The palace gardens lay choked in smoke and gunfire, but when Ponaparto's demon-like visage and murderous aura erupted, every soldier froze.
"Shit… Ponaparto's about to go berserk!"
"Run! He'll kill us!"
Nakatam soldiers, sensing death closing in, scrambled to flee.
Some clawed up the high walls, others forced at the front gates.
Even Nova Family fighters, seizing the chaos, bolted in panic.
But those fleeing halted, bewildered by the strange sight at the gates.
Endi was holding Rabesta in a powerful embrace.
Soldiers and mafiosi alike stopped dead, staring in blank confusion.
"What the hell is that!?" Ponaparto roared, stomping toward the gate.
"Let go. This is disgusting," Rabesta muttered with deep loathing.
"Then return the embrace, Rabesta." Endi's voice was steeped in sorrow.
"What the hell's wrong with you?" Nova muttered, grimacing.
Darmaine stood frozen, eyes wide.
"Release me, or I'll kill you." Rabesta's hand drifted to his sword.
But Endi began to speak slowly.
"After I lost my memory, for four years I was utterly alone. I didn't know who I was, or why I lived. It was hell. Over and over, I thought of ending it. I truly believed no one in this world could be as miserable as me."
"…? What's your point?" Rabesta asked, face twisted with suspicion.
The fighters and mafiosi, forgetting the battle, listened intently.
"I went to Mildonia, then to Baleralc, and I saw countless people worse off than me—suffering, yet clinging to life with everything they had. I'd always assumed I was the most miserable, so I never even tried to notice. But you… you've suffered too."
"Say another word and I'll kill you for real." Nova raised his fist in rage.
But Cain seized his arm at once.
"Listen until he's done. Got it?" Cain's calm voice made Nova click his tongue and lower his fist.
Endi closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.
"Birthplace, skin, eyes, beliefs, values—sure, they differ. Maybe conflict is inevitable. But the blood in our veins is all red. We're the same human beings. Rabesta… if you don't see me as your enemy, then return my embrace."
The battlefield fell deathly silent.
From the shadows, Rose gasped, watching.
Rabesta stared at Endi for long seconds without moving.
Then slowly, hesitantly, he raised his arms—his motions riddled with conflict.
He lightly placed his hands on Endi's back, awkwardly returning the hug.
"…Is this enough? Let go already," Rabesta whispered, pulling away quickly.
At once, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from both soldiers and mafiosi.
Some even wept openly.
Cain wiped a lone tear from his right eye where no one could see.
"Endi… you're incredible," Rose whispered with a soft smile from the shadows.
Yet not all Nova Family men were swayed.
"Bullshit! What's with all this pretty talk!?"
"You think a brat like you understands anything!?"
"Let me at him—I'll smash his face in!"
But Ponaparto silenced them with a thunderous bellow.
"Anyone who spits on Endi's guts, step forward! I'll crush you myself!"
The mafiosi cowered and fell silent.
Then Darmaine, body trembling, forced himself up and spoke hastily.
"Hold up—you guys are from Pronto, right? That orphanage you mentioned… was it the House of Light?"
Nova and Rabesta stiffened at once.
"How do you know that?" Nova snapped sharply.
"I knew it. Listen close, clean out your damn ears! It wasn't Nakatam who hit that place—it was the Doal Army!" Darmaine's words made Nova bite back instantly.
"What the hell are you talking about!?"
Darmaine lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke as he went on.
"At the time, Doal was mass-producing uniforms identical to Nakatam's. Wearing those, Doal troops massacred innocent Pronto civilians. Why? To seed hatred toward Nakatam in you Pronto folk and use you as pawns."
Nova and Rabesta's eyes went wide, their voices lost.
"Darmaine… is that true?" Endi asked, doubtful.
Darmaine flicked ash and ended flatly.
"Yeah. I may be a pro liar, but not this time. Back then I was an admiral of the Indus Fleet guarding Doal waters. Heard it straight from the top brass. That orphanage attack was pretty well known, too."
"…Then… all this…" Rabesta's mind went white, his voice trembling.
Nova stood stunned, struggling to process.
"Sorry to interrupt~"
A light voice cut in.
Moschino appeared at the gate, bringing along a well-kept man in his fifties.
"Moschino, you bastard! Where the hell've you been!?" Ponaparto bellowed, making Moschino cover his ears.
"Ugh, so noisy. Move aside, I need to see this boy Rabesta."
"…Me?" Rabesta blinked stupidly.
"Yep! I brought someone who wants to see you. Recognize this man?" Moschino smiled, pointing to the man beside him.
Rabesta stared at the man intently. Slowly, his eyes went bloodshot.
"You… you're the doctor who abandoned Lucian!"
"Long time, Rabesta. You've grown," the doctor said quietly, gazing at him with gentle eyes.