Approaching the interrogation room after Professor Elden's defeat, the trio found no more obstacles in their path, except for the locked door. Without hesitation, Carter swung his hockey stick, smashing the door knob and unlocking it. They rushed inside, finally reaching their objective: to save Luna. She was bound to a chair, her eyes closed, exhausted from the relentless torture inflicted by Marcus Steele's taser. The trio quickly moved to her side, their hands working to untie the ropes.

"Luna, are you okay?" Jake's voice was heavy with concern, hoping she wasn't seriously injured.

Luna's eyes slowly fluttered open at the sound of his voice. Seeing the trio, her eyes welled up with tears, a mix of relief and disbelief reflected in them. "I thought I'd never see you guys again!" she cried, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for coming to my rescue." As they freed her from the ropes, Luna was finally released from the confines of the interrogation room in FuturForge Innovations.

As the ropes were untied from her body and legs, the moment her freedom was assured, Luna wrapped her arms around Jake, driven by the overwhelming relief and the need for comfort and connection. "Thank you for coming to save me!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. Jake blushed, unsure of how to react, but he gently patted her head with his free hand, the one not holding the Sword of Flames. "Hey Luna, it's okay! We were always going to save you," he reassured her.

Seeing Luna embrace Jake so tightly, Akane's lips curled into a subtle pout, a small sign of jealousy. "Hey, where's my hug?" Carter interrupted with a grin, wanting to join in the moment. Luna turned to him and reciprocated with a hug, though it was more friendly and less tight than the one she gave Jake. "Thanks, Carter, for coming to save me!" she said, embracing him warmly. Carter blushed as well. "Hey, no problem! You're our friend!" he replied, feeling a bit flustered.

Luna then turned to Akane and gave her a hug too. "Akane, thank you!" she said sincerely. Akane's face turned red, not sure how to respond, but she appreciated the gesture.

As the moment of relief subsided, Luna noticed the sword Jake was holding—the Sword of Flames, one of the legendary swords she had been searching for. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Jake, is that the Sword of Flames?" she inquired, unable to believe she was seeing it in person, even though she was from the future and had been searching for it in the present.

Jake held up the sword in front of him, showing it to Luna. "This?" he responded, still a bit uncertain. "I'm not entirely sure myself. It was passed down to me by my dad before I came to save you." Jake explained. "He warned me to use it only at a critical moment, and just now against the professor, I realized it was the Sword of Flames in the sheath." He continued, "I have a lot of unanswered questions too. When we get back home, we can ask him to understand what's really going on."

The tender moments of gratitude and friendship quickly gave way to an entirely different atmosphere. The sudden intrusion of law enforcement officers into the FuturForge Innovation's R&D Lab signaled a swift change. This time, it wasn't a group of security personnel sent to stop them or initiate another fight. Instead, policemen in blue, wielding batons, entered the scene, seemingly there to save them and arrest someone.

Leading the charge was Isabella Sinclair, the Personal Assistant to the CEO of FuturForge Innovations, who had crossed paths with them earlier. Commanding the police officers with unwavering authority, she pointed an accusatory finger at Professor Elden Thorne. "Officers, arrest that man," she declared with absolute certainty. Her sharp voice cut through the air like a knife, leaving no room for doubt as she directed the blame squarely on Elden. "He's the mastermind behind the kidnapping," she asserted, drawing a clear line that FuturForge Innovations was not implicated, protecting the company's public image.

Following Isabella's command, three policemen surrounded Professor Elden, swiftly apprehending and handcuffing him. As they lifted him from the floor, he continued to mutter to himself, "It's my destiny... What went wrong?" His gaze remained fixated on the shattered fragments of the Sword of Water scattered across the wet floor, his obsession still gripping him.

Amidst the chaos, Jake quickly sheathed the Sword of Flames, hiding it from view to avoid drawing unnecessary attention from the authorities. The last thing they needed was the sword being confiscated for investigation.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/cd/Ethan_Zhang_Profile.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/8/89/Tyler_Jenkins_Profile.png]

Two policemen approached Jake, Carter, Akane, and Luna, who were still standing in the interrogation room. To their surprise, the officers were familiar faces—Ethan Zhang and Tyler Jenkins, the same policemen Jake and Luna had encountered earlier in the quiet alley where Jake first saved Luna. Recognizing them immediately, Ethan's expression was one of disbelief. "You two again? Is this something related to the legendary swords?" he interrogated the group, his tone laced with curiosity and suspicion.

Meanwhile, Tyler, showing genuine concern for the teenagers, asked, "Are you all okay?" His voice carried a warmth that contrasted with the intensity of the situation.

Carter, representing the group's collective resolve, responded with a nod of affirmation. "Officer, we're fine. Nothing related to legendary swords—they're just myths," he replied, trying to downplay the situation and hide the fact that Jake was carrying one.

However, as the professor was being escorted away, he made a desperate attempt to expose the truth. "The boy in the light blue hoodie has the legendary sword! He has the Sword of Flames! I swear, it should be mine!" he shouted, causing the policemen escorting him to stop in their tracks. They turned their attention back toward the group, intent on verifying the professor's claim.

Ethan Zhang, now more suspicious, fixed his gaze on Jake. "Is it true? Do you have the Sword of Flames? I need to check the weapon you're carrying," he said, his tone professional but firm, requesting that Jake hand over the katana in its sheath for inspection.

The group of teenagers exchanged worried glances. "Hey, officers, there's nothing to check. It's just a normal katana," Carter interjected, trying to shield his friend. Akane shook her head, denying the claim, while Luna added, "Yes, officers, it's really just a regular katana," hoping their words would dissuade the officers from further investigation.

But Ethan's suspicion only grew. "If there's nothing to hide, please hand over the katana now. Once I've inspected it and confirmed there's nothing wrong, I'll give it back to you," he insisted, his voice carrying the authority of law enforcement. Realizing they had no choice, Jake reluctantly handed the sheathed katana to Ethan, his grip tight as if unwilling to let go of the weapon that had just helped them in their battle.

All eyes in the R&D lab were on Officer Ethan as he carefully inspected the katana. The teenagers, filled with apprehension, silently prayed for a miracle, hoping that the police would stop their inspection and simply return the sword. But Officer Ethan, known for his strictness and meticulous attention to detail, examined every part of the katana—the sheath, the hilt—leaving nothing unchecked. As he began to pull the sword out of the sheath, Professor Elden's eyes widened with anticipation, expecting the legendary Sword of Flames to reveal itself to the world. Meanwhile, Jake and his friends watched in horror, bracing for the worst.

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However, when Officer Ethan fully unsheathed the katana, nothing happened. The sword remained an ordinary blade, with no flames or special powers manifesting. Jake, Carter, Akane, and Luna all let out a collective sigh of relief, their tension easing as the threat seemed to pass. In stark contrast, Professor Elden stared in disbelief, his hopes dashed. "That is really the Legendary Sword of Flames! I swear!" he shouted frantically, his voice echoing through the lab. The officers escorting him tried to calm him down, insisting, "Hey, it's just a normal katana!"

Ethan swung the katana a few times, checking for any hidden mechanisms or triggers that might activate the sword's supposed powers. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, he sheathed the katana and returned it to Jake. "Sorry, it's part of my job to inspect. This is, in fact, just a normal katana. Like I said, the legendary swords are just mere myths," he remarked with a smile, while Jake and his friends exhaled in relief, still puzzled as to why the Sword of Flames hadn’t activated its power in Officer Ethan’s hands.

Officer Tyler, with his friendly demeanor, explained how they had arrived at FuturForge just in time to arrest Professor Elden. "We received a report from FuturForge staff about an employee orchestrating a kidnapping. We came immediately to intervene," he said, his tone reassuring. Jake, Carter, and Akane exchanged glances, their eyes drifting toward Isabella, the person they suspected might have been behind the report.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/1/1d/Isabella_Sinclair_flirting.png]

Isabella, catching their gaze, didn’t deny their suspicions. Instead, she responded with a sly wink—a subtle hint that she was indeed the one who had tipped off the authorities. The trio looked at each other, their minds racing. They were unsure of Isabella’s true motivations. Was she an ally, or did she have her own agenda? Her involvement added a layer of complexity to an already tangled situation. Despite their uncertainty, they felt relieved that the authorities were there, and that they weren’t in trouble for breaking into FuturForge—thanks, it seemed, to Isabella's decision not to report them.

The lobby area of FuturForge Innovations was a frenzy of activity, packed with law enforcement and news media vehicles. Reporters stood behind barricades set up by the police, jockeying for the best positions to capture the unfolding events on camera. Onlookers, drawn by the commotion, gathered around, trying to piece together what was happening. This scene was no coincidence; it was orchestrated by Isabella Sinclair, who had planned for the law enforcement and media to be present, ensuring that FuturForge distanced itself from the scandal by placing all the blame for the kidnapping squarely on Professor Elden Thorne.

As the professor was led out of the building, the media's cameras and microphones immediately focused on him, causing a surge of activity behind the police barricade. Reporters shouted questions, vying for his attention. "Professor, do you have anything to say?" one asked. "What was your motive behind the kidnapping?" another inquired. Yet, Professor Elden Thorne offered no response, his gaze vacant, lost in his thoughts. He muttered repeatedly, "The seven swords... It's my destiny... What went wrong," his words a mantra of disbelief and despair.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/7/75/Cyrus_Thorne%2C_son_of_Elden_Thorne.png]

Among the onlookers, a voice broke through the din—sharp and desperate. "What happened, Dad? My dad is an honorable researcher, why are you handcuffing him? Release him!" The voice belonged to Cyrus Thorne, the professor’s son. Tall, lean, and athletic, with a cascade of blue hair and piercing blue eyes, Cyrus wore a white jacket over a blue t-shirt, paired with sleek black jeans. His casual appearance belied the storm of emotions roiling within him. He had come looking for his father, expecting to find him immersed in work, perhaps planning to surprise him with a late supper. Instead, he was met with the shocking sight of his father in handcuffs, a scene that sent him into a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/e/e3/Cyrus_Thorne_witnesses_his_father%2C_Elden%2C_being_escorted_into_a_police_car.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/6/6a/Professor_Elden_Thorne_being_handcuffed_and_escorted_to_a_police_car.png]

"Release him now!" Cyrus demanded from behind the barricade, his voice tinged with desperation. But his pleas fell on deaf ears as the police officers maintained their grip on the situation. "Dad! Dad! What happened?" he continued to shout, hoping for some acknowledgment. But Professor Elden, though hearing his son’s cries, remained unresponsive, his mind trapped in the loop of his failure, repeating, "The seven swords... It's my destiny... What went wrong," as he was escorted into the police car, oblivious to everything around him.

As the vehicle carrying Elden Thorne disappeared into the distance, Cyrus remained rooted in place, determined to understand what had led to his father’s detainment. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, disbelief, and a growing sense of desperation. Spotting Isabella Sinclair descending the lobby steps flanked by police officers, Cyrus immediately recognized her as his father's colleague. Desperate for answers, he called out, "Miss Sinclair! My father got detained—can you tell me why?"

Isabella, however, paid him no heed, walking past him as if she hadn't heard a word. Her focus was on the assembled media. With the composure of a seasoned public relations expert, she commanded their attention. "Please ensure the public understands that FuturForge Innovations is in no way involved in this kidnapping incident. This was entirely Professor Elden Thorne's undertaking," she declared, her statement delivered with authority, seeking to absolve the company from any blame and distance it from Elden’s actions. "Rest assured, the teenagers involved are safe and are being escorted down by the police." As she finished speaking, she directed her gaze toward the entrance of FuturForge Innovations, prompting the media to turn their cameras in anticipation of the teenagers' emergence.

Cyrus, still reeling from the shock, muttered to himself, "What kidnapping? What teenagers?" His mind raced with unanswered questions. Following Isabella’s gaze, he watched as Jake, Luna, Carter, and Akane appeared, escorted by police officers. The media erupted into a frenzy, camera flashes illuminating the scene as the officers did their best to shield the teenagers from the onslaught of attention. Amidst the chaos, Cyrus's eyes locked with Jake’s and Luna’s for a fleeting moment before they looked away, guided out of sight by the police.

A surge of anger and bitterness welled up within Cyrus. To him, they were the cause of his father’s downfall, the reason for his own distress. His thoughts darkened as he watched them disappear from view. In his mind, if they hadn’t come into the picture, none of this would have happened. The seeds of resentment were sown deep within him as he stood there, his heart hardening with every passing second.

Jake, Luna, Carter, and Akane finally found peace as they sat in Jake's father’s car, away from the chaos of the media and the tense halls of FuturForge Innovations. The weight of their successful mission to save Luna seemed to lift off their shoulders, and they let out a collective sigh of relief after all the battles they had fought.

"Jake, what happened back there? When the police officer unsheathed the sword, it didn’t ignite. Why?" Carter asked, still puzzled. Jake shook his head, equally confused. "I don't know," he admitted. "It didn’t react when Officer Ethan drew it, but it's definitely the Sword of Flames. I just don’t get why."

The group glanced around the car, checking to make sure no one was watching. Once they were certain they were safe, Luna leaned forward, concern etched on her face. "Jake, do you want to check if it’s still working? We need to be sure it’s the legendary sword."

Jake nodded and carefully unsheathed the sword. As soon as the blade was exposed, flames roared to life, dancing around the edge of the sword in a mesmerizing display of fiery energy. He quickly sheathed it again, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention, but the truth was clear—the Sword of Flames was very real.

“There’s so many questions unanswered,” Jake said, his voice tinged with confusion. “Let’s go back to my house and ask my dad how he came to have this sword. He should be able to answer all our questions.”

His friends nodded in agreement, sharing his sense of urgency and curiosity. With that, they drove away from FuturForge, ready to uncover the mysteries surrounding the legendary sword and its connection to Jake’s father, Fumio Harada.