Virno: "Our mission is to protect our home and the people living in it -- and protect them we will."

  Jargen let go of Ballo, startled by the sudden firmness in Virno's voice.

  Punjo: "I dunno what that old geezer did to ya, Virno, but a kid as young as ye shouldn't be takin' lives... Let alone so damn easily."

  Punjo placed his only working hand on Jargen's shoulder, and his old friend gave a solemn nod.

  Virno: "It wasn't his fault..."

  His gaze lingered on the bodies littering the alleyway, his expression unreadable.

  Virno: "... If anything, this is Cabdan's doing. If it weren't for him, all of this could've been avoided. But I'm done running. I'm not going to sit back while they destroy what's ours."

  Ballo smiled faintly, but Virno wasn't finished. He turned to the old man, his eyes sharp and unyielding.

  Virno: "You. What do you want? Why are you here?"

  Ballo: "I'm here to help you. That sword you wield is powerful, yes, but if protecting those you love is your goal, it will fail you. Killing street thugs is one thing, but there are far greater threats ahead..."

  Ballo extended his hand, conjuring a glowing glyph. From it emerged the shimmering silhouette of a familiar mask -- the same one the Leopard once wore.

  Virno: "That mask..."

  Rel: "It looks exactly like the doctor's!"

  Ballo sighed, holding the mask up as its shape began to shift and morph into moving images.

  Ballo: "It is -- or rather, it was. The Leopard is no more."

  The images displayed the Leopard's final moments in his battle against Lunalus. Cabdan's face flashed briefly among the chaos, cowering in the background.

  Rel: "Cabdan was there..."

  Ballo: "Indeed. This man, Cabdan, seems to have struck a deal with Nox -- a faction hellbent on the destruction of life as we know it. That man you saw, with the glowing dark eyes..."

  Ballo pointed to Lunalus in the projection.

  Ballo: "... is their spymaster. Lunalus is one of Nox's deadliest agents -- a man who sees through the eyes of his servants and takes hold of their bodies as his own. He is the one who killed the Leopard."

  Rel clenched his fists, his teeth grinding audibly.

  Rel: "That conniving bastard! If the doctor's dead... How the hell do we save her?"

  Jargen and Punjo exchanged worried glances, their expressions darkening.

  Ballo: "Save who? You're missing the gravity of this situation... With Nox on the rise, entire cities will fall. One person's fate is but a grain of sand in the desert that will follow."

  Rel's burning glare cut into Ballo.

  Rel: "Do we look like we can save the world?! We can barely keep our loved ones alive! If only we could accomplish that much, it'd be more than enough for me..."

  Virno remained steady, a flicker of determination in his eyes.

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  Virno: "She's not gone yet, Rel... If Cabdan poisoned her, then he might know where to find the antidote. And now, we know for sure he's involved."

  He turned back to Ballo, his voice sharp.

  Virno: "Where did this happen? Is it far from here?"

  Ballo frowned.

  Ballo: "You're still not listening. If Nox goes unchecked --"

  In a flash, Virno materialized the silver sword, holding its tip mere inches from Ballo's throat.

  Virno: "Spare us that crap! We couldn't care less about this 'Nox'... Just answer the question!"

  Ballo's eyes narrowed, irritation flashing across his face.

  Ballo: "You are truly stubborn...! Your friend will surely perish if you refuse your role in stopping them!"

  Virno: "Will she? Funny -- you've got it backward. If any of Nox's lackeys set foot in these slums, they're the ones who'll die."

  Ballo's gaze swept over the group, taking in their battered, bloodied state.

  Ballo: "... As dead as you look right now?"

  Virno didn't find it amusing. He shifted his stance, pressing the blade's edge closer.

  Virno: "We'll be ready. Don't worry about us."

  Ballo squints. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a glyph that sent Virno stumbling backward, nearly knocking him off his feet.

  Ballo: "Your conviction is admirable, but conviction alone won't save you... True as your intentions may be, you still lack the strength to see them through."

  Virno: "Do I? I'll show you strength, old man...!"

  Jargen coughs violently, dropping to his knees.

  Rel: "Enough... We need to get to the orphanage, we're in no state to fight anybody else, Virno...!"

  Virno: "You guys can go... I'll deal with him."

  Punjo stands in front of Virno.

  Punjo: "Look young'un, I get it. Ya did great back there, ya took down all thos' guys by yerself... But take a good look at ye."

  Virno's blood was pumping. He hadn't realized how badly his ribs had been damaged by moving around so much... Dark purple splotches covered the entirety of his sides.

  Ballo: "This wouldn't be a fair fight, there is hardly any point to it. Rest and recuperate... I'll come find you once you're ready to see me again. And here -- catch."

  He tossed something through the air. Virno caught it instinctively -- a silver coin, cool to the touch.

  Ballo: "That coin always lands tails. When you can make it land heads, then you can consider facing off against Nox."

  Virno stared at the coin, holding it up to the moonlight.

  Virno: "What a pointless gimmick..."

  Ballo smirked.

  Ballo: "'In the pointless, uninteresting things, there is always some meaningful, engrossing experience...'"

  Virno's eyes widened.

  Virno: "That sentence...!"

  Ballo: "You still have much to learn, young man... Until next time."

  As Ballo turned to leave, Rel called after him.

  Rel: "Wait! Please -- help us save our friend!"

  Ballo paused, his back still turned.

  Rel: "There must be something you can do..."

  Ballo's voice was cold.

  Ballo: "... There is much I can do, but just as you care little about the world outside this little bubble you call home, I care little for a stranger's plight. What can you offer in return?"

  Rel looked at Virno, his eyes pleading.

  Rel: "Please, Virno... Help him out. For her sake."

  Virno looks at Rel's desperate, saddened gaze. He sighs.

  Virno: "Alright, look... Help us find Cabdan, and I'll help you deal with that Lunalus guy. Sound fair?"

  Ballo chuckled.

  Ballo: "You overestimate us both. I am not omniscient, and you are not certainly not omnipotent, Virno... I'm afraid both of those tasks are outside our reach. But... Perhaps a smaller deal can be struck."

  Virno squints.

  Ballo: "I may not be able to find Cabdan, but I can help you bring to fruition any ideas you may have to seek him out . Do you have any such plans...?"

  Rel's eyes shine.

  Rel: "His prostitution ring...! Help us take it down, please!"

  Virno nods.

  Ballo: "Now, that does seem like a more reasonable request. Very well... I'll see what I can do. And in return, I do not expect you to single-handedly take down Lunalus, Virno. Only that you let me train you, so that when his forces eventually try to grab hold of your slums, you can be fully ready to take them on. Does this sound like a good deal to you?"

  Virno hesitated, then nodded.

  Virno: "Fair enough. But there's one more condition -- you need to help us soon."

  Ballo: "'Soon', as in...?"

  Virno: "... As in two days' time."

  Ballo laughs.

  Ballo: "My, you're in a rush...! But very well, it is settled. Expect to see me again in no more than two days..."

  He prepares to jump.

  Ballo: "Better recover quickly, you'll have to be ready for anything...!"

  With that, he leapt into the night, leaving a trail of grey energy behind.

  Punjo: "'ight... Help us out of here, laddies..."

  The group limped back into the street, their bodies battered. Lights flickered on in nearby homes as onlookers peered out, drawn by the noise.

  Punjo: "Don't just stand there gawkin'! We risked life an' limb for you lot. Least you could do is help us back to the orphanage!"

  Chastened, several bystanders hurried out to carry them.

  Once at the orphanage, the nurses did their best to treat their wounds.