking family members were sacred and inviolable. If a core member accidentally exposed a calf, and a lower-ranking member happened to see it, custom dictated that the unfortunate observer must have his eyes gouged out! Thus, the three thousand Roman warriors turned in unison, creating an exceptionally strange atmosphere.

Gu Xiye Chen smiled, looking up at the warships in the sky. “When I blackmailed Mr. Bolpert last time, I regretted being too lenient. However, the conditions back then weren't quite right… But this time… my dear Mr. Porphyres, leave three warships, and you can take your subordinates and return.”

A mouthful of blood shot out of Porphyres’ mouth as he shrieked in fury. “Leave three warships? Just kill me! These are the latest ‘Phantom’ class warships belonging to our Menbopoli family. If I hand them over to you, my status in the family will be completely destroyed… Impossible!”

Siren immediately drew his bronze sword and placed the tip against Porphyres’ neck, smiling menacingly. “Then should I just kill you?”

Porphyres instantly dropped to his knees, wailing, “Oh, no… but I cannot leave the warships; if I do, my life is over too… Give me another condition!”

Mulling it over for a moment, Gu Xiye Chen suddenly laughed. “Leave the warships, and in return, I will grant you a massive merit to offset your transgressions, how about that?”

“Merit? Massive merit?” Porphyres’ eyes lit up. Glancing at the sword at his throat, he immediately pressed, “What merit?”

After a moment of thought, he walked over to Porphyres and whispered something into his ear.

Siren and Jianhua, watching from the side, simultaneously gasped, and then their eyes suddenly flashed with brilliant realization.