Lost Tower, Reception Room.
"What do we do? What do we do?"
Solo paced anxiously within the Lost Tower. "The boss has been gone for days without even a word!"
Anakin sat beside him, silently munching on a butter cookie. Opposite her, the serpentman prophet was also crunching away, as if they were engaging in some sort of competition.
Lynn tapped her pen tip against the paper. "Alright, I guess he didn't really want you two as bodyguards—you have ways to contact him. Miss Anakin can also contact Amazon and the Saints Guild. In case something happens, you two could facilitate communication with the Player community the fastest."
Solo turned pale. "But it's terrifying, not knowing when the boss might suddenly make contact. It's like waiting for the other shoe to drop*…"
*Idiom referring to waiting for an event that is seemingly inevitable and most often negative.
"You'll get used to it once you start working," Lynn said dryly while her hands moved mechanically.
Around her, controlled puppets hurriedly moved documents. The Tower couldn't achieve a paperless office, and after one stack of documents was processed, she manually replaced it with another.
There were neighbors in the Joy Garden who could help, but few came in human form. 80% of the members struggled even to use chopsticks again, let alone write and work in an office.
As for those with human forms—
Anakin and Lilith reached for the last cookie on the plate at the same time. Their eyes met, and both displayed gentle, holy social smiles, though it seemed neither planned to retract their hand.
'This world is too cold,' Lynn thought. She wondered why she hadn't turned into a slime monster or a serpent—essentially, any monster without hands…
"He said he was going to investigate the Alva Merchant Group, but they are everywhere, so it's hard to know where they went." Solo muttered like a mosquito by her ear.
"Ship Island, maybe." Anakin sighed heavily after losing the cookie battle. "Given Star Stealer Sol's standards, they would definitely infiltrate the upper echelons. I heard from Ash that Duke Alva went to Ship Island for vacation and recently hired the Saints as guards."
"Ship Island?" Lilith tilted her head, her eyes shimmering blue.
Anakin took a sip of tea. "Yes. A fleet of merchant ships forming a mobile fleet. The largest ship is supposed to be even bigger than an aircraft carrier, turned by Old Duke Alva into a seaside resort—there are even ships dedicated to cultivation and breeding. It's simply outrageous."
"It's called a fleet, but most ships are tied together, drifting in the Golden Sea all year round, almost the size of an island, thus, everyone calls it 'Ship Island'."
"Ah, I've heard of it." Solo perked up. "Many gray transactions are only done on Ship Island. That sea area is beyond the jurisdiction of other countries."
"Ah—"
Lilith propped her chin, all four eyes turning blue. "Sounds interesting."
Lynn looked up sharply, with a hint of warning in her gaze. "There must be many dangerous weapons and items there. You… don't even think about it."
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. Besides, without my shining knight, I can't go anywhere anyway."
Lilith, or rather, Perradat, quickly raised her hands. "I just think, Ship Island must also have many regular transactions. Otherwise, the Old Duke wouldn't go on vacation to an arsenal. Imagine, fluffy rare animals and such. Just thinking about it…"
Lynn glared at her sternly.
Perradat made a face and moved closer to the window. Through the nearly invisible glass, she gazed at the clear sky.
"Ship Island in the Golden Sea… Hmm, I hope they choose a gentler method of investigation," she muttered, scratching her head. "Being in the field in person, the inability to foresee is too terrible."
...
Teest frowned at the pile of high-grade cat food in front of him.
This luxury passenger ship considered pet needs, preparing various dry foods in advance. After confirming his "pet cat" status, the staff prepared the cat food without asking.
After a moment of thought, Teest used his magic to lift the brimming bowl and placed it demonstratively in the center of the dining table. Then, he grabbed the herb-roasted fish from the table, along with oysters and cream soup, and trotted towards Nol's cage.
"Honey, it's mealtime." Teest stretched out his paw, easily bending the sturdy bars. "Wake up."
Nol let out a wide yawn while blinking his eyes. "Where are Mentor and Billy?"
He was gradually getting used to Teest's new appearance. The Mad Monk was as perfect as a top cat breed in a showcase. At first, Nol regretted not being able to hug and kiss normally, but now, the cat knight's cuteness balanced it out.
Teest shrugged indifferently. "Socializing, probably."
The Mad Monk had infiltrated such ships before, of course, as a chef's apprentice, not as a pet—due to Ship Island's special geographical location, it was difficult for the Temple to intervene, and some Eternal Church high-ups liked to conduct transactions on Ship Island.
Especially these "temporary merchant ships".
As long as the goods were exotic enough, identity verification reliable, plus a hefty security deposit. It allowed some special merchants to focus on "unconventional methods" on Ship Island. From ancient magic rings to slaves with special abilities, all could be traded as "exotic goods".
Mentor had definitely done his homework. His disguise was spot-on—
He had no real combat power and only brought along a bodyguard whose condition and strength had deteriorated. Besides the exotic "miniature pet dragon" Nol, he also prepared some alchemical trinkets, enough to maintain appearances.
Merchant ships welcome passengers who seem weak and unlikely to cause trouble the most.
Currently, the two humanoid members were probably out mingling, gathering information. Teest lay outside the cage, swallowing an oyster without any guilt of eating ahead.
"Are we just waiting to arrive at Ship Island?" Nol toyed with the herb-roasted fish.
Their target wouldn't be on this ship, and it was hard for them to gather information in this form. Logically, Mentor's involvement should be enough, but just waiting like this was somewhat boring.
Without books, cell phones, or anything to alleviate boredom in the cage, being confined in such a small space was bound to cause distress.
Thinking this, Nol couldn't help but stretch out his paw again, kneading Teest's soft fur.
Teest's ears flattened momentarily, tempted to ask, "Are you wiping your hands on me?" but he restrained himself. "How about this, let's go out for a walk tonight."
"Do you have something you want to investigate?" Nol perked up.
Teest swallowed another oyster. "The fleet's night view is nice. We might as well go out for some air. Not to mention, you, cough, I haven't had a break in a long time. I need a vacation, and you have to accompany me."
Nol readily agreed. The mechanical rocking was no longer irritating, and he suddenly had an appetite.
After Mentor and Billy returned, they tacitly ignored the cat food in the middle of the dining table, the missing expensive dishes, and the slightly peculiarly shaped cage. In their brief conversation, they didn't provide any new information. It was obvious that it was hard to squeeze much information out of a merchant ship of this caliber.
Except for—
"Don't go to the cargo hold," Mentor said sternly, seemingly taking for granted that the two would wander off at night.
Golden Sword nodded silently beside him, much quieter than when they first met. His gaze had become sharper, as if something was burning in his eyes.
"What happened?" Nol was confused.
The rules already included "don't go to the cargo hold". Was this something that needed special emphasis?
Mentor looked at them meaningfully. "Apparently, there are some troublesome goods this time. Someone paid extra for security. It's best not to stir up trouble before landing on the island."
"Yes. If the mistake is made by a person, we can coordinate easily. But if a cat is caught, it would be suspicious to insistently defend it."
Billy rubbed his forehead, glancing at Teest. "There are no significant individuals on this ship. You two don't need to take risks."
"So don't go to the cargo hold." Mentor emphasized again, subtly winking at Nol.
Nol: "..."
Beside him, Teest's ears twitched, suddenly energized.
Alright, he probably understood what Mentor meant.
If they were really Players, indeed, there was no need to take this risk. But if they were caught by the guards with their strength, Star Stealer Sol might as well declare victory early.
"Of course. We just want to see the night view," Teest responded with extra sincerity.
That night.
Two shadows sneaked out.
One belonged to Nol, and the other to Teest. A black and a white shadow stuck to the corridor, moving silently forward.
The ship was much more luxurious than they had imagined, with brightly lit corridors and soft carpets. The air was filled with the scent of incense, completely masking the sea's fishiness and other potential smell clues.
People came and went, ignoring the two small animals wearing "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Teest scurried ahead, his tail tip occasionally brushing Nol's nose.
Could it be that Teest had investigated where the cargo hold was beforehand?
Nol wanted to ask, but the big white cat ahead ran with certainty. He had no choice but to follow, with the legs of the guests turning into a dense jungle; the prestige brought by the two occasionally stirred some cloaks or skirts.
As a result, Teest ran higher and higher, and Nol smelled the silky smell of the sea breeze.
[This doesn't seem like the way to the cargo hold.] Nol was pragmatic.
[I made an appointment with you to see the night view first.] Teest's tail waggled. [And you agreed to accompany me. Things have an order.]
Nol paused, thinking the Mad Monk would be more interested in the cargo hold, especially since it had increased security for no reason. Lately, Teest deviated from his expectations more and more, but rather than being shocked, these changes felt more like pleasant surprises.
Nol smiled. Unable to resist, he gently bit the tip of the white cat's swaying tail. Teest made a noise but didn't pull his tail back.
The merchant ship had six floors. Reaching the top deck was like standing on a high hill. The moon seemed bigger than on land, and stars sprinkled down from the sky. The lights of the fleet ahead blazed a path on the dark sea.
There was only the night sky, seawater, and scattered lights.
The wind felt like it could blow through their bodies, melting them into the surroundings the next second. Even if the moon above had ill intentions, it couldn't spoil Nol's content mood at that moment.
Everything was dreamily beautiful.
"Look, what great fresh air." Teest stood satisfied, his tail elegantly curling around his paw.
"It's beautiful," Nol admitted honestly. "Have you seen this before?"
"Yes. Once, the Eternal Church chartered a ship to Ship Island for a gray trade. That ship was a bit smaller than this one." The white cat shook his whiskers. "Actually, it's a pity. The scene I saw then was even more beautiful than now."
Nol tilted his head in confusion.
The white cat reminisced, licking his lips. "Because at that time, the ship was on fire."
Nol: "..."
Alright, he probably didn't need to ask who started the fire. However, he really wasn't a fan of the phrase "even more beautiful than now".
Nol looked at the reminiscent Teest for a few seconds, then suddenly moved behind Teest and bit the back of the neck of his own knight. Teest hadn't reacted before the black dragon spread his wings, heading towards the sea.
The black dragon grew slightly, swimming through the night like a fish. Rotating, the stars and lights were all stirred into scattered glimmers. One side of the black dragon's wing tip brushed the sea surface, splashing droplets colored with phosphorescent hues.
At some point, Teest adjusted his posture, clinging tightly to the black dragon's back. In the golden pupils of the white cat, an even more splendid light reflected—
Countless phosphorescent fish surged up from the seabed, like cold flames lit beneath the sea. They danced underwater, following the black dragon's flight path, sometimes scattering like fireworks.
From the distant fleet, people's exclamations were heard. But that didn't matter, under the protection of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Only they could see each other.
Teest watched quietly while pressing his paws against the scales. An almost transparent phosphorescent fish jumped out of the water, brushing his whiskers, drawing a beautiful arc. Beneath the fish swarms, more flower-like jellyfish wandered up.
"…I take back what I said before." Teest gently bit the dragon horn. "It's beautiful. This is better than 'setting a ship on fire'. I should say, it couldn't be better."
The black dragon circled the entire fleet time and again. The night, colored with light, gradually calmed. Teest sneezed from the sea breeze. "The cargo hold, Lord Nol. The cargo hold."
Nol slowly avoided the knight's gaze.
Teest: "..."
The scales under his paws were slightly warm, feeling wonderful, but this wasn't the time to dwell on sensations.
Teest: "…You didn't forget, did you?"
"My memory is quite good. This time, uh, my attention was all on the night view." Nol's neck stiffened as if under a petrification curse. He adamantly avoided eye contact with Teest. "Besides, you surely remember, right? …Right?"
Teest remained silent for two seconds, then laughed shamelessly. He laughed so hard that his claws lost their grip, almost causing him to slip off the dragon's back. Nol took the opportunity to bite his neck again, successfully avoiding eye contact.
"Let's go." The white cat raised its tail happily. "I'll lead the way. Pfft!"
"..."
"Shall we burn a ship next time?"
"…No!"
The performance of the phosphorescent creatures attracted many passengers, making Nol and Teest's return journey much easier, with fewer shoes to dodge. Unfortunately, the beautiful scenery outside couldn't attract the attention of the cargo hold guards. The path below deck was still firmly guarded, and the ventilation ducts were too narrow to navigate in human form.
Teest skillfully pried open the wooden grate of the ventilation duct and slipped in, while Nol folded his wings and squeezed himself in as well.
Compared to the night sky and the sea earlier, this place was dark and stuffy. Nol smelled fermenting fruit, rotting fresh meat, and a slight odor of feces. From time to time, strange noises came from outside the duct, indicating many living things in the cargo hold.
At each vent, Teest would stick his head out to take a look. The number of guards below, for a temporary merchant ship, was exaggerated. And their attire didn't seem to belong to the Alva Merchant Group's private security but rather looked like—
[Eternalist.] Teest pried open the vent, extending his claw tips again. [Would you mind if I… ahem, well.]
[Not now. Investigation is investigation. It's not the right time for action,] Nol said in a tone like forbidding "eating snacks". Teest let out a long sigh, and his ears drooped again.
[Alright, just investigating.]
The Mad Monk, dissatisfied, pried at the vent's grate, squeezing his head into the slits while humming a tune in his mind through telepathy. [Just investigating, no exterminating, smart kitty also—]
Nol coldly cut off the telepathy.
He squeezed past Teest, and both of them stuffed into the nearest vent—it was the noisiest around, with the conversation below quite clear.
"You didn't have to come personally!" a fearful voice said. "This ship—this ship is really…"
"This cargo is very important. I'd prefer to watch over it discreetly from close quarters rather than make a big show of it. Have you forgotten the attacks on merchant ships before?"
A cold but familiar voice said, "This is a great opportunity to strengthen relations with the Alva Merchant Group."
"But for someone of your stature—"
"That's my style. I'm not like that old goat. You'd better get used to it," the voice said. "Compared to Godfrey Painter, I'm quite the disciplined type."
Nol slowly reconnected the telepathy. [Is it the person I'm thinking of?]
[Probably.] Teest stopped humming, his fur bristling. [What's that guy doing here?]
Fischer Reginald.
The former High Priest of the Eternal Church, now, the current Pope of the Eternal Church.
With a sullen face, Teest slowly retreated. His claws were cruelly stepped on by Nol.
[It seems this cargo is indeed interesting,] Nol said. [What does the Eternal Church usually sell?]
Teest looked disdainfully at Fischer. [Aside from the usual trafficking, mostly special Supplement Demons, man-made chimeras, and other living beings. They're all defective products not suitable for combat, sold to rich fools with messed-up heads.]
[It doesn't sound like something the Pope needs to escort personally.] Nol's gaze shifted to Fischer.
Fischer, evidently not intending to follow the old Pope's approach of keeping people at a distance, dressed like an ordinary merchant, with an arrogance and coldness they had never seen before.
The cultist guard in front of him was sweating profusely, looking very nervous.
"We've prepared a separate room for the cargo, surrounded by our people, so there won't be any accidents," the cultist guard said. "The cargo is very sensitive. I'm afraid it might hurt you."
"Say one more word, and someone here will definitely get hurt. And it won't be me."
Fischer sneered. "It's just a White Demon. Move aside."