Inside the bandits' camp...
Several wooden tables were piled high with coins, jewelry, and sacks of supplies stolen from nearby villagers.
Bandits laughed as they counted their loot.
"We're rich, boys!"
Mugs of beer clashed together.
"Cheers!"
At the center of the camp sat their leader, a broad man with a long scar running across one eye.
He scooped a handful of coins into a bag and grinned.
"Now this..."
"...is a good haul."
He stood up and raised his mug.
"Let's move on to the next village!"
The camp erupted into cheers.
"Yeah!"
"More money!"
"More beer!"
From outside the camp—
A voice cut through the celebration.
"Hey."
The laughter stopped.
Every bandit turned toward the entrance.
General Darren walked into the camp alone, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
The scarred leader smirked.
"...Well."
"General Darren."
Darren's expression remained cold.
"By the order of His Majesty..."
"...you are all under arrest."
The leader scratched his beard.
"...Oh yeah?"
One of the younger bandits eagerly stepped forward.
"Boss!"
"Let me take him!"
The leader smacked the back of his head.
"You idiot."
"He'd kill you in an instant."
The younger bandit immediately backed away.
Darren slowly drew his sword.
Shing...
He pointed the blade toward the group.
"So..."
"What's your answer..."
"...bandits?"
The scarred leader smirked.
"Heh."
"Surround him, boys."
At once, the bandits spread out.
Within seconds, Darren was encircled from every direction.
Weapons were raised.
Swords.
Axes.
Clubs.
The scarred leader folded his arms.
"Let's see if the General lives up to his reputation."
One bandit charged first.
"Die!"
Darren didn't move until the last second.
He caught the man's wrist.
Grab!
With a sharp twist, he threw the bandit over his shoulder.
Boom!
The bandit crashed onto the ground.
Before Darren could release his grip—
Another attacker rushed in from the side.
Darren stepped forward.
He grabbed the second bandit by the front of his shirt.
Lifted him into the air.
Then—
Slam!
He drove him straight into the ground.
Dust burst upward.
The remaining bandits instinctively took a step back, realizing the royal general was every bit as dangerous as his reputation suggested.
Two bandits rushed Darren at the same time.
"Get him!"
Darren reacted instantly.
He caught one by the leg.
Then seized the other by the head.
With a powerful swing—
Bang!
He slammed their heads together.
Both men collapsed to the ground.
Another bandit charged from behind.
Darren stepped aside.
His hand shot forward.
He grabbed the attacker by the throat.
Without hesitation, he drove him into another charging bandit.
Boom!
Both men tumbled across the dirt.
Darren stood in the center of the camp.
His gaze swept across the remaining outlaws.
"There is..."
"...nowhere left to run."
The scarred leader frowned.
"Attack him, boys!"
The hesitation vanished.
More bandits rushed forward from every direction.
Darren slowly drew his sword.
Shing...
The polished blade reflected the firelight.
He lowered his stance.
Ready to meet the entire gang head-on.
Darren tightened his grip on his sword.
He took a single step forward.
Then—
Whoosh!
He swung the blade in a wide circle.
The force of the swing created a powerful gust.
The bandits charged anyway.
Then when they almost close to General Darren.....
The wave of air crashed into them.
Boom!
One after another, the attackers were thrown backward.
Some rolled across the ground.
Others slammed into crates and fences.
Darren lowered his sword.
"...Is that all you've got?"
The scarred leader clicked his tongue.
"Retreat!"
"Move!"
The remaining bandits immediately turned and fled toward the forest.
Darren pointed his sword after them.
"Hey!"
"I'm not finished with you yet!"
The leader smirked as he ran.
"We'll meet again, General—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
His eyes widened.
Every one of his escaping men was already on the ground.
Bomb stood with his fists crossed.
Kaito calmly held another bandit down with one foot.
Rin rested his scythe on his shoulder while the last bandit struggled beneath him.
"...What?"
Before the leader could react—
A sword gently rested against his throat.
He slowly turned his head.
Saito stood beside him with a calm smile.
"I got him, General."
Darren glanced over.
Then scoffed.
"...I didn't need your help."
An hour later...
The sound of wagon wheels echoed through the forest.
Several royal soldiers arrived with prison carriages.
One by one, the captured bandits were loaded inside.
Chains rattled as the doors were locked.
The scarred leader glared at Darren.
"This isn't over."
Darren ignored him.
The carriage doors slammed shut.
Bang!
The soldiers began escorting the prisoners back toward Roma Village.
Saito stretched his arms.
"Nice moves back there, General."
Darren glanced at him before letting out a scoff.
"Hmph."
"I'm going to report to His Majesty."
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Bomb watched him leave.
"Doesn't he know we made his job a little easier?"
Saito smiled.
"Don't take him too seriously."
"He'll like us..."
"...eventually."
Rin chuckled.
"Maybe..."
"...never."
Bomb laughed.
Kaito simply shook his head.
"We'll find out."
The Blue Scarf crew followed behind Darren as the group made their way back through the forest toward the royal mansion under the quiet night sky.
Back at the royal mansion...
The Blue Scarf crew gathered once again in the living room.
Fanny looked up as they entered.
"So..."
"How did it go?"
Saito smiled.
"Easy."
"Of course."
Bomb grinned.
"We didn't even break a sweat."
Rin nodded.
"Yep."
Alya let out a small chuckle.
"Sure you all are...."
"I was hoping to test my device in a real fight."
She shrugged.
"Looks like I missed my chance today."
Saito smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry."
"You'll get your chance."
"...Sooner or later."
Alya nodded with a small smile.
"I'll hold you to that."
Saito stretched and let out a yawn.
"Well..."
"It's getting late."
"Let's get some sleep, guys."
Everyone nodded.
"Yeah."
The crew stood and began heading toward the hallway.
Just then, Martha walked over to them.
"Oh..."
"You're already going to sleep?"
Alya nodded.
"We've had a long day."
Saito smiled.
"We need to be ready for tomorrow."
Martha hesitated for a moment.
"Oh..."
"About Roma Spotlight..."
"We've decided to move it to another date."
Saito blinked.
"...Huh?"
"Why?"
Martha let out a small sigh.
"Well..."
"There have been a few issues."
She looked toward the window.
"The speaker is having some problems..."
"...and there are a few other preparations that still aren't finished."
Bomb scratched his head.
"So..."
"No festival tomorrow?"
Martha shook her head.
"I'm afraid not."
Rin shrugged.
"Well..."
"More vacation for us."
Saito laughed.
"I guess that's one way to look at it."
Saito folded his arms.
"Alright, guys."
"Tomorrow..."
"Let's walk around the village."
Everyone nodded.
"Sounds good."
Kaito looked at Saito.
"We can leave in the morning..."
"...if you can wake up early."
Saito immediately pointed at himself.
"Hey."
"I wake up earlier than all of you."
Bomb smirked.
"Sure you do."
Rin nodded with a grin.
"Absolutely."
Alya covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Fanny giggled.
Saito crossed his arms.
"...Whatever."
He turned around dramatically.
"I'm going to bed."
With that, he stomped down the hallway toward his room.
The others watched him go.
Bomb laughed.
"See you tomorrow, Captain."
Saito waved a hand without looking back as he disappeared into his room, while the rest of the crew continued laughing before heading to their own rooms for the night.