"The match is over. Come here." Clovis called Stefany while looking at Melody holding the lily.

"Yes, I know." Stefany was already moving. After all, she had been escorted by other people.

As soon as the winner had been decided, the people from her faction as well as Vina's faction immediately went to her, informing her of her success.

More importantly, among them was the Dark Supreme.

"Is that so? In that case, I will wait." Clovis hung up.

As soon as she lowered her phone, the Dark Supreme clapped her hands. "I guess that means you will be my successor…"

"It is an honor, sir." Stefany lowered her head.

"You know? The Libation Fiesta and the Hacfield family owe me something. Since you're now my successor, it's time for me to erase that connection. This way, the Dark Moon Mercenary will remain neutral." The Dark Supreme smirked.

"That's…" Stefany was bewildered. She truly didn't expect that the Dark Moon Mercenary would actually have something to do with the Hacfield family.

"What? You don't believe me?"

"No, that's not it." Stefany shook her head.

"Just say so." The Dark Supreme took out his phone and called Clovis.

"Hello?"

"Clovis. It's me."

"Oh. What do you need from me, sir?"

Stefany couldn't believe that Clovis was actually so polite to the Dark Moon Mercenary. As he said, Clovis might owe him something.

Of course, she recognized the voice. She knew it was Clovis.

"No need to call me, sir. Anyway, how about this? You take a step back and don't contact Stefany anymore. Just consider everything between us even."

"If that's what you want, sure."

"You're not going to complain? After all this hard work, you end up with nothing."

"For me, the Libation Fiesta might need a connection to the Dark Moon Mercenary, but I believe that the Dark Moon Mercenary needs that connection more than us. If it ends up becoming nothing, then it's nothing."

"Okay, good. I will talk to you soon."

"Yes."

The Dark Supreme smiled and hung up. "See? Easy. No one can control the Dark Moon Mercenary. Even the Prophet can't."

"…" Stefany was stupefied. She never knew that the Dark Supreme had all that connection. If she thought about it, she might be the one controlling it in the future.

"So, here's what you're going to do for me. Cut contact with Clovis and start taking my direct lessons on how to become the next Dark Supreme. Understood?"

Stefany fell silent. The obvious answer would be yes. If she agreed to this, it would mean declaring herself a winner.

The threat Clovis had against her wouldn't be enough. However, that threat was no longer dangerous.

Even though Clovis had it and he could blackmail her, Stefany knew Clovis was a man of integrity. He promised not to use it anymore, so he wouldn't do it even if they became enemies.

After spending so much time with Clovis, Stefany knew Clovis' character.

That was why when the Dark Supreme offered such an offer, she couldn't accept it right away.

If she truly wanted to become the Dark Supreme, she would definitely accept it. But that would also mean she would do the same thing one more time.

Even if that was going to make her strip her position, Stefany took a deep breath before answering, "I'm sorry, sir. I don't think I can do that."

"You can't?" The Dark Supreme narrowed his eyes. "Are you defying my orders?"

"No, sir. They're my allies. I'm not going to abandon them like this. My debt is mine to pay."

The Dark Supreme frowned. "What does he have on you? Is he blackmailing you?"

"No, sir. I want to do this myself. I know how illogical it is, but if I abandon my allies this time, I won't get the trust of the people." Stefany looked down. "Besides, I am well aware of my talent.

"Even if I train hard from this day onward, I won't be able to become a Tier 8 human. That's why I will walk on my own path."

Stefany knew that Clovis was the only rope she could cling to. In the future, there would be people trying to threaten her position, simply because she didn't have enough strength.

That was why the connection to Clovis was needed.

Clovis would handle the danger to her life, and in exchange, she would remain Clovis' closest ally.

Stefany could at least see through this after everything she had gone through.

The Dark Supreme's eyes became cold. "I will ask you once again. Are you sure? Do you know the consequences of your actions?"

"I know. This is precisely why I can't do it." Stefany nodded with a serious expression. "Even if you ask me the same thing in the future, my answer will be the same."

The Dark Supreme glared at her, but Stefany didn't back down. This was the resolution she had made.

The Dark Supreme extended his hand. "Give me your blade."

One of the escorts gave him his blade.

The Dark Supreme grabbed Stefany's hair and pushed her head down, placing the blade on the back of her neck. "I'm giving you ONE! LAST! CHANCE!"

Stefany closed her eyes, resigning to her fate. "Yes, sir. My decision won't change."

The Dark Supreme raised the blade and swung it down. Stefany's body shook, but she didn't say anything.

Surprisingly, the blade stopped right at the back of her neck.

Stefany was confused. She had prepared a lot of things. She even wondered if she was already dead.

However, the Dark Supreme pulled her back and handed the blade to his subordinate. "Congratulations, now I can truly entrust you with the Dark Moon Mercenary."

"Sir?" Stefany, looking distressed, stared at him.

"Now that you are my successor, I can finally tell you about one thing. My name is Matthew Kindell."

"Matthew Kindell…" Stefany was confused at first, but she soon recalled a name. Her eyes were wide open, unable to believe what she had just heard.

"I was the right-hand man of Michael Hacfield, the man in charge of all operations of the Hacfield family in the past.

"When the Hacfield family broke up, many people left. However, there were a lot of members who remained loyal.

"As such, the Hacfield family created two divisions. The ones protecting the Hacfield family in the dark, the Shadow Guards. The ones biding their time to fight for the Hacfield family one more time, the Dark Moon Mercenary."

"!!!" Stefany dropped her jaw.

"And I guess I don't have to tell you, but these men are those who were once loyal to the Hacfield family. If you had sold out your former partner earlier, I wouldn't have to do anything. These guys would probably kill you on the spot. I know your reason for rejecting it might be different, but now that you are my successor, you have the right to know that information."