The yacht cut smoothly through the thick mist like a shuttle through a loom, arriving at the rocky coast of Greed Island.
Leol, tall and powerfully built, stood on the pier like a guardian deity, arms folded across his chest as he smiled at everyone climbing off the yacht.
"Although I received your message in advance, it's my duty to come and check on you in person, just in case."
"So, Gelman, Shizuku, was your journey all right?"
The sea breeze whipped at Gelman's Hunter Cloak. He simply raised a hand to hold down his unsteady tricorne.
"Everything went smoothly. We can talk about the details after we get back to Rimuru Castle."
Shizuku peeked out from behind Gelman, gave Leol a slight nod, and expressed the same opinion.
Leol raised an eyebrow.
"Fair enough. Doon, how was your vacation?"
"Me? Ha! I couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable vacation!"
Doon cheerfully waggled a finger, then suddenly remembered that Leol, as a death-row inmate, didn't get to have anything called a "vacation." His smile faded.
After all these years together, Doon had long since come to think of Leol as a friend.
But Leol's past crimes did need to be atoned for. Doon didn't make excuses for him, and Leol had willingly chosen to live like an ascetic.
Leol noticed the change in Doon's expression, but simply patted him on the shoulder without a care.
"Don't worry, I don't mind. Anyway, now that everyone's here, let's head back to Rimuru Castle. Someone will take care of the yacht. Everyone's waiting for us."
Like a soccer referee, he pulled a card from his pocket. As an administrator, he could use cards without materializing the Grimoire.
"Use 'Accompany.' Target: 'Rimuru Castle'!"
A pillar of Nen Energy burst from the card and