After killing Red Fuji, Lin Yu selected his reward method from the Hunters' Association and set up a timed message on his phone. After scheduling the message, he took a moment to breathe in the fresh air on the deck. He didn't usually smoke—the Liqun cigarette he'd taken from Heavenly Artisan had nearly choked him to death earlier.

After some time passed, Lin Yu smeared some of Red Fuji's blood on his face, stripped the corpse bare, collected the items that had dropped, then threw the body overboard.

"Plop!"

The splash echoed as Lin Yu transformed into Red Fuji's appearance and donned his clothes. Adjusting his emotions, he put on a panicked expression and rushed back into the cabin.

Inside, three Marauders members were playing cards. When the blood-covered "Red Fuji" burst through the door, they all jumped in shock.

"What happened, Brother Red?" the leader among them asked.

"We're under attack... Heavenly Artisan was injured and fell overboard!" Lin Yu gasped heavily.

The three were stunned. "Who attacked you?"

"It was a Thief," Lin Yu lowered his voice, panting. "He was too fast... I couldn't see clearly..."

"Could it be the Master Thief?!" one of the young men exclaimed in horror.

"Dammit, that bastard never came to negotiate!" another Marauder gritted his teeth.

The female Marauder remained composed. "No matter. From now on, we stick together and get this boat to shore. Whether it's the Master Thief or not, choosing to ambush means they lack confidence in facing us head-on..." Her calm words steadied the other two.

"But Heavenly Artisan is missing—how do we contact the crew?" Lin Yu asked, sweating profusely while feigning pain.

"We never asked for their contact info!"

The captain and crew numbered only two, both stationed on the sightseeing boat's top deck. This meant...

Sticking together wouldn't work—someone had to go upstairs.

The two male Marauders exchanged glances before making a decision. "Brother Red Fuji, you and 'Little Ice' stay here. We'll go inform the captain to dock! Even the Master Thief wouldn't dare kill in front of ordinary people!"

In reality, killing "Players" rarely drew official attention unless evidence was blatant. Some unseen force seemed to make normal people dismiss Player deaths as accidents—which was why Order existed to punish such killings. The law simply didn't care about Players' lives. After all, Players were already dead men walking. This was why Player battles always avoided civilians.

Hearing their plan, Lin Yu still hesitated.

One youth urged, "No time to hesitate, Brother Red... We'll all die if this continues! We can't stay trapped here—we need to regroup with Sister Almond!"

The other nodded. "Right! Little Ice is a Doctor—she can heal you. The two of us are an Enforcer and a Ruffian—we can defend ourselves together."

Reluctantly, Lin Yu agreed. "Fine, but hurry back!"

As they left, the woman nicknamed "Little Ice" approached to treat Lin Yu. "Brother Red, where are you hurt?" The blood covering him made it hard to identify wounds.

Just as she reached out to heal him...

Lin Yu produced a lightweight utility knife with a cute pink casing.

Little Ice stared at it, puzzled. "This is...?"

"A First-Tier [Class Item] from a Thief," Lin Yu said.

"Eh? Brother Red Fuji, aren't you a Musician?"

Then her phone buzzed.

"Vibrate—"

She checked it—a text from Heavenly Artisan. The message was simple:

"Beware! Red Fuji is the Master Thief in disguise!"

Her pupils contracted as she stared at Lin Yu, alarm bells ringing in her mind. "You—"

Lin Yu grinned. "Oops. Busted."

A lighthearted tone, then—

Swish!

Lin Yu marveled at the [Class Item·Swift Blade]-enhanced tool in his hand. Big faction members were convenient—they knew all about item effects without needing explanations, making deception effortless.

A crimson line bloomed across Little Ice's throat. Clutching her neck, she activated her Doctor abilities while gasping, "H-help... me..." She staggered toward the cabin door, but...

It was futile.

Lin Yu pursued with the utility knife.

Then—

"Schlick!"

This time, the blade entered her neck laterally, severing an artery. The first cut hadn't been fatal—just bait to draw out her healing. This was the killing blow.

Confirming her death, Lin Yu exited the cabin and hurried upstairs, encountering the two descending Marauders.

They blinked at him. "Brother Red Fuji? Why are you here?"

Lin Yu feigned relief. "Little Ice got worried when you didn't return. She healed me and sent me to check on you. Any progress?"

"The captain agreed to dock," one said.

Just then, all three heard it—

"H-help... me..."

A faint, ghostly cry from the cabin's direction.

"Oh no—that's Little Ice!" The Ruffian paled and sprinted toward the sound.

"Damn it! How'd she get to the deck so fast?" Lin Yu said regretfully, following.

They arrived to find Little Ice in a pool of blood. The Ruffian's devastation matched Lin Yu's expectations—he'd noticed the man's fondness for her.

"N-no... no..."

Trembling, the Ruffian lifted her body and discovered the phone clutched in her hand.

Or more accurately...

The phone Lin Yu had planted there.

What mattered was the Ruffian seeing the message. His head snapped up to meet Lin Yu's smile—and the glinting utility knife in his hand.

The vanished "belief" returned!

And this time, as the Ruffian shouted—

"Look out—"

The Enforcer's throat was pierced from behind by Lin Yu.