"Ryo, where were you?" Leona asked, her voice sharp but filled with relief.
"Big brother!" Sulaiman rushed forward, grabbing Ryo's arm. "I thought you died!"
Ryo gave a small smirk. "Takes more than that."
"Yo dude," Abraham said, stepping in with Benjamin beside him, "we know how you got that bounty."
Aisha crossed her arms. "Well… we have an idea. Not fully sure."
Scarlet nodded. "We asked around. People talk a lot."
Rimazu leaned against a pillar. "They're saying you started the war between samurai and ninja."
Ryo frowned slightly.
"That doesn't even make sense," Ruqayya said. "That conflict's been going on for half a century."
Leona stepped forward. "There's more. Tomorrow afternoon…"
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle.
"…is the only time both sides come together. Samurai and ninja. All in one place."
Zain finished the thought.
"To witness your execution."
Silence fell over the group.
"In the center of Paldea," Leona added.
Zain crossed his arms. "About the bounty—we had Bob analyze it."
Ryo's eyes shifted toward him.
"He traced its origin," Zain continued.
A pause.
"…Rolencia."
Ryo froze.
Rolencia…?
His mind raced, pieces connecting rapidly.
Then—
"…The masked figure," Ryo said under his breath.
Zain smirked. "Bingo."
"Uh…" Sulaiman looked around awkwardly. "Does no one notice the girl?"
Everyone turned toward him.
Then slowly back to Ryo.
"…We noticed," Zain said calmly. "If Ryo brings someone, there's a reason."
He softened his gaze slightly, looking at her.
"Right?"
She stepped closer behind Ryo, gripping his sleeve.
"…Yes," she whispered.
Zain nodded.
"You know, our original goal was just to help countries with repairs."
Benjamin laughed lightly. "Yeah… who knew 'repairs' would turn into this?"
A few chuckles spread through the group, but they quickly faded.
Zain's expression hardened.
"We can still leave," he said.
A pause.
"But most of us… don't want to."
His eyes shifted to Ryo.
"…We've got a score to settle."
Ryo's voice dropped.
"…Yeah."
He clenched his fist slightly.
"I promised to kill that masked bastard."
Scarlet stepped forward immediately.
"Same here."
She crossed her arms, eyes burning with determination.
"But I'm counting on you to do it for both of us."
Leona suddenly spoke.
"I have an idea."
Everyone turned to her.
"…What if Ryo hands himself in again?"
The room went silent.
Sulaiman's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Wait," Leona said quickly, raising her hand. "Listen first."
She stepped forward, thinking carefully.
"If Ryo turns himself in, we get direct access to the execution site."
She pointed toward the direction of the city center.
"And right now, they don't fully know we're connected to him."
Her voice lowered.
"And the one who executes him…"
"…is likely the one keeping this war alive."
Ryo narrowed his eyes.
"How sure are you?"
Leona shrugged slightly.
"It's a gamble."
She met his gaze directly.
"But if I'm right… we can free this entire country from the system that's destroying it."
Silence lingered.
Ryo turned slowly.
He looked at Salma.
Her small frame trembled slightly.
"…Salma."
She looked up at him.
"If this plan works… or even if it doesn't…"
He gave a faint smile.
"I promise you'll see your mother again."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"…Okay," she whispered.
Ryo then turned to Sulaiman.
"You're staying here."
Sulaiman froze.
"…What?"
"Look after her."
"But I want to help!" Sulaiman protested.
Ryo stepped closer, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"I need you to protect her."
His voice softened.
"And teach her how to fight… using my daggers."
Sulaiman hesitated.
Then nodded reluctantly.
"…Fine."
Rimazu smirked from the side.
"If I didn't know better… I'd say you're jealous."
"I'm not!" Sulaiman snapped. "Shut up!"
Laughter broke out among the group.
Zain turned away.
"Alright. We move tonight."
They left soon after.
Leaving Sulaiman and Salma behind in the palace.
Elsewhere—
Inside the prison—
Ali stood alone in the dim corridor.
Memories flooded his mind.
Screams.
Chains.
Blood.
His family.
Half samurai. Half ninja.
They were judged for it.
Condemned.
Given a choice—
Become slaves… or become samurai.
Some chose survival.
Others chose pride.
It didn't matter.
They all died.
Those who became samurai were broken through brutal training.
Those who became slaves were crushed by endless labor.
Ali…
Was the only one left.
He clenched his fists tightly.
"…This system…"
His voice echoed faintly.
"…isn't there anyone who will oppose it?"
"Yo."
Ali's eyes snapped open.
He looked forward.
Standing there—
Ryo.
Held by Zain.
Zain smirked.
"He's worth 500 million Zeos, right?"
Ali stared at Ryo.
"…Hand him over."
Zain shrugged and pushed Ryo forward.
Ali grabbed him firmly.
"Wait here."
He walked inside.
Moments later, he returned with a heavy pouch.
"Here."
Zain took it without hesitation.
Ali looked directly at Ryo.
"…You couldn't even hide properly."
Ryo said nothing.
But his eyes lingered on Ali's face.
Something felt off.
The doors closed behind them.
Inside—
Ryo shifted his gaze slightly.
To the left—
Leona stood.
She gave a small nod.
Above—
Rimazu had already slipped in through the upper structure.
Far above—
Ruqayya stood on the rooftop, watching everything unfold.
Her eyes met Leona's.
Leona whispered under her breath:
"…Phase 2."