The assassins bring Moto in, hands tied tightly behind his back. He looks around for Sukai as they speak amongst themselves.
Sifiso: "Hey, Kangetsu, isn't this the kid you threw out of the portal earlier?"
Kangetsu, thinking: "Maybe, I'm not good with faces."
Sifiso: appalled, "An assassin must have a photographic memory. You're a liability without it."
Kangetsu responds with sarcasm: "Sure, Sensei."
Alicia stands up, and the room goes quiet as she approaches Moto.
Alicia: "Who are you?"
Moto remains silent, trying to buy time. His eyes, however, are drawn to their idea board, cluttered with crossed-out faces. In the center, the King, Mukai, and Sukai's faces are prominent.
Sifiso yells at Moto, ordering him to respond. Moto remains silent.
Sifiso: "Do you even know who you're dealing with?"
Moto, gaze fixed on Alicia: "Nobody cares who you are. You're a group of nobodies who ride on another man's coattails to intimidate people. The lives you've taken were lives wasted, and that makes me sick."
Sifiso: "You take that back, you little—"
Alicia: "Wait. Let me pick his mind a bit."
Sifiso puts Moto down.
Alicia asks Moto: "What is it that's making you so pissy?"
Moto, getting more upset: "How can you even ask me that? You make a living off killing and for money of all things."
Alicia: "So what? Do you prefer we join the army and kill for your King instead? Sounds less lucrative to me."
Moto tries to run at Alicia, but Kangetsu pulls his rope back. When he falls, Kangetsu holds him at knifepoint.
Alicia: "It's not just about the money; it's what it can buy. Some of us here never had families, others are trying to feed theirs. We all have our reasons. Except Kangetsu, he's just here for the love of the game."
Moto looks up at Kangetsu with disgust. Kangetsu winks at him with a playful smirk.
Moto, looking back at Alicia: "What about those who are left behind, the ones who will never have peace after you've taken their families?"
Alicia: "Peace?" She laughs, and the other assassins laugh as well.
Moto gets mad.
Alicia: "Did I touch a nerve? Listen, kid, this world is bursting at the seams, and the only person strong enough to hold it together is long dead. Not even my famous father could do it, not that he'd even want to. War predates even the Hwange itself, and it's only a matter of time until everyone's greed and hatred stirs the pot again. By then, my bunch of misfits will offer military aid to the winning team, ensuring we survive either way."
Moto is left speechless.
Alicia: "So, what say you, hero?"
Moto is still processing, realizing Alicia is more calculated than he thought. Alicia finds this amusing, like an adult telling a child Santa isn't real and seeing the look on their face as they connect the dots and their hope turns to sadness.
Alicia: "Let me give you another little nugget to ponder over. When a flood is coming, do you dance to the gods, or do you build a boat? And if you have to kill your neighbor for supplies, then so be it, right? As long as you're alive."
The others agree as they bring her seat.
Alicia spins around: "Put Douglas on the call."
Assassin: "Roger!"
She jumps back into her chair as the transmission to Douglas is connected.
Meanwhile, in the castle, the King has been halted by Ginimbi, who argues that one life is not worth the nation's stability.
Alicia's transmission reaches them.
Alicia: "I didn't think you were still using child soldiers, Douglas."
The King, confused: "What are you talking about?"
Alicia leans to the side, crossing her legs, and reveals Moto behind her.
The King is shocked. He had left Moto with the others at his mansion. How did they get there so quickly?
The realization hits Ginimbi simultaneously as he realizes Najo is likely there as well.
Ginimbi squints his eyes: "What is he doing?"
Alicia catches a whiff of smoke. She looks behind her and sees Moto, still bound, filling the room with smoke. He slides the water dagger under the door to Sukai.
Alicia watches him curiously. As Sifiso runs to Moto, he stomps a flint, creating a spark that ignites the smoke, blowing up the whole room. The transmission cuts.