The Silver Nest. Bloom was sitting in her office tapping her fingers on her desk with a troubled expression.

“Are you okay?”

Sapphire who was standing beside her asked with a concerned tone.

“No, I’m not. How could I be after hearing your report?”

She stood up and started walking back and forth.

“Miko snuck his people into the country, fought with kaido, and threatened the lives of everyone in this city. These are all serious offenses. Now he wants to speak to me? I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s meeting to declare war.”

“But he has no reason to declare war.”

“Sapphire, we live in a cruel world where people commit sinister acts just because they can. He doesn’t need a reason, he just needs the desire to do it.”

“But why would he suddenly want to go to war? Don’t the two of you have a special relationship?”

“Who knows? I can never tell what he’s thinking so I don’t think our relationship is anything special.”

Bloom’s shoulders dropped along with her head as she became silent. Sapphire could sense that she was saddened by the sudden turn of events and felt the need to comfort her.

“Don’t worry, Bloom.”

Sapphire wrapped her arms around her and held her tightly.

“No matter what happens, we’ll always have your back.”

Bloom didn’t respond. She just silently accepted the hug while her mind started thinking at a fast rate.

(If Miko really becomes an enemy, then I’ll have taken on him and the Pillars at the same time. Natasa is an uncontrollable wild card and Gear is very intelligent. Not to mean Bastian and Isabel who are the two biggest powerhouses in the country…)

No matter how she spun her head around it, there was only one outcome for her.

“Complete and utter defeat.”

“Huh?”

Sapphire gently pushed Bloom back and looked at her.

“Bloom, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Bloom stepped back.

“Sorry to make you worry.”

“……”

“Miko should be here pretty soon. Let’s start getting ready to greet him.”

“….Yeah.”

Bloom made her way out of her office leaving Sapphire alone.

“….She isn’t relapsing, right?”

Later that night, Miko arrived at the Silver Nest alone; expect for Ishma and Regis who were in their gloves forms. He had a bright smile on his face as he made his way into the building.

“Welcome, Lord Miko.”

He was greeted by a pair of Birdfolk servants.

“Oh? I haven’t seen you guys since I first came here.”

Miko approached them.

“Bloom loves birds and I feel the same way. Would you like to join my Renacido?”

“We appreciate your offer, My Lord; but we’re happy here.”

“I see, that’s too bad.”

Miko smiled and placed his hands on their shoulders.

“By the way, I’ve realized from the two times we’ve met Bloom only sends you out to welcome guests as a formality. Then, should I take it that Bloom has cut all friendly ties with me and is now treating me as a stranger?”

“We cannot speak for the queen. We’re sorry.”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry about it. I was just messing with you.”

Miko patted their shoulders and walked past them.

“The Queen is in her throne room.”

Miko gave them a thumbs up while he continued walking. He leisurely made his way to the throne room and stopped outside the door.

“6…No, 7.”

He smirked and pushed the door opened.

“Bloom, I’ve come to play!”

He shouted and walked in with pep to his step. As expected, Bloom was sitting on her throne. She watched in silence as Miko made his way to her.

“This humble servant greets his queen.”

He went on one knee and said before springing back to his feet.

“I always wanted to say that.”

He started laughing. Bloom, on the other hand, had a straight face.

“My, It seems like you’re in a bad mood.”

“And whose fault do you think it is that I’m in a bad mood?”

She sat in an imposing manner with her legs crossed, her arm on the throne’s armrest, and her head resting on her fist.

“Miko, you know the things you’ve done. So please explain the reason behind your actions.”

“Well, I think that’s fair; but first I want to ask you a question, Bloom.”

“Go ahead.”

“Are you happy right now?”

“What a stupid question. Didn’t we just establish that I was in a bad mood?”

“I don’t mean at this particular moment; I mean generally. Are you happy with your current situation? Your current life?”

“I’m a queen of a powerful country; what’s there to be unhappy about other than traitorous bastards that appear every now and again?”

Miko closed his eyes and slowly inhaled and exhaled.

“I see. Then I take it that you want me to explain myself right away?”

Bloom nodded.

“Well, you see…I sent a message to my apostles sometime ago that they should come here.”

“For what reason?”

“There were some things that I wanted to do but there was a chance that I might clash with the Pillars because of them. They’re my backup.”

“So why snuck them in the country? I’m not upset that they came since I expected them to come eventually. What I’m upset about is the fact that you didn’t inform me when they were coming and snuck them in. Doesn’t that betray my trust?”

“I snuck them in because I didn’t want the Pillars to know that they were coming and do something prevent them from making it here.”

“If you had come to me, I would’ve made sure that wouldn’t happen.”

Miko chuckled a bit.

“What’s funny?”

“My apologies. It’s just that you don’t seem to realize how far the Pillars’ reach extends to. In my opinion, if they wanted to get involved you couldn’t stop them.”

“Are you implying that I’m weaker than the Pillars?”

“At the moment, Yes.”

Bloom’s eyes narrowed as she started glaring at Miko.

“I see that I upset you just now, but I’m merely speaking the truth.”

He pointed at her.

“As you are Bloom, you will lose to the Pillars and be dethroned by them.”

“….It seems that you’re really underestimating me, Miko. I became queen with my own power, so I-”

“It doesn’t matter. You will lose.”

Miko wasn’t all smiles anymore. Anyone could see that he was serious.

“Bloom, you’re an amazing person; there’s no doubt about that. However, I just can’t see you coming out the winner when this affair ends. Even if you win the battle, you’ll lose something much more important.”

“Who are you to talk as if you know everything?!”

Bloom suddenly shouted.

“I’m someone who cares deeply for you.”

She froze. She looked into Miko’s eyes and saw an undying will burning in them.

(Why do you look so determined? Why are you treating me like this?)

She gritted her teeth and she felt overwhelming pain coming from her chest.

“Why?....If you’re so convinced that I’ll lose, then why don’t you offer to help me?!”

She stood up and shouted with one hand grasping her chest.

“Instead of treating me like this, why don’t you help me?!”

Miko looked at her in silence for a while before finally answering her.

“Because I want you to lose.”

“?!”

Bloom’s body shook as if she had received a blow.

“W-What did you just say? You want me to lose?”

“That’s right.”

Bloom’s grasp on her chest strengthened. Her clothes became wrinkled and looked like they were about to tear.

“You…You do realize that this throne…this status is all I have, right?”

“I do.”

“And yet you want me to lose it all?”

“That’s right.”

“…Why?”

Her voice became coarse and strained and her body was visibly shaking. Miko glanced around when he felt killing intent being aimed at him, that didn’t come from Bloom. Even so, he spoke his next words without batting an eye.

“Because I don’t think you’re fit to be queen. I think you should step down.”

“…….”

Bloom silently sat on her throne with her head down. Her shoulders were trembling and droplets of water were falling from her face and onto her lap.

“You bastard!”

Suddenly a shout resonates in the room and several figures appeared surrounding Miko. They were the members of Silver Crow. Ryker and Axel were pointing guns at the back of Miko’s head while Chrome had a blade at his throat.

“How dare you say that to her?! How dare you treat her like this?!”

Chrome’s eyes were bloodshot and the blade in her hands was trembling as she shouted.

“I’m going to kill you!”

“………”

Despite being surrounded and having weapons pointed at him, Miko didn’t take his eyes off Bloom. He watched her cry without batting an eye.

“Miko.”

Jin stepped forward.

“I think it’s in our best interest that you leave.”

He wasn’t as aggressive as the others. He was more confused than angry.

(What’s going on? He came here to tell her to her face that she’s not fit to be queen and that she should step down? That’s the cruelest thing he could say to her, and yet…)

He looked at the serious expression on Miko’s face and the determination in his eyes.

(And yet, why does he seem so desperate?)

“…….”

Miko didn’t move an inch despite being told to leave. His gaze was fixated on Bloom.

“Miko.”

This time Sapphire called out to him.

“You hurt her feelings. Please give her time to herself.”

Sapphire had a sad look on her face.

(Bloom, definitely loves Miko from the way she’s reacting. If anyone else had said what he said, she would’ve gotten angry but instead, she’s heartbroken….)

She thought.

“Bloom.”

Miko finally spoke again.

“I’m going to ask just in case.”

“Shut up! Don’t talk to her!”

Chrome pressed her blade harder on Miko’s throat causing it to start bleeding. Miko ignored her and continued to talk to Bloom.

“Bloom, are you going to step down?”

“You son of a-”

“Enough, Chrome.”

Chrome froze when Bloom spoke her name. She turned and saw Bloom looking at her with a stern look despite tears still flowing from her eyes.

“Step away, all of you.”

The Silver Crow members all looked at each other before stepping away.

“Well?”

Miko asked. Bloom wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at Miko with a hateful gaze.

“OVER MY DEAD BODY!”

She threw a pair of middle fingers at him.

“If you want me to step down then keep dreaming! If you don’t want me to be the queen then drag me off the throne yourself, you coward!”

Her shouts echoed in the throne room as everyone looked at her in shock.

(She went from crying to declaring war. Such mental fortitude…)

Sapphire thought.

“HaHahaha!”

Miko suddenly burst out laughing before showing a devilish grin.

“That was the idea from the beginning.”

He pointed at Bloom.

“I’ll take you and the Pillars on and show you that I was right and that you were wrong. So you can be at ease Bloom Newgate…You can come at me with everything you got! I’ll gladly accept it!”

He turned around and started walking away, even pushing Axel and Ryker who were blocking his path.

“Oh, don’t worry, Bloom. Even when you’re swallowed up by your personal abyss and lose yourself I’ll dive into that abyss and bring you back to the surface without fail.”

He pushed opened and door and made one last declaration.

“So Bloom Newgate and her Silver Crow, feel free to give it your all so I can show you how a villain saves the day.”

Miko left with a hearty laugh leaving everyone else in awe.

“Bloom, was it okay to let him leave?”

Nico asked.

“We had no choice. His people were nearby if you attacked him it would be an all-out war, something we’re not prepared for.”

Jin said.

“Also, even if he was truly alone we would lose half of us before we could take him out. It’s not worth it with the Pillars looming about.”

Bloom sat on her throne grinding her teeth and gripping her throne tightly.

“Damn him. I’ll show him that I’m fit to rule!”

The throne started breaking apart under her grip.

“I’ll show them all!”

Later that night, Miko was once again at the MYTH HQ where he was meeting with Mari. He threw something at Mari the moment he stepped into her office. She caught it and as expected it was the emblem that allowed him one wish from any MYTH branch.

“So what’s your wish this time?”

Miko grinned and spoke.

“I want this country.”