Night blanketed the hills in heavy darkness, the only light coming from a lonely bonfire flickering at the foot of a slope. Two thieves—one tall and gaunt, the other short and wiry—sat nearby, keeping half-hearted watch over the quiet valley below.
The shorter thief yawned and poked the fire with a stick. "The boss is furious this time," he muttered. "Can't blame him, though. He didn't even want to chase those people, and now we find out we were played by some backwoods campers."
The tall thief shot him a warning glance, his voice low and sharp. "Careful what you say. The last guy who ran his mouth lost three teeth."
He looked down the hill toward the distant glow of their comrades' campfire. "Still… you're right. Two of our pathfinders died because of that mess. The captain said they were gutted before they even knew what hit them."
The shorter one winced. "Good thing the tracker captain was with them. If he hadn't smelled the trail and figured out it was days old, we'd still be chasing ghosts out there."
"Yeah." The tall one sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm just hoping the boss gives us a decent share when we get back. I'm sick of eating jerky and drinking muddy water."
He paused, frowning. "Wait. You see that?"
The short thief followed his gaze, standing on his toes to see over the grass. "Huh? There's light over there!" He pointed toward a faint, flickering glow in the distance—pale green, glimmering like fireflies.
The tall thief's expression darkened immediately. "Don't look. And for the gods' sake, don't go looking."
"Why not?" the short one asked, still squinting. "Could be travelers. We could make some easy coin."
The tall man snorted. "You want to die, be my guest. The beasts that roam at night are smarter than half our crew. Some of them use light to lure idiots like you straight into their mouths."
The short thief's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"You'll see. Just wait a moment."
They watched in silence. Within seconds, the eerie light flickered once and vanished, swallowed by the darkness.
"See?" the tall one said with a grim smile. "If we'd gone closer, we'd be the ones disappearing."
The short thief shuddered. "Right. Got it. No more curiosity. Ever."
The two fell silent, listening to the crackle of the fire and the distant howl of something wild moving through the forest. The night stretched long and heavy around them.
---
By dawn, the thieves were already on the march.
The Bloodbeard Gang—five hundred strong—moved through the fog-shrouded valley like a swarm of shadows. Tension hung thick in the air. Their leader, the infamous Bloodbeard himself, had already flown into a rage multiple times that morning, cutting down anyone foolish enough to get in his way.
Even his top captains—the Night Jackal and the Tracker—kept their distance, speaking only when spoken to.
By dusk, they reached the outer edge of their valley stronghold. There, a detachment of about two hundred men waited, led by a grim-faced man known as Bloodknife—Bloodbeard's only son.
The moment the boss saw them, his expression turned black. "Why are you out here?" His hand dropped to the hilt of his massive curved blade. "Who's guarding the base?!"
Bloodknife paled. He bowed quickly, his voice trembling. "F-Father… the nursery room is gone."
For a moment, Bloodbeard didn't move. Then his eyes bulged, and his face twisted with fury. "What did you just say?"
Bloodknife swallowed hard. "Someone broke in last night. A thief. They stole… everything."
"Where's the crystal fish?" Bloodbeard's roar shook the valley.
Bloodknife's shoulders hunched. "It's gone too."
Before he could say another word, Bloodbeard grabbed him by the collar, spittle flying as he bellowed into his face. "Do you have any idea what you've lost, you worthless brat?!"
"Only… only some water and dried meat are left," Bloodknife stammered.
The slap came like thunder.
CRACK!
Bloodknife's head snapped sideways as his father's massive hand struck him, sending him sprawling several meters across the dirt. He hit the ground hard, blood trickling from his nose.
The camp fell utterly silent.
Everyone there knew the truth: the crystal fish wasn't just a rare item—it was the very core of the Bloodbeard Gang's power. It was the reason his thieves obeyed him, the resource that kept their strange rituals and weapons functioning. Without it, the gang would soon fracture and collapse.
If Bloodknife hadn't been his only son, Bloodbeard would have gutted him where he lay.
"Get out of my sight!" Bloodbeard roared. He waved off the surrounding men, leaving only his four elite captains—and Bloodknife, who clutched his swollen face and dared not move.
The boss didn't even step inside the valley. He dropped heavily onto a rock beside the road, glaring at them with eyes like burning coals.
"Talk," he growled. "Tell me exactly what happened."
Bloodknife bowed low, his voice muffled and shaky. "The night before last, someone climbed the back wall of the nursery hill. They blocked the door from inside and took everything. When we forced it open the next morning, they were already gone. We searched the entire camp, but found no one."
Bloodbeard's knuckles whitened as he gripped his blade. "You idiot! Someone skilled enough to climb our hill would never sit around waiting for you to find them!"
Cunning Fox, one of the four captains, stepped forward carefully. "Boss, yelling won't bring the goods back. What matters now is finding whoever did this."
The Tracker Captain nodded. "Agreed. They couldn't have gotten far. If we move fast, I can follow their scent."
The others nodded hesitantly, though all knew the truth: the thieves had already been gone two full days. Catching them now would be next to impossible. But none dared say it aloud.
Bloodbeard inhaled through his nose, forcing down the rising rage. "Fine. What did they leave behind?"
Bloodknife fumbled in his coat and produced a bundle of thin, white ropes—semi-transparent and faintly scented. "Just these. They were scattered near the door."
Bloodbeard snatched them up and tossed them to the Tracker. "You. Figure it out."
"Yes, boss."
The Tracker knelt, bringing the ropes to his nose. He sniffed once, twice, then froze. His brow furrowed in surprise. "Boss… this scent—it's the same one I picked up near that small camp a few days ago."
Bloodbeard's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You mean the camp that lured us away?"
"Yes." The Tracker's tone was firm. "It's the same person. No mistake."
Bloodbeard's lip curled into a grin, exposing yellowed teeth. "So… someone planned this from the start."
He rose to his feet, voice dropping to a gravelly snarl. "Find them. I want the bastard alive. I'll carve his name into his own bones."
The Tracker bowed low. "Understood."
He raised the rope again, taking deep, deliberate breaths, tracing invisible trails in the air.
"There's more rope in the camp," Bloodknife offered quickly. "I'll have it brought here."
Moments later, more lengths of the strange white cord were laid before the Tracker. He bent over them, inhaling again—and this time, his face changed.
Bloodbeard caught it immediately. "Speak."
"Boss…" the Tracker hesitated, his expression grim. "There are three scents here. One matches the thief we already know. The second is faint—possibly a woman. But the third…" He paused, looking uneasy. "The third isn't human. It's strong—too strong. It smells like… something wild. Something dangerous."
Bloodbeard growled, his patience at its limit. "I don't care what it is. Can you track it or not?"
The Tracker straightened, confidence returning to his voice. "Yes. The scent's still fresh enough. As long as it's less than three days old, I can find them."
Bloodbeard's grin returned, cruel and full of malice. "Good. Then we move now."
He turned to his men, shouting loud enough to shake the trees. "Bring out all the water and meat! Eat your fill—you'll need your strength!"
The thieves scrambled to obey.
"We march through the night!" Bloodbeard roared. "We hunt until dawn if we have to! I don't care if half of you die on the road—whoever stole from me won't see another sunrise!"
The camp erupted into motion. Men shouted, weapons clanged, and fires blazed higher as supplies were dragged from carts. The smell of roasted meat filled the air, mixed with the sharp tang of fear.
Bloodknife stood to the side, still clutching his bruised cheek, watching as his father's madness took full hold. The old man's eyes burned brighter than the flames, his red beard trembling as he barked orders.
He wasn't just angry—he was obsessed.
Everyone knew that without the crystal fish, the Bloodbeard Gang's days were numbered. The only way to keep their leader's wrath from turning inward… was to bring back what was stolen.
Even if it meant marching to their deaths.
....
📢 Dear Readers! ✨
Thank you all so much for reading and supporting my novel! Your comments, reviews, and encouragement mean the world to me. Every time I see your feedback, it truly motivates me to write more and improve with each chapter. 💪
If you've been enjoying the story, I'd really appreciate it if you could vote with Power Stones and send a Golden Ticket this week! 🌟
Your votes help the novel reach more readers and keep it climbing the rankings — and every single vote or ticket gives me a huge boost of motivation to keep updating daily. ❤️
Even one Power Stone or a single Golden Ticket can make a big difference! If you're enjoying the characters, the plot twists, or just want to support the author, this is the best way to show it. 🙏
Let's grow this novel together and make it shine brighter than ever!
Thank you for being part of this journey — your support means everything!
📢 Dear Readers! ✨
Thank you all so much for reading and supporting my novel! Your comments, reviews, and encouragement mean the world to me. Every time I see your feedback, it truly motivates me to write more and improve with each chapter. 💪
If you've been enjoying the story, I'd really appreciate it if you could vote with Power Stones and send a Golden Ticket this week! 🌟
Your votes help the novel reach more readers and keep it climbing the rankings — and every single vote or ticket gives me a huge boost of motivation to keep updating daily. ❤️
Even one Power Stone or a single Golden Ticket can make a big difference! If you're enjoying the characters, the plot twists, or just want to support the author, this is the best way to show it. 🙏
Let's grow this novel together and make it shine brighter than ever!
Thank you for being part of this journey — your support means everything! 💫