Nana Rie, a gnome and a seasoned Sentinel Knight-Huntress, stood before them. Despite her small stature, her presence commanded attention. A D-rank (Tier 10) knight, her abilities specialized in protecting nations and large territories. Though her rank wasn’t the highest, her experience and deep commitment to defending the vulnerable made her a respected figure. Her aura alone was potent enough to span across country-level threats, marking her as a formidable force.

After acknowledging Yoshi and Lyra, Nana ordered the warriors to return to their posts. "There’s no need for alarm," she said calmly before turning to the group. "I invite you all to a private discussion in the community hall."

As the group prepared to follow her, she addressed the traveler. "You should return to your family. They’ve missed you terribly," she said with a gentle tone.

But the traveler stood his ground. "With all due respect, I wish to stay and partake in this meeting. It concerns my village, and I feel I must be part of it," he insisted.

Nana sighed lightly, though a faint smile crossed her lips. "Very well," she said. "Though I could compel you with the Treasure of Order, that would be an abuse of its power."

***

Inside the village’s community hall, they were all seated. Nana took the chief’s seat, the Treasure of Order still in her grasp. Her demeanor was calm and composed as she regarded her guests.

"So, what do you want to discuss?" she asked, her voice steady, prepared to answer whatever questions were thrown her way.

"Are you responsible for all of this?" the traveler asked, his tone laced with accusation.

Without hesitation, Nana met his gaze. "Yes, I am," she said, her voice firm yet unapologetic.

"Why?" the traveler asked, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief.

Nana Rie straightened her posture, her expression unwavering. "Isn't it evident enough?" she began. "I needed recognition for the sacrifices I've made for this community—the battles I fought and the victories I secured. Once, I held status in the Wisteria Forest Kingdom, but then I was assigned here." Her tone became sharp. "At first, I hated it. I believed only lower-ranked knights should be sent to smaller regions, not someone of my caliber."

She paused, glancing at the others in the room. "I meant no harm to this beautiful community, my prince. But the truth is, the village chief was a coward. When danger loomed, he turned tail, prepared to surrender the Treasure of Order to our enemies in exchange for his family's safety. I couldn’t allow that."

Her gaze hardened. "So, I stepped in. I seized the treasure, used its power, and restored order to the village. No lives were lost under my watch. I punished the chief for his betrayal—trading the lives of this community for his family’s safety would have led to our ruin. I did what needed to be done."

The traveler shook his head in defiance. "But that doesn't mean you should be in charge."

Nana sighed but held her ground. "I understand your concern, but the facts remain: the village is safe, the people are thriving, and no blood was spilled in the process. I alone ensured that."

Throughout the meeting, Yoshi, Lyra, and Joseph remained silent, observing Nana carefully. They exchanged subtle glances, their shared experience telling them she wasn’t being entirely truthful. Her words carried conviction, but there was an underlying tension in her demeanor, a hint of something unsaid.

Sensing their scrutiny, Nana turned her attention to Yoshi and Lyra. "Your Highness, Royal Witch," she addressed them, her tone almost challenging. "You’ve been quiet. Surely, you have something to say? Or perhaps you agree with me?"

Their silence persisted. Yoshi’s calm expression remained unreadable, while Lyra simply inclined her head slightly, her piercing gaze locked on Nana.

Realizing she wouldn’t get a response, Nana rose from her seat, regaining her composure. "Very well," she said, addressing the group. "Your journey must have been exhausting. Please, stay in our village and recover your strength. My people will take care of you."

She then turned to the traveler. "You’ve done enough to aid your village. Now, return to your family—they’ve been waiting for you patiently."

With that, the meeting was dismissed. The group departed for their quarters, but their thoughts lingered on Nana and her words.

Later, in the privacy of her quarters, Nana was met by an unexpected visitor—the astral form of Ryujin, an enigmatic figure of legend. His presence radiated immense power, yet his tone was calm, almost persuasive.

"Nana Rie," he said, his voice echoing softly. "I bring you a proposal."

Nana stiffened, her eyes narrowing. "I've heard stories about you. I thought you were just a myth. You look human, act human, but you're far from it."

Ryujin inclined his head slightly. "Indeed. I am far more. But you already know that."

"I know you were humbled by the Royal Family," Nana continued, her voice edged with suspicion. "What is it you want from me? You’re powerful enough to take the Treasure of Order by force, yet you offer me a choice. Why?"

Ryujin smiled faintly. "Because I freely give to others what was never given to me," he replied. "Recognition. Freedom. Power. You have done well to protect this village, but greater challenges await. If you wish for true recognition, hand the treasure to me, and I will grant you far more than this small corner of the world."

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His voice grew darker, more foreboding. "But choose wisely, Nana Rie. If you falter when the time comes, the balance you’ve worked so hard to maintain will crumble. And there are others—like you—who will gladly oblige me if you do not."

With those final words, Ryujin’s form began to fade, his presence leaving the room as swiftly as it had appeared.

Nana stood in silence, her thoughts a storm of conflict. His promise of greater recognition was tempting, but his warning of what could come if she hesitated left her unsettled. She clenched her fists, staring at the Treasure of Order glowing faintly on her desk.

Meanwhile, in Joseph's separate quarters, he had been secretly monitoring Nana Rie's actions. Using a fragment of his XPT as a covert surveillance device, he uncovered shocking information: Nana was in alliance with Ryujin. Stunned by this revelation, Joseph knew he had to inform Yoshi and Lyra before things spiraled out of control.

The following morning, as Yoshi and his companions prepared to leave the village, Nana and a group of warriors escorted them to the outskirts. However, before they could part ways, Yoshi turned to Nana, his expression unreadable.

"Nana," he began, his tone calm yet piercing, "what business do you have with Ryujin?"

The question struck like a thunderbolt. Nana froze for a split second, her carefully maintained composure cracking before she quickly masked her reaction. “I’ve never heard that name before,” she replied evenly.

“Are you sure about that?” Yoshi asked, his eyes narrowing.

Nana's gaze hardened as she composed herself further. “With all due respect, my prince, are you accusing me of deceit?” she said coolly. “If you wish, you may read my thoughts or peer into my past—I have nothing to hide.”

Yoshi shook his head slowly. “That won’t be necessary.” He gestured toward Joseph, who stepped forward, activating a holographic display from his XPT fragment.

“What sorcery is this?” Nana gasped as the image of her secret meeting with Ryujin played before them.

“It’s called science,” Joseph said curtly, his gaze sharp. “It seems you’ve been consorting with Ryujin, the enemy. What did he promise you, Nana? What could make you risk everything for an alliance with him?”

Anger flared in Nana’s eyes as her grip on the Treasure of Order tightened. The golden staff pulsed with energy, its aura swirling around her like a living force.

“You know nothing of what I’ve endured!” she snapped, her voice rising. “Do you think I wanted this? To be stationed in a forgotten village, to be overlooked despite all I’ve done? Ryujin promised me recognition—something I’ve long been denied! I seized the Treasure of Order to protect this village when its cowardly chief would have handed it over to the enemy. I restored order when no one else could!”

“And now you’ve become a tyrant,” Joseph shot back. “Ryujin doesn’t give without taking. You’ve been blinded by his lies, and now you’re putting everyone at risk!”

Nana’s aura flared brighter, the ground trembling beneath her feet as the golden energy intensified. Her glowing eyes locked onto Joseph. “Enough! I’ve had enough of your insolence!”

She raised the Treasure of Order, its power radiating outward in a shockwave that forced Yoshi and his companions to take cover.

“Leave this village while you still can,” Nana declared, her voice booming with authority. “I’ve brought peace and stability here, and I won’t let you disrupt it. With this treasure, I command order itself. If you defy me, I will make you my subjects or cast you out!”

Yoshi stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His voice was calm but firm as he addressed her. “Nana, you’ve lost your way. The treasure has corrupted your judgment. If you truly care for this village, you’ll stand down and relinquish it before it destroys you.”

Nana’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “You think you can lecture me about responsibility? About sacrifice? You have no idea what I’ve endured to keep this village safe. If you want this treasure, you’ll have to take it by force!”

"That sounds more like a villain's speech than a hero's," Joseph retorted, his tone sharp and unyielding. He crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips as he locked eyes with his adversary. "What is it with low-rankers and their obsession with power, anyway? You’re all the same—grasping at straws, desperate for something you can’t handle."

He paused, letting his words sting before delivering the final blow. "You remind me of Masanori Renjiro," he continued, his voice dripping with mockery, "from Yokosuka. Remember him? His thirst for power ended with him being nothing more than a puppet for the demon lord who consumed him. Is that where you're headed too?"

Joseph’s gaze was piercing, daring Nana to respond, as the air between them thickened with tension.

Nana's lips curled into a sneer, her eyes burning with raw hatred as she glared at Joseph.

The golden aura around her exploded outward, shaking the village and sending nearby villagers scrambling for safety. Yoshi exchanged a glance with Joseph and Lyra, both of whom nodded in silent agreement.

“She’s not going to listen,” Joseph muttered. His XPT reconfigured into a gauntlet as he prepared for a fight.

Lyra raised her staff, magical energy crackling along its length. “We don’t have a choice,” she said grimly. “She’s consumed by the treasure’s power. If we don’t stop her, the entire village will suffer.”

Yoshi unsheathed his sword, its blade gleaming in the morning light. “We’ll save her if we can,” he said, his voice steady, “but we won’t let her harm anyone else.”

As Nana’s golden energy surged once more, Yoshi and his companions readied themselves for battle. The confrontation would determine not only the fate of the village but the soul of its misguided protector.

Using the power of the Treasure of Order, Nana commanded her warriors to attack Yoshi and his companions. However, despite their numbers, the warriors were swiftly and decisively defeated. Realizing her forces were no match, Nana stepped forward, determination burning in her golden eyes. Alone, she engaged Yoshi and his comrades in an intense battle. Her skill and the treasure's power turned the tides, forcing the group on the defensive.

Finally, in a moment of desperation, Nana unleashed the Treasure of Order's full power. A massive, non-lethal shockwave erupted from the artifact, rippling across the entire village of Kurohama. The energy was overwhelming, cutting through even Yoshi and Lyra's fortified spells, leaving them vulnerable. Joseph, however, narrowly escaped its effects as his XPT technology reacted in time, pulling him into the XPT Dimension before returning him to reality.

When Joseph reappeared, he was stunned by the sight before him. Yoshi and his companions stood motionless, their eyes glowing faintly, now under Nana’s control. She smirked at Joseph, impressed yet annoyed that he had remained unaffected. But Joseph’s shock deepened as he realized the entire village had also fallen under her command, their wills bent to the Treasure of Order.

“You're resilient, I'll give you that,” Nana said, her voice cold yet laced with intrigue. “Join me, and perhaps we can come to an agreement. There’s nothing you can do now—your companions are under my command. I warned you, but you pushed me too far.”

Joseph’s response was calm and unwavering. “No.” His sharp gaze locked onto hers, unshaken by the threat before him.

Nana mirrored his focused stance. “You’re a fool,” she snapped. “You can’t defeat me, not with Yoshi and Lyra at my side. They are the most powerful beings in this village. And now, with the entire village under my control, how do you intend to fare against all of us?”