'How could I have overlooked that the Curse User might have been involved in the Treasure Lake incident a century and a half ago?' Ace was furious with himself for the oversight. Janice and Delores's reactions confirmed that Duke Lambert III was a major player in the 'World of Curses.' To cause such distress to a royal like Janice over a mere lost ring suggested that the Duke's house was more powerful than hers, or perhaps there was more to the story—something she didn't feel comfortable sharing with Mandy, a mortal.
In hindsight, however, this turned out to be the best possible outcome. Had Ace retained the ring and attempted to sell it elsewhere, the buyers might not have been as benevolent as Janice and Delores. Not only did they inform him of the ring's origins and caution him against any intentions about selling or keeping it, but they also refrained from coveting it themselves. Instead, they actively assisted him in ridding himself of the troublesome find and securing a substantial finder's fee of $10 million. Ace couldn't help but feel fortunate.
"Hey!" Mandy protested suddenly, snatching the ring away as she noticed Janice reaching out to stop her from slipping it on. The latter didn't give up, "Mandy, this is serious." Janice explained, "Rumor has it that this ring is cursed. Only Duke Lambert's daughter is supposed to wear it."
Listening to Janice, Ace wordlessly grabbed the ring from Mandy's grasp and hurled it to the ground. Mandy and the others were stunned. "What was that for?" Mandy demanded, bewildered by his actions.
"Didn't you hear? The ring is cursed," Ace replied, then added with an exaggerated tone, "We should visit a priest later, just to be safe." He knew full well that anyone from the 'World of Curses' would never seek a priest for help.
"Ace, do you believe in curses?" Delores asked, picking up the ring and dusting it off.
"I believe in a higher power," Ace replied, his voice filled with conviction. "If it can punish the wicked, it can certainly curse an object." A zealot couldn't have said it better. He had long since decided to use superstition and religion as a cover to help his family with matters involving the 'World of Curses.'
Still, he couldn't help but wonder how Dame Wasp and even Emi had overlooked the ring's curse. He also recalled that Dame Wasp hadn't mentioned the diamond's rare, vivid yellow color. This meant her initial valuation of the diamond ring was significantly underestimated; its true worth was likely in the tens of millions.
Knowing that Dame Wasp's cybernetic imaging looked more like an ultrasound, Ace understood how she might have missed the diamond's specific color. However, the fact that both she and Emi had failed to detect the curse baffled him. He yearned to ask them through the status screen but managed to restrain himself.
"Wow, Ace, I didn't think you were so superstitious," Mandy said in surprise, recalling the time he'd ogled the town's nun with a rather tempting figure and cused, 'Damn!'
"Superstitious or not, it's best to stay clear of the unknown," Janice advised her friend. Mandy was still foolishly trying to put on the ring, ignoring the warnings. If not for Ace's quick intervention, Delores, standing farther away, would have been forced to act, revealing her superhuman speed.
"You guys go inside and talk," Delores said, her eyes narrowing as she focused on a particular cloud in the sunny sky. Though her voice was soft, it carried a weight that made the air feel heavy.
Ace sensed a surge in Delores's cursed energy—more intense and intimidating than before. His eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes widened slightly at the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Without the cursed tool she used to conceal her power, a mortal like Mandy would have been rendered unconscious by its sheer force.
"I'll hold onto the ring for now," Delores said firmly, noticing Mandy's gaze fixed on the ring in her hand. Then, without another word, she turned abruptly and jogged toward the woods with swift, purposeful strides.
"It's almost noon. How long does she plan to jog?" Mandy muttered, but more puzzled by Janice and Delores's exaggerated concern over the ring. She rolled her eyes, the annoyance and confusion clear on her face.
"Let's head inside first," Janice urged, her expression grave. She knew the true reason behind Delores's sudden departure.
As they walked to the villa, Ace glanced toward the woods where Delores had vanished. A sudden movement caught his eye. Something shot into the sky at incredible speed, too fast for him to register even a blur—only a trail of wind in its wake. He blinked, wondering if it had something to do with Delores.
In the woods, Delores's expression hardened. Her steps grew heavier, and her eyes, usually indifferent, now burned with fierce intensity. A low, rumbling hum echoed through the trees and the earth itself as a titanium-gray surfboard slowly emerged from the forest floor beneath her feet. It rose with a surge of power, lifting Delores into the air and vanishing into the clouds in a fraction of a second, leaving only a trail of wind behind.
Soon, the titanium-gray surfboard slowed to a halt, bringing Delores face-to-face with a figure standing on a speeding, cushion-shaped cloud. The man, his expression startled, yelped, "Sky Slayer!" as his cloud came to an abrupt stop a few yards away.
"Seriously? I'm tired of that nickname," Delores complained, rolling her eyes. "Can't you people come up with something more creative and flattering? Like Sky Surfer or even Sky Succubus? Blame me for expecting you guys to suddenly develop some naming sense."
"You're too late, Sky Slayer. I've already reported it. The world knows the princess was here," the Cloud Voyeur boasted. He had resigned himself to his fate the moment he saw Sky Walker in his path.
Delores was an Ocean-tier Cursemaster, capable of killing and evading even Sky-tier Cursemasters. Catching and killing him, an Earth-tier Cursemaster and spy, was a trivial task for her. If not for the shock of learning the ring's true origin, which momentarily muddled his thoughts, Delores would never have had the opportunity to find him.
Delores's eyes darkened, a dangerous glint flashing in them. "For trespassing on McSuile territory, by the power vested in me by the president, I, Delores McSuile, sentence you to death. Any last words?" Her voice was cold and menacing.
Listening to Delores righteously sentencing him to death over trespassing instead of imprisoning him, the Cloud Voyeur's eyes widened in shock before he burst into a maniacal laugh. "Fuck you and your president! Hahaha! He will come! He will come for her! Just like last time, your McSuile family will do nothing but watch as he turns everything upside down for her!" he yelled losing all reason.
Delores sighed and raised her right hand. A pulse of cursed energy shot forward, piercing the Cloud Voyeur's chest. His body disintegrated into cursed energy, dispersing into the surroundings, leaving behind only a small white cushion that began to free-fall toward the Earth. Catching it, Delores muttered, "We're not alone this time," as she prepared to head back.