Borbauld clenched his fist and declared with aged authority, "It’s a deal! But if you can help me complete this other task, I’m willing to pay a price that will certainly satisfy you!"

"What task?" Gu Xiechen’s eyes lit up.

"Rescue those poor, oppressed Roman citizens from the clutches of Heisuojin!" Borbauld stated gravely. "Bring me at least half of the Roman people into my territory. Kidnap them, entice them away—I don't care—just get me half the Romans and a proportionate number of Ling race individuals back. Don’t you think the ratio of true Romans in my First Roman Kingdom is far too low now?"

"Is that so?" Gu Xiechen blinked slowly. "That sounds quite risky!"

"I’ll give you ample reward. Say, ten thousand beautiful virgins from various races? I can offer you a million if you wish!" Borbauld narrowed his eyes at Gu Xiechen.

"Forget it, I'd prefer something else," Gu Xiechen quickly shook his head, remembering the pale, almost blue look on Fuya Ming's face when she was enraged. "I'm not particularly concerned with female charms."

After a moment of hesitation, Gu Xiechen nodded. "Let's exchange it for technological data instead. Within one month at most, I will find a way to deliver the required number of Romans to you. You will exchange that for scientific technology that satisfies me. If I am unsatisfied, those Romans are mine to keep."

Borbauld blinked, pausing for a moment before agreeing to Gu Xiechen's terms.

Seeing Borbauld agree so readily, Gu Xiechen felt a flicker of curiosity and asked, "If you possess enough strength to challenge Heisuojin, why not just force them to hand over their kin?"

Looking surprisedly at Gu Xiechen, Borbauld shook his head solemnly. "No, this is a tradition of our Roman people. Minor schemes and traps are permissible, but actions that might endanger the foundation of the Roman people are forbidden. I can challenge Heisuojin to a duel, but two Roman kingdoms cannot engage in conflict!"

"A tedious set of rules!" Miao Hua shook his head, then laughed gleefully. "Well then, what if I helped you eliminate them?"

Borbauld gave Miao Hua a deep look. "Then you would become the mortal enemy of every Roman. I would spare no cost to destroy you!"

Miao Hua's face darkened, and he turned his head away without a word.

Gu Xiechen smiled and nodded toward Borbauld. "Then it's settled. I hope to return with fifty Super Dreadnoughts."

Looking somewhat hesitantly at the smiling Borbauld, Gu Xiechen pondered whether he should help resolve the toxicity within Borbauld. Forget it, he decided. He has such powerful experts around him; it should be fine. Besides, what if Borbauld turns into a woman? That transformation process is long and gradual, likely taking nine months to complete fully. By then, the deal will be done, and I can just deny everything.

With a beaming smile, Gu Xiechen sent the suddenly available big client, Borbauld, off the dreadnought. Gu Xiechen waved enthusiastically toward the departing transport ship.

Only when the transport ship had vanished from sight did Gu Xiechen suddenly raise his middle finger:

"Idiot! Blockhead! Fifty Super Dreadnoughts? Heh heh heh. We're actually getting the armaments of fifty dreadnoughts. We can make the defense system of Paradise Star even tighter!"

After both fleets exchanged a signal of mutual safe passage, Gu Xiechen’s three dreadnoughts continued forward, guarded by a large contingent of warships, while Borbauld’s fleet turned back toward its base.

In the command cabin, Ducate rubbed his wrist with satisfaction. "Xiao Xiao, are you sure our backdoor program was successfully implanted?"

Xiao Xiao bounced with delight, wildly swinging his long metallic arms. "Positive! Those ten dreadnoughts he snatched have already become my little brothers! Hahaha! We who live by our wits must always follow the boss's command! Hahaha! These ten brothers will develop even more little brothers for me when they return! Sooner or later, the main control superbrains of all their warships will become my underlings!"

Xiao Xiao then struck a fighting pose characteristic of the Jeet Kune Do master, Bruce Lee, and murmured melodramatically, "A man walks the Jianghu, and he cannot control himself. Don't blame me; you all forced my hand! Ah, the chivalrous sons of the Jianghu grow old; when one drifts in the Jianghu, how can one avoid getting cut? Once you’ve been hit by my meticulously crafted backdoor program, my little brothers, you must submit to me!"

Gu Xiechen was silent. Miao Hua was silent. Siren, who had just entered the command cabin, was also silent.

After a long pause, the awkward Ducate finally said strangely, "Xiao Xiao has been watching a lot of Gu Hua Country's gangster films lately..."

An hour later, Gu Xiechen's fleet approached the First Star of the Thirteen Connected Stars, controlled by the Holy See Nation.

Pope Andre, the current supreme authority of the Holy See Nation, staged an incredibly grand welcoming ceremony for Gu Xiechen and his entourage. Two hundred thousand Knights of the Holy See lined up on the landing field, each holding their swords across their chests. As Gu Xiechen stepped down the ramp from the high-speed shuttle, the two hundred thousand knights simultaneously dropped to one knee.

Gu Xiechen was momentarily stunned by the spectacle. Two hundred thousand highly cultivated masters kneeling together caused the warship landing field to tremble slightly. The effect was almost equivalent to a minor earthquake; long cracks appeared in the small mountains near the landing zone. Just as the dust settled, Pope Andre, wearing the double crown, slowly approached Gu Xiechen. After walking a short distance, he opened his arms wide. "Welcome, esteemed old friend."

Gu Xiechen smiled, opened his arms, and strode toward Andre with a hearty laugh.

In full view of the crowd, Gu Xiechen and Andre embraced tightly. Andre began introducing the high-ranking officials of the Papal State who had accompanied him to welcome Gu Xiechen. Leading the introductions was Jean Joann, whose skin had become fairer and smoother, and who seemed to have grown taller, looking fifty years younger—he was the former Chairman of the Earth Federation Council, now the Chief Geopolitical Officer of the Papal State.

Gu Xiechen sighed. He nodded toward the smiling Jean Joann. "So, it was the Holy See standing behind you all along."

With another sigh, Gu Xiechen embraced Jean Joann tightly. "Chairman, it is so wonderful to see you again! Why are you so emotional that you're crying?" Gu Xiechen punched Jean Joann hard in his soft ribs and quickly steadied the pale-faced Joann, ensuring everyone saw the tears streaming down his face.

Jean Joann seethed with hatred. That punch from Gu Xiechen nearly pierced his body; if he hadn't undergone the modifications of Angelic Sacred Blood, that blow would have killed him.

He glared furiously at Gu Xiechen, yet he still managed to force a smile, explaining to those around him that he was crying because he was overcome with emotion upon seeing his old friend. He knew Gu Xiechen was seeking revenge, but he had to endure the anger. The fact that Gu Xiechen didn't kill him with that single punch was a sign of great restraint. Of course, Jean Joann also felt a profound sorrow—Gu Xiechen, whom he once viewed as a mere subordinate, had now grown powerful enough that Joann wasn't worth a single punch to destroy him.

Gu Xiechen embraced each of the high-ranking officials of the Papal State in turn. When he reached Gu Juechen, the steel-faced brother let out a muffled groan, tears welling in his eyes.

Gu Xiechen feigned shock and cried out loudly, throwing his arms around Gu Juechen. "Brother, I am so moved to see you! Are you also so moved? Oh, it’s wonderful that you came to greet me! Wuwu, is this the deep bond between flesh-and-blood brothers?"

Hugging Gu Juechen tightly again, Gu Xiechen repeatedly pressed his cheek against his brother's face—a perfect scene of long-lost familial reunion. Then, whispering close to Gu Juechen's ear in a voice only they could hear, Gu Xiechen murmured, "My dear Gu Juechen, are you prepared mentally? Get ready for the Gu Corporation to go bankrupt. I have prepared an exile planet; when you are left penniless, I will send you there to live out your retirement!"

Gu Juechen’s body stiffened instantly. He grunted low, "Dream on!"

Gu Xiechen delivered a clean, decisive punch to Gu Juechen’s abdomen, knocking him unconscious instantly.

He released his grip, letting Gu Juechen slump softly onto the ground, and called out falsely, "Brother, you were too excited; you should go to a hospital for a period of recuperation!"

Andre smiled and beckoned. Two nuns quickly stepped forward and helped the limp Gu Juechen off the landing field.

With a cold smirk as he watched Gu Juechen depart, Gu Xiechen pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Andre. "Take a look. This is the Joint Defense Clause I meticulously drafted for the Holy See Nation!"

Andre, his face still wreathed in smiles, opened the document. After only a quick scan of the text, he let out an outraged cry. "What? Impossible!"

Joint Defense Clause between the Earth Federation and the Holy See Nation: The Earth Federation will dispatch twenty Super Dreadnoughts to assist the Holy See Nation in defending against the Romans. In return, the Holy See Nation must cover the salaries, benefits, pensions, entertainment expenses, and all material consumption for the total of four hundred million personnel aboard these twenty Super Dreadnoughts. The Holy See Nation must also bear all operating costs and routine wear-and-tear for the twenty Super Dreadnoughts. Furthermore, every month, the Holy See Nation must unconditionally provide one hundred thousand cubic meters of Zakla Crystals or equivalent energy for the twenty Super Dreadnoughts.

This was a bloody, naked treaty demanding that Gu Xiechen gouge flesh from the Holy See Nation! If they agreed to this treaty from Gu Xiechen, the Holy See Nation would no longer need to establish departments like financial auditing. All their annual output would simply be handed over to the Earth Federation!

Andre shook his head firmly. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Gu Xiechen gave Andre a deep look, and under the gaze of the two hundred thousand Knights of the Holy See, he spoke calmly, "Think it over. I’ll give you one last chance. Don't regret it!"

He stared menacingly at Andre, speaking each word distinctly: "Your nation will be annihilated!"

Powerful, overbearing, and openly bullying—at this moment, Gu Xiechen trod upon the entire honor of the Holy See Nation.