Despite seeing how confident Charlie was, Roy felt a little nervous and couldn't help but ask, "Sir, what are your plans for the praetor? I don't have a gauge for how powerful she truly is, but just give the order, and I will gather my best men to kill her!"Charlie shook his head. "Actually, I have some use for her since she's a high-ranking official in the Right Military Governor's Office. I can't just kill her off for nothing... By the way, what's the command structure like in your Armed Cavalry Guard garrison?"Roy responded, "The Armed Cavalry Guards are divided into three battalions—nine companies and twenty-seven squads, and there's always a commanding officer and his deputy on each level."Of the three companies, the First is responsible for mining operations, the Second is in charge of processing the refinery, and the Third, logistics and security. The men you saw on the loading platform where you arrived are from the Third, and the others in the battalion are working overt

Penny was aware of the power that the Qing Eliminating Society and Fleur wielded.On top of that, her family had indoctrinated her enough so that she was afraid to even harbor thoughts of rebellion. It was beaten into her mind that the single path to change her family's fortunes for the better was to keep improving her cultivation and rise to prominence within the Society.Indeed, if Fleur acknowledged her, her family would surely be afforded favorable treatment, and perhaps they would cease to be treated as a stable providing breeding mares.With such tremendous weight on her shoulders, Penny had grown to be fiercely loyal to the Qing Eliminating Society, yearning to garner further merit and accolades for herself. As such, she considered the Right Military Governor's decision to entrust her with overseeing the transition as a sign of growing trust in her.In her mind, if she accomplished this task flawlessly, the Right Military Governor would see it fit to entrust her with more

Nervous, Penny took a step back as she asked warily, "Who… are you?"Charlie chuckled. "The name's Wade. Charlie Wade. The one whom your Society has been trying to hunt down, even setting an elaborate trap in Nigeria for me.""W-What…" Penny stammered, flustered. "Why would you tell me that?!"Charlie chuckled again. "You asked, didn't you?""I… You…" Penny was wheezing, her gaze fearful as she muttered, "I mean, you didn't have to be so… straightforward? Are you planning to kill me… that's why you're so upfront…"Charlie chuckled. "Oh, you're quite smart, aren't you?"Penny turned as pale as a sheet.She was just twenty-four and had gained enlightenment a couple of years ago, and was actually afraid to die as she had just become the only beacon of hope her family had after centuries. But since Charlie was being so honest, she knew that he wasn't going to let her live!Forcing herself to stay calm, she snarled at him through her teeth, "Whatever! None of this matters—I have d

Penny really couldn't argue against that, and she immediately became furious and tense, seeing how Charlie completely dismissed her as a threat.Her tone was suddenly a lot less confident than earlier, and she was barely able to hide her nerves as she asked, "Then, what do you want from me?"Charlie shrugged. "Like I said, you're more useful to me alive, so you'd better start cooperating. Otherwise, I won't just kill you—I will fool Fleur into believing that you defected. Can't blame me if she massacres your family in retaliation."Penny gritted her teeth. "Never make things personal! Or were you never taught such basic honor?!"Charlie snorted. "'Never make things personal', you say? Look around you—the dead soldiers and the armed cavalry guards' families are right here in these mines with them! Or maybe you think the Qing Eliminating Society wasn't making it personal when they threatened their family's lives in exchange for their loyalty?"No. You're nothing short of an accompli

Penny finally understood the situation at that point—Charlie far outclassed her, and even fleeing was delusional. While she couldn't understand how Charlie had fabricated a video of her in no time at all, she had a feeling that it would be taken for concrete evidence if it was ever released, and her family would be massacred in retaliation.As such, her only option was to do what Charlie asked and avoid bringing trouble to her family.Seeing that she was conceding, Charlie nodded and pocketed his phone. "Very well. But first of all, I have some questions. Tell me everything you know, and I won't get your family implicated, and I might even spare your life. Understand?"Penny nodded repeatedly, aggrieved yet submissive, "Yes, I understand..."Charlie asked, "What is your position in the Right Military Governor's Office? What do your duties include? And who do you report to?"Penny replied, "I'm one of the six Praetors working under the Right Military Governor's Office. While I do