"Haha..." Long laughed as he watched the small festivity on the street from the third floor of the building across the bar.
The celebration wasn’t grand, but it was filled with laughter. There was no lavish food or loud music, but with Slater singing and everyone dancing, it warmed his heart. This was something Long never thought he would witness in real life.
He had always thought such a sight existed only in dreams—that people could laugh without fear hidden in their eyes. That they could clap, dance, sing, and treasure the moment without anyone demanding payment for it.
"What a sight," he whispered, just as someone stepped beside him and looked out the window. Long shifted his gaze and saw Ransom.
"I told those guys to rest more," Ransom frowned. "What are they doing over there instead of recovering?"
Ransom had been working in the underground facility and overseeing patients recovering elsewhere, including the Bellemonte men Himari rescued and he operated on.
Despite his complaint, the corners of his mouth curved into a subtle smile. Tilting his head toward Long, he joked,
"Lunatic?" he recalled. "Is that what a lunatic does?"
Long shrugged. "You won’t change my mind."
Ransom chuckled and turned his attention back to the scene. "If a lunatic can change and bring happiness to people like this, then maybe she is one. And if a lunatic is someone who would stand before a mountain without fear to protect those behind her... then I’m glad my boss is one."
Long smiled, studying Ransom’s profile. Compared to when he first met the man, he could see the difference in how Ransom now looked at Lola. There wasn’t just respect, but admiration as well.
"Surely, life-and-death situations change people and relationships," Long said lightly. "Take care on your journey back."
"You’ll be alright here?"
"Well... some of you are staying, so it’s fine. But it won’t be easy," Long admitted, his eyes drifting back to the street. "Even so, I believe the people of Ravah won’t let anyone trample over what we fought to reclaim. If someone tries, we won’t back down anymore."
"That includes me," he added, nodding to himself. "For the first time in a long while, we’ve tasted real freedom—not the kind where we pay the one in power for a month of fragile safety. But the kind where... we can think about the future and look forward to it."
Long smacked his lips and turned to Ransom.
"By the way, I was so busy I forgot to give this to her." He reached into his pocket and pulled something out, extending his fist. Ransom placed his palm beneath it before Long dropped it.
Five small, light-colored pills dropped into Ransom’s hand.
"What are these?" Ransom asked, curious.
"I don’t know yet," Long admitted. "You know I’ve been developing a drink that can sober someone instantly. I’m not there yet due to a lack of equipment and resources."
"That flask you chugged isn’t a success?"
"It works, but not instantly. I want something strong enough to counter alcohol—or even act as an antidote to various drugs."
Ransom nodded, recalling Long’s research. Long had access to specific antidotes through smuggling, but his goal was far broader. With limited resources, he had tested his work using alcohol instead of real toxins.
"I got those pills about a month ago," Long continued. "Their transport was handled differently and more securely. They’re expensive and difficult to obtain too."
Thankfully, Long was a regular client of the underground trade routes. So, he got his hands on these.
"I tried analyzing them, but my resources were limited. What I found out, though, is that I don’t need them, but maybe your lab back home can figure something out."
Ransom studied the pills, then met Long’s eyes. "I’ll let you know if we find anything interesting."
"Please do," Long smiled. "That’ll satisfy my curiosity."
They shared a quiet smile before turning back to the street, where the boss was singing loudly while everyone booed him playfully.
*****
"Bye-bye!"
"Let’s go home?"
Lola squeezed his hand, nodding. "Mhm. Let’s go home."
*****
[Ha’s Governor Residence]
"And off they go." Billionaire shaded his eyes with his hand, watching the choppers rise into the sky from different parts of the territory.
Choppers had been in the air since morning, each with its own takeoff time. Still, he knew that one of them carried Lola and his friend, Haji.
Tomie stood beside his son, smiling softly. "I wish they could’ve stayed longer."
"..." Billionaire pressed his lips into a thin line, though his heart agreed with his father. "Dad."
He paused, eyes still on the aircraft. "They’ll come back, won’t they?"
"Of course." Tomie nodded, turning toward his son and waiting until the boy looked at him. "That’s why we have to work hard until then."
Father and son smiled at each other before letting out a small laugh. Tomie reached over and ruffled Billionaire’s hair as they turned to walk back.
Ravah may have fallen, but its collapse was only the beginning.
This time, Tomie, Billionaire, and everyone who had survived that night could promise only one thing:
They would no longer fight divided.
Rather, they would fight—and rebuild their land—as one.

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