"Uncle Burns, how are things looking?"
Shi Ke's gaze kept drifting toward the city outskirts and the massive Star Battlefield beyond.
He hadn't advanced to Dawn Star, so he naturally lacked Leilin's unique perception. All he could see was vast stretches of space being torn apart—the aftershocks alone could destroy enormous structures and make the defensive barrier shimmer and tremble. He couldn't help but look toward Burns with worry.
"Don't worry! They're fine! Dawn Star Wizards wouldn't do anything without profit, and that Sass and the other Star-level Fire Elementals can't do anything against your Fire Feather Clan's Star-level powerhouses!"
Burns' expression was somewhat strange as he spoke.
"Then I'm relieved!" Shi Ke patted his chest, then his expression changed drastically. From the tone Burns had just used, he'd sensed something wrong.
Burns was far too familiar with those black-robed figures. And what did he mean by "your Fire Feather Clan"?
He spun his head around and saw the odd look on Burns' face. His entire heart sank. "Uncle... Uncle Burns, you—"
Bang! Before the words could leave his mouth, a black scorpion had crawled onto his neck, its black stinger piercing into Shi Ke's artery.
Shi Ke's eyes went white. The eighth-layer defense of the Fire Feather Technique was utterly useless. He simply collapsed unconscious.
"What's going on? The Commander attacked Lord Shi Ke!"
Some surviving officers watched this scene, feeling their sanity about to shatter. If this was a nightmare, their only wish was for it to end quickly.
"This Shi Ke is a spy! I discovered him long ago and have now apprehended him! All of you, stay at your posts—don't cause panic!"
Burns' hand swiftly removed the jewel-shaped key from beneath Shi Ke's neck—a key containing the illusory shadow of a phoenix. His words left the numerous officers completely stunned.
The illegitimate son of the President, and one who was held in very high regard—Lord Shi Ke—was a spy?
The officers all felt as though they were hearing the year's most ridiculous joke, but looking at Burns wreathed in flickering flames, none of them could laugh.
"Commander, please release Lord Shi Ke!"
Burns didn't have absolute control among the officers. While several Star-level commanders were still fighting outside or had already fallen, their subordinates remained. Even if Burns' own men accepted their commander's actions, those others would never acknowledge it!
"What? You want to make a move on me?"
The Star-level Fire Feather Technique blazed to life. Enormous flames coalesced into a terrifying phoenix phantom. A fluctuation similar to a flame domain seized the entire area.
The officer who had stepped forward to challenge Burns was only at the ninth layer of the Fire Feather Technique. While he counted as a powerhouse among the Sky-level, before Burns he was nothing.
He stumbled back several steps, then flushed red and straightened his back. "The Commander has detained Lord Shi Ke without justification. Please provide evidence that Lord Shi Ke is a spy, otherwise—"
"Otherwise what?"
A scarlet flash of light, and the officer who had been speaking moments ago vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a pile of ash on the ground.
"Did you really think I wouldn't dare kill?" Burns snorted coldly and headed toward the rear, dragging the unconscious Shi Ke with him.
The mass of officers stared at each other, but not a single one dared follow.
"What do you think?" Leilin asked the two dukes from within the shadow crevice beside them.
"That Burns is likely the true mole of Jupiter's Thunder. The previous Locke was just some kind of decoy!"
Gilbert said slowly.
"Mm. And he even completed the tenth layer of the Fire Feather Technique. I'm actually more curious about that!" Leilin's eyes showed unconcealed interest. He himself had needed the Chip's assistance to coordinate the tenth layer of the Fire Feather Technique with the quantum point—so how had Burns managed it? Furthermore, to have infiltrated the Fire Feather Clan for so long, even concealing a bloodline secret technique that could deceive the Crimson Eye—he was very curious about that as well.
"No matter what, that Burns certainly chose a good moment. Not only is the Crimson Eye tied up, but all the other Star-level powerhouses are battling fiercely outside the manor. As long as the outer defenses remain under Burns' control, he has nothing to fear..."
Emma didn't even bother mentioning the remaining officers inside the manor. For a Dawn Star, anything below their level was mere ants. She held no confidence whatsoever that they could stop Burns.
Sure enough, after Burns struck ruthlessly, many officers backed away, not daring to approach again.
Burns snorted coldly and strode deeper into the manor. Anyone who dared block his path was incinerated to ash by his flames.
"What do we do now?"
Emma glanced at Leilin. She found herself increasingly unable to read this young man.
He was not only remarkably patient—if she had come alone, she would have acted during any of the previous opportunities. Why wait until now, when they could obtain the greatest benefit? And this technique of hiding within the void, capable of evading Burns' detection—that was truly extraordinary.