You return to Asterleeds with news from the mine, attempting to seek aid. Chairman Lamond, caught between caution and powerlessness, hesitates to take action, able only to hope for a turn for the better in the future. Dejected, you reunite with Jerrad in the bustling Central District, only to find that this carefree old friend has secretly been planning an operation. He masks his seriousness with jokes, disguising one hundred Asterleeds Resistance Corps soldiers as adventurers, preparing to head to the highlands to provide support in secret. Along the way, you work together to foil the plot of a spy known as "Blackbird," confirming that your plan has not been exposed. Back on the street, you accept a warm steamed bun from an ordinary old woman, as if receiving an answer and strength from the city itself. Finally, amidst the intertwining peace and bustle, you get ready to set off once more, your gaze fixed on the distant highlands.