-2354- A justified reason for taking action

Itogami Island, Harbor Area.

At a port here, a luxurious cruise ship floated quietly, moored at the dock.

The cruise ship looked like a palace, shining with gold and brilliance all over, resembling the carriage a king would use for travel.

In fact, there wasn't much difference.

Because the owner of this luxury cruise ship was the lord of the Ardeal principality within the Warlord Dominion, no different from a king of a nation.

At one moment, a boy and a girl appeared simultaneously in front of the cruise ship.

"Oceanus Grave..."

Yukina put on her guitar case again, staring at the luxurious cruise ship with a grave expression.

"Here again?"

Rozen also gazed at it and curled his lips.

In the past, Rozen had come here once and had met Vatler on this very cruise ship for the first time. He had also encountered Kanase Kanon, who was angelized, attacking together, almost destroying the ship.

Now, the ship seemed repaired, or perhaps it had been replaced by another. Rozen was familiar with coming here.

But this time, Rozen had no intention of boarding the deck.

After all...

"Looks like the welcoming ceremony is different from last time."

Rozen suddenly said.

"Himeragi, fall back first."

Upon hearing this, Yukina was momentarily stunned, then her expression changed sharply.

"Buzz!"

At that instant, above the luxury cruise ship, a terrifying surge of magical power stirred.

The magical power was enormous—if dispersed in the atmosphere, its concentration could kill an ordinary person instantly.

Such immense magical power twisted the air and transformed into the shape of a giant serpent.

Undoubtedly, it was a Beast Vassal.

Moreover, it was quite a powerful one.

The giant serpent, at least tens of meters long, coiled around the luxury cruise ship like it was its nest, baring ferocious fangs and suddenly lunging fiercely at Rozen.

The speed was astonishing.

That speed and momentum were deadly—anyone brushed by it would be pulverized instantly.

Yet Rozen's expression remained calm.

"Boom!"

The next second, Rozen's magical power surged violently.

The magical power transformed into a blood mist, and a pitch-black tricobalt sword flickered into existence.

As it appeared, the tricobalt sword suddenly flashed and slashed forward.

"Pshh!"

In the blink of an eye, the charging giant serpent was pierced through by the pitch-black tricobalt sword.

The serpent's body froze on the spot.

But it didn't immediately dissolve into magical power; instead, it struggled desperately, generating an explosive shockwave trying to launch a desperate counterattack on Rozen.

Unfortunately, that explosive shockwave could not break through the terrifying magical power rising from Rozen's body. It was blocked outside, only causing tremors in the atmosphere and the port's ground.

Before long, the giant serpent finally dissipated, and the pitch-black tricobalt sword, having accomplished its task, faded away like a mirage.

Rozen retracted his magical power and spoke calmly.

"All right, greetings are done. Time to come out, alright?"

As soon as he finished speaking, golden mist spread before Rozen.

Golden particles drifted down like yellow sand from midair, gradually taking the shape of a handsome young man.

He was a blond, blue-eyed vampire wearing a pure white suit.

"Welcome, honored Divine Child, your arrival is most gracious."

Vatler smiled happily as if satisfied, bowing politely.

That broad smile was hardly fitting for someone who had just unleashed a deadly surprise attack using a Beast Vassal.

"Lord Ardeal!"

Yukina instantly tensed.

Rozen squinted his eyes, staring at Vatler with a meaningful smile.

"You seem in a good mood, Lord Ardeal."

Rozen said.

No choice.

"Although you usually look at me as if I were a delicious dish or a prime prey, you've always been holding back, like you wanted to save me for last. But today, suddenly you seem so interested. Have you finally lost patience?"

Rozen said with a half-smile.

"Not at all."

Vatler immediately raised his hands, as if surrendering, speaking leisurely, "It's all a misunderstanding. I detected extraordinary magical power just now—normally anyone would think it's an uninvited guest. Especially with my sensitive position, it's not strange to be attacked at any time, so instinctively I struck first. Please forgive any offense."

Vatler performed an exaggerated apology gesture.

Rozen watched the act with a calm face and finally spoke.

"All right, I don't consider it a big deal, so I won't make a fuss. Rest assured."

Rozen responded bluntly.

"Of course, such a level isn't even worth your notice, Your Highness."

Vatler didn't object at all. Instead, he nodded seriously.

This time, not a bit of pretension.

Obviously, Vatler also thought the previous attack was just a trivial matter.

At least, for Rozen, it was.

Or rather, if such a thing could hurt Rozen, Vatler would be disappointed.

Therefore, Vatler was quite satisfied with the current situation.

"So, Your Highness, what brings you here today?"

Vatler changed his tone and got to the point.

"I'm here to find someone."

Rozen didn't waste words, speaking directly.

"Hand over Itogami Meiga, Vatler."

That naturally was not Rozen's real purpose.

Rozen's true intention was to launch a formal inquiry, uncover Vatler's and his faction's true strength, and prepare for what was to come.

If possible, Rozen wouldn't mind erasing the problem from the source, letting the war between Itogami Island and the Sanctuary Treaty Forces die in the cradle.

However, Rozen had no evidence that Vatler colluded with the Taboo Four-Character Group, so he needed a legitimate reason to intervene.

Itogami Meiga was that legitimate reason.

"That person is a Prison Barrier escapee, also someone my sister has been hunting. You wouldn't want to offend me just for harboring such a person, would you, Vatler?"

Rozen said.

This was a pretext.

But it had to be said, Rozen's approach was correct, and the entry point reasonable, giving his assault a respectable justification so as not to be accused of attacking a foreign diplomat.

Of course, since Vatler was a foreign diplomat, he had grounds to make that claim.

"That's an even bigger misunderstanding than before!"

Vatler pretended to be surprised and quickly said, "How could I harbor a Prison Barrier escapee?"

Exactly.

As long as he flatly denied it, as someone from Itogami Island, no one could convict him of wrongdoing, nor had they the right to search, except through official procedures.

But would Rozen follow official procedures?

He wasn't even an official himself—why bother with all that?

So...

"Do you think you can hide it from me?"

Rozen curled his lips and said.

"Since arriving here, I've confirmed it: he's on your ship."