Inside the office, the atmosphere had become quiet again after the long day.
Saito sat across from Harold while the old man calmly sipped his tea.
"…So."
"How's my village compared to yours?"
Harold lowered the cup slightly.
"…Well…"
"Compared to mine…"
He glanced out the office window toward the peaceful village outside.
"…You still have a long way to go."
Saito immediately scoffed.
"…Yeah right."
Harold laughed softly.
"…But."
"Kira would definitely be proud of you."
Saito's expression softened slightly.
A small smile appeared on his face.
For a brief moment—
he looked less like a gang leader and more like the kid Harold once knew.
Then Harold slowly stood up from his chair.
"…Well."
"I should get going."
Saito blinked.
"…You're leaving already?"
"You could stay until tomorrow."
Harold adjusted his old coat calmly.
"…This old man still has a duty."
"…My village needs its knight."
Saito laughed lightly.
"…Hey."
"I'm not a kid anymore."
Harold smiled faintly while walking toward the door.
"…Maybe not."
He placed one hand on the door handle.
"…I'll tell Kira about everything you've accomplished."
Then his expression became gentler.
"…Take care of yourself."
Saito nodded quietly.
"…You too."
Harold gave one final wave before opening the door and leaving the office.
Click.
The room became silent again.
Saito remained seated for a moment, staring at the closed door—
thinking about home for the first time in a long while.
Downstairs in the mansion living room, the atmosphere was relaxed.
Kuro leaned comfortably against the couch while holding a drink.
"…Man."
"That kid always surprises me with something."
Bomb nodded from nearby.
"…Yeah."
"Looks like our captain really is something extraordinary."
Kaito quietly sipped his wine without denying it.
Then—
footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Harold slowly walked down carrying his coat over one shoulder.
The moment Kuro noticed him—
he immediately stood up straight.
"…Lieutenant."
Fein, who had been reading documents nearby, looked over.
"…Leaving already?"
Harold nodded calmly.
"…Yeah."
"I can't stay away too long before my people start asking questions."
Fein gave a small nod.
"…Fair enough."
Harold then looked around the living room toward:
Kaito
Bomb
Takashi
Takeru
Kuro
A faint tired smile appeared on his face.
"…I know Saito can be a handful sometimes."
At the exact same moment—
Kaito and Takashi both thought silently:
He absolutely is.
Harold chuckled softly.
"…Take care of him for me."
Kaito gave a small nod.
Bomb raised one hand confidently.
"…Leave it to us."
Takashi immediately gave a thumbs up.
Takeru smiled warmly.
"…We will."
Harold looked at them quietly for a brief moment—
as if reassuring himself Saito truly had good people around him.
Then he turned and calmly walked toward the mansion exit.
The large doors slowly closed behind him as evening light covered the peaceful village outside.
The blue carriage slowly rolled across the stone road while evening light covered the land of Jokun.
Inside—
Takashi adjusted the map on his lap.
"…We're about to arrive at Morguin Town."
Saito immediately leaned closer to look at the map.
"…Wow."
"Shiro really controls almost half of Jokun territory."
Takashi nodded calmly.
"…Most of his people worship Felin."
Saito tilted his head slightly.
"…Then why don't you and the others worship him too?"
Takashi sighed softly.
"…Let's just say…"
"…I'm not really a fan of devotion like that."
Saito shrugged.
"…Fair enough."
Then Bomb suddenly looked outside.
"…We're here."
The carriage slowly stopped.
Saito pushed the curtain aside—
and immediately froze slightly.
The gates of Morguin Town stood massively before them.
But what truly caught his attention—
was the giant statue standing directly above the entrance.
A young man formed entirely from stone.
Long hair.
Calm expression.
And mist swirling around the statue like living smoke.
Even from a distance—
the statue felt imposing.
Takashi looked toward it calmly.
"…That's Felin."
Saito stared upward in complete awe.
"…Woah…"
"…So that's a Primordeus."
The carriage driver coughed awkwardly.
"…Sorry, gentlemen."
"I can only drop you off here."
Saito nodded while stepping out of the carriage.
"…It's okay."
The group slowly stood before the massive gates of Morguin Town while the mist-covered statue watched silently above them.
As Saito and the others entered Morguin Town—
the atmosphere immediately felt different from the rest of Jokun City.
The roads were perfectly clean.
The buildings stood tall and elegant with white stone architecture covering nearly every street.
Along the roofs and walls—
long carved patterns resembling swirling mist stretched across the structures beautifully.
The entire town almost looked sacred.
Saito slowly turned his head everywhere in amazement.
"…Woah…"
Merchants shouted proudly from market stalls while people moved peacefully through the streets.
Humans.
Wolfbeasts.
Lizardbeasts.
Catbeasts.
All walking together naturally without fear.
Saito blinked repeatedly.
"…There's so many races here…"
Takashi nodded calmly while walking beside him.
"…Some people believe this is the closest remaining piece of the old Jokun Empire."
Saito looked around again quietly.
"…I see…"
For the first time—
he truly understood why White Hat territory felt different from everywhere else.
It didn't feel like gang territory.
It felt like a functioning nation.
Then—
a familiar voice called out.
"…Welcome to Morguin Town, Saito."
Herion approached them calmly wearing his usual composed expression.
Saito immediately smiled.
"…Herion."
"Nice to see you again."
Herion bowed slightly.
"…The pleasure is mine."
He gestured forward politely.
"…Please follow me."
The group followed Herion deeper into town until eventually—
they arrived before a massive white building.
A giant front yard stretched before it while elegant trees lined the stone pathways.
The building itself resembled a luxurious mansion more than a gang headquarters.
Meanwhile in the front yard—
White Hat members were training intensely.
Some practiced swordsmanship.
Others used auris techniques while instructors shouted commands nearby.
The discipline was obvious immediately.
Herion walked toward the entrance and opened the large doors.
"…Please."
"Come inside."
Inside the mansion—
Saito immediately looked around curiously.
The interior was just as elegant as the outside.
White polished floors reflected the warm chandelier light while long silver curtains covered the tall windows.
Even the air smelled fresh.
Takashi quietly adjusted his glasses.
"…This place feels expensive."
Bomb crossed his arms.
"…It probably is."
Then—
a familiar voice echoed from the living room ahead.
"…There you are."
Shiro was already sitting comfortably on a large couch waiting for them.
Mina sat beside him lazily while reading a book.
Saito immediately smiled.
"…Shiro."
The group took their seats across from him.
Shiro leaned back casually.
"…You could've at least sent a letter first."
Saito grinned proudly.
"…I prefer surprise visits."
Mina lowered her book slightly.
"…That sounds like something a troublemaker would say."
Saito pointed proudly at himself.
"…Exactly."
Shiro laughed softly before looking toward Herion.
"…Ask the maids to prepare something for our guests."
Herion nodded respectfully.
"…Understood."
He quietly walked away while the others settled into the peaceful atmosphere of the White Hat mansion.
Saito then reached into his coat and handed Shiro a decorated invitation card.
"…Please come tomorrow."
"It's for our ceremony."
Shiro took the invitation and looked through it briefly before smiling.
"…I'd be delighted to attend."
Saito looked around the mansion again curiously.
"…Seriously though…"
"How did you build all this?"
Shiro leaned back comfortably.
"…My father was the former leader of White Hat before me."
His eyes wandered briefly across the mansion walls.
"…Everything here was built through his hard work."
Saito nodded slowly.
"…I see."
Meanwhile—
Kaito casually glanced around the luxurious room.
"…I'd like to know how much money is inside your vault."
Shiro immediately looked at him.
"…A lot."
Mina narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"…You're planning to steal it, aren't you?"
Kaito calmly shook his head.
"…No."
Shiro sighed deeply.
"…That answer somehow worries me more."
Then suddenly—
Shiro grabbed a small ball sitting nearby.
Mina's eyes instantly locked onto it.
"…Hm?"
Without warning—
Shiro threw the ball across the room.
Mina immediately jumped from the couch and chased after it instinctively.
"…HEY—!"
The others stared silently.
Shiro casually took a sip of tea.
"…Works every time."
From across the room—
Mina froze while holding the ball.
Slowly—
her face turned red from embarrassment.
"…I hate you."
Bomb nearly choked trying not to laugh while Saito looked completely amazed.
"…That actually worked."
Shiro then looked back toward Saito.
"…So."
"You came only to deliver the invitation?"
Saito nodded honestly.
"…Mostly."
"But I also wanted to look around."
"Maybe I can steal some ideas for my territory."
Shiro smiled faintly.
"…Then you're welcome here anytime."