"This boy isn't in the Lighthouse's population records. What is going on?" The Light Bearer held up a data pad, scanned Goku, and then displayed the resulting message—"Subject Not Found"—for everyone to see.
Ran Bing, the Deputy Captain of the Wilderness Hunters, immediately stepped forward to explain:
"He is a human we rescued from the surface. According to the rescue protocols, he is eligible to join the Lighthouse. Captain Mark intends to explain the situation to the City Lord during the Council Assembly."
"A rescued human?
"The Wilderness Hunters haven't rescued a single human from the surface in over twenty years; the human population on the surface died out long ago. Are you absolutely certain he is human, and not a humanoid Phage Beast?"
The Light Bearer's tone was stern as he deliberately cast a suspicious glance toward Goku's tail.
"How could a human possibly have a tail? It's highly suspicious. Take him back for examination immediately."
"Wait! He fought alongside us against the Phage Beasts on the surface; there is no way he could be one of them. His tail is a natural birth defect—likely the result of some genetic mutation."
Seeing the Law Clerics behind the Light Bearer step forward with handcuffs in hand, Ran Bing hurriedly pulled Goku behind her to shield him.
Erica, Jeff, and the other members of the elite Wilderness Hunter squad also stepped forward to block the Law Clerics' path. To be honest, they weren't actually afraid that the Law Clerics would physically harm Goku.
Rather, they were worried that the Law Clerics' actions might be too rough—and that they might inadvertently provoke Goku.
After all, they had witnessed with their own eyes Goku punching a massive Phage Beast into oblivion—a feat comparable to that of a humanoid mecha. If the Law Clerics were to anger Goku, and a conflict were to erupt between him and the Order of Light and Shadow, the consequences would be disastrous.
Even if the situation were eventually defused, Goku would inevitably become a marked man in the eyes of the Order.
The Order of Light and Shadow held immense power and prestige within the Lighthouse, backed by a legion of fanatical zealots. To cross the Order was to invite endless persecution and retaliation for the rest of one's life within the Lighthouse.
"That's not for you to decide; we won't know for sure until the inspection is complete."
The Light Bearer, observing that Ran Bing and her companions remained utterly unyielding, spoke in a stern tone: "What is this? Are you attempting to defy the commands of the Lord of Light and Shadow?"
"Our captain has already gone to attend the Council Assembly to report this matter in detail to the City Lord. Until the City Lord issues a specific order, we regret that we cannot hand him over to you."
Seeing that the other party was attempting to use the authority of the Lord of Light and Shadow to intimidate them, Ran Bing immediately countered by invoking the City Lord.
Upon hearing this, the Light Bearer was momentarily left speechless.
The Lord of Light and Shadow was indeed a supreme and transcendent entity; however, the Lord of Light and Shadow did not physically reside on the Lighthouse. On the Lighthouse itself, the ultimate authority still rested with the City Lord.
"Big Dog—take him down!"
Since rational argument had failed, it was time to resort to force.
They would simply take him into custody first; whether he turned out to be a humanoid Phage Beast or a threat to the Lighthouse—that would ultimately be for them to decide.
It just so happened that Mark was currently absent, and these individuals had already disembarked from their heavy mechs and unequipped their weapons, making it difficult for them to pose any significant threat.
As for the child—he posed even less of a threat.
The man addressed as "Big Dog" was a hulking figure standing two meters tall, clad in specialized armor and wielding a magnetic-pulse battle-axe.
He hoisted his massive battle-axe high; as countless sparks of electricity crackled across the weapon's surface, the expressions on the faces of Ran Bing and her companions instantly shifted.
Behind Big Dog stood a line of Clerics of the Law, each armed with a stun baton and a pistol.
Had they been armed with their own weapons, they would not have feared their adversaries; but in their current state, they were indeed at a severe disadvantage.
"Are you certain you wish to proceed with this?"
Ran Bing asked one last time.
Sensing their hesitation, the Light Bearer lifted his chin in a gesture of smug triumph:
"The Lord of Light and Shadow guides us all. We trust you will cease your defiance of the Lord's commands and withdraw at once."
"In that case... good luck to you."
Ran Bing and the other elite Wilderness Hunters took two steps back, positioning Goku protectively between themselves and their adversaries.
At this point, the situation had escalated beyond their ability to resolve on their own. In any case, given Goku's strength, he certainly wouldn't be the one to suffer.
Once he teaches these members of the Light & Shadow Society a painful lesson, perhaps they won't dare to bother him again.
As for holding a grudge? Let them. The Wilderness Hunters and the Light & Shadow Society were never on good terms to begin with.
As long as Goku officially joins the Wilderness Hunters—and refrains from violating the Three Laws of the Lighthouse—the Light & Shadow Society won't be able to do much to him.
"Take him down!"
As the Light Bearer issued the order once more, the Law Priests advanced toward Goku again, handcuffs in hand.
Click!
The handcuffs were clamped onto Goku's wrists.
However, when they exerted their full strength to drag Goku away, they discovered that no matter how hard they pulled, he remained utterly motionless—not budging an inch.
"I think... you guys are all bad people."
Goku looked at the two Law Priests—who were straining with every ounce of their strength to yank at his arms—and stated this with absolute certainty.
He hadn't been able to clearly hear the conversation between Ran Bing and the Light Bearer, but he could distinctly sense the undisguised malice these red-robed figures harbored toward him.
Consequently, he had already—in his own mind—classified them as "bad guys."
And what should one do when faced with bad guys?
Why, give them a sound thrashing, of course! Teach them a lesson so they stop being bad guys, truly repent, and resolve to become good people instead.
Snap!
Under the gaze of the Light Bearer, the Law Priests, and the crowd of Dusts and Nobles who had long since been drawn to the commotion...
Goku gave a gentle tug, and the steel handcuffs—forged from solid metal—snapped apart as easily as if they were made of paper.
Then, grabbing one Law Priest in each hand, he hurled them both away.
The two men shot through the air like cannonballs, crashing into the stacks of supplies piled high on either side; it was impossible to tell how many bones they had broken in the process.
"What?!"
Seeing that Goku—despite his tender age and diminutive stature (barely reaching their chests)—possessed such terrifying strength, the Light Bearers were utterly stunned.
The quickest to react was "Big Dog," who immediately raised the Magnetic Storm Axe in his hands, took aim at Goku, and pressed the attack button. A violent surge of electricity struck Goku's body directly.
"Such a weak electric shock."
Faced with the current fired from the Magnetic Storm Axe, Goku didn't even bother to dodge; instead, he simply hardened the Ki covering his body to withstand the electrical attack head-on.
An electric shock of this magnitude possessed less than one-tenth the power of Laxus's Lightning Dragon Slayer Magic.
Let alone being capable of breaching his defenses.
"Hah!"
Goku threw a punch at "Big Dog." Before his fist even made contact, the sheer force of the airflow generated by the blow had already sent Big Dog flying backward.
"Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah!"
With a single punch for each opponent, every single Inquisitor charging toward Goku was sent flying.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Witnessing the terrifying extent of Goku's power, the Inquisitors positioned behind him were struck with panic; they immediately drew their firearms and opened fire, brazenly attempting to gun Goku down on the spot.
However, something they never could have anticipated occurred.
Goku's hands blurred into a series of afterimages as he proceeded to catch every single bullet fired at him—barehanded.
"Here, have them back."
With a casual flick of his wrist, he hurled the bullets back at an even greater velocity. They not only pierced through the guns in the Inquisitors' hands but also tore straight through their hands as well.
Upon witnessing this spectacle, the Luminary—who had been on the verge of drawing her own weapon—froze instantly on the spot.
"Catching bullets with his bare hands? Is he even human?"
Everyone present was left dumbfounded by Goku's feat—even Ran Bing and her team hadn't imagined that he was capable of catching bullets with his bare hands.
Just moments earlier, upon seeing the Inquisitors draw their weapons, they had all been preparing to rush in and provide backup.
Possessing immense physical strength does not necessarily equate to having equally strong defenses—a fact made all the more deceptive by Goku's appearance as a mere child.
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