A man with an extrely pale complexion staggered into the grand halls of the Dragon Boat. His steps were light but unsteady, as though the weight of his own body pressed too heavily on him. On the fifth floor, he reached a large section dedicated entirely to bounties. The air here was heavy with tension; walls and virtual boards were lined with posters screening each bearing the face of a wanted figure. The lowest amount among them was fifty thousand Lydia— a fortune to most.
Checking the board itself was free, or so it seed. In truth, nothing in the Dragon Boat ca without a price. One had to pay rely to board, and then pay again to climb to this floor. Information was the true currency here, and only the wealthy or the desperate dared tread these halls.
The man’s eyes scanned the posters. He recorded several nas and faces with a calm efficiency, though his body trembled slightly. Without wasting ti, he turned and left the boardroom. The mont he stepped outside, he doubled over. A wet, harsh cough wracked his chest, and blood sprayed onto the polished floor— only it wasn’t ordinary blood.
Dark crimson fragnts, strange and jagged, fell from his mouth and writhed faintly upon hitting the ground, as though they were alive. Their grotesque squirming would have unsettled any onlooker, but the man rely ignored them and walked away with cold indifference.
Almost imdiately, another figure appeared and ran towards him. His gaze was on the blood for a mont and then he said , "Jayce... I saw her," he muttered to him "The White rchant Group’s Vice Captain."
---
anwhile, in another part of the Dragon Boat, Ling Tian and Lily entered the Information Centre. The place was a labyrinth of counters, each designed like tiny private boxes. It was said that any secret in the world could be purchased here— if one had enough money.
They chose one and stepped inside. The booth was small, only about five by five ters. A soft sofa sat to the side, while three sturdy chairs faced a sleek table. Across from them sat the attendant: an octopus fishman with skin the color of deep ink. His eight limbs shifted lazily, yet his eyes glead with sharp intelligence.
"What information do you want?" the fishman asked in a gravelly voice. "If you cannot say it aloud, you may transmit it directly into the system through your divine sense."
Lily wasted no ti. "I want information about a woman known as the Manhunter —Isadora Nightkiss."
The fishman tapped swiftly on a floating, translucent keyboard. Symbols flared across the screen in front of him, though from Ling Tian and Lily’s side, the display remained hidden. After several seconds, he looked up.
"We can transfer a partial dossier right away," he said. "But if you want the complete information... the price is three million Lydia."
Without hesitation, Lily’s lips curved into a smile. "Cheap." She placed the card on the table.
Ling Tian’s jaw nearly dropped. Cheap? Three million Lydia?! That was more than most people earned in a year!
Monts later, Lily’s eyes glead as she received the data. "Hmm... you have far more than I expected. This will be useful."
Lily decided to buy more information on other things and people.
Realizing she wasn’t done shopping, Ling Tian stood up and leaned back on the sofa on the side with a sigh, his thoughts swirling.
Damn... rich girl...
---
Ling Tian and Lily stepped out of the information center onto the polished corridor of the Dragon Boat’s fifth floor. The marble-tiled walkway was wide, its edges lined with glowing spirit-lamps that painted everything in a warm golden hue.
The fifth floor was quieter than the bustling decks below, reserved for private etings, high-end rchants, and cultivators of considerable influence. The faint murmur of conversations carried from nearby chambers, but here, every step echoed clearly, reminding Ling Tian of the weight of this place.
"What is the information you wanted to know?" Lily asked. She even told him that she will pay for him. But Ling Tian refused.
As they walked, Ling Tian folded his arms. "Actually There is a potion called Life Potion.," he began, lowering his voice,
Lily’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Oh that, from The White rchant Group, hmm? You don’t need to look too far— I know them personally."
Ling Tian stopped mid-step, blinking in surprise. "You know them?"
"Of course I do," Lily replied, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "They’re one of the new rchant groups in this region but they are pretty famous in south. If you’re after rare potions, they’re the ones who’ll have it. But..." She let the word hang, her tone playful.
"But?" Ling Tian pressed, his brow furrowed.
"The location of their next auction hasn’t been decided yet," she said casually, gazing at the shimring wall lanterns as though the uncertainty didn’t matter. "But I can guarantee you a chance to get that potion. With a discount, even."
Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. "A discount? You don’t strike as soone who does things out of kindness. What do you want in return?"
Lily chuckled, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. "Smart boy. Yes, you’ll have to help with sothing. Nothing too dangerous, at least not for soone like you."
His lips twitched. "You make it sound easy."
Before Lily could respond, footsteps echoed down the corridor. From the opposite side, two figures erged. The first was a pale man with sharp features, his smile refined yet slightly unsettling, as though he had practiced it too many tis in front of a mirror. He coughed. But this ti he didn’t cough blood.
Beside him walked a tall man with dark skin, a trimd beard, and a blue cap pulled low over his brow. The contrast between the two made them stand out even more amidst the otherwise elegant atmosphere of the fifth floor.
The pale man stopped a few steps away and inclined his head toward Lily. "Miss Lily Gos, what an honor it is to finally et you. May I borrow a mont of your ti?" His tone was smooth, respectful, but there was sothing beneath his eyes—a flicker of intent not easily hidden.
Lily’s smirk never faded. "Oh? And who might you be?"
A few seconds later, Ling Tian found himself standing with the dark-skinned man, a silent wall of muscle who seed disinterested in conversation. anwhile, Lily and the pale man stepped further down the corridor, their voices lowered as they spoke privately.
Ling Tian shifted his weight, scanning his surroundings.
Here’s a more fleshed-out version, expanded smoothly to about 500 words while keeping the tension, Lily’s personality, and Jayce’s grave warning intact:
---
"We know who you are," the young man said, stepping forward with an air of confidence. His eyes locked on Lily as if weighing her reaction. "You’re from the White rchant Group, aren’t you? I’ve been keeping an eye on your movents. My na is Jayce, a mber of the Pirate Hunters Association. Our duty is simple— we track down, expose, and eliminate pirates wherever they lurk." He straightened his posture, his tone heavy with pride.
For a mont he allowed the weight of his words to hang between them before continuing. "Word has spread quickly about what you and your crew did to the Hunter Pirates. Taking them down is no small feat. For that, I’ll extend my congratulations." His expression shifted then, the faintest hint of concern darkening his voice. "But don’t think for a second that it’s over. That battle was only the beginning. The sea has ears everywhere, and the na of your ship has already stirred up dangerous waters. The Hunter Pirates, their reputation is on stake."
Lily tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint smile that never reached her eyes. "Oh? Dangerous waters are the only kind worth sailing. So, what’s the problem this ti?"
Jayce’s jaw tightened. Clearly, he had expected sothing more cautious. Instead, her calmness made him press harder. "One of our spies risked his life to bring us new intelligence. According to him, the Hunter Pirates are preparing to strike back. But this ti, they aren’t alone. They’re seeking an alliance with another group to crush your ship entirely."
Lily brushed a strand of hair away from her face, her deanor as casual as if he were telling her about the weather. "And which unfortunate band of sea rats have they decided to cling to this ti?" she asked, her tone laced with mild amusent.
Jayce’s voice dropped, as though uttering the na carried a curse of its own. He drew in a deep breath and spoke with deliberate weight. "The Phantom Pirates."
The silence that followed was thick, expectant.
"Rumour says they even tad the Dragon Princess. Their ship is like a moving Abyss. There is not even a single Living creature on that ship."
Jayce’s eyes studied Lily closely, prepared for her to flinch, for her confidence to crack even slightly.
But instead, Lily blinked, tilted her head the other way, and let out a small, puzzled sound.
"Huh?"
The simple word left Jayce montarily stunned.
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