The woman adjusted her coat and looked toward the exit.
"Now..."
"If you excuse me."
She turned around and started walking.
Step.
Step.
Before she could reach the door—
A scythe lowered in front of her.
Rin stood there with a grin.
"Oh no you don't."
The woman stopped.
She slowly looked at the blade blocking her path.
"...Seriously?"
"We already made a deal."
Rin shrugged.
"Yeah."
"And we appreciate the information."
"But letting you walk away right after?"
"No chance."
The woman looked past him toward Saito.
"You heard him."
"I gave you what you wanted."
Saito walked closer.
His expression remained calm.
"Yes."
"We made a deal."
The woman relaxed slightly.
"Then let me go."
Saito shook his head.
"But..."
"You will bring us to him."
The woman's eyes narrowed.
"...You never said that."
Saito smiled faintly.
"I didn't."
"But you said you would tell us where your leader is."
"And the easiest way to confirm that..."
"...is for you to take us there."
The woman stared at him.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Then she sighed.
"...Fine."
"Have it your way."
She walked past Rin.
"But don't blame me if you regret following me."
Rin moved his scythe back onto his shoulder.
"We'll take that chance."
Alya looked at her device.
"So..."
"We have a guide now."
Bomb chuckled.
"From enemy to tour guide."
The woman looked back at them.
"...You people are strange."
Saito smiled.
"We hear that a lot."
The Blue Scarf crew prepared to leave Morax Village once again, following their new unwilling guide toward the assassin company hidden beyond the village.
Kaito stood outside the house.
He looked at the simple structure in front of him.
It wasn't what he expected.
No giant fortress.
No hidden underground base.
Just a quiet house away from the chaos of the world.
Kaito glanced at Void.
"So..."
"You live here?"
Void nodded.
"Yes."
Kaito looked around.
"I could leak this out."
"I could tell everyone where the Fourth Noctarion lives."
Void looked at him without emotion.
"Then be my guest."
Kaito blinked.
"...You're not worried?"
"No."
Void turned toward the house.
"My first job was to bring you back."
He walked inside.
"But my second job..."
"...is the reason I came here."
Kaito followed him with his eyes.
"And what is that?"
Void stopped.
"You'll see."
Before Kaito could ask anything else—
The sound of footsteps approached.
An old blind man wearing a dark robe entered the room, holding his cane.
"Sir Void."
"The preparations are almost ready."
"But..."
He sighed.
"They keep changing the date."
"It is almost as if they already know our plans."
Void remained silent for a moment.
Then spoke calmly.
"That old man..."
"Alpha."
"He continues interfering."
The blind man nodded.
"Indeed."
Void looked toward him.
"How about you deal with him?"
Kaito immediately looked at Void.
"In your dream."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Void answered.
"I was joking."
"I won't send you to your death."
Kaito stared at him.
"...You actually joke?"
Void ignored the comment.
A small device on the table suddenly activated.
Beep.
A blue light appeared.
A hologram slowly formed in the air.
Void looked at it.
"Someone wants to talk to you."
Kaito turned away.
"I don't care."
Void calmly pressed the button.
The hologram became clearer.
A young girl's face appeared.
Her eyes glowed with a faint yellow light.
"Uncle Void..."
"Are you there?"
Void looked at the hologram.
"I'm here."
"...With Kaito."
The girl's eyes widened.
"Kaito?"
Kaito looked at the hologram.
"...Hi, Skyrax."
For a moment, Skyrax froze.
Then—
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"How dare you..."
"You left us, Kaito!"
Her voice shook.
"We were scared!"
Kaito looked away.
"It seems only you were."
Skyrax shook her head quickly.
"That's a lie!"
"They all care!"
"They just..."
"They don't show it!"
Her tears continued falling.
Kaito sighed.
"Yes, yes."
"I'm sorry."
Skyrax wiped her eyes.
Then suddenly smiled.
"Now that you're back..."
"I'll make a tea party."
"Just for you."
She leaned closer to the hologram.
"The tea will be the same one you like."
Kaito looked at her for a moment.
Then a small smile appeared.
"...I would be delighted to."
Skyrax smiled happily.
"Good."
"I'll prepare everything."
The hologram slowly flickered.
Void watched silently, his expression unchanged.
Kaito glanced at him.
"..."
For once, the room was not filled with missions, orders, or enemies.
Only a quiet reminder of the people Kaito had left behind.
The hologram flickered softly.
Skyrax wiped away the last of her tears.
Then suddenly, her eyes brightened.
"Wait."
"I'll come there."
Void looked at the hologram.
"You don't need to."
"Kaito will go there by himself."
Skyrax looked surprised.
"Then..."
"I'll wait."
Kaito lowered his gaze.
The room became quiet.
His fingers tightened slightly.
"I'm afraid..."
"...I won't."
Skyrax blinked.
"Huh?"
"But why?"
Kaito stayed silent for a moment.
Then he looked at the hologram.
"I'm sorry..."
"To both of you."
"And to all the Noctarions."
His voice remained calm.
"But..."
"I already found my new..."
"...family."
Skyrax's expression changed.
She already knew who he meant.
"That brat..."
"Blue Scarf."
Her voice became sharper.
"What makes him so important?"
"You've been with us for so long."
"We fought together."
"We trained together."
"We survived together."
She clenched her fist.
"How can he replace us?"
Kaito shook his head.
"He didn't."
Skyrax froze.
Kaito looked toward the window.
"Nothing can replace what I had with you all."
"But..."
"Nothing can change how I see him either."
His expression softened slightly.
"I want to be with him."
"I want to fight beside him."
"I want to stay with him."
Silence followed.
Skyrax looked away.
"So..."
"You chose him."
"Rather than us."
Kaito closed his eyes.
"...I do."
"But..."
He opened them again.
"You are still my annoying partners."
Skyrax immediately frowned.
"I'm not annoying."
Kaito stared at her.
"...You are."
"I am not!"
For a moment, the tension disappeared.
Then Skyrax sighed.
"So..."
"There's nothing we can do to change your mind?"
Kaito shook his head.
"I'm afraid not."
Skyrax looked disappointed.
Kaito continued.
"One day..."
"He will become the strongest gangster."
"He may have to fight all of you..."
"...to achieve his dream."
Void looked at Kaito.
"That kid..."
"Wants to become King of Gangsters?"
Kaito nodded.
"Yes."
"That's why..."
"One day, we will meet again."
"With all of you."
Skyrax stared at him.
Then slowly smiled.
"Fine."
"Bring him."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'll just kill him..."
"...and take you back."
Kaito sighed.
"...You really haven't changed."
Void remained silent beside them, watching the conversation without showing any emotion.
But the room carried something different.
For the first time since Kaito returned...
The Noctarions weren't speaking to a traitor.
They were speaking to someone they had lost.
The hologram flickered.
Skyrax wiped her face and forced a smile.
"Fine."
"I have some work to do."
She pointed toward Kaito through the hologram.
"But don't think this conversation is over."
Kaito gave a small nod.
"I know."
Skyrax looked at him for another moment.
Then the hologram started fading.
"See you later, Kaito."
The connection disappeared.
Beep.
The room became quiet again.
Kaito sat there silently.
His eyes lowered toward the floor.
For a long time, he didn't move.
"..."
His hands rested on his knees.
A question kept returning to his mind.
Did he make the right choice?
He had spent years with the Noctarions.
They were the people who trained him.
The people who understood him.
The people who stood beside him when he had nothing else.
But now...
He had another place.
Another group.
Another person he wanted to stand beside.
Kaito closed his eyes.
"..."
Footsteps approached.
Void stood near the doorway.
His expression remained unchanged.
"You can stay here."
Kaito looked up.
Void continued.
"Until I finish my mission."
"You are in no condition to help me after all."
Kaito looked at him.
"You don't need my help?"
"No."
Void answered immediately.
"Not for this."
Kaito stared at him.
For a moment, he expected something else.
A warning.
An order.
A comment.
But Void simply turned around.
He walked toward the door.
Kaito watched him leave.
"Void."
Void stopped.
Kaito hesitated.
"..."
But no words came.
Void looked back slightly.
"Rest."
Then he walked away.
The door closed.
Click.
Kaito remained alone in the room.
The quietness returned.
But this time...
It felt different.