Moonlit Dawn Schemes
At that moment, as Cron struggled to keep a nonchalant expression while sending away Hansu—who had unintentionally(?) inflicted an enormous sense of defeat on him, and who kept proposing even more training—
"Hahaha! Tonight, I'm gonna sleep like a rock."
"……"
"Can we train together again tomorrow? Just like today."
"……Get some rest."
Unlike Cron, who headed toward the VIP guest quarters, Hansu smacked his lips in regret as he made his way to the regular invitee lodgings.
What the hell?
Someone had been watching the two men part ways at the fork in the path from afar, concealed by magic. Twinkle. The female mage turned her head from the crystal ring, now gleaming with far more brilliant light than before. It was Karina.
She was quite shocked at the moment. How could she not be? The resonance magic her master had cast, using the energy she'd captured from the skies during the Monster Island subjugation, was reacting intensely right now.
Cron?
But why was that man with the East Continent's top mercenary captain? And in that training ground, which was off-limits even to VIPs from outside the kingdom by principle?
No, wait a second. Does that mean he's part of the Black Horse Knights too? Was he at Monster Island back then for that reason? No, why the hell would he— that doesn't make any sense—
In her confusion, Karina pulled a piece of paper from her bosom.
Flutter.
The sketch compiled from Ivan Hellenger's eyewitness accounts of the figure that had appeared in the Dead Sea. Aiming it toward the hulking man heading back to the lodgings in the distance, she formed a circle with her index finger and thumb, casting an enlargement spell.
The vibe... kinda matches, sort of.
She alternated between the paper and the man, but it was still ambiguous. Unlike the drawing of a demonic figure shrouded in golden radiance and steam, that guy right now was whistling a cheerful tune with the happiest look on his face, his steps light and carefree.
His build was insanely huge, sure, but that just made it confusing in its own way. If he had the kind of presence Ivan Hellenger described, wouldn't it be weird that no one knew his name until now? Especially for someone invited to the royal palace ball.
Twinkle.
Of course, seeing the ring brighten every time she closed the distance a bit... it seemed certain that was the one from Monster Island...
Master's magic can't be wrong.
Still, the questions kept piling up, tail after tail. A massive wave of curiosity welled up in her, the kind unique to mages—enough to make her want to gather info on the guy separately from Ivan Hellenger.
Not Drakan, but acquainted with Cron.
That was the point when the wheels of strange misconception and curiosity began to turn.
Just as the predawn moon was hidden by clouds and darkness.
In another part of the palace, wheels of a different kind of greed were just starting to roll.
Crack!
Crack!
A shadow moved stealthily in a dim corner of the palace.
Crack!
Between stone walls, between carts and roofs, between vine-covered parapets and towers—sometimes boldly right under guard posts or weaving through the lodgings. The single shadow infiltrating the palace used stones or cloth tosses at times, artifacts at others, shadows, noises, and its signature agile movements.
Guided by an expensive map and premium intel acquired solely for this period, it deftly avoided guards, traps, and magic circles. This was Carbon Kingdom's most infamous master thief.
Nightcat Selin.
In her skin-tight leather outfit, she moved so nimbly she blended with the shadows themselves.
Creak.
Slipping into a dim palace hay shed, she let out a tense breath before doing a final check on her weapons.
'Poison vial, whip, dagger.'
Good—no issues with these, which were tied directly to survival.
Next, she reached into her waistband and pulled something out. Unlike the weapons she needed quick access to in emergencies, this was a precious item to be used only rarely and discreetly.
A sub-space pouch.
Gulp.
Selin swallowed dryly at the sight of the artifact that could hold near-endless stolen goods. Among magic-infused artifacts, this pricey sub-space pouch had required her to steal countless items just to obtain it.
'All those losses back then—I'll make them up with this!'
Steel resolve in place, Selin reached into the sub-space pouch and pulled out a large sheet of paper.
Key Facilities & Noble Lodgings
Treasure Targets (Priority: Top = 10-20x ROI Minimum)
Cyclops's Gem (Upper Grade+ Expected)
She'd gotten intel from the Thieves' Guild: a high-condition Cyclops's Gem was rolling in for this palace ball—maybe for spectacle, maybe trade. Details fuzzy, but confirmed upper grade or better.
A top-grade one could buy a whole castle. Absurd, sure. Even trained units balk at Cyclopes, and the fresher the kill before fatigue sets in, the better the gem. How many on the continent could drop into combat and take one down that fast anyway?
Logically, some powerhouse house or subjugation squad probably nabbed it... but.
'Who gives a shit.'
Anyway, Selin had a plan. She rustled another item from the sub-space pouch: a red orb.
This witch's orb, packed with monstrous bird flock cries—smash it, and the deafening sky-shattering screech would resonate with the Cyclops's Gem somehow.
Sow chaos, pinpoint the gem's exact spot amid the pandemonium, and snag it.
Smack.
She planted a kiss on the essential witch's orb, gazed at it lovingly for a long moment, then tucked it back into the pouch.
'I'm rich now.'
A smile crept across her lips as Selin reviewed her plan once more and melted back into another palace shadow.
And at that moment.
In yet another part of the palace, away from her spot, an atmosphere of a different flavor began to rise.
Splash, splash.
A palace well. From somewhere deep in its stone walls, a single brick dropped.
Splash.
Watching the ripples on the water's surface from beyond the stone, a man dropped more bricks in succession. He emerged from the large gap in the well wall, slowly climbing out.
The man who revealed himself in the palace was utterly ordinary-looking. The kind who could blend into any group without raising an eyebrow. His name: Bain.
One of the underworld's top-fingered assassins.
Navigating the sewers beneath the castle—slipping through iron grates carrying sewage, past runes and magic circles protecting every gap—reaching here hadn't been hard for Bain, who'd prepped long for this ball.
He recalled his target once more.
The face and name of someone who wouldn't have come here without a special invite to this palace ball. No particular feelings stirred for the mark. Guilt? Pity? What the hell were those?
The one sticky bit: the client being that cult. But with 90% advance already paid, it hardly mattered.
Money received meant job done—that was common sense to him.
Thus.
Step, step.
The assassin who'd never failed a single commission in his life slipped slowly back into the palace shadows, reviewing the event schedule anew.
How much time passed as these two, each with their own schemes, settled into spots somewhere in the lingering darkness of the palace?
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Morning passed.
Chirp chirp chirp!
Around past noon.
The atmosphere began to build at last.
Invitees shaking off fatigue in their lodgings, buzzing with excitement for the main event: the grand ball.
Women in vibrant, colorful dresses. Men decked out head to toe in dignified splendor.
They gathered in groups, streaming toward the majestic, almost grandiose grand banquet hall.
Chandeliers visible through glass walls. Layered antique staircases. Flickering candlelight on the banquet tables. And as the music from tuning strings began to waft softly.
Ivan Hellenger, just stepping out of the VIP quarters, wore a flushed expression.
Today was the day. Twists and turns aplenty, but if she moved as promised in that kiss...
That was when.
Far off, he spotted a figure in a flashy dress.
Oh.
She looked his way too.
Karina!
Like sending a silent signal, Ivan Hellenger winked.
Ready?
The scenario was roughly this: Enter the grand hall, bump into each other "by chance" at the pre-ball banquet table, exchange greetings. Then Karina drops, "Oh, heard the Monster Island subjugation went well for you?"
The key was acting like she really had no idea—like she was clueless.
Ivan Hellenger wanted one last check if she'd prepped his scripted points properly.
Wink wink.
I'm counting on you?
Oblivious to the other events unfolding in the palace, he'd been signaling nonstop to get Karina to draw eyes to his feats amid the crowd.
That was when.
'Hey, hey!'
Swish.
His eyes, narrowed at her lukewarm response, suddenly flew wide.
'............Huh?!'
What the hell... is that??