Tokyo-jo, Setagaya Ward.

This is the most exclusive and affluent area in Japan, where land is incredibly valuable.

Luxury villas, sprawling across the landscape, are nestled within tranquil gardens, showcasing the wealth and status of their owners.

Caesar stood in the shade of a huge cherry blossom tree, looking up at the brightly lit yet heavily guarded complex of buildings not far away.

The main residence of the Kujo family.

As soon as Zhou Huai regained consciousness, a strong sense of unease welled up in his heart.

Tens of thousands of information bugs have turned the entire city of Tokyo upside down.

Neither Takamagahara, the symbol of the center of power, nor the ruins of the Ashihara Industrial Zone could be found of Kujo Hiroji.

This person, along with his two SS-rank assistants and that divine artifact, vanished into thin air.

This is not normal.

Given Kujo Hiroharu's vengeful nature, it's impossible for him to remain indifferent after learning of the deaths of two SS-class combatants.

His failure to appear could only mean one thing.

He was doing something more important than protecting his two SS-class comrades.

Zhou Huai raised his hand, and countless tiny black beetles flew out from his sleeve, like a black mist, silently infiltrating the villa area of ​​the Kujo family.

However, just as these information insects were about to cross the outer wall of the villa area...

Buzz—!

A layer of pale golden energy barrier, invisible to the naked eye, rippled through the air.

All the information insects that touched the barrier were vaporized by the high temperature, leaving not even ashes.

"A defensive formation..."

Caesar narrowed his eyes.

The strength of this formation far surpasses the previous protective formation at the west gate.

It seems this is the Kujo family's stronghold, their most heavily fortified location.

It is very likely that Kujo Hiroharu is hiding inside.

"Since the insects can't get in."

"Then... we'll attack."

He no longer concealed himself, took a step forward, and his figure disappeared from the spot.

When they reappeared, they were already in front of the gate of the Kujo family's villa area.

"Who goes there?!"

"stop!"

The guard at the door shouted sternly, and his weapon was instantly pointed at him.

Caesar ignored these ants.

He simply raised his hand and snapped his fingers lightly.

The next second.

The ground behind him churned violently.

A black tide gushed forth from the insect swarm space; it was tens of thousands of soldier beetles.

They converged into black torrents, bypassing Caesar's body and crashing into the golden energy barrier.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a dense series of impacts and self-destructing sounds.

Each beetle detonates its internal energy core the moment it comes into contact with the barrier.

The golden barrier flickered violently, and the energy on its surface fluctuated wildly.

The piercing alarm blared throughout the Kujo family mansion.

Countless guards dressed in black samurai uniforms rushed out from all parts of the courtyard, staring in horror at the apocalyptic swarm of insects.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Quickly! Activate the highest defense level!"

However, their reaction was ultimately a step too late.

Under the relentless, suicidal attack of millions of soldier beetles, the golden barrier held for less than ten seconds.

Click!

A crisp cracking sound rang out.

A fine crack appeared on the barrier.

Immediately afterwards, the cracks spread rapidly like a spider web.

"Bang--!!!"

With a loud bang, the golden energy barrier shattered and dissipated into countless points of light.

"kill!"

Caesar gave the order.

An endless stream of beetles surged into the Kujo family's mansion.

At the same time, a figure slipped out from Caesar's shadow and silently disappeared into the night.

Moriah.

He transformed into an elegant dancer of the night, his dagger tracing deadly arcs.

Pfft! Pfft!

The guards at the forefront, before they could even see what the enemy looked like, had a thin line of blood on their throats, and collapsed helplessly, clutching their necks.

More guards bravely faced the swarm of insects, risking their lives.

Various colored skill lights illuminated the courtyard, a scene of flashing swords and roaring energy.

But it didn't work.

Faced with overwhelming numbers, any resistance is futile.

Those usually arrogant and powerful members of the Kujo family have now become moths drawn to the storm.

Their skills can only clear out a small patch of beetles at most, but in the next second, they will be overwhelmed by swarms of ten or a hundred times more.

The piercing screams rose and fell, but were quickly drowned out by the rustling sound of the insects gnawing at flesh and bones.

Caesar walked slowly into the mansion that had once symbolized supreme power.

Wherever he passed, the swarm of insects automatically parted to the sides, leaving a clean passage.

On the ground, only mottled bloodstains and broken bones remained.

Less than five minutes.

The entire Kujo family mansion was wiped out.

Zhou Huai frowned, his unease growing stronger.

He manipulated Caesar and Moria, turning the entire mansion upside down.

No.

Still no.

Forget about Kujo Hiroji, we haven't even seen a glimpse of those two SS-level foreign aids.

"Damn it, where is he?"

Caesar kicked open the door to the master bedroom, only to find it empty.

Were all the previous preparations just a smokescreen?

Is it a smokescreen specifically designed to deceive us?

Zhou Huai's temples were throbbing, a sign of excessive consumption of his soul power.

Time is running out for him.

Just as he was about to give up the search and leave the empty shell.

Soon, from Moria's perspective, a basement was discovered.

Caesar followed Moria to a hidden basement.

The heavy steel gate was locked.

Without a word, Caesar sent countless beetles forward, tearing a large hole through the gate.

Behind the door was not the treasure vault or secret room one might have imagined.

It was a rather comfortable room.

Inside the room, two figures stared in astonishment as Caesar burst through the door.

Polina and Karen.

Both of them were stunned.

Karen, in particular, stared wide-eyed, his face filled with surprise.

"The God of Change? You...you actually came here to save us?"

He excitedly stood up from the sofa, wanting to go forward, but was restricted in his movements by a black chain on his wrist and ankle.

A loud "whoosh" sounded.

Zhou Huai's gaze fell on the chains.

The chain of prohibitions.

It can completely block the energy flow of professionals, preventing them from using any skills.

Zhou Huai hadn't expected them to be there.

In his mind, these two rivals had probably already been turned into specimens by the ruthless Hiroji Kujo.

But the truth is quite the opposite.

Aside from their limited mobility, both of them looked quite well, even somewhat rosy.

The room had food, water, and even some recreational facilities.

Clearly, Kujo Hiroharu did not mistreat them; on the contrary, he took good care of them.

Zhou Huai was in no mood to care about these things, and he had no intention of wasting time on these two.

He controlled Caesar and asked bluntly:

"What about Kujo Hiroharu?"

Do you know where he is?

Caesar's voice froze the excitement on Karen's face.

Polina and Karen exchanged a glance.

Polina shook her head.

"Do you think Kujo Hiroharu would tell us, two prisoners, about his whereabouts?"

Zhou Huai fell silent.

He realized he had indeed been grasping at straws in his desperation.

Perhaps it was because my head was getting increasingly painful that my thinking was becoming impossible.

He suppressed his anxiety.

He looked at the two of them and spoke concisely.

"Now, you only have two choices."

"One option is to stay and work with me to deal with Kujo Hiroji and seize the pendulum of life."

"Secondly, leave now, because the pendulum of life will no longer be with you."

Caesar raised his hand, and countless beetles surged forward, devouring the forbidden chains on the two men.

Polina hesitated for a moment before regaining her freedom.

The allure of life's pendulum is immense.

But when she thought of Kujo Hiroji's unfathomable strength and the group of mysterious and unpredictable helpers around him, the greed in her heart was quickly extinguished by reason.

In the end, she shook her head, her face full of apology.

"I'm sorry, I've chosen to withdraw this time."

“I’ve already failed once, and I understand that this is not a battle that a professional of my skill level can participate in.”

She paused, then added in a complicated tone, "Since Kujo Hiroji didn't kill me, I will keep my promise and give up the struggle for the pendulum of life."

Zhou Huai remained noncommittal, turning his gaze to Karen beside him.

Karen made her position immediately, without much hesitation.

“I’ll listen to Polina; if she leaves, I’ll leave too.”

Zhou Huai silently muttered "Simps never get a good death" in his heart, but his face remained expressionless.

He didn't try to stop him, but simply turned aside indifferently and made way for him.

Thank you.

Polina whispered her thanks, then pulled Karen along and quickly walked outside.

However, Karen had only taken a few steps when she suddenly stopped and turned back.

He looked at Caesar with a complicated expression.

He fumbled in his spatial ring for a moment and took out a huge black chain.

It was the very same one he had used to break through the barrier of Fuji Castle and snatch the pendulum of life from Okita Komo.

"You might find this useful."

Karen ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) handed over the heavy chains.

"This can be considered... as repayment for your kindness in rescuing us."