Time: Unspecified Official source ıs 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝕟𝕖𝕥
Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Way Beyond, SSS-rank Titan Forest Field Dungeon.
"Master, you sure you don’t want to just kill them and be done with it—" Lois asked in annoyance but stopped, catching her master’s signal. She didn’t group of demigods.
"No need to resort to the extreme," I answered because I didn’t want to kill a bunch of Demigods who not only helped the world rid of a filth like Redfall but also made it their duty to ensure he didn’t get a chance to make a comeback. They looked like reasonable people, there was no need to escalate things especially considering one of them was Western Royalty.
"Then, why do you have her family’s heirloom?" Christina asked, eyeing the dummy ring on my finger.
"Fuck!" Recalling the ring and its name, I couldn’t help but curse, realizing that the clues were all over the place. I was carrying one of them with me. Yet, I failed to see it.
"Excuse me?" Christina was a little taken aback listening to the boy curse out of nowhere.
"You are excused," Lois said sternly, prepared to attack if they showed any sign of hostility.
"Lois, stand down," I ordered before turning to Princess Christina and explaining, "The Southern Royal family loaned it to me for my safety."
Christina’s eyes widened in shock knowing that the dummy ring represented the partner of the future Southern Ruler, who takes the throne in the ruler’s absence, hence the name ’Dummy Ring.’
Just then, her two bodyguards mentally shared all the information they had on the Southern Hope as their princess had been exploring the Way Beyond for the past year and only returned recently after learning that Redfall might have been resurrected.
"What is someone like you doing with him?" Having digested all the information, Christina was surprised to learn the boy before her had achieved so much at such a young age. Now she felt that the Southern Royal family loaning him the Dummy Ring was a little believable.
"I believe in second chances," I said, prepared to hear them argue, calling me a fool. But to my astonishment, Ollie, Kiren, and Christina burst into laughter while Cannibal Cam returned to original Cam, who calmly said, "Young man, you are funny. That was the funniest joke heard in a while."
"Princess, he is being serious," Christina’s guard informed, reporting about the criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program already implemented by the boy in the Sky Blossom City and the wonders it had done to the city.
"Guys, he is the real deal," Christina said in disbelief, unable to believe that an 18-year-old not only thought of something so selfless but also managed to successfully implement it. Princess Christina knew how hard it was to successfully integrate a program into the society. Granted, the boy only achieved it in his city, but considering the nature of this program, it was ten times harder than any other program she saw being implemented in the Western region.
Ollie, Kiren, and Cam stopped laughing and glanced at the card master. Finally, Ollie spoke out, "Young man, did he promise to help you get laid? Let me tell you, he promised me the same thing and then asked me to drop my pants as he dropped his and bent over. If you didn’t catch my drift, he asked me to fuck him in the ass even though he knew I didn’t swing that way. He almost gave me a lifetime worth of trauma, but I managed to get the hell out of there."
"Master, maybe we should let them kill him," Lois said, listening to Ollie, feeling that Redfall’s past would stain her master’s unblemished record.
I knew all of Redfall’s past endeavors, including the one Ollie spoke of, having read his memories. But listening to someone else narrate it, just hit differently. I too couldn’t help but look at Redfall, despite knowing that he only did it to capture Ollie’s mind and make him a part of his cult. However, he had seriously underestimated Ollie.
"Old man, I am sure you too might have tried the same with a few lesbians. It doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a second chance," I controlled my expressions and defended my choice to give Redfall a second chance.
"You are right, but something about the way you say it is—" Ollie agreed, but felt something about the statement wasn’t right until Cam cut in, exclaiming, "Ollie, you offered a lesbian to plow your ass?"
"Hell no! Cam, if you want to die, then just say so. Don’t spread lies about me," Ollie almost pounced on Cam. But then realized he was mad at the wrong person, then he fiercely glanced at the boy and asked, "Young man, are you picking a fight with me?"
"It was a mistake, a mistake," I lied, not wanting to apologize to the sleazy old man, and then got to the point, "The way I see it, you guys have two choices. First is to trust me and leave Redfall in my custody. And the second is that you guys join my criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program. So, gentlemen and lovely ladies, what will you choose?"
"Reasonable," Ollie said, nodding his head as if had given my offer a serious consideration and then proposed a counter-offer, "Or we kill Redfall and then I will take you to the fanciest brothel in all of the five regions. You are paying."
The smile on my face receded as I eyed Princess Christina and announced, "Demigod Redfall is under my protection as long as he doesn’t break any rules of my criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program. If you guys continue to pester him, I can only assume you guys also need my criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program."
"Young man, we don’t mean to undermine your idea, but trust us, this one is beyond saving. Instead of wasting your strength and resources on this one, why not go help others who really need it?" Kiren stepped forward, attempting to persuade the young man.