Inside one of the abandoned buildings near the western side of Jokun City—
The atmosphere smelled damp and rotten.
Broken furniture scattered across the floor while dim lanterns barely lit the massive room.
Several gangsters stood around silently.
At the center—
A man sat calmly in a chair hidden beneath shadows.
The two surviving Ash Rat members hurried inside nervously.
"B-Boss!"
One of them quickly pointed backward toward the entrance.
"Some rookie started messing with us!"
The man in the chair slowly rested his head against one hand.
"…Go on."
The gangster swallowed nervously.
"They beat us up…"
The room became silent.
The boss spoke again calmly.
"…Did you succeed in conquering the village?"
The gangster's face turned pale instantly.
"…N-No…"
BANG!
A gunshot suddenly echoed through the room.
Then another.
The two men froze.
Blood spread across their clothes before both bodies collapsed heavily onto the floor.
Several nearby gangsters lowered their heads immediately.
The man in the chair slowly stood up from the darkness.
Joshua.
Tall.
Sharp-faced.
Cold eyes hidden beneath messy dark hair.
He lowered the smoking gun casually.
"…Tch."
"Useless."
He stepped over one of the bodies without emotion.
"…It was such a simple task."
"And you two still ruined it."
Joshua then looked toward a woman standing nearby.
His secretary.
Glasses rested neatly across her face while she calmly held several documents.
Joshua spoke while wiping the gun clean.
"…So."
"Who's the rookie?"
The secretary adjusted her glasses slightly.
"…Saito, sir."
"Also known recently as Blue Scarf Saito."
Joshua paused slightly.
"…Hmm."
"That kid from the rumors, huh."
The secretary handed him a poster.
The same dramatic poster Kuro had spread around Jokun City.
Joshua stared at Saito's face quietly for a few seconds.
Then suddenly burned the poster with a lighter.
The flames slowly consumed the paper.
Joshua watched it calmly.
"…Sadly."
"He won't live very long."
Then quietly laughed.
Inside the mansion office downstairs—
The atmosphere was surprisingly lively.
Tina ran around the room together with Feina and several village children while laughing loudly.
"Catch me!"
"You're cheating!"
"I'm not!"
One of the kids nearly crashed into a table before Feina quickly pulled them back.
"Careful!"
Nearby—
Bomb and Kaito sat quietly together while drinking.
Compared to the noisy children, the two looked completely disconnected from the chaos around them.
One of the children suddenly stumbled backward directly toward Kaito's glass.
Before it could spill—
Kaito caught it smoothly without even looking.
The child blinked.
"…Whoa."
Kaito calmly continued drinking.
Bomb glanced toward him briefly.
"…You're good with kids somehow."
Kaito stared at the drink.
"…No."
"I'm good at protecting my tea."
Bomb let out a quiet laugh through his nose.
Then his expression became slightly more serious.
"…Saito's thinking hard about negotiating with that gang."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"…After hearing Kuro's information…"
"…this gang is more dangerous."
He placed the glass down carefully.
"We don't know if making contact is the right move."
Meanwhile—
Upstairs inside the main office—
The atmosphere felt completely different.
Heavy.
Serious.
Saito stood in front of the large wall map while the five mayors sat nearby.
Takashi organized reports beside them while Takeru stood with crossed arms representing the wolfbeasts.
Saito looked toward Gein first.
"…Gein."
"I want help from your soldiers."
Gein nodded once.
"They're already on the way here."
Saito nodded slightly.
Then stayed silent.
His eyes remained fixed on the map.
Thinking.
Calculating.
The room quietly waited while Saito slowly looked upward toward the ceiling, lost deep in thought.
Rick slowly stood from his chair and stepped forward slightly.
"…Are you sure this is the right move?"
The room became quiet again.
Saito kept staring at the map for another second before answering.
"…We have to do something before it's too late."
Fein crossed his arms tightly.
"…Just be careful, kid."
For once, his tone carried genuine concern instead of criticism.
Saito looked toward him and nodded slightly.
"…I will."
Then he turned toward Takeru.
"Takeru."
"You're coming with me."
Takeru immediately nodded.
"…Of course."
Gein frowned slightly.
"You're really going personally?"
Saito looked toward the gathered mayors calmly.
"If I want to negotiate…"
"…then hiding behind my people would make me look weak."
John leaned back with a small grin.
"…That does sound like you."
Takashi sighed quietly while adjusting his glasses.
"…Please don't start another war accidentally."
Saito smirked faintly.
"No promises."
Kaito, standing near the door, crossed his arms.
"…I'm coming too."
Saito looked at him briefly.
"…Expected that."
Bomb stepped away from the wall afterward.
"…Same here."
Saito stared at the three of them for a moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Alright."
He grabbed his sword from beside the table.
The room became silent again as the Blue Scarf members prepared themselves.
Saito finally turned toward the door.
"…Well."
A small determined smile formed on his face.
"Let's go meet them."
At the village gate—
The wind blew gently across Lorum Village.
Saito stood at the entrance while the blue scarf around his neck fluttered gracefully behind him.
Beside him stood: Kaito, Takeru, and Bomb.
The four faced the road leading west.
Behind them—
The five mayors waited together near the gate while guards and villagers gathered nearby to watch them leave.
Saito turned back toward them one last time.
His eyes moved across: Rick, Fein, Gein, John, and Takashi.
Then finally toward Tina and Pyvi standing near the front.
"…We'll be back."
He looked toward Takashi.
"Takashi."
"I'll leave the territory to you."
Takashi nodded calmly.
"…Understood."
"Just focus on returning alive."
Saito smiled faintly.
Then began walking forward.
Kaito followed beside him silently.
Takeru walked slightly behind while Bomb calmly kept pace near the side.
The villagers immediately began waving toward them.
"Good luck sir Saito!"
"Come back safely!"
"We believe in you!"
Saito lifted one hand casually while continuing to walk.
Near the gate—
Tina tightly hugged Pyvi's leg while looking toward Saito.
"…We'll wait for you, sir Saito!"
Saito turned slightly and waved back toward her.
The blue scarf continued dancing behind him as the four slowly disappeared down the western road.
The group continued walking along the western road while the afternoon wind brushed across the grasslands around them.
Saito unfolded the map while walking.
"…This is going to be a long journey."
Takeru looked ahead calmly.
"At least the weather is nice."
Bomb stayed silent while scanning the surroundings.
Then suddenly—
Kaito narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Guess what I spotted."
Saito immediately looked excited.
"You found something?"
Kaito pointed ahead.
Saito quickly followed the direction dramatically.
"…A rock?"
BONK.
Kaito lightly bumped Saito's head with his fingers.
"…No, idiot."
"A carriage."
Bomb quietly looked away to hide a laugh.
Further ahead—
A black carriage rested near the roadside.
One man sat beside it calmly.
White suit.
Black gloves.
A briefcase resting beside him.
Saito walked toward the carriage first.
"Hey there."
The man slowly looked toward him.
Saito showed the map.
"Can you take us for a ride to this place?"
The man quietly looked down at the map for a few seconds.
Then gave a small nod.
"…Get in."
Saito smiled brightly.
"Nice!"
Behind him—
Kaito quietly leaned closer.
"…Saito."
"I can feel strong auris from this guy."
Saito glanced back briefly.
"…Well."
"He doesn't seem harmful."
Then climbed into the carriage casually.
Bomb entered after him.
Takeru followed next.
Kaito stared at the man in white for another moment carefully.
The man simply adjusted his gloves calmly.
Kaito sighed quietly.
"…I already hate this trip."
Then stepped into the carriage too.