Reijin and the troops shout yes sir in unions and the platoon of troops along with Francis and Schroeder proceed on to Kia. Meanwhile, in the shadows encased in a dark cloak Mericari lurks in the shadows. He on the commands of the Emperor he has been tracking the Yagers looking for any signs of deceit. He thinks to himself and wonders why Schroeder openly disparaged the empire despite the emperor's hand, his executioner being without reach of his blade. Mericari reaches for a pouch on his waist and fetches a pear and begins chewing it ferociously. He thinks to himself maybe Francis' blood sword is failing to keep his life force going and he is getting old. Mericari smiles and then lets out a low laugh thinking about Francis being old and fragile. Mericari always has a fake smile on his face unless he is very serious, but laughter is a rare occurrence for him. Although it is a low laugh and hurts Mericari's side slightly, the noise from the laugh was loud. A soldier in the Yager platoon looks towards the shadows behind him, and Mericari leaps back wards quickly to escape the soldier's gaze. Maybe I am the old one Mericari thinks to himself as he finishes his pear.