Kaito landed on the rooftop.
His feet touched the tiles softly.
The wind moved through the streets below, carrying the sounds of chaos from the festival.
In front of him—
Void stood calmly at the edge of the roof.
The white mask faced him.
No anger.
No hesitation.
Just silence.
Kaito looked at him.
"Stop this, Void."
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Void spoke.
"Don't you understand, Kaito?"
"We all have missions."
He turned slightly.
"Your mission was to kill the mayor of Jokun City."
"And then..."
"You disappeared."
A pause.
"We thought you were already dead."
Kaito lowered his gaze slightly.
"I'm still alive."
His hand tightened.
"...I just couldn't ignore what happened."
"The kingdom was torn apart."
Void remained still.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Kaito?"
"We Noctarion don't have feelings."
His voice stayed cold.
"We cannot allow emotions to weaken us."
"We must be better than other assassins."
Kaito looked back at him.
"Yes."
A brief silence.
"But not this way."
Void's mask reflected the moonlight.
No expression.
No reaction.
Only the sound of the wind between them.
Void remained standing at the edge of the rooftop.
The wind moved his coat slightly.
For a moment, the two Noctarion members simply looked at each other.
Then Void spoke.
"Then choose, Kaito."
His voice was calm.
"Return to us..."
"Or stay with Blue Scarf and die."
A pause.
"You can take your eighth seat back."
"You can return to being Noctarion."
The offer hung in the air.
Kaito lowered his eyes slightly.
Then he let out a quiet breath.
"I already told you..."
He looked back at Void.
His expression was firm.
"I'm with Blue Scarf."
A short silence.
"Saito is my captain."
Void stared at him through the white mask.
No anger.
No surprise.
Only silence.
Then—
"...I see."
The night wind passed between them.
Void stood silently for a moment.
Then his voice came through the mask.
"Then it's sad..."
"...to see you mourn their death."
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
Before he could respond—
Fwoosh!
A white cloth suddenly spread around Void's body.
The fabric covered him completely.
In the next instant—
The cloth fell empty.
Void had disappeared.
Kaito's expression changed.
"...Crap."
He quickly stepped toward the edge of the rooftop and looked down.
His eyes scanned the streets below.
The festival was still in chaos.
People were running.
Soldiers were moving.
But there was no sign of Void.
"Where did you go...?"
Meanwhile—
Near the festival grounds.
Darren and Siyen clashed.
Bang!
Their attacks collided, shaking the ground beneath them.
Siyen stepped back slightly.
She looked at Darren with a small grin.
"You are a tough one."
Darren kept his stance steady.
"Indeed I am."
Without hesitation—
Siyen rushed forward.
Her blade moved toward him.
But Darren reacted instantly.
He grabbed her arm.
Siyen's eyes widened.
Before she could escape—
Boom!
Darren swung her down and slammed her into the wall.
The impact cracked the surface.
Siyen fell to the ground, unconscious.
Darren looked down at her for a moment.
Then turned toward his soldiers.
"Find the royal family."
"Escort them back to the Royal Mansion immediately."
The soldiers nodded.
"Yes, General!"
Darren pointed toward two more officers.
"You two."
"Search for any available carriage."
"We may need transport."
The officers saluted and moved quickly.
Darren looked across the chaotic festival grounds.
Then he started walking forward with his soldiers.
"We move."
"We find the royal family."
Darren moved through the crowded streets with his soldiers.
The sounds of panic slowly faded as the officers continued guiding civilians away from the festival area.
Then—
Darren stopped.
Ahead of him, he spotted three familiar figures.
Marquis.
Aria.
And Martha.
Darren immediately walked toward them.
"Your Highnesses."
Marquis turned his head.
"Darren."
Darren gave a short nod.
"We need to head back to the Royal Mansion."
Marquis looked around at the festival grounds.
"But what about my people?"
"The visitors..."
Darren remained calm.
"My soldiers are already evacuating them."
"They are handling the situation."
A brief pause.
Then Darren looked directly at Marquis.
"But my priority is you."
Marquis stayed silent for a moment.
Then nodded.
Before he could reply—
The sound of wheels approached.
A carriage arrived nearby.
Darren stepped aside and opened the way.
"Get in."
Aria held Martha's hand and guided her toward the carriage.
Marquis followed behind them, still looking back toward the festival.
Darren watched until they were safely inside.
Then he turned toward his soldiers.
"We move."
The carriage began preparing to leave the chaotic festival behind.
The carriage began moving away from the festival grounds.
Inside, Marquis, Aria, and Martha sat quietly as the sounds of chaos became more distant.
Outside—
Siyen slowly opened her eyes.
Her body ached from the impact, but she forced herself back onto her feet.
She looked toward the road.
The royal carriage was already moving away.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Oh no..."
She clenched her fist.
"I wouldn't let you escape."
Without hesitation—
Siyen rushed forward.
Her speed increased as she chased after the carriage.
The soldiers guarding the carriage noticed her approaching.
"General!"
The driver looked back.
"We have an enemy!"
Darren immediately turned toward the window.
Through the opening, he saw Siyen running closer and closer.
His expression hardened.
"Faster."
The driver nodded.
"Yes, General!"
The horses accelerated.
The carriage moved faster down the road.
But Siyen continued closing the distance.
Closer.
Closer.
Her hand reached toward the carriage.
Almost.
Just before she could grab it—
Several metal tentacles shot out from the side.
They wrapped around her arm.
Siyen's eyes widened.
"What—?"
The tentacles pulled her backward.
She was dragged away from the carriage.
Standing nearby was Scrapper.
He adjusted his hood slightly.
A small grin appeared on his face.
"Oh no."
"You stay with me, tiger lady."
Siyen glared at Scrapper.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Calamity member..."
She stepped forward slightly.
"You are a traitor in your own club."
Scrapper tilted his head.
Then gave a small shrug.
"You can say that again."
His metal tentacles suddenly moved.
Fwoosh!
They shot toward Siyen from different directions.
Siyen reacted instantly.
She twisted her body and dodged the first attack.
The second tentacle swept past her shoulder.
Using the opening—
She rushed forward.
Her fist came straight toward Scrapper's face.
But before it could connect—
Clang!
The tentacles moved in front of him, blocking the punch.
Siyen's fist collided against the metal surface.
Scrapper stepped back slightly.
"Heh."
Siyen pulled her arm back.
Scrapper's tentacles moved again.
This time—
They lunged forward from behind him.
Siyen quickly jumped away as the metal limbs struck the ground where she stood.
The road cracked beneath the impact.
Scrapper looked at her calmly.
"Not bad."
Siyen lowered her stance.
"You're annoying."
The two stared at each other.
Then—
Both moved again.
Norway sliced through another assassin who rushed toward him.
The man fell back, defeated.
Norway looked toward the distance.
The royal carriage was already moving away.
He let out a small breath.
"The king has escaped..."
He turned his attention back to the battlefield.
"Now the only thing left..."
"The civilians."
Sakura stood beside him, watching the panicking crowd.
"But Captain..."
"Where should we move everyone?"
Before Norway could answer—
BOOM!
A loud explosion echoed through Roma City.
Everyone looked up.
From the rooftop of a nearby building—
Fireworks burst into the night sky.
Colorful lights spread above the city.
Then a familiar figure appeared.
Alya stood on the roof, waving her hand.
Norway stared for a moment.
"...That building."
Sakura looked at him.
"Captain?"
Norway pointed toward the rooftop.
"Get everyone inside that building."
Sakura's eyes widened slightly.
"You mean..."
"Yes."
Norway looked toward the civilians running through the streets.
"If Blue Scarf is doing something..."
"They must have a reason."
He turned toward his officers.
"Move!"
"Guide every civilian there now!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The soldiers immediately rushed toward the crowd.
Meanwhile, Alya watched from above as the people began moving.
She lowered her hand slightly.
"Good..."
"Now they have somewhere safe."
The fireworks continued lighting up the sky above Roma City.
But below them—
The battle was far from over.