A few minutes earlier.

"Luciel, are you seriously considering marrying that red-haired woman we just met?"

Mino stood with her hands on her waist, pouting with clear dissatisfaction.

They had only known each other for a single day, yet Luciel was already talking about marriage?

The bunny-eared girl glanced down at her own chest—flat enough that she could almost see her toes. Hmph! So what if that redhead was a little bigger? Give it a few years, and there wouldn't be much difference.

"Hmph~~" Liyue removed her mask, folding her arms across her chest. She didn't say a word, but her icy glare was full of reproach.

She had known Luciel longer than that flame-haired woman…

"Yo, yo… my two little princesses, are you jealous?"

Luciel raised a brow, smirking lightly. "Looks like I'll have to do something about that."

"Who's jealous!" Liyue's cheeks flushed. She quickly put her mask back on, hiding her embarrassment.

"Jealous? Vinegar? I didn't eat any vinegar!" Mino blinked in confusion, frowning as she tried to follow along. "Luciel, don't change the subject!"

Luciel coughed, looking helplessly at the innocent bunny-eared girl who could take anything too literally.

Then, with a mischievous grin, he flexed his fingers and walked slowly toward the girls.

"Luciel, what are you doing?" Mino squeaked, backing away nervously.

"Luciel—Mino's still too young!" Liyue quickly stepped in front of her, spreading her arms shyly.

"Too young?" Luciel froze for a beat, an odd look flashing across his face.

"You… you didn't mean to…" Liyue's blush deepened as she bowed her head, her voice trailing off.

"What are you even thinking? I just wanted to tickle you."

Without another word, Luciel lunged forward, hands darting under her arms.

"Hahaha! Stop—don't!"

Liyue twisted and laughed helplessly, tears welling in her eyes as she tried to dodge his fingers.

"Huh?" Mino stood there, stunned. Wait… wasn't I the one complaining first? Why are they playing without me?!

BOOM!

The door suddenly burst open with a deafening kick.

The laughter froze instantly.

Cunning Fox lowered his raised leg and sneered at the scene inside—the man's hands stretched suspiciously toward a masked woman's chest.

He narrowed his eyes. "Thief… really enjoying yourself, huh?"

"…Misunderstanding. I was tickling her." Luciel sighed, lowering his hands. Another day, another misunderstanding.

"Tickling, playing—whatever." Cunning Fox waved a clawed hand impatiently. "Come quietly. Hand over the crystal fish, and maybe I'll let you keep your arms and legs."

Time was short. If he didn't snatch the thief now, before Moon Lord and Bloodbeard finished their fight, he'd never get another chance.

"Watch out!"

Liyue rolled aside, longbow in hand. An arrow was already nocked and drawn in a heartbeat.

"I told you, obey and you won't suffer."

Cunning Fox blurred forward, darting left and right too quickly for Liyue to aim. His claws extended—long, sharp, enough to rip out a throat.

"Come here!"

He lunged straight for Luciel's neck.

"Tch. Show-off."

Luciel's arms shimmered, covered in glowing, circuit-like scales—[Mimicry: Scale Hardening].

BAM!

His fist shot forward like a hammer.

Cunning Fox's nose crumpled, teeth shattered. He barely had time to look shocked before he collapsed lifeless to the floor.

"Nothing's impossible," Luciel muttered, grabbing the fox by the collar and dragging his body toward the door.

He had already sensed water-element fluctuations outside, along with the roar of battle. He had planned to avoid trouble and just tease the girls a little longer… but trouble had come to him.

"Isn't Moon Lord supposed to be strong? Why is she letting small fry through the cracks?"

Liyue stared blankly at the corpse being dragged away, lowering her bow. She turned to Mino. "Stay inside. I'll check outside."

"Okay. Be careful—it sounds dangerous."

"It'll be fine." Liyue gave her a reassuring smile before grabbing a full quiver and rushing out.

---

Outside.

BOOM!

Flames erupted skyward. Yue Feiyan hurled fireballs, driving back Blood Knife and Ye Zhao.

"Mother!" Her lips trembled, sweat dripping down her face as she desperately held the two back.

"Give up. Your mother can't last much longer." Ye Zhao darted between the fireballs with ease.

"Shut up, vermin!" Yue Feiyan snarled, blasting another massive ball of fire.

She glanced back, her heart twisting—Moon Lord was already on her knees, the Water Cube trembling and ready to collapse. Blood seeped endlessly from her wound.

"Careless… too careless…" Moon Lord's voice was hoarse.

Blood Knife seized the moment, slicing through a fireball. His long knife gleamed coldly as he lunged straight for Yue Feiyan's neck.

"It's over." Yue Feiyan's eyes trembled. Too late to dodge. She gritted her teeth, ready to burn everything—even if it meant dying with them.

WHOOSH!

A figure crashed into Blood Knife, sending him flying.

"Who?!" Ye Zhao staggered back.

Two figures stood at the hotel entrance.

"Hah… hah…" Yue Feiyan gasped in relief, nearly collapsing.

"You lot really are wolves and foxes," Luciel said casually.

"You—!" Blood Knife shoved Cunning Fox's limp body aside, realization dawning. "You're the thief!"

"Thief?" Luciel raised a brow. "I don't care for that title."

"This one's dangerous," Ye Zhao muttered, retreating a step.

"My father must be freed!" Blood Knife growled.

Luciel ignored them and walked over to Yue Feiyan, smiling faintly. "For the right price, I'll clean this up for you. One hundred high-grade beast spars should do."

Yue Feiyan's lips parted, trembling. "…I—"

Behind them, the Water Cube shattered. Water cascaded as Bloodbeard staggered out, panting, eyes wild.

"Moon Lord—you finally failed." He coughed blood, laughing in madness.

"I'll pay it! No matter how many spars it takes!" Yue Feiyan clutched Luciel's arm, desperate. "Just save my mother!"

"Don't worry. If the price is right, I'll fix everything." Luciel patted her hand, turning toward Bloodbeard.

"…Who the hell are you?" Bloodbeard rasped, tightening his grip on his long knife.

"He's the thief," Blood Knife snarled.

Bloodbeard's eyes blazed with fury. "You dare steal from me—and now you stand in front of me? Hand over my crystal fish, or I'll cut you to pieces!"

Luciel smirked. "That depends. If you can."

"You're dead!" Bloodbeard charged, blade flashing.

"Full of openings."

Luciel darted forward, dropping into Horse Stance. His elbow drove straight into Bloodbeard's chest—piercing his heart with crushing force.

"Guahh!" Bloodbeard flew back, vomiting blood.

Luciel stomped the ground. A jagged stone spike shot up right where Bloodbeard landed—impaling him clean through the chest.

Silence.

Blood Knife and Ye Zhao froze, eyes wide in horror.

"F-fake… this is fake, right?!"

"…Dead? Just like that?" Yue Feiyan's mind went blank. It had all happened in seconds—Bloodbeard, the terror of the wasteland, was gone.

Moon Lord, pale and weak, lifted her head. Her aqua-blue eyes softened as she gazed at Luciel's back.

For the first time in her life—someone else had protected her.

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