Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 67 - Mr. Crunch and Miss Orange

At last, the massive onslaught, the Dungeon Break, had been contained. Applause, if not celebration, was due to the Veylamar city government, which had moved swiftly and decisively in the face of disaster.

This, without a doubt, was the most well-coordinated emergency response Atlas had ever witnessed in person.

True, the Dune Bastion had suffered damage in multiple sections, but miraculously, there were no civilian casualties. Even the tremors that had shaken the city earlier had left no loss of life in their wake.

The city bore its wounds, yes, but they were surface-level, nothing the considerable funding and engineering prowess of the Saharan Empire couldn’t repair in short order.

Yet the real credit, in the end, went to the Lords, especially Kareem, who had proven their strength and resolve when it mattered most. It was clear that Kareem shared a powerful alliance with the Empire, and in this moment, that alliance had saved the city.

The Empire’s strategy of building and maintaining close ties with strong Lords had proven wise. Today’s results said it all.

Even Atlas had to admit, he was impressed. Veylamar had handled the crisis with efficiency, control, and grit. It was a place he felt at ease visiting. And perhaps, someday, he’d return again.

"Please," the café waiter said gently, stepping forward and offering a small card. "Keep my contact. If someday you ever need help from a ’washed-up awakener’ who now brews coffee and runs a kitchen... I’d be honored to serve again." He ended with a respectful bow.

"Thanks," Atlas replied, accepting the card with a faint smile. "Good luck with the business."

"And please," the man added, his voice softer now, "convey my apologies once more to your... friend."

Atlas gave a small wave and stepped out into the street.

**

"Soren..." murmured the man seated at a polished round table.

The room around him was pristine, stark white walls, minimalist decor, and expansive glass windows offering a sweeping view of the city beyond.

The speaker looked to be in his sixties, though his posture and presence held the strength of someone far younger. His white hair was neatly tied back. He wore a flowing white robe, with sections of reinforced armor subtly integrated into the design.

"Do you know who defeated him?" he asked.

"Lord Kareem," came the reply from across the room, "we are still investigating which Lord Soren fell to."

Kareem went quiet, his eyes closing briefly as if measuring something within.

"He was with Takashi, wasn’t he? And this was in Seeker Division 1?"

"Correct, My Lord," another voice affirmed.

"Soren had even secured three spirit beasts..."

A battle between two floating islands was, by nature, a private event. The details of such clashes were tightly guarded behind personal boundaries and restricted systems. Unless one of the Lords involved chose to disclose what had happened, the world would remain unaware.

Even witnessing such a battle firsthand was nearly impossible. An observer would have to be positioned at the exact point in the sky where the two islands met.

"My Lord," a subordinate said carefully, "we’re scanning the nearby sectors. Floating islands in Seeker Division 1 and 2 are being prioritized, especially those currently in their reinforcement phase."

"Find out who they are," Kareem said quietly.

"What should we do once we find them, My Lord?" another voice asked from across the room. "Do we prepare an assault on that island?"

Kareem didn’t answer right away. His silence stretched long enough to feel heavy in the room.

"I may need some time to recover after today’s battle," he finally said. "But for now... just identify the one who defeated my son."

Then, as he turned and began to walk toward the exit, he added, "And find out whether they’ve aligned with any known alliance... or if they remain independent."

A third voice spoke up, hesitant but bold. "Could this be tied to opposition forces working against us, My Lord?"

"That potential exists," Kareem replied without turning back.

And with that, he walked away.

**

A futuristic aircraft glided toward a modest floating island. The craft gleamed in polished white, its streamlined design both elegant and intimidating. A soft glow pulsed from its undercarriage as it neared the island’s edge.

The island itself was protected by a shimmering shield that veiled most of its inner structures, but along the outer perimeter, the barrier was thinner, just enough to allow a handful of workers to tend the fields.

They moved steadily through rows of freshly turned soil, planting and watering crops.

The rear hatch of the aircraft hissed open with a faint release of pressure, revealing two men standing at the edge. Both wore flowing white robes reinforced with light armor. Their gazes swept across the quiet island below.

Several of the workers paused, raising their heads at the sight of the approaching vessel. One of them, a cheerful, bright-eyed beastkin girl with long, twitching rabbit ears, sprinted toward the edge of the island.

"Hi! Hello!" she called out, waving both hands above her head. "Can we help you? Who are you, and who are you looking for?"

The two men exchanged a glance, momentarily caught off guard. One of them blinked in disbelief, then leaned slightly toward his companion.

"Damn," he muttered, "this bunny girl is so cute, isn’t she?"

"Yes..." the second man replied, slightly dazed.

The first one cleared his throat, straightening up. "Hi," he called back. "Are you the Lord of this island?"

The bunny girl cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted cheerfully, "Nope! I’m not the Lord!"

There was a short pause. Then came the next question.

"And... what are you all doing out here?"

She grinned, her voice sweet and proud. "We’re planting carrots! Do you want some carrots?"

The first man turned to his companion, brows furrowed with disbelief. "Do you seriously think an island with a bunny girl like that could have possibly defeated young master Soren?"

"I... don’t know," the second replied hesitantly. "The higher-ups told us to look for a Lord with exceptional potential or signs of significant strength."

The first man glanced back at the workers scattered across the field, all focused on their planting. "Well, this island is... planting carrots. That’s what they’re doing. They don’t even look like they know what a Lord battle is. Honestly, they look like they need guarding more than they pose any kind of threat."

Still unconvinced, he called out again. "Why are you planting so many carrots?"

The bunny girl beamed with pride. "Because we all love carrots! And carrots are good for your eyes!"

The first man inhaled slowly, trying to center himself. Then, under his breath, "Damn, my body’s shaking just from hearing her yell."

"She’s so cute," his companion murmured. "I want a pet like her."

"She’s not a pet. Watch your mouth," the first snapped.

"Okay, fine. So, what now?"

The man raised his voice again, calling across the distance. "Hey! Did you all recently finish a Lord battle?"

The bunny girl blinked, tilted her head, then cupped her hands around her mouth again.

"Nooo! We’ve just been gardening and planting carrots all day! Carrots are good! It’s crunchy, sweet if you pick the right kind, and it grows pretty fast if you sing to it! I even gave names to a few of them, one’s called Mr. Crunch and the other’s Miss Orange! And sometimes if you water them gently while humming, they grow straighter! And we’re experimenting with purple carrots too!"

The man stared in silence, then sighed deeply. "This bunny girl... she’s way too obsessed with carrots."

At that moment, someone else approached the bunny girl. It was a woman with pointed ears. An elf, or maybe a spirit?

"Damn, this island is full of beautiful women," the first man murmured.

He called out again, louder this time. "Hey, are you the Lord of this island?"

The woman with pointed ears glanced at them but shook her head slowly, her expression calm.

"This island is really weird," the first man muttered to his companion. "A bunny girl planting carrots, and a woman who moves so slow like that."

"Conclusion?" the second man asked.

"This is a new island, still small and inhabited by people who don’t seem dangerous. Let’s ignore it and look for something with more potential."

The first man waved his hand toward the workers below. "Hi! Thanks for the hospitality. We’ll come back next time. Please pass our regards to your Lord, and good luck with the battle!"

"Hey! Do you want some carrots?" the bunny girl suddenly shouted, tossing a bag of carrots toward the aircraft.

The two men caught it, glancing at each other before chuckling.

"Thanks! We like carrots too! Hahaha!"