"No! No! No!"

"Alicia? Alicia?"

Alicia was still struggling when calls suddenly echoed from the sky above.

It sounded like Larry’s voice. Wait—wasn’t Larry about to kiss her?

At that thought, the Larry looming closer shattered into fragments. Not just him—the audience, the entire church, then the whole world crumbled and vanished into darkness.

"So it was all a dream."

Alicia, who’d nearly been forced into a kiss, sighed in relief as her consciousness drifted back to reality.

Opening her eyes, she found herself lying on a man’s back, scenery blurring past at impossible speed.

Clearly, he was moving faster than imaginable.

Naturally, it was Larry carrying her. Weary and drained, Alicia rested her head on his shoulder, muttering, "Thank goodness. Thank goodness."

Larry’s grumble reached her: "You can’t even sleep still. Look at these bumps on my head."

Alicia noticed uneven lumps scattered across his scalp. Her dream-body hadn’t moved, but her real one had voiced her panic perfectly.

Embarrassed, she apologized: "Sorry. Just a nightmare."

Larry replied magnanimously: "Forget it. Small stuff. I forgive you."

His unusual reasonableness surprised Alicia. Normally, he’d seize this chance to demand weird favors.

Her foggy mind finally cleared, flooding back with memories from before she’d passed out.

Alicia fumed instantly—this guy broke someone’s leg, then faked kindness while selling them crutches!

She grabbed Larry’s hair and yanked hard. "You knocked me out, didn’t you? Playing victim here!"

"Stop! Stop! It hurts!" Larry’s face scrunched up. "You were losing your mind back then. I was helping you regain your IQ."

"And whose fault was that?" Alicia released his hair but clamped her hands around his neck. "Daring to take advantage? You beastly trash!"

"I just hugged you! Didn’t grope or anything."

"You didn’t grope—just pressed your dog nose into my hair."

"Honestly, as a girl now, you smell really nice."

Alicia’s rage exploded. "Die! I’ll stroll through a Lasi Monster’s nest and make you smell it properly!"

[Lasi Monster: a small underground worm that secretes highly irritating gas in its nest to repel predators.]

Larry shuddered. "No need. Hurting the enemy but losing eight hundred yourself? Stay fragrant. I’ll behave better."

"You mean absolutely no next time!"

Blue marks bloomed on Larry’s neck. Alicia relented and let go.

"My flying broom—you recovered it, right?"

Larry trudged ahead silently, ignoring her despite their closeness.

Unease prickled Alicia. She summoned Mitchell, aiming it at his head. "Confess now: where’s my custom-made, collector’s edition flying device?"

"It shattered."

Feeling his life threatened, Larry confessed truthfully.

Alicia: "..."

"Die, Larry!"

Mitchell cheered: "Angry lady, strike! Make him taste hellfire’s burn! Ohhhhh!"

Its ominous glow made Larry flinch. "Wait, Lady Alicia! Spare me—I’ll gift you a brand-new, original flying device!"

Alicia’s expression softened. She tapped Mitchell against her palm, drawing suspicious moans from it.

"That device wasn’t just a tool. Years together built priceless bonds."

Not jacking up the price would insult her late Yuan Staff!

Larry wisely offered: "I’ll customize a new one—twice your old device’s price. Deal?"

Alicia’s eyes lit up, but she feigned reluctance. "This can’t replace a fraction of its worth. But the past is past. People move forward. Your sincerity... I’ll reluctantly accept."

"Thank you for your mercy! I’m truly moved."

Larry’s tearful gratitude pleased Alicia deeply.

Suddenly, he grinned mischievously, confusing her.

"What’s so funny?"

"Preparing dowry for my future wife early? No big deal. We’ll be family anyway." His mouth curved like a crescent moon. "After all, some dream of throwing themselves at me. How far did our wedding dream go? Did we reach the bridal bed?"

Alicia shattered, unleashing a Siren’s shriek.

"Forget all that!"

[Siren: a merfolk sea race with piercing, grating voices.]

...

Aetron County.

King Garp had long replaced its officials with his own. They obeyed his order: relocate every resident to neighboring territories.

Naturally, those surrounding lands were also under Garp’s control.

Opposition flared—some low-ranking officials even led rebellions.

But their resistance crumbled against Garp’s iron will.

Forced into emptiness, Aetron County stood deserted when Garp’s troops arrived.

He marched onward until reaching the Danga-Jeep border.

A signal flare shot up. Soon, a dark cloud gathered on Jeep’s frontier.

An army clad in black armor emerged.

Their steps were heavy and synchronized, radiating crushing pressure as they approached.

They crossed into Danga without pause, halting before King Garp.

Their commander stepped forward—Jeep’s infamous war maniac, Marshal Trollope—demanding an audience with Danga’s king.

The two met between their armies.

Garp frowned. "Only you came?"

Trollope laughed loudly. "Such a trivial matter? Our king needn’t bother. I handle it."

Garp’s voice turned icy. "This land transfer represents two nations. Can you decide? Prove it."

"Aren’t my troops proof enough?" Trollope sneered. "With them, we’ll take this land even without your help."

His elite forces were Jeep’s unstoppable spear, undefeated against all neighbors.

"If this is your negotiation sincerity—goodbye." Unfazed, Garp stood to leave.

"Wait. This should suffice." Trollope produced a seal—the national seal of Jeep Kingdom.

Garp handed him a contract. "Stamp and sign."

Trollope frowned. "Didn’t we sign one already?"

Garp remained calm. "That one’s void. We’re transferring early, as agreed. Terms are identical—only the date changes to today. Sign, stamp, and the land is yours."