Chapter 63: A Life-Risking Mission

Chapter 63: A Life-Risking Mission

Yong Amsan’s anger and fear were not without reason.

Because among the people present, he was one of the only two Dark Starbearers who had ever fought Tendou head-on.

Yong Amsan knew exactly how terrifying Tendou’s strength was.

At the same time, he also understood how unbelievably difficult it would be to hold Tendou back for even one minute.

Unless he could immediately break through and reach the realm of a second-order Starbearer…

Otherwise, he had no confidence he could last even three exchanges in front of Tendou.

Realizing this, Yong Amsan shook his head wildly, his voice trembling:

“Impossible, impossible! That monster is definitely not someone I can get anywhere near!”

“Burdean, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but that guy—he’s not even human!”

“Forget holding him for a minute—even lasting thirty seconds isn’t something we can guarantee!”

Faced with Yong Amsan’s protest, the Machina Type Starbearer, Claude, nodded in agreement.

Because despite Burdean claiming earlier that they had thoroughly analyzed Tendou’s true condition, Claude knew very well that this so-called analysis was based only on a few brief moments of Tendou’s attacks captured on video, plus their partial firsthand impressions at the time—at best a guess at Tendou’s potential strength.

It absolutely did not represent Tendou’s full power.

So, remaining calm, Claude immediately asked a very crucial question:

“Burdean, according to what you said—if the four of us join forces to stall Masamune, then who are you planning to send to capture Isabelle?”

“You know that aside from Masamune protecting her from the shadows, she also has three other mysterious genius Starbearers by her side.”

“Even if the three combined might not be as terrifying as Masamune  alone… they’re still not opponents average people can deal with.”

“Not to mention—the training camp is an obvious weak point. There’s no way Dorian hasn’t laid out any precautions.”

“When things go down, who’s going to handle Cromwell, that second-order Starbearer who could appear at any time?”

At this question, Burdean tapped the table with his finger, then calmly gave his reply.

“Don’t worry, Claude. Cromwell won’t show up.”

“And as for the people who will capture Isabelle—you don’t need to worry about that either. I’ve already arranged everything.”

“So as long as you can stall Masamune for one minute, there is no possibility of this plan failing.”

Claude froze for a moment, then his expression shifted to one of realization, as though he finally understood what Burdean meant.

“You’re planning to use them?”

“But will they agree? Their rules are extremely strict. If they’re found to have taken private jobs and interfered with local affairs, the ones above will never let them off!”

Burdean didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he stood up and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him.

Outside, the night lights of Deep Blue Metropolis glittered in neon colors.

The glow passed through the glass and fell onto Burdean’s face, half hidden in shadow.

After a moment, he spoke in a soft, distant voice:

“Claude… rules have never been absolute.”

“As long as the benefits of breaking the rules are great enough, no matter how strict the rules are, someone will always be willing to take the risk.”

“The waters of Deep Blue run deep, and its waves are fierce. But the rougher the sea, the more fishermen are compelled to sail out.”

“Because only in such raging storms do they have the chance to catch the most valuable fish.”

Hearing these words, not only Claude—the others also finally understood who Claude had been referring to.

Who Burdean had arranged… to capture Isabelle in their place.

No need to think too hard—it was definitely one or several Starbearers from the Starbearer Association’s Deep Blue Metropolis branch.

Because only the Association’s Starbearers were bound by all kinds of rules and regulations that prevented them from acting freely.

And only they had the ability to take on multiple genius-level Level-1 Starbearers.

The only reason none of them had considered this possibility earlier was because Association Starbearers were completely different from unrestrained Dark Starbearers.

They had someone watching over them—and that someone was the Association President, hailed as the strongest Starbearer of the current era.

And that president despised nothing more than seeing the people under him get involved in this kind of filthy political struggle.

So relying on Association Starbearers was hardly a wise choice.

Because if Dorian exposed this incident… no matter how powerful the figure backing Burdean was, those Association Starbearers who recklessly interfered would definitely face severe punishment.

In this era, overwhelming strength was the definition of power.

And the President, possessing such absolute strength, was practically synonymous with authority.

If he didn’t firmly believe that ordinary people should be governed by ordinary people, and Starbearers should be governed by Starbearers… the New Federation’s president might have been replaced long ago.

However, even knowing the enormous risks involved, the possibility of gaining several powerful external reinforcements wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Thinking of this, Yong Amsan couldn’t help but say:

“Using a few Association Starbearers and several Dark Starbearers just to deal with a bunch of kids who haven’t even grown all their feathers yet… If word gets out, we’ll become the laughingstock of the entire Starbearer world.”

“But what’s worse is—I actually don’t think there’s anything wrong with this arrangement!”

“Because without joint efforts, there’s simply no way we could handle those little monsters.”

“Sigh… I really don’t know where that monstrous brat crawled out from. With such terrifying talent and strength, how have I never heard of him before?”

“Burdean, once this mission is over, you’d better increase the reward you promised me.”

“Because the pressure and danger I’m facing now… is way, way beyond what you originally told me.”

Burdean nodded.

“Rest assured, Yong Amsan. As long as it gets done, I won’t let you suffer any losses.”

“Good. That’s all I needed to hear. But I’m heading out first.”

“Even though our mission is only to stall that monster, to achieve even that much, we all need to put our heads on the line and prepare ourselves for not coming back.”

With that, Yong Amsan pushed open the office door and left with a solemn expression.

At the same time, Claude—sitting pale-faced in his wheelchair—coughed a few times before announcing he would return to re-examine the Tendou footage and further refine his newly completed mechanical construct.

Because just as Yong Amsan had said, even though the mission involved the four of them working together, even though they only needed to stall Tendou for one minute, something that seemed absurd to outsiders carried absolutely massive risk in reality.

Not just Yong Amsan—Claude also lacked the confidence.

All they could do was try their best.

And once Claude and Yong Amsan had left, Lina idly plucked the strings of her bone harp, letting it release a haunting, sorrowful tremor.

“Let’s go, Burdean. I hope we can still meet again in a few days.”

“And when that time comes… I hope I can play you a proper lullaby.”

“Mm. Go, Lina.”

Watching Lina’s departing figure, a complicated expression surfaced on Burdean’s face.

It was clear he had heard the finality hidden in her voice.

Obviously, Lina believed that this time… she would not be returning alive.

After she left, the only Dark Starbearer remaining in the room—Visel—finally spoke.

“Burdean, all this just for some shares? Are you really willing to pay such a huge price?”

“You know that even if you don’t go this far, you’d still remain one of the richest men in Deep Blue Metropolis, with wealth so vast you couldn’t spend it all in a lifetime.”

Burdean turned his head, meeting Visel’s gaze directly as he replied:

“Visel, I can’t just watch Dorian drag the entire corporation into the abyss.”

“Because this corporation doesn’t belong to only him, it belongs to many others as well.”

“He wants to use that man as a stepping stone and push BluEther Group beyond Deep Blue, into the broader outside world.”

“But in my eyes, he’s just leading everyone to their death.”

“The world outside… is far, far colder than the seawater surrounding Deep Blue.”

“So no matter the cost, I must do everything in my power to stop him.”

“Because the little ship that is BluEther Group is absolutely not built to endure those storms.”

Visel paused, then casually put away the scalpel that had been dancing in his fingers.

He stood up.

“I see. A battle where everything is on the line, huh? Interesting.”

“Burdean, since you have that kind of insane courage, I suppose I can’t afford to fall behind.”

“Masamune Tendou… let me see, on this operating table weighed down with so many lives, who will be the one left standing in the end? Hahaha!”

Laughing in his usual unhinged manner, Visel walked out of the office.

Once the final Dark Starbearer had departed, Burdean returned alone to his desk and activated the holographic projector.

Moments later, the life-sized projection of a masked man appeared before him.

“Have all the pieces been positioned?”

“Yes, sir.” Burdean lowered his head and said quietly, “including… the necessary sacrifices.”

At those words, the projected figure chuckled softly.

“Good, Burdean. I told you long ago—Dark Starbearers are nothing but sewer rats.”

“You may use these rats to test whether the city’s drainage system is functioning.”

“But you must never allow yourself to grow too close to them.”

“For rats are fated to live underground—while you are destined to return to the surface.”

“So listen carefully, Burdean—regardless of whether this matter succeeds or fails, not one of those four rats is to be left alive.”

With that, the man on the other end decisively cut the connection.

As the hologram faded, Burdean stood in silence for a moment.

Then he grabbed the ashtray in front of him and hurled it forcefully at the liquor cabinet beside him.

Crack!

He stared at the shattered glass scattered across the floor, and the red wine slowly flowing out of the cabinet—like fresh blood.

In a low, heavy voice, Burdean muttered:

“In the eyes of monsters like you… what difference is there between me and those four rats?”

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