Sunlight filtered through the enormous mangrove canopy of the Sabaody Archipelago, scattering patches of light and shadow across the ground.
Bubbles rose from the roots and drifted through the air, refracting rainbow-colored light.
Boer hovered in midair and gently tapped the tip of Carina's nose.
"Still, I've got some very bad news for you, little fox."
Carina blinked. Her pale blue fox eyes held no worry, only boundless curiosity.
"Oh!" Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of mischief. "Is there anything that can stump you, Boer?"
Boer rubbed his chin, a wicked grin curling his lips.
"I don't make a habit of bringing money when I go out." He paused, then added thoughtfully, "I wonder if my face will cover the bill on the Sabaody Archipelago..."
Carina froze for a moment, then couldn't help laughing.
"By the way, little fox, have you ever done anything bad?" Boer asked, changing the subject.
"Ah! Why bring that up all of a sudden..."
Her voice became hesitant, and her gaze began to wander.
For a girl at the bottom of society like her-especially a pretty one-deception and lies were survival skills, as well as camouflage.
Theft, fraud, disguise-these were all skills she had needed to learn from childhood.
Now that Boer had suddenly brought up "doing bad things," she instinctively felt a little guilty.
Watching her stammer, Boer's smile deepened.
"Let's go." His voice was lazy, with a hint of amusement. "I'll take you to 'withdraw some money.'"
He raised his hand and pointed somewhere below.
"To the so-called God's Forbidden Zone-areas 1 through 10 of the Sabaody Archipelago, the Celestial Dragons' exclusive territory."
Carina followed his finger with her gaze.
There, a gigantic transparent bubble enveloped the entire area, cutting that stretch of land off from the outside world.