Marquis stood proudly at the center of the stage.
"...And that concludes today's performances."
He smiled warmly at the thousands gathered before him.
"Thank you all for supporting the Roma Spotlight."
The crowd erupted into applause.
Cheers echoed across the festival grounds as people clapped and whistled.
Marquis raised a hand, waving to the visitors.
"Thank you! Enjoy the rest of the festival!"
Meanwhile—
Saito and Kaito pushed through the crowd as quickly as they could.
People stepped aside in confusion as the two hurried toward the stage.
Kaito glanced ahead.
"...Are we gonna make it?"
Saito kept moving without slowing down.
"...Almost there."
They squeezed between groups of spectators, their eyes fixed on the stage.
Up above—
Marquis was still smiling and waving to the crowd.
Just then—
"Dad!"
Marquis turned toward the voice.
"Martha?"
Martha hurried onto the stage, breathing heavily after forcing her way through the crowd.
She stopped in front of him.
"We have to move!"
Marquis blinked.
"...Move?"
Martha nodded urgently.
"Void..."
"He may be targeting you."
Marquis' smile slowly disappeared.
"...I'm the target?"
Before Martha could answer—
Aria stepped onto the stage beside them, her expression just as serious.
"Please, Your Majesty."
"We don't have much time."
Marquis looked between his wife and daughter.
The excitement of the festival suddenly felt very far away.
His expression became solemn as he slowly lowered his hand.
"...Very well."
"Let's leave the stage."
A slow clap echoed across the stage.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The cheerful atmosphere gradually fell silent.
Everyone turned toward the source of the sound.
A lone man walked calmly onto the stage.
He wore a long dark coat.
A grey hat shaded part of his face.
An emotionless white mask hid the rest.
Void.
He stopped a few steps away from Marquis.
"Well done, King Marquis."
Marquis immediately stepped in front of Aria and Martha, shielding them with his body.
"Void..."
His eyes narrowed.
"You have quite the nerve to come this close to the royal family."
Void tilted his head slightly.
"I wouldn't do it..."
"...if I didn't already have a plan."
He slowly turned toward the audience.
Thousands of people looked back at him.
Most of them had no idea what was happening.
Void spread his arms slightly.
"What a wonderful performance, right?"
Thinking he was simply another performer, many visitors laughed and cheered.
"Yeah!"
"One more!"
"What a cool costume!"
Void gave a small nod before turning back to Marquis.
"So..."
"You want to know why I'm here?"
Marquis didn't lower his guard.
"I'm listening."
Void's masked face remained unreadable.
"My objective is simple."
"To bring Roma City under Noctarion's control."
He paused.
"But conquering a city isn't easy."
"So..."
"The perfect way is—"
"Stop, Void!"
A familiar voice rang across the stage.
Everyone turned.
Saito emerged from the crowd with Kaito beside him, both stepping onto the stage without hesitation.
Saito's eyes locked onto Void.
"It's over."
"We're not letting you do this."
Void looked toward Saito.
His white mask remained completely still.
No surprise.
No anger.
No excitement.
"...I thought my men had already killed you."
A brief pause.
His gaze shifted to Kaito.
"...It seems you've gotten your friend back."
Kaito stepped forward until he stood beside Saito.
His expression was calm.
"Stop this, Void."
"I don't remember Noctarion ever doing something like this."
Void looked at him in silence for a moment.
Then answered in the same flat voice.
"...Times change."
"It's a new era."
"If no one moves..."
"...nothing changes."
Kaito frowned.
"So this is your answer?"
Void gave a slight nod.
"...Someone has to do something."
His eyes moved from Kaito back to the royal family.
"And I chose to be that someone."
The stage fell silent once more.
Saito tightened his grip on his sword.
"This isn't change."
"It's just taking something that isn't yours."
Void's head tilted slightly.
"...Call it whatever you like."
"It doesn't change what happens next."
Void slowly raised one hand.
A simple flick of his fingers.
At once—
Figures dropped from the rooftops.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Black-clad assassins landed among every section of the crowd.
Their blades gleamed beneath the festival lights.
For a heartbeat—
Silence.
Then—
"S-Someone help!"
"They're assassins!"
"Run!"
Panic spread through the spectators.
People pushed past one another, trying to escape.
Children cried.
Merchants abandoned their stalls.
The joyful atmosphere vanished in an instant.
Norway and his officers rushed toward the stage.
"Police!" Norway shouted.
"Evacuate every civilian! Move them away from the square!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Sakura immediately took command.
"You heard him!"
"Everyone, this way!"
"Stay calm!"
The officers spread throughout the crowd, guiding civilians toward the exits while keeping the assassins occupied.
On the stage, Void watched the chaos without the slightest change in expression.
"...Good."
He slowly turned his masked face toward Marquis.
"Now..."
"...let's finish this."
Void raised one hand.
Between his fingers—
A single black card appeared.
Without warning—
Flick!
The card shot toward Marquis like a bullet.
Marquis' eyes widened.
Before it could reach him—
"Your Highness!"
Saito burst onto the stage.
Clang!
He swung his sword, knocking the card away just inches from Marquis.
The card spun through the air before embedding itself into a wooden pillar.
Saito kept his stance low.
"...You're not touching him."
Void remained silent.
Then, with one smooth motion, he pulled a black cape from beneath his coat and tossed it over himself.
The cloth completely concealed his figure.
Saito didn't hesitate.
He rushed forward.
"I've got you!"
Thrust!
His sword pierced straight through the cape.
"...Got—"
The words caught in his throat.
The body beneath the cape suddenly dissolved.
Flutter!
Flutter!
Hundreds of pigeons burst from beneath the cloth, filling the air with a storm of wings.
The cape drifted harmlessly to the stage.
Saito looked around in confusion.
"...What?"
A calm voice came from behind him.
"You think I'm like all the enemies you've fought?"
Saito's eyes widened.
He spun around—
Too late.
Void stood directly behind him.
His emotionless white mask stared back at him.
"...You just fought a Noctarion, kid."
Before Saito could react—
Bang!
Void's kick slammed into Saito's side.
The force launched him off the stage.
Crash!
He smashed through the wall of a nearby building, wood exploding in every direction as dust filled the air.
The crash echoed across the square.
Kaito's eyes widened.
"Saito!"
He took a step forward, his gaze snapping toward Void.
"...You dare."
Void stood calmly at the edge of the stage.
His white mask showed no emotion.
"You turned your back on us."
A brief pause.
"Now face the consequence."
He bent his knees—
Then leaped onto a nearby rooftop.
Before disappearing into the darkness, he flicked both hands.
Several black cards shot through the air toward the stage.
Marquis stepped forward.
"Hold on."
He raised his right hand.
"Diverse!"
Red auris surged into his palm.
With a sweeping motion, a crimson wave burst outward.
Whoosh!
The incoming cards were blown away before they could reach anyone.
A heartbeat later—
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The cards exploded harmlessly in midair, flashes of fire lighting the night sky.
Smoke drifted above the festival.
Kaito narrowed his eyes toward the rooftops.
"...You're not getting away."
Without another word, he jumped onto the nearest roof.
His figure disappeared into the darkness as he chased after Void.