"This battle doesn't seem as difficult as I thought. Maybe I should adjust my estimation of the strength of the Star Alliance members?"

In the burned-out base of the Tensho Squad, Eitaro wiped the blood off his sword while watching Shoukou frantically search for loot in the surrounding boxes and cabinets.

He glanced at Mason, who was "bleeding" the Great Wizard, and said, "It only took less than a minute. I feel like I wasted all the mental preparation I did for my own death. Why are these wizards so weak?"

"Weak?" Mason hadn't even spoken yet, but Shoukou was already annoyed. "You ignorant fool, you only realized how weak they were when you faced them head-on in an open field. Mason's hat sealed their best skills, the talismans and summoning arts of the Eastern wizards. The concentrated fear gas disrupted their senses.

I even used my trump card.

I risked being killed by my 'friends down below' and went all out.

You just patched up a wound, of course you think it's easy, because all the pressure was on my side."

"John is right. These guys never expected to be attacked in the Star Castle. This base hardly has any protective magic, which gave us the opportunity for a successful ambush. But it's only this time."

Mason threw the corpse of the Great Wizard Tengu, who had been suffocated, to the side.

The old man's windpipe was almost completely severed, and his dark eyes were filled with intense resentment. Mason ignored him and picked up the blood-filled golden cup.

After confirming that the seal on it had been released, he shook his head and said, "The downfall of the Tensho Squad will make other wizard defectors more vigilant. It's almost impossible to successfully ambush them when they are prepared.

You saw how troublesome their shape-shifting was. Bullets couldn't hit them, and once they created distance, even assassins like you would be tortured to death by the piercing curse.

Not to mention Ava's soul-destroying curse...

They are not weak, Jason.

We were just prepared, and we are stronger."

"Look at these precious talismans and summoning spells. We hit the jackpot this time!"

Compared to Eitaro's post-battle summary, Konstantin, who was still panting, clearly cared more about the rewards after the effort.

He came back carrying a large box of various talismans and collected the magical bags of several wizards, finally bringing them to a large magic backpack that looked like Mason's briefcase.

This black wizard, who was good at cleaning up the battlefield, casually threw a few captured famous swords to Eitaro. They were definitely not ordinary weapons if they were kept in the base.

The magical fluctuations emanating from those neon-style blades indicated that they were quite powerful magical items.

Now, Eitaro, who loved all kinds of cold weapons, was satisfied.

"What's next?" While pouring a tonic into his mouth, Konstantin looked at Mason, who was pouring the traitor's blood from the golden cup, and said, "We achieved a complete victory in the surprise attack, but this is just the beginning of the trouble. The situation in the room may have already attracted attention. How should we handle the aftermath?"

"It's simple, we don't handle it. Someone else will do it for us."

Mason placed the clean golden cup on the burnt desk and poured alchemical materials he carried into it, igniting the mobile alchemist's Holy Grail with magic fire. He then took some hair from the nearby corpse and threw it in.

The Holy Grail made by the legendary Great Wizard Herkipachi was indeed powerful. It only took less than ten minutes to brew a complex potion that usually took dozens of minutes to make.

Mason followed the same process and made three potions to distribute to the three of them.

They packed the bodies at the scene into their bags, erased all traces, and drank the potion to transform into the appearance of the Tensho Squad captain and members. They also removed the World Gate fixed in the base.

Following the "teaching by example" of Mr. Hunter, Konstantin made holy water on the spot and poured it on the doorknob of the World Gate, wiping away all the world coordinates and making it untraceable.

After completing these tasks, the three of them confidently pushed open the door and left.

They greeted their colleagues they encountered along the way with the unique enthusiasm and indifference of neon people, and after circling the third floor of the Star Castle to attract enough attention, they finally returned to the K Squad's base.

A quick look at "paw𝑟ead.com" will leave you more fulfilled.

When Mason pushed open the door, he saw two members of the Tensho Squad chained to the ground. They had been forced to drink the water of life and death and were in an uncontrollable sleep.

"Is everything done?"

Catwoman, who was sipping a glass of red wine, turned her head to look at the new appearances of the three of them and said, "Are we leaving now?"

"To avoid trouble in the long night."

Mason took out the legendary pistol from his waist and returned it to Judy, saying, "This is a good gun. Today, it probably tasted blood for the first time. Congratulations, my dear friend, you now have a killing gun too."

"I always feel like you guys are a bunch of villains."

Judy took the gun and joked, "You casually wiped out a squad and still remain so calm, Mason, are you sure you're not some dangerous killer or something?"

"We're all in this line of work. It's pointless to dwell on these things."

The captain of the K Squad, who looked like the Great Wizard Tengu, smiled at his new friend and said, "I can only say that those guys brought death upon themselves, that's all. Would you like to come to our base world and take a look, Judy? I think you'll like it there.

You can stay with Barbara, her house is big. You can play and sleep whenever you want."

"I'd love to, but not now."The tech girl shrugged, stood up, and prepared to leave with her three bionic guards who had already returned to their original appearance. She said to Mason:

"Let's talk about it after the 'impact'. If your world still exists, I will definitely make time to visit. I have to report what you did today to my captain... You have to understand, Mason, my captain is a cautious person."

"Go ahead."

As Zha Kang activated the World Gate and opened the path back to Gotham, Mason sent Judy out of the base. Against the backdrop of Er Tong dragging away two unlucky guys bound by chains, he bid farewell:

"I believe I will meet your captain soon, and by then, we will become truly trustworthy and reliable 'insiders'...

You are always welcome to visit my city, Judy.

Trust me, you will definitely find the feeling of Night City in Gotham, a city with simple folk customs and outstanding people. You will love it there, I guarantee!"

---

A few minutes after Team K left the Star Fortress, the door to the base of Team Amaterasu was pushed open.

Mr. Hunter, wearing a mask and a long robe, walked in with his subordinate Anna. She looked at the battle scars all over the room, then at the bloodstains still remaining on the floor, and finally shook her head.

"So unprofessional!"

Miss Anna, the captain of Team Xex, looked at the mess in front of her and complained:

"I thought that Mason Cooper would be more cautious. You clearly warned him! But look at the traces he left, anyone with eyes would know that a murder took place here.

It's just that the sorcerer was not here and couldn't track the battle in time.

Otherwise, I guess those three people would have been caught on the spot. Mr. Hunter, why would you favor such a reckless person? This doesn't seem to be your style."

"You think he's reckless?"

Mr. Hunter chuckled and said:

"No, Anna, he's not reckless, on the contrary, he made the right choice. The captain and main members of Team Amaterasu are dead, but the team is not wiped out. Two people were captured alive by Team K, and the captain's authority will fall on one of them.

Therefore, in the tracking of the Star Association, Team Amaterasu is still active, and the capture of the captain also allowed Team K to successfully obtain the second usable World Gate. And who do you think he left these things for?"

Captain Anna was stunned for a moment, then reacted, stomped her foot in annoyance, and said:

"That bad guy knew you would come here to check, so he deliberately wanted you to clean up this mess for him? That's too much!"

"There's nothing too much about it. Subordinates strive for the realization of the leader's will, even risking their lives. As a leader, one should naturally respond to such noble dedication."

Mr. Hunter shook his head and said:

"Mason knows that only I have the ability to downplay this matter in the Star Fortress, so he asked me for help instead of messing around himself.

This is the right choice, Anna.

That young man understands the relationship between 'duty' and 'rights' very well, which is where you fall short.

You always hope to do things well.

But you didn't realize that if you do everything perfectly, then what is the purpose of my existence as a superior? You should also give me some room to play."

Captain Anna pouted.

She knew Mr. Hunter was making another one of his unfunny jokes.

A few seconds later, she frowned and said:

"Okay, I admit you have a point, but I still don't understand why Mason had to do such a dangerous thing in the Star Fortress? He joined the Star Association only a month ago and had no conflict with Team Amaterasu."

"In our line of work, conflict and contradiction are not the only reasons for action. Moreover, there is indeed a contradiction between them, an irreconcilable one."

Mr. Hunter walked through the devastated base, finally picked up a broken picture frame from the ashes of the flames, and wiped it in his hand.

In the frame was an old photo.

In the black and white photo, the great wizards of the Merlin Order all had smiles on their faces. This magical image perfectly presented the scene when the photo was taken.

The then young Great Wizard Tengu was standing with the white-bearded old man Dumbledore, their faces full of pride and arrogance as great wizards.

"The man who died in this room is a traitor, Anna."

Mr. Hunter stared at the magical photo and said softly:

"When Team Amaterasu, the Death Eaters, and the Lighthouse joined the Star Association, I had looked up their background information. You know, their world was not just destroyed by the hounds.

There are hidden facts about the fall of that world.

And these wizards, who should have stood with their compatriots to resist the invaders, embraced the enemy at the first opportunity.

I've seen the battle summary.

They helped release the virus worldwide and attacked governments. Without their assistance, that world should have resisted longer.

At least the diluted zombie virus couldn't have destroyed that potentially powerful world so quickly.

Team K has no grudges with them.

But perhaps in Mason's eyes, these traitors are his enemies!

Just like me back then... This young man is doing what I once did, and what you are doing now. He is finding those traitors who are more hateful than the invaders one by one, and sending them where they should go.

This won't bring back the world's survival, but at least it can vent some anger.""But he is not a person from this world at all!"

Captain Anna sighed and said, "He has no reason to do this. Is it just for the sake of his own grievances that he is willing to risk destruction and execute these bastards who will eventually die?

I don't think he is that great, and he doesn't seem like a radical person."

"This has nothing to do with what he thinks."

Mr. Hunter put the black and white photo into his waist bag, while using his authority as a leader to reshape the devastated base room, and said in a low voice:

"In this complex and dark era, we don't have so much time to care about one person's thoughts, Anna. What he does is more important than what he thinks.

As for the reason... heh, when the sons of justice enter a place where black and white are reversed and order is broken, it is their only and innate mission to turn it upside down.

They will definitely do it!

Even if it's just because they witnessed the disasters of others.

Mason Cooper has a kind heart, and the best part is that he is not at all outdated. He knows how to fight against darkness in an effective, decisive, and even ruthless way.

Just witnessing today's 'revenge of the dead' is enough to make me happy. I'm starting to like that little guy."

Mr. Hunter laughed and said, "Even though I only met him twice. It seems like he has already figured out my preferences hidden behind the mask. He knows what I want to see, so he presented this scene for me.

The dying screams of the traitors and the scattered filthy blood are probably the 'reward' he left for me, to pay me for helping him clean up the mess. Learn from him, Anna.

This makes me happier than you perfectly completing every task I give you."

"Stop with your twisted tastes, sir."

Captain Anna muttered behind him, "Mason Cooper doesn't know what dangerous thing we are planning. If he knew, he would probably be scared and run away from your clutches."

"Oh?"

Mr. Hunter looked at the base room that had been completely restored to its previous state.

He turned to look at Anna and said meaningfully, "Do you really think he hasn't guessed? Maybe, after all, this young man has never personally witnessed the scene of the 'impact' happening, but I believe he will soon make up for this shortcoming.

By then, he will face a choice. Either join us.

Or, for various reasons, willingly become... a hound!"

"Then he will become our enemy."

Captain Anna flexed her gray combat gloves on her hands and said softly, "If he dares to disappoint your expectations, then I will personally execute him! Just like what I did before, traitors are never worth forgiving!"

"Enough of that."

Mr. Hunter specifically opened a silver light screen door, and as he walked into it, he asked softly, "You still haven't found your friends? It's been so long, maybe those people have already..."

"They won't!"

Captain Anna said firmly, "They set off with a great mission. In the dark night when the apocalypse happened, they carried the last hope of us homeless people.

I believe they will deliver those precious seeds to a safe world and then come back to meet us. They must still be alive!

They may have already returned to their hometown, as long as I can find the way back... yes, as long as I can find that damn world coordinate! I will definitely find them!

After witnessing the destruction of our homeland with my own eyes, I have vowed not to give up on any compatriot."

"You know how difficult this is, Anna. What you are pursuing is even more difficult than what Mason wants to do. Right now, he just wants to overturn everything, while you are still trying to find the possibility of rebuilding."

Mr. Hunter also sighed.

She patted Anna's shoulder and said, "But hold on to hope and look forward to it. In this dark era, that is the only thing we have left. By the way, has the swordsman been in contact with you recently?"

"Who wants to contact her!"

Miss Anna snorted and said, "She is no longer one of us. She is also a traitor, and I will eventually... I will definitely do it!"