On the scorched road—
The remains of the carriage were still burning quietly.
Blackened wood.
Broken wheels.
Smoke drifting upward into the sky.
Saito stepped out from the wreckage, brushing ash off his shoulder.
"…Phew."
"That was a close one."
Behind him—
Kaito landed lightly from a nearby rock, scanning the area.
"…Good thing we reacted fast."
Bomb exhaled slowly, flexing his fingers.
"…That explosion wasn't that strong."
"I managed to repel most of it."
Takeru stood slightly ahead, ears twitching as he listened to the surrounding forest.
"…We were targeted."
His eyes narrowed.
"…This wasn't random."
Saito's expression turned serious for a moment.
"…Yeah."
He looked back toward the direction of Ash Rat territory.
Silence passed between them briefly.
Then—
Saito tightened his grip on his scarf.
"…We head back."
Kaito immediately nodded.
"…Lorum."
Bomb followed without hesitation.
"…Something's wrong there."
Takeru stepped forward first.
"…Let's move."
Without another word—
The four turned away from the burning carriage remains and began heading back toward Lorum Village at full speed.
After an hour of fast travel—
The group finally reached Hiraki Village.
But something was wrong immediately.
Too wrong.
Smoke drifted through the air near the village center.
Saito slowed down.
"…What?"
His eyes shifted forward.
Then he saw it.
His flag.
Burning.
Collapsed on the ground.
Blackened fabric turning into ash.
Saito's expression froze.
"…No way…"
He immediately rushed forward.
"Hey! Stop—!"
He dropped to his knees and quickly tried to smother the flames with his hands.
"Kaito! Water—anything!"
Kaito arrived behind him instantly, scanning the area sharply.
"…What happened here?"
Around them—
The village guards stood watching.
But none of them moved to help.
One guard stepped forward.
His eyes were cold.
"…Tch."
"So you came back."
Saito looked up immediately.
"…What are you talking about?"
The guard narrowed his eyes.
"…Fraud."
Saito froze.
"…Huh?"
The guard pointed directly at him.
"…You got exposed."
"…Blue Scarf Saito."
Saito slowly stood up from the ashes of his burned flag.
His hands were still slightly blackened from the fire.
He held the remaining piece of the flag tightly.
"…What's happening here?"
Kaito stepped forward immediately.
"Let us enter."
The gate guard narrowed his eyes.
"…And why should I?"
Before tension could rise further—
Gein appeared behind them.
"…Let them in."
The guard clicked his tongue.
"…Tch."
But still stepped aside.
The gate opened.
Saito walked in first, followed by Kaito, Bomb, and Takeru.
The atmosphere inside Hiraki Village was heavy.
Too heavy.
No greetings.
No warmth.
Only stares.
Cold, suspicious stares.
Saito turned slightly toward Gein.
"…What happened?"
Gein avoided his eyes.
"…Sorry, Saito."
"I tried…"
"…but it's useless."
Saito frowned.
"…What do you mean—"
Before he could finish—
Voices erupted from the crowd.
"…That's him!"
"…The scammer!"
"…Blue Scarf Saito!"
Suddenly—
Tomatoes flew.
Then stones.
"—Tch!"
Kaito immediately stepped in front of Saito.
Bomb moved beside him.
Takeru growled lowly, claws ready as he shielded from the front.
The attacks hit their defenses instead of Saito.
Saito stood frozen.
"…What…?"
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Why are they—"
Gein finally spoke again, voice low.
"…You need to head to Kor Village."
Saito looked at him sharply.
"…Kor Village?"
Gein nodded slowly.
"…Fein managed to stop the riot there… and save your name."
He paused.
"…That's the only safe place left for you."
A heavy silence followed.
Gein lowered his head slightly.
"…Let me handle this here."
The villagers continued shouting in the background.
Saito stood still, holding the burnt flag fragment in his hand, trying to understand what had turned his world upside down so quickly.
At Kor Village, inside the office—
The atmosphere was tense and heavy.
Fein stood near the map table, arms crossed, expression serious.
Saito and the others had just arrived.
Saito immediately spoke.
"…When we went to deal with Ash Rat…"
"…Joshua was already in Lorum Village?"
Fein nodded.
"…Yes."
Saito's eyes widened slightly.
"…Impossible…"
"We met him there."
Kaito narrowed his eyes.
"…We were distracted."
"…A decoy."
Fein exhaled slowly.
"…That's what it was."
He pointed at the map.
"…While you were gone, he used that time."
"He spread rumors across your entire territory."
Saito stayed silent.
Fein continued.
"…We tried to stop it."
"…All the mayors did."
"But it was already too late."
Saito lowered his gaze slightly.
"…Sorry, Fein."
"…For troubling you all like this."
Fein shook his head.
"…Don't apologize to me."
His expression darkened slightly.
"…You should feel sorry for the other mayors."
Saito looked up.
Fein continued.
"…Some of them are already being attacked by their own people."
He paused.
"…For example."
"…Rick's house got pelted with tomatoes and dirt."
Silence filled the room.
Saito's expression tightened slightly as the weight of the situation sank in.
Kaito clicked his tongue quietly.
"…So he didn't just attack villages."
Bomb crossed his arms.
"…He attacked trust."
Takeru stayed still, ears lowered slightly.
The room grew quiet again as Fein looked at the group.
"…Right now, this isn't just Ash Rat anymore."
"…It's your entire name being put on trial."
Saito stood still for a moment after hearing Fein's words.
Then his voice lowered.
"…What about Lorum Village?"
Fein didn't answer immediately.
That silence said enough.
Saito's eyes sharpened.
"…Fein."
Fein finally spoke, slower this time.
"…Takashi is doing everything he can."
"With help from the Wolfbeasts, they're controlling the situation—for now."
Saito took a step forward immediately.
"…I need to go there."
Fein's expression turned firm.
"…No."
"You're not going anywhere."
"You need to stay here until things stabilize."
Saito stopped.
For a moment, he didn't respond.
Then—
"…I need to."
His voice was quieter now.
"…This is all my fault."
Everyone in the room went silent.
Saito's hands tightened slightly at his sides.
"…If I had been more careful…"
"This wouldn't have happened."
He lowered his head.
"…I always followed my instincts…"
"…and look what that led to."
Slowly—
Saito knelt down.
The room felt heavier instantly.
Kaito's eyes narrowed slightly.
Bomb looked away.
Takeru stayed still, ears lowered.
Fein's expression softened just a fraction, but his voice remained firm.
"…Kneeling won't fix anything."
He stepped closer.
"…Right now, Lorum doesn't need guilt."
"…It needs a leader who can think clearly."
A heavy silence followed as Saito remained kneeling, staring at the floor, while the weight of everything happening across his territories pressed down on him at once.
Fein stood quietly for a moment, watching Saito remain kneeling.
Then he finally spoke.
"…My people still trust you."
Saito slowly lifted his head.
"…What?"
Fein continued, tone steady.
"…Actually, everyone does."
"They're not lost."
"They're just shaken."
He pointed slightly toward the map on the table.
"…They need you to bring them back onto the right path."
Saito stared at him, conflicted.
"…Then how are you and the other mayors not falling for it?"
Fein scoffed lightly.
"…You think I'm stupid?"
He crossed his arms.
"…A silly idiot kid trying to rob our money?"
"…That's impossible."
A brief pause followed.
Fein exhaled.
"…Right now, the village needs you."
"You still have support."
Saito slowly stood up from his kneeling position.
Kaito stepped closer and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"…You still have us."
Bomb gave a small nod.
"…Same."
Takeru's ears perked slightly.
"…We're not done yet."
Saito looked at each of them for a moment.
Then slowly, his expression changed.
The hesitation faded.
A faint determined smile formed.
"…Then let's give Joshua a hell."
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…Finally."
Bomb cracked his knuckles.
"…Now that sounds better."
Takeru lowered his stance slightly, ready.
Fein watched them quietly, then nodded once.
"…Good."
"…Because this time, you're not fighting alone."