At the outdoor garden, under the silver glow of moonlight, Ryo finally came face-to-face with Prince Jamil—now free from the hospital prison. But even with freedom, Jamil's attitude hadn't changed. His eyes still held that sharp, unimpressed look, clearly not thrilled about seeing the irritating detective.
Ryo smirked, casually slipping his hands into his pockets. "Come on now, prince. Why on earth does it suck to see me?"
Jamil leaned his right arm on the wheelchair's armrest, resting his fist against his cheek as he shut his eyes with a heavy sigh. His whole posture screamed irritation.
"Hmph! The fact that a foreigner like you is the one who saved this kingdom makes me wanna puke."
Ryo raised a brow, unimpressed. "Really, prince? Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
But then something clicked in his head.
"Also… your mom. Sultana Zafira's been glowing like she just had a decade of stress lifted. I take it that's because you're back home, right?"
Jamil sighed again, slower this time. "Yeah… mainly because the circular black mark with spikes around it—on my eye—is gone."
That caught Ryo off guard. His eyes widened. "Wait, seriously?"
He moved closer, suddenly curious. "Hey, prince. Show me your eyes."
Jamil flinched, clearly uncomfortable. "H-Hey! Too close, foreigner!!!"
Ryo leaned in anyway, examining Jamil's face like a detective inspecting a clue. "Hmmm…"
Then Ryo pulled back, eyes widening in realization. "Yeah… it is gone."
Jamil scowled. "Don't shove your face up to mine like that, you damn foreigner!"
He exhaled through his nose, frustration clear in his voice. "That's right. All gone. I heard you were the one who defeated that damn thief... Malakar. The one who manipulated me like a puppet. After his defeat, the mark is gone."
"After that giant dark cloud vanished," he said, lifting a finger toward the sky, "my father assumed Malakar had been defeated—and that the mark might've disappeared too. So he had the prison hospital check me out. Turns out he was right."
Ryo, still digesting everything, asked curiously.
"What about Lina? Omar? And that other guard who got manipulated too? They all had that same weird mark."
Jamil folded his arms, answering flatly.
"Omar, Lina, and our palace guard—yeah, they're all free now. The marks are gone. The guard's still recovering, though, so he and Lina got moved to a regular hospital."
He narrowed his eyes. "Lina's still unconscious… because of you, foreigner."
Ryo squinted. "Isn't that also your fault? I mean, I only threw her into your fireball because she was about to slice my head off—and you were trying to incinerate me."
Jamil's face turned red in frustration, shouting,
"AND THAT MADE ME FEEL EVEN WORSE, YOU STUPID FOREIGNER! YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW BAD IT FELT WATCHING THAT FOOTAGE? I WASN'T EVEN IN CONTROL! I WAS BEING MANIPULATED! SO TECHNICALLY, NONE OF THIS IS MY FAULT!"
Ryo's sharp gaze narrowed with curiosity.
"Hey, prince. Tell me everything. Just your part. What happened at the prison hospital? No need to bring up Lina, Omar, or that guard."
Jamil's eye twitched in irritation.
"Huh?! Why? You already solved the case, defeated that sh*tty immortal villain, became the hero of Al-Munira, blah blah blah…"
Ryo clasped his hands together and gave a small, hopeful smile. "Come on… as a detective, I'm curious!"
Jamil groaned and rolled his eyes to the sky. "FIIIIIINEEE!!!"
He then pointed a warning finger at Ryo. "And this time, don't start interfering and talking about my a**!"
Ryo's smile flattened into a deadpan grin.
"Oh yeah, how was your butt, by the way? Hope the pain from your parents' lethal sandals didn't stay with you through your entire prison hospital sentence."
Jamil's voice turned venomous. "I'm free now. Do you want me to blast you out of this kingdom with my fireball?!"
Ryo chuckled under his breath, thoroughly entertained.
Jamil sighed in deep frustration and snapped. "NOW LISTEN UP, YOU DAMN FOREIGNER!"
And so… he began his story.
While Prince Jamil was still confined in the prison hospital, chaos erupted across the kingdom. Dark clouds rolled in, flooding the sky with streaks of sinister purple light. The moment that cursed glow appeared, panic followed. There were whispered talks of abandoning the prisoners altogether—after all, who would risk saving criminals? To most, they were beneath compassion.
But Jamil didn't care anymore. Not about escaping, not about panicking. He stayed seated in silence, his body still, his eyes dull. A bitter smile formed on his face as he quietly accepted his fate. Deep down, even he began to doubt that Ryo—the foreigner with no magic and no noble blood—could actually solve the mystery behind the Lost Celestial Compass and end this nightmare. To Jamil, Ryo was just a regular man caught in something too big for him.
Guards and staff started evacuating. Spirits from the gate were beginning to stir, and no one wanted to be around when they arrived. Their plan? Let the prisoners die. And in the chaos, the underground ward, where Jamil was held, became a cage of growing despair.
Prisoners slammed against the reinforced glass of their cells, shouting, clawing, trying everything to escape. But no matter how desperate they got, the cells wouldn't break. One by one, the resistance in their voices faded. Exhausted and defeated, the prisoners began to accept death as punishment.
Jamil, however, remained calm. No panic. No pleas. He didn't even try to escape. He simply waited for the end.
But then… something changed.
Hours later, the very same guards and hospital staff returned to their posts like nothing had happened. The panic? Gone. The fear? Gone. The cursed clouds had dispersed. And shortly after, the Sultan himself made an announcement: 'Ryo—the very same foreigner Jamil scoffed at—had saved the kingdom.'
Everything went back to normal in a strange, uneasy way.
A few hours later, guards entered the underground ward and opened Jamil's cell. They had orders—directly from Sultan Malik—to examine his eye. Ryo had given them a revelation, and the Sultan wanted confirmation. The result? The black, spiked mark was gone. Completely.
That moment marked Jamil's release from the prison hospital.
Waiting outside the gates was Sultana Zafira, his mother. The second she saw him walking out on crutches, she didn't hesitate. She ran straight to him and embraced him tightly. The pain of nearly losing her son had crushed her, and now, having him back—no matter how broken—was everything.
Jamil's eyes welled up. He slowly returned her hug, a quiet apology in his arms.
When they returned to the Grand Palace, a strange feeling washed over Jamil. He was home again… but the comfort felt foreign. The weight of what he'd done—what he didn't even remember doing—still clung to him.
He made his way to the royal chambers where he was met by Sultan Malik and his sister Shahira. His father welcomed him with a firm embrace. But when his gaze met Shahira's, something inside him hesitated.
She had torn his foot off to stop him. Even if he was under Malakar's control… the memory remained. Still, what happened next stunned him.
Shahira bowed her head deeply before him, tears falling as she gave a heartfelt apology. She sobbed as she took responsibility, despite doing what was necessary to protect the people. And in that moment, Jamil realized he couldn't fear her. He couldn't blame her. She made the choice that no one else could.
He forgave her.
And then, unexpectedly, he apologized too—for being a terrible brother, for the coldness and arrogance he always showed. That moment, he made a vow. He would dedicate his life to becoming someone worthy. To one day inherit the throne from Sultan Malik and rise as a powerful and good Sultan.
That… was Prince Jamil's story.
Ryo blinked. Then blinked again.
He stayed completely silent for a beat.
Then, with a deadpan face. "You? A good Sultan? Really? I don't see that…"
Jamil's eye twitched with rage. "ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS, FOREIGNER?!"
Ryo gave Jamil a suspicious side-eye, lips curling into a doubtful smirk.
"I mean come on now, I bet you're already plotting how to abuse that 'Sultan' title so you can keep having your hot spicy nights with the ladies of this kingdom."
Jamil exploded. "I'M GONNA CHANGE, YOU A**HOLE!!"
Then, just as quickly, he settled down and spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.
"Besides, I'll be training under my father next month. Also, I'm finally getting a prosthetic foot attached."
Ryo scratched his chin with an eyebrow raised.
"Well, congrats on the new foot upgrade, Prince. Hopefully, you actually do a good job this time and don't start sleeping around again."
Jamil, without missing a beat, said, "I already have a fiancée," his tone calm and confident.
Ryo froze. "…."
Twenty full seconds of dead silence passed.
Then—
"HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHH?!" Ryo's voice cracked the garden air like thunder.
Jamil clutched his ears like his soul was under attack. "YOU'RE TOO LOUD, DIPSH*T!"
Ryo's hands flailed as he panicked. "You… have… a fiancée?! How?! What about all the women you slept with?! What about your reputation?!"
Jamil grinned with satisfaction, basking in the moment. "HAH! Finally, I shattered your annoying, cocky detective act!"
Then he leaned back in his wheelchair with princely arrogance.
"Just to be clear, foreigner… like you said when you so graciously exposed me, the women I slept with are nobles of this kingdom."
Ryo crossed his arms and raised a skeptical brow. "Yeah? So what about them? You bragging or something?"
Jamil's grin widened like he was about to drop an atomic truth.
"I slept with five noblewomen. And now? I'm engaged to all five. That's right—they're all going to be my wives."
Ryo stared.
His eyes grew to the size of grapefruits.
"WHAT?!" he shouted in complete shock. "YOU'RE GONNA BECOME A SULTAN WITH A HAREM?! YOU'RE THE HAREM KING OF AL-MUNIRA?!"
Jamil gave a nonchalant shrug, still smirking. "Why are you so surprised? This kingdom allows polygamy."
Ryo gave a shaky, awkward laugh. "O-oh… is that so…"
Then internally, his brain short-circuited. "Wait a minute… is that why Shahira and Amina were giving me harem treatment earlier… without even fighting over me?"
Jamil let out a tired sigh. "Anyway, my girls are already at the palace courtyard, waiting for me. It's the nighttime festival, after all."
Then he shifted into his royal tone of authority.
"Unfortunately, we're celebrating your heroic deeds, foreigner. So—"
He suddenly snapped.
"PUSH ME TO THE COURTYARD RIGHT NOW, A**HOLE! THIS IS YOUR PUNISHMENT FOR MAKING ME LOOK LIKE SH*T THE ENTIRE TIME!"
Ryo let out a deep dramatic sigh, chuckled, and said sarcastically.
"Alright, alright, Your Royal Harem-ness… allow me to accept my punishment—and push the future Sultan who definitely didn't just come back from a mental hospital all the way to the courtyard."
Jamil shouted in outrage. "I WAS NEVER AT A MENTAL HOSPITAL, YOU STUPID FOREIGNER!"
Ryo laughed. "Hahahaha, alright, let's go, Prince."
With that, he turned Jamil's wheelchair around and began pushing him forward. The two made their way out of the quiet garden, the sound of distant music and laughter from the palace courtyard growing louder with each turn of the wheels.
The nighttime festival awaited them.
As Ryo pushed Jamil through the palace hallway, the prince sat with his arms crossed, staring straight ahead, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "So, foreigner... how's it feel to be a hero?"
Ryo exhaled sharply, not breaking his stride. "Honestly, I don't think I'm a hero."
Jamil raised an eyebrow, confused, glancing back at Ryo.
"Huh? Why's that? A magicless detective like you just saved our kingdom. That's not something you see every day—it's a damn rare feat."
Ryo's lips tightened, his expression flat. "For a hero to exist, something has to happen first. A tragedy. A crime. Something that shakes the world, you know?"
He continued, voice steady but distant. "I used to be a cop back in the day. We wouldn't need police officers if there wasn't any crime—no cause for mischief, no need for us. It's the same for heroes. No villain, no hero."
Ryo paused, his tone becoming somber. "And, yeah... there were deaths while I was investigating in this kingdom. I couldn't save everyone, no matter how hard I tried. So, hero or not, I'll never be fully happy about it. But... I am glad the kingdom's found peace again."
Jamil fell silent, processing what Ryo had said. He glanced back to the front, his expression thoughtful. What Ryo had said made sense—there was something deeper to heroism than just saving the day. The weight of it lingered in the air.
Jamil exhaled slowly, his eyes closing for a moment. "Unfortunately, I have to agree with you."
Ryo smiled, eyes widening in playful surprise. "Oh! That's the first time you've sounded... nice to me."
Jamil shot back, irritation lacing his voice. "SHUT UP!"
They reached the door leading into the palace courtyard, where a guard stood at attention. It was Aladdin.
Aladdin's eyes widened as he saw them approach. "Oh, sir!" he said, then grinned playfully. "Or... should I call you Sir Hero now?"
Ryo smiled, his expression almost mischievous. "To think I'd run into you again, Captain of Carpet Airlines."
Ryo leaned forward, a playful yet slightly annoyed look on his face.
"How dare you make me the center of attention when you helped out at that gate!"
Aladdin chuckled. "Sorry, sir… I'm just not too good with all that 'center of attention' stuff," he said with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head. "I'd rather be the one tossing rose petals—it's a lot less stressful. Besides, you're the one who beat the crap out of Malakar."
Ryo's face fell, disappointment heavy in his gaze as he squinted at Aladdin. "Ri-i-i-i-i-i-i-ght…"
Aladdin played a key role in the mission—flying Ryo across the kingdom on a magic carpet to find the gate, helping rescue Amina, and guiding her to throw the cursed compass into it.
Ryo even let him throw Malakar into the gate, sealing the villain's fate and fulfilling Aladdin's revenge. Now, with the immortal foe defeated, Aladdin preferred to stay in the background, finding closure in his actions rather than seeking recognition.
Aladdin glanced down. "Oh! And you're with Prince Jamil… That's a rare sight." He paused, only now noticing Jamil sitting in the wheelchair. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
Jamil scowled, clearly not pleased by the comment. "HMPH!"
Aladdin chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment. "Anyway, everyone's waiting for you in the palace courtyard."
Jamil leaned back in his wheelchair, arms still crossed, his gaze commanding. "Yeah, yeah... Please, open the door."
Aladdin bowed deeply, fist pressed against his chest, a mock-serious tone in his voice. "At your command, Prince Jamil."
Aladdin opened the door to the courtyard, and what Ryo saw was breathtaking—
The courtyard was lit by lanterns hanging from the trees, casting a warm golden glow. The lanterns swayed gently, their flames creating a magical feel. Music filled the air, with musicians playing traditional instruments.
Performers and dancers in bright costumes moved gracefully, making the crowd clap along. The air smelled sweet with food from nearby stalls, offering roasted meats and pastries. The entire scene felt like an Arabian night—a lively celebration, where magic and culture mixed under a sky full of stars.
Ryo stood there, eyes wide in awe. "Woaaah… The last time I saw something like this was in a movie. This is the kind of thing you only dream about."
Aladdin grinned, clearly pleased by Ryo's reaction. "Enjoy yourselves, you two!"
With that, Aladdin closed the door behind them, leaving the two of them to step into the festival.
Then, they were immediately greeted by a group of five girls who called out to Jamil in unison.
"Ah, Jamil, honey!"
"There you are!"
"Oh my god, I was so lonely!"
"What took you so long?"
"I want you to wrap your arms around me!"
Their voices were like a chorus, each one sounding sweeter than the last.
Ryo let out a low whistle. "Well, well... look at you, harem prince."
Jamil just rolled his eyes at the damn foreigners' teasing.
The five girls, all stunningly gorgeous, made their way toward Jamil and Ryo. They were clearly his fiancées—each of them more radiant than the next.
Jamil smiled warmly at them. "Sorry for being late, ladies."
The girls, however, immediately noticed Ryo standing behind Jamil, and their expressions turned to grateful admiration. "Ah! Mr. Hero!"
They all bowed to him in unison. "Thank you for proving our Jamil is innocent."
They straightened up, smiles glowing on their faces. "And thank you so much for saving this kingdom!"
Ryo smiled, a touch of humility in his voice. "You're welcome, ladies."
Just then, Amina and Shahira spotted Ryo and rushed toward him, both excited to see him again.
Amina, looking a bit disappointed but still smiling, wrapped her arms around Ryo's.
She pouted cutely, her voice teasing. "AH! Why are you with other girls when you have me?!" she said, like the girl who thinks she's the main heroine—only to stumble upon a classic misunderstanding.
Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
Shahira followed suit, wrapping her arms around Ryo's other arm.
She pouted, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Ryo, you have me too, don't you?!" she chimed in—like that one girl in the protagonist's harem who refuses to be left out.
Ryo, completely caught off guard, began to panic. "Hey! Not so tight! And they're Jamil's girls!"
Jamil scoffed and threw his hands up in exasperation, rolling his eyes. "Looks like I'm not the only harem prince here," he said, clearly referring to the damn foreigner.
Shahira let go of Ryo's arms and glanced at Jamil. "Were you with Ryo the whole time, big brother?"
Jamil shrugged casually. "Yeah, yeah, Shahira. Now if you'll excuse me... I've got my girls waiting."
Amina crossed her arms, squinting her eyes at Jamil. "So you're flexing your harem on us now, huh?"
Amina turned her head toward Ryo, her eyes practically sparkling. She clenched her fist dramatically, as though preparing for a battle.
"Don't worry, Ryo! Since you're the true harem protagonist, we won't lose to Prince Jamil's harem!"
Ryo, looking exhausted from all the drama, let out a long sigh. "Can we just... uh... enjoy the festival?"
One of Jamil's girls stood behind him, gently took hold of the wheelchair and began pushing it.
"Alright, I'm heading off with my girls. Enjoy your harem and the nighttime festival, you damn foreigner..." Jamil grinned, clearly enjoying the spotlight as the center of attention among his future wives.
As the girl pushed him away, Ryo let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Yeah, yeah... enjoy your kingdom's 'cultural experience,' Prince."
Shahira turned to Ryo, clasping her hands behind her back as she smiled brightly at him.
"Ryo, let's go enjoy ourselves too."
Amina, equally excited, nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Let's go!"
Ryo, feeling the weight of it all, exhaled sharply through his nose. "Alright, alright... guide me through this most unique festival ever, you two."
Shahira and Amina each took one of Ryo's arms—for some reason, they just wouldn't stop giving him the harem treatment. And honestly? Ryo still couldn't figure out why.
Like some dense protagonist caught in the middle of a romance subplot he never signed up for, he simply walked along, clueless and slightly overwhelmed, as the three of them strolled through the glowing palace courtyard.
Above them, lanterns flickered gently in the breeze, casting golden light across the marble path. Around them, the nighttime festival was in full swing—laughter echoed, music played from strings and flutes, and colorful fabrics danced in the air like petals on the wind.
As they walked, nobles all around began cheering for Ryo, applauding his bravery and contribution to the kingdom.
Some of the nobles, however, couldn't resist teasing.
"Look at that lucky guy! Two beautiful ladies clinging to him!"
"I'm so jealous, maybe I should've been a detective too!"
"Oi, hero! Leave some girls for the rest of us!"
Ryo just laughed awkwardly, a sheepish grin on his face. "Haha... yeah... very funny…"
They moved from one food stall to another, the girls excitedly offering him more dishes to try, but Ryo held his hands up in surrender.
"I'm seriously full, like really... If I eat one more bite, I'll blow up!" He chuckled, his stomach clearly paying the price for being fed by the two princesses.
Not long after, they spotted Sultan Malik and Sultana Zafira seated at a lavish dinner table near a marble fountain, surrounded by gentle torchlight and royal guards.
The Sultan waved them over. "Come, join us, hero."
The group sat down together, the royal couple warmly welcoming them.
Sultana Zafira asked with a kind smile. "Mr. Detective, would you care for another meal?"
Ryo gave a slight bow of the head, hand over his stomach. "Your Majesty, I'd love to... but I'm so full I might roll out of the festival. I'll happily accept a drink, though."
The Sultan chuckled. "Very well. Bring him mint tea—it's good for the stomach."
Maids arrived promptly, pouring Ryo a fresh cup of mint tea as the others began enjoying more delicacies.
Meanwhile, performers took the stage: acrobats flipping through flaming hoops, illusionists pulling glittering stars from silk cloth, dancers swirling in rhythm with drums and flutes.
It was truly mesmerizing.
Then, Sultan Malik stood, raising his cup. "Tonight, we celebrate not just the return of peace, but the hero who made it possible."
He turned to Ryo with sincerity in his voice. "A man with no magic, no blade—just heart, wits, and resolve. Ryo Kuroda, a detective from Japan... Al-Munira owes you a debt we can never repay!"
The crowd burst into applause and cheers, many rising to their feet.
Ryo, caught off guard, laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head. "Uh... thanks, Sultan. That's... a lot to take in."
He smiled, just a little embarrassed, but grateful.
As the evening came to a close, brilliant fireworks soared into the night sky—crimson, gold, violet—painting the stars with bursts of color. Ryo sat beside Shahira, Amina, and the royal couple at the dinner table, his eyes reflecting the lights above. He smiled.
Peace.
It was a beautiful thing to witness.
And so, the nighttime festival came to a close.
Ryo remained in the Kingdom of Al-Munira for three more days, taking time to rest and recover. After solving the mystery of the Lost Celestial Compass—his primary focus—defeating Malakar (yeah… that happened), and saving the kingdom from chaos (which, honestly, wasn't even on his to-do list), his job was done.
Now, at the airport, the sun was rising over the dunes as Ryo stood with his luggage by his side.
"Guess it's time to leave," he said, waiting for his flight.
Behind him stood Shahira, Amina, Sultan Malik, Sultana Zafira, and Jamil—there to see him off.
Amina offered a soft smile, her voice tinged with sadness. "It's too bad you can't stay in the kingdom longer."
Shahira nodded beside her. "Yeah... we'll miss you, Ryo."
Ryo scratched the back of his head. "Well, as a detective, I can't just leave my office unattended. When there's a case..."
He adjusted his bag. "…I gotta solve it."
Ryo glanced at Prince Jamil, who sat quietly in his wheelchair beside his mother.
He grinned playfully. "Hey prince… aren't you gonna miss me too?"
Jamil looked a bit annoyed and responded with a frown. "Whatever, just get going you damn foreigner!"
But then, with a softer voice, eyes avoiding Ryo, he rubbed his temple and muttered.
"…and uhhh… thank you for everything."
Everyone immediately froze and turned to stare at Jamil, wide-eyed in shock.
The silence said it all—Prince Jamil had never said thank you to anyone before.
Jamil noticed the way everyone was looking at him and squinted in discomfort.
"What? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Before he could react, Sultana Zafira leaned down and wrapped her arms snugly around his neck from behind in a proud, motherly hug. "AAWWWWWWW, my baby boy can now say thank you!"
Jamil panicking, tapping her arm. "Hey! Mother! Too tight!"
Ryo smiled softly at the sight. "You're welcome, prince."
Sultan Malik stepped forward with noble posture, folding his hands behind his back.
"Mr. Detective, are you absolutely sure you didn't want to keep those gold coins? You asked us to convert them and send them to your account, but it feels like such a waste."
Ryo chuckled. "It's not like I can use those coins to pay for groceries or anything… unless I run a relic museum or something."
Then, in his head, Ryo thought, eyes twitching slightly."The conversion from all those gold coins was insane... way too much!" He was now even wealthier than before.
Ryo glanced around for a moment. "Anyway, Your Majesty, why didn't you give me a flight ticket? I'm about to take off, you know."
Sultan Malik casually waved his hand. "Ah, you won't need a ticket. We've arranged a private jet to take you home. After everything you've done, sending you back on a regular flight—even first class—would be a bit rude, don't you think?"
Ryo's eyes widened and he suddenly coughed from shock.
To this Sultan, apparently first class was basically public transport.
Ryo, eyes twitching. "…I don't think you need to worry about me flying in first class, Your Majesty…"
Just then, the distant hum of engines echoed through the air. A sleek private jet descended gracefully onto the royal airstrip, its polished body gleaming under the morning sun.
Shahira, watching the plane land with a bittersweet smile. "Looks like your ride's here, Ryo."
Ryo glanced at the approaching jet, hands in his pockets, a small sigh escaping him.
"Yeah… guess this is farewell."
Amina, puffing her cheeks with a playful pout. "What?! Don't say it like it's the last time we'll ever see each other!"
Ryo blinked. "Huh?"
Shahira, grinning teasingly, stepped closer. "You better take us out on a date when we visit Japan someday."
Ryo, flustered. "U-Us…? As in… both of you…?!"
Amina, tilting her head with a mischievous spark in her eye. "We were all over you, weren't we? Don't think you'll end up with just one girl."
Sultana Zafira, watching the exchange with an amused smile.
"Oh my, Mr. Detective… I always had a feeling you were popular with women. You've clearly captured my daughter's heart—maybe it's because of that sarcasm of yours. Very mysterious."
Shahira, face flushing red. "SARCASM?! Mother!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Ryo, rubbing the back of his neck, chuckled nervously. "Hahaha… yeah, very funny. I'm glad I could be everyone's punchline today."
The group laughed again, the kind that came from warmth and genuine bonds—something rare, and something Ryo would remember.
The private jet finally came to a stop on the tarmac.
Ryo, with a smile on his face, turned to the group. "Well, everyone, looks like I'll see you again sometime."
They all smiled, nodding, and waved goodbye.
But as Sultan Malik gave a nod of farewell, something unusual happened. His eyes widened, a gasp escaping him.
For a brief moment, he saw something—not just a reflection, but the image of someone staring back at him from Ryo. It wasn't Ryo's face. No. It was a vision of Zayd Al-Munir, the legendary hero and the very first Sultan of Al-Munira. The very same figure Sultan Malik had looked up to all his life, his childhood idol. The hero of Al-Munira.
He sees that legendary Hero in the Detective.
It was like seeing the past alive in the present. And the realization hit him like a wave.
Ryo, sensing something was off, blinked and asked. "Uh, Your Majesty, is something on my face?"
The Sultan blinked hard, the image of Zayd fading from Ryo's features, and suddenly it was just Ryo standing before him once again.
Sultan Malik shook his head, brushing it off quickly. "Ah, my apologies, Mr. Detective. I'm just a little tired."
With a final warm smile, the Sultan nodded once more. "Farewell, our hero."
Ryo flashed a grin and winked back. "Gotcha, Sultan."
With that, Ryo turned and made his way toward the private jet. As he walked, he glanced back one last time at the magnificent kingdom of Al-Munira, taking it all in. The sight, the people, the memories. It was a farewell, but not an easy one.
Once inside, he settled into the plush seat beside the window. The jet began to rumble softly, gradually gaining speed before lifting off the ground and soaring into the skies, above the clouds.
As he leaned back, the lavish-looking cabin crew offered him platinum-class meals. He thanked her, and soon the meal was placed in front of him.
Before he could take a bite, though, a thought nagged at him. Something about the Vrakuls, the malevolent spirits he had seen at the gate… the way they had looked—twisted, nightmarish, almost like the cursed hounds he had encountered when saving Lunaria, the strange talking cat, also known as Dusty.
And Malakar… whenever he regenerated, there was that same unsettling, black miasma swirling around him like it was part of him.
"What do they have in common?" Ryo pondered. Malakar was like a Vrakul in human form.
"Then, something Dusty had said came back to him—'hidden lands.' Al-Munira was one of those hidden lands that he had suddenly found himself in because of a case. And then, even more shockingly, 'Another World.' Mr. Grim had also mentioned something about 'other realms', which seemed to be another world entirely. And those Vrakuls, they were from another realm.
The pieces were coming together, and Ryo's mind raced.
They Exist…
"Just thinking about this is way too exhausting," Ryo muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. "My head's gonna explode… another world? Seriously?"
He exhaled, his expression turning to one of concern.
"I really hope I don't get caught up in this isekai crap… this ridiculous 'transported into another world' nonsense. I'm a DETECTIVE, god damn it!"
With a sigh, he grabbed the meal in front of him, trying to push the thoughts from his mind. He couldn't let it all weigh him down—not when there was good food in front of him.
Still, as he took a bite, the worries lingered.
"Seriously…" he mumbled, chewing slowly, glancing out the window. "I'm a DETECTIVE!!!"
And with that, Ryo leaned back and relaxed into his seat, the familiar comforts of the jet and the thought of returning to Japan slowly easing his nerves—though, deep inside, the mystery of these other worlds still worried him.