The truth was finally out.
The crowd saw Pompey being corroded by Ether, then ruthlessly kicked to the ground by Lucius.
They witnessed Lucius's cold betrayal—joining forces with the city's corporate elites to destroy the Cinder Lake and plotting to dominate the Old Oil Field.
"Damn it, that bastard Lucius lied to all of us…"
"A traitor—not just to Pompey and the Vanquishers, but to the entire Motorcycle Clan! We can't let him get away with this…"
"Caesar was right. It really was Lucius who killed Pompey—there's video proof. Let's see how he talks his way out of this now."
"No wonder Uncle Pompey didn't come back with Lucius. He must've been corrupted by Ether. With damage that severe, he's probably already turned into an Ethereal…"
"Caesar, Caesar! What happened to Pompey? Is he really dead?"
"Caesar, didn't you bring Uncle Pompey back?"
...
As the truth came to light, the onlookers, the remaining Vanquishers, and even members of other gangs bombarded Caesar with questions.
All Caesar could do was sigh, "By the time we got there, it was already too late…"
Hearing this, the remaining Vanquishers erupted in anger. Their leader Pompey had really been killed by Lucius and Mors in the Hollows.
"Lucius, Mors—get over here and die!"
"Catch those two traitors! They have to pay! Damn it, we've got to avenge Boss Pompey…"
"Huh? Where did they go?"
"They were just here! How did they vanish so fast? Did anyone see Lucius and Mors?"
"Find them—don't let those two get away!"
...
Everyone had been so focused on the footage Caesar brought back that no one noticed Lucius and Mors slipping away, nor expected them to flee so quickly.
By the time they realized it, Lucius and Mors were already gone.
With a furious shout from the Vanquishers, their remaining members spread out in a rage, swearing to hunt down the two traitors no matter what.
It wasn't just them.
Even the surrounding spectators turned against Lucius and Mors, rallying behind Caesar and the Vanquishers, searching everywhere for the fugitives.
"Look, Lucius's coat is over here! They must've run in this direction—everyone, follow me! Don't let them escape!"
"Go, go, go! They used us like pawns and dared to lie to our faces—they're dead meat...!"
"Whoever catches those traitors first will get 500,000 Dennies—courtesy of the Vanquishers!"
"Out of my way! I'm getting them first! I don't care about the money—I'm doing this for justice...!"
...
As someone spotted the coat left behind by Lucius and Mors, the crowd and Vanquishers surged in that direction. Some even jumped onto their motorcycles to speed ahead...
In moments, chaos erupted across the competition grounds.
Billy, caught up in the momentum, shouted, "Boss Caesar, let's go help catch those bastards!"
Caesar nodded, "Alright—Lucy, Piper, Lighter... Let's move!"
But before she could take off, Lucy stepped in to block her.
"What are you doing, Lucy?" Caesar asked, confused.
"You idiot," Lucy snapped, "who leaves a coat behind when they're running for their life? You really believe Lucius and Mors ran that way?"
Caesar frowned. "What are you saying?"
Lucy scoffed, "That coat is just bait. If I'm right, they went the other way—toward the city. They can't stay in the outskirts anymore, so they'll head into the city to meet the tycoons who promised them support."
Hearing this, Nicole smiled and nodded. "Exactly what I thought. No way those two would leave clues while fleeing."
Clorinde narrowed her eyes. "Caesar, we don't have time to waste. Let's go get them."
As the heir to the Shadow Hunters, capturing fleeing traitors was right in Clorinde's wheelhouse.
Before her words even faded, Clorinde was already astride her motorcycle.
Caesar and Billy moved quickly to their bikes, ready to ride with her.
Before setting out, Caesar turned to Piper and Lucy, "Clorinde, Billy, and I will go first. You two take the truck and bring the others."
Piper yawned, "Don't worry—we'll catch up soon."
Lucy huffed, "Once we've caught Lucius and Mors, I'm settling the score with you. That joke you pulled in the Hollows—completely out of line…"
She still hadn't let go of how she was tricked after hearing Caesar had died. It was infuriating.
With that, the group took off, heading in the direction Lucy had pointed.
...
At the same time, not far from the race's starting point, a Vanquishers vehicle sat parked behind a nearby hill.
On that hilltop, Lucius and Mors weren't in a hurry to flee.
They were calmly watching the chaos below through binoculars, observing the crowd and Motorcycle Clan members they had just tricked.
Seeing everyone chasing off in the wrong direction, Mors laughed, "Lucius, you're something else. Just a simple trick, and those idiots are running in circles. They think they can catch us? Not a chance."
Though they had escaped for now, Lucius didn't look pleased.
"Damn it... Caesar. Damn Sons of Calydon... How are they this difficult? They managed to ruin such a flawless plan…"
He was furious.
Back at the Cinder Lake, when Pompey fell, Lucius thought everything was going perfectly.
Then he heard the Sons of Calydon had arrived. So, he threw Pompey into the lake, letting Ether consume him and turn him into an Ethereal, hoping Pompey would take care of them himself.
That way, the plan would succeed and his biggest threat would be eliminated, easing the path forward.
But things didn't go as expected.
Caesar and her group actually defeated the Ethereal Pompey and walked out of the Hollows alive.
Lucius turned to glance at the Hollows, his face darkening further when he saw no changes.
"So Caesar really did blow up those Ether crystals... Damn it, Caesar... I swear, one day, I'll come back and finish this!"