System's POV
chapter-192

Rianna couldn't help but smile as she looked at Thirteen's helpless expression, while he was being hugged by Cristopher and Giga Chad at the same time.

As soon as the seven-year-old descended from Norris' Merchant ship, the chubby boy and the Chad Skunk didn't hesitate to wrap their arms around him, giving him a welcoming hug.

"Okay, that's enough," Thirteen said as he lightly tapped the arms of his two loyal subordinates, who were so happy to see him again.

"I'm glad to have you back, Young Master," Cristopher said before wiping the tears in his eye. "I'm really glad that you're back."

Giga Chad also made whining noises, as he poked Thirteen here and there, as if telling his Master that he looked thinner compared to the last time that he had seen him.

Frankly, Thirteen's physique hadn't changed much since he arrived in the Sumatran Kingdom.

He was eating well, sleeping well, and doing whatever he wanted. In fact, he even gained a bit of weight, but since he was always on the move, the added weight only turned into muscles.

"Norris, I'll head back to the warehouse first," Thirteen said to the Slave Master. "These kids are creating a scene here."

Norris chuckled because their arrival was indeed making a scene.

Several Tigerkins locked up in cages were being pulled down from the ship, and everyone could tell that they were all warriors.

Since the prices of slaves had risen, especially for Tigerkins, they were wondering how much these slaves would cost after they were sold.

What they didn't know was that these slaves weren't for sale.

They were all part of Thirteen's private army, which would be delivered to his warehouse later that day.

Norris had already been paid a lot of silver by Lord Paven, so that he wouldn't accumulate any losses for his services.

Although the three Cities, who had the biggest food reserves in the Sumatran Kingdom were attacked during the Harvest Festival, the Kingdom had enough food supply to ensure that none of their people would starve.

While Anwir, Paven, and Brigham were dealing with the aftermath, Thirteen and his team returned to the Warehouse to discuss a few important matters.

"I'm really glad that you're back, Zion," Harry, who had been waiting for the seven-year-old's return, could finally sigh in relief. "Since you're here, I can join your team now, right?"

He enjoyed being part of Rianna's Hunting Party because he was able to showcase his expertise. However, the three guys, who were vying for the pretty lady's attention, found Harry as an eyesore.

Because of this, the Scion of the Remington Clan didn't feel welcomed in the Hunting Party and wished to transfer to Thirteen's team as soon as possible.

Seeing his expression, Thirteen couldn't help but smile in his heart because he had already expected this to happen.

"Of course you can join my team," Thirteen replied. "Welcome aboard, Harry."

"Thank you very much!"

"Don't thank me yet. I'm going to work you to the bone."

After that brief exchange, the younger boy shifted his attention to Cristopher and Rianna, who were seated beside him.

"I have some good news, and some bad news," Thirteen said. "Which one do you want to hear first?"

"The bad news," Rianna answered.

"The good news!" Cirstopher insisted.

Taiga, who was also in the room, didn't say anything, and only stared at the seven-year-old with a solemn expression on his face.

He wanted to ask Thirteen a lot of questions about his family, but the boy told him to wait until the meeting was over.

Aside from Rianna, her three Core Members, Rufus, Jeane, and Eren, were also inside Thirteen's room because he insisted they come to the gathering.

But, just like Taiga, they didn't say anything and allowed the pretty lady to handle everything.

Even so, it didn't change the fact that the three of them were all annoyed because Rianna was smiling so sweetly, and her smile was directed at Thirteen, who was way younger than them.

"Okay, let's start with the good news first." Thirteen nodded. "The good news is that I believe I have found a lead regarding the Beacon of Hope."

Cristopher, Rianna, Harry, and the three other Wanderers inside the room looked at the boy with shock.

They didn't expect that the good news had something to do with the mission that would send them back home to Pangea.

"That's great, Young Master!" Cristopher said excitedly. "We can now go back home… ah!"

The chubby boy remembered that his Young Master wouldn't be able to go back with them because he was undergoing the Thirteen Trials.

Only when he finished all of them would he get the opportunity to return to their original world.

"Now, let's talk about the bad news," Thirteen's voice became solemn, making everyone inside the room subconsciously straighten their sitting posture.

"The bad news is that this war between the Tigerkins and Barbarians is more complicated than we imagined. There is a Third Party that is targeting the Valbarra Archipelago, and the only way to stop them is for the Tigerkins and the Barbarians to join hands and fight together.

"I know that this is hard to believe, but that is the truth. Lastly, we will all need to work together in order for you guys to have a hope of returning home."

An eerie silence that lasted for an entire minute descended inside the room after Thirteen finished talking.

Rufus, Jeane, and Eren, didn't want to believe the seven-year-

old's words. They even believed that the boy was just making things up in order to scare, and force them to become his lackeys.

But, after seeing Rianna's expression, the three didn't dare voice their opinions out loud in fear that they would lose the pretty lady's trust, which they were working hard to get.

Harry found the younger boy's story hard to believe. However, after witnessing how capable Zion was, he decided to take his words seriously.

"Well then, what do you want us to do?" Harry asked, breaking the silence of the room.

"Follow my orders faithfully," Thirteen answered. "Then, and only then, will you guys get the chance to survive this upcoming calamity."

Rufus, who was unable to continue listening, snorted, catching everyone's attention.

"You said that there is a Third Party that is eyeing the Valbarra Archipelago," Rufus stated. "But, you didn't tell us who this third party is. Are you perhaps making this up?"

Although he wanted to get Rianna's good graces, he wasn't someone who just blindly listened and followed orders.

He was a retainer of one of the heirs of a Prestigious Family, and his loyalty belonged to his true Master.

"I don't mind telling you." Thirteen smirked. "But, are you sure you want to know? All of you might fall into despair if you hear his name."

"Try me." Rufus crossed his arms over his chest and stared straight into Thirteen's eyes.

Thirteen chuckled. "The ignorant are truly fearless. Very well, I will answer your question. The Third Party who is manipulating the Tigerkins and the Barbarians to fight each other is none other than a Majin Prince."

Cristopher, who was seated beside Thirteen, shuddered after his Young Master's revelation.

Rianna's, Harry's, Jeane's, and Eren's expressions also became grim when they heard Zion's answer.

Even Rufus, who was feeling fearless earlier, couldn't help but feel intimidated as he looked at Thirteen's green eyes, which seemed to glow with power.

"His name is Arundel," Thirteen added. "And his title is the Destroyer. The same Majin Prince who destroyed three powerful empires on the Main Continent is eyeing the Valbarra Archipelago. I'm very sure that he would love to eat a few Wanderers, who just happened to be in the same land that he wishes to make part of his domain."

A loud thud was heard inside the room, making everyone glance at the chubby boy, who had fainted, and hit his head on top of the table.

Everyone stared at him, but no one laughed because this was no laughing matter.

"I don't care whether you believe me or not," Thirteen declared. "But, since I asked all of you to come to this meeting, I have recognized that all of you will play an important role in the upcoming battle.

"Make sure to keep everything you have heard inside this room a secret, so that the others won't panic. Our priority is to get the Beacon of Hope. If you guys are lucky, you won't need to wait for the Majin to step foot in the Barbarian lands before all of you can return to Pangea.

"In the worst case scenario, all of you can just hide until everything is over. I have promised Cristopher that I will send him back, so I will find a way to light the Beacon of Hope, with or without your help. I just want to remind you all something. The rewards that the Laplace Demon and The One will bestow upon you will depend on your contributions.

"If you don't contribute then the skills you will gain will be mediocre. But, if you cooperate with me, and play an important role in the war, you might just become the most powerful rookies of this generation. So, are you all willing to follow me until the end?"

Rianna, Harry, Rufus, Jeane, and Eren glanced at each other before shifting their gaze back to the seven-year-old, who was looking at them with a confident look on his face.

All the Wanderers understood what a Majin Prince signified and if what Thirteen was saying was the truth then they needed to find the Beacon of Hope before such an entity arrived on the shores of the Valbarra Archipelago.

That was the only way that they could survive the one-sided genocide of an existence, whose strength surpassed that of a Monarch.