Cerol City, inside the royal palace.

Wilsar and Rangetsu had hoped the bounty would trip up Yumigawa Sumeragi’s group. The outcome left their expectations in ashes.

Lanxia spoke a single name. Panic bloomed like wildfire. The whole nation scattered like startled birds, blaming the Basiloth royals for the mess. Now everyone waited to watch Basiloth’s tragedy.

A Dark Demon intel officer droned through updates. Wilsar sighed, a soft wind through tired pines. “The Mizumi Clan’s standing in this world far exceeds what I imagined. People don’t just avoid rebellion—they don’t dare entertain the thought.”

“Indeed. The Mizumi Clan’s power is so terrifying it douses hope like rain on a flame.”

Rangetsu felt helpless. His life’s vow was to topple the Mizumi Clan and free the Central Continent. His blood ran hot in speeches. Reality stayed cold. He’d run Dark Demon for centuries, yet never touched the Central Continent. The world mocked him like winter crows.

Without Wilsar, he would’ve lived out a grey life—though helping another world invade this one was a crooked path. Still, his bridges were burned. Only his conviction remained.

“Hmph. They only lean on the Mizumi name. It’s not that impressive.”

Lixin’s tone carried sour plums. In the Inner World, she was a princess of a powerful nation, blessed with talent. Pride had been her mirror.

This world shattered that mirror. After meeting Yumigawa Sumeragi’s group, her pride crumbled into dust. In front of the Mizumi Clan, a princess felt like a beggar. Comparison kills the heart.

“Don’t say that.” Wilsar shook his head. “If status solves a problem, who’d be foolish enough not to use it?”

“Wilsar’s right, Lixin. Don’t let jealousy steer you,” Nakat said gently.

“So, only the army’s reliable now?” Rangetsu murmured. He turned to the intel officer. “How are preparations? What’s our total strength?”

“Um…” The officer’s tongue knotted.

“Say it straight. Don’t worry.”

From the officer’s hesitation, Wilsar and Rangetsu already smelled the rot. Things weren’t going well.

“Alright.” Permitted to speak, the officer exhaled. “Once they learned the targets were Mizumi Clan members, Basiloth’s army morale dropped to the cellar. Soldiers requested leave for any excuse and went home. Many resigned outright.”

“Where’s a soldier’s loyalty?” Lixin snapped. “The empire’s in crisis. They’re not helping—they’re deserting!”

“Forgive my bluntness. Their loyalty belongs to the Basiloth royal house. You seized the throne by force. They don’t know you, so there’s no loyalty to give. And this time, the enemy is the Mizumi Clan. Wanting to flee is human nature. Even if the Basiloth Emperor ordered it, few would choose to oppose the Mizumi Clan.”

“Fair point. We don’t have their hearts.” Wilsar nodded. “How many are left in the ranks?”

“Most are gone. Only three elite units remain, plus three generals at divine-tier peak.”

“Hm. Not bad. More weak rabble wouldn’t help anyway.” Rangetsu let out a thin breath.

“Why didn’t the elites and the three divine generals flee?” Nakat asked.

“They’re the Basiloth Empire’s foundation. They signed soul contracts to live and die with the empire. They can’t run. Even unwilling, they must fight.”

“Unwilling…”

When they first arrived, Wilsar, Lixin, Nakat and the others were confident. Compared to the Inner World, this world crawled forward. Numbers above the Zenith of Law Realm were rare. They thought the Mizumi Clan couldn’t be that strong.

Deepening knowledge turned confidence to clay. Toppling the Mizumi Clan felt unreal.

Behind them stood exalted Origin Realm beings. They monopolized the Central Continent. Most crucial, no force anywhere dared oppose them. Their status towered like an unscalable cliff.

Dark Demon? They’d mouthed “topple the Mizumi Clan” for centuries. In Wilsar’s eyes, they were third-rate. Still, in a world where no one else would resist, Dark Demon was the only thread to grasp.

At least Dark Demon’s centuries gave them a map of this world that Wilsar’s group lacked.

And Wilsar’s team only needed to carry out Xiyue’s orders. No need to wring their brains dry with detailed plans.

Rapid footsteps hammered outside the palace. A squad of richly dressed nobles stormed the grand hall, anger rolling like storm surf.

“You put a bounty on the Mizumi Clan? Are you insane?!”

“Exactly! If you want to die by opposing them, don’t drag us down! Return the crown to the Basiloth Emperor and get out!”

“Get out! You fools who don’t know heaven’s height! You dared offend the Mizumi Clan!”

As expected, Cerol City’s nobles came to make a scene the moment they heard the bounty targeted the Mizumi sisters. Mizumi transcendence sat deeper in their bones than fear of Wilsar’s Law Realm power.

So what if you’re Law Realm? The four races’ strongest are all at the Zenith of Law Realm, and they still bow to the Mizumi Clan.

Most people wanted the Mizumi Clan to endure forever. As long as they existed, humanity kept the reins.

Yes, humanity’s equal footing with the four races—sometimes even pressing them—was a gift from the Mizumi Clan.

The four races might be strong. So what? Humans had the Mizumi Clan. That’s why most humans held the Mizumi Clan as faith.

“We’re the masters of Basiloth now. Shut up.”

Already irritable, Rangetsu flared when the nobles started complaining.

“Masters? Hah. You’re barbarians who seized power by force. You don’t have the people’s hearts,” the lead noble sneered.

“The Mizumi Clan hoards the entire Central Continent! Aren’t you angry? Why defend them so hard?”

Lixin didn’t understand. Everywhere they went, the Mizumi Clan’s status felt sacred and untouchable.

“Why be angry? Humans became masters of the world because of the Mizumi Clan. The four races were pushed back to their own planes. Meanwhile, some third-rate group called Dark Demon keeps shouting about overthrowing them. Laughable—”

He didn’t finish. Rangetsu’s face went black. A spell flashed like lightning. The noble burst into red dust. Panic slammed the hall.

“You’ll kill us just for opposing a fight with the Mizumi Clan?! This is dictatorship—” He didn’t finish either. Rangetsu erased him like chalk.

“Enough blather. If you don’t want to die, get out! If you won’t oppose the Mizumi Clan, then get out of the Basiloth Empire!”

Rangetsu’s anger burned white-hot. “If you want to worship the Mizumi Clan, go worship elsewhere! You say they gave humans the lead? Look at what they’ve done for a thousand years—no outsiders in the Central Continent. No concern for the wider world. They hide in the Central Continent like grain weevils, then travel when bored, staring down at all living things from on high!

As world overlords, they monopolize the Central Continent’s resources. Fine. But they also play isolation and ignore the secular world, caring only for pleasure. They can’t lead the world’s growth. Only content, ambitionless frogs would worship them!”

“Come now, Chief Rangetsu, don’t get riled. No need to argue with frogs in a well.”

Rangetsu’s heartfelt blaze lifted Wilsar’s opinion of him.

“As Chief Rangetsu said, the world—no, this entire world—has been smothered under the Mizumi Clan for too long. Centuries without substantial development. Every major force feels lifeless. Isn’t this dull? People ought to be equal. Why do Mizumi children get everything at birth? Where does that leave the hardworking masses?”

Wilsar let a subtle charm ride his magnetic voice. “I won’t force you to join us against a decayed, inert Mizumi Clan. Just go home and think—does the current Mizumi Clan still deserve your faith?”

“Um…”

“…”

Like men half-beguiled, half-struck in the heart, the nobles fell silent. They turned away, thoughtful, and left in a hush.

…