High above the dense forest, branches and leaves overlapped in layer upon layer, their thick shade perfectly concealing the figure in the treetops.
Stanley lay securely hidden in the fork of a thick trunk, his body pressed low. He braced his rifle with one hand, his eye against the scope, its dark lens trained unwaveringly on every movement on the deck below.
A light breeze swept across the deck, fluttering everyone's clothes. Clear daylight illuminated the entire ship, leaving nothing obscured. It was an ideal vantage point for a sniper.
At the center of the deck, Luna stood quietly beside the railing, her thoughts already in turmoil.
She turned her head slightly, as if by chance, and flicked a quick glance toward the treetops out of the corner of her eye.
Through the layers of green leaves, her gaze met the cold line of sight trained directly on her.
She knew perfectly well that Stanley was there.
But now she was caught in a painful dilemma.
Throughout her time here, everyone had treated her with genuine kindness.
Li Xiang was her idol in medicine. She was gentle and considerate toward Luna, always looking out for her.
Li Xiang: Watch me put on a little show.
She wasn't heartless. After just a few days with them, she couldn't bring herself to do something so cruel to people who had treated her so kindly.
But she still had her undercover mission.
Luna stood in the wind, torn back and forth, shaking her head one moment and nodding the next, over and over.
Seeing her like that, Nikki hurried over, her voice gentle and concerned.
"Luna, what's wrong? You look pale. Are you feeling unwell? If you don't feel good, go ask Li Xiang to take a look."
Luna snapped out of it