The northern sea stretched endlessly beneath a sky of silver clouds.
Cold winds swept across the waves.
Dark waters rose and fell rhythmically, carrying countless secrets beneath their depths.
The ocean was ancient.
Older than kingdoms.
Older than empires.
Older than most recorded histories.
And now.
For the first time in generations.
Hundreds of ships were leaving Frostbound Coast.
Not for trade.
Not for war.
For exploration.
For opportunity.
For dreams.
For treasure.
For glory.
Or simply because they wished to see what existed beyond the horizon.
Among those countless ships.
One medium-sized exploration vessel slowly cut through the waves.
The ship's name was Sea Wanderer.
Its wooden hull creaked softly.
Its enchanted sails shimmered faintly beneath sunlight.
Its deck remained crowded with explorers from different backgrounds.
Merchants.
Adventurers.
Former sailors.
Treasure hunters.
Mercenaries.
Scholars.
Dreamers.
And among them.
A certain Count sat quietly near the ship's railing.
Kel Rosenfeld.
Or rather.
Not Kel Rosenfeld.
Because nobody on this ship knew that name.
Today.
He was simply another explorer.
A nameless traveler.
His silver hair was hidden beneath a dark hood.
His noble clothing had been replaced by ordinary adventurer attire.
A simple sword rested beside him.
Nothing about him suggested nobility.
Nothing about him suggested power.
Nothing about him suggested he ruled one of the fastest-growing territories in the Empire.
Instead.
He simply sat there.
Watching.
Observing.
Studying.
The ocean.
His silver eyes reflected the endless sea.
For someone who spent most of his life trapped inside rooms.
Beds.
Libraries.
Administrative offices.
The ocean fascinated him.
The unpredictability.
The scale.
The freedom.
It felt alive.
"Interesting."
The thought surfaced naturally.
Waves crashed against the ship.
Seagulls flew overhead.
Sailors shouted instructions.
The vessel continued moving forward.
Around him.
People discussed treasure.
Nothing else.
"Just imagine it!"
A young adventurer exclaimed.
"There must be ancient ruins somewhere."
His companion nodded excitedly.
"Ancient civilizations."
Another joined.
"Lost treasures."
Another.
"Monster cores."
Another.
"Rare resources."
Another.
"We're all going to become rich."
The group erupted into excited laughter.
Kel listened quietly.
Not judging.
Simply observing.
The ocean represented possibilities.
Some people saw gold.
Others saw adventure.
Others saw freedom.
Everyone viewed the same horizon differently.
That interested him.
Then.
A shadow appeared beside him.
Kel looked up.
A woman stood nearby.
Young.
Confident.
A leather coat covered her figure.
A curved sword hung at her waist.
Her dark hair danced in the ocean wind.
Most importantly.
She carried herself like someone used to command.
An expedition leader perhaps.
The woman folded her arms.
Then looked at him.
"You've been sitting here alone for hours."
Kel blinked.
"Correct."
The woman stared.
"...That's your response?"
Kel considered.
Then nodded.
"It seemed accurate."
The woman rubbed her forehead.
Already regretting this conversation.
Still.
She continued.
"I was wondering if you already joined an exploration team."
Kel shook his head.
"No."
The woman's eyes brightened slightly.
Useful.
Potentially useful.
Good.
Then she asked.
"What's your name?"
The question was simple.
Normal.
Reasonable.
Unfortunately.
The person receiving the question was Kel.
Which immediately complicated things.
The Count looked toward her.
Then calmly replied.
"My name?"
The woman waited.
Then.
Kel smiled.
A small smile.
The kind of smile that usually indicated trouble.
"Sorry, dear."
The woman blinked.
"But I don't tell just anyone my name."
Silence.
The wind blew.
A sail flapped.
Several nearby adventurers looked over.
The woman stared.
Then slowly pointed at herself.
"What?"
Kel continued.
"However."
Another.
"If you offer me a drink."
Another.
"I might tell you my nickname."
Absolute silence.
The woman's eye twitched.
Nearby sailors immediately became interested.
One sailor whispered.
"He's brave."
Another whispered back.
"Or stupid."
A third.
"Possibly both."
The woman folded her arms tighter.
"Oh?"
Kel nodded.
The woman laughed.
Not happily.
The dangerous kind of laugh.
"Do you think I'm interested in knowing you?"
Kel answered immediately.
"No."
The woman paused.
"...What?"
Kel shrugged.
"You asked because I was alone."
Another.
"You probably wanted to recruit me."
Another.
"You evaluated me."
Another.
"You approached."
Another.
"Then asked my name."
Another.
"So naturally."
Kel smiled.
"You wanted something."
Silence.
The woman stared.
Then.
To her horror.
She realized he was right.
Exactly right.
Which somehow annoyed her more.
"You know."
She pointed at him.
"You're extremely full of yourself."
Kel nodded.
"That is possible."
The woman nearly choked.
Because arguing with him felt impossible.
Every answer sounded reasonable.
Yet somehow irritating.
After several moments.
She sighed.
Then spoke.
"Fine."
Kel waited.
The woman pointed toward him.
"Show me your skills."
Another.
"Then maybe I'll buy you that drink."
Kel immediately shook his head.
"No."
The woman froze.
"No?"
"No."
The woman stared.
Then slowly asked.
"Why?"
Kel looked genuinely confused.
"Because."
Another.
"You haven't shown me your skills."
The woman opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Closed it again.
Nearby adventurers were struggling not to laugh.
Kel continued calmly.
"You ask me to demonstrate."
Another.
"But refuse to demonstrate yourself."
Another.
"That seems unfair."
The woman stared.
Then laughed.
A genuine laugh this time.
Because somehow.
The ridiculous logic made sense.
"Fine."
She extended her hand.
"My nickname is Raven."
Kel nodded.
Reasonable.
Raven continued.
"I lead one of the exploration groups aboard this ship."
Another.
"I can fight."
Another.
"I can navigate."
Another.
"I can survive."
Then she smirked.
"Your turn."
Kel considered.
Then stood.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Walking toward her.
The woman watched curiously.
Everyone nearby watched curiously.
Kel stopped directly before her.
Then.
Without warning.
Reached toward her hair.
The woman froze.
A beautiful silver hairpin rested there.
Before anyone could react.
Kel removed it.
Then casually tossed it into the ocean.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The ship froze.
The woman froze.
The sailors froze.
Even the ocean seemed confused.
Several moments passed.
Then Raven slowly turned toward him.
Very.
Very.
Very slowly.
The kind of movement predators made before attacking.
Her smile disappeared.
Completely.
"Did."
Another.
"You."
Another.
"Just throw."
Another.
"My hairpin."
Another.
"Into the ocean?"
Kel nodded.
"Yes."
The woman looked ready to commit murder.
Several adventurers quietly stepped backward.
Creating distance.
A wise decision.
Raven took a deep breath.
Then another.
Then another.
Attempting self-control.
"I thought."
Another.
"I was about to see something interesting."
Another.
"But apparently."
Another.
"You just wasted my hairpin."
Kel smiled.
The smile bothered her immediately.
Because it wasn't a guilty smile.
It was the smile of someone waiting.
Watching.
Expecting.
Then.
A shout erupted from the opposite side of the ship.
"LOOK!"
Everyone turned.
A sailor pointed toward the water.
"What happened?"
Another sailor rushed over.
Then froze.
A massive shark floated atop the waves.
Dead.
Completely dead.
The creature was enormous.
Nearly six meters long.
Its skull had been pierced clean through.
By something incredibly small.
Something metallic.
Something silver.
Another sailor leaned forward.
Then blinked.
"What is that?"
The first sailor stared.
Then shouted.
"A hairpin!"
Silence.
Everyone froze.
The wind stopped.
The ocean stopped.
Time itself stopped.
A silver hairpin protruded from the shark's skull.
Perfectly embedded.
The beast had died instantly.
No struggle.
No resistance.
Just death.
The realization spread slowly.
Very slowly.
Then.
Every eye turned toward Kel.
The Count stood calmly.
Hands behind his back.
As if nothing unusual had happened.
Raven stared.
Then stared harder.
Then looked toward the shark.
Then back toward Kel.
Then toward the shark again.
Several moments passed.
Finally.
She asked quietly.
"...How?"
Kel smiled.
Then bowed slightly.
Like a stage performer concluding a show.
"The insignificant person before you."
Another.
"Is called Nameless."
Silence.
The ocean wind returned.
The sails moved again.
Yet nobody spoke.
Because everyone remained busy processing what they had just witnessed.
A hairpin.
A single hairpin.
Thrown casually.
Across an impossible distance.
Straight through a shark's skull.
Without anyone noticing.
Without anyone sensing mana.
Without anyone sensing aura.
Nothing.
Just a casual motion.
And death.
Raven looked toward him.
For the first time.
Truly looked.
Not at an odd traveler.
Not at a potential recruit.
But at something else.
Something difficult to define.
Then.
Very slowly.
A smile appeared.
"Fine."
Kel tilted his head.
"What?"
The woman folded her arms.
Then laughed.
"I'll buy you that drink."
The Count smiled.
Because a deal was a deal.
And somewhere beneath the endless northern sky.
The ship continued sailing toward unknown horizons.
Carrying treasure hunters.
Dreamers.
Explorers.
And one nameless Count pretending to be an ordinary adventurer.
A deception that would almost certainly not remain hidden for very long.