At the central execution grounds of Jun Lin...
A special trial—and an execution—were currently underway.
And the ones on trial? None other than the Rosward family.
It took nearly three full hours.
Three hours spent reading out the extensive list of crimes—hundreds of pages long—provided by Shakky, detailing every atrocity committed by the Roswards.
At the conclusion of the reading, Luo Lan, acting as the temporary judge, delivered the verdict:
All three Celestial Dragons were found guilty and sentenced to death.
Execution to be carried out immediately!
This trial wasn't just for justice. It wasn't only for Hancock.
It was a message to everyone in Junlin.
A declaration:
"We are Jun Lin, an organization founded to bring true justice to the world.
Celestial Dragons are not special. There's no need to fear them.
If they commit crimes—we will arrest them.
We will execute them."
And the effect?
Undeniably powerful.
At first, many in the crowd couldn't even bring themselves to look directly at the Celestial Dragons. Generations of fear ran too deep.
But by the time the execution was underway—
Tens of thousands stood watching, and every expression had changed.
There was no fear now. Only excitement, passion... and pride.
From that moment on, there would no longer be anyone in the world they feared.
Something buried in their blood for the past 800 years was finally broken.
Meanwhile, watching the entire trial were Hancock and her two sisters.
Sandersonia and Marigold sobbed uncontrollably in each other's arms.
As for Hancock—though she remained standing tall and proud—her face betrayed a storm of emotion within.
Moments later, she approached Luo Lan.
"Thank you," she said.
Luo Lan gave a small smile. "It was nothing. Now then..."
He paused before continuing, "Would you like help removing the mark on your backs?"
Hancock's eyes widened in shock.
"You... You can do that?"
"Not me personally," Luo Lan replied, his lips curling slightly. "But our naval hospital can."
In truth, the hospital wasn't originally capable of removing the Celestial Dragon's mark.
But things had changed.
The naval hospital had recently been upgraded to an A-Class facility. What was once a small single-story building with a few beds had become a towering structure with hundreds of rooms and multiple specialized departments.
And it had four incredible architectural traits:
1. +200% healing speed
2. +30% surgery success rate
3. +72 hours of life support extension
4. 100% guaranteed skin and tissue regeneration
The first trait alone was impressive.
But the next three? Practically game-breaking.
Especially the +30% success rate:
Unlike percentage boosts, this added a flat 30% to existing success rates.
A 90% surgery? Becomes 120%—which rounds to a guaranteed 100% success.
Even ultra-risky 10% success surgeries? Now have a fighting chance.
The third trait, +72 hours of life support, meant:
No matter how severe the injury, even if someone had just seconds to live, as long as they reached the hospital with a breath left...
They wouldn't die for the next three days.
Doctors would have plenty of time to work miracles.
And the fourth trait—perfect skin regeneration—was perhaps the most relevant for Hancock and her sisters.
No matter how bad the wound—burns, missing flesh, deep lacerations—
Lie in the hospital for ten days, and your body would be fully restored.
No scars. No trace.
But of course...
"There's one thing to know," Luo Lan said. "The procedure takes ten days. It will hurt—especially at first."
He didn't spell it out, but the implication was clear:
They would have to surgically remove the branded skin from their backs—then use the hospital's special regeneration traits to restore it.
It was, effectively, a controlled flaying.
Even with anesthesia, once it wore off... the pain would be immense.
And during those ten days, they wouldn't even be able to lie down comfortably.
But Hancock didn't hesitate.
"No need to consider. We're doing it."
She didn't even need to ask her sisters.
"This is something we've always wanted," she added firmly.
"Alright then," Luo Lan nodded. "Tell your sisters. I'll take you there shortly."
"Luo Lan," Hancock said, stepping forward—and suddenly hugged him.
Then, leaning close, she whispered softly in his ear.
The two sobbing sisters in the distance froze.
Their older sister...
Just hugged a man.
Moments later, Hancock, face flushed, broke away and ran to her sisters. She spoke animatedly, her joy evident.
Sandersonia and Marigold turned their eyes on Luo Lan—
Eyes filled with... something intense.
As if they were ready to devour him.
Luo Lan couldn't help but shiver.
---
That very day, Luo Lan brought the three sisters to the naval hospital.
After a successful "targeted skin-removal" procedure, the Celestial Dragon hooves on their backs were finally gone.
All that remained was to rest for ten days and wait for their backs to regenerate.
Painful?
Excruciating.
But compared to the trauma of bearing those marks—
It was nothing.
---
However...
Early the next morning, Luo Lan received a critical emergency call from the hospital.
He was completely stunned.
What the hell? Hancock had been perfectly fine yesterday—
How could she be in critical condition now?!
Confused and anxious, he rushed to the hospital.
There, he met Eva—the female S-Class medical cyborg who managed the facility. The only female among his cyborg subordinates.
"Marshal," she said gravely, "Thank goodness you're here. Hancock's condition became unstable about 30 minutes ago."
"Her temperature spiked. Her heart rate's erratic. Her organs are beginning to fail. But I... I can't figure out why."
Luo Lan was alarmed.
Eva was an S-Class expert—if even she couldn't identify the cause?
Wait a second...
Why did this situation feel oddly familiar...?
Could it be...?
---
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