Nury and Lee stood at the center of the Shogun's chamber as they concluded their report on the events that had unfolded on Nitchtron. Much of what they recounted had already been covered throughout the galaxy during the Planetary Broadcast, but the Shogun and the elders were not interested in hearing the story through the eyes of the media. They wanted to hear it from the people who had stood on that battlefield themselves—to understand every decision, every unexpected turn, and every detail that had never reached the public. Above all else, they wanted to hear from the one person who had become the center of the entire incident.
Levi.
The outcome of the mission had left the Red Moon in a more difficult position than any of them had anticipated. Their intention had never been limited to assisting the Ancients in transforming Rumbler. More importantly, they had hoped the operation would become the foundation of a lasting relationship with another faction beyond Earth. Throughout history, influence had rarely been built through strength alone. Alliances, shared interests, and mutual trust were what allowed organizations to extend their reach across worlds, and establishing those connections had long been one of the Red Moon's ambitions.
The Ancients revealing their true nature was certainly a setback, but it was not a loss the clan considered impossible to recover from. Trust could be rebuilt elsewhere, and opportunities to forge new alliances would come again. What concerned the Shogun and the elders far more was the outcome surrounding Rumbler. By the end of the battle, he had slipped beyond their reach and returned to the Fighters, placing one of the galaxy's greatest powerhouses back into the hands of the very organization they had hoped to keep from gaining such an advantage.
After listening to the Fifth Blade's report, Elder One took a single step forward. Beneath the expressionless Oni mask, nothing about his posture betrayed his emotions, yet the atmosphere around him had grown noticeably heavier. From the very beginning, he had opposed Levi's appointment as the Seventh Blade, convinced that the young man lacked both the discipline and temperament worthy of the title. The events on Nitchtron had done nothing to change that opinion. If anything, they had only strengthened his doubts.
"Seventh Blade," he called. "Step forward."
His voice was calm and unwavering, carrying the quiet authority of someone long accustomed to being obeyed.
Levi walked to the center of the chamber, clicking his tongue as he did before meeting the Elder's gaze with little more than indifference.
Elder One watched him in silence.
The dismissive attitude, the lack of decorum, the complete disregard for where he stood—it only reinforced everything he already believed about Levi. In his eyes, the Seventh Blade was still nothing more than a rebellious teenager who had been handed a title far greater than he deserved.
Around the chamber, the remaining Blades quietly turned their attention toward Levi. They all knew what was coming next.
The question that had lingered in everyone's mind since the moment the battalions returned.
"Would you mind explaining why you rampaged through Darant City?"
The question echoed through the chamber, drawing every gaze toward Levi. Standing alone before the Shogun and the Elders, he remained as relaxed as ever, both hands tucked inside his pockets as though he had been asked something painfully obvious rather than being questioned over an incident that had shaken an entire planet.
"Isn't it obvious?" he replied without the slightest hesitation. "I was tipping the scales in our favor."
A faint murmur spread among the gathered Blades.
The answer was far too simple for a matter that had cost countless lives, and if anything, it only deepened the confusion hanging over the room. Elder One remained unmoved, his masked gaze fixed on Levi as though searching for something hidden beneath that indifferent expression.
"I find it difficult to believe that handing one of the strongest Seraphims back to the Fighters could ever be considered an advantage," he said calmly. "If that truly is your reasoning, then I ask that you explain it more clearly."
The corner of Levi's mouth slowly curled upward before a quiet chuckle escaped him.
"...Man."
He shook his head.
"I know you old geezers have been around for a long time..."
"...but I didn't think you'd all become this brain-farted."
Several of the Blades stiffened at the remark. One of the Elders subtly tightened his grip around the armrest of his chair, while Lee instinctively glanced toward the Shogun, expecting the insult to be met with immediate discipline.
None came.
The silence of the chamber only made Levi's grin widen.
"Whether we kept Rumbler or lost him..." he continued, his voice carrying the same casual tone as before, "...it doesn't make a fucking difference."
The words earned more than a few puzzled looks, but Levi paid them no mind.
"You all heard what we discovered on Nitchtron. Stardust is decaying. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually there's going to come a day when every one of us is just another regular bastard pretending we're still some great threat to this galaxy."
His gaze swept across the chamber, lingering briefly on each of the Elders before settling on the Shogun himself.
"So I stopped thinking about winning today's battle…"
"..and started thinking about tomorrow's."
After listening to such a bold but yet intriguing statement, genuine curiosity appeared among the gathered Blades.
"What happened in Darant City wasn't about Rumbler," he continued. "It was about forcing the hands of both governments. Once blood is spilled on that scale, peace stops being an option. Fear takes over, revenge follows, and sooner or later both sides start convincing themselves that the only way forward is through war."
He paused, letting the words settle naturally over the room.
"When that happens, they won't be fighting us anymore. They'll be fighting each other, bleeding their Fighters, their militaries, and their nations dry while we sit back and watch the scales tip in our favor."
Levi met the Shogun's eyes, the confidence in his own never wavering.
"So tell me, Your Highness..."
"How exactly is that not to our advantage?"
Their eyes remained locked for several moments.
Whether the Shogun was measuring Levi's resolve or Levi simply refused to acknowledge the authority standing before him was impossible to tell, but neither of them looked away. The silence stretched just long enough for the chamber to grow uneasy before the Shogun finally raised his staff and struck it against the stone floor. The sharp thud echoed through the hall, sending a faint tremor beneath everyone's feet and drawing every Blade back to attention.
"We appreciate you answering our concerns," the Shogun began after a brief pause, his voice calm but carrying enough authority that no one dared interrupt. "I understand the reasoning behind your actions, and I can see the advantage you were trying to create. But if you ever come up with a plan that could change the course of the galaxy, you bring it to us first. You don't carry that burden alone, and you certainly don't decide it alone."
His gaze never left Levi.
"Don't forget where your loyalty lies... Seventh Blade."
The weight behind those words lingered in the chamber long after they were spoken. It wasn't anger that filled the room, nor disappointment, but a reminder of the responsibility that came with carrying the title of a Blade. Satisfied that his point had been made, the Shogun lowered himself back into his chair before turning the meeting toward the matter that now demanded the Red Moon's full attention.
"What we learned on Nitchtron has changed everything. If Stardust truly continues to decay, then understanding it is no longer a matter of curiosity—it's a matter of survival. Fortunately, we've been given an opportunity that may allow us to stay one step ahead."
The Blades listened in silence.
"This year's Casa Nostra Auction will feature the Heart of God."
A quiet murmur spread throughout the chamber. Even Levi's attention sharpened. Back when he lived in the slums of the Fourth District, stories about Casa Nostra's auctions spread through the underworld like folklore. They were gatherings where fortunes disappeared overnight, powerful factions settled old scores behind closed doors, and treasures thought to be lost forever resurfaced before the highest bidder. Yet even among those rumors, he had never heard of something as valuable as the Heart of God being placed on the auction block.
Nury was the first to break the silence.
"Sir, if I may ask... the Red Moon hasn't participated in the auction for the past seven years. Why now?"
"Because seven years ago, the Heart of God wasn't on the table," the Shogun answered. "Things have changed. Whatever powers it holds, we can't afford to let another faction get to it first."
He rested both hands atop his staff before continuing.
"As for why Giovanni would auction the Heart of God..."
He paused for only a moment.
"Money has always been the language he speaks best."
Nury gave a small nod, though another question followed almost immediately.
"I understand, Sir. But the auction is invitation-only. As far as I know, we haven't received one."
"We haven't," the Shogun replied. "That's why we'll be attending alongside one of our oldest allies."
"The Einherjar."
"The Einherjar?" Levi repeated, the name sounding unfamiliar even to him.
"They're a Demon faction from the Nordic Hemisphere," the Shogun explained. "Our alliance goes back for a little over three decades. After Erik Hermaðr passed away, his son Bjorn inherited that relationship and has continued to honor it ever since."
His attention shifted toward Levi.
"Lord Bjorn has invited us to one of his traditional banquets before the auction. More specifically..." He allowed himself the briefest pause. "He requested to meet the Seventh Blade."
Levi blinked.
"...Me?"
A few amused glances were exchanged around the chamber, but the Shogun continued before anyone could comment.
"Unfortunately, the responsibilities of this headquarters prevent the rest of us from accepting his hospitality. I have already informed Lord Bjorn of that matter, and he has expressed his understanding. Therefore, you will attend in our place with the Second, Third, and Fourth Blades accompanying you."
"The banquet will take place in one month. The auction itself follows two months later."
Seeing that there were no further questions, the Shogun rose once more and struck the floor with his staff.
"That concludes today's meeting."
The chamber gradually emptied as the Blades departed in different directions, some already discussing the Heart of God while others quietly considered what lay ahead. Levi slipped his hands back into his pockets and started heading toward the training grounds, but before he had gone very far, his thoughts drifted back to Nury.
It wasn't what she'd said, nor even the questions she'd asked. It was something smaller than that—something subtle enough that, by the time he tried to grasp it, the feeling had already slipped away.
"...Hm."
He scratched the back of his head.
Maybe I'm just overthinking it.
The thought faded as quickly as it had come. He had barely taken another step when a deep voice echoed through the corridor behind him.
"Hey... Wrath Boy."
Levi stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"...Huh?"
Standing a few paces behind him was a man whose very stillness carried more weight than most people shouting. His dark eyes remained fixed on Levi, calm and deadly.
"We need to talk."
Levi narrowed his eyes.
The man standing before him was none other than the Second Blade.
Amon Kurogane.