Chapter 169: The Test

Words : 1285 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

Chapter 169: The Test Entering the Rock Sand City garrison base, passing through several checkpoints, the group walked into a tall golden tent and settled in. Commander Marin took the head seat and got right to business: "Carlos, what brings you to our neck of the woods?" "I’ve come to deal with the Golden Sand Society’s dirty dealings with the Black Poison Faction!" Carlos didn’t beat around the bush, cutting straight to the chase. "What in blazes?! The Golden Sand Society was in bed with the Black Poison Faction!" Commander Marin’s brow creased: "Do you have any proof?" Carlos spoke matter-of-factly: "When I wiped out a Black Poison Faction hideout tucked away in the Desolate Desert, I caught Golden Sand Society members red-handed working with the Black Poison Faction. She spilled everything." "What?! That traitor camp with hundreds of people—you took it down?!" Commander Marin looked absolutely floored. Not long ago, psychics had stumbled on a traitor camp packed with traitor corpses in the Desolate Desert, causing a real stir. So it was you who did it! Thinking about the powerful skeleton soldiers under Carlos’s command, she bought it completely. Even though that traitor camp was no small potatoes, facing Carlos—this terrifying prodigy who defied all logic—getting wiped out was ’par for the course.’ Demi, who had been hanging on every word, was even more stunned: "What! The Golden Sand Society was the ringleader working with the Black Poison Faction!" At the same time, it hit her: "Can I clear my name now?" Hope lit up her face. ... After getting over the shock, Commander Marin asked urgently: "What did she tell you?" Carlos’s eyes narrowed a touch. This commander’s behavior was a bit fishy. She wasn’t shocked by intel about the Golden Sand Society working with traitors, but was worried about what that Golden Sand Society member had spilled. "All sorts of scheming between the Golden Sand Society and Black Poison Faction, including but not limited to secretly supplying experimental guinea pigs for the Black Poison Faction, passing along intel, covering operations..." After a pause, Carlos figured this wasn’t convincing enough, so he pulled out a recording stone and started projecting. This was also a test. On the projection screen, a brown-robed woman knelt on the ground, scared out of her wits as she confessed everything: How Golden Sand Society President Salimo was in cahoots with Black Poison Faction Bishop Haswith... Life-extension potions, monster experiments, even bloody and brutal human experiments—all laid bare... With each sentence, the commander’s face got darker. The golden sand on her skin turned dark red with her mood, and fierce killing intent started leaking out uncontrollably... When the projection ended, the air in the golden tent turned thick as molasses. Commander Marin’s face was black as thunder, her voice ice-cold: "Perfect! Just perfect! Perfect! The Golden Sand Society dares pull such inhuman stunts!!!" Her eyes blazed with terrifying bloodlust. The chair’s armrest exploded under her grip, terrible psychic energy spreading everywhere. In a heartbeat, the sky above the golden tent changed color, and violent golden sand rain started pelting the entire base... ... Soldiers outside the golden tent hollered: "Oh no! The commander’s seeing red!" "Get away from the golden tent fast!!! Don’t get caught in the crossfire!!!" "..." ... Inside the Golden Tent During the projection, Carlos had been watching the commander’s face like a hawk. ’The anger doesn’t look put on...’ His suspicions eased up a bit. ’Does this commander have issues or not? Still can’t tell for sure. If only Red Spirit could read a Controller’s soul vibes.’ But this wasn’t very likely. Controllers had rock-solid control over their own spirituality. Even if Red Spirit got close, it would be tough to read a Controller’s soul vibes. Commander Marin saw the shaking Demi and realized there was still a fragile low-tier psychic present, so she reined in her aura. But her face still showed fury as she asked: "Did you bring this woman? I want to grill her personally!" Carlos’s expression stayed steady as he said calmly: "Just to be safe, she’s already been escorted to Ember City by my people." This statement was naturally hogwash. The Golden Sand Society member in the projection had long been torn apart by Purple Vortex. Back then, Carlos was itching to conquer the dark mist node and couldn’t possibly keep this person breathing. Now, for testing purposes, since this commander seemed so ’interested’ in Golden Sand Society member Philomei, if she really had problems, she would definitely make a move after learning the person wasn’t dead. "Sent to Ember City?" Commander Marin’s expression went stiff. She didn’t get it—instead of bringing the criminal here, you sent her to another city-state. What were you thinking? Commander Marin hesitated for several seconds: "Then I’ll send people to fetch her back!" Hearing this, Carlos felt his test wasn’t for nothing. He said coolly: "Don’t worry yourself, Commander. My sister will personally keep an eye on her! There won’t be any slip-ups." ’...Silver Sword Iris personally keeping watch!’ Commander Marin’s expression wavered. Not wanting to give up, she kept pushing: "Then..." Carlos suddenly cut her off: "Commander Marin, since you’re now in the know about the Golden Sand Society’s crimes, I should go clean out this human plague!" "Mm..." Commander Marin instinctively nodded, then suddenly caught herself: "Hm? You’re going?" "Does the commander think I don’t have the muscle to take down the Golden Sand Society?" Carlos acted miffed. He knew that from the garrison’s point of view, having an outside psychic want to handle their city’s traitors for them was somewhat hard to swallow. But Carlos still wanted to do this. First, the loot from wiping out the Golden Sand Society would be all his. Second, this would go on the books as Rock Sand City merit, tradeable for valuable goodies. Kill two birds with one stone. "Of course not..." Just that weird purple monster alone wasn’t something old Salimo could handle. Commander Marin felt this was a real headache. At the end of the day, the Golden Sand Society pulling such stunts was already a huge black eye for Rock Sand City. Having an ’outsider’ handle it definitely wasn’t kosher! Did the leadership still want to show their faces in public? But this young noble had uncovered the mess and traveled far to report it. Background-wise, his family was squeaky clean and honorable, and though his sister was newly advanced to Controller, she was no lightweight. Strength-wise, at only 15 years old, he’d evolved such incredible skeleton soldiers. Emotionally, logically, and strength-wise, wiping out the Golden Sand Society was completely above board. "How about this—I’ll send a team to back you up. After all, you’re new to Rock Sand City and don’t know your way around." Carlos thought: I know Rock Sand City’s layout like the back of my hand. However, having garrison backup could help cover the bases. "Much obliged, Commander!" As long as they didn’t swipe his loot, everything was peachy. Commander Marin smiled and nodded. Good kid, he knows how to play the game right. "Barossa!" "Commander!" A beefy tough guy immediately marched into the golden tent from outside. "The Golden Sand Society was in cahoots with the Black Poison Faction. Take a team of soldiers and follow Carlos to clean house on the Golden Sand Society!" "Yes, Commander!" Hearing this, Captain Barossa’s eyes went wide as saucers. ’My gut feeling was spot on—the Golden Sand Society really was working with the Black Poison Faction! Oh right, there’s still Diliya. I need to hustle and get her out of there to avoid friendly fire.’ Then he left the golden tent and started rounding up soldiers...

Chapter 169: The Test

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