After he was placed in handcuffs, Miko was brought away by the Dragna soldiers.

“Wait.”

That’s when Nova spoke.

“Do you have a problem with the decision of the three clans, Nova?”

Krow asked.

“I have no problem, Uncle. However, I have a problem with the state of Miko’s body. He’s severely injured and is only able to move because of his adrenaline. Before he’s imprisoned, I request that he’s to be treated.”

“Fair enough. Treat him and then take him to the demon’s nest.”

Krow easily agreed. He looked at everyone that was on Miko’s side with a sharp gaze as if he was remembering their faces.

“Miko must had some accomplices….”

He looked at Momo, and the trio.

“But there’s no proof since we only got reports of him and Nebulous.”

He turned his back to them.

“By the way, what happened to the 11th Elder? I heard that he tried to put a stop to Miko and Nebulous’ battle.”

“Oh, Hector.”

Nova laughed.

“He overstepped his boundaries, so I had to reminded him where he stands in life.”

“In other words….?”

Nova suddenly looked confused.

“That’s it. There’s nothing more to it.”

“I’m asking what you did to him.”

“Oh. I think it’s better for me not to say, since children are present.”

A chill ran down the spine of most of those that gathered. Despite his charming smile, they knew that Nova had done something really gruesome to Hector.

“Very well. We’ll discuss the appointment of a new elder at a later date.”

Krow said in the end. He couldn’t punish Nova despite being higher ranked than him. That would only lead to a massacre on both sides. It wasn’t worth it.

After saying what he needed to say, Krow left; while everyone else watched as Miko was carried away.

“Tsk!”

Irritated, Sasha turned her head away from him and looked at Momo.

“Momo!”

“Yes, Aunty!”

Momo looked frightened like a soldier seeing his superior after doing something wrong. Sasha silently looked at her and the trio. After a while, she spoke.

“We’re going home. You can tell me everything that happened there.”

“Yes!”

After saying that, they started to leave. Hina, however stopped and looked back in Miko’s direction.

“Huh? Where’s Ishma and Regis?”

Almost a hour later, Sasha, Leon, Nova, Momo, Hina, Ace, and Sora all went to Miko’s home.

“I heard that Tiamat was staying here while we were gone, is that true?”

Sasha asked after entering the house.

“Yeah. She and Miko lived here for three months. I occasionally stayed here as well.”

Momo answered.

“Hm….I don’t know how to feel about that.”

Sasha invited everyone and then went deeper into the house.

“So this is Miko’s house?”

The trio started looking around the house. The rooms were painted lavender and white. The furniture didn’t look expensive and looked like they were something commoners could afford. Even so, they were still stylish, and neatly organized.

“I thought that it would fancier, considering that you’re all royalty.”

Ace muttered.

“Shh!”

Sora and Hina both covered his mouth with their hands in a hurry. They then looked at Leon that was nearby.

“Hm? Ah, I don’t mind. We purposely design it this way. We didn’t want Miko and the twins to become too fixed on possessions and believe that they’re better than others.”

Leon explained with a smile. Hina and Sora sighed when they saw that Leon didn’t get offended. They made sure to make Ace shut his mouth though.

“Ah, there’s no need to be afraid of Leon.”

Nova walked past them and sat on a couch, before waiting for Leon to offer him a seat.

“As long as his switch isn’t flipped, he’s docile.”

“What switch? I have no such thing.”

Leon took off his black and gold coat and hung it up in a closet. He then took a seat in the living room.

“You all can take a seat.”

He said to the trio. They sat on the free couch, while Momo was forced to sit with Nova, who was smiling from ear to ear.

“Sorry for making you wait.”

Sasha walked into the living room, after changing her clothes. She was wearing a brown sweater, denim jeans, and slippers. Even though she dressed casually, she was still stunning.

“My sister, you are as beautiful as ever. As your brother, I’m proud to have a sister like you who can even make the sun and moon seem underwhelming.”

“Big Brother, I’d appreciate it if you keep your dotting to a minimum in front of guests. It’s creepy.”

She sat beside Leon.

“I refuse. The women in my family are treasures worthy of an eternity of praise, and the whole world must know it.”

“You and father really are sick in the head.”

Sasha said with a sigh.

“More importantly, my sister. Why are you sitting so far away from me? It makes me lonely.”

“I’m sitting with my husband. Make due with Momo.”

Momo looked like she wanted to protest, but Sasha ignored her pleading eyes. It was obvious that she was sacrificed by her aunt.

“……I never expected that the Chaos Emperor would have such a personality considering the stories surrounding him.”

Hina mumbled.

“More importantly, Momo. Tell us what happened in the three months while I was gone.”

Elsewhere, Layla was walking through the destroyed district where Momo and Hector fought. She looked at the destruction without much interest.

“She let me go just like that…..”

After Tia heard that Layla wanted to help Miko to follow Darius’ will, she didn’t laugh, get upset, or even reacted that much. She only smiled and told her to do what she want. She soon disappeared leaving Layla alone.

“What should I do now?”

She sat down on the ground, ignoring the fact that her dress was gonna get dirty.

“I mean, I want to help Miko, but how? Is he even going to trust me? There’s a chance that he’ll come after me too…..”

She sighed.

“This will be difficult. Not to mention that Nebulous was announced as dead, all of the crime lords we had under us will now believe that they’re free. Even if I appeared calling myself Nebulous, they won’t listen to me. They’ll believe Krow’s words over mine.

She placed her hands behind her and leaned back with a tired expression.

“Not only that, there’s a chance that Krow will come to silence me. Miko is imprisoned, so I can’t use him as a shield. It’s possible to become a second Crime God if I use our left over resources, but I don’t think that’ll stop Krow either.”

She sighed again.

“Before I can help Miko, I need to ensure my own survival.”

“That’s where I come in.”

“Hm?”

Layla heard a familiar voice and looked back. There she saw a man dressed in a grey shirt, dark jeans with a chain around the right pocket, and a pair of dark boots. He had a good-looking face, curly brown hair which covered his forehead, and silver eyes.

“Jason, you’re still here.”

Layla quickly got up and looked at the man with obvious shock in her eyes.

“Of course. Why did you think I was gone?”

“I mean, Nebulous is dead. I thought that you would’ve left to enjoy your freedom already.”

“Well, I admit that the thought ran cross my mind.”

Jason took out a mask. It was a black and red mask. This was the mask that NoFace used.

“But I still think that I owe you guys a lot. Besides, Darius had asked me to watch over you. He’s my god, so I have to obey.”

Jason smiled.

“I don’t have any problem staying with my goddess either.”

Tears gathered in Layla’s eyes.

“Thank you. Thank you, Jason.”

She wiped the tears from her eyes and then grinned.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

The two started walking.

“Krow will probably make his move, I want to go into hiding for a bit, or at least until Miko’s trial is over. After that, I’ll make contact with him.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Jason said.

“Why?”

“Because Miko already made contact with us.”

“What?”

Jason smiled.

“And you won’t believe what he wants us to do”

Back at Miko’s home.

“So many things happened in three months?”

After hearing Momo’s report, Sasha was a bit overwhelmed. She didn’t expect for so many things to happen around her son while she was gone.

“So, Miko’s your boss?”

Leon asked the trio.

“Only in name, I guess. We’re more friends than anything.”

Ace replied.

“Friends, huh?”

Leon smiled.

“Miko isn’t one to make friends, so it’s kinda reassuring that someone was willing to call themselves his friends.”

“Leon’s right.”

Sasha bowed her head.

“Thank you for being friends with my son, and sticking with him when he needed it.”

“Ah, no. You don’t have to be so polite.”

Hina and the boys became flustered. They didn’t expect the lioness who was so ferocious earlier would be bowing before them. They didn’t know how to react.

“Aunty may be scary at times, but she’s a gentle person as long as she’s not provoked. She’s also honorably, so it’s better you accept her gesture.”

Momo whispered to the trio.

“It was nothing. Miko is our friend after all. As long as he needs us, we’ll help him out.”

Hina said after pondering Momo’s words.

“I see. I’m glad to hear that.”

Sasha lifted up her head and smiled.

“But, I didn’t expect Miko to become friends with one of his favorite authors. He was always praising your work.”

“Yeah, I kinda went out of my way to meet him.”

Hina was still a bit nervous.

“Hmm….”

“What’s wrong, Uncle?”

Momo asked after seeing the expression on Nova’s face.

“I was just wondering something about Miko and Darius.”

He looked at Momo and the trio.

“They were friends who spent a lot of time together right?”

“Yeah. From how mad he got, I think it’s safe to assume that Miko respected and admired Darius.”

“Then Miko must’ve wanted to know Darius’ reasons for everything he did. That’s probably the main reason he fought him, but what if Darius, who had mental problems didn’t explain anything? Or rather, what if he was unable to explain everything?”

Nova looked at Sasha and Leon.

“What do you think Miko would do?”

“?!”

The two of them immediately realized what Nova was implying.

“He would use his powers to read Darius’ soul.”

Leon mumbled.

“Wait. Darius had a very strong and unstable personality. If Miko read his memories…”

Momo came to a realization. Nova nodded.

“Miko’s mind will be impacted and his personality will completely change. In fact, it already has. I could tell from the vibe I got from him earlier.”

“Is this bad?”

Hina asked.

“Not necessarily. Darius before he was Nebulous was influenced by my father and turn out to be similar to my father and myself. So Miko might just turn out to be like us.”

“It’s a disaster!”

Sasha held her head and shouted.

“Hey, I have you know that father and I are perfect gentlemen.”

Nova defended himself.

“150 years ago, who was it that slept with an emperor’s wife and then blamed it on his brother and caused a civil war that led to that country’s downfall?”

“You have no proof that was me.”

“Who went to the Undead Country and fought with Hades’ Proxy, Underworld Prince Spector, for a rare diamond all because Big Sis Sonia said she would like one on whim?”

“It was a birthday present.”

“Who was it that threatened to castrate any boy that even thought about hitting on his sisters, and actually tried to?!”

Nova looked at Leon.

“…….I’m not apologizing.”

“See?! This is why Miko becoming like you guys is a huge problem!”

“I still don’t see the problem.”

Nova looked completely clueless to what Sasha was unsatisfied with.

“Sasha, calm down. You know that this won’t go anywhere.”

Leon attempted to pacify his wife.

“Oh.”

Nova suddenly stood up and looked towards the east.

“Father and the others are back.”