The outer streets of Black Tortoise.

"Who the hell is attacking me?"

A masked woman clutched her stomach, breathing hard as her eyes darted warily through the shadows. She had only wanted to sneak in, take a look at that glowing tree, and maybe pick up a few valuables if luck was kind.

The first half of her journey had gone smoothly. She'd easily climbed over the sleeping ancient beast, slipped past the city wall, and landed inside the city.

But disaster was waiting. The moment she set foot on the street, an unseen force had struck — someone attacked her without a word, and she couldn't even tell where the blows came from.

Boom!

A heavy punch hit her square in the stomach.

"Ugh—"

The masked woman doubled over, vomiting out her dinner onto the cold stone road.

"It's the fifth one," Alina muttered, seeing the intruder collapse. She deactivated her stealth armor and became visible again.

A smug grin crept onto her lips. Being invisible was too much fun — it felt like having a second awakening ability entirely to herself.

"Get up," Alina said coldly. "Follow me obediently. Try to resist, and I'll kill you."

She stood proudly, armor gleaming faintly in the dark, utterly fearless.

"I… I'll go," the masked woman said weakly. She wiped her mouth and struggled to her feet, one hand still clutching her aching belly.

She looked up at her attacker — the small figure clad in a tricolored armor that shimmered faintly with spiritual energy — and a trace of disbelief crossed her eyes.

That armor… it was definitely a spiritual weapon, and not a low-tier one either. Combined with invisibility, no wonder even a Tier 5 Awakener like her couldn't stand a chance.

"Go that way. Don't even think about running. If you meet someone else out there, you'll die faster," Alina said coldly, pointing toward the street.

Moments later, a faint scream echoed in the night — sharp, short, and then silent.

The masked woman trembled and completely gave up on running away. The horrors in this city were clearly beyond her imagination.

"Take off the scarf," Alina ordered, tapping her chin.

"Yes…"

The woman hesitated, then reluctantly pulled off her face covering, revealing an ordinary, forgettable face beneath.

Alina gave her a quick glance and motioned forward. The two of them walked toward a small house guarded by Wei Geng.

"Another one," Wei Geng said as he looked at the armored girl, his expression complicated.

"She's yours now," Alina said flatly.

Wearing the armor made her feel fearless — cold, confident, unstoppable.

"No problem," Wei Geng replied. He opened the door and escorted the masked woman inside.

Taigen, already in the room, looked up at the newcomer. His eyes widened slightly in recognition.

"Don't make any trouble," Wei Geng warned, sweeping his gaze across the dozen captives. "You'll all face Lord Luciel's judgment soon."

Taigen rolled his eyes inwardly. Make trouble? Not a chance. Just thinking about that monstrous lizard outside made his legs weak.

The door creaked shut again, plunging the room into darkness.

"I didn't expect the Variety Witch herself to get caught," Taigen said after a moment.

The masked woman's face hardened. "And I didn't expect the great treasure hunter Taigen to be here too."

Her codename — "Variety Witch" — came from her awakened ability to change her appearance at will. The plain face she wore now wasn't even her real one.

"I'm just unlucky," Taigen said bitterly. He could still remember those terrible fangs snapping inches from his head.

The whole group had thought they were dead meat — only to be rounded up and locked here under watch of that monstrous lizard.

"Let's work together to escape," the Variety Witch said quietly.

She wasn't about to sit here and wait for some city lord's 'trial.' If she got the chance, she'd vanish before dawn.

"No," Taigen said immediately, waving his hand. "If you want to run, be my guest."

The others shook their heads too.

"Cowards," the Witch muttered under her breath. "What's wrong with you people?"

They looked terrified. Like something worse than death was waiting just outside.

"It's nothing," Taigen lied, forcing a dry smile. "We… actually think it's pretty safe here."

"Yes, yes," another thief agreed quickly. "Very safe."

Just then, a violent aura swept past the house — heavy, primal, terrifying. Everyone froze.

The Variety Witch frowned. "What did you people see?"

Taigen sighed. "You don't want to know."

They had resisted once. The last man who tried to fight back had been grabbed by the giant lizard and crushed into a red mist.

"Cowards," the Witch said again, though her voice was quieter this time.

She turned toward the others in the room. "What about you all? Let's work together and get out of here."

"No," someone whispered.

"You can't escape," said another.

"It's better to stay alive."

"You probably haven't met that thing yet."

"What thing?" the Witch demanded. "The invisible one?"

"Invisible?" Taigen gave a hollow laugh. "That's just one of them. You're lucky you haven't seen the special one yet."

"Special…?"

"You'll know when you see the door," Taigen muttered. "Just look."

Puzzled, she turned toward the tightly shut door.

Time crawled by. More captives were brought in one after another — Alina and Liyue's nightly hunt filling the room.

"What the hell am I supposed to be seeing?" she grumbled, glaring at the door. It was almost dawn, and her escape window was slipping away.

Tap… tap… tap…

Footsteps sounded outside.

"My Lord City Lord, a total of thirty-two have been caught," Wei Geng's voice said.

"Open the door. Let me see them."

"Yes, sir."

The door swung open.

Taigen and the Variety Witch both looked up. The figure standing there was a young man.

The City Lord of Black Tortoise — Luciel.

Taigen blinked. He's that young?

The Variety Witch's thoughts moved quickly. If I could capture him, maybe I could—

"There are fewer than I expected," Luciel said, his tone calm, his gaze sharp. "Thirty-two thieves in one night… not bad."

His eyes lingered briefly on Taigen, then on the Witch. "Two Tier 5 Awakeners. Not bad catches."

The room fell silent.

"Hang them up," Luciel said lightly. "Hang them on Little Black Tortoise. Let them blow in the wind."

He turned and walked away.

"Hang… us up?" someone whispered, pale-faced.

"Out, all of you," Wei Geng barked. "And don't even think about running."

Taigen stood first, legs shaky but moving. The others followed reluctantly.

The Variety Witch walked last, her mind racing. Maybe she could cause a distraction. If she shouted—

She opened her mouth. "Eve—"

Hissss~~

A foul stench washed over her from behind — hot, animal, wrong.

She froze. Taigen and the others turned, faces white as sheets.

The Witch's neck turned slowly.

Behind her stood the thing Taigen had warned her about — the massive tricolor lizard. Its head loomed close, eyes like glowing stones, fangs long enough to pierce through a man whole.

Hissss—

Its tongue flicked out.

The Variety Witch screamed and stumbled several steps back.

"What did you just say?" Wei Geng frowned.

"I—I said… good evening… everyone…" she stammered.

Wei Geng blinked. "...What?"

Was this woman out of her mind?

"It seems you're in a good mood," said a calm voice.

Liyue appeared from the shadows, her pale figure gliding forward, followed by a massive red ghost spider that crawled beside her.

"I…" The Witch nearly burst into tears.

"Xiaohong," Liyue said coolly, "tie them all up."

Whoosh, whoosh—

The Red Ghost Spider's silk shot out, wrapping the prisoners like bundled fish.

None dared move.

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