Moth Pole Prison, Pole Tower
At the bottom of the pit, directly in front of the tower entrance, hundreds of angry dwarf prisoners in green uniforms had gathered.
They were holding protest signs.
Actual signs.
Some were neatly painted. Some were aggressively scribbled. One had glitter.
"LESS WHIPPING, MORE TIPPING!"
"GREEN LIVES MATTER!"
"CONJUGAL VISIT ON THE PIT!"
They chanted in rough, gravelly unison, voices echoing against the icy stone walls of Moth Pole.
Inside the prison office above, the atmosphere was somehow even more hostile.
Director Cinderclaws stood behind his desk, veins visible on his forehead.
Across from him sat three dwarf prisoner union representatives.
They were wearing their standard green prison uniforms.
They were also wearing matching armbands that read: UNION.
"9 slashes per hour!" Cinderclaws barked.
SLAM.
A representative with a braided beard and chipped horn slammed both palms onto the table.
"No! Six slashes per hour and dessert for dinner!"
Silence.
Both sides leaned forward.
Glared.
Negotiation. Brutal. Uncompromising.
Across the room, Dwordoug Axebreaker stood with his men, watching.
He blinked slowly.
"I have ruled fortresses," Dwordoug said flatly. "I have led sieges. I have crushed rebellions."
He paused.
"I have never heard of prisoners forming an organization before."
The prison staff beside him swallowed.
"Y-yes, sir. They're… new."
"Since when?" Dwordoug asked.
The staff hesitated.
"Since… well… a couple of days after the demon minister and ambassador arrived."
Dwordoug's eye twitched.
"What?" Dwordoug's voice dropped dangerously. "Did I not order you to keep the demons away from forced labor?"
"Yes, sir! We did, sir!" the staff stammered. "But they still encountered other inmates during the daily fifteen-minute exercise."
"Fifteen minutes."
"Yes, sir… They began discussing things during exercise hour. Concepts like… prisoner rights. Representation. Collective bargaining."
Silence.
Dwordoug stared at the negotiating table where Cinderclaws and the union representatives still arguing.
"Only fifteen minutes per day," Dwordoug repeated slowly. "And within a week they formed an organization?"
The staff coughed.
"Actually… three, sir."
"What."
"There are currently three unions in Moth Pole, sir. The other two already completed their protest demonstrations earlier this week."
Dwordoug turned back toward the office floor.
At that exact moment—
"Eight slashes per hour and fruit on Sundays!" Cinderclaws shouted.
"Six slashes and dental!" the representative countered.
"Seven and no singing during labor!"
"Six and we keep singing!"
Dwordoug closed his eyes.
"What kind of madness," he muttered, voice hollow, "is this?"
---
Moth Pole Prison, Maximum Security Cells
In the maximum security section, at the far end of a moldy, poorly lit corridor, one cell stood apart from the rest.
It was isolated.
Reinforced.
Guarded at all times by two full sets of steam armor placed on twenty-four-hour standby. They did not sleep. They did not speak. They did not blink.
Especially not when watching the prisoner inside.
One of the steam armors was currently staring directly into Levi's eyes through the iron bars.
Unmoving.
Unwavering.
Levi stared back.
Slowly—very slowly—the steam armor extended its mechanical hand between the bars.
Carefully.
Delicately.
It picked one card from Levi's hand.
The card turned over.
Joker.
"AAAARGGH!!" the steam armor screamed, metallic voice echoing through the corridor.
Levi grinned.
"Kukuku… Do you truly believe you can defeat a demon duke in Old Maid?"
On the floor inside the cell, Levi and Mara were sitting cross-legged.
On the other side of the bars, the two steam armors were also sitting cross-legged.
"EHM!!"
The loud, authoritative throat-clearing snapped both steam armors upright instantly. They scrambled to their feet and resumed rigid guarding posture as if they had never been seated on the floor moments ago.
Dwordoug Axebreaker stood at the corridor entrance with his men.
He stared at the two guards.
Irritation radiated from him.
Beside him, the prison staff member stared at the ceiling very intensely. Pretending hard to never participated in any card games here.
"It seems," Dwordoug said coldly, "you have already turned this prison into your playground, demon."
Levi placed his cards neatly together.
"Whaaat? Oh no, no, I would never dare."
He stood and gave a courteous bow.
"Although some of the prisoners and guards have strongly encouraged me to do so."
He smiled brightly.
"How do you do, Council Member Axebreaker? A pleasure to finally meet you."
Mara also stood and bowed politely.
"Nice meeting you, Council Member."
Dwordoug clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Leave us."
He raised a hand. His men and the staff withdrew without protest.
Now only the Grand Marshall and the two demons remained in the dim corridor.
"So," Levi said pleasantly, "how may we assist you, Council Member?"
Dwordoug studied him.
"…You are not going to ask why you were placed here?"
Levi tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm. Judging from your expression, I suspect you do not know the reason either."
A small smile formed.
"Or rather—you knew before. But now you are no longer certain."
Dwordoug's jaw tightened.
"Hmph. Just as my great-grandfather recorded… you are the sharpest-tongued devil he ever encountered."
Levi's eyes brightened with interest.
"Oh? Did I know your great-grandfather?"
"You fought him during the last demon invasion," Dwordoug replied stiffly. "He was a member of the hero's party. Torin Axebreaker."
Levi tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Hmmm…"
A pause.
"Was he the short one?"
The corridor shook slightly.
"Is that supposed to be a joke?!" Dwordoug roared.
Levi raised both hands.
"Ahahaha, my apologies. It has been quite some time. Faces blur after a century or two."
He smiled again—calm, almost nostalgic.
"But I am honored that his family still remembers me."
"Tch! Anyway, I'm not here for idle talk," Dwordoug said.
"Of course," Levi replied smoothly. "Please, tell me how I may be of service to you, Council Member."
Dwordoug clasped his hands behind his back.
"My initial intention in coming here was to interrogate you. There is suspicion that you orchestrated an attack on our capital by sinking The Atlas, creating a situation where we would allow a demon duke to step into Dwargonia under the guise of diplomacy. Where that particular demon duke will orchestrate a deadly attack."
He paused.
The Grand Marshall's expression tightened slightly, as if the next part tasted bitter.
Levi only smiled and waited.
"And," Dwordoug continued slowly, "I believe I may have made a mistake."
Silence filled the corridor.
"I reviewed the reports from my men—the ones who went to your embassy to take you into custody. They stated that when the first shot was fired, your embassy soldiers immediately declared it did not come from your side."
Levi nodded lightly.
"When the second shot was fired," Dwordoug continued, "it was aimed at the Murican vessel. Yet none of my men claimed responsibility for that shot either."
He exhaled.
"Sigh…"
Dwordoug took a moment to steady himself before continuing.
"There is something you likely have not heard. My government is keeping it confidential for now."
Levi's smile did not waver.
"During the chaos at your embassy," Dwordoug said, "a Ravendawn patrol ship sank another Dwargonian merchant vessel at the border."
Mara's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Ravendawn authorities claim they never gave such an order."
"Oh?" Levi said lightly. "Interesting… What do you think of this, Ambassador Mara?"
Mara considered for a moment.
"If Ravendawn sinks a Dwargonian merchant ship immediately after The Atlas is destroyed," Mara said calmly, "Dwargonian citizens would direct their fury toward the Murica–Ravendawn alliance."
"That is correct," Dwordoug replied. "We are a loyal people. We do not ignore the deaths of our citizens."
His voice hardened.
"Especially when one of the main clan elders was among the victims."
Levi's smile thinned.
"Hoo… I imagine whoever planned this would ensure the Dwargonian ambassador sank along with The Atlas."
"That would be the logical course," Dwordoug said. "However—"
He fixed Levi with a firm stare.
"Your abrupt surrender placed you in our custody. That created hesitation within our council. It prevented us from making a rash decision."
"Hohoho," Levi chuckled softly. "It seems my devil's intuition was correct, Mara."
"It appears so, sir," Mara replied. "Had we attempted to escape, no explanation would have satisfied Dwargonia. War would have been inevitable."
He continued calmly.
"And if you had chosen to retaliate within their capital… Hearthguard Cairn would have suffered catastrophic damage."
Levi's grin widened slightly.
"Which I suspect was precisely what our mysterious architect anticipated. Fufufu… how unfortunate for them that I am not as straightforward as Stan."
Dwordoug's jaw tightened.
"As much as I dislike admitting such a possibility," he said, "yes. The destruction of Hearthguard Cairn would have been Dwargonia's final threshold."
He stepped forward slightly.
"Listen carefully. I may be a dwarf who despises demons more than most."
His voice remained controlled.
"But I am also Dwargonia's highest military authority. I will not send my soldiers to die over a shadowed conspiracy. Nor will I expose my citizens to unnecessary bloodshed."
Levi bowed his head slightly.
"How admirably benevolent of you, Council Member Axebreaker."
"However," Dwordoug continued, ignoring the tone, "I cannot issue an apology. Nor can I release you to Murica at this time."
He turned partially toward the corridor exit.
"With you in our custody, the citizens will remain calm during the investigation. Once the true culprit is identified, matters will proceed accordingly."
He glanced back.
"In the meantime, I will have you transferred somewhere more comfortable than this cell. And I will formally request a joint investigation with your government."
"That would be a wise course of action," Mara said.
"Yes," Levi added pleasantly. "I believe my government would not object if I personally requested to extend my stay here. They would be quite eager to apprehend whoever seeks to disrupt our… growing friendship."
Dwordoug gave a short nod.
"Very well. I will speak with the prison director regarding your transfer. We shall continue this discussion somewhere less… decrepit than this place."
He turned and began walking away down the corridor.
"Much appreciated, Council Member Axebreaker," Levi and Mara said politely.
Then suddenly—
BOOOOOOMMMM.
An explosion tore through the tunnel without warning.
Stone trembled. Dust fell from the ceiling. The corridor shook violently.
Dwordoug stopped mid-step.
"What the—"
Inside the cell, Levi exhaled slowly.
"…Sigh. We truly cannot have a peaceful conversation, can we?"
"No, it appears we cannot, sir," Mara replied evenly.