On Sunday, William wandered through the streets of Luxembourg City, carrying a bag filled with some of his necessities.
His expression was difficult to read. He was deeply troubled by a certain matter, leaving him in no mood for his usual pastimes—whether visiting bars, placing bets, or taking part in casual competitions. This time, however, things were different; his heart craved nothing more than a secluded place where he could find some rest.
Minutes later, William returned to his apartment, only to notice the doorknob slightly ajar—a sign that someone had entered before him and failed to close the door properly. Yet, he felt no alarm; he knew exactly who had come in, for he was the one who had invited them.
As he opened the door, it let out a faint creak against the floor. The sound was barely audible, but it was enough to draw everyone's gaze toward him.
Stepping inside, William cast a look at his team members—a gaze tinged with a hidden, profound sadness—before turning his eyes toward Gowther, who lay on the sofa, watching him just like the others.
"Newcomer, why don't you take charge of the kitchen?"
William's tone was calm, devoid of any commanding edge; his words sounded more like a request than an order.
Upon hearing this, Gowther rose from his seat and took the bag containing the ingredients for dinner. Though he said nothing, he sensed that something was amiss. William wanted to disband the "Cannibals" team for good—a decision prompted by the discovery that Gother had planted a shadow on him, one that tracked his every move and reported back. Since Gother was an outsider, William asked him to leave, wanting to grant himself and his teammates the freedom to speak openly.
As Gother headed toward the kitchen, William let out a deep sigh, his gaze shifting to his team members.
Although Jian Yi was a new addition to the group, the two shared a close bond; Jian Yi's father, Hua Zihan Xinyi, had been William's mentor for several years before William became a mercenary. Even after William turned to mercenary work, his mentor's attitude toward him never wavered—he continued to treat him like a son. Consequently, William viewed Jian Yi as a younger brother.
William sat down on a chair facing his team. His expression shifted into a blend of sorrow and firm resolve—he was determined to do whatever was necessary to grow stronger and achieve his goals and dreams.
"Guys, do you remember the day we formed the 'Cannibals' team?"
His tone was calm, tinged with a deep sense of nostalgia.
His teammates looked on, puzzled, unsure of what he was driving at.
"Yeah, I remember. It was such a bizarre day. And I'll never forget how Peter was on the verge of tears when he lost his necklace! Hahahaha!"
Jin Mori's voice carried a hint of lighthearted mockery directed at Peter, who visibly squirmed in embarrassment. "He's definitely lying! How could I possibly cry—I'm a grown man! Besides, don't forget the time you mistook that old woman for a monkey just because you heard your own name. Who would have guessed there was a monkey named Jin Mury?"
"I'm telling the truth, you little monkey!"
Peter's tone was dripping with mockery, which sent Jin Mury into a rage; he lunged at Peter and tackled him to the ground.
"Help! Someone save me! The little monkey's gone wild! Quick, give him a banana—maybe that'll calm him down!"
Peter's mocking tone only fueled Jin Mury's fury further.
"I am not a monkey! I'm a descendant of Sun Wukong! Sure, I never found the staff, and I couldn't tap into the Monkey King's powers, but that doesn't make me a monkey!"
Jin Mury's voice was thick with indignation.
Everyone stared at them in bewilderment, before bursting into raucous laughter.
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
"You two are still acting like children! Grow up—you're both over three hundred years old!"
Victoria's voice was laced with derision.
Jin Mury and Peter West both looked a bit annoyed.
"You're ten years older than us—that makes you an ancient crone!"
Peter's delivery was a bit hesitant, but everyone caught his drift, and Victoria was not amused. "I'm not an old person, you wretched scoundrel!"
She said this while preparing a powerful fiery assault, but she stopped short when she noticed William's cold, detached smile and Jian Yi's look of bewilderment.
"Brother William, are you alright?"
Jian Yi's tone was laced with surprise and concern; William didn't seem like his usual self.
William was puzzled by Gowther's failure to return by now, which stirred a flicker of suspicion. But then, recalling his own battle against Yuta, he realized the reason.
"So that's it... Thank you, Gowther MacTire. I truly appreciate what you've done."
He thought this to himself, then turned his gaze toward his teammates.
"I need to tell you something—something I know will be incredibly difficult, but it's something I must do. Not just for my sake, but for all of us."
A sense of tension rippled through the group; an instinctual feeling told them that what was coming would be far from easy.
"I want to disband the Cannibal Team."
The words struck like knives, piercing his own heart as well as theirs. Their faces went blank with shock—they simply could not process what they had just heard.
"You're joking, right? You've got to be joking!"
Peter's voice was heavy with sorrow and disbelief. They had lived together for decades, sharing in each other's joys and sorrows—they were, for all intents and purposes, a family. The news of the team's dissolution was, quite simply, impossible to believe. "I am not joking. I mean what I say. I know I might sound selfish, but I truly love you all—I think of you as the children I never had. You have been the best companions one could ask for in a lifetime.
I am 721 years old now, and I don't have much time left—just another 279 years, and that will be it. That is why I want to travel the world and uncover its hidden secrets.
My goal, long ago, was to become the strongest; but that was a very long time ago. Now, it is time for the rising generation—and that is you. The eldest among you is Victoria, who is only 320 years old. Her whole life still lies ahead of her. So, if I mean anything to you, I have one request: live your lives, and pursue your dreams and ambitions.Not for my sake, but for your own."
"Life is like a boat sailing across the sea of time, steered by the winds of fate toward its eternal destination. Everything has a beginning and an end, and every wave is a test—a trial. The boat must endure these waves, lest it sink.
And you—you must endure these hardships, lest you perish and be forgotten in the unforgiving sea of time.
This is my final command as the leader of your team—the Cannibal Team."
William's voice remained calm as he gazed at the ground; he could not bring himself to look at their somber, shattered expressions.
"Comrades, it's time to eat! Come on, it's ready!"
Gauther spoke with a feigned air of ignorance, attempting to break the silence.
"What's going on? Did I miss something?"
His tone was full of feigned bewilderment as he looked around at them.
Yet, no one said a word; they simply stared at him in surprise. Since he hadn't been present when William began speaking, they realized he was merely pretending not to have heard anything. This earned him even greater respect than they had held for him before.
They made their way toward the kitchen, faint, hollow smiles upon their faces.
Upon arriving, they paid no heed to what lay on the table. Even though Gauther had prepared their favorite dishes, they felt no pleasure—as if they were consuming nothing at all.
A heavy, sorrowful silence hung over the room for several minutes, until William let out a deep sigh and turned his gaze toward them. "Jin Mori, you've grown far too complacent. Despite being a descendant of Sun and Kong, you have yet to prove your worth in any meaningful way. You ought to be wielding a staff, yet you still cling to a spear."
"And you, Peter West—your goal was to become stronger. What happened? You're still at the exact same level, even after more than two hundred years! Did you give up on your dreams so easily?"
"And you, Victoria—wasn't it your dream to become a scholar in the fields of psychology and 'Kunowa'? What became of those dreams? Have they simply vanished into thin air?"
"My point is that staying together as a team is causing us to wither from within; we need to focus on pursuing our own dreams. As for whether or not you choose to remain together—that is entirely up to you."
William looked at each of them in turn, though their expressions remained obscured.
"Gowther, Jian—could you please step away for a moment? There's something that concerns only the team."
Jian sighed, clearly troubled, but eventually left; Gowther followed without a word.
The moment they were gone, the tears the team members had been holding back began to stream down their faces. They said nothing, and there was no sound of sobbing—it was a silent, wordless grief.
Deep down, they knew that every word William had spoken was true. In the name of friendship and family, they had neglected their own dreams and aspirations.
"Thank you, Captain. As long as we live, we will carry your memory in our hearts." "You have truly been like a father to us, and we deeply appreciate that."
Their voices were heavy with sorrow. They wiped away their tears, striving to conceal any lingering traces of weeping in their eyes.
"Jian Yi, Gother—you may come in now."
Jian Yi and Gother entered without a word, each quietly finishing their meal in complete silence.
Some time later, the members of the Cannibal team gathered at the hotel entrance for their final meeting.
"This is goodbye. I wish you all a happy and prosperous life."
A faint smile graced each of their faces as they looked toward William.
Then, Jin Mori, Peter West, and Victoria each embraced William—the man they regarded as a father. They cast aside any concerns for their pride or reputation; the bond they shared was far too strong to be diminished by a fleeting moment of embarrassment.
A gentle smile appeared on William's face as he patted their backs, before they finally parted ways, each setting off on their own path to pursue their respective goals.
Only William and Jian Yi remained, exchanging glances that blended a forced sense of calm with underlying sadness.
"Have you reached this decision after careful deliberation?"
"Yes—after much long, deep thought, I've concluded that it is the only solution left to me."
William spoke, though he did not fully grasp what Jian Yi was driving at; his confusion only deepened when he saw the smile on the other man's face. "Very well, I trust your choice, Big Brother William. So be it. Take care of yourself—achieve your final goal of traveling the world, or die trying!"
Jian Yi departed immediately afterward, leaving William to watch him go with a faint smile, one filled with respect and appreciation.