Chapter 8: Angels and Demons, Section 5

Looking down from Black Hair’s perspective, one could just see a massive steel-bodied machine entering the entrance of the arena below. Across from it, another equally huge figure lay pitifully on the ground, with bright flames dancing across its body and a burning smell filling the air.
Mecha battles?
Frowning slightly, Black Hair seemed to have witnessed something that shouldn’t have happened.
Everyone knew this was the 15th floor of a building. Even if the arena below was on a platform at the 10th floor, wasn’t it exaggerated for such mecha battles to take place inside the stairs? Moreover, judging from the markings on the fallen mech, it seemed to be one of the nightclub’s own guards.
An enemy attack! That thought flashed through Black Hair’s mind instantly, followed by a faint smile on his face. Leaning back in his seat, he picked up a glass of red wine, clearly intending to watch the spectacle.
But the bald president across from him was acting strangely. A look of surprise and fear appeared on his fat face as he quickly stood up.
“Something’s wrong with the mech down there!”
“Hm?” Black Hair immediately grew concerned and stood up as well.
Although the bald president wasn’t a good person and was quite stupid, he was still a native of Silver Star. Due to his work, he must be familiar with the local mechs. If he said there was a problem, it indeed deserved attention. Mechs were heavy combat units, and the appearance of an unfamiliar mech in the city was certainly no trivial matter. Black Hair understood the bald president’s worry.
At that moment, Blood Eyes beside him suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open, no longer showing any laziness.
“Boss, it’s a mech from the Warriors Association!”
Hearing this, Black Hair’s expression also turned serious.
Once again, noisy sounds came from below, along with faint screams. Following the massive figure that had just entered the arena, three more mechs marched in one after another. The surface of each mech reflected a cold metallic glow, and their huge guns and blood-red vision crystals exuded a strong sense of pressure.
“Bang bang bang bang…”
Frequent machine gun sounds filled the air. Under everyone’s gaze, one of the mechs suddenly raised its gun and fired into the sky, causing even greater panic. Countless screams erupted as people lost their minds at this sudden change and rushed toward the exits. Chaos reigned supreme.

Unfortunately, the entrance they had just entered was now completely blocked by burly men in purple combat suits. Under the blue gun muzzles, people were herded back as if they were livestock. The noble ladies’ dresses were covered in stains, and discarded high heels could be seen everywhere on the ground. Some even had shoe prints on their buttocks. For the time being, only the 15th floor, where Black Hair and the others were, remained quiet.
“It seems we’ve stumbled onto quite a spectacle,” Black Hair sneered, looking at the figures in purple combat suits rushing from the entrance with a look of disdain.
At his words, Blood Pupil vanished like a strange ghost into a dark corner. An experienced assassin indeed—before those men could rush into the hall, a piercing cold light, like a nimble viper, sliced across each of their necks. Then, Blood Pupil reappeared beside Black Hair.
What formidable assassination skills. The bald minister couldn’t help but gasp, his gaze toward Black Hair and the others now tinged with fear.
Now he finally understood why these people, despite having no real power, could act so boldly. With such strong subordinates, their strength was likely far beyond what ordinary people could imagine. The bald minister had no doubt that if he hadn’t arrived early that day, the scope of the conflict would have gone far beyond just ten kilometers in a few days.
But even though he had become friends with these thugs, the Warrior Association on the ground was not something he could handle. After all, it was an organization powerful enough to inspire fear.
“Distinguished gentlemen and ladies, good evening. It’s an honor to meet you here at the best hotel on Silver Star. I ask all gentlemen to behave like gentlemen and take care of their companions. Stay put to avoid being hurt by stray bullets. I guarantee, in the name of Viscount Cheri, that as long as you follow our instructions, there will be no danger.” In the arena below, a mech stepped forward and made this declaration.
“What do they want to do?” Koko shook her head, looking at the mech below with a puzzled expression.
“I don’t know. But…” The bald minister wiped his sweat and whispered, “A few days ago, the Warrior Association’s branch on Silver Star was seized for hiding Cemxi ore. Their goal might be this.”
“Cemxi ore?” Koko was surprised. “That’s a prohibited item! How could the Warrior Association use such a thing?”

“How would I know?” The bald minister shrugged. “But I suppose they might be planning to refine drugs to resist mental stress. After all, aside from warriors, most combatants in the Warriors’ Association still need fairy assistance to operate mechs. With Cemexi ore, they should be able to greatly enhance their strength.”
The bald minister’s explanation was undoubtedly reasonable. Koko blinked a few times and didn’t press further. Instead, she subtly glanced at the black-haired man beside her. Seeing him still looking relaxed and content, her little face became much prettier.
At that moment, new changes occurred below.
Hundreds of burly men entered one after another, quickly spreading out around the arena and beginning to set things up. Equipment clearly meant for weapons or reconnaissance was placed in every corner of the hall. Above the hall, countless visible red lights formed a net—looking down, it resembled a giant cage.
The man named Viscount Cheri stood there quietly with several mechs. Once the situation stabilized, he spoke again.
“Very good. It seems our distinguished gentlemen and ladies have understood their situation. Then let’s move on to the next step. Please rest assured—we’re not interested in the money in your pockets, nor in your lives. All we want is the mining rights that the Silver Star Government has seized from us. I’m sure you’re all important figures, and the Silver Star Government surely won’t disregard your safety for a mere shipment.”
As he spoke, the mech raised its hand, and the men behind it immediately became busy. A few men who seemed to be leaders passed messages around.
At the same time, the black-haired man’s expression darkened, and the blood-eyed man beside him let out a low cry. “They’ve noticed us.”
Then, Viscount Cheri changed his tone. The mech raised its head.
“Distinguished guests up there. You’ve had enough time to observe, haven’t you? Now please come down immediately. Don’t do anything foolish. Trust me—hundreds of eyes are watching you. You have no chance.”
Along with his words, the three mechs beside him raised their guns at once. Their dark barrels were aimed at the black-haired man and the others. Inside each pair of vision crystals, a blood-red glow flickered. The overwhelming pressure was almost enough to drive anyone mad.

The gun muzzles glinted under the watchful eyes of everyone. The dark-haired figure seemed unfazed. First, he took a leisurely sip of red wine, then elegantly wiped his mouth with a snow-white silk handkerchief before raising his head, a slight smile playing on his lips.
“Why should we leave?”
Why?!
What audacity! The nobles in the room grew restless; some even dared to lift their heads to see who could be so bold. After all, it was the members of the Warriors Association who controlled the situation—unlike ordinary mercenaries or bandits. Their core force consisted of warriors known as war machines. By the universally recognized combat strength rankings in the universe, even the lowest-ranked warriors could handle dozens of ordinary mercenaries. How could those upstairs still be so arrogant? Were they really fearless?
“Clank!” The guns of the mechs sounded in unison. Three mechs behind Viscount Cheri stepped forward at the same time. Their massive steel ankles stepped onto the floorboards without causing even the slightest vibration. This alone showed that the pilots of these mechs were by no means ordinary.
“Very good. It seems I, Cheri, have been too careless. I never expected that among today’s guests would be such a formidable figure. I wonder if you’ll allow me to know your name?” Amid the heavy atmosphere, Viscount Cheri’s voice rang out again.
The dark-haired figure gradually appeared beside the railing upstairs.
“I have no name. But for your Warriors Association, I’m indeed an old acquaintance.” Lazily, he flipped his hand empty-handed and magically produced a cigarette, lighting it.
“I wonder if your base in the town of Kukare on the planet Xieke has been successfully built?”
“You’re Dark Hair!!” Viscount Cheri’s expression instantly changed, his voice even distorted.
The name Dark Hair might mean nothing to ordinary people, but for the Warriors Association, it was extremely famous. He had single-handedly destroyed the base the association had painstakingly built and, despite the heavy defenses, forced his way through to kill Harry, the association’s warrior known as the Blue Tear. After committing the attack, he vanished without a trace. Such a thing had hardly ever happened in the history of the Warriors Association. Moreover, when the association learned he was in Berin and sent people to chase him, they could only helplessly watch as he destroyed their Black Gold headquarters and left triumphantly.
Although these battles weren’t particularly grand, they repeatedly humiliated the association. The association had issued three arrest warrants in a row. How could Cheri not be familiar with him?

I just didn’t expect to meet him here.
In the cockpit, Cherry’s expression turned somewhat fierce…