Chapter 2971: Are You Playing a Double Act Here?

"It’s me."

Carson Flores fixed his cold gaze on Ellery James: "Seeing I’m not dead yet, are you surprised?"

At this point, any sophistry was meaningless. Ellery James asked, "Where are my second son and fifth son?"

Two figures floated up behind Carson Flores; they were precisely the two from the James Family who’d been blown up by the Immortal Destruction Bomb, bodies drenched in blood, miserable beyond words.

Ellery James’ heart sank completely into the Abyss; his last shred of fantasy was utterly shattered.

Ellery James cupped his fists. "Fellow Flores, I admit I underestimated Fellow Flores’ strength. In this matter, the James Family acknowledges defeat. Please, Fellow Flores, name your terms. As long as it is within the James Family’s power, I will refuse nothing. I only ask that you let my second son and fifth son go."

Carson Flores burst out laughing. "So this is how your grand aristocratic clans act? When you want to kill someone, you just casually do it. When you fail, you come to negotiate terms and walk away intact. Wouldn’t all the benefits in this world end up in your hands?"

Ellery James spoke very bluntly: "Every grievance has its source, every debt its owner. This was indeed the James Family’s strike, but our James Family has no personal grudge against Fellow Flores. In the end it all comes down to Taliesin Compton of the Compton Family giving the order."

"Though Fellow Flores hasn’t been in the Crimson Immortal Domain for long, you should know of the Immortal God Stele, and you should also know the Compton Family’s foundation. That is absolutely not something our James Family can afford to provoke. When they say they want something done, we can only agree. Otherwise, we offend them and become their enemies."

"Our James Family is nothing more than a stick in Taliesin Compton’s hand. Now the stick is broken. Even if Fellow Flores wants to split this stick and burn it, so that the James Family is no more—so long as the Compton Family still stands, the Vasquez Family, the Bernard Family, the Roth family will continue to do their bidding. Nothing will change. Why not have Fellow Flores be magnanimous, leave us one way out? Our James Family is willing to pay a price to atone for our sin."

As soon as Ellery James said this, all the James Family Disciples were dumbfounded.

The James Family, acting under orders from the Compton Family Disciples, had launched a sneak attack on Carson Flores. The assassination failed, and now the target had captured people and come to their door to demand justice?

Looking at the Great Demons suppressing all directions around them, the James Family Disciples immediately started panicking.

They had always taken pride in being James Family Disciples. Outside, they might not run rampant, but they absolutely felt they were a cut above others. Yet now they suddenly realized the James Family might not be as formidable as they’d imagined.

The always lofty and awe-inspiring Ancestor James was bending his back and lowering his head to a young man, humbly begging for forgiveness?

A young man shot into the air and shouted loudly, "Ancestor, why bother pleading with him? He’s just a soldier of the War God Mansion. Uncle Tie, Audric, and Halcyon all hold posts in the War God Mansion; their positions aren’t lower than his. How dare he defy his superiors and bully my James Family?"

Pausing for a moment, the young man raised his head toward Carson Flores and said, "Our James Family can accept the loss, but don’t be so aggressive. Even if you can command so many Great Demons, don’t forget your identity. Otherwise, once you go back, you’ll pay for it!"

Carson Flores’ gaze fell on the young man, his tone calm. "Those three you mentioned—what positions do they hold? You might as well tell me."

The young man lifted his chin and snorted coldly. "My Uncle Tie serves in the Second Legion as a Squad Captain, commanding a corps of tens of thousands. Audric is in the Fourth Legion, serving as Captain, and is the master of a whole sect. My Halcyon works in the Spirit Ascension Hall as a team leader there—that’s a senior officer in the core division, high in rank and power!"

Carson Flores drew in a breath, his tone growing even colder. "Halcyon James, a team leader in the Spirit Ascension Hall, is that it?"

The young man shouted, "Yes! If you want to move against the James Family, you’d better weigh it carefully. Besides, the Ancestor already said it: we only acted against you not because we had a grudge with you, but because the Compton Family wanted to strike you. If you’re so capable, go after the Compton Family. What are you showing off for here?"

Hearing this, Ellery James turned and barked, "Shut up!"

After cutting off the young man, Ellery James once again cupped his fists, face apologetic. "The youngster is spouting nonsense. Please, Fellow Flores, be magnanimous and don’t hold it against him..."

Carson Flores smiled.

So you’re putting on a two-man act?

All that talk is something you, this old bastard, don’t find easy to say yourself, so you let this junior jump out and be your mouthpiece. Once he’s said everything, you pretend to scold him twice, pretend to ask me to be lenient. In truth you’re telling me: our James Family has people in the War God Mansion. If you want to move against us, you’d better think twice!

Even if you can command dozens of Great Demons, here you’re just a small team leader.

You can’t afford to provoke anyone!

Even if you dare provoke us, what about the Compton Family?

If you want revenge, go after the Compton Family. What are you flaunting your power for in front of me?

Watching Carson Flores laugh, Ellery James suddenly felt a faint sense of foreboding rise in his heart.

Could this bastard really ignore everything I’ve said and insist on acting recklessly?

Carson Flores glanced at Ellery James, then at the young man who had spoken, and chuckled softly. "You got one thing wrong..."

Ellery James’ heart sank. "What thing?"

Carson Flores answered, "Not only am I not magnanimous, I repay even the smallest slight. My heart is petty to the extreme."

Carson Flores turned his head and looked at the young man who’d spoken, saying calmly, "You’re very arrogant when you speak. In your next life, tone it down."

The young man’s face changed drastically; his body started to retreat backward. But before he could move, a blazing light flared up before his eyes.

Blazing True Solar Fire instantly wrapped around him. This young man’s strength didn’t even reach the Great Land stage; how could he withstand the True Solar Fire Carson Flores released?

As soon as the True Solar Fire rose, his whole person was like tallow in a raging blaze—he melted with a hiss and in an instant was burned to ash.

This scene unfolded right before the eyes of everyone from the James family. For a moment, all their gazes were filled with terror. Looking again at the smiling young man before them, it was as if they were staring at a devil crawling out of Hell.

Ellery James hadn’t expected Carson Flores to suddenly strike, even less that Carson Flores would do nothing but glance at that Disciple, and the Disciple would be wrapped in True Solar Fire and vanish in an instant. Even if he’d wanted to save him, there was no chance to act.

The death was too swift; who could possibly save him!

Ellery James’ face turned ashen as he ground his teeth. "Fellow Flores, you’ve captured Jayson, Seventh Elder died at your hands, and my second son and fifth son are gravely wounded. What more do you want? Say it all at once."

Looking at the utterly resentful face of Ellery James, Carson Flores spoke with feigned surprise. "Oh? You’re angry now? You’re the ones who’ve come to kill me again and again. I haven’t even done anything yet, and you already look so wronged, as if I’ve gone too far..."

Ellery James clenched his teeth. He was deliberately putting on this appearance, hoping the other party would feel the James Family had already paid a heavy price and might give them some leeway. But from Carson Flores’ mocking words, it was clear he not only saw through everything, he simply didn’t care.

Ellery James lowered his head and cupped his fists. "The James Family has nothing more to say. Whatever Fellow Flores wishes to do, please name your terms, and my James Family will comply without refusal!"

Carson Flores’ eyes narrowed slightly. "I have no terms. I came here for one thing only."

Ellery James snapped his head up. "What thing?"

Carson Flores said coldly, "An eye for an eye, blood for blood."