Mikail waits to hear King Joon’s terms and realizes his own “clever” recruitment of Aeri was engineered by Joon. Mikail blames his hubris and revenge for pushing the assassination plot forward despite warning signs like Thorn’s death and Dal’s suspicious end, leaving the group trapped at Joon’s mercy.

Euyn asks what Joon wants in exchange for a pardon and restoration. Joon reveals the condition: steal the Ring of Khitan from their sister, Queen Quilimar, who currently wears it. Mikail recognizes the ring as a Dragon Lord relic with the power to turn anything to solid gold, and connects it to Joon’s broader pursuit of relics, including the Immortal Crown and the Flaming Sword.

When Mikail challenges the “charade,” Joon explains he needed to locate Euyn, expose Seok’s poison school, and draw Yusan’s best killers to him with a shared purpose—an “audition” for a mission he cannot afford to fail against Quilimar. Joon argues the group already proved capable by taking the crown and surviving, so they are the best chance to steal the ring and escape Khitan.

Joon then lays out tailored rewards to secure compliance. Euyn will be reinstated as crown prince; Sora will gain freedom for herself and her sister, a count’s villa in Aseyo, and the release of Tiyung, plus the prospect of killing Seok after capture. Joon offers Mikail the role of regent for the eastern count’s young heir, effectively giving Mikail control of Tamneki, which tempts Mikail with dreams of helping Gaya—until Mikail recognizes it as another calculated lure.

Finally, Joon pressures Royo by citing Bay Chin’s claim that an innocent man went to prison for a crime tied to Royo and implying Royo killed a girl named Allora. Royo challenges the accusation by insisting Bay Chin knows who really killed Allora, but Joon promises a pardon for the imprisoned man and the money Aeri previously offered. Joon offers Aeri recognition as a Yusan princess and posthumous acknowledgment of her mother as his first queen, and Aeri silently agrees to the mission.