Months passed as the allied group continued their long sea journey. Tiffy showed signs of pregnancy, though at first it was easy to mistake her symptoms for seasickness.
"Tiffy?! Are you sure you're pregnant? Maybe it's just nausea and vomiting from the sea sickness," Nick asked curiously.
"Nick, we've been at sea for six months! I'm definitely pregnant. Can't you see my bulging tummy?" Tiffy replied, exasperated.
"Okay, maybe I'm just confusing things," Nick admitted, gradually growing closer to Tiffy each day. His gentle caresses on her belly were clear signs of his growing affection.
But this closeness sparked jealousy in Jenny, who sat across from the couple while nursing baby Billy. One day, unable to contain her feelings, Jenny confronted Nick.
"Nick, why are you so close to Tiffy now during her pregnancy? You never treated me this way when I was pregnant!" Jenny's voice trembled with hurt.
"What do you mean, Jenny?" Tiffy asked, curious.
"When I was pregnant, Nick endured lashes for my sake back at the train but never showed me any affection. I even had to beg him to admit that Billy was his child. I have the DNA test results in my backpack if you don't believe me!" Jenny declared.
A heavy silence fell over the group before Tiffy suddenly pushed Nick away in rebellion. She stood abruptly, clapped her hands in shock, held her head in confusion, then shouted, "Nick! Nick! Nick! Wonders never cease. You kept quiet all along, even after suspecting that Billy was your child!"
Turning to the group, she spat out bitterly, "Traitors! How could you all agree to keep this from me, knowing I'm Nick's wife?"
Nick rose and tried to calm her down, but Tiffy cut him off. "Don't touch me! Don't you dare come near me! I'm going to my room. No one follows!" she shouted as she stormed away.
Nick was left standing, anxious, then collapsed into a chair, burying his head in his hands.
"Nick, Tiffy was just using you," Elizabeth tried to console him.
Nick remained silent.
"Should we leave him alone? He looks depressed," Mikal suggested.
A cold war settled between Tiffy, Nick, and Jenny. Since the revelation, they hadn't spoken, exchanging only cold stares and glares.
Three days later, Jasmine stepped in to break the silence. "Guys, we're almost at the Hina sea zones. We can't afford to be divided. We need to talk! Your silence is only making things worse."
"Nick… Tiffy… Jenny… please, say something!" Jasmine pleaded.
But silence remained.
"This is going to be a tough task," Jasmine sighed.
"Jenny, please talk to us. We all need each other," William said gently, taking Jenny's hand.
"Do you have trust issues?" he added.
Jenny sighed, then burst out, "William, you don't understand what I'm going through! Who would choose to love an immoral rich girl or a poor faithful one?"
"Definitely the poor faithful girl will be preferred." William answered.
"But Nick caresses that rich immoral girl because of her influence, rather than mingling with middle-class guys!" Jenny accused.
"Hey! Show some respect," Tiffy snapped at Jenny just before the argument nearly exploded.
The others quickly separated them. Tiffy was dragged away, while Jenny stayed behind, trembling.
"Jenny, calm down!" William urged softly.
She slowly settled, then broke down, weeping in William's arms.
"Let it out. It's going to be alright," William soothed.
After a moment, Jenny wiped her tears. "I think I was just jealous of how Nick treated Tiffy. I couldn't help myself."
"Don't worry. Now that everyone knows the truth, we'll work on reconciliation. I'm willing to help raise Billy and love you more than Nick ever did," William promised, holding Jenny's hands.
"I love you, William," Jenny whispered, hugging him again.
"I love you too," William replied warmly.
Later, Jasmine and John gathered everyone around for a heartfelt conversation.
"Tiffy, on behalf of everyone, we're sorry for keeping secrets from you. We never meant to interfere in your relationship with Nick. I wish everyone could apologize individually so you'd know how sincere we are," Jasmine began.
One by one, the allies apologized to Tiffy.
"We value you all. You've been crucial in helping us," Jasmine continued. "As we near the Hina sea zones, we want peace. The cold war must end. Nick has apologized. It's up to you to accept. You now know Billy is Nick's child."
Tiffy took a deep breath. "Okay. I misunderstood you all. I'm sorry. Jenny, I forgive you. Nick, I forgive you too. We're still a family."
"Come here, everyone. Group hug!"
They stood and embraced in warm reconciliation.
Moments later, the ship's horn sounded.
"We've reached the last port before Hina sea zones! Brace yourselves!" Nick announced.
Soon, armed guards boarded for strict facial and ID inspections. The group's nerves showed — shaking, sweating, rattled teeth.
"Stay calm! We can't afford panic," Tiffy urged.
The guards checked IDs and expressions carefully. Chief Elias and Dr. Orville handed theirs over confidently, but others trembled.
"Let me see your nose," a guard demanded suspiciously, lifting Nick's face.
After tense moments, the guards declared, "They're safe," and moved on.
"Phew, that was close!" Nick wiped sweat from his brow.
"We need to get out of here quickly. How many vote to jump into the ocean after inspections?" Jasmine asked.
Votes split 5-5.
"Jasmine, you're a tiebreaker?" John asked.
"I'm afraid of deep water… childhood trauma, I'm undecided," Jasmine admitted.
"Maybe you stay to keep Tiffy and Jenny company while the rest dive?" John suggested.
Jasmine nodded.
As the ship left port, the others suited up to dive.
At the table, John spoke. "This is it. Lama will lead the final phase."
Lama accepted.
They escaped through a window to underwater.
Jasmine, Tiffy, and Jenny watched anxiously from inside.
"How do we reconnect later?" Jasmine wondered.
"At Hina port. Hopefully by mobile comms," Tiffy answered.
Underwater, the group followed hypnotized fingerlings. No threats at first.
At dusk, sharks appeared.
"Split up!" Lama ordered.
Each used electric teasers and evasive moves to tease off sharks.
Reunited, Lama spotted "hybrid guards ahead."
"We must be strategic. They outnumber us," Lama said.
"Find another route?" Nick asked.
"No, we trust the fingerlings," Lama replied.
"Plan?" John pressed.
"Gas bombs to pollute the sea," Nick proposed. "I'll surrender to lure them together. Then I release bombs. Our gas masks are safe."
They agreed.
Nick swam forward, captured, then detonated bombs in the guard basement. The sea filled with gas; the rest launched an offensive and easily subdued the guards.
Hybrids above the sea hesitated on spotting sea pollutions; unadapted to swimming, they fled as navy soldiers pursued the group underwater.
"We've got company!" Lama warned.
"Nick is in the underwater secret basement. Lock in!" Elizabeth instructed.
They locked the door behind them.
"Been waiting for you, Nick Putian!" Director Brewster laughed, turning from his seat.
"Give me the relics!" Nick demanded.
"Or else?"
"I'll be back," Nick warned.
"You'll be back? I don't think so! I'll jail you all!"
Out of nowhere,Nick pulled a shotgun and fired, then ran out of ammo.
"Is that all?" Brewster mocked. "If you can't beat them, join them!"
"I'll never join your evil. Goodness magic must prevail! How do you know me?"
"Know Madam Jezebel?"
"Yes, she's been a godmother to us."
"I'm her firstborn son," Brewster revealed.
" That explains a lot about Tiffy's suspicions concerning Jezebel's betrayal. She double crosses all her map clients! What about Levi and Malaki?"
"They are adopted children. She protects the throne for her true son. I rose through the ranks, overcoming obstacles with divine favor."
"I don't care about your divine favors. I fight for order, justice, and rightful custodianship of the gems!"
"You'll have to get through me."
"You think being older means you're more entitled? Experience is the best teacher!"
They clashed swords fiercely.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth stealthily broke into a small safe, pocketing the blue gem, missing half necklaces and missing pages.
The navy broke through the door. Elizabeth kicked open a ceiling hatch and escaped, calling the others.
One by one, the allies followed her into a secret room and locked themselves in.
Nick was last, releasing another gas bomb to buy time.
Using the fingerlings, they swam to shore and found Luca before escaping further just to be sure of their safety inside the Hina island.
They encircled, placing the gems on half necklaces accordingly and began unlocking good magic- procedures as per the puzzle book instructions.
Elizabeth and Nick kissed — but nothing happened.
"What? It didn't work. We must find Tiffy!" Nick said urgently.
Calling her, he heard, "Nick! I'm about to deliver! I can't make it!"
"Where are you?"
"At the port!"
"Hold on! We're coming!" Nick said.
They hopped on dragons and rushed to the port to pick the remaining allies before further escaping in such quick flights.
Tiffy gave birth mid-air.
Nick kissed her(in such unlocking pursuits) — and the goodness magic unlocked.
Everything reverted normal. Evil magic, and monitoring spirits became powerless. Hybrids and mutants naturally transformed into permanent human beings, but still became unconscious. All magic were under the custodianship of Nick and Tiffy who possessed the necklaces.
---
Seven years later…
Nick and Tiffy remained together. Tiffy kept Nick accountable. Tiffy delivered all justices (as Nick had earlier requested) to mend up for the suspended divorce procedures.
William married Jenny.
John and Jasmine ended up together.
Mikal and Elizabeth paired off.
Lama and Toto united.
The custodians, heroes of the relics, rooted out systemic evils.
As a reward, the government granted them Hina Island as a separate state.
From there, they built a new empire — with the allied group as founding leaders.