The moment their hands met, Arthur and Ashley pulled each other into a tight embrace. Even though the world around them was still a blinding white, they found each other purely by instinct. They had embraced countless times before—so often that they were as familiar with each other as they were with their own skin. Their reactions to one another, their sense of each other’s presence, had long become automatic. It had only been a brief moment where they couldn’t see or feel the other, but in that instant, panic rose in both their hearts. It wasn’t until they were locked tightly in each other’s arms—until their bodies confirmed the other’s existence—that they could finally breathe easy again. The ship sailed through the dense white mist for a while. Not wanting to lose each other again, Arthur and Ashley stayed as they were, holding each other tightly. After all, this wasn’t familiar territory. They couldn’t see anything—not even each other. If someone tried to attack them in this fog, they wouldn’t even have time to react. So for safety’s sake, they stayed locked together. It made them feel more grounded. More secure. Arthur couldn’t tell which direction they were headed. It felt like the ship had taken a few more turns. It was like being blind—except their world wasn’t black, it was pure white. And strangely, despite being surrounded by thick fog that completely blocked their vision, they didn’t feel damp, suffocated, or the slightest bit uncomfortable. Arthur didn’t know what kind of mist this was, but it clearly wasn’t ordinary water vapor. They stood perfectly still on the deck, not daring to move. With no visibility, they had no idea where the edges of the ship were. There were guardrails, yes—but if they wandered around and accidentally fell overboard, there would be no surviving it. No one knew how long the voyage continued like this.Then, little by little, their vision began to clear. They had finally passed through the mist. As soon as they broke through, the world in front of them snapped into clarity. An island, towering above the surface of the sea, suddenly appeared before them. Arthur and Ashley both widened their eyes in disbelief. Rumor had it that Heaven Island was just a small island. But what they saw now… was anything but small. Even though they were still some distance away, the closer they got, the more massive the island looked. It was so large, it could’ve been mistaken for a small country! Ashley couldn’t help murmuring, “I never thought Heaven Island would be this big…” As the journey went on, she was starting to understand. Why the island was said to have formidable military defenses from the moment it emerged. Even just the outer mist was enough to keep countless enemies away. As the ship approached, Arthur and Ashley finally got a good look at Heaven Island. It was lush with greenery, vibrant and full of life. The houses on the island were mostly wooden and not very tall, but they were arranged in a neat, harmonious way that gave the island a unique charm. As the ship slowly pulled up to the dock, something surprising caught their eye: there weren’t any guards stationed along the shore. Only when the ship docked did a few personnel appear near the exit ramp to check the passengers one more time. Back when everyone boarded, they had already been thoroughly searched to ensure no weapons made it onboard. Although the ship had many rooms, none of them were connected. Arthur and Ashley had been specially invited by Solivair and were staying in two adjoining suites.The other passengers each had their own separate quarters. So even though there were quite a few people onboard, most of them hadn’t seen each other again since the initial boarding. Thankfully, Arthur had Ashley with him—otherwise, this long journey would’ve been insufferably dull. After passing inspection again, Arthur and Ashley stepped off the ship, hand in hand. It wasn’t until Arthur’s feet hit solid ground that he noticed something unusual—the soil on Heaven Island wasn’t like ordinary soil. It was black. Just by looking at it, he could tell it was incredibly fertile. No wonder the island’s plant life was so rich and thriving. What really took them by surprise, though, was how different the island felt from what they’d imagined. There was no sign of tight military control. On the contrary, it felt peaceful, like a hidden paradise cut off from the world. Scattered throughout the island were charming wooden homes. Inside lived regular families—elders, children, and strong young adults working in the fields. Their clothing was unlike Arthur and Ashley’s. The locals wore bright, vivid colors—almost no dark or plain tones at all. In some homes, wisps of cooking smoke curled into the sky. Paired with the trees and flowers dotting the landscape, it all painted a picture of an idyllic, livable paradise.