"What are the Dragons searching for on this small planet?" Sunny asked, his gaze fixed on the expanse before them.
"Searching for the same things as the other nations: more territories," Josephine answered, her voice even.
Sunny stood before the towering gate, which two guards slowly opened, revealing the desolate landscape beyond. "How strong are they?" he asked, stepping out of the city.
"They are technically the strongest on this planet," Josephine replied, following close behind him. "The entire northern region is under their control."
"If I'm wrong, correct me, but isn't this planet yours? All these territories should be under your rule."
Josephine sighed helplessly. "The war with the Wendigos cost us all our resources and manpower. Because of this, most of our territories were taken over by the Wendigos. These four factions then took them from the Wendigos, claiming them as their own."
"Is this planet resourceful?" Sunny asked, his gaze sweeping over the flat, sandy landscape.
"Planet Zax is very resourceful, filled with countless minerals," Josephine confirmed, exhaling slowly. "If it weren't, four nations wouldn't have moved in and fought for it. All the best mineral mines have been taken by the Dragons, while the others took the rest. We are left with nothing but a fraction."
Sunny nodded, then squatted down. "I brought you out here because I want to tell you something very important. Two things, actually."
Josephine stared at his back, waiting for him to continue.
"I wasn't born a beastman," Sunny said after a few seconds of thought.
"I know."
Josephine's blunt response caught him off guard. He stood up and turned to face her. "You know?" he asked, surprised.
"Yes. When we first met, I smelled a human. I'm pretty sure you weren't my kind back then." She walked towards him, stopping only an inch from his body. "But when I woke up, I knew you did something to yourself. The only thought in my head back then was to kill you, or find a way to escape."
She raised her hand, her finger tracing his cheek. "But all of a sudden, you bit me… and my thoughts got messed up."
Sunny grabbed her hand, looking directly into her eyes. "So now? Do you want to kill me?" he asked, his voice steady.
Josephine offered a sinister smile. "After all this is over, I will dry you slowly until you are drained," she said, licking her lips seductively.
Sunny stared at her, dazed, unsure of what to say or do.
"Tell me, what is the second important thing?" Josephine prompted.
Sunny shook his head, regaining his senses, and said, "I haven't revealed everything yet."
"Oh?" Josephine was surprised by this and stared at him, intrigued.
"I was once the king of the Star Nation. I don't want to keep anything from you, that's why I'm telling you this."
Josephine took a step back from him, her face unreadable. "You… You are the Emperor of the Star Nation?" she asked, her voice laced with a desperate hope that he was lying.
Sunny slowly nodded his head. He knew that keeping this a secret from her would surely harm their relationship in the future, so the earlier he revealed it, the quicker Josephine would understand and accept it, he hoped.
"You! When my parents went to the Star Nation and asked for help, you… You refused them!" she said, her tone turning cold.
Sunny raised an eyebrow. Josephine had never been this cold to him. He knew she hated humans, but not all humans were evil.
"I didn't know."
"Didn't know what?! You are the king! How could you not know?!" she yelled at him, her voice rising.
"I truly didn't know your parents came to the Star Empire! Matilda should be the one who refused their help," he explained, trying to clarify.
"Oh… How could I forget that bitch?! Oh, sorry… she is your wife," she said, staring at Sunny with palpable killing intent.
"Matilda is no longer my wife. We already broke up—"
"—I know. She wouldn't place a bounty on your head if you were still together."
"Then why are you angry if you already know?" Sunny asked in confusion.
"Why am I angry?" Josephine scoffed. "You, as the king, claim you didn't see my father, who is a fellow king, not even heard of his arrival."
"Of course, I heard of his arrival… But Matilda told me he was just asking for some resources—"
"—Resources? You call yourself a king, but you know nothing about ruling. Pathetic."
She turned around in anger and walked away, then paused. "What was the second news?" she asked, without looking back.
"I want to conquer the whole galaxy and make them all bow at your feet," he said, staring at her retreating figure.
"Hmph… So useless." She shook her head in disappointment and walked back into the city.
"Did we just have our first fight?" Sunny thought in confusion. "No… That's not it. Josephine's emotions are just chaotic. I will have to prove myself to her. First of all, I will show her I can take care of her and her people," he said, turning around to face the horizon.
WHOOSH!
The golden lion, also known as the system, appeared, hovering beside him.
{What is Master's plan?}
"Call Nioh."
{I don't think that is necessary, Master.}
Sunny raised his head to the sky, a smirk appearing on his face as a warship entered the planet's atmosphere. "Before I can rule the galaxy, I must first rule over this planet," he muttered to himself.
__
Star stood with folded arms, staring at the soldiers who were still training. The Fighters had made progress, leaving a visible crack on the wooden dummy, while the Shooters had taken down one target out of five.
'At least they are making progress,' she thought, and turned her gaze to the exit of the training ground, seeing Josephine walking by, wiping away tears.
"...?!!"
Star was speechless. 'What happened?' she thought.
"Commander."
She turned to Vince and said, "Keep on trying. You must break it before I come back!" She then quickly walked away.
"Okay," Vince nodded with a confused expression.
_
"Sister-in-law!" Star yelled, catching up with Josephine, who had just entered the castle.
'Why isn't she slowing down?' Star thought in confusion, quickly following Josephine.
"What happened, Sister-in-law?!" she asked, catching up.
Josephine came to a stop and looked at Star, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Are you really Sunny's step-sister?"