Another gaggle of reporters swarmed before Gu Xiechen. Over a dozen microphones nearly jammed into Gu Xichen's mouth. A strikingly beautiful and alluring female reporter asked with utmost seriousness, "Sir, was Major General Alexander just arrested? And what are the charges against him?" Gu Xichen let out a deep sigh. He pushed aside the microphones in front of him and replied with equal solemnity, "I apologize, this is federal classified information. I am not at liberty to disclose anything regarding that matter." With a slight glance, Gu Xichen gave Miao Hua a meaningful look and, surrounded by his security detail, quickly ducked into a vehicle and sped away. Peng Hua coughed lightly, then smiled and waved to the reporters, "Ladies and gentlemen, I witnessed everything that transpired here today. Any questions you have, you may ask me! Of course, for the sake of my personal safety, I must request that you do not photograph my face." Immediately, a dozen microphones were thrust toward Miao Hua, while Siren and a group of burly men intentionally or unintentionally crowded in front of the camera operators, completely obstructing the lenses of their recording devices.

Miao Hua beamed at the stunning female reporter and, with a flourish, embellished the story of Major General Alexander colluding with foreign enemies to assassinate the Federal Military Chairman and plotting to seize the control codes for Earth Federation's ultimate defense system.

In his telling, Alexander was transformed into an ambitious wolf that had infiltrated the ranks of the federal revolution. He had conspired with the Roman faction and traitors within the Federation to successfully embed himself within the "Darkwood Knights," obtaining a significantly high military command position.

Subsequently, he led a contingent of rebels, also colluding with foreign powers, back to Earth with the sole objective of stealing control of the ultimate defense system safeguarding the Federation.

Naturally, thanks to Colonel Gu Xiechen of the Federal Special Service Bureau risking his life to maintain order, and the timely reinforcement from Lieutenant General Darderlos of the Federal Military Intelligence Bureau, Marshal Vuldog successfully thwarted the schemes of these ambitious wolves, capturing numerous rebels. Major General Alexander’s plot failed.

Amidst the reporters' gasps of amazement, Peng Hua laid out "the truth of the matter" for them one by one.

Finally, Peng Hua concluded his lengthy oration. He leaned in close to the beautiful female reporter and gently blew a puff of air into her ear.

"Beautiful lady, it’s getting late. I have some truly explosive exclusive news on my hands—are you interested?" The female reporter rolled her eyes at Miao Hua before flashing a dazzling smile. "Sir, might I have the honor of inviting you to dinner?" A few minutes later, Peng Hua was driving away in a sedan with the female reporter, leaving Siren watching the rapidly receding taillights in the rain with a mixture of envy and jealousy, muttering under her breath:

"Blind fool of a woman. You snub a stellar Federal elite like me, and you dare hook up with a walking corpse? May he drain you dry!" Gu Xiechen's maglev car sailed toward the Federal Headquarters building. Tonight was destined to be sleepless; he needed to be inside to await incoming intelligence reports from various sectors.

Ahead, a completely black, unmarked maglev vehicle approached head-on. Behind the transparent window glass, Darderlos offered Gu Xiechen a bright, grateful smile.

The two cars stopped abruptly as they passed each other. The window glass lowered, and Darderlos reached out to hand over a small, square box carved from ivory, about a foot on each side.

Gu Xiechen took the box, testing its weight. He chuckled, "The Lieutenant General is true to his word." Darderlos lightly slapped Gu Xiechen's hand and laughed, "We are all people who keep our promises, aren't we?" Placing the box inside his coat, Gu Xiechen raised the window. He watched Darderlos heave a visible sigh of relief before both vehicles sped off.

Gu Xiechen examined the box in his hands carefully. It was carved from a single piece of ivory, inlaid with delicate silver threads at the corners of all four sides—magnificent yet dignified. On the box was a tiny clasp made of twisted red gold, from which hung a lock sculpted from semi-translucent sapphire, no bigger than a thumb. This lock was fashioned entirely from a natural sapphire, a rare and precious treasure in the outside world.

However, Gu Xiechen paid it no mind. He didn't even glance at the matching small key hanging nearby, instead releasing a wisp of Yin Profound Charcoal from his fingertip, instantly reducing the sapphire lock to ash.

Casually lifting the lid, inside rested a large seal, nearly five inches long and wide, cast entirely in silver. The knob of the seal depicted a knight charging with a drawn sword. The four sides of the seal were engraved with four palaces: Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Versailles, the Düsseldorf Blat Royal Palace, and the Hofburg Palace. Lifting the seal, the face was covered in dense Latin text: Dei Gratia, Rex Sine Qua Non—By the Grace of God, the Monarch's Power is Sacred and Inalienable!

"Hmm, so this is the Great Seal of the White Hall Knights? The secret organization formed by Federal aristocracy after the '93 War? A paramilitary group intent on restoring the monarchy?" With a sigh, Gu Xiechen tossed the seal into his Small Universe Brocade Pouch and instantly shattered the ivory box into dust.

"So, Siren's ancestor was the supreme commander of the White Hall Knights? Hmph, true imperial nobility, quite impressive!" "However, I'm certainly willing to help rebuild the White Hall Knights. But the enemies of the Tonggulasi family are the very aristocrats they once served, and they are now major figures in the Federal Upper Council. Dealing with them won't be easy." Shaking his head, Gu Xiechen temporarily set the matter aside. One of Siren's conditions for defecting to Gu Xiechen was for him to help restore the Tonggulasi family's honor, but an issue this deeply entangled required a cold treatment for now.

After the '93 War, various royal remnants from Xizhou formed the White Hall Knights, attempting to re-establish monarchical rule. At its peak, the White Hall Knights controlled one-third of the Federal military forces.

But as where there are people, there is contention. The powerful, glorious White Hall Knights, viewed by the old aristocracy as their guardians, vanished overnight. The Federal government firmly secured all power. The old aristocrats, crestfallen, formed the Federal Upper Council, having lost all practical authority.

The supreme leader of the White Hall Knights—Siren's ancestor, the head of the Tonggulasi family at that time—fell from the pinnacle of his life into an abyss. The entire family suddenly became the enemy of all traditional nobles in Xizhou, reviled as traitors.

Even Siren's grandfather couldn't fully grasp the complex chain of events that led to that time.

But the education Siren received from childhood was unwavering: the honor of the Tonggulasi family must be restored!

"He actually went off to join mercenary corps, risking his neck for this so-called family honor? Was it worth it?" Gu Xiechen muttered dismissively, watching the dust settle from the shattered box.

The maglev car rapidly arrived at the entrance of the Federal Headquarters. The building was ablaze with light. Personnel from countless vital departments darted about like agitated mice in a disturbed nest. The attempted assassination of the Federal Military Chairman by an incumbent, powerful Lieutenant General was an extremely grave incident with massive repercussions.

Stepping out of the car with an umbrella, Gu Xiechen surveyed the tense security detail guarding the entrance.

The guard presence was more than ten times the usual level. Dozens of heavy tanks were parked conspicuously before the main entrance, and the faint whine of massive plasma engines could be heard overhead—clearly, a fleet of considerable size hovered above the clouds, invisible to the naked eye.

After enduring strict interrogation and identity checks from several guards, just as Gu Xiechen was taking back his identification to enter the headquarters, four middle-aged men in Federal Major General uniforms emerged from behind a heavy tank and marched toward him in perfectly synchronized steps.

The guards at the entrance formed a line, cutting off all possible escape routes for Gu Xiechen.

The four Major Generals surrounded Gu Xiechen from the front, back, left, and right. The one facing him barked in a low tone, "Colonel Gu Xiechen?" Raising his umbrella slightly, Gu Xiechen smiled, "It is I." The Major General to his left forced his voice down, suppressing his anger, and demanded, "We'll give you one chance—a chance to escape death." The Major General to his right stepped forward and ruthlessly punched toward Gu Xiechen's floating ribs.

Faster than thought, Gu Xiechen dropped his umbrella and firmly caught the incoming fist. Fire raged within him; he was about to crush the insolent Major General's hand, but on second thought, he slightly loosened his grip, merely shoving the Major General backward, causing him to stumble back more than ten steps.

Suddenly, a fierce wind rushed from behind him. The Major General standing behind Gu Xiechen drove his elbow toward the back of his head.

With a light sigh, Gu Xiechen forcefully rammed the back of his head backward. The Major General cried out in pain, feeling as if his elbow had struck an iron plate; the agony was intense. Clutching his right elbow tightly, he retreated awkwardly.

Clatter! In an instant, dozens of nearby guards uniformly raised their weapons to aim at Gu Xiechen, and the heavy tanks likewise targeted his body.

The Major General directly in front of him stared at Gu Xiechen, a mixture of shock and rage, suppressing his fury to roar in a low voice, "Bastard! Are you looking to die? I warn you, don't play your little tricks! Release Major General Alexander, or you will die very quickly!" Angrily pointing at his own nose, Gu Xiechen roared back, "Are you talking to me? Do you even know what he did?" The Major General who had punched Gu Xiechen pressed forward, his eyes wide, pointing directly at Gu Xiechen’s nose and shouting, "What did he do? He was framed! You abused your power to falsely accuse Major General Alexander!" Brushing aside the Major General’s hand, Gu Xiechen retorted angrily, "So, his sending men to kill me was also a frame-up?" A Major General sneered, "His target was you, not the Marshal! Therefore, Major General Alexander is innocent!" Gu Xiechen was speechless. He spread his hands and shrugged at the four unreasonable, barbaric Major Generals.

Apparently realizing that Gu Xiechen's skill far surpassed theirs, the four hesitated to attack further. The Major General facing Gu Xiechen spoke for the group, harshly demanding, "You have one hour to release Major General Alexander, or we will launch strikes against you and everyone associated with you." Without allowing Gu Xiechen a single word of defense, the four Major Generals hastily retreated back into the darkness, as abruptly as they had arrived.

With a helpless smile toward the guards who had lowered their weapons, Gu Xiechen frowned, "I’ve kicked a hornet's nest. The latent influence of the Darkwood Knights within the military is indeed formidable." He tilted his head, then suddenly grinned maliciously, "Very well, you want to make a move? Then help me take down Gu Juechen—I would be grateful to you!" After a moment of silence, he activated his communicator to Siren and the others.

"Everyone gather at the headquarters of the Hardt Company in Copenhagen—be careful, someone is looking for trouble with us!" After a cold laugh, Gu Xiechen glanced at the grim-faced guards and strolled leisurely into the Federal Headquarters.