Central Government Castle, Dominatus — Vanguard Residence.
Inside the chamber, around a long table stretching across the chamber, Light and Johan sit in brief silence. The sound of the wind is clear, carrying a calming atmosphere.
Light folds his arms.
"Where is the spirit you once had?" he asks.
His eyebrows rise.
"You've become a different person since the first time we met, you know?"
He lowers his head slightly, continuing to study Johan intently.
"We're already standing at the edge, aren't we?!" Light asks again.
Johan remains silent.
He sits with his hands resting apart and his legs spread comfortably. Worry is written across his face. His eyebrows are raised, his head slightly lowered, his lip caught between his teeth as he stares blankly ahead.
"There's something I'm worried about," he says.
His gaze slowly lifts toward the ceiling, remaining distant and empty.
"Hmm?" Light hums.
"Uncertainty," Johan replies.
"...Uncertainty?" Light asks for confirmation.
Johan crosses one leg over the other, resting his ankle atop his opposite thigh.
"The Silhouette has been killing rebels from the past until now, across generations. Neither governments nor rebels have ever discovered their identity," Johan explains.
Light does not answer.
"Hmm?" Johan murmurs, lowering his head slightly and raising his eyebrows as he observes Light.
"HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!" Light exclaims.
Johan raises one hand and sweeps it across his face, covering his eyes.
"I don't know," he replies.
He folds his arms and lowers his head, contemplating in silence for a moment.
"They made gathering information on them extremely difficult for me before," he continues.
Light tilts his face slightly to the left, resting his cheek against his hand as he thinks deeply.
"Someone as intelligent as you couldn't uncover it?" he asks.
Johan opens his eyes again.
"I already told you. They're someone without an identity, and I'm the one who has to create one for them... However—" Johan says, trailing off.
"Hmm?" Light waits.
Johan looks up toward the ceiling, his brows furrowing.
"Based on the information I've gathered, the only thing known is that Sole Predators approach the prey they target—prey with great potential, prey that is still growing, and prey that has already become strong," Johan explains.
A faint smile forms on Light's face.
"Heh."
A brief chuckle escapes him.
"I know where this is going," he says.
Johan lowers his head again.
"Just as you think, there's someone else who wants absolute control over the world besides me," he replies.
Light's smile broadens.
"Heheh. Now I'm excited to meet someone like that."
Light furrows his brow.
"What about a solution? There has to be one, even if there's only a single path, right?" he asks.
Johan tilts his head slightly to the right, resting his cheek against his palm.
"Of course. There is only one."
Light folds his arms.
"What is it?"
"The only solution. The one thing that can draw them out from the underworld and from behind the shadows into the surface," Johan answers.
"Hmm?" Light waits.
"You'll find out soon enough. I don't need to tell you."
Light frowns.
"Tch, bastard," he mutters.
Silence settles briefly.
WLWLAAAASHHH—WUUSHHH!
The wind flowing into the room becomes clearly audible once more, restoring the calm atmosphere.
"Another thing that concerns me and occupies my thoughts," Johan says.
"Huh?" Light responds.
"One thing is certain. They've already come this far," Johan continues.
"The war between the emissaries stands on the verge of beginning from this very moment."
He pauses.
"I will bring everything to an end—the very things I started."
Light lifts his face slightly, staring at him with deep curiosity.
"What do you mean? Are you going to send the final wave—the pinnacle—or what?!" he asks.
Johan tilts his head once.
"Well, that's part of it. I'll send the pinnacle—Dante—along with one other person who will bring everything to an end."
Light lowers his head slightly, furrowing his brow with a cynical smile.
"Ohoh. And who might that be?"
"Well, let's end this conversation here," Johan says.
Light frowns.
"What kind of answer is that?"
Johan does not respond.
HLAASHHHH—SWUUUUSHHH!
The gentle wind can be heard again, soothing the silence.
Light looks up toward the ceiling.
"Huft."
He exhales heavily as boredom begins to creep in.
Light lowers his gaze toward Johan once more.
"Remember this. We're two different people, but we share the same goal. You know that, right?"
He spreads his legs apart, chest open confidently.
"Hmm?" Johan hums with a blank expression, raising his eyebrows as he waits.
Light closes his eyes.
"...To rule over everything absolutely!" he declares.
A faint smile appears on Johan's face.
"Heh."
Light chuckles briefly.
"From the first moment I met you until now, you've impressed me. Remember that."
Light stretches both arms across the back of the sofa.
"It's time for your stage, Johan," he continues.
His head rests against his arms.
"Show the world that you conquer them not only by ruling, but also by fighting on the battlefield."
Again, Johan offers no reply.
"Hmm?" Light murmurs, opening his eyes.
Johan suddenly rises and stretches his body briefly.
"I don't know if we'll meet again," he says as he turns away.