Dawn broke. The first ray of sunlight pierced the curtain of night, announcing the arrival of a new day.
While the sky was still dim, the Zephyr Kingdom's fleet, after a full day and night at sea, finally saw the outline of Moor Island appear in the distance.
On the warships, the royal soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons. Nervousness and unease showed in their eyes as they stared at the island ahead.
"We've arrived?"
On the main ship's bow deck, Roy received Stanley's report that they had reached the target waters. He looked at the island silhouette growing larger on the horizon, calm and unshaken, without the slightest hint of tension.
"Prince, that island is where the Gambino family's headquarters is. In a situation like this, is it really alright?" Cici asked softly at his side, worry clear on her face.
"What do you think?" Roy's lips curved upward into a mysterious smile.
"There's something wrong!"
Suddenly, a scout in the crow's nest let out a startled shout. On the ships, everyone except Roy and the ANBU hidden in the shadows tensed up at once.
"Look, the docks. Moor Island's docks have been destroyed for some reason. There are bodies floating on the sea!"
"My side too! The western docks are the same!"
"I can't see the back of the island clearly, but the eastern side looks the same as well!"
Almost simultaneously, scouts on all three warships cried out in disbelief. Their words left nearly everyone stunned.
Moor Island was the Gambino family's headquarters, and yet its docks had been destroyed.
How was that possible?
"Prince this" Stanley seemed to realize something. He turned toward Roy, disbelief spreading across his face.
"Land," Roy said, offering no explanation, only a calm order.
Soon, under the cautious and confused gazes of the soldiers, the fleet made landfall. They did not head for the ruined docks, instead choosing a random stretch of shoreline.
Anchors dropped. Sails were gathered. Everything proceeded in orderly fashion.
Every royal soldier clutched their weapon, tense and vigilant, escorting Roy step by step toward the island's center.
As they advanced, their eyes kept drifting toward the heart of the island, confusion flashing through their expressions.
Hadn't they been told the Gambino family's base was a luxurious manor, as grand as a royal palace?
So why was there nothing there?
With that confusion and tension weighing on them, the group continued forward and finally reached the island's center.
The moment what lay ahead came fully into view, everyone froze.
Ruins. Blood. Corpses.
Across the collapsed wreckage of the manor, and even along the nearby shoreline, countless bodies lay piled and scattered. Fresh red stained the ground, and the air was thick with a stench of blood so heavy it made people want to vomit.
Including Stanley, everyone stared with eyes wide open, unable to believe what they were seeing. A terrifying thought rose in their minds.
The Gambino family had been wiped out.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Right then, figures shot in from every direction like lightning, dropping to one knee before Roy.
"Who are you?!"
"Protect the prince!"
The soldiers' faces changed. They raised their guns and aimed at the sudden arrivals.
But these ANBU members did not flinch at the black muzzles pointed at them. They stood perfectly still.
Roy lifted a hand lightly and told the soldiers, "Lower your guns."
"Yes!"
The soldiers hurriedly lowered them, but every one of them stared at the ANBU with baffled expressions.
Then, what the ANBU said next shocked everyone even more.
"Prince! The Gambino family totals five thousand three hundred sixty one. Twelve ships have been completely eliminated. The Ninja Assassination Tactical Unit's sub squads have successfully completed the mission!"
The ANBU captain in charge reported respectfully.
"Mhm. Did you find what we came for?" Roy nodded slightly, his face still calm, as if none of this was surprising.
"We did. All of the Gambino family's money and armed stockpiles are stored in a warehouse one kilometer to the west," the ANBU captain replied.
"Mhm. You did well. Dismissed," Roy said, satisfied.
"Yes, Prince!"
In the next instant, forty eight ANBU members vanished from Roy's sight without a trace. Their ghostlike speed made every soldier present widen their eyes in shock.
"So this is the ninja assassination tactical unit the prince raised in secret. Only a few dozen people, and in such a short time they wiped out the Gambino family completely. That strength is terrifying."
Stanley was one of the few who knew the ANBU existed. He stared at the place they had disappeared, then glanced at Roy's calm face, awe and shock flooding his heart.
"Stanley," Roy called without turning around.
"Organize men immediately. Move everything in the western warehouse onto the ships," Roy ordered in an even tone.
"Yes, Prince!"
Stanley wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then hurriedly pushed the soldiers who were still standing there in a daze toward the western warehouse to haul supplies.
It had to be said, as one of the West Blue's three major mafia families, the Gambino family's foundation was absurdly deep.
With the relentless labor of more than two thousand royal soldiers, crates of gold, silver, jewels, firearms, and ammunition were carried out in an endless stream from the western warehouse, then carefully loaded onto the Zephyr Kingdom's warships.
Even with everyone working together, the massive operation still took nearly three hours to complete. The ships were packed almost to the brim, a clear sign of how enormous the Gambino family's wealth truly was.
All of it had been proof of their power.
And now, all of it belonged to Roy.
"Not bad. A rich haul," Roy said, looking at the fully loaded supplies with a satisfied nod.
These things were of little direct use to him personally, but for the country's development, they were priceless.
Whether he could draw even stronger corps units, and whether he could unlock exclusive draws that would push his own strength further, all of it was tied to how powerful the kingdom became.
So Roy had no choice but to plan from the perspective of national interest.
With this mountain of wealth, the Zephyr Kingdom would completely escape its financial crisis.
With these advanced weapons, the royal army could develop in peace and lay a solid foundation for the road of conquest to come.
(End of Chapter)
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