Sicily City's seaside beauty captivated at any hour.

Dawn brought lazy charm; noon, fiery allure; dusk, a dreamy haze...

The setting sun slanted low, seeming to float upon the sea.

Azure waters intertwined with the afterglow, shimmering and intoxicating.

Couples often chose this time to nestle on the sand, whispering sweet nothings.

No one noticed a silver-haired youth lightly leaping down from the top of the specially isolated three-meter-high reef cluster.

It was none other than our brother, Sima Luan Tong.

"Seems this isn't a place to clear one's mind."

Ryosuke gazed indifferently at the shore's couples. In his mind, the figures of three little lolis appeared one by one.

"The sunset is infinitely beautiful, yet it heralds dusk..."

Ryosuke murmured, hands in his pockets, walking away slowly.

Where was his destination? Perhaps 'the future' was a better substitute.

Ryosuke didn't know; his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

Fan Qiandai, the first close person by his side, had perished because of him.

Then his old man, now fallen to such a state.

Who would be next?

Ryosuke dared not think: everyone connected to him met untimely ends.

Perhaps he didn't belong in this world.

After all, he wasn't even from this world.

Unconsciously, Ryosuke reached the seaside exit; ahead lay the inner city.

Seeing his baggy shorts, he chuckled bitterly to himself.

[I need proper clothes. Should've asked Kozi earlier... miscalculation...]

"Bell doesn't care! I want this water ball!"

"Bell, be good! Don't be willful! Your sister is waiting..."

At the exit, a lavishly dressed noblewoman in a stylish veil hat soothed a little girl beside her.

The girl had rosy lips and pearly teeth, long orange hair in a ponytail nearly dragging on the ground. Her large, spirited eyes energized anyone with a glance.

"I don't care! Sister is important! The water ball is important too!"

The little girl tugged persistently at the noblewoman's hem, utterly adorable.

"Bell!" The noblewoman's beautiful face flushed with anger. "Keep this up, and Mommy won't take care of you."

"Whimper..." Bell immediately pouted, her glistening eyes welling with tears.

A silver-haired youth strolled over, crouching before the girl.

"Madam, why not ask this little sister her reason for insisting?"

For some reason, Ryosuke felt instant fondness for her.

Perhaps an illusion, or his longing was too deep.

In her, he saw both Alpha and Alice.

"Little sister, tell big brother why you must buy this water ball?"

Ryosuke bent down, asking gently.

Hearing help, the girl's cheeks flushed with joy.

"Bell wants to buy it for Sister! She'll love it! Sister loves 'lots and lots of water' most!"

[She means 'the sea'...]

Ryosuke corrected himself inwardly, stroking Bell's hair.

"Oh~ Bell's such a good girl. Your sister will be so happy!"

Ryosuke turned to the stunned noblewoman, smiling slightly.

She returned an apologetic smile, then faced the dazed shopkeeper.

"Shopkeeper, how much for this water ball?"

The shopkeeper was stunned; a boy who looked ten acting so mature was surprising.

"This... thirty copper coins."

Ryosuke shook his head inwardly; price gouging was universal.

"Here's a gold coin; keep the change."

"Thank you... thank you..."

The noblewoman handed the coin, took the water ball. Bell's smile bloomed like a flower.

The shopkeeper beamed too—unsure if for the girl or the 'keep the change'.

Ryosuke nodded to the noblewoman, stood, and walked away. Bell was lost in fantasies of her sister's reaction; by the time she snapped out of it, Ryosuke was gone.

"Eh? Big brother?"

The noblewoman lifted Bell lovingly, stepping gracefully opposite Ryosuke's path.

"Big brother had other things to do and left first..."

"How could he! Bell wanted to thank him!"

"Bell, be good~ believe in fate!"

"Fate?"

"Yes, if fate wills it, we'll meet again!"

"But Mom... didn't you say fate is for the destined one?"

Bell looked up with innocent eyes; the noblewoman stumbled slightly, laughing it off.

"Ha... don't take my casual words seriously. Hurry; your sister waits..."

"Mhm! And Sister Kozi too!"

"Yes, yes..."

The distant Ryosuke suddenly recalled something important.

—That noblewoman seemed familiar...

Forget it; better get clothes first.

Ryosuke didn't want to be seen as a pervert.

Just as he frowned, searching for a clothing shop,

Sicily City's inner city descended into its most chaotic state in history.

An incredibly cute black-haired loli darted through the crowd like a swallow, lifting her skirt hem, calling for 'Master'.

Behind her followed a blonde goth loli, shouting: "Alpha, wait for me!"

When two little angels fallen to earth appeared before any normal male, who could stay calm?

No one!

A huge crowd of youths, adults, and elders followed the lolis, fresh recruits constantly joining.

The procession kept growing...

Their charm wasn't limited to humans; even animals couldn't escape it.

Boars, dogs, stallions, roosters—as long as they were male!

All joined the marching army.

Sicily City, the beautiful tourist spot,

—was being trampled flat.

The news reached the city mayor...

"Where's the city guard! Send them to suppress those fools who've never seen women! Suppress them all!"

In the mayor's hall, an old man past sixty, clad in a cloak, issued commands with vigor.

"Yes, Mayor!"

The messenger saluted and rushed out.

Ten minutes later, a different messenger reported.

"Reporting to the Mayor!"

"Why you? Never mind. How's the situation? Those fools dispersed?"

"Uh..."

The messenger stammered, then gritted his teeth.

"Reporting... the city guard has joined the parade!"

"What the hell!!!" The mayor's voice nearly shook the hall's dome.

"Where's that first messenger! How did he deliver orders! Bring him back! I'll interrogate him!"

"Uh..." The messenger lowered his head, stealing glances. "...Reporting... he joined the procession too..."

"Hah? What about you! Why are you here! Go join those fools!"

The messenger swallowed hard, loyalty winning out.

"Reporting, Mayor, it's full; I couldn't squeeze in..."

The mayor felt his heart skip a beat, nearly bursting with rage.

"Get out!"

"Yes!"

The messenger almost crawled out, relieved.

The mayor slumped into his seat, gaze vacant. He turned to the window, seeking solace in the sunset glow, only to...

—witness a scene he'd never forget.

An old man in a crumpled trench coat floated through the broken window,

grinning with yellowed teeth.

"Old friend! Long time no see!"

The mayor stared at the glass shards, then the shabby man, jaw nearly dropping.

"Bolong! You old coot—how are you here! And why not the front door!"

"Heh... I came for important business with you..."

Bolong ignored the door question entirely.

The mayor's lips twitched.

"Years apart, and your 'stupidity' has only grown."

"Tch, this is style! You wouldn't understand."

"Hmph..."

The two old men stared. After a while, Bolong sighed, pulled a chair, and sat.

"The Third Princess has a verbal decree for you..."

Bolong's face turned solemn.

The mayor froze, then slowly exhaled, gazing at the ceiling.

"So, it's finally beginning..."

Bolong gazed upward, silent.