Honestly, hearing Nelly say that, Shea actually felt tempted.

Shadow Orbs weren’t ordinary trinkets—they were mysterious magic from the Corrupted Land, highly valuable on the black market.

Even as stolen goods, their price would be slashed, but they could still fetch over ten thousand gold coins. That twenty percent commission dwarfed the junk in Abel’s Spatial Ring.

As for the tight security?

Shea figured she could take the gamble.

Just as Nelly had said: lightning never strikes the same place twice.

The guards wouldn’t expect her to hit Elson’s warehouse again after only one day.

Her biggest headache now was the Hunter beside her.

He’d definitely be staking out the warehouse, waiting to catch her. But if she waited for him to let his guard down, the Shadow Orb might be sold or moved.

She had to move fast.

Then Shea remembered Abel’s strange fondness for her transformed self—maybe she could use that.

She’d need a fake Spatial Ring. Tonight would be the perfect time.

“I’m full! Abel, I’m heading to a friend’s place. See you later!”

She claimed she was visiting a classmate, but Shea was actually off to get the replica ring made.

Abel didn’t suspect a thing. He waved goodbye, finished the expensive leftovers, and called for the bill.

“Waiter, check please!”

“Right away.” A waiter approached with the bill. “Total is fifteen hundred gold coins. Cash or magic card?”

“Huh?!” Abel froze. Snatching the bill, his eyes widened.

That little devil Shea had bought out the entire kitchen’s premium ingredients!

And scheduled them for home delivery too.

You really didn’t hold back, huh?!

Abel’s face darkened. Across from him, Nelly stifled a laugh. “No one likes a penny-pincher, you know. Besides, you live with Xiao Ya, right? You’ll get to eat all this later—cooked by her own hands.”

“...That’s true.”

Abel fell silent. Then the waiter added:

“Oh, and the young lady who just left said your companion’s bill goes on your tab too, sir.”

“...”

————

Meanwhile, Shea—busy getting her fake ring made—had no idea Abel was fuming.

Using money from her last haul, she commissioned a jeweler to replicate Abel’s Spatial Ring. After paying extra for rush service, she had two nearly identical rings in just an hour.

One was solid gold. Hers was gold-plated, unenchanted—just an ordinary trinket.

“All set. Tonight should be perfect.”

The Shadow Orb was hers.

If she couldn’t pay her debts, she might end up on the slave market.

Time flew. Night fell under a bright moon—terrible for Robin Hood antics, but Shea approached Elson’s warehouse anyway.

Her scouting revealed doubled guards, plus layers of alarm and trap arrays. Most were capture-focused.

Minimal lethality. She knew many wanted her alive—dead, she was worthless.

Especially with nobles inflating her bounty like auction goods.

After yesterday’s heist, her price had jumped another twenty thousand. Irony tasted bitter.

She tried the secret tunnel again. The entrance looked undisturbed, but ambushers lurked inside, waiting to spring the trap.

“So many defense arrays... and the tunnel’s sealed. Not good news.”

Forced back to the outer wall, she searched for another way in.

That’s when Abel arrived. Under the moonlight, he spotted the silver-haired girl instantly.

“Lucky break. That teacher’s analysis was solid. Evening, Miss Rico.”

Abel walked up without alerting guards.

Shea exhaled in relief.

His obvious crush meant he’d negotiate, not arrest her.

“Hey there, Hunter.”

Shea—no, Rico—flashed a dazzling smile. Moonlight made it hypnotic. Abel’s breath hitched.

“Your personality’s so different from daytime. Another disguise, Miss Rico?” Abel kept his tone calm, aiming to negotiate back his ring.

*Real men don’t pick fights with girls*, he reminded himself.

“Of course. I brought your ring.”

Rico showed him the fake, then tucked it away fast. It lacked magical aura—Abel might spot the difference.

But the glimpse was enough to build trust.

“Before I return it, you’ll help me with one thing.” She pointed at the warehouse wall. “Open a quiet hole here.”

“Easy.”

Abel summoned his Demon Claw. Time to impress Rico with his Radiant Sun Hunter prowess.

*Mere concrete.*

The claw sliced through the half-meter-thick wall like tofu.

He tore open a gap, stepped inside, and beckoned.

“Miss Rico, you see our power gap now. Returning the ring is the wise choice—”

He never finished. Too busy gloating to notice the trap array beneath his feet.

Under Rico’s amused gaze, the ground turned into a sea of sticky glue. By the time Abel reacted, it was too late.

The more he struggled, the deeper he sank. Escape was impossible short-term.

“?!”

*Splat!* Rico stomped his head, leaping over the trap zone—and sinking him deeper. Only his head remained above the goo.

“Thanks, good Samaritan Hunter~”