“What judgment? That's absurd. Denis... Canaan started to interject but was silenced by a gesture from Denis.

"Clark and I were at the forefront of the battle," Denis continued.

“But we were ambushed and gravely wounded due to a_ betrayal.

Subsequently, our master and the elite were also ensnared by the traitors and outnumbered by the enemy. Despite being vastly outnumbered, our family prevailed, though it was a pyrrhic victory.

Most of our best were lost, and our formidable foes nearly wiped out.

Yet, for twenty years, someone has been reaping the benefits of these sacrifices. Since the enemies and traitor remained shrouded in mystery, Clark and I couldn't safely return. We had to conceal ourselves. But now, the time has come to settle old scores."

At a rest area near Broome airport, Fred had been waiting for several hours. The airport remained blockaded, and he was growing increasingly uneasy.

He was wondering whether to return and have Kent look into the situation before they decided on a course of action.

His attention was suddenly drawn to a procession of cars emerging from the airport.

"Isn't the airport supposed to be closed? That's quite a line of cars, could easily accommodate fifty or sixty people," Fred thought.

The leading vehicle, a subdued black car, caught his eye. It appeared heavier than other cars of its kind, suggesting something out of the ordinary.

Fred's instincts told him there was something extraordinary about the lead car. Its design hinted at advanced safety features, possibly explosion-proof and bulletproof.

Clearly, someone of significant importance was being transported in that vehicle. The car following the leading one wasn't the everyday vehicle. It had an unusual shape, reminiscent of the armored cash trucks occasionally seen on the streets. It was evident they were escorting something, though Fred couldn't determine whether it was valuable goods or VIPs.

Fred's curiosity was further piqued when one of the cars abruptly left the Line and headed straight toward him.

A sense of alarm only hit Fred when the car halted just five meters away.

“Who are you?" he blurted out, taken aback by the sudden approach.

Before Fred could react further, the car door opened, and several sturdy men swiftly exited the vehicle.

Fred's eyes widened in recognition. The attire of the approaching men was unmistakably that of a special service department. Members of this unit were typically elite soldiers, highly skilled in physical combat and martial arts, often tasked with secret missions.

“Fred Barnes, please come with us now," the leading man stated firmly.

“Why... Why are you arresting me?" Fred responded, a mix of shock and anger in his voice.

He hurriedly added, "I'm a member of the Barnes family, a senior pill alchemist within the Pill Alchemist Association. Do you know that?"

The man nodded, unfazed.

"Yes, we're aware of your identity and the Barnes family's activities in recent years. You can either cooperate with us or we will have to take you away by force."

Fred found it unbelievable, his mind racing. His skills as a fifth-grade pill alchemist should enable him to overpower a few of these men, he thought.