"What do you mean?"

Manison stared directly into Kesuye's eyes, his tone unfriendly.

Kesuye sighed, not avoiding the old Man's gaze, and said softly, "It's exactly what it sounds like. I think Black Star is right. As the president, you're a role model for the association. You really should give up the Criminal technology. Although this is a historical issue from before the association was established, we now advocate class unity, and live modification is really too much. Everyone will feel uncomfortable."

Manison narrowed his eyes.

This seemed like a premeditated action. If Black Star and Kesuye had colluded in private and deliberately created trouble today, demonstrating the growth of the other faction's power while undermining his prestige, they could further sideline him.

Of course, there was another possibility. Perhaps Kesuye was being objective and simply had an issue with the Criminal technology. Manison had known this old friend for many years and knew that he didn't like offending people. Confronting him face-to-face might have another reason.

Besides, Old Kesuye wasn't so easily bought off. Manison couldn't believe that Black Star had formed such a deep friendship with Kesuye in just a few months. He was more inclined to believe the latter possibility.

'It's also possible that Black Star has caught him doing something… Hmm, I'll ask him after the meeting.'

Manison quickly adjusted his mentality, shifted his gaze, surveyed the entire scene, and said expressionlessly:

"How I handle my spoils is my freedom. Continuing to discuss this topic will lead nowhere. Don't waste time. Let's get down to the real meeting."

Criminals were his trump card. Everyone present understood that forcing him wouldn't work. Most people were just stirring up trouble, not genuinely thinking it would be effective.

But this undoubtedly fell into Black Star's plan. It confirmed that he couldn't possibly give up the Criminal technology, forcing him to make such a statement. This way, at least, it could increase the dissatisfaction of most members towards him and indirectly reduce his prestige as president… There was no helping it. It was because the Criminal technology itself was so criticized.

Black Star's Time Amber was just like putting people in jail, and it was very safe. The Criminal technology, however, was about conducting human experiments on prisoners, which was much more appalling.

If he continued to argue, Manison would have nothing to say and things would only become more unfavorable for him. So, he directly adopted a tough stance and ended the topic.

His uncompromising attitude, though not unexpected, made everyone feel somewhat unhappy. It was mostly a case of "there but for the grace of God go I" psychology.

Seeing this, Han Xiao didn't continue the topic.

The person had already stated their position, and nothing would come of it anyway. Continuing would only disrupt the normal meeting. Besides, the goal had been achieved. In addition to undermining Old Manison's prestige, it was also digging a pit for him. Old Manison didn't know the details of the Sanctuary, and he was playing on that information gap.

Han Xiao turned to look at Kesuye, revealing a knowing smile.

Kesuye shook his head helplessly.

His backstabbing of Manison at this time wasn't simply to support Black Star; it was also based on far-reaching considerations. After learning a series of intelligence about the Sanctuary's revival, his mindset had changed, and his view of the association had also changed.

Thinking about it carefully, it became clear. Jayes said that the Sanctuary's revival could only revive the dead, and uniqueness existed. Then, the Super-A Grades who had been modified into Criminals, were they considered dead or alive?

Most likely alive. So, the Super-A Grades who were modified into Criminals, as long as they weren't freed, wouldn't be able to be revived by the Sanctuary forever?!

To consider an even more terrifying scenario… Would someone use the Sanctuary's revival ability to set a trap, capture the newly revived Super-A Grade, and turn them into a Criminal?!

Kesuye felt a chill run down his spine.

In the past, he could barely tolerate this technology, but the concept of the Sanctuary's revival subverted his views. If there was no hope, he would have nothing to fear. But now that he knew his life had a chance to be infinitely extended in an iteration, it was difficult for him to tolerate this threat continuing to exist.

This was just considering it from his own perspective. From a broader perspective and a long-term view, Criminal technology wasn't conducive to the association's control and maintenance of the Sanctuary's revival ability, nor was it conducive to member unity. Kesuye didn't need to think to imagine several possible terrible situations in the future. Now it seemed that Manison's path was definitely not viable.

It was foreseeable that once Black Star researched the Sanctuary's revival ability, then the Arcane Nation, which possessed the Criminal technology, would inevitably become the target of public criticism. Who would be willing to revive a Super-A Grade who possessed the Criminal technology? And at that time, perhaps even death would become a luxury. Most Super-A Grades, if they went to extremes, might work together to send him into the Time Amber, preventing Manison from being revived by the three civilizations and having the Criminal technology extracted from him.

Kesuye still had some friendship with Manison. He didn't want to see Manison end up in such a situation. It could be said that it was for Manison's own good. However, he knew what was important. Before Black Star researched the results, the Sanctuary's information couldn't be revealed to unreliable people, so he could only simply advise him.

As for whether Manison listened or not, that was his own business. Anyway, Kesuye felt that he had been loyal enough.

Without Han Xiao's provocation, the routine meeting could proceed normally, but everyone present was absent-minded. Their gazes constantly shifted between Han Xiao and Kesuye, their thoughts varied, secretly guessing what kind of bewitching elixir Black Star had given Kesuye.

Sorokin secretly sized up the two, his heart filled with dread.

'Kesuye has also been won over. Black Star's power in the association is growing…'

He always remembered Black Star's threat to expose his identity. With his weakness in the other person's hands, the idea of killing him to silence him often swirled in his mind, but he had always been hesitant due to the possible consequences. Moreover, Sorokin was reluctant to give up his current disguise.

In Sorokin's calculations, the best situation would naturally be to use other Super-A Grades to kill Black Star while he remained uninvolved. But Black Star's social circle had been expanding, and he had more and more friends, meaning there were fewer and fewer candidates he could use.

There were only so many peak Super-A Grades in the universe. Every additional friend Black Star had meant one less potential helper for him.

"Am I just going to be eaten alive by him like this? If I can find a variable…"

A shadow flashed in Sorokin's eyes.

…

Several hours passed, and the routine meeting concluded smoothly. Everyone left with their own thoughts.

Kesuye disconnected the projection link. At this moment, the communicator rang. He glanced at it and, sure enough, it was Manison calling.

He sighed, answered the call, and said calmly:

"What do you want?"

"Kesuye, what's going on with you and Black Star? Does he have something on you?" Manison went straight to the point, asking about what happened at the meeting.

"Nothing."

Manison frowned and said, "You disappeared for a few months. You were actually out with Black Star, right? What did you encounter?"

"What does it have to do with you?" Kesuye responded flatly.

Hearing this, Manison's expression changed.

This was an admission, and this tone made it clear that he was unwilling to reveal any information about Black Star.

It seemed that he had guessed wrong. Kesuye was indeed supporting Black Star. Their relationship had really advanced by leaps and bounds in these few months, to the point where he was willing to offend him in public for Black Star's sake.

Manison sensed Kesuye's coldness and alienation, and his heart suddenly felt uncomfortable.

This feeling was like a companion being poached by a rival. There was a sense of betrayal and heartbreak. He only felt that his social circle was also being invaded by Black Star, and everything that belonged to him was gradually drifting away.

At this moment, Kesuye casually said, "Is there anything else you want to say? If not, I'll hang up. I'm very busy."

Even in a private conversation, he was unwilling to leak any information and just wanted to get rid of Manison as soon as possible.

"… I understand."

Manison was silent for a few seconds, suppressed his disappointment, and took the initiative to disconnect the call.

Kesuye put down the communicator, his expression complex and somewhat wistful.

During the Intelligent Plague, Manison failed to outsmart the others and ended up in trouble, leading him to change his teammate in a moment of bad judgment, ultimately allowing such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fall into Black Star's hands.

In Kesuye's opinion, Manison had picked up a sesame seed and lost a watermelon. If Manison hadn't acted rashly, without the series of events that followed, Kesuye felt that he would have still invited Manison to team up. If that were the case, Manison would also have a share of the intelligence he now possessed, and he wouldn't be kept in the dark.

It was a pity that everything was hypothetical.

"It's all fate. If I had teamed up with you back then, you would be the one with the information advantage now…"

Kesuye shook his head, feeling sorry for Manison.

…

The undercurrents in the Super-A Grade Association didn't affect the players' activities. A few days later, the finals of the fourth Professional League finally kicked off.

The viewership on the forums broke historical records. If Jiangcheng carried the hopes of all the China players, then Thunder Serpent carried the expectations of all the foreign clubs. Only they could stop China from establishing a three-peat dynasty.

Under the spotlight, the two sides fought fiercely in the first round. Although Jiangcheng performed steadily, they fell victim to a secret tactic that Thunder Serpent had been hiding until now. They suffered a loss in the team competition, ultimately losing the first round by a small point difference, giving Thunder Serpent a 1:0 lead. This immediately raised the blood pressure of the China players.

However, in the second and third rounds, the Jiangcheng team withstood the pressure. Under the leadership of Kuangdao, they advanced steadily. Although there weren't many exaggerated flashy moves, they relied on the mechanical class's endurance advantage to turn the match into a war of attrition, grinding out a point difference and winning two rounds in a row, taking the match point.

In the fourth round, Thunder Serpent tried everything they could to win this round, playing very cautiously. However, they were one step short, and Jiangcheng launched a series of attacks that left them disoriented.

In the end, Jiangcheng won three straight after losing the first, taking the crown. Since entering the top eight, Jiangcheng's record had been 3:1, very stable. They demonstrated the elegance of the mechanical class to the fullest, and were strong in all aspects, with almost no weaknesses.

Under the watchful eyes of countless viewers, who were either nervous, excited, or ecstatic, the last player of the Thunder Serpent team fell onto the stage.

The sound of the fall was like a drumbeat, echoing in the hearts of all the viewers. This seemed to be a signal, announcing the birth of the China three-peat dynasty!

Within seconds after everything was settled, the forums were flooded and completely turned into an ocean of celebration!