Target: Purgatory Island

Malcolm's expression was incredibly grim. Pointing to where the little unicorn had vanished, he asked softly, "My bloodline... it doesn't involve summoning that, does it?"

Thea shook her head.

Hearing that everyone's manifestation was different, Malcolm breathed a sigh of relief. He definitely didn't want such a cutesy creature following him around constantly. A young girl might find it appealing, but for a man approaching fifty, the image was just too bizarre.

If every fight required summoning such a thing, he'd rather stick to archery than pursue this bloodline. He couldn't handle the sheer embarrassment!

Thea shrugged. "You saw it yourself, it's still young. Conservatively estimating, it'll need at least two years to mature. Whether it can repair the bloodline damage... we'll have to wait and see."

The unicorn wasn't just young; it was practically an infant. The two-year estimate was based on Thea relentlessly sunbathing. Of course, the path to power wasn't singular; further delving into the bloodline's potential and increasing its purification speed could also enhance the amount of sunlight absorbed per unit of time and increase conversion efficiency.

Fortunately, she now shared a trait somewhat similar to Superman or Supergirl: she didn't tan, no matter how much sun she got. With persistence, this constitution would eventually lead to significant power.

Relatively speaking, sunbathing was the more reliable method. Find a beach, lie down – both Queen Consolidated and the Court of Owls controlled plenty of private beaches.

Absorbing moonlight, however, was a real headache. Who stays up all night lying outside? It was completely counterintuitive. Anyone would notice something strange, perhaps even think she was eccentric. The thought of strengthening that aspect always made Thea scratch her head.

She dumped the whole basket of problems onto Malcolm. These were all time-consuming, troublesome tasks, enough to keep him busy for a decade or more. Presumably, he wouldn't have time to dwell on his plan to destroy the Glades anymore. Thea reminded him not to make things public and attract Ra's al Ghul's attention, then hummed cheerfully as she walked out of Merlyn Global.

Malcolm watched Thea step into the elevator and disappear from view. His original plan to destroy the Glades stemmed from a lack of purpose, purely an act of vengeance. Now, Thea had dangled a massive prospect before him. His arrogant nature reignited his thirst for power.

Learning he had been manipulated like a fool by Ra's al Ghul fueled his rage.

"Ra's al Ghul..." he murmured the name that inspired fear in him. He knew his limitations; in martial arts, intellect, and strategy, he was completely overshadowed.

He had called Thea a natural warrior, but wasn't he one himself? He was a lone wolf, willing to bite even a lion.

Merlyn Global was founded through his own efforts, starting with shipping. Today, the group has transport points and storage centers in two-thirds of the world's ports. His intelligence network was arguably second to none.

But this new task – tracing the Merlin lineage – was daunting. Millennia had passed. With families growing unchecked over generations, the number of direct descendants today is a complete unknown.

Finding those who retained the Merlyn surname was relatively easier. But what about those who changed their names along the way? What about lines that died out, but their heirlooms or knowledge passed to unrelated hands? The complexities and variables were immense.

Rubbing his temples, he glanced towards the outer office. Tommy hadn't returned. Malcolm didn't plan on discussing today's events with his son yet. Nothing was certain, and besides, he felt his son lacked capability beyond diligence. Exposing him to these matters prematurely wouldn't be beneficial.

He couldn't rely on his son, and Thea's warning to be cautious was valid. This meant he would have to personally invest significant effort into this investigation.

Unable to utilize his usual subordinates, he would have to rely on a few trusted confidants and conduct the search discreetly. The sheer scale and scope of the task made even someone as resolute as Malcolm waver slightly. Could it even be completed within ten years?

Unaware of the mental blow his father had suffered (though Malcolm's sheer willpower allowed him to endure), Thea was happily packing her bags. She had already informed Moira, not about retrieving her brother, of course, but under the pretext of a trip to Hong Kong.

Whether it was bringing Oliver back or rescuing Shado, both were difficult tasks. Oliver was stubborn; convincing him without revealing her identity would be extremely hard.

As for Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke – the man destined to kill Moira in the future – Thea didn't know how to approach him. Oliver considered him a dear friend, their feud spanning a decade without true resolution.

Even though her mother was currently alive and well, Thea still felt immense resentment towards him. Oliver might have found some reason to nearly forgive him, but Thea held grudges, inheriting Malcolm's protective nature. You mess with my family and expect a peaceful end? Even though he hadn't committed the act yet, she decided it was best to just leave him on the island to fend for himself.

Furthermore, there was a magical artifact on the island worth her time: the Orb of Horus. She remembered from the original timeline that Constantine found it with Oliver's help years later. An ancient Egyptian treasure. Though how an Egyptian artifact ended up on an island in the East was a mystery, if Constantine valued it, Thea figured it must be good.

As for the Khushu Idol that Damien Darhk later obtained, Thea wanted nothing to do with it. It seemed useless – power tied directly to the idol, weak without it. Too flawed. As long as she got Green Arrow off the island, the idol could remain undisturbed in its cave. She had no need to touch it.

The location of Lian Yu, "Purgatory" island, was vaguely described in the records she knew. Conflicting reports placed it in different seas, with maps showing points far removed from each other, making its exact position geographically ambiguous.

Thea had done her homework. By checking the crash site of the Queen's Gambit, along with hydrological and current data from that time, she managed to narrow down a general area.

She instructed the Court of Owls to prepare a helicopter for her in Hong Kong. She had learned to operate various modern vehicles from Batman; while not an expert, she was capable of safe flight.

Moira had become somewhat accustomed to Thea's globe-trotting habits. If you want to go, then go. After arranging for her equipment to be shipped, Thea boarded a flight and arrived in Hong Kong that night.

She considered finding Yao Fei's other daughter, Mei, but the Court's influence here was weak, and her contacts weren't particularly effective. She decided against it; Shado could look for her sister herself later.

She vaguely recalled A.R.G.U.S. having a significant base here. Thea moved discreetly, avoiding attention. That night, she took the prepared helicopter and flew out into the vast, open sea.