Chapter 209: You Broke Longguo

The United States, Adamas family's secret private island.

The sun shone brightly, a light sea breeze brushing the air.

Deafening, wild heavy metal music still thundered around the massive pool.

Yet.

Watanabe Junichi, sitting on the edge of the sofa, felt icy cold all over.

He was utterly confused, his expression tense.

A young Adamas family member whispered something into Carter's ear.

Watanabe clearly saw Carter's previously lazy, arrogant smile freeze, then slowly darken.

"Gulping…"

Watanabe couldn't help swallowing hard.

His heart pounded wildly in his chest like a drum.

Something's happened.

Something definitely happened.

Could it be…

Has Longguo broken another record again?

No!

Impossible!

Watanabe Junichi frantically reassured himself in his mind.

The Dragon Snow Plain being broken was just a stroke of luck for Longguo.

Could they possibly get lucky twice in a row?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Just then.

Carter turned his head and fixed Watanabe Junichi with an utterly cold gaze.

"Mr. Watanabe."

"You look rather nervous, don't you?"

"Why are you sweating so much?"

Hearing Carter's question,

Watanabe Junichi jerked violently.

He quickly raised his hand and frantically wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

"N-no! No no!"

"Mr. Carter, you're joking—how could I possibly be nervous?"

"It's just… today's sun on this island is just too brutal…"

"Yes, too hot, that's why I'm sweating a bit…"

Watanabe Junichi swallowed hard.

He tried to change the topic that was suffocating him.

"That… Mr. Carter, has something happened?"

"Could it be that those foolish, death-seeking worms from Longguo have stirred up trouble somewhere again?"

Hearing this,

Carter's eyes narrowed slightly, a flash of extreme contempt crossing his gaze.

"Mr. Watanabe."

"I need to correct you: you, and your behind-the-scenes Yamato Empire, are merely a dog the Adamas family keeps."

"So please, do not use the word 'we' in front of me."

"You are not worthy to represent the Adamas family."

This merciless humiliation

Was like a loud slap, crashing hard against Watanabe Junichi's face.

But how could he dare to object?

Years ago, when the demons launched a massive invasion and the world had just begun to transform, Yamato Empire nearly faced national annihilation.

The United States descended like a god, crossing vast oceans, and forcibly pulled Yamato back from the brink of destruction.

Although since then,

Yamato had completely lost its dignity and become a dog of the United States,

That history, the deep-seated terror of the United States' overwhelming power etched into their bones, remained vividly clear.

Moreover,

He was currently on the Adamas family's private territory.

One word from Carter, and he wouldn't even know how he died.

Watanabe Junichi nodded frantically:

"Yes yes yes!"

"Mr. Carter is absolutely right!"

Watching Watanabe's abject, groveling demeanor,

Carter's lips curled slightly, clearly enjoying this feeling.

He changed the subject:

"But you did guess one thing right—this matter does involve Longguo."

Hearing this,

Watanabe Junichi leapt up from the sofa.

He waved his fists, furious:

"Baka! Those death-seeking, foolish clowns from Longguo!"

"How dare they! How dare they anger the great Adamas family!"

"Mr. Carter, rest assured!"

"Once we enter the World Arena, I'll make sure our Oni Corps flay and bone-slice every last scum of this year's Longguo class, so they know the consequences of angering the Adamas family!"

Watanabe Junichi cursed with extreme fervor.

As if only through this near-mad display of loyalty could he mask his profound inner unease.

Yet.

Carter merely stared at him and said slowly:

"Just now, Longguo broke another record: Sandstorm Divine Temple, 1 minute 35 seconds."

"…."

Watanabe Junichi's expression froze.

As expected...

Broken again…

And what the hell is 1 minute 35 seconds?

Everyone breaks records by seconds—you guys from Longguo break them by tens of minutes at a time?

How are we supposed to compete?

Carter watched him silently, his expression growing cold.

He'd just reported to the higher-ups yesterday that Yamato had broken three Longguo records.

And the next day, two of those records were reclaimed—with gaps this enormous.

Where was his face to go now?

Was he going to become a laughingstock in the family?

Thud!

Without hesitation,

Watanabe Junichi dropped heavily to his knees on the floor.

"Mr. Carter! Mr. Carter, please listen to my explanation!"

He clung desperately to Carter's leg, howling like a stray dog:

"This is definitely exploiting a loophole—Longguo people are a nation that loves to find gaps!"

"It's not my fault, Mr. Carter…"

"You must know, I, Watanabe, and the great Yamato Empire, our loyalty to the United States and the Adamas family is as clear as the sun and moon!"

Carter lowered his head and took a deep breath.

Then, his lips curled into a cruel smirk.

"Enough, Mr. Watanabe."

Carter lifted his foot and kicked Watanabe Junichi hard, sending him sprawling.

"You still have one record left."

"It seems the little joke I mentioned yesterday is about to come true."

Carter looked down at him, his voice dark and chilling:

You'd better pray that Dragon Country doesn't take back your last record.

Otherwise, we'll have to ask you to perform your country's traditional art of seppuku—honestly, I'm quite curious.

Hahaha…

With that, he said no more.

Carter paid him no further attention.

Instead, he turned his head and gave the young man who had brought the news a cold glance.

Watch him.

Yes, Lord Carter.

The young man bowed respectfully.

Carter snorted coldly and turned away.

No—!!!

Lord Carter! Please, give me one more chance!

Watanabe Junichi wailed.

His pleas echoed by the pool, but were instantly drowned out by the deafening music of celebration.

He knew full well.

If Dragon Country had broken only one record, it might still be dismissed as luck.

But now, with two records broken in succession, it could only mean Dragon Country had a very high probability of breaking another.

And he himself was surely finished.

…

Meanwhile.

The Supreme Academy of Eikoku.

Inside the luxurious restaurant reserved for the Oni Clan.

The members of the Oni Clan—renowned as the strongest prodigies in Eikoku's history—and their team leader, Inoue Yu.

All sat in their seats.

The long table was laden with extraordinarily lavish dishes.

Yet.

Not a single person in the vast dining hall lifted their chopsticks.

Just moments ago,

they had received the news.

The Desert God Temple's record had also been broken by Dragon Country.

One minute, thirty-five seconds.

A record that inspired utter despair.

Click-click-click…

Shinonome Kyō stared fixedly at the screen of his phone, the glass nearly crushed beneath his grip.

On the screen was Dragon Country's glaringly bright pass message.

Crack!

With a sharp snap, the phone was utterly destroyed.

This was an unforgivable humiliation!

Why?!

All of them were SSS-ranked professionals, training day and night.

To beat Dragon Country's previous record, Aso Tensō had even pulled three straight all-nighters.

And now, in an instant, Dragon Country had smashed the record to a level they couldn't even comprehend.

And not just once—twice in a row!