After some minutes of walking, the group finally reached a massive, sleek ship—clearly a war-grade vessel disguised as a pleasure yacht—floating on the water just offshore.

​Denny and Alexandra, both standing on the shore, frowned immediately, their hands instinctively moving toward concealed weapons. The ten black-clad figures standing guard on the ship's deck also snapped to attention, ready for engagement. The sight of a stranger arriving with a train of chained women was perplexing.

​"What's happening?" Alexandra asked with a frown, her eyes moving from the slaves to the familiar-looking mercenaries leading them.

​Before their startled gaze, and the wide eyes of the slaves, Sunny's body shimmered, the perfect illusion of 'Xanor' dissolving. In seconds, he stood in his normal, radiating form— God Wolf, the King of Eldoria.

​"My King?"

​Both Denny and Alexandra instantly dropped into a low, deferential bow, their faces filled with surprise, confusion, and absolute loyalty.

​"Get inside," Sunny ordered the slaves, his tone flat and authoritative. The women, unused to being ordered anywhere but to a platform, slowly, hesitantly walked onto the ship.

​Ericka looked over her shoulder at the powerful figure who had just revealed his true self, her face a mask of suspicion and fear, before quickly following the others into the ship's interior.

​"My King, this situation...?" Denny questioned, gesturing to the newcomers.

​Sunny moved his gaze to the two guards. "The kids?"

​"They're all inside, safe and sound," Alexandra answered.

​"Good." He looked over his shoulder, seeing Jinx, Star, and the utterly bewildered Peter walking toward them.

"Come inside." Sunny walked past Denny and Alexandra, entering the ship with Star, Jinx, the confused Peter, and the two shadow guards following him inside.

​Another twenty Mercenaries materialized from the surrounding shadows, reinforcing the initial ten. The total of thirty Celestial Rank Mercenaries stood silent guard, their mere presence crushing any thought of attack.

___

​Some distance away, a figure, a spy for the Senator, slowly nodded his head. He had followed Sunny, suspicious of the extravagant bid.

​"I knew something was strange about him. I have to tell the master about this." He turned to retreat, only to see a brilliant, golden blade streaking silently toward him.

​"What the—"

​WHOOSH!!

​That was all he muttered before his head cleanly flew into the air and landed on the ground, followed instantly by his body.

​The next moment, a huge, silent Earth Lion—a manifestation of Sunny's Earth Element skill—emerged from the dark. With a blade-like end to its tail, it swiftly consumed the body, leaving no proof, no trace of the spy's death.

____

​[On the Ship.]

​{Congratulations, Master's earth creature killed a Grand master, stage one warrior. Gained 500 EXP.}

​'I gain half of the original amount… You are so annoying,' Sunny thought, mildly irritated by the system's taxation on passive skill kills. He moved his gaze to the group waiting for him.

​"They are inside. Let's go."

​Hearing his words, Star, unable to wait any longer, rushed toward the door leading to the main lounge and tore it open, rushing inside. The rest of the group followed quickly.

_____

​[Inside the Ship.]

​"What do you think he will do to us? That man paid five hundred trillion," a human slave asked, moving her gaze nervously over the others.

​"I don't know, look... There are even kids here," an Elven woman stated, gesturing to the rescued orphans who were already exploring the vast lounge.

​"Something isn't right, though... If we are slaves, why were our chains removed? And look here." A Beastify lady with mesmerizing cat-like eyes moved toward the tables. She looked at the sumptuous food—fresh fruit, steaming hot savory dishes, and baked goods—covering every surface:

"Why does it feel like we are in a vacation spot?" she added, utterly bewildered.

​A young woman moved towards the food and opened a silver dish. The rich aroma of spiced meat hit her like a wave. Without hesitation, she picked up a spoon and started eating, tears welling in her eyes.

​"Wow... In two years, I haven't had anything this good," she said, filling her mouth.

​"Aren't you scared it's poisoned?" another woman asked, fear still dominating her senses.

​"Poisoned?" A Xenon race beauty, whose skin shifted colors slightly in the light, walked toward another table, opened the food, and started eating just as greedily:

"He won't go through all this trouble just to poison us... Besides, we don't know what we will be doing or what he is planning. So for now... I will eat to my fill. I don't know when I will see something like this to eat again."

​The remaining eight women looked at one another and nodded.

"She has a point," the third woman said. "We have all gone through a lot, but none of us have been violated or forced into difficult labor yet. We should get ourselves ready for whatever comes next." She walked to the table and started eating.

​Ericka stood near the wall, her face filled with anxiety. She didn't trust the food or the freedom: 'I need to find a way to escape. Leon is still out there. I can't be trapped again,' she thought, her instinct overriding her hunger.

​"Ericka!!"

​"....?!"

​Everyone froze, turning their heads instantly to the door. Ericka's body locked up; she instantly recognized that voice—a voice she thought was lost to death. She looked up, seeing her elder sister standing in the doorway, tears streaming down her face.

​"Sis... Sister?!!"

​Ericka shot up and ran toward Star, colliding with her in a fierce hug. Star returned the embrace with equal, crushing force, tears of joy and relief rolling down both their faces.

​".....?!"

​The slaves and Peter looked at one another in confusion, surprise, and disbelief. The slaves quickly stopped eating and stood up, moving respectfully to the side, watching the emotional reunion.

​"I missed you so much! I am so happy!" Star said, tightening the hug, the rigid control she usually maintained completely gone.

​"I... I thought you were dead," Ericka sobbed into her sister's shoulder.

​Sunny stared at the two, allowing them their moment, his presence solid and comforting at the threshold.

​Ericka slowly opened her eyes, and her gaze met Sunny's—the King who had bought her—standing at the door.

​"Umm... Sister." She slowly separated from Star, staring warily at Sunny.

​"Who... Who is he?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

​Star wiped her tears, turned to Sunny, and introduced the group, her voice swelling with pride and relief.

​"Um... Ericka, this is Jinx, my friend. And he is God Wolf, King of Eldoria, and also my elder brother."

​"....?!!"

​Ericka, Peter, the orphans, and even the cynical slaves were utterly dumbfounded, staring at Sunny as if he had actually grown two heads.

A King? And Star's brother?

​"King?" Ericka whispered, the reality of her predicament—and her sudden salvation—shifting violently.

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