Amestina fell silent upon hearing this; she truly didn't feel that Hokkstan's question was offensive.

The people of the Blade Star Realm are indeed ruthless and iron-blooded, but most iron-blooded people share one trait: worship of the strong!

When reason fails, they turn to the blade to make their point, which is why the star realm is named Blade.

However, when even the blade fails, if they persist stubbornly, they're simply courting death.

The Blade Star Realm has clashed with the Military, with the Scavengers, and though headstrong, they retract when they can't win.

So there's the saying: to handle barbarians, you must be more barbaric than they are.

And the Cyan Blade Commerce Association is a business organization; it might risk it all for profit, but there's little need for disputes over pride.

Qu Jianlei's repeated ambushes indeed troubled the Cyan Blade Commerce Association, but the commerce association truly looked down on such ghostly fiend tactics.

No matter how they treated Xiang Xue, that's not important. What's important is that the people of the Blade Star Realm respect tough warriors.

Losing to a tough warrior... is just losing, not too disgraceful, but losing to a sinister villain, and you can't raise your head.

Qu Jianlei killed two supreme beings within half an hour, the second in a direct assault, shedding his sinister nature.

For the Cyan Blade Commerce Association, the backdrop was their own supreme, which felt extremely disappointing and particularly humiliating.

However, the opponent's actions... truly counted as those of a tough warrior.

Even Amestina herself had thoughts of giving up: losing to such an opponent isn't shameful, especially since the commerce association started the conflict.

Moreover, the crucial thing is, currently in the Hope Star Realm, not a single supreme from the Cyan Blade Commerce Association dares to step outside!

If even the supreme beings dare not step outside, let alone other Awakened, do they really have to hope... the opponent won't kill the small fry?

The commerce association is about business; if they don't step outside, how can they conduct business? Resort to watch scams?

Amestina's relationship with Arindel wasn't bad, at least much better than with Fahim, and she also wanted to avenge Arindel.

But deep down, she vaguely felt that the association had provoked such a powerful enemy, just retreating from this star realm intact would be fortunate.

She truly didn't want to face this opponent again, not only strong but also extremely sinister.

If not for Hertman's death revealing this opponent's ferocious side, she wouldn't have thought the opponent could be so powerful.

However, this also showed... indeed sinister.

"Supreme Hokkstan, the association has already stated, they will send a supreme... Blade people don't deceive Blade people!"

Hokkstan's focus wasn't here, "Then what? Are two supremes certain to defeat the opponent? Or should we send more?"

"I don't know the general association's intentions," Amestina replied gravely, "maybe we will consider a strategic retreat."

"This battle might last quite a long time; it's not worth it... sending another supreme at least can cover a safe retreat for everyone."

Blade people have this nature; they love to fight, it's true, and they might even puff themselves up.

But when even breaking teeth can't puff them up, they admit defeat decisively.

Admitting you're outmatched is shameful, but if everyone knows you're outmatched and you don't admit it, that's even more shameful!

"Hmm?" Hokkstan grunted in surprise, "Your commerce association plans to call it quits?"

"We are business people," Amestina replied without a trace of emotion, "fighting and killing are just a means, not everything."

"The direction of the commerce association's development is decided by the top management; the final decisions are made by many shareholders, having nothing to do with me."

She distanced herself decisively, without mentioning that she also held over three percent of the shares.

Hokkstan, upon hearing this, knew that the strategy of drawing the Cyan Blade Commerce Association into the affair could basically be declared a failure.

However, he couldn't just give up, "So for the next ten days or so, you're not planning to step outside?"

"It's Fubi who's not stepping outside," Amestina replied without hesitation, "How could I step outside alone?"

Hokkstan said in a deep voice, "Electromagnetic A-level might not come here; even if they do, Bu Shang is still there, your courage disappoints me."

"Then you can step outside and try," Amestina sneered, "don't let me down."

Indeed, Electromagnetic A-level might not come, but please get this straight, the other side is a team—at least there's still Poison Attribute!

"We could go outside together," Hokkstan replied without hesitation, "I'm a Gold Attribute, I'd love to confront him!"

"That's your business!" Amestina refused flatly; she could sense with her gut that the Divine Text Association wanted to regain their footing.

But why drag me into this as fodder? "If I leave, Fubi may not be able to hold the contact point."

Actually, not far from the contact point is Bu Shang Supreme's residence, supposedly with no danger.

She wasn't as adventurous as Arindel, thinking that having one more supreme would allow her to take risks and move away."

She's not as reckless as Arindel, who thought having an extra supreme meant they could take risks and move away their base.

The reason for this choice is not just because of a woman's delicacy, but mainly because... she witnessed Fahim's death with her own eyes.

The dignified supreme, dying bit by bit in front of her, with the doctor's countdown in her ears... who can understand such fear?

Does she not even have this bit of courage? Hokkstan was indeed a bit helpless, "I thought Blade people were all brave warriors."

"They killed Cohen Supreme first!" Amestina couldn't hold back anymore, "Do you really think my Cyan Blade Commerce Association is uninformed?"

If you're willing to use your brains, there's really not much difference in intelligence between people!

"If you had shown mercy to Hoyel's guard captain's family, things wouldn't have reached this point."

She could barely recall Hertman's name—just a minor A-level, not worth remembering.

But she clearly remembered the relationship chart, "You got yourselves into trouble and now seek us to share the risk?"

"Is it that hard to have some dignity?"

Born from the Blade Star Realm, she spared no effort in her bluntness, truly a straightforward person.

"If that's how you're going to talk, I have nothing more to say," Hokkstan acknowledged, sounding affronted, "as if I can't manage without you."

So he settled for something less, "Well, can you lend me a few A-levels with Gold Attributes?"

"Gold Attribute A-levels?" Amestina frowned slightly, "I can only mobilize two... what do you need them for?"

Two A-levels don't sound like much, but specifying attributes makes them quite numerous.

On a simple equal distribution among the five attributes, you'd need at least ten A-levels to get two Gold Attributes—even then, it's a matter of luck.

Does Cyan Blade currently have ten A-levels on Star No. 4? Definitely not!

So they'd have to deploy them from other planets, but this transfer, leaving program issues aside, is exceptionally dangerous!

Just think about it: if even supreme-levels dare not travel easily, what consequences await an A-level setting out?

If it's B-level, it's slightly better; in the eyes of the opponent, they're small fry—they can be killed or spared.

Hence Amestina had to ask why he needed A-level Gold Attribute warriors,

Hokkstan hesitated for a moment but straightforwardly admitted, "Since you don't dare venture out with me, I'll take them out."

Amestina thought about it, then furiously realized and lashed out.

"You want our members to be your bullet shields? At least have some dignity, they're soldiers!"

"That's ridiculous!" Hokkstan retorted angrily, "I'm just trying to exploit the Thunder Attraction property to seize an opportunity."

In his battle plan, having a few Gold Attribute Awakened around him would effectively attract lightning.

As long as he can seize the chance to strike, employing his exclusive weapon, it's not difficult to take down the foe.

The opponent his plan targets is an electromagnetic A-level; as for other adversaries... they shouldn't be tougher than this.

Amestina, though she was enraged, listened to his explanation, yet at the end, she coldly snorted.

"Ultimately, you're sending our A-levels to die... You don't genuinely believe there's only one troublesome opponent?"

"I can't agree to your request. Speaking of Gold Attribute A-levels, the military has more!"

Seeing her irritably hang up the communication, a shadow crossed Hokkstan's face, "Uh-huh, women!"

Next, he contacted several powerful forces seeking assistance from a few supreme-levels to hunt down the culprit.

At this time, the consequences of those two murders became apparent.

No force openly refused the Divine Text Association, but the excuses to decline were varied.

The least sincere claimed their supreme was cultivating or busy with other matters, regrettably unavailable.

Those a bit more flexible would offer to sponsor some costs.

Typically, such costs wouldn't be excessively low, yet wouldn't be exceedingly high either—just a token gesture suffices.

If Hokkstan dared to demand exorbitant amounts, he had to consider the possibility of angering the other party.

—We have supreme-levels in our forces, and you still dare to extort arbitrarily?

Some forces indicated that if he could gather a sufficient number of supreme-levels, their supreme might consider assisting.

But even if offering aid, it wouldn't be for long... Our masters are really busy; please understand.

Other forces straightforwardly said: Helping you isn't out of the question, but first, tell us who the opponent is?

If you can't even elucidate this, then sorry, our supreme-levels have broad connections and might have ties with them.

Having ties doesn't mean they won't strike, but if matters could be resolved amicably without creating enmity, wouldn't that be better?

This was the most confident form of refusal; powers with supreme-levels generally don't lack in intelligence.

Hokkstan was left speechless, ultimately resigning to berating, "A bunch of fence-sitting cowards!"

In the end, he had to swallow his pride and seek military assistance.

The military's attitude towards him... was actually quite acceptable, as they were eager to uncover the electromagnet A-level's background.

Thus, the military's response was an effort to investigate the person and simultaneously provide some protection.

However, unfortunately, this protection did not include combat power at the supreme level.

What a joke, the military's supreme protecting the supreme of the Divine Text Association—what makes you think Divine Text Association is worthy?