2026-06-30 16:44:34
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CHAPTER 154
Everett stood nearby, his own posture carrying quiet, watchful patience rather than open triumph. When his eyes met Vincent's, something passed between them that looked less like enemies and more like two men who understood exactly what political theater required of both of them."We've both lost children to this war in different ways," Everett said quietly, close enough that only Vincent could hear it clearly. "I take no pleasure in this.""Neither do I," Vincent replied, equally quiet.The executioner stepped forward.Chaos erupted.Andre's signal came without warning, hundreds of Basa family members emerging from positions they'd spent hours establishing throughout the crowd, their coordinated movement overwhelming the platform guards before proper resistance could organize. Everett, watching from his position, made a deliberate choice not to intervene immediately, his own guards receiving no urgent orders despite the chaos unfolding directly in front of him.Andre reached Victoria
CHAPTER 153
Andre found Sangxi in the hideout's training yard the following morning, her expression carrying no particular remorse over what she'd done."What were you thinking?" His voice carried genuine frustration, the kind that came from a plan being disrupted by internal chaos rather than external opposition. "We need him functional. You nearly killed our most valuable asset.""He insulted me," Sangxi said, unbothered."He was chained to a wall and thinking about something in his own head. That's not an insult worth whipping a man half to death over.""If he becomes a problem afterward," Sangxi said, examining her own nails with theatrical calm, "you can simply make sure he doesn't survive the operation. Cannon fodder doesn't complain."Andre's jaw tightened. "If he survives what you did to him, and finds out you're the reason, he becomes our enemy. Someone who tore through Third Transition guards and killed an earth mage's incarnation and real body in the same afternoon. Do you understand w
CHAPTER 152
Andre returned with a scroll under his arm and the expression of a man who'd rehearsed his opening line."I've drawn up terms," he said, unrolling the parchment in front of Marco's chained figure. "Join the Basa family officially. A blood oath, standard for our inner circle. In exchange, full freedom, weapons access, protection under our network throughout Yuan Hua."Marco read the terms without moving his head much, the iron through his shoulders limiting his range of motion considerably."A blood oath," he repeated. "Binding for how long?""Permanently," Andre said. "That's the standard arrangement for anyone we bring fully into the family.""No."Andre's face fell. "You haven't even considered—""I've considered it," Marco said. "A permanent binding contract with an organization that burns its own people preemptively as a strategic choice. No.""We're not asking you to be cannon fodder—""I don't trust your organization," Marco said flatly. "Not after the intelligence about Craig n
CHAPTER 151
Chapter 151Marco woke to the specific pain of iron piercing muscle.His eyes opened slowly, the room swimming into focus in stages. Stone walls. No windows. Chains driven directly through his shoulder blades, anchoring him against a wall he had no memory of being brought to. His wrists were bound with something dark and pulsing that seemed to actively pull at his strength every time he tried to move."Demon-devouring stone," a guard nearby said, noticing his attention on the shackles. "Absorbs vital energy directly from the wearer. Struggle all you want."Marco reached instinctively for his Space Ring.Nothing responded."Already handled," the same guard said, with obvious satisfaction. "Tampered with the moment you were brought in. You won't be pulling any tricks out of storage."A young woman stood a few paces away, the same one from earlier, her expression carrying open contempt as she addressed the room."He's seen the hideout. He knows about the schism, the history, everything U
CHAPTER 150
Marco opened his eyes to a ceiling he didn't recognize and a circle of bearded faces staring down at him from close range.He sat up sharply and several of the faces stepped back. They were large men, the kind whose size suggested an occupation history involving physical confrontation, and they were all looking at him with the specific expression of people who hadn't decided yet whether he was a guest or a problem.Andre pushed through the circle, his expression carrying the relief of someone whose gamble had come out on the right side."You're finally awake." He settled into a chair nearby. "You were going after Craig. I didn't expect you to almost succeed.""Thank you," Marco said. He meant it. Then the regret arrived almost immediately. "Still. Almost isn't enough.""Don't feel bad about almost," Andre said, and laughed. "I helped with the follow-up work. Craig is dead. Properly this time."Marco looked at him. "You finished it?""With pleasure," Andre said. "That family burned eve
CHAPTER 149
Marco made it three steps out of the mansion's main entrance before the fireball arrived.It came fast and wide, the kind of attack that didn't need to be accurate because its size covered the margin of error entirely. He twisted sideways in a motion that shouldn't have been physically possible for someone his size, the heat of it passing close enough to singe the hair on his left arm.The ball continued past him and hit the building behind, the explosion sending a mushroom cloud of debris upward that leveled the structure completely. Several guards who'd been rushing through that doorway seconds earlier were simply gone.Marco turned toward where the attack had come from.Craig stood in the mansion's courtyard.The same Craig he'd just watched die with a sword through his chest.Same face. Same build. Same expression, which was currently wearing the particular contempt of someone who'd been waiting for exactly this moment.Marco looked at him. Looked back at the collapsed building wh
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