I searched and fought in America.

Rosen didn't speak, but simply unfastened the iron claw token from his waist and tossed it aside.

The token, symbolizing the highest authority in the entire gang, traced an arc in the air, and Maurice quickly reached out and caught it steadily.

Morris's hands trembled as he gently stroked the surface of the token, especially the secret mark on the back known only to the core high-ranking members.

A moment later, tears welled up in the old man's eyes. He raised his head, his voice trembling:

"It's true... This is the one Father Kevin always carried with him! I remember every mark on it perfectly!"

Whoosh—!

These words caused an uproar among the previously quiet gang members. All the gazes directed at Rosen instantly changed, transforming from scrutiny to fervent enthusiasm.

The return of the token means the Iron Claw Gang is saved!

However, just as someone was about to bow in respect, a burly figure stepped forward and blocked Rosen and Morris's path.

It was Caesar.

He stared intently at Rosen, not backing down regardless of the authenticity of the token.

"Wait a minute."

Caesar's voice echoed through the hall, silencing the murmurs of the crowd. "Maurice, the token is genuine, I have no doubt about that, but that doesn't mean the person holding the token is genuine."

Morris's expression changed slightly. He opened his mouth as if to say something, since according to the gang rules, seeing the order was like seeing the person.

But after glancing at Rosen's excessively youthful face and then at Caesar, he ultimately chose to remain silent.

Wang Ling, standing to the side, simply crossed his arms and leaned against the railing, adopting a spectator's stance.

Rosen looked at the burly man blocking his way, his expression remaining calm:

"What? You have a problem with that?"

"Of course I have opinions."

Caesar stepped forward, and surprisingly, he was even a little taller than Rosen.

"Kid, this is the Iron Claw Gang, not a lost and found. Finding a wallet might earn you a reward, but finding a crown doesn't mean you'll become king."

We don't know you, we don't know your background, and we have no idea how you obtained this token.

Caesar's voice was filled with oppressive force: "If you stole it from the Father's body, or took it in the chaos, are we supposed to kneel before a petty thief?"

These words were highly inflammatory, and the originally agitated gang members calmed down one after another. Yes, what right did this stranger have?

Faced with Caesar's barbed and sarcastic remarks, Rosen not only remained calm but also chuckled lightly.

He didn't rush to defend himself, but instead stepped forward, his body ramrod straight, his imposing presence no less than Caesar's.

"Found it?"

Rosen looked around and said loudly, "Yes, in this chaotic city, countless things are lost every day, so why is it that I'm the one who got it?"

Why didn't it fall into the hands of other gangs, or the police, but instead came here and into my hands?

His voice gradually rose in pitch:

"The Iron Claws' doctrine says that everything is predetermined and everything is God's arrangement."

Since this token eventually ended up in my hands and I brought it back here intact, it means that I have received God's approval for taking over the Iron Claw Gang!

At this point, Rosen suddenly looked at Caesar and immediately slapped a huge accusation on him:

"And you, Caesar, as an 'Apostle,' you are not only questioning me, you are questioning this Iron Claw that represents the highest power!"

Are you questioning the will left by Father Kevin! Or rather... are you questioning God's choice?!

"Or perhaps..." Rosen's lips curled into a mocking smile as he stared into Caesar's eyes.

"Your faith isn't genuine at all? What you really want isn't the future of the gang, but your own desire to be in that position, which is why you're so eager to deny the person holding the token?"

This series of rhetorical questions came out like a barrage of bullets, striking directly at the core of the Iron Claw Gang's religious beliefs.

"you--!"

Caesar's face flushed red instantly.

He was a rough man and a devout believer. Rosen directly put him on the stake as an "unfilial" and "usurper." How could he possibly accept that?

The way the surrounding gang members looked at Caesar changed.

"That sharp-tongued brat..."

Caesar took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart.

He knew that if he continued to argue, he would only be led astray by the other party.

He was, after all, a cadre for many years, and certainly not a fool.

"Well done, what a wonderful approval from God."

Caesar took a half step back, no longer pressing the issue. "Since you put it that way, if I were to continue to obstruct you, it would make me, Caesar, appear as a treacherous and wicked man."

"but!"

Caesar then changed the subject,

"The Iron Claws' rules are not only based on the principle that seeing the order is like seeing the person, but also on another rule established by Father Kevin during his lifetime to prevent the sacred objects from being stolen by treacherous people or followers of the devil."

Upon hearing this, even Wang Ling, who was watching the show from the sidelines, sat up straight, and Morris's expression hardened.

"That's the [Iron Claw Three Tests]!"

Caesar said, enunciating each word clearly, "Since you keep claiming to be God's chosen Father of the Iron Claw, since you are divinely appointed, since you have divine favor, I believe you can easily pass these three tests, right?"

This tactic is called "using their spear to attack their shield."

Didn't you say you were chosen by God? Then people chosen by God must be awesome and able to pass the test.

Caesar's face broke into a sinister grin:

"If you pass, I, Caesar, will be the first to kneel and kowtow to you, pledging allegiance to you! But if you fail..."

He suddenly drew the dagger from his waist and stabbed it hard into the wooden box beside him.

"That proves you stole the sacred object through the devil's means! It's blasphemy against God! I will personally cut off your head to offer as a sacrifice to the spirit of the Father in heaven!"

The entire room fell silent.

This is a deadly, openly calculated scheme. Refusing means admitting guilt, admitting you're a fake; agreeing means facing certain death.

Morris looked at Rosen with some concern. The "Three Trials of Iron Claws" were originally established to select the most outstanding warriors. They were extremely difficult, and even Caesar had only completed three of them.

All eyes were on Rosen, waiting for his reaction.

To retreat or to fight?

However, Rosen merely glanced at the still-swaying dagger before looking at Caesar.

Rosen spread his hands, his voice calm.

"Since you want to see God's will, then I will let you see it."

I agreed.

---

A Foolish Author's Musings 7:

I used to think that becoming a god was the only true success. But now I think that even after a terrible story, the fact that a reader still criticized me for the "bad ending" instead of the comments section being completely silent is a huge success in itself. It shows that someone actually read to the end!