The old man and Kaizoku enjoyed their meal.

"Mmm! This food is really good. Kaizoku said with a proud smile.

Seeing Kaizoku smile, the old man smiled back, pleased to see a young person happy. "Enjoy it, kid. There's nothing better than seeing smiles from young people."

"Nowadays, it's rare to see children smile. They're too busy working like adults."

The old man finished his meal and drank from the bottle of water provided at the large table.

They continued chatting and laughing together like an old man and his grandchild. "Hahaha! I used to play hide-and-seek too. Back then, I was the best at hiding in the bushes."

But their joy didn't last long. The old man spotted a group of soldiers dressed in fancy black tuxedos and tall black hats, inspecting the workers.

"Huh? They're here early? They usually inspect at five in the afternoon. Something's off... Come on, kid, follow me now."

Confused, Kaizoku followed the old man. They hid in the same changing room where Kaizoku had changed earlier.

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Peeking out, they saw the soldiers questioning other workers. Curious, Kaizoku asked. "Who are they, sir?"

The old man answered with a very serious expression. "They're The Bliss, Lord Thomas's soldiers. Their job is to make sure workers don't run away. If anyone resists, they take them to forced labor camps or prison."

The old man turned to Kaizoku, his face grave. "Listen carefully, kid. I need you to escape quietly from here and never come back."

Kaizoku was shocked by the old man's words. "B-But why, sir? What about you?"

The old man smiled and tried to encourage Kaizoku. "Don't worry about me. I'm sure they're looking for you. I know your secret—the one about you and your friends meeting one of Demon Lord Ishayaki's subordinates, Reverend Taki... I'm proud you made it out alive. I trust you to change this world."

Hearing this, Kaizoku felt guilty for bringing trouble to the old man. "B-But sir... I can't just leave you like this. I-I can fight them!"

The old man grabbed Kaizoku's shoulders and looked at him intently. "Listen to me. I don't want to lose the next generation, the ones who carry our hopes. So please... for me, run. Run as far away from here as you can."

Unable to hold back his emotions, Kaizoku lowered his head, ready to flee from the railway site. "Alright... Please take care of yourself..."

He hugged the old man one last time.

Kaizoku then quietly left the changing room and ran as fast as he could, getting as far away from the place as possible, leaving the old man behind.

Just as Kaizoku left, the soldiers entered the changing room and found the old man alone. One of the soldiers asked. "Excuse me, have you seen a young man around 19 years old with white hair on the right side of his head?"

The old man lied. "N-No, I don't know who you're talking about."

But the lie was quickly exposed when one of the soldiers spotted a long shirt and vest on the bench. "Hmm, that's strange... I'm sure those clothes aren't yours. Tell me the truth, or I'll take you to the White House."

Realizing his lie had been discovered, the old man stubbornly persisted. "I don't know who those belong to. I'm just here to change clothes for work."

"Stubborn old man. Take him away." the soldiers dragged the old man off.

"You won't get anything out of me!" the old man shouted defiantly.