Castle and Saint Homing

On the coast of the Sorbet Kingdom, a World Government warship was docked at the shore.

"We can only escort you this far."

"This is the Sorbet Kingdom in the South Blue, and it is also a World Government member state."

"Accommodations and sufficient funds have already been prepared for you on the island."

"They should ensure that you can live without worry from now on."

The Marines stood in formation to see Saint Homing's group off. Kuru stood at the front of the formation, giving Saint Homing his final instructions.

"Thank you. This is more than enough." Saint Homing thanked the Marines.

Leaving Mary Geoise had always been his dream. The moment he set foot on this island, it meant that he had completely bid farewell to his past.

Next, he could experience the joys and sorrows of ordinary people.

Kuru continued, "Then we will be collecting your Celestial Dragon identity chips."

The chips represented the status, standing, and privileges of the Celestial Dragons. Only those with chips could be called Celestial Dragons; otherwise, even if they carried Celestial Dragon blood, they would not be recognized.

Saint Homing showed no reluctance and directly handed over his chip.

Kuru took the chips from them. "Then I wish you peace and happiness in the days ahead. We will return to Mary Geoise first."

"Take care."

Under the Marines' watchful eyes, the group of four headed deeper into the island.

"This is the first time I've seen Celestial Dragons who were so easy to get along with."

"It's a shame there aren't any Celestial Dragons like that left now..."

"It was my first time doing something for Celestial Dragons, and I could actually be this happy. What a shame..."

The Marines all felt that Saint Homing and his family were easy to get along with, and they admired them for being able to make such a choice.

If any Marine here had been enjoying the benefits brought by Celestial Dragon status, they knew they would not have made such a choice. That alone showed Saint Homing's remarkable character.

"All right, stop discussing it." Kuru withdrew his gaze. "Let's head back."

"Kuzan, are you telling the truth?" Huo Shaoshan asked with a pained expression.

His face felt like it hurt. He could not understand why he kept running into things like this, and why every time it was a public execution.

Kuzan nodded. "Of course it's true. Although the place where that ship docked was vast and sparsely populated, it was still spotted by our scouts."

Jin An put on his coat. "Let's go. We'll see what's going on."

He immediately took the lead and walked out.

Huo Shaoshan followed behind him with a miserable expression. "Kuzan, when you report things in the future, can you pick a time when I'm not around?"

"Why?" Kuzan found Huo Shaoshan's request rather strange.

Because it hurt!

Huo Shaoshan covered his face and hurried after Jin An.

Kuzan looked utterly baffled, but he still shifted his attention to the situation by the coast.

"..."

Just as Jin An opened the door, the system arrived with another mission.

[Ding!]

[Please take the initiative to contact Saint Homing and change your relationship with him from strangers to any level of favorability]

[Mission reward: 10 hours of training space, 5,000 shop points, 10 million Beli]

[Wishing the host success in completing the mission (scattering flowers)]

[...]

Through the mission issued by the system, Jin An also confirmed that the people who had arrived on the island were indeed Donquixote Doflamingo's family.

This was also one of the system's hidden functions. It could let him know in advance which people and events he would face next.

It saved him the time of investigating them himself.

"Kuzan, where exactly is that ship docked?" Jin An asked the only person present who knew.

Kuzan pointed north. "At the northernmost part of the island. There's a stretch of coast surrounded by forest."

"There are few people there, and almost no one goes to that place. I heard pirates used to land there often. To avoid the chaos of war, people would instinctively steer clear of it."

Hearing Kuzan's answer, Jin An remembered that place as well. It was indeed sparsely inhabited, making it a decent landing spot for Saint Homing and his family.

Saint Homing actually left Jin An with a fairly good impression. During his time as a Celestial Dragon, he had never oppressed ordinary people. He treated others kindly and possessed a good heart.

He had simply underestimated the hatred people in this world held toward the Celestial Dragons and led his entire family into a pit of fire.

When his wife and children were in danger, he had also protected them without hesitation. Unfortunately, he had neither power nor authority. He could only be at others' mercy, unable to resist.

Jin An did not understand how people oppressed by the Celestial Dragons felt. In his view, a Celestial Dragon willing to give up his status and integrate into ordinary society was something whose benefits outweighed its drawbacks.

Perhaps Saint Homing's success might even cause the Celestial Dragons to split into two factions.

On the other hand, if ordinary people killed Saint Homing, the other Celestial Dragons would only applaud, then persecute civilians even more harshly. Any Celestial Dragons inclined to sympathize with civilians would also abandon their fantasies and devote themselves wholeheartedly to pleasure.

"Huh? When did a castle appear up ahead?"

As they approached the coast, Jin An suddenly spotted a magnificent castle. It looked as though it had not been built long ago.

Kuzan was curious as well. "I remember it wasn't there when we patrolled the island some time ago."

"Look, there are people at the castle gates." Huo Shaoshan pointed at the castle ahead.

Jin An and Kuzan focused their eyes and saw that four people were indeed standing before the castle with their luggage, opening the door.

"Huo Shaoshan, there's something I've always been curious about. Can you clear it up for me?" Jin An led the two toward the castle.

Huo Shaoshan, who was following slightly behind Jin An, perked up. Colonel Jin An actually had something to ask him about. "Please ask."

"Are your eyes open?"

Jin An could not be blamed for asking. Huo Shaoshan's eyes looked as though they were closed, yet he often noticed things that Jin An and the others had missed.

"Colonel, that question is very rude! And Kuzan, don't make that interested expression!" Huo Shaoshan felt as though his heart had been stabbed twice.

"Of course my eyes are open." Huo Shaoshan tried hard to open his eyes wide to prove it, but he still looked no different.

"..."

"Father, look! Are there people approaching us from the forest?" Rosinante looked into the distance through his hair.

Saint Homing pushed open the door and looked back. "There really are people coming over."

"You go inside first. I'll see why those people have come here."

Watching his family enter the castle, Saint Homing calmly stood at the entrance and waited for the three men to approach.

"Hello, there's something we'd like to ask you. Is this a good time?" Huo Shaoshan still wore that comforting smile.

Saint Homing nodded politely. "Go ahead and ask. But I've only just moved here, so I may not know much about this island."

As he looked at their faces and the uniforms they wore, he felt that the man leading them looked somewhat familiar.

"You... you are...?"