Chapter 141: The Gentleman’s Style

In front of Augustine,
when the human spoke of charging into a murderous frenzy with blood-red eyes —
all because the Seraphim Legion had killed his friend,
a friend he valued so deeply, a friend who valued his own life above all else —
Augustine’s expression occasionally showed a trace of pity.

“You said it was a friend who valued his own life, didn’t you?
Then is this how you treat your own life?”

“Charging alone into Bloodkin territory —
you should have come with the resolve to die.
If that friend truly valued life,
then the degree to which you value your own… seems rather limited.”

“I am truly sorry for unintentionally causing the death of your friend.
When we attack human territories, casualties on both sides are inevitable.
Unfortunately, that misfortune fell upon you.”

“But when you wish to cherish someone else without considering yourself,
you can only be called reckless.
Emotion and reason are both precious.
Please do not discard either one.”

In that moment —
unlike anything Sheffield had imagined —
the Seraphim Legion Commander spoke words he never expected.
Those calm, measured sentences instantly cooled the rage that had clouded his mind.

Yet the fury over losing his childhood sweetheart would never be extinguished.
He had to avenge Xiao Qian.
That was his sole reason for living,
the final belief that kept him going.

Standing alone before all the forces under Augustine’s command,
Augustine declared:

“I am the Legion Commander of the Seraphim Legion.
All your hatred — direct it toward me.
I will gladly accept it.
But whether you can fulfill your revenge…
that depends entirely on your own ability.”

Facing such a scene, Augustine remained utterly composed, showing not the slightest panic.
Instead, he spoke openly and generously:

“I understand you.
This is war between humans and Bloodkin.
Where there is war, there are sacrifices.
Where there are sacrifices, there will always be avengers.
It’s just unfortunate that avengers as powerful as you are exceedingly rare.”

“So your target is me — and the entire legion behind me.
If you wish for us to pay a heavy price for accidentally taking the life of your loved one,
then you will need both wisdom and strength.”

Augustine extended an invitation to duel.
He gathered all of Sheffield’s resentment onto himself
and even gave him a clear, defined purpose.

The enemy’s composure and words caught Sheffield off guard,
yet he still raised his sword and charged forward.
Half an hour later — after giving everything he had —
he still could not defeat Augustine.

For the defeated Sheffield,
Augustine made a decision only a legion commander would dare to make.
Instead of executing him on the spot to avenge the hundred fallen Bloodkin subordinates,
he struck a deal.

Sheffield lived —
and entered the service of the Seraphim Legion.

“Why spare my life?
I warned all of you —
as long as I draw breath, my revenge will never end.”

“Because I am a gentleman.
I understand, tolerate, and accept everything war brings.
And I am skilled at finding the optimal path forward.
I am a strategist.”

“When the day comes that I grow strong enough to slaughter all of you,
you will regret letting me live today.”

“Do as you please.
But after crossing blades with me, you should already understand the vast gap between us.
I hope next time you truly reach that level of strength —
instead of throwing your life away in vain,
failing even to fulfill your last wish for vengeance.
Because there will be no such opportunity again.”

“You will regret this, Augustine.
When that day comes,
whether I spare your life or not —
every Bloodkin in your entire legion will pay for the decision you made today!”

“I look forward to that day.
Until then, please lend all your strength to the Seraphim Legion —
and become my sharpest blade.”

Such was the absolute confidence of one who stood at the pinnacle.
To him, everything seemed utterly ordinary.
Those eyes appeared to have already seen through it all —
the entire situation firmly within his grasp.

He was only mildly surprised
that Sheffield had actually died in this operation.
There had still been many tasks he intended to entrust to such a powerful blade.

But no matter.
He was not irreplaceable.
What a pity, Sheffield —
to die before you could kill every last one of us.
Was your hatred simply extinguished like this?

Augustine briefly recalled the past,
shook his head with faint regret.
Even the Concealer kneeling before him felt puzzled —
why would the commander sigh in lament over the death of a mere human?

“You can no longer fight.
Xiao Qian’s vengeance… I will carry it out in your place from now on.
This is the last promise I can make to you.”

But Augustine remained completely unaware —
that when Su Mu Zhe spoke those words to the dying Sheffield,
Sheffield’s heart finally found forgiveness and release.

He believed —
if it was Su Mu Zhe,
if it was the Phantom Squad Captain,
if it was the Chief Exterminator —
unlike himself, that person would surely succeed.
He was someone worthy of entrusting everything to.

“What should we do next, Lord Augustine?
The sharp blade has been drawn and broken.
Shall we proceed with the next phase of the assault on human territory?”

“Of course. There is a next phase.
This small setback was already anticipated.
My plans always have a next step —
until the goal is achieved.”

A faint smile crossed Augustine’s face.
The Concealer immediately placed a hand respectfully over his chest,
ears pricked in full attention:

“Please give your orders!”

“The Blood Dragon King that Sheffield bound —
it was buried beneath the ground of Tantan City, correct?”

“Yes.
Lord Sheffield used a special method to bury the Blood Dragon King deep underground in the city.
However, it is already a corpse — confirmed to have no life signs.”

“Oh, that doesn’t matter.
The dead can still fight for the living —
they simply need the right stage.”

“I intend to pay a visit to the Waltz Theater Legion
and have a little chat with someone who has a flair for the dramatic.”

“Lord Augustine means…?”

“The Waltz Theater Legion specializes in manipulating puppets.
They can even create theatrical-stage barriers.
Controlling a lifeless skeleton with nothing but bones?
For them, it would be child’s play.”

“What… what? To use the Blood Dragon King’s skeleton in such a way…
I understand.
I will inform the deployment teams.
At the appropriate moment, we will extract the Blood Dragon King’s skeleton from underground
and place it under Lord Field’s control.”

“Should we begin immediately in the near future?
While the humans are still recovering from the previous surprise attack —
launch another unforeseen strike?
They would never imagine the enemy emerging from beneath their feet,
already inside the Orderly Enclosure.”

The Concealer realized this would be a perfect ambush.
It might truly allow them to crush Tantan City in one blow.

But Augustine shook his head, refusing.
Then he spoke words that made the Concealer doubt his own ears:

“No.
They have just endured a major battle.
Let them rest and recover properly —
in preparation for the next great war.”

“…Why…?”

“Heh.
This is the style a true gentleman must possess.”