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Chapter 4

On the Northeast Border Kuklant Suburb Trail, an Amontel is being hunted by bandits. They're thinking of capturing him to sell before an Amontel in the trees shoots an arrow at them. Not knowing how many of the Amontel there are in the forest, the bandits retreat.

The archer Amontel helps up the other Amontel, Shingetsu, and asks him if he returned from the Holy Land. Shingetsu responds that everyone who went to the royal tomb are already dead. The archer cusses him out for this, saying that with Hector dead, the kingdom has no need to accept them now. Shingetsu was hoping that Hector's wish had reached the elders but the archer ain't having that shit. They say that the only choice now is to fight, cursing Hector for dying so soon...

In a spiffy new outfit, Belca makes it to Sana, the gateway between the palace villa and the town district. If he can get past this town, he can get to the entrance to the palace. And if he can make it in there, he can see Orcelito. But first! He has to make it past a large crowd...headed by the guards. The guards are not only collecting tolls but are also doing searches on every person to search for Belca. Things are not looking good for the prince...and then he overhears a man being manhandled and searched, just for not having any money to pay the toll. The guards try to drag him out but he breaks away, saying he has a daughter who needs him. The guards attack him, saying he's with the "rebel". Belca quietly points out that he's just an old man and they have him confused with someone else but a lady tells him it's no use, the soldiers have their eye on him. I mean, he did try to slip past the gate. If Belca has a problem, why doesn't he do something about it himself?

Belca has enough of this shit; Eco's words have gotten through to him and he approaches the guards, saying that the old man isn't a rebel and using his ring (with a real gemstone!) to pay for his toll. They get through, the crowd is astonished, good times for all...then the guard inspects the ring. The relief on it is of the Twin Lions...the emblem of the royal family.

The guards immediately shout at Belca to stop, saying that he's the royal tomb thief they're looking for. Belca, finally using his brain, turns and shouts at them for their impudence. He reveals his true identity: Prince Belca, 3rd Prince of the Noctircus Royal Family. He has returned to Sana to meet Orcelito. He then demands to be escorted to the Palace Villa. The guards are stunned...until one guard reminds the others that the thief is using Prince Belca's name. One of the guards counters that the ring is the proof of succession but the guard counters that with the information that he's a thief; he probably stole it. The guards advance on him, intending to capture him alive to interrogate him further. Belca's cornered, he has no weapons and his body's in bad shape. This could be it for him. Then, gold coins rain from the sky.

Some dude's cart was overturned and he is not happy about it. The crowd swarms over the guards to get it and Belca is dragged away by Eco, his savior. As Eco takes him to his hiding place, Belca recognizes him...as the bear guy.

(Sadly no.)

Meanwhile, Lord Lagen is scolding K-dog for letting Belca's body escape them. They just lost an important pawn because of that. Lagen tells him to let Orbus handle the situation in the Palace Villa. Meanwhile, Orbus' son has another opportunity to make up for his failure...

The guards are searching houses while looking for Belca, breaking into a random brothel, turning the p;ace inside out. One woman overhears who the guards are looking for and is shocked. A guard (in rather fresh way) questions her, but the other courtesans defend her by saying that she's Prince Orcelito's biggest fan and was upset that he went home. The guards eventually leave (with the creepy saying he'll come back as a paying customer)...and that woman is revealed to be Belca himself.

Eco and Belca live to be ambiguously homosexual for another day. Eco thanks the madam, Ricolise, for helping them out. Ricolise says it would suck if the girls couldn't hear Eco's song again. She offers them a room and the boys retire, the guards still looking for them outside. Eco asks Belca what he did and Belca says it's none of his business. Eco is huffy, saying he's saved his life twice (three times if you count saving Belca's life from Eco). But Belca doesn't want him to get any further involved; it could get him killed. Eco asks why and Belca says every person who has gotten close to him has been killed. Eco tells him to chill if he's worried about someone getting hurt on his account; Eco didn't save him out of the kindness of his heart. No, he has an ulterior motive for helping him. Belca nervously tells him he has no money but Eco has no need for that. No...he wants his song.

No, literally. He wants to sing a song about Belca and his story. If Belca gives him his song, he'll do anything for his sake. Eco offers and Belca says that he wants to see Orcelito one more time. Eco has joined Belca's party! Good thing too because Belca doesn't know jack shit about the outside world. That ring he gave away earlier? He estimates that it can pay the toll for ten people...Eco corrects him that it could have paid the toll for 10,000 people.

So unless Eco is around, he's a dead man.

Orcelito is stuck with Fagen's son as his attendant. and he's not happy about this turn of events. He tries to talk to his dad but the chapter ends with K-dog stopping him.