​Josephine took a bite of the sandwich from the tray, chewing slowly and deliberately. She swallowed, her green eyes meeting Sunny's gaze, which was fixed on her with palpable affection. She was still nude, her powerful, elegant body covered only by the fine bedsheets.

​"How was it?" Sunny asked, eager for her assessment.

​"You're still a much better cook than me," she said with a genuine smile, taking another bite. "Your instincts are better even in the kitchen."

​"It's just a sandwich, you can also make it," Sunny replied with a smile, pouring the fruit juice into the two elegant glasses he'd placed on the tray. He lifted one. "Here."

​Josephine took it with a smile. She then gestured the half-eaten sandwich in her hand toward Sunny. He opened his mouth, and she fed it to him.

​"Umm... I can't believe I cook this good," Sunny said jokingly, leaning into the lighthearted moment.

​Josephine laughed softly, a rare, beautiful sound. "Told you it's good," she affirmed.

​Sunny nodded, the moment of rest over. He brought out his communication gemstone.

​"I will just speak with Precious quickly. Finish your breakfast. I will be back," Sunny said, already moving with purpose, his domestic persona shedding instantly, as he walked out of the room.

____

​[Sitting Room.]

​Less than two minutes later, as Sunny stepped into the small sitting room, the atmosphere was already thick with unauthorized presence.

​"Wow... I can't believe I am inside such a room," one of the men following Elara muttered, his gaze greedily moving around the expensive furnishings—a peasant gawking at luxury. Elara's gaze, however, was fixed entirely on Sunny, who sat calmly on a plush couch, a slight, almost bored frown on his face.

​"Why are you here?" Sunny asked, his voice calm, yet carrying a subtle, chilling lack of emotion. He made no movement to defend himself against the five armed, ranked mercenaries.

​"Why are we here? You don't seem surprised," Elara noted, her assessment of him immediately shifting from 'wealthy tourist' to 'unusually arrogant target.'

"I guess you were expecting us, that's why you left the door open." She stared at Sunny, her expression predatory, and licked her lips.

​"You are so handsome. I would like to keep you as a sex slave; what do you think?" she asked, testing the limits of his reaction, taking him for a pampered commoner.

​Sunny remained seated, his calm composure unwavering. "You are right. I actually let you walk in," he confirmed. "You know why? Because I am looking for an army."

​He slowly raised a single finger, pointing it directly at her.

​"And your mercenaries have just entered the final consideration list," he added.

"...?!"

​Elara blinked for a few seconds, then threw her head back and burst into harsh laughter, loud and mocking. "Do you know who I am? Who we are?" she challenged, her Third Order power flexing slightly, ready to intimidate.

​"Elara, Leader of the Viper Mercenary Guild," Sunny answered instantly, his tone flat, devoid of admiration or fear.

"Your guild has a reputation as a notorious and ruthless organization. That's precisely why I want you as my workers, in this world's terms."

​Elara's laughter died instantly, replaced by a deep, dangerous scowl. "You do know us... But what gave you the confidence to say such a thing in front of me? Do you know I can kill you right now?" she threatened, flexing her spiritual energy.

​Sunny remained relaxed. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

​Instantly, an unholy amount of Fourth Order pressure dropped on the five mercenaries. It wasn't raw killing intent, but overwhelming, absolute gravitational force—the sheer weight of a superior cultivation realm. The pressure slammed them all to their knees, gasping, their spiritual energy violently suppressed.

​".....?!"

Elara struggled against the floor, her eyes wide with pure, paralyzing horror.

​"This?! You... You are a Fourth Order powerhouse?! Impossible, why can't I feel your spiritual energy?!" she choked out, the physical strain preventing her from speaking normally.

​"You know," Sunny began, slowly getting to his feet, allowing the casual movement to emphasize his dominance. He walked toward Elara.

"The gap between a First Order and a Second Order is like day and night. The higher ranks possess far more powerful skills than the lower ranks . So do you truly think I don't know how to perfectly hide my energy from mere Third and Second Orders?" His voice was a soft, deadly reprimand.

​He snapped his fingers again. Instantly, an elaborately carved Alliance Bond Scroll materialized, hovering gently before them.

​"Now, this is the plan. You will willingly place your blood on this scroll. The moment you do that, you and all members of the Viper Guild belong to me. You become part of my newly created organization," Sunny stated, his voice calm, yet absolute.

​He allowed the threat to sink in, then offered the irresistible incentive. "If you refuse? Well, I will kill all five of you here, and then I will visit your guild headquarters. Trust me, I will give them this exact same offer. If they still refuse, I will burn it to the ground. That is my promise."

​Sunny smiled, and then sweetened the deal with an offer that bordered on the absurd for their current standing.

​"If you all work for me... each single member of your guild will gain 10,000 Gold Coins per month. That's significantly more than what your guild makes collectively in four months, isn't it?" he asked, watching their stunned faces.

​"....???"

​The five were dumbfounded:

'Ten thousand for each person? Does he have that kind of wealth? It's impossible for an individual.' Elara's mind raced, trying to find the trick.

Hearing her thought, Sunny snapped his fingers one last time. Five large, heavy satchels appeared with a soft thud on the sitting room floor. They were clearly bulging with weight.

​He stood up, walked back to his couch, and sat down, effortlessly releasing the Fourth Order pressure on them.

​"You can check if I am lying," he said, gesturing to the bags with a casual wave.

​"Each of you gains this amount every single month. You just need to work for me and follow orders."

​Elara stared at him, then at the bags. With a cautious frown, she moved toward the nearest satchel and yanked it open. The sight that hit her was overwhelming: the brilliant, blinding reflection of thousands of newly minted, standard gold coins overflowing the bag.

​"....??!!"

​She was utterly speechless, staring at the sheer, impossible volume of wealth that confirmed the truth of his words.

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