The Black Knight decides to infiltrate the imperial capital Agastia despite her criminal status. As she walks back to the Grandcypher with the rest of the crew, she secretly pockets a fragment of dark essence.
Beating back Yggdrasil Malice, Gran's crew releases the dark essence from the core.
As the black crystal shatters, Drang reveals information he has been withholding.
Drang
Looks like Ms. Prime Minister's still got secrets up her sleeves!
Black Knight
Humph. Is that so? And here I was expecting something from your efforts, but...
Black Knight
We could be here all day criticizing that woman for all the things she's kept hidden from us since the very beginning.
Drang
Ah, yeah... That about sums it up...
Black Knight
We've been thoroughly manipulated by her up to this point.
Black Knight
It'll be no laughing matter if we make the same mistake again.
Rackam
Got that right. She's been keeping her hand well hidden, but...
Rackam
What do you propose we do now, then?
Black Knight
The information I have now is still a supposition, something I had heard from her before.
Black Knight
I'd like to confirm it with my own eyes and ears.
Black Knight
Whether it's hope or despair, it's all the same to me. I have a need to know.
Black Knight
That's why I'm planning to go to the imperial capital Agastia.
Katalina
A-Agastia? Do you understand the position you're in?
Katalina
The empire now sees you as an enemy, just as the Crew of Enforcers did when they mobilized against you.
Katalina
Rushing into the heart of the enemy under these circumstances is—
Black Knight
It won't be a problem. Besides, what will I accomplish by waiting?
Katalina
Th-that's true, but still...
Black Knight
It was about ten years ago, just after Orchis lost her heart.
Black Knight
Records show that something from Mephorash was brought into Agastia.
Black Knight
While I was serving as chief advisor, I tried to investigate whatever was brought in.
Black Knight
In the end I was never able to find out what that was.
Lecia
Information that even the empire's chief advisor isn't privy to...
Black Knight
Exactly. Someone—no, that woman—she intentionally concealed it.
Black Knight
At the time I had to prioritize my cooperation with her, so I couldn't press my investigation any further.
Black Knight
But now it works out well for me to be pursued. Our relationship can't get any worse than it already is.
Black Knight
I will stop at nothing to expose whatever she's hiding!
Vyrn
Hehe! Guess the old Black Knight's back!
Orchis
Yeah... I wish you could always be this lively, Apollo.
Drang
Well, what do you know! It seems my information did come in handy after all!
Drang
You wanna know the truth though? See, I got it from a certain source, and that source happens to be—
Drang
Yow!
Sturm
Get to the point or get the point.
Drang
Honestly, Sturm, that short-fuse of yours makes you lose it when you get ang—
Drang
Gagh! Okay, okay! Stop doing that to me!
Io
It's too late now, but do you ever regret choosing these two, Black Knight?
Black Knight
Don't ask.
Drang
Sigh... As I was trying to say, the imperial capital has recently—
Eugen
Hold that thought. I get the feeling we'd better put this off till later.
Rosetta
Monsters are being drawn to the vestiges of power in this area.
Rosetta
Let's continue our discussion after we return to the Grandcypher, shall we?
Drang
Aw, come on! I was just getting to the good part!
Sturm
Humph... It's because you fail to get straight to the point. Come on, let's go.
Gran and the others start walking toward the Grandcypher.
A crunch comes from an ominous crystal beneath the Black Knight's foot.
Black Knight
Dark essence?
Black Knight
...
Lyria
What's wrong, Black Knight? Everyone's getting ahead of us.
Black Knight
Oh... It's nothing.
The Black Knight quickens her step to rejoin the group.
Unbeknownst to the others, there is now a fragment of dark essence concealed among them.
Back at the Grandcypher, Drang suspects the empire is developing a new weapon based on the influx of raw materials coming into Agastia, which happens to be their next destination.
Gran and company listen to the rest of what Drang has to say once they reach the Grandcypher.
Drang
All sorts of shady dealing's been happening in the imperial capital lately.
Drang
You know gold nuggets? Stuff like that isn't normally used all that much, but now it's flooding in like crazy.
Drang
Makes me think the empire is developing some kind of new weapon in Agastia or something.
Black Knight
Humph. In other words they're up to no good again.
Rackam
Either way, that doesn't change the plan, right?
Rackam
We might as well get 'em close to Agastia since they've already come aboard.
Katalina
It will certainly be dangerous, but I'm curious about the empire's movements as well.
Rackam
Great! Full speed ahead to Agastia! Smash any monsters that get in our way!
53: Beckoned Back 
