Elsewhere on the same island, the Violet Knight prepares to eat a meal at a diner. He unwittingly recruits Necesaria to taste his food for poison; the food is clean, but the Violet Knight falls victim to Necesaria's special airborne poison. Afterward Necesaria reports his success to a mysterious party over his transceiver and then returns to Loki's crew.
The crew are in high spirits after releasing Akasha and embarking on a new leg of their journey.
Elsewhere on the island, things aren't going as well for Gandharva, who paces about the Grandsleuth's deck out of boredom.
Gandharva
This must be a sick joke. You can't keep a hunter caged up while a trophy buck gets to roam free.
Gandharva
I don't care if he's a shrimpy Harvin. A Luminary is still a Luminary.
Gandharva
He's on this island, ripe for the plucking, but I'm forced to sit on my ass and do nothing!
Fenrir
Ugh! Stop talking, you bloated buffoon! You're ruining my afternoon nap.
Gandharva
Ah, the primal beast. You'll do fine too. Come amuse me with a couple of rounds.
Gandharva
I can't stay cooped up like this. I need to punch something.
Fenrir
Hell no. Go play by yourself.
Fenrir
First of all, I don't fight. I kill. Do you really want me chewing on your throat?
Gandharva
Haha! That's music to my ears. I'm not interested in a slapfest where no one's willing to die.
Fenrir
Get this through your thick skull; I'm not fighting you.
Fenrir
Because you'd be walking into a slaughter. "Congratulations. You've been murdered by a primal beast."
It's not what Fenrir says, but how matter-of-factly she says it that causes Gandharva's eyes to twitch.
Gandharva
Fine by me. Get off the ship. I don't want to break anything.
Fenrir
Oh, don't worry. The ship'll be fine.
Fenrir
I'll bite your head clean off before you can even lift a finger—
Loki
All right, you two. That's enough.
Fenrir
Loki!
Loki steps onto the deck with Zwei behind him. He separates the two hotheads before the situation gets any worse.
Loki
Be patient, Gandharva. We let Gran's crew have the fun this time...
Loki
But I'll make sure you have your turn in Oarleygrande. Promise.
Gandharva
Humph. Smart-ass...
Whatever. I'm not in the mood anyway.
Gandharva stalks off below deck, shaking his head the entire time.
Loki
Whew. How are Mikaboshi and Necesaria?
Fenrir
Mikaboshi's sleeping in her room. She's still tired.
Fenrir
No idea about the Erune. He hasn't come back yet.
Loki
Strange. Where could he have gone? I figured he'd get back before we did.
Fenrir
What's his story anyway? You're the one who picked him up.
Loki
That I did. He came up to me in the street and said he was a skyfarer from the countryside.
Fenrir
And?
Loki
And what?
Fenrir
And what else did you learn about him! Geez, you're dense. Like, who is he really?
Loki
I don't know.
Fenrir
You can't be serious.
Loki
He's an interesting fellow, I'll give him that.
Loki
I'm betting everything that he'll spice up our trip.
Loki
I can't wait to hear what stories he has to tell us.
Loki laughs as if he has it all figured out.
Certain plans that might meet his expectations are already in motion. One spark is all it would take to set off a chain of unimaginable events.
Meanwhile...
Server
Is that going to do it for you?
Violet Knight
Let's see... You wouldn't happen to serve ramen, would you?
After a fierce battle with Gran and company, the Violet Knight is sitting down for a meal at a local diner.
Server
Ra... men? I'm sorry. I don't think we have that on the menu.
Violet Knight
Well, that's a shame. Okay, that'll be all then. Sorry for the trouble.
Server
Oh no! Not at all! I'll be right out with your order.
The Violet Knight watches the server disappear into the kitchen before letting out a big sigh.
Violet Knight
Ow, ow, ow. Those youngsters don't pull their punches.
Violet Knight
(I don't know if I should be thanking them for letting me slip away, or if it's just them being too naive.)
Violet Knight
(In any case, what am I supposed to tell His Majesty?)
Server
Lunch is served!
Server
One deep-fried appetizer platter, one chef's salad of the day... Um, what else...
The server rattles off dish after dish, placing them on the table until there's barely any table to be seen.
Server
Did I miss anything? Just give me a holler if you need anything else.
Violet Knight
Got it. Thanks.
Violet Knight
Why am I so hungry? Well, makes sense that a battle would stir up the ol' appetite.
Violet Knight
(My brain will click faster on a full stomach.)
Violet Knight
(But first...)
Instead of touching his food, the Violet Knight surveys the interior of the diner.
He spots a lovely Draph couple, and a group of Harvin traders discussing business.
Sitting behind him at the counter is an Erune, whose back is facing the Violet Knight.
The Violet Knight approaches the Erune and offers a cheerful greeting.
Violet Knight
How's that counter, friend?
Violet Knight
If it's all right with you, why don't you come join me? My treat of course.
Violet Knight
Everything on the menu looked too good to pass up, and I ended up ordering too much for one stomach to handle.
Necesaria
What good timing. I was just thinking to myself how sad it is to be dining alone.
Necesaria
I'll take you up on your offer.
Necesaria
Mmm... Oh yes. This meat gets juicier with every bite.
Necesaria
And this pie is to die for. Nothing fancy about the flavor, but I could still eat it all day.
The Violet Knight and the Erune man are seated at the same table, but only one of them is happily stuffing his mouth with food.
Necesaria
Ah, for goodness' sake, where are my manners? I've been doing all the eating.
Violet Knight
Nah, don't mind me. Gotta say, you can really chow down.
Violet Knight
But don't let modesty stop you. Here, try a piece of fried fish before it gets cold.
Necesaria
Ooh. You're the boss.
The Erune enjoys his meal as anyone would. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, but the Violet Knight keeps a watchful eye on him.
Violet Knight
(He's tried every dish and nothing's happened so far.)
Violet Knight
(If the food is laced with poison, all I can say is it doesn't seem to be a fast-acting agent.)
Violet Knight
(There's the issue of dosage, but if they used enough to kill a Harvin, it should've hit an Erune by now...)
Given the Violet Knight's lineage and status, employing someone to taste for poison as a precaution against assassination attempts is his way of life.
The Erune across from him, unwittingly pressed into the Luminary's service, shows no ill effects from the food. The Violet Knight picks up his glass with relief.
Violet Knight
Is it just me, or is it hot in here? Maybe I should have them open a window.
Violet Knight
Excuse me. Our water pitcher's running dry. Can you top us off?
Server
Of course. I'll be right—
Server
Uagh...
Violet Knight
...!
By the time the Violet Knight reaches the server, the poor victim is unconscious and convulsing.
Violet Knight
(But why poison an innocent bystander?)
Necesaria
What do you think of this blend? I felt pretty good about it when I brewed it up.
Necesaria
It's an odorless, tasteless vapor at room temperature that enters the body with no one the wiser.
Necesaria
The downside is a lot of it has to be absorbed to produce any noticeable effect.
Necesaria
But once it gets going, it'll leave you... breathless.
Violet Knight
Unh... That explains why you've got the windows locked tight...
The Violet Knight stays defiant, but his body is starting to succumb to the poison.
Necesaria
You always go for a meal after completing a mission, or so I've heard.
Necesaria
And I know you have someone taste for poison whenever you do. Why waste good food when I can make the whole diner my trap?
Necesaria
And with this being the only diner in town, it wasn't hard to get my subordinates in position and start this whole farce.
Violet Knight
An inside job, is it? Who are you? What do you want?
Necesaria
Oh, I think you already know who we—
Necesaria
...!
Violet Knight
Damn poison. Can't aim with these shaky hands...
The Violet Knight launches an attack with all his might, but he only manages to graze Necesaria.
Visibly shaken, Necesaria somehow squeezes out a few words.
Necesaria
I-I applaud your tenacity.
Necesaria
It was my fault for jumping the gun.
Necesaria
The poison should have spread throughout your system by now, immobilizing you.
Violet Knight
Hehe... Surprise. Old guys... like me... keep extra energy in our pockets...
Necesaria
I see. Thanks for the tip. I'll put it to good use next time.
Violet Knight
Hah... Haha... Next time, huh...
Violet Knight
(Damn.)
Violet Knight
(I promised that ramen shop I'd come in for my last meal...)
A slightly weary Necesaria leaves the scene of tragedy behind him and exits the diner.
Necesaria
Phew...
A soldier dressed in black gear stands at attention to salute him.
???
Reporting, sir.
???
Target has been silenced, awaiting disposal.
???
Fatality count: six customers, three staff. We will provide a cause of death for each.
???
Lastly, the establishment will be burned and passed off as an accidental fire.
Necesaria
I see. Very good. Carry on.
???
Sir.
Necesaria leaves the settlement and enters an uninhabited forest.
After confirming no other living souls are within earshot, he pulls out a transceiver.
Necesaria
Hello, how is everything? Can you hear me?
???
Skip the small talk. Report.
Necesaria
As you wish. The mission was a success. The juniors are handling cleanup duty.
???
Excellent. Return to observing the Astral you were assigned to. That is all.
Necesaria
Honestly, you work me to the bone. At least give me some info.
Necesaria
Who forced Echidna into the Otherworld and started the whole invasion?
Necesaria
Was it Dirac? Maxwell? Did Klein's plan go off without a hitch?
???
It's under investigation.
Necesaria
Really?
???
Need-to-know basis only.
Necesaria
Right, right.
Necesaria
Okay, time to head back to the crew. Wish me luck.
Necesaria turns off the receiver with those parting words and leaves the forest.
Today's turn of events, grim in its own right, heralds new dangers for Gran's journey.
130: Behind the Scenes 
