Is This a Capital Offense?
"I am truly sorry, Master!"
The only harbor on Turtle Island.
A massive ironclad ship was docked at the place built for trade with other islands. The reason the ironclad had come here was because it had received a letter sent by Kanglim.
[I am alive. I am on Turtle Island, so dispatch a rescue team immediately.]
Kanglim had sent this message via a carrier bird, and because they received it, the ironclad was able to reach Turtle Island. This was about three days after he had sent the letter.
"I heard the news that you had gone missing, Master. I received a message from Artria asking for a search because you hadn't returned to Fox Island even after several days had passed."
However, the ironclad had hovered around the harbor for quite some time. The reason was simple: Turtle Island had not yet been conquered. Naturally, they were worried that their Master might be held hostage. They knew their Master was strong, but since he had once been nearly poisoned to death by Sua, it wasn't an unfounded fear.
That was why the ironclad had aimed all its cannons at the harbor and even threatened the island with a warning broadcast:
—If you do not release our Master, we will turn this island into a sea of fire!
If Kanglim hadn't come out to the harbor himself, and if he hadn't shouted at them to lower their cannons and come down because it was safe, it would have led to a massive catastrophe.
"However, I refused that request. Because the collapse of the Union was right before our eyes."
After docking the ship, the owner of the ironclad rushed straight to Kanglim. The woman who arrived before him immediately knelt and slammed her head into the dirt. She had even stripped off all her armor, perhaps terrified of being tortured by the devil once again.
Even as her silver hair became soiled with dirt and her humiliation was laid bare, the woman did not care.
"You instructed us to prioritize the collapse of the Union, Master. You told us to complete that order no matter what happened."
With a voice filled with fear, the woman confessed in detail why she had no choice but to put Kanglim's rescue on the back burner.
"I could not send a single ship until that order was fulfilled."
"So..."
Kanglim, who had been listening silently, asked.
"Did you succeed?"
"Ye, yes. We succeeded."
The silver-haired woman, Iris, answered immediately.
"We succeeded in seizing control of every island except for Tiger Island."
Instead of giving up on rescuing her Master, she had chosen the greater cause. Iris had prioritized fulfilling her Master's desires above all else. To prove that her choice was not in vain, Iris had fought fiercely. After a fierce battle that lasted about six days, she had succeeded in occupying most of the Beastman Union's forces. There was no place left for the Beastman Union to stand. Once Tiger Island was taken, this war would be over.
"Now, I plan to return to Fox Island to reorganize the fleet and launch an all-out attack on Tiger Island."
"I thought it wouldn't be easy, but you've already achieved that much. How commendable."
Kanglim did not get angry. Instead, he praised her achievements.
"As expected, it was right to leave it to you."
It was a job worthy of praise. The destruction of the Beastman Union, his goal, was finally being realized. The day his dream of building his own nation upon this land would become reality was not far off. If he cleared away the remaining obstacles, Kanglim would be able to get exactly what he wanted. A subordinate who had done such a good deed deserved a reward, not punishment.
"I've heard your story well. And I understand why you didn't come to rescue us."
"Master..."
"So, put your clothes on."
Kanglim gave the order.
"Go change. Unless you want to go back naked, that is."
Iris was terrified of Grid because he had burned down her hometown, turned her residents and family into livestock, and subjected her to torture that would never wash away. To escape that fear, she had even attempted treason alongside other executives, but it had ended in failure. Since then, Iris had tried her best not to fall out of Grid's favor. If she didn't try, not only she, but her remaining people would meet a terrible end.
Because she was so afraid, she had made the extreme choice to apologize in the nude. Kanglim couldn't help but be surprised by such a choice.
"I'd love to eat you if I could, but returning is the priority right now. Get up."
Honestly, he wanted to eat Iris right here and now. He wanted to corner her, threatening her by asking why she was late, if her oath of loyalty was all a lie, and if she didn't care what happened to her precious people. He had intended to ravage her. However, he decided to hold back.
His primary goal was to return home. He had to go back and show that he was still in power. There might be idiots who had plotted betrayal again while he was away. He had appointed his secretary, Artria, as his successor and instructed her to lead the organization in his absence, but it was still better to return quickly. Above all, since the war was entering its final stage, he had to show that he was alive to boost morale. So, he would postpone eating Iris for later.
It was the moment he was thinking that.
"Just take one shot."
Sua, who was standing beside him, suddenly spoke up.
"Look at this knight's face. She's restless because you haven't punished her. Iris will only feel at ease if you punish her right here before we leave."
Sua, dressed in a black hanbok, said so. It was a garment bestowed upon her as proof that she belonged to the organization after her sincere surrender to Kanglim. Kanglim was finally able to have her wear the clothes he had kept, waiting for the day Sua would submit.
"So do it. You're dying to eat Iris too, aren't you? We can set sail slowly, so enjoy yourself. Who could stop you?"
"Yes, Sua is right, Master."
Akelon, the turtle-tribe member carrying a shell on her back, also chimed in. She had come with her granddaughter to say goodbye upon hearing the news that their lovely Master was leaving today.
"It's not like something big will happen if you don't return immediately, so enjoy yourself before you go. Tega, don't you think so too?"
"..."
Tega said nothing. She only kept her head bowed, perhaps afraid to meet Kanglim's eyes.
"Tega, lift your head."
"Gr, Grandmother..."
"It's not good to ignore him like that. You must be confident in front of the Master."
"Ma, Master..."
"You should think of the child in your womb, too."
"..."
She was right. Neither Tega nor Akelon were alone right now. A new life mixed with Kanglim's blood was growing steadily in their wombs. If they defied the man in front of them, they didn't know what would happen to them, let alone these children. Therefore, they had no choice but to obey. If the Master told them to offer their bodies, they had to offer them. If they didn't, the end would be a bloodbath.
Even knowing that, Tega couldn't bring herself to lift her head. It was agonizing for her to even utter the word 'Master' with her own lips.
"Look here, old woman. Don't force your granddaughter."
Kanglim, having noticed the situation after seeing Tega, said a word.
"I can teach her later."
Kanglim also knew the fact that Tega had not yet fully submitted. Even if he had broken her through rape, that was only half a success. He had to break her body and mind completely, just like Sua. He had to tame her well, as she might become a source of trouble if left alone.
However,
"Anyway, I'm going. Prepare to leave immediately. Now."
Returning was the priority right now. It bothered him a bit to leave without taming Tega, but since Akelon was there, she would somehow smooth things over no matter what Tega did. Above all, sex could be had anytime, anywhere, so he had to solve the immediate problem first...
"..."
The moment he thought that, a good idea occurred to Kanglim.
'I don't necessarily have to do it here, do I?'
Yes, he could fuck her regardless of the location. No one would point it out. Who could say anything about him eating his own slaves on his own land? If so, was there any need to make excuses for not eating Iris?
"Iris."
Kanglim gave an instruction to the naked female knight.
"Pack your clothes and come to the captain's cabin. I'll do it there."
"...!"
Iris's expression brightened at those words. She was happy that he was punishing her, and that he had forgiven her. Seeing that, Kanglim wore an expression that said she was hopeless.
"This is no different from a submissive dog."
"Of course. All the women by your side right now are submissive dogs, and I'm the same."
Sua whispered as she clung to Kanglim.
"You'll do me too, right? You won't just fuck those two, will you?"
Saying that, Sua pointed to the woman next to Iris.
"Ughhh!"
Next to the kneeling Iris, there was a green-haired beastman with her limbs bound. Reptilian skin reminiscent of a crocodile sprouted all over her body, and she even had a tail. Her vertically slit pupils were glaring at Kanglim as if to kill him. If she hadn't been gagged, she would have lunged at him to bite him right then and there. She was screaming incessantly, as if she wanted to say something.
The identity of this woman was Croker, the leader of the Crocodile tribe. Along with Tiger tribe leader Tie, she was one of the pillars protecting the Beastman Union, and she had been dragged here as a trophy to be offered to Kanglim.