Jax gave the Vixens one week.
"Prepare," he told them simply.
That was all the encouragement they needed.
The next several days were filled with activity.
Supplies were purchased across Solmere and neighboring towns. Healing potions, herbs, antidotes, mana restoratives, dried food, and travel rations were packed into the dimensional storage compartments inside their wagon.
Zee double-checked the medical supplies three separate times.
Llandra inspected weapons and arrow stocks.
Nyxian stocked magical components and reagents.
Bunny mostly supervised while eating snacks.
Jax, meanwhile, handled the logistical side of things.
He met with merchants.
Organized trade routes.
Prepared shipments.
And finally met with the council of the United Kingdoms.
They were… less enthusiastic about his plans.
King Althandor leaned back in his chair with visible concern.
"You intend to leave for several weeks?"
"Possibly," Jax said calmly.
The council members exchanged uneasy glances.
They all understood the situation.
Technically, Jax held no office.
They had no authority to stop him.
But his presence alone had become a stabilizing force across the United Kingdoms.
Without him nearby… some worried what the Empire might attempt.
Jax raised the Tele-Stone resting on the table.
"You can contact me anytime."
He rotated the stone between his fingers.
"And I can still help even from long distance."
The council still looked uneasy.
But eventually they nodded.
If Jax said he had it handled… history suggested he probably did.
A week later, the Vixens departed.
They used the portal network to travel to the southeastern-most city connected to Solmere's gates.
From there, the true journey began.
For a normal caravan, the trip would take roughly two weeks.
But their wagon wasn't exactly normal.
The two massive shadow bulls — Grim and Steed — pulled the enchanted wagon with tireless power.
They did not sleep.
They did not slow.
They did not complain.
Which meant the trip could be completed in just under one week.
The downside?
They would be traveling twenty-four hours a day.
Which meant the five occupants of the wagon had a lot of time to fill.
By the third day, boredom had become the enemy.
Which was why Jax introduced the girls to a new game.
Texas Hold'em.
At first the Vixens didn't understand it.
Then they became obsessed.
The game had already begun spreading across the United Kingdoms after Jax introduced it months earlier.
Merchants had even begun selling custom playing cards.
It had quietly become one of Jax's most profitable side businesses.
But inside the wagon, the stakes were… slightly different.
Since none of them needed money, they decided to play for something else.
Clothing.
Strip poker.
The rules were simple.
Lose a round — remove an article of clothing.
Lose everything — complete a "task" decided by the others.
The game became far more entertaining immediately.
Unfortunately for the Vixens…
Jax kept winning.
Even when they began attempting some extremely creative cheating methods, it still didn't help.
By the middle of the afternoon…
The girls were down to bras and panties.
Bunny had actually lost everything already and now sat under the table with her ears barely visible above the edge.
Meanwhile Jax sat comfortably across from them.
Fully dressed.
Minus a single accessory he had deliberately forfeited earlier just to prove he wasn't cheating.
Nyxian glared at him.
"You are suspiciously good at this game."
Jax smirked.
"Statistical probability."
"That's not a real answer," she said flatly.
Before the argument could escalate further—
The Tele-Stone lit up.
Everyone froze.
Jax frowned.
He had specifically told the council to only contact him in emergencies.
Which meant this mattered.
He picked up the stone.
The Vixens leaned closer, trying to overhear.
"Yes?"
A pause.
Jax listened quietly.
Then nodded.
"Understood."
Another pause.
"Not a big deal."
The girls all narrowed their eyes.
Jax ended the call and casually stood up.
"The United Kingdoms needs me."
Four pairs of eyes stared at him.
"It's not a big deal," he repeated.
"I'll be back in a few."
The girls were immediately worried.
To them, Jax was practically unstoppable.
The man had punched an S-Rank dragon to death.
Mastered Llandra's bow in seconds.
Had strength and endurance listed as 999+ because the system literally couldn't measure him.
But even legends could get unlucky.
And the thought of something happening to him…
None of them liked it.
Jax simply smiled reassuringly.
Then he stepped backward.
His body sank into the shadow beneath him.
And vanished.
A moment later—
Something rose out of the floor.
A Shadow Knight.
Full armor.
Sword drawn.
He looked around the wagon in confusion.
Apparently he had been fighting something moments ago.
Now he was surrounded by four half-dressed women staring at him.
Nyxian clapped her hands once.
"Perfect."
The Shadow Knight tilted his helmet slightly.
Confused.
"Sit," Bunny ordered.
The knight obeyed.
The girls pushed cards into his gauntleted hands.
"Play," Llandra said.
The knight blinked behind his helmet.
He did not understand any of this.
But he obeyed.
Twenty minutes later…
He had lost eight games in a row.
Entirely because the Vixens had aggressively "helped" him make terrible decisions.
Nyxian finally leaned forward thoughtfully.
"…you can't take off armor, can you?"
The knight shrugged awkwardly.
A silent no.
To him, he had gone from a battlefield to playing strip poker with his master's wives and fiancées.
It was confusing.
But he accepted it.
Suddenly—
Jax erupted upward from the floor again.
He adjusted his coat casually.
Trying to appear completely normal.
The Vixens immediately began inspecting him.
Nyxian pointed.
"You forgot to system-lock your holsters."
Zee leaned forward.
"You have blood on your shoes."
Llandra squinted.
"There are pieces of someone in your hair."
Bunny proudly contributed—
"You didn't tuck your shirt in right."
Jax blinked.
"…that's the one you noticed?"
Bunny nodded confidently.
The girls relaxed slightly.
He was safe.
That was all that mattered.
Nyxian pushed the cards back toward him.
"Your turn."
Jax looked down.
Only now realizing he was holding a hand.
He examined the cards.
Then gasped.
"These are the worst cards I've ever seen."
He stared at them in disbelief.
"What the—"
"Oh," Llandra said sweetly.
"I guess that means you fold."
Nyxian smiled.
"And you still owe us."
Jax blinked.
"For what?"
Zee spoke calmly.
"Your knight played in your place."
"And he lost eight rounds."
The room fell silent.
Jax looked back at the Vixens.
They all wore the same determined expression.
There would be no arguing.
He sighed.
Then reached for the first button of his shirt.
"…this feels like a trap."