On the Sol River in Yusan, Royo spots a pirate fire ship charging toward the riverboat. Knowing the lawless stretch is plagued by Yusanian “pirates” who now kidnap youths to sell, Royo panics for Aeri Soo’s safety and tries to force an immediate escape over the balcony railing.

Aeri hesitates, wanting to take her trunks, until Royo bluntly warns she could be sold along with the ship’s valuables. As Royo prepares to jump, arrows begin raining onto the deck and grappling hooks bite into the boat—boarding is imminent, and other passengers who leap are shot in the water.

Pirates kick in the cabin door and begin ransacking the room. Royo positions himself on the balcony to control the choke point and orders Aeri to flee if things go wrong. When pirates spot him, Royo kills the first with a dagger to the neck, wounds and knocks two more overboard, then fights off two additional attackers after Aeri warns him to move left to avoid a crossbow bolt. Royo uses the crossbow to stop one pirate near Aeri, then finishes both remaining threats quickly to reduce noise.

Footsteps of more pirates close in, and Royo insists escape is hopeless because they will be seen. Aeri argues they must try, grabs Royo’s hand, and dives backward off the balcony while holding him, pulling both overboard.

Instead of hitting freezing water, Royo comes to in a lifeboat with a splitting headache—both he and Aeri are inexplicably bone-dry. Aeri, exhausted but composed, hands him an oar and urges him to row as they watch both the riverboat and the pirate fire ship burning behind them. Royo rows hard while demanding an explanation, and Aeri only replies that she “saved” them, leaving the means of their escape a new mystery.