The helicopter lifted off from the uninhabited island, leaving Ye Cangtian alone.
The island was extremely small, virtually unmarked on any map, yet Ye Cangtian was no stranger to it. It was here, during his last assassination mission against Kezela, that he had rendezvoused with the Caesar Mercenary Group. Therefore, Ye Cangtian had chosen this very island again, awaiting the arrival of the Caesar Mercenary Group.
As the Caesar Mercenary Group had not yet arrived, the island appeared rather desolate. Fortunately, some tents had been left behind by the Caesar Mercenary Group during their previous departure, providing Ye Cangtian with a place to stay.
After a simple setup of the tent, Ye Cangtian sat in a cross-legged position, cultivating his mental power combat techniques. He had contacted the Caesar Mercenary Group two days prior and estimated their arrival would be soon. All he needed to do was wait patiently.
Time flew by, and a day passed in the blink of an eye. As dusk descended once more, several warships appeared on the horizon. Soon after, the warships docked, and a familiar man entered the tent. It was none other than Miller, the commander of the Caesar Mercenary Group during their last encounter.
Since Miller had dealt with Xuan Qi before, the Caesar Mercenary Group had dispatched him again this time. It was said that dealing with a familiar face made things easier.
"Haha, Sir Dawn, it's finally good to see you. It wasn't easy!" Miller exclaimed, stepping forward for a warm embrace upon seeing Ye Cangtian, who was wearing a mask.
Miller had been deeply impressed by his previous collaboration with Xuan Qi. Xuan Qi had not treated them as cannon fodder, had personally handled matters, possessed both wisdom and bravery, and his final miraculous display with the flying fish—everything felt as if it had happened yesterday. Hearing that the collaborator was still Xuan Qi this time, Miller had been eager. Of course, Xuan Qi had now become Sir Dawn.
"Haha, Miller, it's good to see you again. I hope our cooperation remains as pleasant this time!" Ye Cangtian chuckled, opening his arms for a brief embrace.
"It must be pleasant," Miller replied, then quickly leaned in. "Sir Dawn, what is the mission that required our deployment? Please tell us directly!"
As he spoke, Miller seemed to recall something. "Oh, right. I heard we were going to deal with some small and medium-sized forces. Why are we assembling here?"
"The idea of annexing small and medium-sized forces has likely been abandoned," Ye Cangtian stated. "Those forces have formed an alliance, with Ye Cangtian plotting behind the scenes. Just two days ago, Chandler's corps from the Tamu Mercenary Group was almost annihilated there. Chandler died in battle, with only a handful managing to escape..."
Ye Cangtian, using his persona as Dawn, slowly provided a general overview of the situation in the Hellgate Archipelago. Hearing this news, Miller gasped, drawing in a sharp breath. He had been urging his superiors to contact Dawn so they could act quickly and earn merit. However, upon hearing this, he felt fortunate that it wasn't him in action, or they would have suffered a devastating loss.
After all, as a corps commander of the Caesar Mercenary Group, Miller had interacted with the Tamu Mercenary Group numerous times and was well aware of Chandler's corps' combat strength. If even Chandler had fallen, he himself likely wouldn't have fared any better. With this thought, he glanced at Sir Dawn, realizing that had it not been for the latter delaying and investigating the situation, the consequences could have been dire.
"Alright, we can discuss matters concerning those small and medium-sized forces later!" Ye Cangtian continued. "They have achieved a great victory and their morale is high, making it difficult to attack them now." Seeing Miller nod, he went on, "Next, I have a task for you. First, investigate the battle situation of the Tamu Mercenary Group and the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group. The more detailed, the better."
"Understood. I'll arrange it now," Miller agreed without hesitation.
...
On another island in the same sea area.
A mercenary hurried towards Hasar. "Sir, we've just discovered that a corps from the Caesar Mercenary Group has entered this sea area and is stationed on Island A. The overall commander for the Caesar Mercenary Group this time is Miller. As for the person sent by the Dark Association, it's currently unknown..."
Upon hearing this news, Hasar's expression changed drastically. The unexpected involvement of the Caesar Mercenary Group made him ponder various possibilities. Was it a reinforcement invited by the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group, or were they here to restrict or confront the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group as well? More importantly, who exactly had the Dark Association sent? If it were a Xuan-level deacon, it would be manageable; even if the Tamu Mercenary Group and the Caesar Mercenary Group clashed, he would be safe. However, if it were a Di-level expert, he would need to be cautious.
With this in mind, Hasar commanded, "Pass down the order. Leave one corps to continue blockading the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group. The remaining corps will accompany me to Island A!" Hasar intended to investigate personally. He couldn't rest easy without understanding the Caesar Mercenary Group's intentions. However, given the tense relationship between the parties, he had to leave some contingency measures for safety.
...
It was deep into the night. A deafening alarm suddenly blared on Island A. The personnel of the Caesar Mercenary Group reacted swiftly, rushing out of their tents and entering a state of combat readiness. Warships had approached Island A and were positioned in the nearby waters.
"Sir Dawn, the Tamu Mercenary Group is attacking!" Miller rushed into Ye Cangtian's tent immediately, reporting the enemy's arrival.
"Don't be nervous. Their arrival in the dead of night doesn't necessarily mean they're here to fight!" Ye Cangtian said calmly. "Let's see what they have to say first!" The sound of the warships' horns indicated that they were very close to the island, well within firing range. If it were a surprise attack, they would have already launched their assault, giving Miller no chance to react. Therefore, Ye Cangtian concluded that the enemy's intentions were not to engage in battle but had something else in mind.
Hearing Ye Cangtian's analysis, Miller's expression relaxed. Without a word, he quickly arranged for someone to inquire. After a brief exchange of signal lights, a mercenary entered the main tent.
"Report! They say that Cardinal Hasar of the Church of Light wishes to land on the island to speak with the highest commander of the Caesar Mercenary Group present here!"
Upon hearing this, Miller glanced at Dawn. Ye Cangtian smiled slightly and then ordered, "Pass down the command to clear a path and permit their landing."
After the mercenary left, Ye Cangtian looked at Miller. "You should also make arrangements, just in case." With the Tamu Mercenary Group's forces pressing in, caution was necessary to prevent any tricks from the Church of Light. Miller promptly agreed and then left the tent.
...
A moment later.
Hasar entered the tent with an excited smile. He was about to greet Miller, with whom he had interacted before, but discovered Miller was not present. Only a man wearing a golden mask was in the tent. Moreover, the patterns on this golden mask were unfamiliar to him. Seeing this, he immediately deduced the man's identity: it must be Dawn, the newly promoted Di-level deacon of the Dark Association, formerly Xuan Qi.
"So it's Brother Xuan Qi... No, it's Brother Dawn presiding here!" Hasar was taken aback for a moment, then broke into a smile and greeted Ye Cangtian.
"Hasar, I don't think we're very familiar with each other, are we?" Facing Hasar's enthusiasm, Ye Cangtian poured a bucket of cold water, showing no courtesy. Whether it was Xuan Qi, Dawn, or Ye Cangtian himself, all three identities were already on the Blacklist of the Church of Light, so he saw no need to be polite. Furthermore, not long ago in China, he had collaborated with Sasaki to kill Bedra. Now, for the other party to immediately try to get close made him suspect a conspiracy, and he became more vigilant.