Kailen returned back to the villa. He found out that Julian had already entered the principle fragment tower of the Lotus Assassin Syndicate. Kailen himself was in thought on what to do. He decided to visit the HQ of the Lotus Assassin Syndicate. On arriving, someone respectfully led him to one of the floors.

The place was very large. There were several vault-like sealed entrances.

"These are the artificial secret realms made by our Rank 5 powerhouses," the person explained. "That one is a space secret realm. However, I would advise Elder Darkhaven to opt for the principle fragment tower."

Kailen initially had plans of entering the space principle artificial secret realm. However, in the words of this person, he was curious about the principle fragment tower of the Covert Assassin Syndicate.

He asked, "Why does the senior suggest that?"

The person said, "Because our principle fragment tower is of a higher quality than the artificial secret realms."

Kailen nodded in understanding. "Thanks, senior."

"Sure." The person nodded. "Let me lead you there."

Eventually, the two arrived outside the skyscraper. They headed deeply into a forested area within the HQ. Very soon, they saw an open area in the forested region ahead. Several individuals could be seen entering and exiting a tower that peered into the clouds. Chatter was everywhere.

"Thanks, senior," Kailen said.

"No need, Guest Elder." The man turned into a streak of light and bolted off.

Kailen floated down. Eventually, he arrived at the ground, where the entrance of the principle fragment tower was a few moments away from where he currently was. When he arrived, there was some sort of commotion at the entrance. Someone was obstructing others from entering the principle fragment tower. If they didn’t pay a certain amount of gold coins, they would be obstructed.

Kailen was not surprised by this. Even in the Lotus Assassin Syndicate, members were allowed to have small skirmishes among themselves. One could only blame themselves for being weak and allowing others to bully them.

"Who is this new person?" someone whispered.

"He looks new. Probably a newbie who just joined the organisation."

"Heh, let’s see how this will play out."

"Wait, why does he look so familiar?"

"Don’t know. Lots of people look alike these days."

"I’m really looking forward to a good show. It seems senior brother Caruso will find a reason to beat this newbie up, since he may not know the rules..."

Ignoring the chatter, Kailen proceeded towards the entrance, where a very intimidating titan stood, staring at everyone with pride, as if everyone was beneath him. The moment his gaze landed on Kailen, he knew he had found another victim.

This fellow must be a newbie. He’s a Rank 3 novice-stage transcendent, but most likely weaker than me. Caruso thought.

"Hand over the 3,000 gold coins and enter."

Kailen simply ignored him and sighed. Even in the chaotic region of the universe, arrogant young masters were still here.

"Can you move?" Kailen spoke in a bored manner.

Everyone in the vicinity was shocked by this new person’s courage. Did he not know who Caruso was? He was the strongest Rank 3 novice-stage transcendent in the Lotus Assassin Syndicate. It seems this new fellow would end up humiliating himself.

"I said hand over 3,000 gold coins and enter. Either that or you kowtow seven times for disrespecting this senior brother," Caruso said again.

Kailen sighed. "Is that so?"

With his hands in pockets, Kailen didn’t move. The void twisted and bended around Caruso. He felt space press around him, crushing into his being, as if space was folding in around him. He had the principle of fire. He activated the principle of fire to break the restriction. Several orange flames blazed across his figure.

However, to the shock of the onlookers and Caruso himself, the flames seemed to meld and twist, as if the very void was controlling them and rejecting to host them. Eventually, the flames were flushed out. Caruso felt the weight crushing on him intensify. At this point, he even felt his whole being was being completely crushed. It was as if the very spaces between his cells were being folded. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Boommm...

His knees gave way, as he fell beneath Kailen’s feet. His bones in each leg had been crushed into one another, as cracking sounds were made. Everyone felt chills crawl up their spines. This new fellow was not someone to be messed with. Caruso himself was completely terrified.

Who had he just offended? What terrifying fellow had he offended? Had he known how powerful this person was, he would have let them pass. But was it his fault? This person seemed so harmless. His pale, fair skin made him look too harmless. It was as if he had not been weathered by hardships. But to think he was this terrifying.

At this moment, someone with the principle of space—who felt spatial fluctuations when Kailen used the principle of space—shouted.

"I knew he was familiar. It’s him, Guest Elder Kailen Darkhaven..."

Booom...

Several finally realized who he was. The image on screen overlapped with the person standing at the entrance. No wonder he looked so familiar. Caruso could not help but feel existential dread encumber him.

This was Guest Elder Kailen Darkhaven. That terrifying individual? The Engineer? The person the syndicate leaders and even the founder herself treated with extreme respect? The one the organisation had eliminated the Insidious Assassin Syndicate for?

Kailen gave him a casual glance. Caruso banged his head weakly on the ground.

"Junior did not know the immensity of the skies. Have mercy on me, senior."

Kailen merely replied, "I thought you wanted me to kowtow seven times?"

Everyone in the vicinity sighed. This fellow had dug his own grave by offending the guest elder. If the guest elder decided to kill him for his offence, considering the guest elder’s status, Caruso would have just died a foolish death. Offending and disrespecting an authority meaninglessly in the organization meant disrespecting the authority of the syndicate leader.

Even if the guest elder spared him and didn’t kill him, this news would definitely travel to the higher-ups, and Caruso would either be kicked out of the organisation or killed. Caruso understood this very well.

"Senior, junior did not see the difference between the sky and the earth. Please, I’m sorry." He kept banging his head on the ground.

Kailen could not be bothered with him. "Move."

Kailen merely walked into the building, as Caruso shifted weakly out of the way. Everyone stared at him with looks of ridicule and contempt. What a piece of trash. Daring to offend the Elder Darkhaven. This fellow had taken his bullying too far this time.

Caruso crawled weakly away from the entrance with his boneless legs. He had never regretted flaunting his weight around until today. If he ever got a second chance, he would never be arrogant and throw his weight around anymore. He was very thankful that the senior had spared him. He could find some light principle transcendent to heal him, and he would enter seclusion immediately, not daring to cause trouble for anyone again.

At this moment, a figure appeared outside the entrance. It was the higher-up who had escorted Guest Elder Kailen Darkhaven here. He grabbed Caruso by the neck.

"How audacious. Members are allowed to have scuffles with one another to temper themselves. But to think you’d go as far as disrespecting a guest elder. Let this be a lesson to everyone here. If you don’t show restraint in your actions, you will dig your own grave."

Everyone’s eyes shimmered with fear and understanding at the higher-up’s words as they watched lightning sizzle across, burning Caruso into nothing, his dying screams ceasing. Not even his corpse remained. After this, the higher-up bolted off.

However, the members of the syndicate had learnt a lesson. Just because they were allowed to have scuffles with one another and throw their weight around over weaker ones did not mean that if they crossed certain lines, they would not pay the price for their actions.