Shortly after Suroma announced an evening press conference.
Paul sat in the back of the car with Han Qiu, glancing at the tinted windows on both sides, then at the special agent driver in front, his heart filled with extreme unease.
"Stop looking," Han Qiu said from beside him. "We're heading to the underground command base beneath Hall of Halls."
Paul nodded at this, not particularly surprised.
He knew Hall of Halls was the Suroma king's living and working area, with a wartime command base built underground beneath it.
If the Suroma capital were attacked by enemy forces or engulfed in a large-scale nuclear war, this underground base would serve as the command center for decision-makers like the king and Senate.
Its existence was known worldwide, but apart from the decision-making layer, only a few special agents could enter it.
The vehicle drove for a while before stopping. Someone outside pulled open the door, and when Paul stepped out, he found himself in a somewhat empty underground parking lot.
He spotted immediately, on an empty space not far away, a chair set up with a person tied to it.
"Paul Normandin, Your Holiness of the Fire Thief Worship Cult."
Bruce's voice came from above. Paul looked up and saw the Suroma king standing on a second-floor platform, both hands resting on his scepter as he looked down, exuding an imposing aura that inspired awe without anger.
"Go over."
Several special agents escorted Paul toward the chair. Paul turned his head to glance at Han Qiu, who was leaning by the car and gave him a "don't worry" look.
When Paul reached the chair, the person tied to it also lifted his head. His bloodless face was covered in stubble, haggard and exhausted.
"You, you are... Joiessen!"
Paul recognized this man.
Earlier, during Suroma's press conferences and memorial service, Joiessen—as the planner of the "array action"—had appeared each time, talking grandly to the media and claiming most of the credit for the plan's success.
But back then, the Joiessen on screen had been sharply dressed in a suit, spirited and confident—a world apart from this feeble man tied to a chair before him.
Joiessen didn't know Paul or why the agents had brought him, but hearing Bruce's words while half-dazed had already given him a bad feeling.
Sure enough, the next moment, Bruce on the second-floor platform ordered, "Paul, use your *Absolute Will* ability to control Joiessen."
What?!
Both Paul and Joiessen were stunned.
Paul turned his head to look at Han Qiu by the car, a trace of resentment in his eyes.
He had only ever told Han Qiu about his ability's name and effects. The fact that Bruce now knew it meant Han Qiu had undoubtedly revealed it!
Facing his glare, Han Qiu shrugged and showed a helpless expression, as if to say, "No choice, I had to tell him."
Joiessen lifted his head and shouted hoarsely at Bruce on the second floor, "Your Majesty, I've already agreed to take all the blame upon myself! Why are you still doing this?!"
Although he had never met Paul, the ability name "Absolute Will" and the identity of "Your Holiness of the Fire Thief Worship Cult" were enough for him to understand what was about to happen.
Bruce ignored him, which only made Joiessen more frantic. He was about to shout again, but Han Qiu, not far away, spoke in a teasing tone.
"Refusing to take the fall is useless. The press conference is live. What if he changes his mind and starts blabbing? Wouldn't that cause unnecessary trouble for Your Majesty?"
Joiessen was taken aback and shot Han Qiu a venomous glare. Then he yelled at Bruce, "Your Majesty, you must believe me—I would never do that! Would you rather trust the words of a traitor from Beixing than trust me?!"
This desperate outburst finally earned Bruce's attention. The latter said slowly, "I don't trust him, and I don't trust you either. I only trust the result."
Joiessen's mouth opened and closed, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Paul, you heard what I said."
"Y-yes..."
Facing Bruce, Paul finally understood the pressure that an overlord brought.
This so-called Your Holiness, who had gained countless followers through mind control, was ultimately just a paper tiger. He seemed imposing at his peak, but the moment he faced a true ruler like Bruce—someone wielding the power of a strong nation—the difference immediately became apparent.
A fake Your Holiness meeting a real king—how could he not show weakness?
Paul couldn't help but think distractedly, "Was it because my aura was too weak that Han Qiu saw through my decoy the moment we met? He must have seen many true overlords too, right?"
The difference between someone who seized power through various means and someone who controlled others with mental abilities was stark.
Paul himself hadn't even realized it, but from the moment he met Bruce, he hadn't once considered trying to use his ability on him. This showed how much pressure the latter's presence exerted.
Now, facing Bruce's command, he dared not resist. He used his [Absolute Will] on Joiessen before him.
"I'm just a little ahead of you," Joiessen said to Paul in the last gap before the ability took effect, as if he had suddenly seen the truth.
"You, me, Andrew, Black Widow, Adam... we're all oranges. Once our juice is squeezed out, we get thrown away. You'll walk the same path eventually—just a step behind me."
Paul's heart was shaken, but by then, the ability had fully activated.
The moment Absolute Will took hold, the light in Joiessen's pupils dimmed, and his expression went blank, as if he had become a puppet that only followed orders.
Was what he said... true?
Will I also walk the same path, becoming an orange discarded after its juice is squeezed out?
But what else can I do?!
After losing a large number of followers, Paul simply didn't have enough combat strength to control his own destiny.
He felt like a slice of bread squeezed between two iron clamps—Han Qiu and Bruce—completely unable to breathe. He wanted to escape but was locked tight.
"Clang!"
The crisp sound of metal hitting the ground broke his train of thought. He turned his head and saw a dagger at his feet.
Looking up, Bruce on the second-floor platform still had his right hand slightly raised. The dagger had undoubtedly been thrown by him.
"Pick up the dagger and cut the ropes on Joiessen," Bruce said.
Paul nodded, picked up the dagger, and cut the ropes.
"Give the dagger to Joiessen."
Paul complied again, pressing the dagger into Joiessen's hand.
Bruce continued, "Use your ability. Make Joiessen kill himself with the dagger."
"?!"
Paul looked up in shock, but met Bruce's unwavering gaze.
He could only follow the order.
Upon receiving the suicide command, Joiessen's eyes showed no ripple of emotion, and his movements had no hesitation.
He suddenly raised the dagger and slashed at his own throat.
"Clang!"
Just as the dagger cut into the skin of his neck, something knocked it away—apparently a bullet.
Was a sniper hiding somewhere?
Cold sweat dripped down Paul's forehead. Such terrifying precision and judgment meant that sniper must be incredibly dangerous. If he made any move against Bruce, he would surely be shot in the head instantly...
At that moment, Joiessen, whose dagger had been knocked away, actually got up to retrieve the blade that had flown far away. Even though he was weak and fell after just two steps, he crawled toward where the dagger lay.
It was clear that anyone controlled by [Absolute Will] would go all out to carry out Paul's orders.
"Good." Bruce observed the scene and said, "Cancel the suicide order."
"Yes..."
By now, Paul understood. This was just a test from Bruce for his ability. And it seemed the test had been passed.
After the suicide order was canceled, Joiessen lay motionless on the ground.
Bruce waved his hand, and several special agents took Paul and Joiessen away. Soon, only Han Qiu by the car and Bruce on the second-floor platform were left in the parking lot.
"I didn't disappoint Your Majesty this time, did I?" Han Qiu smiled. "This is the real Your Holiness, not a fake like those Shadow and Adam caught and killed."
"Hmm. You did well."
"And the matter Your Majesty promised me?"
"I won't interfere anymore with you and Yishan." Bruce's gaze sharpened. "But, Han Qiu. I see you as a talent, which is why I've tolerated you to some extent. But you'd better not go too far."
"Of course, Your Majesty. Then, I'll go find Princess Yishan and tell her the good news."
After Han Qiu left in a special agent's car, not long after, a figure stepped out from a dark corner.
That person carried a strangely shaped firearm and wore an electronic screen mask over their face, looking quite odd. But the bullet that had knocked away Joiessen's dagger had undoubtedly been fired by this person.
"Your Majesty." When this person spoke, the voice that came out was not human but a cold, mechanical sound.
"Why did you change your mind?"
Earlier, Bruce had instructed that once Han Qiu brought the person and verified the ability was correct, he would make a fist with his left hand.
Once that signal appeared, the sniper would shoot Han Qiu in the head.
But Bruce hadn't made the fist signal just now, which confused the sniper.
"Is Your Majesty worried he has a defensive item or some backup plan?" the sniper said. "No matter what he's prepared, I can kill him."
The sniper's tone was calm, not bragging, but simply stating a plain fact—a testament to absolute confidence in their own strength.
Bruce pondered for a moment. "This person... I want to keep watching him for a while. Perhaps there are still some things about him that might interest me."
Initially, when Han Qiu first arrived in Suroma, Bruce had only regarded him as an ordinary traitor from a Beixing official department.
But as time passed, he found that this person was far more complicated than he seemed.
"Aren't you afraid he'll disrupt your plans?" the sniper asked.
"He doesn't have that skill yet." Bruce snorted coldly. "Go prepare at the Senate building. If anyone tries to cause trouble at tonight's press conference, shoot them without reporting. Don't let anyone appear on camera."
"Yes."