Another moonless night with howling winds.

Outside Earl Elson’s warehouse, a white-haired girl stealthily surveyed the surroundings.

It was Shea, transformed.

Since Abel’s Aurora Ice Blade couldn’t be sold for coin, she’d had to resort to petty theft again.

At the thought, Shea sighed inwardly. *If only I’d asked its price earlier and sneaked it out to sell…*

“Let’s see what these guards are up to.”

Peering through a small window, Shea clearly saw patrolling guards inside. They moved carelessly, utterly neglectful of their surroundings.

After all, these guards were only human. Paid a few hundred gold coins a month, why risk their necks? Turning a blind eye and coasting through shifts sounded far better.

“You there! No slacking off!”

Of course, the guard captain saw things differently. If anything went missing, his fate wouldn’t be pleasant.

But noble guards like him were usually lapdogs—often cruel. There’d been cases of girls from the slums violated and even murdered by these aristocratic hounds.

So Shea felt no need to hold back. What she came for, she’d take.

“Phantom Thief Lico’s been quiet lately. Patrolling here is pure misery.”

By now, Shea had slipped into a hidden passage directly beneath them, close enough to hear the guards’ grumbling.

She knew she’d entered the underground section of the warehouse. All she needed was to avoid the guards’ sightlines, grab some valuables to fence for gold, and slip away.

Easier said than done. Marching openly into the warehouse would guarantee capture.

Fortunately, Shea wasn’t some novice thief. Invisibility and trace-erasing potions kept the guards’ vigilance low.

Fully prepared, Shea activated her invisibility and slipped through the secret passage. Blessed with the Nightshade Catfolk’s unmatched night agility, no one detected the intruder.

She swiftly secured her chosen treasures without incident. But as she prepared to leave, she spotted shadowy figures—just like her—huddled in a dark corner of the warehouse.

Around them lay fallen guards. Some impaled by fishbone spines, others torn apart by tentacles. Their deaths were brutally grotesque.

Only the Tidal Cult used such methods.

*Them again…*

Shea clicked her tongue silently. She watched them mixing a strange purple powder into purification powder.

“You’re certain this batch is destined for Vag City’s reservoir?”

“Absolutely. Earl Elson plans to use it there.”

Shea overheard their whispers. Though she didn’t know what the purple powder was, it couldn’t be anything good.

Likely poison.

Three choices lay before her: slip away silently, eliminate the cultists, or photograph their crime and report it to the press.

Objectively, option three was wisest.

But Shea glanced at the stolen goods in her pockets. If she reported this, the theft would be discovered. The nobles would suspect her—and if they played dirty, they might even pin the theft on her, exposing her public identity.

Especially if the cultists escaped capture.

So option three was out.

Option one? Shea still had a conscience. She couldn’t ignore a threat to the entire city.

*Fine. I’ll help.*

“Three cultists. Two Starry Rank. One Crescent Moon Rank.”

Shea assessed their strength. In the past, she’d have fled immediately. But now—if she could use her Light Blade to instantly kill the Crescent Moon Rank first—she might stand a chance.

A failed assassination meant trouble. With only Starry Rank combat power, facing three cultists head-on would force a hasty retreat… or worse, a repeat of last time.

*Invisibility…*

Only one chance. Shea crept closer, silent and scentless—a flawless assassin.

*Why do I, a mage, live like a rogue?* she wondered.

The cultists kept pouring the purple powder, oblivious. The two Starry Rank members even chatted idly.

Only the Crescent Moon Rank sensed a trace of unease.

He turned. The dark warehouse held nothing. Guards still patrolled, unaware.

*Then where’s this killing intent coming from?*

But by the time he felt Shea’s intent, it was too late. A pure white Light Blade pierced his chest. Shea twisted it savagely, tearing out gore and pale flesh.

“Starlight Blade Art… A Full Moon Mage?!”

His chest cavity was shredded—a basketball-sized hole that would kill any normal person instantly.

But a cultist who’d fully corrupted his body could survive as long as his brain remained intact.

“No… wrong. Only Starry Rank mana… You’re Phantom Thief Lico.”

“Why aren’t you dead? Tch.”

Shea knew little of Tidal Cult weaknesses. Had she aimed for his head, she might’ve won.

Now, facing a half-dead Crescent Moon Rank and two Starry Rank cultists, fighting meant suicide.

“Don’t let her escape!”

The failed strike jolted all three cultists. They knew: if Shea escaped, their plan failed.

They’d raise the alarm, draw every guard—even die with her if needed.

“What was that noise?!”

The cultist’s shout alerted the entire warehouse. Guards rushed from all directions.

Trapped between guards ahead and cultists behind, escape seemed impossible.

“For the Tide!”

Fearful Shea would warn the guards, the two Starry Rank Tidal Cultists transformed. Their bodies swelled like pufferfish, sharp bone spines erupting across their skin. The bulging forms kept expanding—

*They’re going to self-destruct!*

Shea darted for cover, but the crippled Crescent Moon Rank cultist lashed out. Massive tentacles smashed everything nearby as the two Starry Rank cultists finally detonated.

**BOOOOM!!**