Chapter 187: Lucius’s Ambition

Outer Ring, somewhere in a nameless desert.

Zhong Yan stood atop a mountain peak, currently in his identity as Uchiha, investigating those responsible for framing the Sons of Calydon.

Based on their pattern, these culprits attacked merchant convoys coming from the city. Every assault took place at a different location, and the routes were completely random.

Even for Zhong Yan, it was nearly impossible to predict their next move based solely on his own judgment.

Fortunately, he wasn't working alone.

A total of thirty shadow clones had already been stationed along every path leading from the Outer Ring to New Eridu, each trailing the convoys traveling in and out.

Under these conditions, Zhong Yan soon received a lead.

One of the shadow clones reported that the convoy it had followed had come under attack. The assailants, without exception, wore Outer Ring garb and bore the signature emblem of the Sons of Calydon.

Upon receiving the report, Zhong Yan immediately dispelled the remaining clones and headed for the ambushed route.

...

"You people... don't you understand the rules of the Outer Ring?!" The leader of the attacked convoy stared in horror at the ambushers, furious and desperate.

One of the core rules of the Outer Ring was to never attack passing convoys. It was a rule all factions agreed upon—because attacking supply lines meant no one could get resources, and in a desert, that meant starvation.

"Rules? Hmph. We, the Sons of Calydon, never cared for your damn rules. And Pompey? One day, we'll knock him off that throne and take it for ourselves."

The speaker, a self-proclaimed Sons of Calydon biker, advanced menacingly toward the convoy leader. Including him, there were more than twenty of these so-called Sons of Calydon present.

Anyone with half a brain could tell they were impostors—but without proof of the mastermind, the blame would fall squarely on the Sons of Calydon.

"You bastards! One day, you'll get what's coming to you!" With no way to escape, the convoy leader could only scream in impotent rage.

Just as the slaughter was about to begin, an arrow made of black flames shot from a distant slope, piercing straight through the impostor leader.

Seeing their boss taken out in a single shot, the rest of the fake Sons of Calydon froze in disbelief.

Their gazes snapped toward the source of the arrow, where a lone figure stood silently, casting a cold glance their way.

"Who the hell is that?!"

"I think... I think that's Uchiha!"

"Uchiha?! Damn it—it's him! Retreat! We have to get this info back!"

Upon recognizing Zhong Yan, panic erupted among the impostors. They knew full well what kind of monster they were dealing with. Compared to completing their mission, they valued their lives far more.

But from the moment they laid eyes on Zhong Yan, they had already unknowingly fallen into his genjutsu.

Under the convoy's horrified watch, the impostors turned on each other and began slaughtering one another. In the end, only the captain remained.

By the time he broke free from the illusion, it was already too late—Zhong Yan reached out and read his memories.

Through this, Zhong Yan uncovered who these people really were… and who was pulling the strings behind them.

...

At the same time, on the other side of the Outer Ring—

"Lucius, I hear the Sons of Calydon's boss has been negotiating with Pompey again. Do you think you'll finally bring them down this time?" A middle-aged man in his forties or fifties looked up, addressing Lucius across from him.

Lucius, second-in-command of the Vanquishers, was a young man brimming with ambition. No one knew what his ultimate goal was—only that he always dabbled in shady dealings.

Even his rise to second-in-command was due to underhanded means. If it were just hard work and persistence, he wouldn't have made it this far in a lifetime.

"Hard to say. Pompey probably knows the Sons of Calydon were framed. But if he insists on protecting them, he might lose his position as Outer Ring overlord."

Lucius took a sip from his glass as he spoke.

The middle-aged man chuckled. "Who would've thought—you've only been in the Outer Ring a few years, and you've already climbed this high. With your nature, I'm surprised you haven't replaced Pompey by now."

"What's the point in saying that? If a person doesn't have ambition, what's the point of being born into this world? But honestly, I'm more interested in something else. Has that esteemed one... added me to the evolution list yet?"

Lucius set down his glass, eyes gleaming with yearning.

In truth, Lucius hadn't planned to frame the Sons of Calydon at first—at least not on this scale.

But ever since the Exaltists approached him, Lucius had been captivated by their overwhelming power.

To have the physiology of Ethereals and still function freely outside the Hollows—such a gift was nothing short of monstrous.

More importantly, even if their limbs were severed, they could regenerate fully. That alone made their potential far beyond that of regular humans.

What finally convinced Lucius to join was the condition the Exaltists offered.

In exchange for supplying a number of test subjects, he would be eligible for enhancement—personally carried out by the Exaltists' leader.

Lucius didn't know what abilities that leader possessed—only that the Exaltists revered him as a god. That alone proved just how extraordinary he must be.

To be personally modified by him... Lucius couldn't even imagine how powerful he might become.

By then, the entire Outer Ring would be his. Pompey? The Sons of Calydon? Just insignificant pebbles on his road to success.

What Lucius failed to anticipate was that the Exaltists' growing reputation had drawn the attention of a force he never should've provoked.

And that force... was already on its way.