Returning to the Mysterious Era-Chapter 365 - Please Show Off with Full Confidence

Beneath the moonlight, he called out without any hesitation, showing no signs of reluctance or discontent.

"Very good, quite spirited! Come here, I have a gift for you." Cassius squinted and smiled as he beckoned him over.

The "gift" Cassius referred to was, of course, the Golem Seed, one of the measures he used to control his followers. Of course, this wouldn't work on a combat artist-level expert.

combat artists could gradually wear down the Demon Seed with their Qi.

If Simone managed to break through to combat artist, he could use his Qi to remove the Demon Seed as well. However, doing so would alert Cassius. Moreover, injecting a Demon Seed into a pugilist who had already become a combat artist was different from injecting it into one who broke through afterward.

In the latter case, the Demon Seed would bond much more deeply with the individual.

Removing it wouldn't be as easy as in the former case and would come at a cost, such as reducing one's strength. This served as a safeguard, preventing Simone from easily harboring thoughts of escaping Cassius' control. Even if he did, it would be challenging to do so. Based on his earlier interactions with Simone, Cassius saw that he was a smart man who knew how to act.

For example, after Cassius openly explained the purpose of the Demon Seed, Simone didn't hesitate to accept and use it.

Because of this, Cassius felt some appreciation for him. He sent a small stream of life energy through, allowing Simone to immediately taste the benefits.

This special, warm energy flowed through his body, healing old injuries and hidden ailments. Ever since Simone had failed to break through to combat artist years ago, there had been an injury in his chest that caused a persistent feeling of oppression. As the energy circulated through his chest, that feeling of suffocation instantly dissipated.

Simone's entire body felt more relaxed and comfortable.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much of this energy. It was just a taste, like a small, sweet date.

Cassius observed the changes in Simone's expression closely, while his peripheral vision caught Amos' reaction. It was time to reveal some things to his allies, although Cassius figured Amos had probably already investigated the Ace of Spades organization thoroughly. Many things were impossible to keep hidden, so it was better to be open.

This way, he could use honesty as a strategy, revealing sincerity.

Moreover, the Covert Martial Arts world wasn't without similar Secret Techniques. The abilities Cassius controlled were just more potent, refined, and manageable. Amos was proof of that. The Violent Storm's Three Limits wasn't even Covert Martial Arts but an ancient Secret Technique.

It allowed Amos to possess three different age forms: young, middle-aged, and elderly.

Despite being in his seventies or eighties, Amos now looked like a young boy. So while Cassius' abilities were remarkable, they weren't unprecedented.

Furthermore, such Secret Techniques usually came with significant cultivation limitations and side effects. Otherwise, the Black Ops Agency wouldn't have only Amos practicing the Violent Storm's Three Limits. There had to be conditions or side effects that were too severe.

The same applied to Cassius' secrets.

The moon hung high, casting shadows through the trees as a cool breeze blew.

Simone was sent back, while the banquet performance at the Eastern Martial Arts Exchange hosted by the Evil Eye Fist should have been wrapping up soon.

At Saka Park, Amos and Cassius seemed to be discussing something, walking along the broken paths toward the undamaged man-made lake. Meanwhile, agents from the Black Ops Agency and government personnel were already flooding the park entrance to handle the aftermath.

The moon was partially obscured by floating clouds, casting a soft, shimmering light on the lake.

One tall, one short, one old, one young—Amos and Cassius walked slowly along the lakeside, their shadows stretching and casting reflections on the water's surface.

"Cassius, it seems that taking Simone as your subordinate isn't just because you appreciate him... Even though he has the potential to break through to combat artist, that alone wouldn't merit such an attitude. Do you have something planned for him?" Amos asked, probing carefully, his glasses reflecting a faint glimmer.

"Is that how you see me? Can't it just be an act of goodwill to help a talented person with a tragic past?" Cassius said, pretending to be hurt.

"Come on, drop the act. You can't fool me. Although we've only met a few times, I feel strangely familiar with you. You rarely show any kindness. If anything, you have a natural coldness. While it's not enough to say you're completely out of place in the world, there's always a certain distance. I doubt you have anyone close enough to truly confide in."

Amos suddenly shifted the topic towards Cassius himself. Fifty years had passed, and his sharp insight had long been honed.

"Heh... It's not like I was born cold-blooded, but on the path to power, you inevitably lose something. Honestly, it's already a feat that I didn't turn into a monster," Cassius laughed coldly, his gaze carrying a hint of reminiscence. "As for people worth trusting... there were three, I suppose. Sadly, they're probably all gone by now."

Glancing at Amos beside him, Cassius decided not to continue the topic any further and bluntly stated his objective. "I plan to make Simone the champion of this Eastern Martial Arts Exchange Tournament. He has the strength for it. Then, I'll help him reach the level of a combat artist and push him to challenge the sect master of one of the participating sects. Let's target the host, Evil Eye Fist."

"Right after that, we'll make our move, and on the same day, we'll strike against the entire Evil Eye Fist. You'll personally kill their only two combat artists and announce the rise of Golem Sect. Plus, Simone will betray his own master. He's the top disciple of Cloud Dog Fist Sect, the strongest of the Eastern Nine Sects, yet he'll stand behind you, having already broken through to become a combat artist!" Amos interrupted Cassius, his eyes gradually brightening, mumbling to himself about how devious the plan was.

"And we even have a reason for it. You'll claim to be a descendant of Red Falcon Fist, which was oppressed and destroyed by Evil Eye Fist. After years of mastering Covert Martial Arts in secret, you've finally taken your revenge!"

"Brilliant, just brilliant... And with our Black Ops Agency subtly fanning the flames from behind, we could easily turn you into a symbol of resistance within the Covert Martial Arts community, against the tyranny of the Eastern Nine Sects," Amos continued, more convinced by the plan as he spoke, nodding approvingly at Cassius.

It was almost as if he was praising the man's deviousness.

"Don't look at me like that. You're the one who came up with most of this, not me. I wasn't thinking that far ahead. But you're quite the schemer, Amos. You even designed the follow-up. If we proceed as you've suggested, it's bound to cause a massive uproar. Impressive, really! No wonder you've been the Black Ops administrator for fifty years," Cassius squinted and clapped his hands, his expression sly, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"You..." Amos was momentarily speechless, shocked by Cassius' shamelessness. Don't you know exactly what you're thinking?

"Fine, say what you want, as long as the plan goes smoothly. I only care about the result."

Shaking his head, Amos gave up on arguing with Cassius.

"Oh? ‘As long as the plan goes smoothly,' that's what you said," Cassius nodded in approval.

"What do you mean by that?" Amos stopped in his tracks.

"Well, didn't you come up with most of the specifics? You should be the one to explain Simone's role to him. It only makes sense that whoever makes the plan, explains it."

As Cassius finished his sentence, the atmosphere fell silent. Only the rustling of leaves could be heard.

Amos met Cassius' gaze, his face twisted as though he were constipated.

"You son of a..."

In the end, after completing their walk around the man-made lake, Amos grudgingly accepted the task, his face sour. After all, he couldn't deny he had a big mouth. Cassius had merely started the conversation, and Amos had filled in all the details, which ended up trapping him. He could refuse, of course, but there was no need.

Cassius had his reasons for avoiding telling Simone about the follow-up. After all, Simone's role in the plan wasn't a favorable one. It would involve betraying his master in front of a public audience.

While this would certainly make Golem Sect's debut in the Eastern Covert Martial Arts world more impactful and famous, it would severely damage Simone's own reputation. Betraying one's masters in the martial arts world was a stigma no one could bear.

Thus, breaking the news to Simone wasn't an enviable task and could easily lead to resentment. Cassius didn't want to create tension with someone who would eventually become his top combat artist.

At least not for now. He still needed Simone after the Eastern Martial Arts Exchange Tournament.

Given the circumstances, Amos, who held sufficient status, strength, and understanding of the plan, was the only one left to handle the situation.

Let Amos play the villain.

When they parted ways at the gate of Saka Park, Amos glared at Cassius for a long time before finally muttering the same words often spoken by Eye Devil, "You're despicable..."

Late at night, in a villa in Mia City.

On a crescent-shaped open-air balcony, a handsome, blond young man reclined on a lounge chair, holding a drink. In the living room, a vinyl record slowly spun, playing a soothing melody.

With his eyes slightly closed, he seemed to be enjoying the cool autumn breeze. Several hundred meters away, a dense shadow flitted through the quiet corners of the city, moving at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye. In an instant, the shadow reached the villa, crawling up the walls like a spider and silently landing on the third floor.

The thin shadow stood beside the young man before gradually merging into the ground.

"Well behaved, no reckless actions..."

Cassius opened his dark blue eyes and muttered to himself, "But I must say, Simone must have trained in some Secret Technique to sharpen his aura detection. He almost sensed the Shadow Demon."

The stealth of the Shadow Demon was usually top-notch, and Cassius could only sense it because he had been parasitized by one.

This time, he sent out the Shadow Demon not just to monitor Simone but also to gather information on the Eastern Martial Arts Exchange Tournament. The various sects, the rules, and the layout of the venue — he wanted to know it all. The more he knew, the better he could show off.

Yes, Amos' only request for Cassius was to make sure he impressed everyone. He needed to make a domineering entrance at his first appearance, overwhelming the sects present.

Only then would Golem Sect's forceful image be established.

Admittedly, when Amos mentioned this, Cassius had felt a little embarrassed. He had asked how exactly he should make such an entrance since overacting could backfire. At the time, Amos had looked at him, opened his mouth to say something, then stopped, giving Cassius a second glance. Finally, he coughed lightly and said,

"Just act like your usual self."

Cassius had initially thought Amos was suggesting that he be natural, but later realized that Amos was subtly mocking him, implying that his usual demeanor already exuded strength. How could that be? He wasn't that kind of person at all! Amos' malicious assumptions were pure slander!

It was probably his way of getting back at Cassius for making him play the bad guy. Petty, really, with no consideration for the bigger picture.

On the white-tiled balcony, Cassius slowly stood up from his chair, casually picking up a glass of strong liquor from a small wooden table nearby.

He took a hearty swig, savoring the burning sensation in his throat, and gazed into the distance.

His eyes seemed to pierce through the towering buildings, fixing on the Black Eye Tower, where the Eastern Martial Arts Exchange Tournament would be held.

"The script is already written. Evil Eye Fist, you're finished..."