novelraw Chapter 564
Chapter 564
"Yes... yes, understood."
The two island guards froze when Rowan Mercer appeared in front of them. Both swallowed hard before fumbling for their communication devices. Rowan looked calm, almost friendly, but neither of them could forget what they had just witnessed.
They had seen what he did to Marcus Hale.
And to Elias Voss.
After finishing their broken, nervous report, one of them steadied his breathing and spoke carefully.
"We’ve reported everything that happened here, along with your request, to Commander Elia. He will inform the King and return with an answer as soon as possible."
Rowan nodded pleasantly. "Then I’ll wait."
He didn’t seem concerned.
On Natson Island, the strongest protectors were the King and the Nine Royal Sentinels. Inside the royal complex, gifted children were selected and trained from a young age, molded into future protectors. When a Sentinel died, the Sacred Tree would choose a replacement from among those candidates. The cycle never stopped.
Commander Elia was one of the Sentinels, though he spent most of his time abroad managing the island’s external affairs.
Through Quinn Thorne’s memories, Rowan already knew a fair amount about him.
Inside the royal palace, space distorted slightly as the King materialized before the throne.
"Did he agree?" one of the Sentinels asked from below.
The King shook her head. "No. But he said he fights for himself. That still helps us."
Someone had broken a Golden Branch, triggering the royal succession process and forcing Natson Island to reopen its borders.
And once the island reopened, Behemoth Corporation would come.
They had always wanted the island. The Sacred Tree. Everything.
Previously, violent storms sealed the island, preventing aircraft or naval fleets from approaching. Only elite individuals could slip through. That natural defense had forced Behemoth to hold back.
Now, that protection was gone.
Against Behemoth’s armies of engineered soldiers and advanced weapons, she wasn’t confident the island could hold out until the succession ceremony ended.
So she made a gamble.
She publicly announced the reopening of the island under the pretense of trade negotiations, inviting global factions to attend.
It worked.
Now everyone was coming. Power brokers. Rogue operatives. Personal vendetta seekers. Curious explorers. Even independent superhumans with no allegiance.
Behemoth had tried to block other major factions from interfering directly.
But many individuals had slipped through anyway.
If used correctly, they could slow Behemoth down.
She had also reached out to two neutral power blocs: The Market and The Haven.
The Market refused openly, choosing neutrality while secretly siding with Behemoth.
The Haven’s leader hadn’t given a clear answer. But based on his words, he would likely oppose Behemoth, even if only for his own reasons.
He had been fighting Behemoth long before coming to the island. And Behemoth would never forgive that.
"Your Majesty," Elia said suddenly, "there’s something else."
He relayed everything reported about Elias Voss and Rowan Mercer.
The King’s eyes lit with interest.
"He’s that strong? Do we have intelligence on him?"
Right now, strength was welcome. The only thing worse than powerful outsiders was none at all.
Anyone who stepped onto the island with their own goals would inevitably clash with Behemoth.
And the greater the conflict, the better Natson’s chances of survival.
"Yes," Elia said. "He’s known recently across several regions. Some call him one of the strongest individuals alive."
He hesitated.
"But someone that dangerous... I advise caution."
He spoke carefully.
Because he was the one who broke the Golden Branch.
Not out of betrayal.
If he had truly intended to betray the island, the Sacred Tree would have stripped him of his Sentinel status immediately.
He had done it because he had seen the outside world.
Powerful nations. Stable societies. Prosperity.
Compared to that, Natson Island was barely a nation. Poverty. Endless internal conflict. Constant bloodshed.
To the outside world, Natson was a resource waiting to be claimed.
If destruction was inevitable, he would control how it happened.
By drawing everyone in. By forcing confrontation. And, if necessary, by destroying the Sacred Tree himself... to give the island’s people a future.
Even if it cost him his life.
The Sacred Tree had judged his intent as still aligned with protecting the island. So he remained a Sentinel.
"It’s fine," the King said finally. "We don’t have the luxury of caution anymore."
Her form blurred.
She vanished.
She reappeared in front of Rowan Mercer.
The two guards immediately dropped to one knee.
"Your Majesty!"
The King nodded briefly, then studied Rowan.
"I heard you wanted to meet me."
"Yes," Rowan said plainly. "I’m interested in the Sacred Tree. I’d like permission to study it."
No games. No diplomacy. Just truth.
The King smiled slightly.
"You can," she said. "I’ll take you to it myself."