At the Gobura Clan palace, Emperor Leeroy stood by the window in silence.
The wind moved gently through the halls, carrying memories he never spoke aloud.
"…Those days were simpler…"
His voice trailed off.
Below, the city suddenly shifted.
A disturbance.
A presence.
Leeroy's eyes sharpened.
"…Jhonathan?"
On the streets below—
Jhonathan had arrived.
With what remained of his party.
And beside him stood a white-haired girl.
Calm.
Smiling.
Wrong in a way that didn't feel immediately visible—but became obvious the longer she was looked at.
Gobura ninjas emerged instantly.
Shadows peeled from rooftops.
Teleport seals activated.
In an instant—
Jhonathan and his group were pulled into the palace chamber.
Leeroy turned slightly, a faint smile forming.
"…Who is th—"
He didn't finish.
A blur of motion.
Grimmy appeared directly behind him.
One strike.
Instant shutdown.
The palace guards reacted immediately—but stopped mid-step.
Their eyes glazed over.
Their hostility… vanished.
"…No need for that," Grimmy said softly.
She raised her hand slightly.
Evil intent inside the ninjas was stripped away like it had never existed.
They stood frozen, confused, harmless.
Leeroy collapsed unconscious.
The palace went silent.
Jhonathan narrowed his eyes.
"…Grimmy."
Without hesitation—
he slapped her.
A sharp sound echoed through the chamber.
Grimmy's expression shifted instantly.
Her aura flickered violently.
For a moment—
something darker surfaced beneath her calm form.
A twisted presence surged outward—
then abruptly collapsed.
She staggered slightly.
Then blinked.
"…Ah."
Her voice returned to normal.
The dark aura vanished completely.
She exhaled.
"…That was close."
Jhonathan crossed his arms.
"…Don't do that again."
A beat of silence.
Then—
Grimmy smiled faintly again.
"…Understood."
The tension broke.
Leeroy slowly regained consciousness.
He looked around, dazed.
"…What happened…"
Jhonathan glanced at the table nearby.
"…We feast."
For a moment, the palace felt almost normal.
Almost peaceful.
Until—
outside the gates, a Goblin ninja clenched his fist.
His eyes filled with rage.
"…They violated the emperor."
He raised his voice.
And the city responded.
A rally began.
Not negotiation.
Not confusion.
War.