Tension hung in the air like a heavy mist.

  The sea gently struck against the flanks of the Ark of Serrooth, but the silence among the heroes was louder than any wave.

  Bullet Rongar held her divine rifle, **Rocket**, firmly against her shoulder.

  Her eyes narrowed, her body ready to fire.

  Souta smiled, his eyes nearly closed, as if savoring the moment.

  Gabriel Gaiden stepped between the two.

  — *Not here. There are innocents.*

  — *Drones should never fight each other.*

  Souta sighed theatrically.

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  — *Young Gaiden… you haven’t changed at all,* he said, as the spoon vanished, retreating to his wrist like an obedient shadow.

  Gabriel carefully lifted Meliora.

  Bullet, reluctant, lowered her divine weapon.

  The atmosphere was still tense, but the confrontation had been postponed.

  Gabriel faced Souta.

  — *I need you to leave now. We’re on an important mission. The princess could get hurt.*

  Souta laughed, the sound dry and mocking.

  — *So Beatrix is interested in the Ark of Serrooth?*

  Gabriel nodded.

  — *It’s Queen Beatrix. And yes, we’re here to take Serrooth.*

  Bullet let out a low chuckle.

  — *Speak for yourself. I came to kill a celestial general.*

  Souta raised an eyebrow.

  — *A celestial general… here?* — he smiled, pulling Meliora gently by the arm with calculated delicacy.

  Gabriel frowned.

  — *You’re not thinking of interfering, are you? Don’t do it. I don’t want innocent lives lost.*

  Souta ignored him.

  Meliora looked back, worried.

  Gabriel hesitated.

  — *Letting them go… isn’t that a mistake?* — asked Bullet, still watching Souta.

  — *Let them go. At least with Lord Kihara… she’ll be safe,* Gabriel replied, his voice firm but heavy with doubt.

  Souta walked away with a smile.

  — *Princess… change of plans.*

  Meliora swallowed hard.

  Inside Souta’s suit, **Mel**, the small bee familiar, trembled as if it already knew what he was about to do.

  — *What are you going to do, Lord Kihara?* — asked Meliora softly.

  Souta answered with a gleam in his eyes, almost theatrical:

  — *I’m going to make them laugh… in fear.*