Chapter 406: Chapter 407 : Compensation

James and Clara walked ahead, leading Alex toward the massive mansion on the hill.

The path gradually shifted from cracked streets and burned houses to clean stone roads. The contrast between the ruined town below and the estate above was almost insulting.

Clara slowed her steps slightly and glanced at Alex.

“Lucifer… we can still go back if you want.”

Her voice was quieter now.

James nodded. “Yes. You don’t have to fight for us. The big clans are dangerous. They have powerful members, resources, artifacts, and alliances. It’s better not to mess with them unless you absolutely have to.”

Alex kept walking calmly, hands in his pockets.

“Don’t worry. I’m a very peace-loving guy. I’ll handle this calmly—without any violence.”

He gave James a thumbs-up.

James’ eyes lit up slightly. “I believe in you.”

Clara suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

’Why the hell am I getting a bad feeling all of a sudden?’

They continued walking.

Soon—

They reached the entrance of the mansion.

It was massive.

Three stories tall.

White marble walls.

Tall iron gates with intricate carvings of scorpions.

Guards stood at the entrance.

They were demi-humans.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

With dark bronze skin and sharp yellow eyes.

Small curved horns protruded from their foreheads.

Their hands were clawed.

Long tails swayed lazily behind them, ending in hardened stingers like actual scorpions.

Each wore black armor with purple accents.

Their presence alone was oppressive compared to the struggling challengers below.

The moment Alex, James, and Clara approached—

The guards crossed their spears, blocking the entrance.

One of them sneered. “State your business.”

Alex stepped forward casually.

“Whoa, guys. Relax. We’re just here to get back some stuff of ours that you took. Nothing more, nothing less. So please call the person in charge. I’d like to talk to him.”

The two guards stared at him for a second.

Then—

They burst into loud laughter.

One looked at James. “If I’m not mistaken… you guys are those Rainbow Guards or whatever, right?”

The other snorted. “Rainbow beggars would be more accurate. Have you seen them? These guys live in the streets in tents.”

James’ face turned beet red.

Clara clenched her fists tightly.

From inside the mansion grounds—

Other Scorpion Clan members began gathering.

Leaning on pillars.

Sitting on railings.

Watching.

Enjoying the humiliation.

Some chuckled.

Some whispered.

Clara was about to explode.

But James quickly grabbed her wrist.

“That’s what they want, Clara. Don’t get agitated. Let’s just ask for our supplies and leave.”

Alex tilted his head slightly.

“So I take it… you guys aren’t going to give back our supplies?”

One guard looked at him up and down. “And who are you? Another beggar who joined them?”

The other smirked. “What color are you?”

He looked at Alex’s dark outfit and skeleton mask.

“Let me guess. A black beggar.”

The surrounding clan members laughed loudly.

Alex remained calm.

Completely calm.

“I’ll ask again. You’re not going to give us back our supplies?”

One of the Scorpion Clan members stepped forward with a smirk.

He cracked his neck once, then suddenly shoved both Alex and James backward with force.

“What if we don’t? What are you going to do about it?”

James stumbled, barely keeping his balance.

Clara clenched her fists.

James lowered his voice urgently. “Lucifer… let’s go back. It was a bad idea to come here. They’re not people we can have a rational talk with.”

Alex tilted his head slightly.

“Did you not see? He just punched you.”

James blinked in confusion. “When? When did he punch me?”

Alex stared at him for a moment as if he were inspecting James’ face.

Then he nodded slowly. “I guess he didn’t.”

Before James could react—

Alex turned and punched James straight in the face.

The sound cracked sharply through the air.

James flew backward several meters before hitting the stone ground hard.

His lip split open instantly.

He was knocked unconscious cold.

Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Clara froze.

She couldn’t believe what she had just seen.

Then suddenly she exploded.

She grabbed Alex by the collar violently.

“What the hell are you doing, Lucifer?!”

The Scorpion Clan members burst into loud laughter.

“Look at that!”

“That guy is trying to impress us!”

Another one sneered. “Looks like he wants to join our clan. That must be his real reason for coming here with these clowns.”

More laughter followed.

Clara slowly looked at Alex.

Doubt flickered in her eyes.

“Is that really the truth? Were you pretending to help us… just so you could impress them?”

Alex calmly pried her fingers off his collar one by one.

His voice remained steady.

“These guys attacked James and knocked him out. Did you not see that?”

Clara’s face twisted in disbelief. “What kind of nonsense are you saying?”

Alex leaned slightly closer.

His voice lowered to a whisper near her ear.

“It doesn’t matter what the truth is. What matters is how you present it. Always remember that.”

Confusion flickered in Clara’s eyes as she couldn’t make sense of what the strange man in front of her was saying.

Before she could respond—

He vanished.

One blink.

Gone.

The next instant—

He appeared in front of the first demi-human guard.

And punched him.

The impact exploded like a cannon blast.

The guard’s body shot backward like a cannonball.

Crashing through the massive iron gates.

Metal twisted and shattered as if it were made of plastic.

He tore through the garden, plowing across marble tiles.

Then slammed violently into the mansion wall.

Stone cracked.

A deep crater formed where his body landed.

Silence.

The other Scorpion Clan members froze.

Clara mouth hung open in disbelief.

Alex stepped forward calmly.

“You guys used violence first and knocked my friend James unconscious. My friend clara clearly saw that.”

He glanced briefly at James lying on the ground.

He dusted his sleeve lightly.

“And now… for his injury, I need a big compensation.”

Behind the skeleton mask—

A wild grin spread across his face.

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