The tension in the prison slowly faded.
Ali looked at Ryo.
"…So what are we gonna do now?"
Ryo didn't hesitate.
"We follow Leona's plan."
Ali raised an eyebrow slightly.
"The execution?"
Ryo nodded.
"I'll go to the execution site like planned…"
His eyes hardened.
"…and when the time comes—we attack."
A brief silence.
"For now," Ryo added, turning away, "we go back."
Ali watched him for a moment.
Then followed.
Outside—
The two giants had already begun to leave.
"Have a good one, Zain!" one of them shouted, laughing.
Zain waved them off slightly.
"Yeah."
His expression returned to normal as they disappeared into the distance.
Then he turned—
And headed back toward the palace.
Moments later—
The group reunited.
Ryo and Ali stepped inside.
Everyone looked up.
Relief.
Confusion.
Tension.
Ryo exhaled slightly.
"…I'll explain."
He told them everything.
The prison.
The slaves.
Ali.
The decision.
Silence followed.
Then—
Ali stepped forward slowly.
His eyes shifted toward Salma.
She stiffened slightly.
"…I…"
He hesitated.
"…I'm sorry."
The room went quiet.
Salma didn't respond immediately.
Her hands tightened slightly.
Her eyes dropped.
Memories.
Chains.
Fear.
Pain.
Ali didn't look away.
"I was part of it."
His voice was low.
"…Even if I didn't want to be."
Salma's breathing slowed.
She looked at him.
Still unsure.
Still hurt.
Ryo stayed silent.
Letting her decide.
A long pause—
Then—
"…Okay."
Her voice was soft.
Ali blinked.
"I forgive you."
Not fully.
Not easily.
But enough.
Ali lowered his head slightly.
"…Thank you."
Zain stepped forward.
"I got information."
Everyone turned to him.
"The giants," he said, "weren't here by chance."
His tone sharpened.
"This whole division… this war…"
He paused.
"…is being maintained."
Leona narrowed her eyes.
"By who?"
Zain's gaze darkened.
"A samurai… and a ninja."
The room went still.
"…Two leaders," he continued. "From opposite sides."
"Enemies to the world…"
He paused again.
"…but not to each other."
Silence.
Aisha's expression shifted. "So the war is… fake?"
"Not fake," Zain replied.
"Controlled."
Ryo stepped forward.
"Then we end it."
His voice was calm.
But firm.
"At the execution."
Leona nodded slowly.
"…Then the plan still stands."
Zain crossed his arms.
"Except now—we know what we're really walking into."
The room grew quiet.
Outside, the wind moved through the palace walls.
The calm before something much bigger.
Ryo looked at everyone.
Then at Salma.
"…We're ending this."