Shen Xiya reminded him unwillingly, "Colonel, don't underestimate Samus."

"I heard that he raised his ability level from B to A just a few days after leaving the royal dungeon."

"If it were someone else, I don't know how many methods they would have to use or how many energy crystals they would have to absorb to achieve this."

"But for him, it was a piece of cake."

"Isn't the colonel worried?"

A mocking smile played on Leo's lips. "So what?"

"No matter how fast he advances, he'll only ever be an A."

Going from B to A is easy, but going from A to SS-rank, which is comparable to him, is incredibly difficult.

Shen Xiya nodded and said, "The colonel is a genius that comes along only once in a century. There is only one person in the entire empire who has reached SS level at such a young age and has awakened his talent."

"However, I must still remind the colonel not to underestimate the enemy."

"Does the Colonel know anything about Herbert's current situation?"

Leo frowned.

"I heard he contracted an infectious disease and can't go out these days; he can only stay home and rest."

"What did the second princess ask him?"

Shen Xiya sneered and said, "Colonel, you are unaware that Herbert is not ill, but poisoned."

"Poisoned?!" Leo exclaimed in surprise.

Shen Xiya took a step closer, looked around, and whispered, "What the colonel didn't expect was that the person who poisoned him was none other than Samuel!"

"An S-rank royal minister was poisoned by Samus when he was still a B-rank, and it was done without anyone noticing. Colonel, do you still want to underestimate Samus's strength?"

Leo looked at her with a serious expression and some suspicion.

"How did you know that?"

Shen Xiya was speechless for a moment.

How do you know?

Of course, it's because she's seen Samus's methods!

Herbert's symptoms were clearly caused by him!

Herbert obeyed his mother's orders to give Shen Zhiyi a hard time, but he fell seriously ill after returning.

If it wasn't him, then who else could have done it?

“Never mind how I know,” Shen Xiya said, glancing at the military medal on Leo’s chest, a dark glint in her eyes. “In short, I admire the colonel and would never do anything to harm you.”

She moved closer, gazing at him tenderly.

"Since the colonel wants to form a marriage alliance with the royal family, why not consider me?"

"I have the SSS-level healing power that my sister has."

"The inheritance she is about to lose will also come into my hands."

"If you want, I can give you the entire empire."

She paused, then adopted an understanding demeanor and said in a low voice, "Even if the colonel doesn't choose me, I'm still willing to help you completely eliminate the threat of Samus."

Leo's eyes widened in shock.

After a long pause, she moved a little distance away and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Second Princess."

"However, I, Leo, never ask others for handouts when I want something."

"Farewell."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left.

Shen Xiya looked at his imposing back, clenched her fist, and her eyes were full of determination.

Such a responsible, ambitious, and domineering man is the kind of beastly husband that Shen Xiya should choose.

Unlike Samus, that ungrateful scoundrel!

She must have been blind in her past life to reject such a good man and instead choose to save that black snake.

Fortunately, God had eyes and gave her a second chance.

She turned around, looked in the direction of Shen Zhiyi's palace, and gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

only……

My dearest sister, I'm afraid I'll have to let you down in this lifetime.

Her eyes flashed, and she left the garden.

*

As night fell, the entire palace fell into a deep sleep.

Samus lay on the bed, the black energy stone around his neck emitting a faint glow.

His eyes were closed, and the veins on his bare arms and chest bulged.

It felt like something was slowly moving beneath the blood vessels.

A huge, dark shadow silently moved in through the window, obscuring all the moonlight.

Samus suddenly opened his eyes!

He revealed his snake tail, narrowed his eyes warily, and stared at the dark figure in front of him.

"who?!"

He assumed a fighting stance.

The space in front of them suddenly rippled like water.

The shadows on the wall gradually solidified into a figure draped in a black robe, kneeling on one knee before Samus.

"Velga, welcome back our lord."

Samus's golden eyes narrowed sharply.

Who exactly are you?

Verga looked up and smiled at Samus's waving arm.

“I am your most loyal servant.”

“Your bloodline fluctuations have awakened me.” His voice was deep, as if it had been sanded. “I will help you fully awaken your ancient bloodline and fulfill your mission.”

He smiled. "A mission of revenge."

Samus raised his hand in shock, looking at his arm. "You mean, I have ancient blood in me?!"

That bloodline that was considered unlucky and despised from childhood.

It's actually an ancient bloodline with immense power?!

“Yes,” Verga said respectfully. “If you need me, I will assemble the strongest army in the world for you.”

"To help you settle scores with your enemies and gain everything."

The price of gaining power is destruction and slaughter.

He was born of hatred, and he will exist to fuel his master's hatred.

"Your people drove you away, and everyone you met during your wanderings trampled on you and hurt you, including this princess who is now close to you. She has also deceived you and imprisoned you..."

“She’s not like that,” Samus interrupted.

Thinking of Shen Zhiyi's recent actions towards him, Samus tightened his grip on the crystal around his neck, his eyes hardening. "What I do is none of your business."

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