Edrew had expected Noki to say that.
"Hey Noki, you really think you can handle all of them that easily?"
Noki didn't overthink it—he just grinned, excited.
"We're talking about saving our family too. Who do you think I am? These minions are nothing."
Edrew flicked away his cigarette. "Just don't wait for my signal. If they strike first, we bury them here."
He then walked toward Sierra and Siris.
"Hello, Mom. My payment's still overdue. So I'm thinking you should settle it—right now."
His sudden appearance shocked everyone.
A blonde guy, the palace representative, gripped Edrew's shoulder hard.
"Hey, you! Who the hell are you, interrupting us?"
Edrew shoved the man's hand off and turned to face them.
"Just a debt collector." His smile sent a ripple of stunned silence through the crowd.
Whispers erupted around them:
"He looks just like Shin..."
"But older..."
"His hair's different, though..."
The blonde leader snapped, "SHUT UP!!"
"I've got a short temper, so back off. I've got business with her—so stay out of it."
Edrew took a single step aside, turning his back to them again.
"So, Miss... when are you paying up? Or—" His voice turned icy. "You could always trade us your daughter instead."
"I heard she's... useful. Infinite mana? If she joins us, that'd be quite the benefit."
Sierra, who had been gloomy earlier, brightened up upon hearing Edrew's voice.
Edrew waved his hand.
"Hi... I'm back."
Sierra hugged Edrew tightly.
"Can you take me far away from here? So I won't be a burden to my mother anymore?"
Edrew then lifted Sierra up and looked at her face.
"Sure, you're my daughter after all. Sorry for being late to pick you up."
Everyone fell silent upon hearing the word "daughter."
The blonde guy was still displeased.
"Who do you think you are to call her your daughter?! Guards!! Arrest him!"
Before the guards could even draw their swords, something shiny was already at the blonde guy's neck.
"Relax... What makes you think you can arrest my leader?"
Noki swiftly placed his sword against their leader's throat.
"Don't even move an inch, or I'll kill you."
Edrew looked at Siris... and spoke slowly.
"Sorry..."
Then he declared:
"From today onward, I'm taking Sierra with me. Anyone who objects—I'll kill them, even if they're a hero from the Rox."
"And as for you, blonde guy—for disrespecting this child's mother..." Edrew glanced at Noki and nodded.
Noki then swung his sword, severing the leader's hand.
"Argggghhhhhh!!!"
A scream of pain erupted from the leader as he stared at his severed hand on the ground.
"Priest... priest!! Where the hell are you?! Heal me, now!!"
"You think you can escape from here?!"
The priest quickly tried to reattach his hand. It took time, but he succeeded.
Then, he raised his hand and shot a beam of light into the sky.
"Now you're in trouble. I just called the High Knights. You'll be dead when they arrive!"
Edrew signaled Noki to cut off both of his hands this time. Without hesitation, Noki swung his sword again, severing the stupid blonde noble's other hand.
"Since when have I ever feared the Kingdom of RoX?"
Before anyone could react, five figures descended from above as if flying, landing right in front of them.
All the guards immediately bowed.
The leader of the group glanced at the blonde noble and Siris, sighing in frustration.
"What has this idiot done now? I already warned him to stay away from Siris. Now I have to clean up another mess."
He motioned for his men to take the noble away and make sure his hands were healed.
"It'll be a problem if he returns without them."
Before being dragged off, the blonde noble managed to sneer at Edrew.
"You'll regret this, you fool! I'll make sure they torture you slowly!"
Noki tried to slash the guy's head, but this time, one of the High Knights blocked his strike.
"Chill, bro. Who do you think you are, trying to behead someone?"
Edrew patted Noki's back, signaling him to sheathe his sword.
"Our work here is done."
"I'm taking Sierra with us. She's perfect as a corpse collector."
Just as Edrew and Noki were about to leave, the High Knight stopped them.
"You can't take that kid with you. Release her and leave without causing trouble—that's an order from the higher-ups."
Edrew looked at him with a sweet smile.
"Tell the higher-ups... bullshit."
The High Knight shook his head and ordered his men to restrain them.
"Stop right there. You heard our leader—hand over the kid and don't make this difficult."
Edrew sighed.
"This is why the kingdom is so damn annoying."
He pulled out a small item from his bag and tossed it at the High Knight.
It was an emblem—a gift from the Emperor.
The entire team froze.
"H-how... how do you have this?!"
Edrew walked up to the High Knight.
"It's been a long time, Uncle. That emblem should grant any request within the RoX Kingdom, right?"
"Now, let us pass safely to the kingdom's gates. After that, it's up to you—even if we have to fight."
The High Knight burst into loud laughter.
*"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"You're really still alive...Shin V Rock."
Everyone present fell silent in shock—but no one was more stunned than Siris.
Without warning, his uncle pulled Edrew into a crushing hug and lifted him up.
"Why haven't you come home?! We missed you... After all this time, we really thought you died!"
He started crying, his face twisting into an ugly mess—reminding Edrew of Noki, who cried in the exact same way.
Edrew struggled to free himself from his uncle's crushing hug, but the grip was too strong. With a quick flick of his wrist, he cast a banishment spell, teleporting himself next to Noki in a shimmer of displaced air.
His uncle staggered slightly, shocked. "You've really gotten strong, huh?"
Edrew just waved dismissively and turned toward the carriage where Sierra waited. "If I were you, I wouldn't leave until tomorrow. This emblem only works once it reaches the Emperor's hands."
He smirked. "Better stay the night and leave in the morning. And maybe... don't abandon your girl like that."
His gaze flicked toward Siris, who had been watching silently from a distance.
Shin sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine, fine. We'll stay one night."Then, softer, he turned to Sierra. "Go to your mom, This is your last day together."
Sierra hesitated, glancing between Edrew and her mother. The weight of the moment hung heavy in the air—final goodbyes always did.