The Phantom Trove’s cruise ship had shops on floors one through five, with guest cabins from the sixth to the twenty-fifth. Anything higher was an observation deck.

At that moment, plenty of people were browsing the shops.

The cart pusher, however, brazenly cut through the shopping levels, heading for the elevators to the residential floors.

Some of the people standing in the shops watched the cart pusher’s retreating figure, a strange, thoughtful look in their eyes.

Just then, a drunk man stumbled out of a bar, staggering toward the cart.

His gait was unsteady and his face was flushed. He reeked of alcohol and looked as if he was about to crash right into it.

But the cart stopped just two paces away. The man’s lunge was blocked by an invisible force, and he was thrown heavily to the ground beside it.

Those who witnessed this trembled, their hearts clenching.

’Was that a coincidence?’

The cart pusher started forward again, moving past the man on the floor and continuing on their way.

Only after the cart was a good distance away did the "drunken" man scramble to his feet, his murky gaze gradually clearing. His body trembled slightly.

’Just now... it was like my body was being controlled.’

A powerful wave of Power had pressed against his Energy Sea Acupoint in a clear warning.

’I was almost crippled.’

Someone who had witnessed the entire exchange slipped into a secluded corner and pulled out their phone.

Terror flashed in their azure eyes.

"Boss, there’s a Martial King on the ship."

The line was silent for a long moment before a hoarse voice finally replied.

"Abort the mission."

***

The cart pusher glanced at the list sitting on the cart, made their way to a specific room, and rang the doorbell.

The door was opened from the inside almost immediately.

Darius Lynch looked at the person outside with eager anticipation. "Are you here to deliver the auction items?"

The cart pusher stiffened for a moment before nodding.

He immediately stepped aside, allowing them to wheel the cart into the room.

"Is the Mechanical Lock still on there?"

The cart pusher looked at him for a moment, then nodded again.

Darius Lynch immediately flashed a charming smile. "Could I just take a peek?"

"Fourth Master..." Elton Morgan quickly tugged his arm. ’This is someone from The Phantom Trove. Your usual charms won’t work on them.’

But Darius Lynch kept his eyes fixed on the cart pusher and even gave a little wink. "Please? Just one peek..."

Elton Morgan was fully prepared to see his Fourth Master get shot down, but to his surprise, the cart pusher actually nodded.

They then lifted the black cloth covering the cart, retrieved a square box from among the numerous auction items, and handed it to him.

Darius Lynch looked like he was about to cry. He carefully opened the box and stared at the exquisitely crafted, twelve-row Mechanical Lock inside.

Beside him, Elton Morgan was so shocked his jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Can I see the schematic?"

The cart pusher nodded again and even personally unrolled the schematic for him.

Darius Lynch stared at it as if he’d discovered a priceless treasure. He studied it for a full half hour before reluctantly returning the schematic.

Then, he turned to look at the man drinking tea on a nearby sofa.

He said plaintively, "Just look at it. Such a masterpiece, and we’re letting some foreigner get it for a steal. You’re such a tightwad. You’ll spend a fortune on your wife, but when it comes to me, you won’t spare a dime..."

The man on the sofa gave an unnatural-sounding cough and took a couple of sips from his teacup.

But Darius Lynch didn’t seem to notice, rambling on, "By the way, where’s Aurora? I haven’t seen her at all. What’s going on with you two? How come she wasn’t sitting with you? You didn’t get into a fight, did you?"

This time it was Alvin Morgan who replied, his tone strange, "She’s very busy right now. Too busy for me."

The cart pusher froze for an instant. They quickly found the two paintings Alvin Morgan had won at the auction and hurriedly pushed the cart out of the room.

After leaving, the cart pusher seemed to let out a sigh of relief, composing themselves as they headed to another floor.

Before they could even knock, the door swung open from the inside.

The person inside, still wearing the robe and mask provided by The Phantom Trove, said flatly, "Just give it to me."

The cart pusher held out a hand, and the person inside quickly handed over a paddle number.

The cart pusher lifted the black cloth, found the same box from before, and handed it over.

"Thanks..."

The person inside carefully took the box, slipped back into the room, and quickly shut the door, giving the cart pusher no chance to peer inside.

Once the cart pusher was gone, the person who had been listening at the door straightened up. They glanced at a wealthy businessman tied up on the sofa, then opened the box. A smile curled their lips. "This really is a rare masterpiece."

"MMPH... MMPH..." The man on the sofa struggled violently, but a dark metal tube was pressed against his forehead.

"You’d better behave! Otherwise... bullets don’t have eyes."

The businessman’s eyes flew wide with terror.

A dead body was already lying on the floor next to him.

Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass came from the balcony doors.

The cart pusher was now standing on the balcony.

The person in the room tensed, immediately firing out onto the balcony.

The silenced weapon made no sound.

Seizing the opportunity as the cart pusher dodged, the person in the room bolted for the door.

The cruise ship was enormous, capable of carrying several thousand people, but between the guests and The Phantom Trove’s staff, there were only about 800 people on board.

Therefore, the chase between the two didn’t cause much of a commotion.

They ran all the way out onto the main deck.

The fugitive finally stopped, turning to face their pursuer.

"Aurora Sinclair, you really are hard to kill," the hoarse voice said abruptly.

"As long as you’re not dead, I wouldn’t dare to die—" The cart pusher slowly removed their mask, revealing a cold, beautiful face. In a flash, she threw a punch at the person standing a short distance away.

With a deafening BOOM, the entire ship seemed to lurch.

Aurora Sinclair herself was forced back two steps.

A grim look entered her eyes.

’This person is a Great Martial King.’

"I’ll be taking this lock... Hahaha..."

The man suddenly vaulted over the railing as if to jump into the sea.

Aurora Sinclair immediately rushed after him—

But he had already vanished, either into the sea below or back into the crowds on the ship.

One thing was for sure, though.

’His speed is a match for mine...’

WHOOOOM—

The ship’s horn suddenly blared, signaling that it was docking.

Looking out, she could see a large crowd gathered on the shore, likely the entourages of the bigwigs on board.

They were all heavily armed and mutually suspicious.

Suddenly, a crushing pressure, like a mountain flash flood, erupted from the top of the ship. A voice, amplified by Power, reached the ears of everyone on board.

"Everyone is to assemble in the auction hall—"

Back in the room, Alvin Morgan shot to his feet and strode out the door.

Although the ship had docked, the gangway hadn’t been lowered. The people on shore grew anxious, making frantic calls to find out what was happening.

Meanwhile, everyone on the ship was being rounded up by personnel from The Phantom Trove.

Even their communication devices were confiscated.

"What in the world is going on?"

"By what right are you taking our phones?"

"Hey—"

But The Phantom Trove’s staff were like different people now, their attitudes cold and uncompromising.

Anyone who didn’t cooperate was immediately bound and taken away.

Once everyone was reassembled in the auction hall, a powerful Power Domain suddenly enveloped the entire space.

It pressed down on them all, making it hard to breathe.

Then, the same cold voice rang out once more:

"There are people from The Shadow Organization on this ship—"