On Academy Island, deep in the forest, beneath a moonless, windy night—perfect weather for getting things done.
The Black Scorpions huddled together as they made their way through the woods, weaving between bushes and tall grass.
"Why did they have to build this school on an island, anyway?"
Qik kept looking around as he walked, unable to stop himself from muttering under his breath.
"This place feels so creepy."
Mina shot him a disdainful glance. "You're a member of the Black Scorpion Thief Gang, yet you're this scared? You're embarrassing the gang."
Cliff adjusted his glasses, narrowed his eyes, and said to Mina, "Mina, there's a snake by your foot."
Mina's face drained of color, and she practically leaped away on reflex. "Aaaah!"
Qik looked displeased. "You're a spirit, and you're still that scared of snakes? You're no braver than I am."
Mina: "You're so annoying!"
The large Gog rubbed his stomach, his eyes looking as though his mind had long since wandered elsewhere. "I want food."
At last, Zallug, the Big Brother, stepped forward and turned around impatiently. "Listen, we're professionals! Can you all act like it?
The boss has more and more powerful people under him now. If we keep acting this amateurish, there won't be any place for us before long!"
The noisy thieves immediately fell silent.
Yeah. That really did sound like a problem.
In truth, they had already begun feeling more and more pressure. The level of Kira's spirits kept rising, and there were more and more heavyweight players. Caught in the middle, they often felt like nothing more than small fry.
"Wait."
Cliff suddenly spoke.
Zallug frowned impatiently. "What now? I already said—"
"No, Boss. I think I found something." A cold glint reflected off Cliff's lenses. "There's someone else's presence."
The thieves immediately