Garin took his nephew very seriously. As an elite member of the Celestial Dragons, he had sharp eyes and vast influence, and it didn't take him long to locate Ji Ge's whereabouts.
For six years, the two had never lost contact. When Ji Ge was about to overthrow the king, Garin sent him a letter containing just one line:
"Choose your own path. Remember, behind you stands the Figalando family."
Garin's status within the family spoke for itself; even the eldest son, Gulando, couldn't sway his decisions.
He had once criticized Gulando's reckless experiments, but he never expected them to be so dangerous that they'd lead to Ji Ge's death. By the time he learned the truth, it was already too late.
Now that Garin had a chance to make amends, he wouldn't miss it.
At first, he wanted Ji Ge to return to the family, but Ji Ge refused.
The Figalando family valued power above all else. Ji Ge had to grow stronger, strong enough to dominate the entire family and personally execute the father he despised—a man worse than a beast.
That evening, Ivan, who had been running wild all day, returned to the church. When he entered, he saw Ji Ge and the others sitting on the sofa in silence.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Ivan shrank his neck and asked nervously,
"Is everyone waiting for me? What happened?"
Ginny jumped up, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at Ivan, her voice sharp.
"Brother Ivan, where have you been wandering again? You came back so late!"
Ivan widened his eyes and gestured dramatically.
"Don't you know? The city's in chaos! The king's missing!"
But his "explosive" news didn't earn a single reaction. Ji Ge and the others remained calm. Ginny even sighed at him helplessly.
Ji Ge smiled faintly, flipping the Bible in his hands.
"I've sent him back to God's embrace."
"Nani!?"
Ji Ge had never hidden his abilities from his friends, so Ivan immediately understood. He gulped and mimed a throat-slitting gesture.
"So... the king was taken out by you?"
"Yes."
A brief silence passed before Ivan suddenly raised both arms and spun in excitement.
"I've hated that bastard for so long! As expected of you, Ji Ge-chan! Haha!"
He twirled over to Ji Ge and leaned back, throwing him a dramatic wink.
Ginny's patience snapped. A vein popped on her forehead as she kicked Ivan squarely on the backside, sending him rolling across the floor.
Ji Ge maintained his polite smile, though a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. He absently turned two more pages of the Bible.
Aside from training, Ji Ge had spent these past six years reading the church's books to refine his temperament.
When he first awakened the power of the Mink Tribe in his blood, he lost control of his emotions and nearly harmed his companions. But Mink blood alone wasn't the cause—the other powerful genes within him, all tangled together, made it easy for him to lose himself in battle.
Reading became his way of anchoring his emotions and mastering his power.
Snap!
Closing the Bible, Ji Ge's expression hardened.
"The king's disappearance has spread. The World Government will act soon. They'll send Marines to investigate."
The bear rubbed his padded palms together.
"Brother, does this mean we're going to fight the Marines?"
Ginny drew a gold-plated pistol from her chest—a birthday gift Ji Ge had stolen from the palace for her. She treasured it so much she carried it everywhere, except when bathing.
But this gun wasn't just decoration.
Because of her looks, nobles had once tried to take advantage of her, some even using violence. They mistook Ginny for a delicate ornament. They were wrong.
While other girls her age were still pampered at home, Ginny had already walked through the Valley of the Gods, seen the world's darkest side, and trained relentlessly under Ji Ge's guidance. She was now a deadly markswoman.
Ivan, too, had honed his savage boxing style into something formidable.
Looking at his eager companions, Ji Ge chuckled.
"Relax. I'm not asking you to fight the Marines to the death. I'm asking if you'd like to join the Marines—with me."
The room froze. After a moment, Ginny spoke, worried.
"I don't care where we go, as long as I'm with you, Ji Ge. But... we were slaves. If they find out..."
Ji Ge gently flicked her forehead.
"Why do you always forget that I'm a Celestial Dragon? As long as I'm here, no one will dare touch you."
Ginny nodded earnestly, clasping Ji Ge's hand.
"I swore six years ago, Ji Ge—I'll never leave your side!"
The bear raised his hand in silent agreement. Only Ivan stayed quiet, head lowered. Ji Ge didn't press him, merely watched.
Finally, Ginny grabbed Ivan's ears.
"Ivan! What are you thinking? Don't you want to come with us?"
Ivan hesitated, then lifted his head, his face uncharacteristically serious.
"I'm sorry. I don't think I'm cut out to be a Marine. I love freedom... and the sea."
Ginny's expression faltered, but Ji Ge raised his hand, stopping her protests.
He felt no anger or disappointment—everyone had their own dreams. He'd already anticipated this answer. Though regret lingered, he respected Ivan's choice.
Their bond wouldn't change. Ji Ge would never forget their escape from the Valley of the Gods or their six years of shared hardship.
Seeing Ivan's guilt, Ji Ge smiled warmly and patted his shoulder.
"It's fine. We'll always be friends. One day, we'll meet again on the open sea."