Counterfeit Hero

Unable to find the core techniques and suffering such a huge loss, the Phantom Stream is now in disarray. In the past, those wealthy and powerful disciples would often come to pay respects to my father, but now, after such a big incident, they haven’t even made a phone call.

This meeting now is the family’s last hope.

Although the Phantom Stream has declined, it is still a major sect. My father is steering the topic in a direction to unite all the factions against a common enemy. If the Demon’s Eye can target the Phantom Stream now, in the future, it could target other factions as well!

Cosmo looked around, his heart slowly sinking to the bottom.

In the conference room gathering various factions and forces from Mars Free Port, a bizarre scene was unfolding.

Some people were coughing and spitting, some were closing their eyes to rest, and others were whispering but deliberately not looking in this direction.

”If you want to blame someone, blame Smith for not keeping everyone informed.” Kubo, the Sect Master of the Tai Sect, sipped his tea and said indifferently, ”Such a thing wouldn’t happen to the Tai Sect. If anyone dared to mess with us, I would annihilate their entire family.”

Kubo’s sinister and arrogant words did not lead to the anticipated uproar.

The meeting room seemed even quieter than before. The most severe reactions were merely some Sect Masters who glanced at Kubo with drooping eyelids.

With the top-ranking Absolute Kill Stream and the second-ranking Mountain Breaker Stream absent, no faction dared to challenge the expanding Tai Sect, currently ranked third.

”Speaking of which, I want to ask.” Kubo patted his bald head and said to Old Smith, ”I heard your son made quite a scene this time. Frankly, I don’t really care if he disgraced your Phantom Stream, but involving all our sects is another matter. Old fool, how did you raise your son?”

”What did you say?” Cosmo stood up abruptly, his eyes bloodshot with anger.

”What I said...” Kubo sneered without even glancing at Cosmo, ”It’s none of your business. If you want to speak here, wait until you take over as Sect Master after your old man dies! For now, get out of here!”

The conference room fell into dead silence. The people sitting next to Kubo watched Cosmo, who was fuming with rage, and Old Smith, who was gritting his teeth, with cold indifference.

Steelman leisurely stirred his coffee with a silver spoon, the sound of clinking against the porcelain cup echoing in the room.

”So, what I’m saying...” Old Smith stood up, glaring at Kubo, ”Is that the Sect Federation does not intend to speak up for the Phantom Stream this time?”

”Are you senile?” a cold-looking young man next to Kubo laughed contemptuously, ”This is between you and the Demon’s Eye. Do you want us to seek justice for you? They are pirates. Do you expect them to return what they’ve stolen? If they did, what would they live on?”

”Suffering can be a blessing.” Kubo smiled slightly, ”It’s already good enough to be alive. You Phantom Stream still have a few well-located Mechanical Armor Halls, don’t you? Since you’re in such a sorry state now and can’t recruit any more students, you might as well transfer them to me. Out of pity, I’ll offer a good price, including your mech repair and modification shops and other assets. That should be enough for you to survive.”

As he spoke, Kubo turned his gaze to Steelman, knocking on the table, ”Captain Steelman, let this pass for now, but next time, don’t mess with the rest of the factions. In a few days, share some of what you’ve stolen with us, and we’ll call it even!”

Public humiliation and distribution of the loot. Kubo didn’t even look at Old Smith. The conference room was dead silent, everyone’s faces indifferent, no one spoke up for the Phantom Stream. The Tai Sect was so arrogant it was suffocating!

Cosmo clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost digging into his skin.

He understood that after this meeting, the Phantom Stream would cease to exist.

”Want our Fighting Arena?”

Cosmo heard Old Smith’s voice in his ear. He turned to see his father standing tall and straight, ”Let’s make a bet! A Demon King-level fighting challenge. Phantom Stream against Tai Sect, I’ll stake all of Phantom Stream’s assets. If we lose, everything including our students and techniques will all go to Tai Sect!”

”Demon King-level fighting challenge!”

Everyone, including Cosmo and Kubo, was stunned by Old Smith’s words.

That wasn’t a fight; it was a duel to the death!

”Father!” Cosmo, who had been holding back his urge to challenge Kubo, couldn’t help but shout, ”You...”

”Do you dare?” Old Smith ignored Cosmo, his eyes locked onto Kubo’s face like an angry lion, ”Do you dare accept my challenge?”

Kubo’s cold eyes met Old Smith’s without a hint of hesitation, a cold smile curling on his lips, ”Old fox, you’ve got some nerve. You know that once you walk out this door, Phantom Stream will be the laughingstock and cease to exist, yet you use this to keep it barely alive. A Demon King-level challenge, with your current resources, do you think you’re worthy?”

”However...” Kubo raised his tea cup, blew on it, and sneered, ”I accept your challenge. It’s better to wipe out Phantom Stream entirely. It irritates me.”

*********************************************

”Phantom Stream...” The recently awakened Fatty was still groggy, looking confused, ”What’s that? I know what low-class means though.”

If not for knowing that he had stayed up all night finishing the modifications on several armed merchant ships, Helen would’ve smashed her camera over his head.

”Last time at the Capital First Military Academy, you competed against them...” Carl turned to Helen, ”The guy you interviewed afterward, was he from the Phantom Stream?”

”Yes!” Helen turned off the camera, didn’t bother filming Fatty’s drowsy face, and scratched at her face, ”His name is Cosmo, from Phantom Stream, a Level 1 Mecha Knight. After the competition, I even wanted to become his apprentice. He followed me around the capital for two days, but later… he went to Gallipalan.”

”Oh...” Fatty had a look of sudden realization, then puzzled, asked, ”What does that have to do with us?”

”Everything!” Barbarossa, who had just walked into the office, said loudly.

Fatty was startled, looking at the excited Barbarossa with confusion, ”What’s got you so worked up?”

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.(To be continued. For more chapters, please visit www.qidian.com, support the authors, and read legitimate content!)