Conquest Sea, aboard the Shimmering Pearl. In the early morning, a faint mist lingered over the sea. Amidst the thin fog, the massive cruise ship continued to cut through the waves, forging ahead. After a night’s rest, the passengers of the Shimmering Pearl emerged from their cabins, freshened up, and gathered in the luxurious dining hall for breakfast. As they ate, they clustered in small groups, discussing the strange incident that had occurred earlier that morning. "Did you hear? Someone tried to steal the Deep Blue Heart." "The Deep Blue Heart? Isn’t that the gem Mr. Massimo is showcasing tonight? How do you know someone tried to steal it?" "There was a notice... This morning, notices written in Ivengardian were found all over the ship, including here. A thief calling himself ’K’ declared he would steal the Deep Blue Heart." "A notice? You’re joking, right? What kind of thief announces their crime beforehand? That’s just asking to be caught. It must be a prank." "Hmm... I think so too. Who would do something like this? Are they so bored they’re trying to amuse themselves at our expense?" "Maybe. At least it gives us something to talk about." ... In the spacious dining hall, elegantly dressed passengers held their plates as they chatted about the bizarre notices that had appeared throughout the ship. Many had seen the messages, all signed by the same mysterious figure—the thief known as K. The passengers had mixed reactions to this thief who dared to announce his theft in advance. Some found it amusing, others absurd, and a few dismissed it as a pointless joke. Though opinions varied, almost no one took the notices seriously. Most regarded it as a prank or an odd performance art piece, treating K as nothing more than a topic to liven up their conversations. In a corner of the dining hall, the Shimmering Pearl’s captain, Costa, stood alongside the jeweler Massimo, observing the murmuring crowd with faintly peculiar expressions. "What do you make of this so-called Thief K?" Costa asked, hands clasped behind his back. Massimo snorted disdainfully. "What’s there to make of it? Just a clown seeking attention with a ridiculous stunt." His tone dripped with contempt. Regardless of who Thief K really was, the notices scattered across the ship felt like a mocking challenge to him, and he naturally looked down on such antics. To Massimo, Thief K was nothing more than a troublemaker trying to stir up drama—not even a proper figure in the mundane world, let alone the mysticism world. He’d seen similar attention-seekers before, and in his eyes, they were no different from circus jesters. "True... Announcing a theft beforehand is incomprehensible no matter how you look at it. It’s most likely a prank. Still, we shouldn’t let our guard down. The fact that K managed to distribute these notices all over the ship without being noticed shows he has some skill." Costa held one of the notices in his hand. While he agreed it was probably a joke, he acknowledged that K had at least some capability. "Only some skill... To dare provoke me like this—if I find out who he is, I’ll make sure he ends up on my dining table before Haimohois devours him." Massimo’s words were icy. For them, tracking down the prankster wasn’t impossible, but it would consume precious mystical resources. Compared to expending Revelation reserves... Massimo, though irritated by the prank, wasn’t willing to waste further effort on it. Just a clown, after all. Sooner or later, he’d be swallowed by Haimohois. No need to waste energy on him. The only regret was that Massimo, Costa, and the rest of the crew would have to evacuate before reaching the final sacrificial waters, missing the spectacle of the entire ship—including the jester—being devoured. "Even if it’s just a prank, you should keep an eye on the Deep Blue Heart just in case." Costa’s tone was cautious, but Massimo waved him off dismissively. "Relax, I just checked on it. It’s still perfectly secure. My people are watching it nonstop. There’s no issue." As they spoke, Massimo and Costa left the dining hall and stepped onto the foredeck. They gazed at the angel statue at the bow, shrouded in white cloth. Beyond it stretched the endless sea, while behind them stood rows of vigilant sailors. "Besides... We don’t just rely on ordinary eyes to watch over the Deep Blue Heart, do we?" Massimo murmured. Though they couldn’t see the gem beneath the cloth, as White Ash-rank Chalice Beyonders, their spiritual senses allowed them to perceive its presence. With such spiritual vision, there was no way the Deep Blue Heart could be stolen right under their noses. ... Time passed swiftly, and soon the morning gave way to noon. Massimo’s jewelry exhibition began its preparations. Small display stands were set up in the ship’s dining and ballrooms, showcasing rare and exquisite gems. Massimo’s collection drew nearly every passenger on board. The exhibition halls quickly became crowded, with ladies gasping in admiration at the dazzling jewels. Everyone marveled at the treasures Massimo had gathered. In his promotional speech, Massimo declared that the daytime exhibition was merely an appetizer—the main event would be the unveiling of the Deep Blue Heart on the foredeck that evening. The passengers buzzed with anticipation, and rumors about Thief K spread even further. Some even began to wonder what might happen that night. After touring the exhibition with her classmates and teacher, Nephthys excused herself and returned to her cabin alone. As she walked down a corridor, she spotted a familiar figure. "Miss Dorothy..." Seeing the white-haired girl in winter attire, Nephthys was surprised. Dorothy smiled as she approached and whispered. "I’ve already spoken to the Great Shaman. When you return to your room, perform the ritual immediately. Do you still have enough offerings?" "Y-yes, I should have enough... But, Miss Dorothy, what you’re asking me to do... I-I’m not sure I can..." Nephthys looked nervous, but Dorothy patted her reassuringly. "Don’t worry. As long as you follow the plan, everything will be fine. Your grandfather was a master thief, wasn’t he? You must have inherited some of his talent." "M-my grandfather stole from the dead... What I’m about to do is completely different..." Nephthys fidgeted anxiously. Dorothy’s expression turned serious. "Believe in yourself, Senior Nephthys. Right now, the lives of everyone on this ship are in our hands. To ensure they all reach safety, we must do this. I’ll support you as much as I can. Just stay calm." "...Alright. I’ll do my best." Swallowing hard, Nephthys steadied herself. If what Dorothy had told her last night was true, then the entire ship was in danger. She had no choice but to act. "Good. Go back and prepare properly, then rest. The real show begins tonight." With those final words, Dorothy walked past her. Nephthys took a deep breath and continued down the corridor. Soon, she entered her cabin and locked the door. Without delay, she pulled out a sheet of white paper from her luggage and spread it on the floor. Unfolded, it revealed an intricate Silence ritual array. "Lord Soulwhisker... Please help me once more..." Kneeling beside the circle, Nephthys murmured as she retrieved three iron coins imbued with Silence spirituality from her pouch and placed them before the array. ... Meanwhile, in the New Continent, deep within the forests not far from the eastern coast, lay the Tupa tribe’s encampment. Inside the shaman’s tent, the elderly shaman Uta, clad in full ceremonial garb, sat cross-legged, puffing on his pipe. Nearby, Kapak, holding an illustrated book, suddenly spoke. "Teacher Uta, they’re ready. We can begin." "Alright... I know..." Exhaling a long stream of smoke, Uta turned his gaze to the center of the tent, where an even larger and more intricate ritual array was drawn. Beside it, the spectral form of a lynx lounged lazily. "Lord Soulwhisker, take your position. I’m about to begin the reverse-spirit-channeling ritual... The supplicant on the other side is the one you met last time. She’s prepared the same delicious offerings you enjoyed before." At Uta’s words, the lounging lynx spirit perked up, licked its lips, and floated to the center of the array, crouching obediently. Uta rose with the help of his cane and shuffled to the edge of the array before sitting down again. "Never thought I’d one day partake in dealings with the white-skins... I hope this brings good fortune to our tribe in the end..." With a sigh, Uta raised his hands and, invoking his power as the Great Shaman, began the advanced application of the spirit-channeling ritual—reverse spirit channeling. ... Time flew, and soon the afternoon faded into dusk. As the sky darkened, night once again enveloped the vast sea. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶 On the boundless Conquest Sea, the Shimmering Pearl continued its journey. Though the sky was dark, the ship blazed with light, its decks and superstructures illuminated brilliantly. The spacious foredeck was packed with elegantly dressed men and women, crowding every available space. Passengers who couldn’t find room on the deck leaned over railings on the upper levels, gazing eagerly toward the bow. People from all corners of the world, clad in fine attire, gathered in anticipation. Despite the cold sea wind, their excitement remained undimmed. They waited with bated breath for the most dazzling moment of the voyage—the unveiling of the Deep Blue Heart. This was the highlight of the Shimmering Pearl’s journey, the event everyone had been waiting for. They were about to witness the first public display of what was hailed as the most beautiful sapphire in history. Amidst the lively chatter, the morning’s notices about Thief K were occasionally brought up. Though most dismissed them as jokes, some couldn’t help but wonder if something unexpected might happen during the exhibition. As the appointed time arrived, the crowd erupted in applause. Massimo Russo, the renowned gem collector, stepped onto the bow through a private entrance. Standing before the shrouded angel statue, under bright lights and tight security, he smiled and waved at the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the grand finale of tonight’s exhibition! Beneath this vast sky, upon this endless sea—what better stage could there be for the Deep Blue Heart to reveal its full splendor?" "Thank you all for joining us tonight. In return, you are about to witness a sight you will never forget!" Raising his hands, Massimo’s voice boomed across the deck, met with enthusiastic cheers. As the applause died down, he continued with a grin. "Now, I’m sure many of you saw those prank notices this morning. How many of you actually believed there was a Thief K? Let me make one thing clear—those notices were not some publicity stunt of mine. With my reputation, I don’t need cheap tricks to draw attention. So yes... this morning’s incident was nothing but a joke. Thief K is just a clown, and I must admit, they succeeded in making me laugh." The crowd chuckled at his words. Massimo, pleased with the reaction, went on. "Oh ho... Looks like Thief K amused not just me, but all of you as well. Perhaps they has a future in comedy. Maybe some circus will hire them." Laughter rippled through the audience. "Alright, enough jokes. Let’s get to the main event! Look closely—the Deep Blue Heart is right behind me, cradled in the hands of this angel statue. Though it’s hidden beneath this cloth, I can still feel its presence! Yes! I sense it! That’s the mystical bond between me and this gem!" Massimo’s words held no deceit. As a Beyonder, he truly could perceive the Deep Blue Heart’s spiritual presence. He knew without a doubt that the gem was still where he had secured it—in the angel’s hands, beneath the cloth. With a dramatic flourish, he stepped back toward the shrouded statue and grasped the white cloth covering it. The audience held their breath, their eyes fixed on his every move. "And now... behold! The radiance of the Deep Blue Heart! A marvel unlike anything you’ve ever seen!" With a final declaration, Massimo yanked the cloth away. The angel statue was revealed once more. The crowd’s eyes immediately snapped to its hands—where the Deep Blue Heart should have been. But the expected gasps of awe never came. Instead, murmurs of confusion spread through the audience. Massimo, puzzled, turned to look at the statue—and froze. Embedded in the angel’s palm was a large blue gem, similar in appearance to the Deep Blue Heart... but dull, lifeless, and devoid of any glow. Worse still, Massimo sensed no spiritual presence from it. To his White Ash-rank perception, the gem might as well have been a common sapphire. And taped to its surface was a note, written in Ivengardian: The real Deep Blue Heart is now in my possession. —Thief K Massimo’s heart lurched. His eyes widened in shock. Fumbling in his pocket, he pulled out a key—the one that unlocked the gem’s mounting mechanism—and scrambled toward the statue. Meanwhile, hidden beneath the angel’s hand, unnoticed by anyone, a spider-like corpse marionette crawled out from the keyhole, clinging to the real Deep Blue Heart. From within the crowd, Dorothy smiled. Her marionette held the gem, and through her spiritual threads, the effects of the Concealment RIng—which masked all spiritual signatures—extended to it. To Massimo and Costa, the gem in the angel’s hand was now a fake. Watching Massimo climb toward the statue with his key, Dorothy murmured under her breath. "You’ll have to take it down yourself…”