Ryu tagged Ferris's clothes. "That girl. . ." He pointed at the girl with blonde hair and twin curly pigtails. It was the same girl they saw in the smithy shop a while ago."What is she doing?" Ryu asked."She's betting." Ferris flexed the numbered placard in her hand. "If you want to bet, just raised your card.""Ha. . ." Ryu wondered what the numbered placard was. He raised his number, and the auctioneer immediately announced his number."Four gold bars from number seven!"Ryu's head snapped at Ferris. "What does it mean?"Ferris suppressed a laugh. "It means that you had to pay four gold bars at the end of the auction if you win and you'll get the item."Ryu's forehead creased. "I don't have money."Ferris snickered behind her fatty hand. "Then you're in big trouble."Ryu wanted to smack Ferris with the pointy corner of his number card when the girl with golden pigtails raised her number."Five gold bars from number twenty-two!"Ferris slumped on her chair. "Welp. That was disappoi

In the royal throne room, laughter and giggles filled the lustful air. The area was covered in hazy euphoria, and it smelled like aphrodisiac and perfumes.King Drake Byron was having his women indulge him in his throne. Women in skimpy clothes that they might as well be naked, serving him with grapes and berries and so much more.In his thirties, the King looked twice his age. Dry skin that stuck with his bones and sickly countenance. He was nothing like the only son of the legendry Draco Byron.Unmindful with his guest or whatever he thought of them, King Drake said to Ferris and Ryu, "I am aware of your circumstances. My daughter has already told me everything."Ferris frowned, and Ryu never left his eyes on Cecily who was at the corner with her head low. Cecily looked pale and out of sleep. Her eyes were puffy and red, and Ryu wanted nothing but to go to her."Regrettably, my father is not here at the moment," Drake continued, and Ferris noted the hostility laced in his voice when

"Make way! Make way!""Get off the track, you bloody vermin!""Potions every one! We have a nice set for all your scavenging needs!"Seashell Port Town was the biggest port town in all of the mortal realm. It was also where the scavenger hunt began. Flocked with adventures, mercenaries, and nobles, the port was bustling as ever as this was the first day of the scavenger hunt.(pic)Overwhelmed by the number of people, Ryu didn't know where to focus. The chaotic scenery, the people haggling, shouting, or the many ships docked in the sea.It was a whole new world to him!"Stay close," Cecily warned and led Ryu and Ferris into an ordinary ship at the far side. There weren't many people in that area, mainly because the ships docked in that port were privately owned.Once they boarded the ship, Lucian greeted them. This time, his hair was no longer orange but blue, and any resemblance to the original Lucian was lost.It was the effect of the Appearance Changing Potions. Their mission this

Mother's Skull's Ship was privately owned by Skull, a pirate who roamed the nightmare seas carrying mercenaries who would try their luck on the scavenger hunt. Mercenaries who couldn't afford their ship or didn't hire by nobles.Aboard, the cold wind glided smoothly across Ryu's face, and he savored the salty breeze. The night sky was darker in the ocean, and the three moons glowed even brighter and bigger than before.This would be his first adventure outside of the Mortal Realm, and the sea was a whole new world to him. He was excited as well as concerned for their future.Before, he never did once think of his future. But now.. . everything was changing. .. He didn't have a clear goal except to protect Cecily and be there for her. And it was the desire of his beast.His human side, however, yearend for something. He couldn't quite put a finger to what exactly.Ferris yawned and rubbed her eyes. They were on the deck, overlooking the ocean."You're sleepy lately," Ryu said, voice la

At the upper deck, Cecily watched Ryu and Ferris's bickering. Without Dozla and Murok beside her, she felt restless. The security she felt when she was young was suddenly stripped from her, and she felt vulnerable.Their death was a constant reminder of how weak she was, and that exact weakness made her realized that she needed Ryu alive because he was the only one who would genuinely protect her when the time camebeing his mate and all."Can't sleep?"Cecily swallowed her groan and pulled her shawl closer to her. She faced Rosa, who was wearing her nightgown like the chilly breeze was nothing but hot air. Though her appearance changed, her voice and confidence didn't change one bit."You too?" Cecily questioned back. In the past, they were closed, but since Rosa developed feeling for Lucian, everything just became complicated between the three of them.Cecily didn't like Lucian like that, but Rosa thought otherwise. Though all girls getting close to Lucian was no exception to her wra