In the City of Gain in Yusan, Sora spends a rare peaceful afternoon in a meadow outside the city walls, teaching five beggar children to forage for edible roots and berries. She keeps them near the trees and refuses to go farther toward the Xingchi forest, thinking about escape but stopping herself because her captors hold “collateral” that makes leaving impossible.

When nine-year-old Gli asks about a spotted mushroom, Sora gently quizzes her until Gli remembers the spots mean poison. Sora comforts Gli for forgetting and then remembering, and continues the lesson while five-year-old Tao clings to Sora’s hand and pulls her into chasing a butterfly, a brief reminder of innocence in a harsh city.

The mood shifts when Sora spots a man approaching on a black stallion: the Count. Sora quickly dismisses the children, knowing the Count’s cruelty and fearing he could harm them without consequence. The children sense the danger and disappear into the streets.

Sora approaches the Count and endures his possessive appraisal, knowing he owns her and uses her as a weapon. Without preamble, he gives her a calling card with a name—another assigned target—and Sora understands she has no choice but to kill.

Sora reflects that the murders are her forced “repayment” for the gold paid to her parents when she was sold and for the training imposed on her. The Count holds her younger sister, Daysum, as a “ward” in truth a prisoner; Sora must comply to protect her. The Count orders the kill for tonight and promises Sora one bell with Daysum tomorrow only if the target is dead by dawn, then rides away, leaving the threat hanging over Sora.