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*****
Elena was the only Nathen Guard without direct combat power. Her ability was pacification, and her main role was that of a sacred courtesan.
In other words, she used her pacifying powers to negotiate with outside forces, thereby securing resources that Nathen Island needed.
It was natural she didn't fight.
But Elijah Jones was different. He could control the trajectory of bullets, wielding an alchemically crafted revolver of immense power, never missing a shot.
On top of that, he possessed formidable martial prowess.
Among the Nathen Guards, his strength ranked near the top.
For him to remain idle from beginning to end was unacceptable—unless he truly wished for George to destroy the Divine Tree.
"What? Elijah was the one who broke the Golden Branch?!"
The moment George spoke, the former Nathen King and the eight remaining Guards wore expressions of disbelief.
They had long suspected that someone on the island had broken the Golden Branch—otherwise it would never have been acknowledged by the Tree.
But never, not once, had they suspected Elijah.
After all, anyone could see Elijah's devotion to Nathen Island and its people.
In the palace, among the reserve Guards—the children in training—their favorite Guard was always Elijah. That alone spoke volumes.
"Elijah, why would you do this?"
None of them doubted George, for he was now the king. As Guards, their loyalty and trust in the King's words were absolute.
Elijah himself hadn't expected things to turn out this way.
Earlier, he had refrained from attacking because seven Guards had already struck, and yet George still advanced unimpeded. That made Elijah believe George might truly be able to destroy the Divine Tree.
If the Tree were destroyed, then the King, the Guards, and all the islanders would finally be freed from their prison, able to choose their own lives.
This was not so different from his original plan. He had intended to sacrifice himself to destroy the Tree.
But George had not destroyed it. Instead, he had taken control—and succeeded—becoming the new King of Nathen Island by entirely different means.
"Enough. I'll see for myself."
Seeing Elijah struggle for words, his face tangled with guilt, George simply appeared before him and reached out, reading his memories.
Words could lie, but memories could not. Reading them was always the simplest path.
"So that's how it is…"
Moments later, George understood Elijah's true intent behind cutting the Golden Branch and triggering the succession ritual.
"Your intentions may have been good, but they were foolish. Did you truly think that if the Divine Tree were destroyed, the Behemoth Corporation would release the people of Nathen Island?"
The corporation had gone to immense lengths to claim the Tree, even creating countless superhumans. If the Tree were destroyed, would they simply let the islanders walk free?
If Nathen's people were ordinary humans, perhaps there would be a slim chance.
After all, ordinary people held no real value. Releasing them could even bolster Behemoth's so-called righteous image.
But Nathen's islanders were all superhumans. Each possessed unique abilities.
To Behemoth, the people of the island were treasures—perhaps not equal to the Tree itself, but immensely valuable nonetheless.
At best, they might be trained as corporate soldiers. That path, at least, offered some semblance of life, though missions would always carry deadly risks.
At worst, they would be dissected and experimented on, their powers studied—fates far worse than death.
And besides, could Elijah truly have destroyed the Tree?
It was not something so easily eradicated. Behemoth's operatives were not fools; they would never give him the chance.
Without interference from other powers, Elijah's plan was almost certainly doomed.
Behemoth would not only seize the Tree but also the island itself, carrying away every islander and outcast alike.
Had Elijah not broken the Golden Branch and initiated the succession, the island would have remained sealed.
With the Tree's power defending it, Behemoth would have needed to pay ten times the cost to conquer the island.
And such a price—they might not have been willing to pay.
After all, Behemoth had many enemies across the world.
One such was the "Debt Collectors," a group of superhumans, most of whom had once been persecuted by Behemoth.
If Behemoth exhausted its strength attacking Nathen Island, the Collectors would surely strike immediately.
Organizations like Omni-Connect, the Jade Society, the Fish-Dragon Guild, and the Children of the Earth would likewise seize the chance to weaken Behemoth—or perhaps even make their own play for the Tree.
None of them would allow Behemoth to create an army of superhuman soldiers and throw the world into chaos.
"I…"
Hearing George's analysis, Elijah's eyes went blank, and he slumped to the ground.
"I only wanted our people to be free of the Tree's chains. I wanted the children of the island to live happy lives, like those beyond these shores—not lives of bloodshed and violence."
"Since your intent was for Nathen's sake, I will strip you of your title as Guard. You will serve instead as a common protector of the island, atoning for your mistake by defending it."
With a wave of his hand, George stripped Elijah of the unique powers of a Nathen Guard, though he chose not to punish him further.
Not because Elijah's reasons swayed him—George didn't care much for his motives, nor did he require his strength to guard the island.
It was more for the sake of the former King and the Guards, who clearly held deep affection for Elijah.
If George had executed him immediately upon taking the throne, resentment would linger in their hearts, even if unspoken. There was no need for such friction.
And George was not a man who killed for sport.
"Thank you for your mercy, my King. I swear upon my life to defend Nathen Island and atone for my sins!"
Overcome with relief, Elijah dropped to one knee, pressing a clenched fist to his chest, vowing his loyalty.
George nodded.
"Good. Your place will be taken by Miss Li. She is destined to be the future leader of the Guards. I trust you have no objections, Miss Li?"
This time George turned his gaze upon the former King.
Her name was Li Mumu. Despite lacking great strength, the Divine Tree had chosen her as King for her extraordinary intellect.
The moment she learned of the Golden Branch being severed, she immediately discerned Behemoth's scheme and drew other great powers into the conflict.
Had she not acted so quickly, Nathen Island might already have fallen silently into Behemoth's grasp.
For one so young, not yet an adult, to weave such calculations—George thought back to himself at that age, when he could barely navigate the politics of family gatherings.
In the future, when he secluded himself in training, Nathen Island would be in capable hands under Li Mumu's stewardship.
(End of Chapter)