The implication was clear—it was a threat, demanding that I swallow my pride.

“Sophia Frost, this world is one where blood is shed. If he's a real man, he should go out there, fight, and make a name for himself. Instead, he hides like a coward and steals the credit from others to grow stronger.”

"Do you understand?"

The thing I hated most was cowardice. What’s the point of being a mercenary if you’re just playing at it like a market stall? This is a job where you’re paid to risk your life in high-stakes missions.

And that coward—Liam Brooks—had disobeyed my orders during the mission. He exposed our position, which led to my men getting shot.

"Heh, I know, but I won’t let him risk his life and get hurt," Sophia Frost replied.

"Because he’s my stepsister’s brother, I only need him to use your credit to make a name for himself. I won’t let him risk his life on a mission. Understand?"

Hearing these words, I was seething. My anger rose rapidly.

She actually dared to say such a disgraceful thing—putting my men in danger while letting Liam Brooks take the credit. Damn it, they were pushing too far.

I would risk my life to make sure their plan failed.

“Sophia Frost, I told you before—if he wants to make a name for himself, he should go out there and fight for it.”

Sophia narrowed her eyes, her gaze turning dangerous as she fixed her eyes on me.

"What do you mean?"

I took a tissue, wiped the saliva off my face, and then threw it onto Liam Brooks' face.

"It means no," I said, not afraid of death and openly defying her.

Sophia Frost and Liam Brooks' expressions darkened, and even the air around us seemed to cool due to the tension.

"If you don’t agree, I’ll charge you with disobeying orders and have you executed," she said coldly.

"And with the higher-ups far away, no one will know how you died. I’ll make up some rebellion charges, and the higher-ups won’t suspect me. Not only will you die, but your former title will be tarnished."

I raised my head and looked at her coldly. “Heh, you think you're above the law? How can the higher-ups let you run rampant?”

"Hahaha, because I control the entire mercenary group. The higher-ups have to follow my orders. Got it?"

Sophia laughed, patted my shoulder, then pulled out a cigarette and put it in her mouth. Liam Brooks immediately took out a lighter to light it for her.

“Did you hear that, Ethan Blackwell? The whole Blackhawk Mercenaries follow my sister’s orders. You’re nothing!”

“If you don’t want to die, then shut up and do as you’re told. Or I’ll kill you right now.”

Sophia Frost affectionately touched Liam’s face, and he leaned in, hugging her tightly.

“Sophia, besides my parents, you’re the best to me,” he said.

As soon as those words left his mouth, they started kissing in front of everyone.

What infuriated me even more was that the other mercenaries didn’t bat an eye and even started whistling and cheering.

I now realized that during my absence, Liam Brooks had often spent the night in Sophia Frost's room.

They had been having an affair behind my back, and now they wanted to take credit for our hard-earned victories.

"Ethan Blackwell, our engagement is off. I’ll tell the higher-ups to annul our marriage," Sophia Frost said.

She immediately took out her phone and called my father to tell him that I had rebelled and not only wanted to break off our engagement but also wanted me dead.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but laugh. It was almost maddening.

She called my father to ask him to approve my death?

Liam Brooks thought I was so angry that I’d lost control. He took the opportunity to go on the offensive, trying to push me even further.

"Ethan Blackwell, look at you now," he sneered. "I’m not afraid to tell you, Sophia Frost and I have already slept together. Before she even knew you, she had my child. The reason she agreed to be your fiancée was to use you to expand her power."

All the mercenaries looked at me with mocking eyes, but Luke Green and the others were furious and stood up for me.

“Sophia Frost, you shameless woman! How could you do this to Ethan?”

“If it wasn’t for Ethan rescuing you from the nightclub, you’d have been a toy for someone else by now.”

“You ungrateful wretch! People like you don’t deserve to be in the Blackhawk Mercenaries.”

"Bam!" Sophia Frost, furious and embarrassed, grabbed a gun and shot Luke in the leg. "You want to die?"

I had already lost two brothers; I couldn’t afford to lose anyone else now.

I quickly stepped in front of Luke to shield him. “Sophia Frost, put down your gun."

But they thought I was finished, that I had no leverage, so they ignored my plea.

"You think you’re still in charge? Do you dare give me orders?" Sophia Frost mocked.

"I’m going to stand right here and slowly kill them in front of you. What are you going to do about it?"

“No one here is listening to your commands anymore."

“Oh, really?”

"I don’t think I’m done yet."

"The empire my father and I built, is not something you two trash can just take. And the new recruits you’ve brought in, they'll be dead before they even set foot on the field.”

Sophia Frost and Liam Brooks chuckled instead of getting angry.

"You say you and your father built the Blackhawk Mercenaries? Hahaha, never knew you were such a good actor."

“Fine, let me show you how clearly you'll die. I’ll tear your face off."

"Scorpion, get the others over here and let’s see if they follow my orders or this liar’s commands."

Soon, the most influential officers in the Blackhawk Mercenaries were summoned by Sophia’s people. They only looked at her, positioning themselves behind her in a protective stance.

"Ethan Blackwell, see that?"

“If you were the leader of the mercenaries, why are they only listening to me?” Sophia laughed. "Isn’t this proof?"

"You tell him who runs the Blackhawk Mercenaries now."

The high-ranking officers immediately responded without hesitation.

“Of course, it’s Frost!”

That one sentence felt like a thousand daggers stabbing straight into my heart.

These men, who had fought alongside me, had even owed their lives to me. Now, they were all siding with Sophia Frost to betray me and see me dead.

"Did you hear that? You still think you’re in charge, but apart from a few loyal followers, no one else is listening to your orders.”

"Ethan Blackwell, it’s time to die."

Sophia Frost’s words fell, and the mercenaries raised their guns again, aiming at me.

I looked coldly at the countless gun barrels, then calmly asked Sophia Frost one last question.

“Sophia Frost, I’ll give you one last chance—put down the gun and let Liam Brooks apologize.”

“Shut the hell up. You still want to struggle when you’re about to die?”

Fine, she had chosen her path to death. I wouldn’t hold back.

"Ethan Blackwell, die!"

"I’ll count to three, and you better get ready to die!"