Chapter 1: Return

"Please stay, Commander!!"

Western Pacific Ocean, above the raging waves, a steel-beast-like aircraft carrier fleet cut through the waves.

On the deck, dozens of generals in deep blue military uniforms knelt on one knee in unison, their armor colliding with the deck in dull thuds. Their shoulder insignias all bore five golden stars—the symbol of the Republic of Arcadia's highest military honor, Five-Star Generals.

And in the direction they were kneeling, a young man stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

The sea wind howled, whipping the black marshal's coat draped over his shoulders, its hem rolling like a battle flag.

He was tall and lean, his face stern, with a weariness and authority in his features that didn't belong to someone his age. His deep eyes gazed toward where sea met sky, as if able to see through storms thousands of miles away.

Caesar Julius.

Controller of the Holy Fleet, Arcadia's youngest "Imperial Marshal" in history.

Ten years ago, he was just a castaway exiled by his family, sent overseas to atone for his sins. No one knew how he had transformed Arcadia, this mysterious overseas force, into a global nightmare in just ten years.

Vice Commander Unai Nunez's eyes reddened, his voice trembling: "Marshal, are you really leaving? The Holy Fleet cannot exist without you!"

Caesar slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over each familiar face.

"Everyone, stand up."

No one dared move.

Caesar narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips: "What, my words don't count anymore?"

"Marshal!" Unai kowtowed heavily.

Caesar bent down to help him up, patting his shoulder.

"My ten-year term is up. I have a personal matter I must attend to." Caesar looked at his staff officer. "In my absence, the Holy Fleet remains the Empire's blade. Your primary mission is to protect our homeland. Understood?"

The staff officer stood at attention. Unai stood at attention. Everyone stood at attention.

Saluting with the highest military honor.

"Understood!"

He sat alone in the stealth carrier aircraft's cabin, closing his eyes. His mind drifted back to that day ten years ago when he had offended a powerful enemy, and his parents could only exile him overseas to the most brutal military force for training.

But this escape brought no safety.

Soon after, his parents died in an "accident."

Rumors circulated that someone had seen the Julius family patriarch's car parked at the enemy's mansion that night, personally delivering his parents' heads.

He remembered how, before leaving, his parents had pressed an ancient coin into his palm and whispered in his ear: "Caesar, never come back, never seek revenge. That person... has a black star on their left shoulder. You can't afford to cross them."

In the cabin, Caesar opened his eyes and whispered softly.

"Mom, Dad, I've come back to see you!"

...

The Republic of Arcadia

In Silverlight City, the Julius family was holding an emergency family meeting.

The current family head, Khalil Julius, looked deeply troubled: "Tomorrow, if we don't select someone, the Julius family will cease to exist in Silverlight City."

"When Augustus made that marriage arrangement with the Adams family years ago, the Adams family's daughter was only three years old. Now the Adams family is demanding we honor the agreement—but who could have known it would be a death sentence?"

"How about sending Phillip?" one brother suggested.

Phillip was Khalil's eldest son, the right age.

"Absolutely not. Phillip's career is taking off, he's pursuing the Rockefeller family's daughter and about to succeed. How can we ruin his bright future at this critical moment?" Khalil's wife jumped out in opposition.

Khalil said gravely: "Right, whether the Julius family can return to mid-tier status depends on Phillip."

"My child is only fifteen, too young to go!"

"Right, and me, I have a daughter."

"My son is already married. If the Adams family's daughter is willing to be a mistress, that's fine."

"Haha."

"Ha, do you dare ask?" Khalil sneered at his brother.

The man shut up awkwardly.

The Republic of Arcadia's flag represented the country's foundation.

Forty-eight stars covered the entire flag.

The nine in the front row shone brightest.

These were the Republic of Arcadia's top nine families.

The Adams family was one of the nine stars, a top-tier family.

Crushing a small family like the Julius was like crushing an ant.

Facing pressure from the Adams family, their refusal would be digging their own grave.

But this demand was too outrageous.

Living at Adams Manor after marriage was one thing, but the bride was a vegetative patient!

The Adams family's Viya Adams had become a vegetative patient after an accident last year. Somehow they found a Mayan shaman who said that through a substitution spell, if Viya's husband became the vegetative patient, Viya would slowly awaken.

Who would dare become her husband now?

So even though Viya was rumored to be a stunning beauty, no one dared be tempted.

Wealth and glory were minor concerns.

Having the life to enjoy them was what mattered.

But the Adams family was powerful. If they didn't deliver someone by tomorrow, Viya's father threatened to make the Silverlight City Julius family extinct!

"It's all Augustus's fault for making that marriage arrangement with the Adams family. He's dead, but still dragging us down. Now the Adams family demands we help him fulfill the agreement. What are we going to do?"

Everyone cursed and complained.

Just as everyone was worrying about this matter, the butler walked in.

"Sir, Mr. Caesar Julius has returned."

"Caesar?"

"What Caesar?"

The butler explained: "Augustus's son, the one exiled overseas to atone for his sins ten years ago."

Everyone finally remembered who he was.

"So it's Augustus's son. That kid's still alive?!"

"Augustus thought exiling him overseas would keep him safe, had no idea who he'd offended. Not only is he alive, he's come back. Does he want to harm the Julius family again?"

The family was filled with disgust.

"Tell him to get lost. If not for him, the Julius family wouldn't have fallen this far." Khalil gritted his teeth: "He dares come back!"

"Wait, honey, wasn't Caesar the original party to the Adams family arrangement?" Khalil's wife reminded him.

Everyone's eyes lit up.

"Right, by the rules, he's still part of the Julius family."

"Exactly, someone like him should repay his debt with his life!"

Everyone agreed unanimously.

"Use my life to repay a debt?"

An icy voice suddenly echoed through the conference room.

Everyone froze simultaneously.

The conference room door was pushed open.

A young man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his black coat billowing. His gaze swept slowly from left to right across every face present.

Khalil instinctively stood up: "You—"

Caesar didn't look at him.

He lowered his head to glance at the ancient coin in his palm, then raised his head, a slight smile curving his lips.

The smile was faint, yet it made the temperature in the entire conference room plummet to freezing.

"Are you talking about yourselves?"