What stirred up the crowd the most was not just Arthur and Ashley’s youth—it was the fact that no one familiar had brought them in. That, more than anything, made their presence suspicious. Solivair watched the growing storm from the sidelines, sipping his wine with undisguised satisfaction. Compared to Arthur, Solivair came from a completely different world—one of power and dominance. And yet, despite that disparity, every time they had clashed, Arthur had come out unscathed. Even when Solivair had targeted Arthur’s company, he’d been hit back in ways he still couldn’t explain. After ruling out Zac as the informant, Solivair still hadn’t figured out who had leaked his company’s secrets. Every unanswered blow, every unexpected failure—it all stung. He was the heir to the Tremo family. A full-fledged member of Heaven’s Cult. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? Fueled by that resentment, he watched with barely concealed glee as others began piling on the doubt. What started as a few cautious whispers had grown into a wave of suspicion. More and more guests began to distance themselves. Everyone here was either rich or powerful—and if they had one thing in common, it was that they valued their lives. Now, with two questionable figures in the room, their first concern was safety. So they stepped back. In doing so, they isolated Arthur and Ashley completely. Voices began rising: “You two—how exactly did you get to Heaven Island? Did you come by the official cruiser?” “Who brought you aboard? Name them, or you’re not staying at this banquet.” “If you can’t prove that you got here through legitimate means, then you’ll have to leave.”“Heaven Island isn’t just some tourist spot. Speak up now, and maybe the island master will go easy on you.” “Yeah—and don’t even think about resisting. The armed forces on Heaven Island aren’t here for decoration!” “We’ve got the strongest military force of any island in the world. That title wasn’t given lightly. Don’t test us.” As voices overlapped, the crowd quietly took another collective step back. The atmosphere grew tense. Solivair remained hidden among the crowd, sipping his drink leisurely. He made no move to defend Arthur—no intention of clearing things up. Arthur’s palms were slick with cold sweat. So were Ashley’s. His mind raced, searching for a solution. But both of them were too rattled to think clearly. They hadn’t expected this. Just because of their age, they were already being treated as threats. Worse, some people genuinely believed they might pose a danger to everyone’s safety. Arthur knew—if he showed panic now, if he tried to explain himself anxiously, it would only make things worse. Everyone in this room valued their lives far too much to take risks. And with Arthur and Ashley already painted as suspicious, no one was going to trust them easily. One wrong move, and they could very well die right here. Everyone in this room had the power to make them disappear. Their hearts pounded faster. Sweat beaded on their brows, soaked the backs of their clothes. But panic dulled their thoughts. They couldn’t think straight. The sheer pressure of standing among people so far above them was suffocating. Then—just as they reached their breaking point—a deep voice rang out from the entrance. “What’s with all the noise?” The moment that voice echoed through the room, the crowd fell into complete silence.Every head turned toward the doorway in unison. In their eyes: reverence. The whispers vanished. The suspicion vanished. No one even looked at Arthur and Ashley anymore. All focus shifted to the man at the entrance. None of them gave another thought to whether the two newcomers were dangerous. In that moment, the only thing that mattered was him. Even Solivair—arrogant, composed Solivair—lowered his head with deep respect. Gone was the haughty detachment. In its place was submission. Then came a thunderous cry, shaking the banquet hall: “Mr. Drake!” The roar was so overwhelming that Arthur and Ashley both flinched. But somehow, that voice snapped Arthur back into clarity. His panic faded, his mind cleared. He and Ashley turned with the others toward the entrance of the banquet hall. The sun hadn’t fully set yet, and in the glow of the last light, the man everyone called their “leader” stepped into the room.