In the stables of Outton, Euyn meets Mikail in response to a red-envelope summons. Euyn expects the royal spymaster to have been sent to kill him on King Joon’s orders, but Mikail arrives alone and oddly casual, teasing Euyn and commenting on his disguise and beard.

Mikail suggests they talk in private, so Euyn leads him back to his room at the inn, bracing for an attack the entire way. At the door, Mikail proves he knows Euyn’s defensive setup by warning him about the trap above the entrance, reinforcing that Mikail has always been the source of many of Euyn’s survival skills.

Inside, Mikail admits he has known for about three years that Euyn survived his desert execution, revealing a painful betrayal: Mikail never contacted Euyn despite knowing he was alive. Mikail also implies King Joon does not know Euyn survived, and Euyn believes Mikail’s denial when pressed on whether he told the king.

Mikail then reveals why he is here: he wants Euyn’s help murdering King Joon. Euyn reacts with disbelief and lists the obstacles—Joon’s near-mythic power, the crown that grants immortality, the security of Qali Palace, and the death penalty for plotting regicide—only for Mikail to insist it is still possible and that Euyn’s insider knowledge is essential.

Mikail raises the stakes by telling Euyn that if Joon dies, Euyn becomes the only heir and could claim the throne. When Euyn asks what Mikail stands to gain and who would be owed for the throne, Mikail refuses to explain his personal motive but names an unexpected sponsor: the Queen of Khitan, which shocks Euyn and ties the plot to foreign power.