"He didn't get this from our side of the family, did he?"

Cassian whispered to his father, the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke forced a smile on his face, whispering back.

"We've done a lot of diabolical things, but even we haven't gone this far. You could look on the bright side, at least he's one of us."

Cassian forced a smile, whispering.

"Good thing he's not with the war banks, or he might have put the whole world in debt."

Luna didn't know what her uncle and grandfather were whispering about, but she did know her brother had done it again. He had exercised his ultimate talent of pissing people off.

What kind of business model was that? It was pure exploitation. Honestly, when he said he was going to tax people, she imagined he would just block the bridge and force people to pay. But no, her brother was a criminal mastermind and had turned his small party into a whole mafia.

Ahhh. She closed her eyes. She needed a break. The war games had been going on for a few days now, and she had been staying in her own luxury room at the Brightwater Pavilion while she watched everything, including highlights of moments she missed.

She attended and ate dinner with the Grand Duke and spent most of her time with the Duchess Annalise, who pampered her a little too much.

The last time she got such treatment was when her mother was alive, except their mother was a real tough woman.

Her brother got the carrot and stick a lot from her.

When he did something wrong, she'd beat or scold him, then end up cuddling him to sleep while singing him lullabies.

She wondered if her brother missed their mother. Did he think of her, or did he choose to forget her?

"I wish I could see her again… so I can tell her how much better we're doing, so she doesn't worry."

What did it matter? The dead had no worries because they were dead. Their lives had ended, and so had all their wishes and desires.

Her sad expression must have been noticed by Annalise, who slowly stroked Luna's white hair.

"What's on your mind? Are you worried about Damon? Don't worry, he's pretty strong, and from the looks of it, hard to kill. He'll be fine."

Luna bit her lip, nodding, but she added something that had been weighing on her heart.

"I was thinking about death. My father seemed strong, my mother too, but they still died. Death doesn't really care who's strong or weak. It just happens. We just die."

She teared up slightly.

"My brother is scared of a few things, but death isn't one of them. That's why I fear death. I'm scared on his behalf. I don't want him to leave me, and I don't want to leave him."

Her words made Annalise glance at Cassian and the Grand Duke. The two of them sighed, looking at Luna, unsure of what would be best to comfort her.

Iris had been silent the whole time. She smacked Luna on the back of her head.

"Relax. You're overthinking things again. Didn't that guy survive three death zones? Like some competition is going to kill him?"

"He'll come back," she muttered softly. "I know he will."

Luna smiled, nodding.

The three adults let out a sigh of relief.

While Luna wrestled with her fears of death, her brother was busy turning the battlefield into an economy

Inside the arena, things had been progressing for the worse. The battles had become more intense while everyone was fighting.

Damon Grey's name had been rising through the ranks as the combat zone shrank. More and more people were gathering toward the center, having fought many dire battles.

Factions clashed for supremacy. No one wanted to yield to the other.

However, in all this chaos, a certain faction's name spread.

The faction was called Bridge Crossing Monetization Restaurant That Serves My Personal Interest.

It was a mouthful, but rumors spread about the honesty and reliability of the owner. He gave food and weapons to anyone who came asking. He healed the sick and injured and gave out potions of exceptional quality.

All for the low, low price of a few medallions, nothing more. He even allowed payments on a few zeni.

Apparently, his goal was simple— he just wanted to see the brave warriors of the goddess races enter the world dungeon.

He was a good man for all intents and purposes. Anyone who went to the bridge came back singing his praises and calling him a benevolent saint.

Of course, some people were unscrupulous and evil, taking advantage of his kindness, so some of the humble patrons who were moved by his generosity had to use violent means on those individuals.

Of course, the owner was a gentle soul and would never allow anyone to be killed, so they were just tied up under the bridge for all to see.

Apparently, according to intel, he had a few staff, and all those who left and spread the word had only good things to say about him.

Abellona leaned back in her chair, her spear in her hand, armor gleaming.

"And your intel didn't say who this person was?"

The knight bit his lips.

"No one seems to know who the person is, his name or identity. Only that he is a man."

Abellona narrowed her eyes. This smelled like a rat. A familiar, shameless, greedy, money-loving, no-good rat.

But if it was him, he would never give anything away for free or even let people come back to spread the word.

"Hmmm. Something doesn't add up. It's too good to be true."

She twirled her hair, her crimson eyes gleaming as the chatter of the troops outside echoed in the air.

"Send an advance reconnaissance party. I want to know who this person is and if we can secure an alliance with them, or at least safe passage through the bridge."

The man nodded, bowing his head.

"Yes, Your Highness. I shall have a party sent at once."

She glanced at a large map of the combat zone.

"Have the other factions sent any response?"

The man bit his lips.

"We have received responses, but no one is willing to give up their military faction due to mistrust. But mostly…"

"It's racism," Abellona sighed.

"Of course it is. This war game is set up in a way that we can easily turn on each other. This mistrust and a lack of medallions have made us all doubtful of one another. Especially since the demons haven't attacked us, everyone has grown complacent, thinking our numbers intimidate them."

She shook her head.

"What about Damon Grey?"

"He seems to be elusive. We haven't found him, and if he's gathering medallions this fast, it means he's going after those in charge of the factions."

Abellona glanced at him but said nothing.

'Or he's running a shady restaurant and blackmailing his so-called patrons to gain medallions.'

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