Velocia Kingdom Has a Rat Slipped Aboard?

Doka looked toward Charlos and reached up to remove the cape from his shoulder. Charlos took it from him and was about to drape it over the old king.

The old king hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no need!"

"I'm putting it on you myself, and you're actually refusing me?"

The old king immediately withdrew his hands, no longer daring to refuse. Charlos reached out and firmly wrapped the cape around him.

"See? Isn't this much better?"

The sweat on the old king's forehead began pouring even more heavily, yet he didn't dare move. He even suppressed the urge to raise his hand and wipe away the sweat.

"Hm? You're still breaking out in a cold sweat. Looks like you still aren't wearing enough."

Charlos turned toward Duke Ain, who was standing nearby.

"Hey, you're dressed pretty warmly. Take off your clothes and give them to him."

Duke Ain looked down at his robes and froze. "Huh? Me?"

"Who else would I be talking about?"

"This... My clothes aren't worthy of the king."

Charlos raised his brows. "I say they're worthy, so they're worthy. Take them off!"

Duke Ain had no choice but to remove his coat. Charlos's gaze remained fixed on him, so Duke Ain could only continue stripping off his clothes one layer at a time. Moments later, he was left wearing only his undergarments.

"Your Majesty, put these on."

The old king's pupils contracted. "Ah—this..."

"What? Is there a problem?"

"N-no, no problem."

"Come, I'll help you." Charlos casually picked up the naval cape and tossed it back to Doka.

"Shall I help you change?"

"No! I can do it myself, I can do it myself!" The old king hurriedly took Duke Ain's clothes and layered them onto himself one piece at a time.

Charlos watched him and clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk. How are you still sweating so much? Someone, bring me two bonfires."

"Huh?"

Two marines answered the call and carried over four bonfires, placing them around the old king before lighting them. Scorching waves of heat surged toward him, roasting him as sweat continuously streamed down his cheeks. Yet he could only remain rigidly in place, not daring to move away, his eyes fixed desperately on Charlos.

Charlos nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. These marines know what they're doing. They knew to add two more piles. I like it. Doka, reward them properly later."

Amira stepped forward and said softly to Charlos, "Isn't this going a little too far?"

Charlos slightly turned his head and ordered, "Bring me a chair."

Amira sighed softly and brought over a chair. Charlos sat down and leisurely gazed at the old king surrounded by raging flames.

"Do you know why I'm doing this?"

The old king's breathing was unsteady as he slowly replied, "...Because I didn't send anyone to the port to welcome you right away."

Charlos chuckled softly. "You're fairly clever. But that's only one of the reasons."

"Did you know? I ran into human traffickers as soon as I got off the ship today."

The old king struggled to swallow. "Lord Charlos."

Charlos raised his eyes and glanced at him coldly. "Did I say you could speak?"

The old king abruptly fell silent and immediately clamped his mouth shut, not daring even to breathe loudly. His heart gave a hard thump.

"Those human traffickers even set their sights on my two personal guards. They're my people, and they belong to me. The security in your Velocia Kingdom is truly terrible."

The old king looked at Charlos and hurriedly bowed as he replied, "Lord Charlos, rest assured. From today onward, such chaos will never appear in the Velocia Kingdom again."

Duke Ain, standing nearby, also stepped forward and respectfully said, "Lord Charlos, we will certainly rectify such incidents. Please calm down first. Someone, bring out the gifts prepared for Lord Charlos!"

Duke Ain raised his hand to signal them. The old king's suspended heart relaxed by half.

A procession of dancers slowly came forward in formation. Charlos tilted his head and sized them up before saying blandly, "Are you planning to bribe me?"

Duke Ain's heart tightened, and he hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no..."

Charlos curled the corners of his lips and interrupted him. "Then congratulations. The bribe was successful."

Amina stared at the group of dancers with undisguised hostility, the corners of her mouth curling slightly.

Charlos turned his head toward Amina and gently patted her cheek. "Don't bare your teeth like that. Learn from them later."

Amina turned her head away and muttered, "Hmph, I'm not learning."

Charlos turned to look at Amira.

"Don't look at me. I don't want to learn either." Amira hurriedly shook her head.

He sighed. "Sigh, then I can only reluctantly accept this group of dancers."

Amina's eyes instantly widened, and she hurriedly protested, "No! They can't board the ship!"

"Why not? I want to watch them dance."

Amira glanced at Charlos and said softly, "Wouldn't it be enough if the two of us learned?"

Charlos rose to his feet and began walking toward the luxury ship.

"All right, then. King over there, you can go back. I won't pursue this matter any further."

The old king exhaled heavily, and his taut body finally relaxed.

Doka slowly spoke. "Your Majesty, I'll be keeping an eye on you."

Duke Ain cast a glance at Colonel Doka and gave a disdainful snort. He leaned close to the old king and whispered, "Your Majesty, there's no need to worry. Doka isn't a good person either."

The old king replied in a low voice, "I know. For now, let's deal with this Celestial Dragon and get him to leave."

"Understood."

On the deck of the luxury ship, Charlos reclined in a chair, watching the group of dancers gracefully perform before him while taking small sips from a cup of fruit juice.

"Mmm, this is the life. Ah, I don't even feel like working hard anymore."

Amina stood beside him, fanning him, and couldn't help complaining, "When have you ever worked hard?"

Charlos answered leisurely, "It's precisely because I've never worked hard that I know how enjoyable falling into depravity can be."

Before long, everyone gathered beside the luxury ship had dispersed.

A young girl's figure kept darting through the streets and alleys, as though she were fleeing pursuers. She let out a soft sigh, and a series of hurried footsteps came from the distance, rapidly approaching. The girl immediately covered her mouth and curled up behind a wooden crate nearby.

"Hey, where did she run off to?"

"Let's look over there."

"Got it. Search carefully! She's worth seventy-nine million Beli!"

After the footsteps gradually faded away, the girl cautiously poked her head out and looked around. Her gaze landed on the luxury ship in the distance, which still had its gangplank lowered. She clenched her fists and hurried toward the ship.

"I can only take a gamble."

Charlos was half-closing his eyes as he leisurely sipped his fruit juice when he suddenly opened them.

"Oh? A rat has slipped aboard."

Rukia, dressed as a maid, gripped a mop and slammed it hard onto the deck with a smack.

"What are you talking about? I just finished cleaning. Where would a rat come from? I'm exhausted."

"Oh, I wasn't talking about you, Rukia."

"Then who were you talking about?"

"Ah, all right, all right. There's no rat, no rat. Go do your work, okay?"

"Hey, could you at least show some consideration for a pretty girl? I'm a girl, you know! Can't you lend a hand and do a little work?"

Charlos puffed out his chest. "I'm the captain. I'm a Celestial Dragon. I—"

"Stop. I don't want to know what you are." Rukia interrupted him. "Could you hire two more crew members? This ship is so huge. Can't you find a few more hands?"

Charlos rubbed his brow.

"Is it possible that, somewhere you can't see, there are actually quite a few people on the ship?"

"Then call them out! Making me sweep such a huge ship all by myself is really tiring."