Chapter 63: A Mission to Bet One's Life

Rongshan’s anger and fear weren’t unfounded.

Among those present, he was one of only two Dark Stellar Envoys who had directly faced Tian Dao Siming.

He knew—deep in his bones—just how terrifying that man truly was.

And he also knew how impossible it was to hold Tian Dao even for a single minute.

Unless he could instantly break through and reach the Second-Rank Stellar Envoy level…

There was no way he could last three rounds against the monster.

Thinking this, Rongshan shook his head violently, voice trembling.

“No way, no way! Tian Dao Siming is no ordinary enemy—this isn’t someone I can just walk up to!”

“Bodean, I’m not refusing to help you. But that guy… he’s not even human!”

“We’re not talking about holding him for a full minute. Even thirty seconds? We might not even manage that.”

Facing Rongshan’s words, the Intelligent Mechanism Class Stellar Envoy — Iron Coffin Claude, nodded in quiet agreement.

Because despite Bodean’s earlier claim that they’d thoroughly analyzed Tian Dao’s true capabilities…

Claude knew better.

The so-called analysis was based on only a few limited clips of Tian Dao’s actions, and their own partial firsthand experiences.

It was merely an educated guess at best—far from a true reflection of Tian Dao’s actual strength.

So, with cold precision, Claude asked the crucial question:

“Bodean, if we four manage to hold Tian Dao off… then who exactly are you going to send to capture Isabelle?”

“Remember, she’s not alone. Besides Tian Dao’s hidden protection, there are three unknown prodigy Stellar Envoys guarding her.”

“Even if their combined strength falls short of Tian Dao’s, they’re still far from ordinary.

And with Harmony Dormitory being such a glaring weak point… Dorian wouldn’t have left it unguarded.”

“So tell me—just who do you plan to face if that Second-Rank Stellar Envoy, Coral Knight · Wolf, suddenly shows up?”

Bodean tapped his fingers on the desk for a moment, then replied calmly:

“Don’t worry, Claude. Wolf won’t appear.”

“And the one who’ll capture Isabelle? I’ve already arranged that too.”

“So as long as you hold Tian Dao for just one minute… this mission has zero chance of failure.”

Hearing that, Claude froze for a second—then his expression cleared, as if a light had finally clicked on.

“You’re going to use them?”

“But will they agree? Their rules are strict. If they’re caught taking jobs outside their jurisdiction, meddling in local power struggles… the higher-ups won’t let them off lightly.”

Bodean didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window behind him.

The city lights of Deep Blue Metropolis shimmered beneath the night sky—neon hues bleeding through the glass, painting half of Bodean’s face in shadow.

After a long silence, he spoke softly:

“Claude… rules in this world are never absolute.”

“Give a reward big enough, and even the strictest rules will be broken.”

“Deep Blue’s waters run deep, the storms fierce. But it’s precisely in such conditions that fishermen go out to sea.”

“Because only in the heaviest gales can they catch the most valuable fish.”

Hearing this, not just Claude—but everyone else in the room—finally understood.

Who was Bodean planning to send in place of them to seize Isabelle?

It had to be members of the Stellar Envoy Association’s Deep Blue Metropolis chapter.

Only Association Envoys were bound by such rigid protocols, unable to act freely.

And only they had the strength to confront multiple First-Rank prodigies.

But they hadn’t considered this earlier—because Association Envoys weren’t like the Dark Stellar Envoys.

They answered to someone.

To the legendary president, the strongest Stellar Envoy of the era.

And he despised his subordinates getting tangled in dirty power struggles—especially when the other side knew exactly what they were doing.

So bringing in the Association? It wasn’t a smart move.

If Dorian exposed the truth, no matter how powerful Bodean’s backers were…

those Envoys would face severe punishment.

In today’s world, the president’s word was absolute power.

If not for his belief that ordinary people should be managed by ordinary people, and Stellar Envoys by Stellar Envoys…

the President of the New Federation might have already changed.

Still, even with the risk, having extra strength was better than none.

Rongshan couldn’t help but mutter:

“Sending Association Envoys and a few Dark Envoys to deal with a bunch of kids? If this gets out, we’ll be the laughingstock of the entire Stellar Envoy community.”

“But worse… I can’t even deny it feels right.”

“Because if we go in alone… none of us could stand a chance against those little monsters.”

“Goddamn… where the hell did Tian Dao even come from? Such power, such talent… I’ve never even heard of him before.”

“Bodean, after this mission, you’re increasing my reward. My risk and danger level are way beyond what you first promised.”

Bodean nodded.

“Don’t worry, Rongshan. If we succeed, you won’t be left empty-handed.”

“Good enough,” Rongshan said. “I’m leaving now. This mission may only ask us to hold Tian Dao for a minute… but to do that? We all have to be ready to die.”

With that, he pushed open the office door and stepped out, face grim.

Meanwhile, seated in his wheelchair, pale and frail, Claude coughed a few times before announcing he was heading back to study Tian Dao’s footage again—and refine his new intelligent mechanism robot.

Because, as Rongshan had said…

Even with four of them working together, even if the goal was only to stall Tian Dao for one minute…

To outsiders, it seemed absurd.

But to them? It carried a risk so immense it was almost unbearable.

Not just Rongshan—Claude himself felt no real confidence.

They could only try, and hope.

As Claude and Rongshan left in succession, Lina idly plucked a string on her Human Bone Harp, sending a haunting, sorrowful tremor through the air.

“Goodbye, Bodean. I hope we meet again in a few days.”

“And when we do… I’ll play you a lullaby, just for you.”

“Go on, Lina,” Bodean said, watching her retreating figure.

A complex expression flickered across his face.

He heard it—the finality in her voice.

She believed she wouldn’t come back.

And when Lina left, the remaining Dark Stellar Envoy — Wiser — finally spoke.

“Bodean… for mere shares of stock, are you really willing to pay such a price?”

“You could’ve stayed a rich man, famous in Deep Blue. Infinite wealth, endless comfort.”

Bodean turned, locking eyes with him.

“Wiser… I can’t stand by and watch Dorian drag the company into ruin.”

“Because this isn’t just his company. It belongs to others too.”

“He wants to use that person as a stepping stone—launch Tianhai Group beyond Deep Blue, into the wider world.”

“But to me? That’s suicide.”

“Because the world outside Deep Blue… is colder than the ocean around it.”

“So no matter the cost… I have to stop him.”

“Because Tianhai is just a small boat. It can’t survive the storms out there.”

Wiser paused. Then, he closed his fingers around the surgical knife spinning between them, stood up slowly.

“Ah… so it’s a full-scale gamble? I like it.”

“Bodean, if you’re willing to go this far… I can’t fall behind.”

“Tian Dao Siming… let’s see who wins on this operating table where lives are the stakes. Hahahaha!”

With that, the madman burst into wild laughter and vanished from the room.

And when the last of the Dark Stellar Envoys had left, Bodean returned to his desk.

He activated the Holographic Projection Device.

A moment later, a full-body projection of a Masked Mysterious Man appeared before him.

“Are all the pawns in place?”

“Yes, Master.” Bodean lowered his head, voice low. “Including… the necessary sacrifices.”

The projection let out a soft chuckle.

“Good. Bodean, I’ve told you before—Dark Stellar Envoys are like rats in the sewers. You can use them to check if the underground is clear… but never form any real bond with them.”

“Because rats belong underground. You, however, are meant to return to the surface.”

“So listen carefully: no matter the outcome… not a single one of those four rats must survive.”

With that, the projection severed the connection.

Silence fell.

After a long pause, Bodean picked up the ashtray on his desk and hurled it at the liquor cabinet beside him.

Crack!

Glass shattered across the floor.

Red wine—like blood—poured out, pooling on the carpet.

Bodean stared at the ruin, voice barely above a whisper:

“In your eyes… what’s the difference between me and those four rats?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end