So Rora wasn't buying it.

She genuinely disliked men.

Even though Abel was undeniably handsome, she frowned at him and said,

"Get out. This is Onassis territory."

"Hold on, Miss Lico," Abel said calmly. "I’m not here today to reclaim my Spatial Ring. I’m here to settle a small wager."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box containing ten thousand gold coins.

Inside the room, Shea had been packing when she overheard Abel repeatedly saying "Lico." Curious, she peeked out.

A white-haired girl stood facing Abel.

*White hair… That good-for-nothing little sister of mine!*

Shea nearly charged out to kick Rora’s face—but remembering how easily Rora could pin her down and grind her into the dirt, she reluctantly gave up.

*And why the hell are you chatting with her, Abel?!*

She strained her sharp ears to catch their conversation.

Abel spoke with confidence:

"Miss Lico, my bet with that kid was simple: whether ten thousand coins could buy you a meal. But the result’s clear now. The Onassis Clan obviously doesn’t need my measly ten thousand gold."

*I need it!!*

Shea’s heart bled.

That useless sister of hers didn’t care about ten thousand gold—but *she* did!

*Abel, you thick-browed idiot! How could you mistake us?!*

*Rora and I look nothing alike! Just compare our "front armor"—are we even in the same weight class?!*

*Don’t assume we’re the same person just ’cause we share a face!*

Of course, Abel had his own reasoning.

Night gear was tight-fitting by nature, and chest binders could perfectly disguise Lico’s figure. In the dim night light, such a "minor" discrepancy meant little.

"My apologies, Hunter," Rora replied coldly. She’d just realized this man was the Hunter living with her sister.

As a Rising Sun Rank mage, she sensed no threat from him—unless he was Radiant Sun Rank, which seemed unlikely.

The only active Radiant Sun Hunter nearby was Silver. This guy, with his shabby longsword and tattered cloak, couldn’t be him.

"What a shame," Abel said, smiling as he pocketed the coins. He’d recorded Rora’s refusal to prevent Shea from backtracking later.

*As if everyone’s as greedy as her.*

Watching the coins vanish, Shea went numb. *Can’t I just transform tonight and ask for them back?*

Those ten thousand gold coins were *hers*!

*How did that useless sister ruin this for me again?!*

Still… there was an upside. Abel would likely stop suspecting *her* as Phantom Thief Lico.

She had a solid alibi—packing her things—and Abel had even spotted her hiding by the door.

His words just now… they’d been meant for *her*.

He even looked smug about it.

Shea ground her teeth.

"Still," Abel added, his tone turning grave, "consider this a greeting, Miss Lico. Next time we meet, I expect my Spatial Ring returned. As an Onassis, you’d know from your clan’s history—what’s inside isn’t trivial."

He wasn’t just protecting himself; he was warning Lico.

If relics from the Lost Empire were exposed, even the Onassis Clan would face annihilation.

Rora, an outsider to this mess, was utterly lost.

*What ring?*

*Have I taken anything from this Hunter?*

*…Did my sister take it?*

Quick on the uptake, she shook her head.

"I’m not Lico. I don’t have your things."

She turned to leave, then glanced back at Abel.

"Leaving quickly would be your wisest choice."

Her eyes flashed with killing intent—*Get out of Shea’s room.*

But Abel misread it as a threat to flee the city, even revealing her Rising Sun Rank power.

*So Lico’s a Rising Sun Rank mage when she’s not thieving?*

*Never saw that coming.*

Shea shuffled out, hollow-eyed, watching ten thousand gold coins slip away.

*That useless sister stole from me again.*

"Heh~ See that, Lucky Cat?" Abel chuckled, unaware. "That’s Lico for you—so noble, so selfless. She probably took in those orphans to care for them properly."

Shea wanted to scream that Rora *wasn’t* Lico!

But if Rora wasn’t the thief… would Abel suspect *her* next?

*Better let my dear sister carry this burden.*

*Lico? What Lico?*

*Rora is Lico!*

She kept chanting it to herself, but the image of flying gold coins only deepened the ache in her chest.

Finally, desire overwhelmed her. She turned to Abel.

"Uh… Hunter-niisan? Since Lico doesn’t want the coins… maybe…"

*If she won’t take them, why not give them to me? It’s just one meal!*

*Ten thousand gold? I’d eat with you for a whole month!*

"Heh. Nice try, Shea," Abel said, unmoved. To him, she was like a little sister—or a friend—not a love interest.

"But I *will* treat you to dinner. These coins are for my gear, but a meal’s on me. Let’s go."

He led her toward a restaurant in the city. Its food was excellent—he and Gray ate there often.

"…I’ll eat you out of house and home."