Back when Nilo and Leslie were still looking into the stitchreaper matter, they made an interesting discovery. The stitchreaper did possess an incredible weakness towards elastinum, the rarest material there is. In terms of the effect it had, it was tenfold, or even more, stronger than the Chrysanthemum. However, that wasn't the only piece of information the bestiary contained.

There were certain conditions in order for the elastinum's power to take full effect, and for the stitchreaper to be completely down. First of all, that surface structure of it was to be discarded entirely and turned into dust, similar to how the Chrysanthemum worked. Nilo was a bit hesitant on that part. It would mean he would lose the only thing that would bring him a fortune. Deep down, he knew it was but a pipe dream, even when he had it in his possession. Skimming that part, another factor in defeating the stitchreaper presented itself (but not without the help of the elastinum once again).

According to the bestiary, "Stitchreapers are spiritual beings first and foremost. Most of the time they are immaterial and very difficult to wound. Being a summon, it does not roam meaninglessly like other undead. It hovers in pinpoint locations where it is easy to track a target before striking it down. They possess the ability to pass the real and spiritual world at (the summoner's) will, making it once again difficult to trap it in one place. However, one can inflict damage on it by performing a circled sigil. Not only will that trap it in one place, forcing it out of the spiritual realm, but it will also inflict moderate damage on it as well. That being said, this method does not erase the creature definitely. Stitchreaper is a dangerous summon, they are subject to lose control from their summoners and go berserk. Even if the summoner is defeated or killed, one should take out the summon completely with Elastinum Dust (advised to be done before taking out the summoner to prevent it going berserk)." No matter how Nilo and Leslie looked at it, there was no other around defeating the stitchreaper. Yet, Nilo had hope. If a full elastinum stone was tenfold stronger than that measly flower Eeira used, then a tuft of it would be completely plausible to use. But a worst-case scenario could force them into using all of it, which Nilo decided not to think about at all.

That wasn't the only problem that Nilo had to face. The elastinum, the stone that was to either bring him gold or end it all, was no longer in his possession. After he was captured, the artful Lejin managed to run away with it, with the mayor having no knowledge about it absolutely. Nilo thought of getting the mayor's help to force the elastinum out of Lejin's hand, but that seemed unlikely given his nature, even if it was for his own benefit. So the problem lied with Lejin, the ever-lasting thorn at Nilo's side — the same could be said about Nilo to Lejin.

Given that problem, Nilo thought it wise to scout Lejin's hideout, which wasn't much of a hideout as the little birds knew exactly where it was, and everyone was a little bird in this town. He thought it would be a good idea to take care of the thorn in his side before rushing to tell Eeira the news and apologize. But it was never going to be easy. Lejin's "hideout" was as grand as the mayor's "tower." It was a giant mansion, around four stories tall. A bridge, beneath a small river, led to the entrance. The walls were entirely encased by plywood plastered with the ground. Each floor, from what it seemed like, was sheltered by deep eaves and a shingle roof of its own, almost as if the mansion was a hybrid building of lone houses. Looking back on it, it almost resembled the temple that was just outside the town in a certain fashion.

Nilo realized there was no way he could storm that place, guns blazing. That didn't mean it was over though. Just as he was losing hope, another opportunity presented itself. The entrance to Lejin's mansion was crowded, not by his men, but by commoners and visitors. From what Nilo understood, Lejin was looking for a new right-hand woman, and only a woman — the man was of a certain taste. Nilo figured that was because he had lost Dara, who he hadn't heard from since the Outlands incident as well. He could almost pity him for mulling over a woman like that. But to think Lejin would be quick to replace her, it was almost laughable.

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And there was their lucky chance, Leslie thought. It was all Leslie's idea in the first place. He had heard about Eeira earlier from Nilo. So, he thought, Eeira was still a young woman, but she was a woman nonetheless, she could be of use to them, to infiltrate the mansion as one of the many (if they are that many) candidates and steal the elastinum from Lejin's clutches. Of course, Nilo was entirely against that plan. It was more out of concern for her, rather than thinking she would fail.

'You think I can't do it?' Eeira expressed her dismay.

Contrary to Nilo's expectations, Eeira was quick on the uptake and wanted to go through with Leslie's plan. However, it wasn't because she wanted to get her hands on the elastinum at any cost, but rather to help Nilo and herself to get out of this situation. Just like Nilo, she was willing to sacrifice the precious stone she was after if need be. Both of their objectives were changing, for better or worse. Nilo, who was looking to get rid of Eeira at any chance he got, was completely against her matching recklessly into Lejin's territory. And she, the one who was cautious about everything, was willing to act recklessly in order to gain the stone. She was confident in herself enough to go through with Leslie's plan.

Putting that aside for a moment, there was the other matter of getting her to be chosen as one of the candidates.

'What? I'm not appealing enough to you,' Eeira turned a full circle, shifting the two men's attention at her appearance, 'Don't tell me I have to be a tart in order to be chosen?'

'While you did say you'd go through with it no matter what, that's not really the case here,' Leslie commented, 'I mean, you look pretty for a— what, twenty-five, twenty-six or something?'

'She is eighteen!' Nilo lowered his head and rubbed his forehead. The attire she was coated in did manage to make her older and more mature than what she really was, and made her look more like a beggar than ladylike.

'Nineteen next month!'

'Point still stands!' He said, 'Besides… As much as Lejin cares about appearances, he won't take you in unless you're uh… Ya'know, someone who can fight and all. You don't have to be that someone, you just have to look the part. But it's not gonna work, anyways.'

Eeira remained quiet, not refuting Nilo's words for once. His words weren't entirely false. Now that she almost had the full picture in her mind, she was starting to hesitate, she understood Nilo's concern for her. The plan seemed to have gone to shambles before it could even start.

However, Leslie wouldn't let that go. He held Eeira from both shoulders and moved her in front of the full-length mirror in the room.

'Nah, we can make this work, trust me,' he smiled, reassuring Eeira, 'Don't bring her down just because you're not convinced.'

'Well then, tell me how it's gonna work,' Nilo argued, 'And do not suggest the cross-dressing thing again, it's been overdone.'

'Look, I can walk out that door right now and leave if you want. I'm a free man after all. I'm only doing this to help you as a friend, but you keep—'

Nilo and Leslie's argument resumed. But their voices started to muffle as Eeira's consciousness dwelled elsewhere, she could not hear them anymore. She dove deep into her mind, making her best effort to search for a solution. Phaesevell wasn't a huge town, but it had about almost everything one would expect from a night town. So there had to be someone who could help them somehow, someone who specialized in fashion, someone who could turn a young woman with no fighting experience whatsoever into looking like a merciless hunter, someone like…

Crow…, Eeira was enlightened, 'I know someone!'

The argument ceased as the two men looked at Eeira with surprise. She backed away a little in hesitation, like a child who felt they had disobeyed their parents.

'There… there is someone I know, personally. He might help us,' she held her hands together, 'His shop is just south from the tower. He rarely gets customers around this time, so we might be in the clear.'

And so… the sleepless night began.