Dawn broke.
The first ray of sunlight pierced through the darkness, announcing the arrival of a brand-new day.
As the sky slowly brightened, the fleet of the Kingdom of Zephir, after sailing for an entire day and night, finally saw the outline of Muir Island emerging on the distant horizon.
Onboard the warships, soldiers of the Kingdom Army gripped their weapons tightly.
Their eyes revealed a mixture of tension and unease as they stared at the island ahead.
"Have we arrived?"
On the bow deck of the flagship, Arthur received Stanley's report that they had reached the target waters.
He gazed at the island slowly growing larger along the horizon.
Yet his expression remained calm, without the slightest hint of nervousness.
"Your Highness, that island is the headquarters of the Gambino Family. Are we truly safe approaching it like this?" Elia asked softly beside him, worry written across her face.
"What do you think?" Arthur replied with a faint, mysterious smile.
"Something's wrong!"
Suddenly, a lookout shouted from the observation post.
Instantly, everyone aboard the ships—except Arthur and the hidden ANBU—became tense.
"Look! The docks! The docks on Muir Island have been destroyed! There are bodies floating in the sea!"
"My side too! The western dock is the same!"
"I can't see clearly behind the island, but the eastern dock looks just like that!"
Amid the tense atmosphere, the scouts on all three warships shouted almost simultaneously.
Their reports stunned everyone.
The docks of Muir Island, the stronghold of the Gambino Family—
Destroyed?
How was that even possible?!
"Your Highness… this…" Stanley turned toward Arthur with disbelief on his face, as if suddenly realizing something.
"Land the ships," Arthur said calmly.
He gave no further explanation.
Soon, under a mixture of caution, confusion, and unease, the fleet reached the island.
Instead of the ruined docks, they chose a random stretch of shoreline.
Anchors dropped.
Sails were lowered.
Everything proceeded in orderly fashion.
Every soldier of the Kingdom Army held their weapons tightly as they escorted Arthur inland toward the center of the island.
Along the way, their gazes drifted toward the island's center.
Confusion filled their eyes.
Wasn't the Gambino Family supposed to have a luxurious manor comparable to a royal palace?
Why was it nowhere to be seen?
With that confusion lingering, they finally reached the center of the island.
And the moment they saw what lay before them—
Everyone froze.
Ruins.
Blood.
Corpses.
The collapsed remains of the manor lay in a vast heap of rubble.
Bodies covered the ground and the nearby shoreline.
Blood had dyed the earth crimson.
The air was thick with a nauseating stench of death.
Stanley and the others stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were seeing.
A terrifying realization emerged in their minds.
The Gambino Family… had been completely wiped out.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, figures shot out from all directions like lightning and knelt before Arthur.
"Who are they?!"
"Protect His Highness!"
The soldiers panicked and immediately raised their guns at the newcomers.
Yet the ANBU members stood unmoving before the dark gun barrels, completely fearless.
Arthur simply waved his hand.
"Lower your weapons."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The soldiers obeyed, though confusion still filled their faces.
Then the ANBU spoke.
And their words stunned everyone once more.
"Your Highness!"
"The Gambino Family—five thousand three hundred and sixty-one members—and twelve ships have been completely eliminated."
"The Ninja Assassination Tactical Unit has successfully completed its mission!"
The ANBU captain reported respectfully.
"Good," Arthur nodded calmly.
He showed no surprise whatsoever.
"Did you find what we were looking for?"
"Yes. All of the Gambino Family's wealth and weapon reserves are stored in a warehouse one kilometer west of here."
"Excellent. You've done well."
"Withdraw."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
In an instant, all forty-eight ANBU members vanished before everyone's eyes.
Their ghostlike speed left the soldiers staring in shock.
"So that's the prince's secret force… the Ninja Assassination Tactical Unit…"
Stanley was one of the few who already knew of the ANBU's existence.
Looking at the place where they had disappeared, then at Arthur's calm expression—
Awe filled his heart.
Just a few dozen people…
And they had wiped out the entire Gambino Family overnight.
Such power was terrifying.
"Stanley," Arthur called without turning around.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Organize the soldiers immediately."
"Move everything from the western warehouse onto the ships."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Stanley quickly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurried to rally the stunned soldiers.
Soon, the Kingdom Army rushed toward the western warehouse.
It must be said—
As one of the three great mafia families of the West Blue, the Gambino Family's wealth was astonishing.
Under the efforts of more than two thousand soldiers, crate after crate of gold, jewels, weapons, and ammunition was carried out of the warehouse.
They were carefully loaded onto the Zephir Kingdom's warships.
Even with everyone working together, the massive operation took nearly three hours to complete.
By the end, the ships were packed nearly to capacity.
The Gambino Family's wealth was truly staggering.
And now—
All of it belonged to Arthur.
"Not bad. Quite a fruitful harvest."
Arthur nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the fully loaded ships.
These resources might not mean much to him personally.
But for the development of the kingdom, they were invaluable.
After all—
Unlocking stronger legions and obtaining powerful abilities from the system depended heavily on the nation's growth.
With this enormous fortune:
The Kingdom of Zephir would finally escape its financial crisis.
With these advanced weapons:
The Kingdom Army could grow stronger.
And in the future—
They would lay the foundation for Arthur's conquest of the seas.
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