The next morning...
The royal mansion was quiet.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the marble halls.
Saito wandered through the corridors with his hands in his pockets.
He let out a small sigh.
"...I kind of miss Lorum."
He smiled to himself.
"I wonder what everyone's doing back there."
As he turned a corner—
he heard voices coming from a nearby room.
Saito slowed his footsteps.
"...Hmm?"
He quietly leaned against the wall and peeked inside.
King Marquis stood near a large window.
Across from him was an elderly man.
The old man wore a blue hat and leaned lightly on a wooden cane.
The two appeared to be having a calm conversation.
Saito narrowed his eyes.
"...Who's that?"
Marquis didn't look worried.
He even seemed relaxed.
"So..."
"Not an enemy."
Still—
Saito could feel something unusual.
A heavy aura radiated from the old man.
It wasn't aggressive.
It was controlled.
Quiet.
Yet undeniably powerful.
Saito's expression grew more serious.
"...He's strong."
Inside the room, Marquis folded his arms.
"So..."
"He's here?"
The old man gave a slow nod.
"He is."
Marquis let out a weary sigh.
"But we can't just cancel the event."
"My people have been waiting for Roma Spotlight."
The old man rested both hands on his cane.
"If the event continues..."
"He could cause a great deal of destruction."
Marquis lowered himself into his chair.
"...But why is he here?"
"Why isn't he at the Noctarion base?"
The old man slowly shook his head.
"We don't know yet, Your Highness."
"But the Balance Table is doing everything we can to stop it."
He paused before continuing.
"Your kingdom was one of the first to agree to our establishment."
Marquis smiled faintly.
"Well..."
"You gangsters are different from the rest."
"That's why I agreed."
Outside the room, Saito remained silent.
The words "Balance Table" and "Noctarion" immediately caught his attention as he continued listening from the hallway.
Marquis nodded thoughtfully.
"If that's what you recommend..."
"I'll discuss it with my advisor."
The old man gave a small nod.
"Very well."
Marquis leaned back in his chair.
"Anyway..."
"I met a young gangster."
"He reminds me a little of you."
"Very friendly."
The old man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Blue Scarf, isn't it?"
Marquis looked surprised.
"You know him?"
The old man nodded once.
"He's one of the reasons I'm here."
He tightened his grip on his cane.
"And..."
"I advise you not to place your complete trust in him..."
"...until I can confirm a few things."
Marquis frowned.
"Why not?"
"He's a good kid."
"He even saved my life once."
The old man remained silent for a moment before answering.
"Sometimes..."
"The kindest people carry the heaviest secrets."
Marquis looked at him quietly, clearly unconvinced, while outside the room Saito continued listening, now realizing that this mysterious elder already knew far more about him than he had expected.
The old man rested both hands on his cane.
"There's another reason."
Marquis looked at him.
"What is it?"
The old man answered calmly.
"He's befriended one of the Calamity Table members."
Marquis frowned.
"Those troublesome people..."
The old man nodded.
"Exactly."
"That's why we must be careful."
He paused for a moment.
"However..."
"One of my allies told me..."
"...he's a good person."
"So..."
"I intend to judge him for myself."
Outside the room—
Saito scratched the back of his head.
"...But I am nice."
A calm voice suddenly came from behind him.
"It's rude..."
"...to listen to other people's conversation."
Saito's eyes widened.
He spun around.
"W-What?!"
The old man was standing right behind him.
Saito immediately looked back into the room.
Marquis was still talking...
...to the old man.
His eyes darted between the two.
"...But..."
"How?"
The old man behind him smiled faintly.
"He's speaking with my clone."
He gave a polite nod.
"Nice to meet you..."
"...Blue Scarf."
Saito swallowed hard.
"...Gulp."
Inside Marquis's room, the old man's clone slowly faded away.
Marquis looked toward the doorway and chuckled.
"So..."
"You heard our conversation."
Saito rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"It was an accident."
The old man looked at him calmly.
"I've heard about you..."
"...from Shiro."
Saito blinked.
"Wait..."
"You know Shiro?"
The old man nodded.
"He recently became a member of the Balance Table."
Saito tilted his head.
"...Balance Table?"
The old man smiled faintly.
"I'll tell you about it..."
"...when you're ready."
Saito thought for a moment before nodding.
"Okay."
The old man extended his hand.
"My name..."
"...is Alpha."
Saito reached out and shook it.
"Nice to meet you..."
"...I'm Saito."
Alpha gave a small nod, his calm eyes studying the young gangster with quiet interest.
Alpha slowly withdrew his hand.
"So..."
"I assume you've already heard about Void."
Saito nodded.
"Yeah."
"I have."
Alpha gave a small nod.
"Good."
He rested both hands on his cane.
"I'm also the consultant of this kingdom..."
"...on behalf of the Balance Table."
Saito nodded again.
"So..."
"You want to stop him?"
A faint smile appeared on Alpha's face.
"In my prime..."
"I could."
"But now..."
"I'm too old for that."
He looked down at his cane.
"And as you can see..."
"I've already disbanded my crew."
Saito looked around the room.
"...Oh."
"So that's why you're alone."
Alpha nodded.
"These days..."
"My role is to guide others."
"Not fight for them."
Marquis quietly listened to the conversation, letting the two continue speaking as the morning light filled the room.
Alpha looked at Saito thoughtfully.
"So..."
"I hope you can prove yourself..."
"...just as you did when you defeated the Calamity Table member, Scrapper."
Saito shook his head.
"That wasn't really me."
"He was the one who changed."
Alpha nodded slowly.
"Then..."
"Do you believe Void can change as well?"
Saito thought for a moment.
"...I don't know."
"I'd have to know him first."
Alpha studied his expression.
"Don't you have the Silent Killer with you?"
Saito blinked.
"Kaito?"
Alpha nodded.
"He can tell you everything about Void."
Saito gave a small shrug.
"Maybe."
"But..."
"He still keeps some secrets."
Alpha smiled faintly.
"That's only natural."
"Void..."
"...was once one of them."
Saito lowered his gaze.
"...I know."
"If he's the Fourth Noctarion..."
"...then he's stronger than Kaito."
Alpha didn't answer immediately.
He simply watched Saito, as if waiting to see what conclusion the young gangster would reach on his own.
Alpha slowly stood up, leaning on his cane.
"Anyway..."
"How about you help His Majesty first?"
Saito looked at him.
"Help with what?"
Alpha glanced toward Marquis.
"It seems..."
"...he has a problem involving Void."
Saito frowned.
"What problem?"
Marquis answered.
"From what we've learned..."
"...the Noctarions are already in this city."
Saito's expression became serious.
"So..."
"It's not just Void?"
Alpha shook his head.
"No."
"The Noctarions operate much like the Balance Table."
"They send one member to each city..."
"...along with supporting forces to assist them."
He looked directly at Saito.
"So..."
"Will you help?"
Saito thought for a brief moment.
Then smiled.
"Well..."
"This city is the home of one of my allies."
"So..."
"I'm in."
Marquis smiled with relief.
"Thank you, Saito."
Alpha gave a small approving nod.
"Then..."
"Let's hope we're not already too late."