"You're more valuable to them dead."

  Apex Two had a point sharp enough to slice through their hopes. They were essentially on fodder, ready to be tossed aside at the first sign of failure.

  But, oh, if they triumphed, they'd be basking in the glow of a hefty reward. Perhaps even a golden ticket to a long-term gig with the Alliance. A tempting carrot, no doubt.

  After failing, they had pretty much resighemselves to being oh the ground. Even if they somehow mao run, they'd quickly find themselves in the Alliance's crosshairs, accused of stealing the White Dwarf.

  The e? A swift execution.

  Whether they die in Burn’s hand or the Alliance’s hand, it was the end when they failed. Even though at the time, they thought dying in the hand of this monster was scarier than the Alliance—

  Well.

  This time, the Alliance didn't have a leg to stand on. They couldn't justify whipping out the White Dwarf on the ground like they did in previous loops. Thus, Burn noticed the ging of the user.

  In his previous loops, the users were straight-ced military types. This loop, however, had meraries on the front liheir bat style clearly non-military disciplined.

  A, it was better.

  Ihese faceless space guns-for-hire put the officially appointed military personnel of the previous loops to shame.

  Maybe it was the pressure of having to take out Burn without the bigwigs notig the White Dwarf was missing from its ic cradle. Ahey outshone even the Alliance's White Dwarf operators.

  It was thanks to them that the p wasn't reduced to space dust, even though they were wielding 3% of a densed sun's power.

  What mastery.

  "Do you have loved ones?" Burn asked abruptly, veering the versation into a new dire. "Folks waiting for you bae?"

  "If we do, they're well aware of our line of work," Dirk replied coldly, before stating a fact. "They know there's a ce we might walk out the door one day and never return. It's not like you hunt them down or anything."

  The cra the sky was just a one ortal without the proper teology.

  "I was about to extend an offer e, but never mind," Bured, his words tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

  "Shouldn't your be the Allianow that you've let them down? Those people you hold dear..." Burn shook his head, as if menting their folly. "If they found out you're alive and kig, here in my pany, sans the White Dwarf..."

  The prospect of the Alliating their sights on them wasn't lost on Dirk and his crew. They were painfully aware of the crosshairs potentially aimed at their backs. And their families.

  "What's yame?" Dirk demanded, his patience wearing thin.

  "Let them be my hostage instead," Burn suggested, his voice as smooth as silk. "Your spaceship isn’t pletely totaled, is it?"

  In their minds, they vehemently disagreed. The ship was a wreck, barely holding together.

  "Use your unication device to call your family here. There must be a sneaky way for them to slip through that tear in the sky, right?" Burn queried, his golden eyes glittering with anticipation.

  "Bring the tech that avigate through that rift, and then we have a proper chat."

  This was quite the long shot.

  Burn wanted all of them, lock, stock, and barrel. Not just their lives, but their loved ooo. And the teology to traverse the portal. Right now, they were backed into a er with no escape.

  Their options were grim. They could die here, or their family could be targeted by the Alliance. But if they accepted Burn's proposal, there was a glimmer of hope. They could survive, albeit in this realm, uhe thumb of this ruthless tyrant.

  Emperor Burwo.

  “After that… What chat?” Dirk asked.

  “Employment,” Burn shrugged as he leaned ba his chair. “You’re merary, right?”

  What? He was simply…

  KA-CLACK! BAM!

  Suddenly, the door was flung open.

  "Caliburn!"

  A voice, beautiful yet nagging, echoed through the room.

  "You've reduced them to svery? Those childrehe prince?!"

  A breathtakingly beautiful woman stormed through the door, charging fearlessly towards the monstrous bastard. "You’ve seen what they’ve endured, and still—"

  "The Elysian Kingdom didn’t resist, but they didly surrender either. They’re still nobles from a quered nation, and you expect them to retaiitles? Be real," Bured.

  "Is there any ce you’ll spare them?" Momo inquired.

  "No," Burn responded, his tone final.

  With that, Momo spun on her heels, preparing to storm out.

  "Hey. Hey, hey!" Burn caught her wrist, but she resisted. "You disappear for a day without a word, then waltz ba just to berate me for doing my job superbly?"

  "We are to talk," Burn demanded.

  "I don’t want to talk!" Momo shot back.

  Burn might have been injured, but his physical strength was still superior to most men. Seeing Momo try to pull away, he drew her towards him, trapping her in his p.

  "Ah!"

  Now, he held her firmly, refusing to let her go.

  "Where are you going?" Burn wasn't pying around. Everyone in the room khat.

  "To buy their freedom," Man answered, realizing she couldn’t free herself.

  "You’re not going anywhere," Burn decred, his hand behind Mauring fahad to usher everyo. He then turo stare at Yvain, who was doing his best to blend into the background, hoping he could stay and watch.

  In the end, he was relutly ushered out along with the rest of the crowd — the servants, aides, and prisoners. As they exited, the melodious yet nagging voice of the woman could be heard eg, "Caliburn…"

  And Burn's firm reply, "No."

  A few strides away from the room, Dirk murmured to himself, "Who was that absolute bombshell?"

  "Rude!" Yvain excimed. "That's my master!"

  "And who's this little guy?"

  Yvain sighed, preparing to snap his fingers. "So it's the same everywhere, huh? Children are always treated like this, even outsiders like you…"

  SNAP!

  At the sound, the group felt a sudden, crushi from their handcuffs. Not the futuristid, but the magical kind. In an instant, they were sent sprawling forward, their hands pio the floor.

  SLAM! CRACKLE!

  "UGH!"

  "URK!"

  Dirk ched his teeth. This was even heavier than the gravity on his home p—

  "Be careful. Our physis worked hard to reattach those valuable limbs. You don't want to rip them off again, do you?"

  Yvain stood before them, his hair and eyes a stark bck, casting a dark shadow over his presence.

  This… little tyrant…

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