The heavy rain had stopped for more than an hour.
By the time the Rock Tortoise drew near Bloodbeard's base camp, evening had already fallen.
Dinner passed in silence.
Luciel wore his dried camouflage uniform, a saber at his waist, and a waterproof bag slung across his back.
Seeing the girl's worried gaze, he smiled and said,
"After I leave, no matter who knocks, you are not allowed to open the door."
"Then… you'll let the big lizard bring things back?" Mino asked weakly.
She instantly remembered the sight of the giant lizard dragging supplies back to the camp.
Luciel's mouth twitched. After a moment's thought, he said,
"One long and two short knocks—that's the secret signal to open the door."
Bang~~~bang
He tapped the table with his knuckles, then explained,
"Something like that."
"I understand." Mino nodded earnestly, trying to memorize it.
"Don't worry. I should be back soon."
Luciel reached out, gently tugging the girl's rabbit ears with a smile.
"If you're sleepy, go ahead and rest."
"I-I'll wait for you to come back…"
Her face flushed red, her voice growing smaller and smaller.
"…I don't dare to sleep."
She feared thieves might discover the little Black Tortoise and climb aboard to steal.
"Alright, I'm going." Luciel only caught the first half of her words.
Had he heard the rest, he wouldn't have known whether to laugh or cry.
"Be careful!" Mino called out.
"Wait for the good stuff," Luciel replied, waving as he descended from the Rock Tortoise to the ground, leaving Mino watching with reluctant eyes.
In the distance, a faint light marked the Bloodbeard camp.
"By the time I get there, it'll be completely dark."
He glanced up. After the rain, the night sky seemed a little brighter.
The Red Ghost Spider scouted ahead, checking for patrolling thieves.
The journey was monotonous, the barren landscape nothing but rock and sand. The rain had turned the soil into sticky mud, clinging to every step.
At last, when night had fallen completely, Luciel reached the outskirts of Bloodbeard's camp. Thieves with torches occasionally passed on patrol.
Huh—
Suddenly, a stone landed nearby.
Slap!
It struck the ground not far from Luciel's feet.
Sensing no immediate danger, he didn't bother to dodge.
"…"
He silently looked toward the direction it had come from.
A figure emerged from the darkness, cloaked and hooded.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you," a cold female voice said.
"I just wanted to warn you."
Luciel's eyes narrowed. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Behind the figure, the Red Ghost Spider had already locked on.
If she made any sudden moves, she'd be wrapped in silk before she knew it.
"Are you a bounty hunter?" she asked instead.
"Did you also take the Moon Lake Tribe's mission?"
"I don't care to answer." Luciel turned to continue toward the camp.
"We can cooperate," she said quickly.
"I don't cooperate with people who hide their faces." Luciel's tone was cold.
"I have a topographic map of the thieves' camp!" she pressed, stepping closer.
Luciel stopped. Curiosity flickered in his eyes.
"Why cooperate with me?"
"Because you're strong," she replied simply.
"You don't know me." Luciel scowled. "How do you know I'm strong? Maybe I'm one of the thieves."
"You're definitely not." There was pride in her voice.
"No thief dresses as clean as you."
Luciel blinked, realizing she was judging him by appearance.
"It rained today," he said flatly.
"Exactly," she countered. "Only a strong man dares to walk the wilderness alone in the rain."
"…" Luciel thought her reasoning flimsy—but not entirely without sense.
She continued confidently, "Even if Bloodbeard isn't here, getting inside won't be easy. But if you cooperate with me, you'll definitely obtain a Bloodbeard Crystal Fish."
"What's a crystal fish?" Luciel asked.
"You—aren't you the hunter who accepted the Moon Lake Tribe's mission? How can you not know?" Her voice rose in shock. "You didn't come for Bloodbeard's treasure vault?"
"Think what you like." Luciel spread his hands.
"Then what is your goal?" she demanded, taking a wary step back, her cloak trembling.
"What's your goal?" Luciel countered.
He had stumbled onto something valuable: Bloodbeard had a treasure vault, and he wasn't the only one after it.
"Cunning man," she muttered bitterly. After all her probing, she had gained nothing.
"If you want me to talk, at least show some sincerity," Luciel said, eyeing her hood.
"I'm afraid you'll be frightened if you see me," she answered softly.
"That remains to be seen."
"The thieves' camp lies in a crescent-shaped valley formed by three hills," she finally said.
"The middle hill is the tallest—one hundred and fifty meters."
Luciel frowned. "Why tell me this?"
"Anyone could discover it with a little daylight scouting. Take it as compensation for my earlier offense."
With that, she turned and vanished into the night.
"…Is her face really that terrifying?" Luciel murmured, raising an eyebrow as he watched her disappear.
He didn't believe for a moment she was acting out of kindness. Most likely, she intended to tail him inside—if he acted first.
"Unfortunately for her, she'll be disappointed."
Luciel chuckled and slipped toward the thieves' camp, disappearing into the darkness.
Moments later, the hooded figure reappeared, scanning the ground in shock.
"Where did he go? Even his footprints are gone…"
As Luciel suspected, she had hoped to follow him.
"What a remarkable man," she whispered, her voice trembling with both anxiety and anticipation.
"Maybe… he really can get into Bloodbeard's treasure vault."
And with that, she too vanished into the thieves' camp.