Lucy exhaled deeply, steadying her nerves after the chaos of the previous night. Her eyes sharpened, determination returning to her voice.
"Hey Jack, go find Alfie again—we're heading out. Sasaki's right, we can't waste any more time sitting here whining."
She pushed herself up, then turned to Sasaki with a half-smirk.
"Hold on, though. I need that bath first. You can wait."
Before Sasaki could reply, Lucy slipped past him and entered the bathroom, her footsteps echoing in the quiet motel.
Jackson stepped outside, scanning the street. He had no idea where Alfie could have gone, but he had a bad feeling—it was always like this with Alfie.
And, as usual, Alfie had already managed to stir up a scene.
Just two buildings away, four older boys had cornered him in the alley. They stood in a semicircle, their postures tense, expressions sharp with hostility. One of them, around eighteen, stepped forward, glaring at Alfie like a predator sizing up prey.
"Hey, kid. I know you stole from that man earlier. Hand it over, and you won't get hurt."
Alfie clenched his fists. "I didn't steal anything dude! That guy made it up." He tried to slip between two of them, but they shoved him back roughly, forcing him into the center again.
"'Dude,' huh?" the boy sneered. "That's a big word for a brat like you. When I overheard that Shinra kid talking about you, I figured it out. You're the weakest link. So, why not? I'll take what's yours without a problem."
Alfie's jaw tightened, but before he could reply, a voice cut through the alley like a blade.
"Leave him alone… if you don't want to get hurt."
Jackson was closing in, his shadow falling over them.
The boys stiffened. "Tch… damn it, it's the tough one," one muttered. Their leader grinned anyway. " we got the Numbers, kid. You've got strength, sure. But we've got the advantage. And all you've got with you is…" he jerked his thumb at Alfie— "…the lazy thief."
The group burst into cruel laughter.
Jackson's fists clenched, veins bulging. His voice roared out.
"Don't you dare call him that, you bastards!"
In a flash, he dashed forward. His fist shot upward in a brutal uppercut, slamming into the ringleader's chin and sending him flying into the air. Jackson leapt after him, grabbing his body mid-air before slamming him back down with both hands. The ground cracked beneath the impact.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!" one of the others shouted, and all three drew knives, rushing Jackson at once.
But Jackson's eyes were calm, focused—his body honed by countless battles. Their blades slashed, but he twisted, sidestepped, and parried with sharp precision. He found his openings and struck—an elbow to the gut, a fist to the jaw, a kick that sent one crashing into the wall. One by one, they collapsed.
Breathing steady, Jackson turned to Alfie, frustration burning in his tone.
"Hey, you moron! What are you doing, just fooling around?! Those guys could've gutted you if I wasn't here!"
Alfie's face was stiff, his eyes clouded. He turned, starting to walk away without a word.
"Don't you dare walk away from me!" Jackson's voice boomed as he grabbed Alfie's shoulder, spinning him back around.
"What do you want from me, Jack?" Alfie snapped, tears threatening to form. "You want me to beat up humans and act like nothing happened?! That's not who I am! I made a promise—to myself—that I'd dedicate my life to erasing darkside spirits from this world. Not humans."
Jackson's expression softened for a heartbeat, but his voice stayed firm.
"That's not what this is about, Alfie. You know that. I agree with you. But this isn't the time to let your ideals make you reckless. We have to pull ourselves together. Our anger, our sadness—we turn it into strength. That's the only way we'll get Rebekah back. Not whining. Not sulking. Strength. Together."
"Team?" Alfie scoffed bitterly, finally letting the tears roll down his cheek. His voice cracked as he shouted back. "Don't talk to me about a team! Not with that Sasaki guy around. He's the reason this all happened! I'd rather train alone, die alone, than stay around him!"
Jackson's eyes blazed as he grabbed Alfie by the collar, shaking him.
"You fool! Don't you get it?! The same Sasaki you hate so much… he's the reason you're standing here right now. The reason you weren't taken. The reason you're alive to blame him for what would have been worse if he wasn't there! He put his life on the line for you!"
Jackson's voice rose so loud that the people in the street stopped and stared. Alfie froze, stunned.
"Master didn't give us the full details," Jackson went on, his voice breaking, "but she told me one thing—that without Sasaki, it would have been a double loss for me. Don't you dare make decisions based only on your feelings. Sasaki has helped us more than you realize. Even if he was once our enemy, don't blind yourself with hate."
Alfie stood silent, trembling, his heart torn.
"That's enough, both of you." Lucy's calm but commanding voice cut through the tension. She rode up on her horse, the sunlight catching her hair. "Come on. We're leaving."
Sasaki stepped out as well, now dressed in fresh black-and-white clothes. His gaze was unreadable.
"Lucy… you're really planning to ride all four of us on that horse?"
Lucy smirked faintly. "Relax. I wasn't serious. Just wanted to give her a little walk." She patted her horse gently before dismissing it back into her storage ring.
"Alfie," Lucy asked quietly, walking past him, "you ready to go?"
Alfie lowered his gaze. "…Not really. But I don't have a choice, do I?"
The group moved together toward the kingdom's gate. After a long silence, the massive doors opened, and just beyond them stood a familiar figure—the man from the night before. He wore the same red sleeves and black trousers, his aura sharp and watchful.
"I see the boy's looking better," he said with a thin smile. "Just wanted you to know—you're welcome in our kingdom anytime. Our Special Darkside Knight acknowledges you."
Lucy's eyes narrowed. "We appreciate it… but we won't be coming back."
The man chuckled. "We'll see. One more thing—the quickest path to Ashura is just beyond the second gate. I can guide you, if you wish."
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed Alfie's sword, still sheathed in its scabbard. Lucy caught it easily and slid it into her storage ring without breaking eye contact.
The man's smile lingered. "I'll be looking forward to meeting you again."