High above Roma Village—
On the rooftop of an old building—
Void stood in silence.
His white mask reflected the glow of the festival lights below.
Beside him stood the blind old man.
On his other side, the tigerbeast woman watched the crowd with folded arms.
From above—
The Roma Spotlight looked peaceful.
Children laughed.
Music echoed through the streets.
The stage remained brightly lit.
The tigerbeast woman let out a quiet scoff.
"...Look at them."
"Still enjoying their pathetic festival."
She looked across the cheering crowd.
"They don't even realize..."
"...the danger that's coming."
Void remained silent.
His gaze slowly swept across the village.
Not the stage.
Not the audience.
The surroundings.
After a long moment, he finally spoke.
"...They're prepared."
The tigerbeast woman glanced at him.
Void pointed toward several intersections.
"They've deployed more soldiers around the corners."
His eyes shifted again.
Several figures in white uniforms stood among the crowd, blending in while keeping watch.
"...And they have police officers stationed throughout the festival."
The tigerbeast woman nodded slowly.
"...Hmm."
"I see."
The blind old man remained quiet, listening.
Void looked at both of them.
His voice was calm.
"...Take your positions."
A brief pause.
Then—
"...The show..."
"...is about to begin."
Without another word—
The tigerbeast woman disappeared into the darkness.
The blind old man quietly walked in the opposite direction.
Void remained alone on the rooftop.
Looking down at the lights of the Roma Spotlight—
Waiting for the first move.
The narrow alley was much quieter than the festival outside.
The sound of music and cheering still reached the area, but only faintly.
Here, the lantern light barely reached.
The walls of the nearby buildings blocked most of the glow, leaving the alley covered in shadows.
Two figures stood near the end of the path.
One held a young woman tightly by the arm.
A dark cloth covered her face.
She struggled against their grip.
"Let me go!"
Her voice echoed through the empty alley.
One assassin glanced around nervously.
"She's making too much noise."
The other clicked his tongue.
"Calm down."
He tightened his grip slightly.
"Sir Void said to keep her here until the right moment."
The first assassin nodded.
"Right."
"We just wait."
The woman glared at them through the cloth.
Even without seeing her face, her anger was obvious.
Then—
Outside the alley.
Saito walked through the crowd beside Scrapper.
The festival continued around them.
People laughed.
Children ran between stalls.
Performers prepared for the next show.
But Saito's eyes kept moving.
Searching.
"Martha..."
He looked around again.
"Where could she have gone?"
Scrapper adjusted his hood slightly, his hidden mechanical tentacles moving carefully beneath the fabric.
"I don't see her either."
Saito stopped.
Then his eyes shifted.
Farther away from the festival lights—
A narrow alley.
Two people standing inside.
And someone being held.
His expression changed.
"...Wait."
Scrapper looked at him.
"What?"
Saito didn't answer.
He slowly walked closer.
The voices became clearer.
"Please..."
The girl's voice.
Saito narrowed his eyes.
He moved to the corner of the building and looked around.
Then he saw it.
A person being held hostage.
The dark cloth was pulled away.
The face was revealed.
Saito's eyes widened.
"...Martha?"
Martha looked up.
Her expression changed immediately.
"Saito!"
The assassin holding her froze.
His eyes widened.
"...Crap."
The other assassin immediately turned around.
"Blue Scarf..."
For a moment, nobody moved.
The festival continued behind them.
The music.
The laughter.
The celebration.
All of it felt distant.
One assassin quickly stepped forward, forcing a fake smile.
"There's nothing to see here, kiddo."
He raised his hands slightly.
"Just walk away."
Saito stared at him.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
He stepped forward into the alley.
"What you have there..."
His eyes moved toward Martha.
"...is my friend."
The assassin's smile disappeared.
Martha looked at Saito.
"Saito..."
Scrapper walked beside him, his eyes becoming sharper.
The assassin glanced between them.
"You're really making this difficult."
Saito continued walking.
Slowly.
One step at a time.
"Let her go."
The assassin laughed quietly.
"You really think you can just walk in here and give orders?"
The shadows around the alley seemed to grow heavier.
Saito's hand moved toward the handle of his sword.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"Because that's exactly what I'm doing."
The assassin's expression hardened.
The assassin's expression darkened.
Then—
He slowly lifted one hand.
And snapped his fingers.
Snap.
From the shadows of the alley—
More figures stepped out.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Assassins surrounded Saito from every direction.
The narrow alley suddenly felt much smaller.
Martha's eyes widened.
"Saito..."
Saito didn't move.
He simply stood there.
Silent.
Calm.
The assassin in front of him smiled.
"Now you understand."
"You walked right into our trap."
He raised his hand.
"Kill him."
The moment the words left his mouth—
One assassin exploded forward.
His blade flashed toward Saito.
But before it could reach him—
A mechanical tentacle shot out.
Bang!
The tentacle wrapped around the assassin's body.
The assassin's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
Scrapper pulled.
Then—
"Sorry, mate."
He swung his arm.
The assassin was thrown across the alley.
Crash!
He smashed through a nearby window and disappeared inside the building.
The remaining assassins froze.
One of them stared at Scrapper.
"...Calamity Table member."
His expression changed.
"Scrapper."
"He is here too."
Scrapper's tentacles moved slowly behind him.
A grin appeared on his face.
"Finally."
"Some guide to lead me to Void."
Saito glanced around at the surrounding assassins.
Then smiled slightly.
"Looks like..."
"You guys are outnumbered."
The assassin frowned.
"Outnumbered?"
Saito looked around.
"Yeah."
"Not in numbers."
A pause.
"In strength."
The assassin's jaw tightened.
He clearly didn't like those words.
Then suddenly—
He turned.
A gun appeared in his hand.
And he pointed it directly at Martha.
Martha froze.
"Saito..."
Saito's expression immediately changed.
"Wait."
The assassin pressed the weapon closer.
"Now..."
"Walk away."
The alley became completely silent.
Saito stared at him.
His hands tightened slightly.
Scrapper's expression also darkened.
"Just let her go, mate."
The assassin shook his head.
"If we did that..."
"Sir Void would be disappointed."
Saito's eyes narrowed.
"You wouldn't dare."
The assassin smiled.
"Try me."
His finger slowly moved toward the trigger.
More footsteps echoed behind Saito and Scrapper.
More assassins appeared.
Blocking their escape.
The tension reached its limit.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then—
A flash of silver.
Slash.
The assassin holding the gun froze.
A blade rested against his throat.
Blood splashing everywhere.
His weapon fell from his hand.
Everyone turned.
Standing beside Martha—
Was Kaito.
His expression was calm.
Cold.
"You only can kill the target..."
"...that's the rule."
Saito's eyes widened.
"Kaito?"
The assassins stared at him.
One of them stepped forward in disbelief.
"Sir Kaito..."
"What are you doing?"
Kaito looked at them.
His eyes were disappointed.
"That's why..."
"You all were never appointed as Noctarion."
A pause.
"Such failures."
The assassin clenched his fists.
"Sir Void won't be happy to hear this."
Kaito didn't even look at him.
"Tell him."
"I don't mind at all."
Before anyone could react—
Someone suddenly rushed forward.
And hugged Kaito from the side.
Kaito froze.
"Saito..."
Saito held onto him tightly.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Welcome back, old friend."
For a moment—
Kaito said nothing.
Then a small smile formed.
"...It's good to be back with you, captain."