Roland and Leo managed to escape the ballroom thanks to Leo's skill, which provided them the opportunity to flee. They exited into the main garden, only to find themselves surrounded by armed guards who immediately opened fire. Holding Leo tightly on his right, Roland ducked for cover under a nearby bush.
"Leo, can you use your ricochet skill?" Roland asked, his voice tinged with urgency. He hoped his friend could manage it—and Leo's actions answered the question.
Leo grabbed one of his revolvers and fired a shot that ricocheted off the ground, expertly eliminating all the guards. Without wasting a moment, Roland grabbed Leo and began running toward the gate. Behind them, Luna and Kyren gave chase. But as the two friends emerged onto the main street, a pitch-black van screeched to a halt in front of them.
The van's door slid open, and three women armed with rifles leaped out, immediately opening fire on Luna and Kyren. Forced to take cover, Luna and Kyren ceased their pursuit.
"GET IN!" one of the women shouted. Roland, clutching the injured Leo, obeyed without hesitation, jumping into the van.
The women slammed the door shut, and the van sped away. Roland's unyielding resolve finally gave out—he collapsed from his wounds. Leo, though conscious, was barely in better shape.
"Quick! Head back to the brothel!" one of the women commanded, her voice sharp with urgency. The driver nodded and floored the accelerator.
The ride was bumpy and fast. Though the women managed to temporarily stem Roland and Leo's bleeding, their conditions remained critical. As the van screeched to a stop in front of the brothel, the women sprang into action. Inside, they ordered every customer out and began preparing to treat the two warriors. Maria herself appeared, directing the chaos.
The sight of Roland and Leo in such dire condition shocked the brothel's residents, but Maria remained composed. Barking orders to prepare the backroom, she and three others worked tirelessly to stabilize the two men.
Hours passed, and the entire brothel fell silent. Many of the girls waited anxiously. Unbeknownst to them, they had come to deeply appreciate Leo's and Roland's presence. The two men made them feel safe and protected, treating them as people worthy of love and respect rather than commodities. Now, those two lay in critical condition, and the brothel's occupants could only hope for their recovery.
The barista, who had first welcomed Roland, and the girl he had protected were particularly distressed. Both felt indebted to him. When Maria emerged from the backroom, her hands bloodied, she exhaled a deep sigh of relief and calmly announced:
"They're out of danger. Their wounds are no longer life-threatening, but they need rest. Prepare two rooms for them."
Her words were met with cheers of relief and joy throughout the brothel. With everyone now at ease, a few more hours passed quietly.
Roland awoke to a calm room illuminated by an ocean-blue light. He found himself bandaged, his body aching as he sat up and held his head. A young woman was seated near him, keeping watch.
"Hey, you're finally awake!" she said, her voice filled with excitement.
"Hello, liebe. Pardon my appearance. Haha," Roland quipped with a rare smile, likely a side effect of the anesthesia.
"It's okay! I'll go tell the othe—" The girl's words were cut short as a knife suddenly flew toward her face. Miraculously, Roland managed to block it with his right forearm. The blade sank into his arm, drawing blood.
The girl instinctively reached for her guns.
"Don't… If you value your life and want to keep earning your keep, whore," a feminine voice sneered from the window. It was Luna, wearing a masquerade mask.
"And how do you know I won't just shoot you where you stand, bitch?" the girl retorted, determined to protect Roland.
Pulling the knife from his arm, Roland placed his left hand on the girl's weapons, gently lowering them.
"Don't. Let me handle this," he said with a reassuring smile before turning to face Luna. "You. Don't think for a second that I'll let you harm anyone in this building."
"You truly think you can stop me in your condition?" Luna mocked him, her tone dripping with contempt.
"I've never been one to back down from a challenge. Let's settle this in a civilized manner," Roland invited, gesturing toward a chair. Luna hesitated but eventually stepped into the room alone, confirming she had no backup. Otherwise, the place would already have been in chaos.
Luna sat down, her posture calm but her intent clear. The girl protecting Roland remained seated as well, her piercing gaze fixed on Luna.
"Tell this whore to leave. We have something private to discuss," Luna hissed, turning toward the girl.
"She has a name, and I will not command her to leave until you show proper respect," Roland snapped back. The tension in the room thickened, both sides radiating hostility. Then, Roland turned to the girl.
"What's your name, dear?"
"My name is… Kalia," she replied calmly, her voice steady.
Roland turned back to Luna. "Then, Kalia, please leave the room. Luna and I have something private to discuss."
Kalia glanced at Roland, who nodded.
"Fine. But try anything stupid, and I'll hunt you down," Kalia hissed at Luna before leaving.
Luna remained silent for a moment, only for Roland to chuckle.
"Finally humbled? It's a good feeling, isn't it?" he mocked, his tone biting.
"That's not why I'm here," Luna retorted sharply. "I came to find answers."
Roland's face darkened. "I told you when we were younger—this is one of the places I call home. Your presence here puts everyone's lives at risk. Luna… we may have been friends, but if anyone in this place is harmed because of you, every ounce of affection, friendship, and love I once held for you will vanish in an instant."
His words carried a weight of unrelenting resolve, and Luna flinched before letting out a sigh to calm herself.
"Why did you betray my father?" she finally asked.
"Why else? Do you truly believe your father will care for you more after all this? The same man who labeled you worthless when you didn't have your Codex? Leo and I are still your friends, but we both knew you'd put your father above us anyway. Yet, despite that, we still loved and respected you as our equal."
Roland's words struck a nerve. The trio had been through thick and thin together—from training to countless missions. Their bond had been as strong as stone. Yet when it came to blood, where did loyalty lie? With friends or family?
Luna sat in silence, her expression unreadable as she contemplated her answer to Roland's damning words.
"I…"