Infinity, The Arcade Age

The atmosphere in the Wei army command tent was stifling.

At its center, a massive, armored man with a single eye stood before a map, his hands clasped behind his back. This was Xiahou Dun, one of Cao Cao's most trusted generals.

Flanking him were five towering figures, each strikingly similar in appearance—they were the Zhao Five Brothers, formidable warriors renowned for their brute strength.

Near the tent's entrance stood two soldiers, Qin Ming and Ghost Lady, stiff and silent. A battered messenger with a broken arm knelt nearby, and between them lay a corpse.

Though their target was right before them, neither Qin Ming nor Ghost Lady dared to make a move.

The reason? Outside the tent, a veritable army of Tiger and Leopard Riders—Cao Cao's elite special forces—stood guard.

Tiger and Leopard Riders: Stats

Strength: 25

Constitution: 25

Agility: 15

Spirit: 15

Skills:

Tiger-Leopard Armor (B)

Fierce Tiger Strike (C)

Long Spear Charge (C)

Even these supposed "elites" weren't ordinary enemies—they were essentially small bosses, each boasting terrifying power and discipline.

Qin Ming silently marveled at the sheer strength of this force.

Xiahou Dun broke the tense silence, his low voice cutting through the air.

"So, you're saying you came from General Li Dian?"

The injured messenger nodded hurriedly, retrieving a letter from his sleeve with his good arm.

"Yes, General Xiahou! General Li Dian asked me to deliver this message to you. He warns that the enemy is likely planning something big and advises against rash action. He says the enemy's supply lines are severed, and they won't last long!"

Xiahou Dun glanced at the Zhao brothers, and the eldest among them, Zhao Ming, stepped forward to accept the letter.

As Xiahou Dun read its contents, a sardonic smile tugged at his lips.

"Li Dian thinks I'm the type to rush in recklessly, does he? What do you think of that?"

The messenger stammered but wisely chose not to respond.

Xiahou Dun waved him off.

"Go. Zhao Chu, give him a hundred taels of silver for his trouble. Let's not have him say we don't value our men."

The grateful messenger bowed and left, the tension in the tent momentarily lifting.

After a moment of quiet, Xiahou Dun turned his attention to Qin Ming and Ghost Lady.

"I hear you two encountered Wei Yan and even managed to fight him off?"

"Yes, General!" Qin Ming replied, stepping forward with a sharp salute.

"Impressive. But tell me this—why did you knock that messenger off his horse when he was fleeing for his life?"

Qin Ming's voice was steady as he replied, "Because I didn't know who he was."

"He was wearing our uniform, wasn't he?"

"General, if anyone can wear the uniform and claim allegiance, what's to stop me from donning Shu armor and saying I'm one of Liu Bei's men? Until I confirm someone's identity, I'll block anyone from entering the gates."

Xiahou Dun set down the fire poker he had been tending coals with, his single eye narrowing as he stepped closer to Qin Ming.

"So if I were the one being chased, you'd block me too?"

"If I couldn't confirm your identity from a distance? Yes."

A fiery glow lit up the tent as Xiahou Dun grabbed the red-hot poker and thrust it toward Qin Ming's face.

The searing heat came dangerously close to his eyes, but Qin Ming didn't flinch.

"Why don't you dodge?" Xiahou Dun asked, his voice icy.

Qin Ming hesitated briefly, then removed his sunglasses, meeting Xiahou Dun's gaze head-on.

"Because I wasn't expecting it."

"And now?"

"Because I'm not afraid!"

The fire poker hovered mere inches from his face.

"Not afraid? Why?"

Qin Ming wanted to explain that the silver-grade sunglasses he wore would easily deflect the poker and that his nearly impenetrable defense made him immune to such attacks. But considering the imposing Xiahou Dun and the Zhao brothers glaring at him, he opted for a different response.

"Because I'm not afraid, General. That's just how I am."

For a moment, the tent was silent. Then, Xiahou Dun suddenly laughed.

"Good answer! No wonder you had the guts to chase after Wei Yan. You've got real backbone!"

Tossing the poker back into the coals, Xiahou Dun clapped Qin Ming on the shoulder.

"That's the kind of nerve I like to see in my soldiers. Tell me your name!"

"Hyena. Qin Hyena."

"What sort of name is that?" Xiahou Dun muttered before shaking his head. "No matter. From this day forward, you're a centurion. I expect you to serve me well."

The sound of the Nightmare Space notification chimed in Qin Ming's ears.

To his surprise, the system informed him that he had now joined the Wei Army—on top of already being aligned with the Shu forces.

For a brief moment, Qin Ming stood frozen.

Dual allegiances? Was this even possible?

His mind whirled with the implications. As a member of both factions, he had access to double the resources, information, and opportunities.

More importantly, this unexpected development presented a new angle to outwit the formidable Xiahou Dun and secure the blue-grade title quest.

(End of Chapter)