Meanwhile...
The alley was silent.
Only the sound of the wind drifted between the buildings.
Scrapper stood alone.
One of his mechanical tentacles held a sealed envelope.
Another loosely held Warren's lifeless body.
Scrapper looked down at the envelope.
"...Hmm."
He opened it.
Inside were several folded documents.
He quickly flipped through each page.
"...Nothing."
He searched for any mention of Void.
Any address.
Any meeting place.
Any clue.
His eyes scanned every line.
"...Is there anything useful in your pocket?"
He paused.
Then glanced at Warren.
"...Oh, sorry."
"...You're already dead."
He reached into Warren's coat anyway.
A few coins.
Some spare ammunition.
Another folded note.
Nothing that revealed Void's location.
Scrapper sighed.
"...Useless."
With a flick of his tentacle, he let Warren's body fall onto the ground.
Thud.
He tucked the recovered documents inside his coat.
"...Void..."
"...You're getting harder to find."
Without another glance, Scrapper turned and disappeared into the darkness, carrying only the documents he had taken, hoping one of them would eventually lead him to the Fourth Noctarion.
The royal carriage continued along the road.
The lights of Roma Village came into view.
One of the royal guards looked toward Martha.
"Your Highness..."
"We're almost at the Royal Mansion."
Martha nodded.
"Good."
Saito looked out the window.
"Staying at a royal mansion..."
"What a dream."
Bomb chuckled.
"Not something I expected when I woke up today."
The carriage slowed before a pair of enormous iron gates.
Royal guards stood on both sides.
As soon as they recognized Martha's carriage—
the gates slowly opened.
Creak...
The carriage rolled inside.
Saito leaned closer to the window.
"...Whoa."
The Royal Mansion stood proudly in the center of the estate.
It was even larger than the mansion Saito owned in Lorum Village.
Its walls were built from polished yellow stone that gleamed beneath the moonlight.
Elegant gold decorations adorned the balconies and pillars.
Beautiful gardens surrounded the mansion, filled with trimmed hedges, colorful flowers, and tall trees swaying gently in the night breeze.
The carriage came to a smooth stop before the grand entrance.
Saito stared at the mansion for another moment.
"...Now that's impressive."
The carriage came to a stop.
A royal guard opened the door.
Martha stepped out first.
Several guards immediately walked to the mansion's entrance.
They pushed open the large double doors.
Creak...
Martha smiled at the Blue Scarf crew.
"This way."
She walked inside.
The crew followed behind her.
The moment they entered—
Saito looked around in amazement.
The interior of the mansion was elegant.
Pure white marble covered the floors and walls.
Golden decorations adorned the pillars, chandeliers, and stair railings.
Everything looked spotless.
A maid with leopard-like ears and a long spotted tail gracefully approached Martha.
She bowed.
"Welcome home, Your Highness."
Martha smiled.
"Thank you."
She looked toward the Blue Scarf crew.
"Could you show our guests to their rooms?"
The beastwoman maid nodded.
"Certainly."
She turned toward Saito and the others.
"This way, everyone."
She politely gestured for the Blue Scarf crew to follow her through the grand halls of the royal mansion.
The leopard beastwoman maid led the Blue Scarf crew through the quiet halls of the royal mansion.
After walking for several minutes, she stopped in a long corridor.
Doors lined both sides of the hallway.
She smiled politely.
"You may all choose whichever room you like."
Saito looked down the corridor.
"Hmm..."
"I'll take the middle one."
He walked to the door and pushed it open.
Click.
The room was spacious.
Moonlight poured in through a glass door leading to a private balcony.
A large, comfortable bed stood in the center of the room.
Near the corner was a wide bathtub carved from polished stone.
A wardrobe and writing desk completed the elegant furnishings.
Saito slowly looked around.
"...Wow."
"This is cool."
Without thinking twice—
he ran toward the bed.
Boing!
He jumped onto it.
The mattress sank beneath him.
Saito laughed.
"...This bed is amazing."
The leopard beastwoman maid bowed politely.
"Lunch will be ready shortly."
"If you need anything, please ring the bell."
With that, she quietly walked away.
Saito stepped back into the hallway and knocked on the next door.
Knock. Knock.
Kaito opened it.
Saito peeked inside.
"So..."
"How's yours?"
Kaito looked around his room.
"Comfy."
Bomb stepped out of his room, followed by Rin, Alya, and Fanny.
Alya looked around the elegant corridor with a bright smile.
"We're actually staying in a royal mansion."
"Can you believe it?"
Rin stretched his arms.
"I think..."
"We could stay here forever."
Saito laughed.
"Nonsense."
Just then, Martha walked down the corridor toward them.
She smiled warmly.
"So..."
"How is everything?"
Bomb gave a thumbs-up.
"Nice."
"And very comfy."
Martha smiled with relief.
"I'm glad you like it."
Saito stretched his arms.
"Anyway..."
"Let's go look around."
The others nodded.
Together, they left the royal mansion and walked toward the center of Roma Village.
The streets were much busier than before.
Visitors filled the roads.
Merchants were setting up stalls.
Children ran through the square while musicians practiced nearby.
Saito looked around.
"Yep..."
"Still the same."
"But there are a lot more visitors."
Kaito's attention drifted toward a large stage in the middle of the village.
Workers were decorating it with banners, flowers, and colorful lanterns.
"So..."
"That's the place."
Fanny nodded.
"Yes."
"Tomorrow night, Roma Spotlight will be held there."
Just then—
the sound of horse hooves echoed down the street.
Henry arrived on horseback, accompanied by several guards.
He smiled as soon as he spotted the group.
"Oh!"
"Saito."
"You're here."
Saito waved.
"Henry."
Henry climbed down from his horse.
"Perfect timing."
"I was just on my way to book a hotel for all of you."
Saito shook his head.
"Oh."
"No need."
Henry blinked.
"...Really?"
"Then where are you staying?"
Saito answered casually.
"The Royal Mansion."
Henry laughed.
"Nonsense."
Saito simply looked at him without smiling.
Henry's expression slowly changed.
"...Wait."
"Seriously?"
Saito nodded.
Henry let out a whistle.
"Wow..."
"How lucky are you."
Saito smirked.
"Well..."
"Lucky is my middle name."
Kaito sighed.
Bomb sighed with him.
"...Sure it is."
Henry smiled and climbed back onto his horse.
"Well..."
"If that's the case..."
"I'll go book a hotel."
Saito nodded.
"Alright."
"See you at the event."
Henry returned the nod.
"See you tomorrow."
With that, he and his guards rode off through the busy streets.
Saito watched him disappear before turning back to his crew.
"Alright, everyone."
"Let's head back."
"And enjoy our royal meal."
Kaito folded his arms.
"I wonder what they'll serve."
Fanny smiled.
"Maybe medium-rare beef..."
"...or salmon."
Alya's eyes lit up.
"Now I'm curious."
"Let's go check it out."
The Blue Scarf crew laughed as they turned around and made their way back toward the royal mansion, eager to see what kind of meal awaited them before the festivities of Roma Spotlight began.
Meanwhile...
In the dark alley where the fight had ended—
Warren's body still lay motionless on the cold stone.
Footsteps echoed through the narrow passage.
Tap...
Tap...
An old blind man slowly approached, using a cane to guide himself.
Several men in black suits followed silently behind him.
They stopped beside Warren's body.
The old man lowered his cane.
He gently poked Warren's shoulder with it.
"...Dead."
He let out a quiet sigh.
"What a waste."
The men in black remained silent.
The old man straightened himself.
"Tell Sir Void..."
"...we've lost him."
One of the suited men bowed.
"Yes, sir."
Without another word, the group turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving the alley empty once again as news of Warren's death began making its way back to the mysterious Fourth Noctarion.