Following the abrupt ending of the transmission, Ginimbi demands that reinforcements be sent to rescue Najo before danger befalls him. Douglas attempts to stop the men.
Ginimbi: "My soldiers only take orders from me."
Douglas: "Listen to me, we won't catch them that way."
Ginimbi, responding most rudely, refuses to listen to the King.
Douglas raises his hand with the five rings, and his top five guards stand at the door, blocking Ginimbi's lightning platoon. Douglas walks up to Ginimbi.
Douglas: "I've taken enough disrespect for a lifetime today alone. This might be your board, but it's my game, so I need you to quiet down and let me play. The enemy has the upper hand, but I'm smarter and more experienced. What you want us to do is exactly what she expects."
The tension in the room escalates. Ginimbi's face flushes with anger.
Ginimbi: "How dare you speak to me like that!"
Douglas: "Look, your family has supported the kingship for generations. You are highly respected and consulted in all important decisions, but I am King, not you."
The two men stare each other down, the air thick with unspoken challenges. After a brief, intense silence, Ginimbi backs off, his voice low and threatening.
Ginimbi: "If my grandson doesn't return unharmed, this will be the last 'game' you ever play."
He walks out, his footsteps echoing ominously in the room. His men follow.
Douglas sits at a half-played chess game with the Queen and his guard standing around him, awaiting his instruction.
Douglas: "The parameters of the game have changed. I had hoped to think ahead but now, we need to end this quickly."
Meanwhile, in the cave…
Sifiso prepares to attack Moto, but Alicia laughs, her eyes glinting with amusement.
Alicia: "So, you've made your decision?"
Moto, eyes narrowing with determination: "I'll admit I don't know everything yet, but I have siblings and people I care about. So I can't accept your path."
Alicia: "Cute, I've lost track of mine, too many."
Moto: "Really? But don't you miss them at all?"
Alicia: "Hard to miss people you've never met."
Moto empathizes with Alicia, imagining the deep sadness he would feel if he never knew his siblings. Alicia appears humored by this, but she is hiding her true feelings. No one has empathized with her before because no one feels bad for Chandler's daughters—they are mostly disliked.
Alicia: "I see my younger self in you, kid. You probably had it easy coming up, but the world is a nasty place, and once you've traveled it, you will see that it's not all sunsets and rainbows. I want to see it. I want to witness that fire slowly die out from your eyes. So I won't kill you. Just sit down like a good boy, let us get our rock, and we'll be outta here. But I'll be watching you."
Moto: "But the King told you he needs more time."
Alicia sighs, her patience thinning. She has no intention of giving the King more time. He either delivers or Sukai dies, and from the looks of things, the worst scenario is inevitable.
Alicia: "What's your name?"
"Moto," he replies.
Alicia stands up, facing Kangetsu. "Knock Moto out for me before he further complicates our mission."
Sifiso looks at Alicia, confused by her unusually lenient decision.
As Kangetsu steps forward, they hear a thunderclap, and water follows bursting through the door. The three rescuers have arrived to save Moto and Sukai.