In a remote island cluster surrounded by the sea, a towering palace stood in solemn grandeur.

The island had been flattened to make way for it. Just outside the enormous palace gates, a formation of 100,000 soldiers in black combat uniforms stood perfectly still, their presence exuding a chilling intensity.

Every single one of them stared at the massive bronze doors ahead, eyes brimming with emotion.

Creak—

Slowly, the doors opened, and out stepped a young man in a black trench coat, tall and lean, with a cold, sharp gaze that carried unshakable authority.

Following behind was a massive man over two meters tall, and seven other soldiers dressed in black, each one stern and silent.

With a unified snap, 100,000 soldiers saluted, the sound shaking the heavens.

Desmond Getson raised his chin slightly and lifted his right hand—snap! With that signal, the salute ended with thunderous precision.

"Seven years ago, I was a prisoner marching through hell. Today, the war is over, peace has returned—and I'm going home. I'm going to see my wife and child."

His voice was deep, unwavering, echoing across the land with finality.

Behind him, the seven commanders dropped to one knee without hesitation. "Safe return to the Dragon of Heaven!"

Ten minutes later, a helicopter roared to life on the right wing, quickly ascending toward the eastern sunrise.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Desmond and the burly man chewing a lollipop stepped out of Yun City airport in Southern Province.

The big man pulled out a folder and offered it to Desmond. "Bro, this is info on your wife and kid."

Desmond gave it a glance, unimpressed. "Paul, a few pieces of paper won't even scratch what they’ve been through. Just give me the address—I’ll handle the rest. Go have your fun."

Paul gave a silly grin and took off without another word.

Desmond looked around, the city vaguely familiar yet distant. Under his breath, he mumbled, “Sophia, I was taken when you were still pregnant. Are you okay?”

Half an hour later, he stepped out of a taxi in front of West Market—noisy, messy, reeking of fish and rot. He frowned. Why was Sophia’s address listed here?

He followed the directions through the crowded market. The place was chaos: sharp voices, the clatter of knives on boards, the stink of blood and seafood thick in the air.

He stopped at a seafood stall and froze.

On a tiny stool was a girl around six or seven, wearing a washed-out blue T-shirt, hair trimmed in a straight bob, her skin sallow and thin—obviously malnourished.

She hunched forward, gripping a knife, struggling to gut a fish on a bloodstained board. Streaks of filth stained her arms.

As if sensing the stare, the little girl looked up—and her eyes locked with his.

Boom.

Desmond’s mind went blank. That face—she looked almost exactly like Sophia.Desmond Getson’s hands were shaking. He held his breath as he pulled a worn photo from his pocket. Just one glance—and he was sure. This little girl was his daughter. The one he hadn’t seen in seven years.

“Daugh—” Desmond tried to speak, but his throat tightened. His nose stung.

Did she recognize him? Would calling her “daughter” just freak her out?

A heavy-set woman strolled in, a cigarette dangling from her mouth. She shot a quick glance at the girl sitting on a low stool, then waved irritably. “Done gutting them fish? If so, beat it. Lost 500 already in the first hour—what a crap day.”

The little girl looked up, wiped the sweat from her brow, and gave a bright smile, revealing a row of white teeth. “Auntie, you said if I finished, you’d give me ten bucks and a piece of bread.”

Her eyes sparkled with hope. She gulped. Clearly starving—but trying hard not to show it.

“You little stray,” the woman spat, blowing smoke. “Gutted a few fish and now you think you deserve money? Just like your trash mom—always dreaming about money.”

Scoffing, she grabbed a cheap bread roll from the counter, holding it out. “Want this?”

The girl nodded furiously, swallowing hard. She reached for it.

The woman suddenly let it drop to the dirty floor, then stomped on it with her foot. “Eat! That’s all you strays do—EAT!”

The bread was squashed and filthy. But the girl’s eyes lit up. Like she couldn’t take it anymore, she dived down and started shoving pieces into her mouth desperately.

Through chewing, she looked up at the woman and mumbled, “I’m not a stray. I have a name. Two, actually. I’m Lily Shaw... and also Little Dragon Girl.”

“Little Dragon Girl”—three simple words, yet they hit Desmond like a hammer. He swayed, nearly falling.

Seven years ago, Sophia had been pregnant. They’d agreed if it was a girl, her nickname would be Little Dragon Girl.

He couldn’t hold back anymore. His eyes welled up as he flashed forward and rushed to Lily.

He caught her hand as she reached for the ruined bread again. Her fingers were thin and trembling.

“This is dirty. You can’t eat this,” he said, voice gruff as he gently took the bread away and tossed it.

He looked up at the sneering woman, his eyes icy. “She’s just a kid. How can you treat her like this? Are you even human?”

The woman blinked, stunned for a second, before scoffing and snarling, “And who the hell are you? I’ve had this shop for ten years. I’ll treat her how I damn well like.”

Desmond took a single step forward and, with no hesitation, slapped her across the face.

Smack!

The overweight woman, weighing well over 300 pounds, went flying backwards into the store, crashing into a glass display with a loud bang.

Then, a shriek—long and painful—echoed through the room.

Lily was startled, but she stood still. She knew Desmond wasn’t trying to harm her. He was on her side.Desmond turned around and squatted in front of his daughter, his eyes soft as he smiled and asked, “Lily, can you take me to see your mom?”

Lily shrank back slightly, wary. “Why are you looking for my mom, mister?”

Seeing the fear in his child’s eyes, Desmond felt like his heart had been torn apart.

He pushed down the ache in his chest and forced a gentle smile. “Because I want to protect her. And you, too.”

Before night fully fell, Desmond brought Lily to KFC and ordered a family bucket.

Watching his daughter devour the food hungrily, he was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Just what had happened during these seven years?

Midway through eating, Lily paused. Licking the grease off her fingers, she looked up and asked, “Mister, can I save some for Mommy?”

Clearly, she wasn’t full yet, but her thoughts were already on her mother.

Desmond gently patted her head and said with a warm smile, “Eat as much as you want. Later, I’ll... Uncle will take Mommy here too.”

Maybe it was the full belly, or maybe it was something deeper, but Lily began to drop her guard around him.

She shared that they used to live in a big house, but then her uncle Michael threw them out, saying it was going to be his new wedding home.

Desmond’s expression darkened instantly. Michael had kicked Sophia and Lily out? Took over their house?

If it wasn’t for that man, he might never have ended up as a prisoner.

Swallowing his fury, Desmond brought Lily to the front of a high-rise downtown.

After getting out of the car, Lily pointed to the building. “Mom works here, on the fifteenth floor. But she told me not to bother her at work.”

“It’s okay. I’ll go with you. Nothing to worry about.” Desmond took her hand and walked inside confidently.

The elevator reached the fifteenth floor. The place was quiet, with only a few lights on in the otherwise empty office.

As they walked in, a mocking male voice echoed: “Sophia, how’s it feel scrubbing toilets all day?”

“You don’t want to spend your life cleaning? Then be a good girl and take your clothes off. Heh, you’re all sweaty already…”

A woman’s panicked voice followed: “Mr. Carter, stop! Let go or I’ll… I’ll call someone!”

Desmond’s brows furrowed. He looked at Lily. “Wait here for a moment, alright?”

Without another word, he strode quickly toward the bathroom.

Bang! He shoved the door open.

What he saw made his blood boil—a fat man in a dress shirt groping a woman in a janitor's uniform.

“Get your hands off her!” Desmond’s voice boomed as he dashed in.

Startled, James Carter turned around—and before he could react, a powerful hand slammed into his face.

Smack!

James stumbled backward and crashed to the floor like a sack of bricks.

Sophia looked up in shock. The moment her eyes landed on the man in front of her, she froze.