Outer Ring—on the vast, desolate land, sand and dust swirled wildly, a few withered yellow tumbleweeds rolling hurriedly across the roadside.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, the roar of engines split through the storm of dust—a massive convoy was racing down the main road.

The Sons of Calydon were exceptionally busy today. Their orders were overflowing, and relying solely on their own manpower clearly wouldn't cut it.

For that reason, they'd invited their former member, Billy Kid, to help drive one of the big trucks. On one hand, it eased their labor strain; on the other, it gave Billy—whose finances were always tight—a chance to earn some extra cash.

"Billy, you sure you can handle it?" Caesar rode his motorbike alongside the truck, turning to glance at Billy. "You're always out doing side gigs. The Cunning Hares not paying well enough for you?"

That little guy used to spend money like water, but lately he'd been taking odd jobs every few days—a lot worse off than when he was still with the Sons of Calydon.

"Don't talk nonsense, Boss Caesar!" Billy quickly protested. "Under Boss Nicole and Boss Sol, the Cunning Hares are thriving! The pay's great!"

Indeed, that was the truth. Recently, he hadn't had to worry about the cost of bullets or batteries—he just needed some side income to buy new figurines.

Billy spoke animatedly, eyebrows dancing. "You saw the news from Canvas Street a while back, right? We pulled off a huge job! I, the mighty Starlight Knight, have fans everywhere now!"

"Ah-ha! Sorry, I don't really follow the news—first I've heard of it." Caesar scratched his head, a pure, unbothered expression on his face.

Seeing Billy's proud grin, it looked like the Cunning Hares had finally made a name for themselves.

Still… Boss Sol? When did the Cunning Hares get someone like that?

Caesar hesitated, his finely cut face showing a hint of honest confusion. "Ha, besides Nicole, you've found yourself another boss? Doesn't that make you, uh, a servant of three masters?"

"Idiot! You don't talk to former members like that—are you asking to get smacked!?"

Lucy frowned deeply. If she weren't driving, she'd have already swung her bat at Caesar's head.

"Sorry, sorry!"

Caesar scratched his head again, his apology loud and cheerful.

Billy only gave him a resentful glance, not really angry, and then said earnestly about Sol Mercer, "Boss Sol joined the Cunning Hares not long ago, but he's incredibly strong and a genuinely kind person! Boss Caesar, you have to meet him sometime—I bet you'd get along great."

He discreetly glanced at Caesar's well-developed chest, and his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

When Boss Sol fell from the sky, he landed right on Boss Nicole's chest. If it had been Caesar instead… well, who knows? They're about the same size anyway…

Caesar, unaware of Billy's train of thought, felt a bit intrigued by this Sol fellow. "I love making friends! If he's really as great as you say, then Sol must be quite the hero."

"Trust me, Boss Caesar," Billy thumped his chest with confidence, "he won't disappoint!"

"Speaking of which, our Cunning Hares have been growing fast—but the Sons of Calydon aren't doing bad either." Billy gripped the truck's steering wheel, praising sincerely. "Boss Caesar, under your leadership, your business is booming—you guys are doing so many deliveries now!"

Behind him trailed an entire convoy of trucks. The size of their operation was something the Cunning Hares could never have imagined before.

"Haha, not really, I didn't do much," Caesar said, embarrassed, while still riding his bike.

"That's right, at least you're self-aware this time—it's all thanks to me!"

Lucy lifted her fair neck proudly. "Caesar, I advise you to hand over the boss's position early, or when I challenge you later, you'll just embarrass yourself!"

Light flared in Caesar's eyes as he declared with full spirit, "Bring it on, Lucy! I won't lose so easily!"

"Heh, youth sure is lively."

Piper squinted as he drove, sighing like an old man trapped in a child's body.

At that moment, while Billy watched the two argue, something orange and fiery streaked across the sky in his peripheral vision.

"Hey, hey, everyone look! A shooting star!"

Billy flailed excitedly.

"Billy, eyes on the road! You're still driving!"

Wright, wearing sunglasses, shouted anxiously.

No joke—he was right in front of Billy's truck, and he definitely couldn't survive being rear-ended by it.

"Oh, oh, right!"

Billy hastily steadied the steering wheel, bringing the truck back on course.

Still, he couldn't help staring at that burning streak across the sky—it was truly breathtaking.

"They say if you make a wish on a shooting star, it'll come true! Quick, everyone, make a wish!" Caesar let go of his handlebars and laughed up at the heavens. "I wish to become the ruler of the Outer Ring! Shooting star, grant it!"

"Now that you've said it out loud, it won't come true, Caesar." Lucy smiled slyly and whispered her own wish in her heart: I'll defeat Caesar and become the boss of the Sons of Calydon—and lead them to rule the Outer Ring!

"How rare," Piper murmured in a mock-sagely tone, his childlike face solemn. May the days ahead be peaceful, and may the youngsters stay healthy.

Moments later, the shooting star crossed over Wildfire Town in the Outer Ring and fell into the desert, to the amazement and cheers of onlookers.

Then Billy snapped out of his awe and asked Caesar, "By the way, Boss Caesar, you guys heading into the city—need me to show you around?"

Caesar answered bluntly, "Yeah, we do. We're going to restock on weapons—might need your connections."

"No problem! I know all the weapons dealers in the city—leave it to me!"

Billy accepted with full confidence.

Weapons trade? He was familiar—the Black Panther Organization, the Aurora Syndicate, Blackfire… he had ties everywhere.

…

[Janus Quarter, edge of C-97 Hollow—inside an abandoned building.]

The remaining members of the Black Panther Organization stared at the carnage before them, fear gripping their hearts.

Nearly a hundred men had gone out to surround the target, yet before even firing a single shot, thirty were dead—and they hadn't even gotten a chance to show off.

Their gazes fell upon that lone figure, whose silver short staff gleamed like the scepter of a god.

At that moment, no matter how strong their instinct to survive, their feet felt glued to the ground—they simply couldn't move.

It was too terrifying. That weapon shouldn't even exist.

"Come out. I've already seen you."

Sol stepped forward to the edge of the floor, hands clasped behind his back as he peered through the gaping hole in the wall.

Outside, the sunlight was bright, and from here the entire ruined building could be seen. Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, and the other Public Security officers had already finished their 'performance' and withdrawn.

Chekkat's heart trembled. He had no choice but to step forward with Jane, bowing slightly. "Greetings, sir. I'm Chekkat, leader of the Black Panther Organization…"

All he saw was the man standing with his back to him, gazing down from the ruined wall blasted open by an iron sphere.

Beside that man stood only one companion—a silver-haired beauty in a fitted black suit, her cold eyes guarding silently.

As for the Public Security officers who had surrounded Sol Mercer and Anby Demara earlier—no doubt they had already been reduced to ash beyond the walls.

That wasn't surprising. If their own side—mere secondary targets—had suffered such heavy losses, then the main targets turning to dust was only to be expected.

Anby stood by Sol's side, her expression cold as she snapped, "Sneaking around in the dark—who were you planning to ambush!?"

Chekkat's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly explained, "No, no, of course not! It's just that, you see, this is our Black Panther base of operations. With all the noise you've made, I had to come check what was going on!"

His elbow pressed slightly against the revolver beneath his coat. The enemy's weapon was frightening, yes, but within seven steps, a gun was still faster.

Still, that was only a precaution. If possible, he'd rather not fight at all—the risk was far too great.

Sol nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "Then it's my fault for intruding upon your headquarters unintentionally."

"No, no, not at all."

Chekkat's words were polite, though his tone was hollow.

He'd taken heavy losses, yet under that silver staff, all he could do was swallow the bitterness.

Still, he felt a bit relieved—it seemed Sol wasn't the type to strike first without reason.

Sol turned around, glanced at Chekkat, Jane, and their men, and said, "You're all well-armed—not ordinary folks, I take it?"

Chekkat explained quickly, "We're the Black Panther Organization, just doing a bit of small-time arms trading."

"Arms trading, huh? Then our luck's not bad."

Anby's eyes brightened slightly—her voice calm yet clear enough for everyone to hear.

"Indeed, quite fortunate," Sol replied, raising an eyebrow as he looked evenly at Chekkat. "Now—kneel. I need a favor from you."