The next morning, I woke up to the gentle chatter of the maids as they helped me get dressed. They were efficient and quick, their hands moving deftly as they tied my laces and fastened my cloak.

  As they worked, their eyes kept drifting to the strange-looking object on the golden table beside my bed. The Spineless Brain seemed to fascinate them, and I could sense their curiosity.

  "What's that thing, Your Highness?" one of the maids asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  I turned to her, my expression stern. "That's none of your concern," I said firmly. "It's a personal item, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention it to anyone."

  The maids exchanged nervous glances, their faces pale. "Yes, Your Highness," they chorused, quickly finishing their task and scurrying out of the room.

  As they left, Xeona entered, a look of concern on her face. "Sun, what's going on?" she asked quietly. "I saw the maids looking at something on your table. What is it?"

  I turned to her, my expression firm. "Xeona, I appreciate your concern, but this is something I'd rather not discuss. Let's just say it's a personal secret, and I'd like to keep it that way."

  Xeona's eyes narrowed, but she nodded. "Fine, Sun. But be careful, okay?"

  I nodded, smiling briefly. "I will."

  With that, I turned to the Red Lions, who were waiting outside my door. "It's time to go," I said, my voice firm. "We have a mission to complete."

  The Red Lions nodded, their faces set. They marched beside me, their footsteps echoing through the corridors. As we walked, they blew their horns, the sound of lion roars echoing through the palace.

  We made our way to the carriage, which was waiting for us outside. My mother, Queen Lana, was standing beside it, a look of concern on her face.

  "Sun, be careful," she said, her voice low. "The city can be a dangerous place, especially for someone of your...status."

  I nodded, smiling briefly. "I will, Mother. Don't worry."

  With that, I climbed into the carriage, the Red Lions following close behind. As we rode through the city gates, I felt a thrill of excitement. I was on a mission to gather the best bodyguards in the city, and I was determined to succeed.

  Before entering the city, we stopped to disguise ourselves as commoners. The Red Lions donned plain clothes, hiding their distinctive uniforms beneath cloaks and hoods. I did the same, covering my royal crest with a simple tunic.

  As we entered the city markets, the sounds and smells hit me like a wave. Merchants hawked their wares, from fresh produce to exotic spices. The air was thick with the smells of cooking meat and freshly baked bread.

  I walked through the crowds, the Red Lions close behind. We moved swiftly, our eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of trouble.

  As we walked, I felt the Spineless Brain's presence in my mind, connected to me through the minit-waves. I hadn't used its cognitive powers yet, but I was determined to do something special with it.

  I was going to form an elite team of bodyguards, personally chosen by me. And I was going to start by gathering seven of the best warriors in the city.

  As I walked through the city markets with the Red Lions, the smells of fresh produce and exotic spices filled my nostrils. We stopped at a vendor, and I purchased some roasted meats and steaming buns.

  "Thanks, lad," the vendor said, his voice gruff but friendly. "Be careful out there. There's been rumors of bandits getting brazen around Leona."

  I nodded, taking a bite of the roasted meat. It was flavorful and tender, and I couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.

  The Red Lions and I continued on our way, blending in with the crowds of people. As we walked, I noticed the way the Red Lions moved with a sense of purpose, their eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of trouble.

  "Hey, Sun," one of the Red Lions said, his voice low. "We're glad to be working with you. You're a lot more...relaxed than we expected."

  I smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the Red Lions. "Thanks, guys. I'm just trying to get the job done."

  As we turned a corner, I suddenly found myself face to face with a beautiful girl. She was about my age, with piercing green eyes and long, curly brown hair. She was dressed in a practical tunic and leggings, and she carried a small knife at her belt.

  "Hey, handsome," she said, her voice husky. "My name is Lalisa. And you are...?"

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  I smiled, feeling a sense of charm from her. "I'm Sun," I said. "Nice to meet you, Lalisa."

  But before I could say anything else, Lalisa's expression turned cold. She reached out and grabbed me, holding the knife to my abdomen.

  "Follow me," she hissed, her eyes glinting with a mixture of fear and determination.

  The Red Lions moved to intervene, but Lalisa's eyes flashed with warning. "Don't move," she said. "Or I'll kill him."

  The Red Lions hesitated, their eyes locked on mine. I nodded slightly, and they followed us as Lalisa led us to a nearby shop.

  Inside, there were several other people waiting. They were all dressed in practical clothing, and they carried an assortment of weapons.

  "Welcome, Prince Sun," one of them said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "We've been expecting you."

  I raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of curiosity. "Who are you people?" I asked.

  The leader of the group smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We're the Thieves in Hands gang," he said. "And we've been hired to collect information on the Leo Royal family."

  I felt a surge of anger, but I kept my cool. "I see," I said. "And what do you plan to do with me?"

  The leader of the group smiled again. "We're going to sell you to the Hyen family," he said. "They're willing to pay a handsome sum for you."

  I raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of surprise. But I didn't panic. I knew that I had the Spineless Brain's power to rely on.

  As the thieves tied me up and prepared to leave, I secretly mind-hacked the horses. I told them to obey me, and to follow the thieves without hesitation.

  The thieves loaded me into a carriage, and we set off into the night. As we traveled, I could feel the Spineless Brain's power coursing through me. I was invincible, at least for the next two weeks.

  As we rode, I noticed that the thieves seemed to be following a smuggler's route. We traveled for 56 kilometers, the carriage rattling and swaying as we went.

  Finally, we arrived at a thief's hideout. It was a small, secluded cabin, surrounded by trees and underbrush.

  Lalisa led me inside, where a fire was burning. She offered me some food, and we sat down to eat.

  As we ate, I asked her about her story. She told me that she had grown up on the streets, surviving by her wits and her cunning. She had been taken in by the leader of the Thieves in Hands gang, who had become like a father to her.

  I listened, fascinated, as Lalisa told me about her life. She was a complex, intriguing person, and I found myself drawn to her.

  As the night wore on, I decided to mind-hack a pigeon that was sleeping on top of the cabin. I slipped into the pigeon's mind, feeling its wings flutter as it took to the air.

  I flew back to the city, observing the chaos and confusion that had erupted in my absence. The Red Lions were searching for me everywhere, and the queen was beside herself with worry.

  I flew over the palace, feeling a sense of nostalgia wash over me. I missed my home, and my family.

  ...to focus on my current situation. I flew back to the hideout, observing the thieves as they settled in for the night. I saw Lalisa sitting by the fire, her eyes gleaming in the flickering light.

  As I continued to observe, I noticed that the thieves seemed to be on edge. They kept looking over their shoulders, as if they were expecting something to happen.

  Suddenly, one of the thieves stood up, his eyes fixed on something outside. "What's wrong?" Lalisa asked, her voice low.

  "We've got company," the thief replied, his voice tense. "And they don't look friendly."

  I saw a group of men approaching the hideout, their faces twisted with malice. The thieves readied themselves for a fight, their weapons at the ready.

  Lalisa stood up, her eyes flashing with determination. "Let's take care of this," she said, her voice firm.

  The fight was intense, the sound of clashing steel and shouting men filling the air. I watched as Lalisa took down one of the attackers with ease, her movements swift and deadly.

  But as the fight continued, I noticed that one of the thieves seemed to be fighting against his own comrades. He was a tall, burly man with a scar above his eyebrow.

  Lalisa noticed him too, and her eyes narrowed. "Traitor!" she spat, her voice venomous.

  She fired an arrow at the traitor, striking him in the chest. The other thieves stared at her in shock, but Lalisa just shrugged.

  "He was working with them," she said, her voice matter-of-fact. "We can't trust anyone."

  As the fight died down, the thieves began to search the bodies of their attackers. They found a note on one of them, a note that seemed to implicate the Thieves in Hands gang in a larger conspiracy.

  Lalisa's eyes scanned the note, her expression grim. "We've been set up," she said, her voice low.

  The thieves looked at each other nervously, unsure of what to do next. But Lalisa just smiled, a fierce glint in her eye.

  "We'll get to the bottom of this," she said, her voice firm. "And we'll make sure that whoever is behind this pays."

  As the thieves began to make plans, I slipped back into my own body, my mind reeling with the implications of what I had just seen. I knew that I had to be careful, that the Thieves in Hands gang was not what it seemed.

  But I also knew that I had to keep playing along, at least for now. I had to see where this would lead, and what secrets I could uncover.

  As I lay there, pretending to sleep, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. I was in this now, and I was determined to see it through.

  As we traveled on, the scenery around us changed, and we found ourselves standing at the edge of a tranquil river. The water sparkled in the sunlight, and the sound of gently lapping waves against the shore created a soothing melody. Lalisa and the thieves were busy preparing the horses for a river crossing, their movements swift and efficient.

  But suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by a loud rustling in the underbrush. A massive grizzly bear emerged from the trees, its eyes fixed intently on us. The bear's fur was a thick, matted brown, and its muscles rippled beneath its skin as it moved.

  Lalisa's eyes widened in alarm, and she swiftly grabbed her bow, firing an arrow at the bear. The arrow struck the bear's shoulder, but it merely seemed to enrage the beast further.

  "Get the horses ready to run!" one of the thieves shouted, his voice laced with panic.

  The horses, sensing the tension, grew agitated, their eyes rolling wildly as they snorted and pawed the ground. I could feel their fear emanating from them, and I knew that we had to act fast.

  Lalisa fired another arrow at the bear, but it was too close now, and the arrow merely grazed its ear. The bear swiped at Lalisa with its massive paw, and she barely dodged out of the way in time.

  "Run!" she shouted, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the horses.

  But as we turned to flee, I saw that the bear was almost upon us, its jaws open wide in a snarling snout. I felt a surge of fear, and my heart pounded in my chest.