After taking the night to form a plan and examine the strange daemonizing device, Noctis's group was back in Secreta. While Ignis couldn't figure out how the device worked, he did formulate a few theories. It seemed like it kept the assassins in a human state, safe from the light of day. But when damaged, the daemonization process took over and eradicated all humanity left in the person's body. That would explain what had occurred.

But the secrets behind the odd device would have to wait. The current objective was to find Angelica while gathering information on Thanatos. Dressed in assassin clothes and masks, they were successful in waltzing right into the village. They remained quiet for the most part, hoping no one would notice them. Luckily for them, the few people they passed barely gave them a second glance. Their disguises had worked.

"Nice plan, Specs," Noctis quietly said. "With this kind of camouflage, we can go unnoticed."

"Thank you," he replied. "But we must first find Angelica before congratulations are truly in order."

"Hey, there's Thanatos!" Prompto whisper yelled. He pointed to a street where said man was heading down.

"Should we tail him?" Gladio asked.

"Hell yeah," the prince answered.

Discreetly, the four followed him from afar. He made his way to a street full of shops. They pretended to be shopping and chatting as they eavesdropped. Thanatos met with another man. He wore a black trenchcoat and had scraggly white hair and a short beard.

"Cultro, have you worked out the glitches in the bugs yet?" the chief asked.

The white-haired man, Cultro, sighed. "Not yet, sir."

"Well hurry it up." Thanatos seemed aggravated. "It's gonna be difficult taking over an empire with an army that can't go five minutes without having to stop everything and regain control of their minds."

"I'm trying, sir. But I need more time."

"I can't wait much longer, Cultro." Thanatos glared at the shorter man. "We're lucky the Niffs even gave us a hand in creating the magitek bugs. I have total control over every assassin in this village, and now that my daughter's back with me, we'll be unstoppable. But that can only happen if all the glitches in the bugs are fixed."

"I know," Cultro argued. "I'll get it done as soon as I can."

"You'd better, or I'll have your head."

Thanatos's threat made Cultro gulp in fear. The chief turned and left. Cultro was left to himself, grumbling and muttering under his breath. The four boys moved away to a secluded spot.

"Magitek bugs," Ignis thought aloud. "I'll wager those are the devices on everyone's necks. If that's the case, Angel needs to know about this. Perhaps this information will give her a change of heart."

"Ignis," the prince said, getting his attention. It was obvious how concerned the advisor was about the girl. It seemed like every sentence that left his mouth had Angelica in it. "We'll continue tailing Thanatos, you go find Angel."

Gladio nodded in agreement. "You're the one she's most likely to listen to."

"Go bring her back, Iggy!" Prompto added.

Ignis smiled beneath his mask. "Alright. Good luck on your end."

Ignis split off from his friends. He headed straight for Angelica's home. He made sure no one was around before he slipped in through the front door. He immediately rid himself of the mask and stuffy jacket as he walked upstairs. He stopped at the bedroom door, placing his hand on the knob and opening it.

He went right in, seeing Angelica standing by her bed with her back turned, staring at her mother's dagger in her hand. She was already wearing her mask and combat clothes. She almost instantly whirled around, tossing a throwing knife. The small blade lodged itself into the wall next to Ignis's head. But he didn't even flinch, knowing she wouldn't harm him.

"Angelica," he said, his voice stern.

"Ignis. Somehow I just knew you'd come back. You never could leave things be."

"Remove that mask," he ordered.

Angelica hesitantly complied, slipping off her mask and setting it on the bed alongside the dagger. "What's the matter, too intimidating?" she taunted.

Ignis ignored her remark and took slow steps toward her. She was caught off guard by his silence and firm gaze. With him getting closer, she began backing away in response.

"Stay back," she threatened. "Just go away. I don't need you here, you should be back with the others."

He continued his slow advance toward her. "Do you have any idea what Thanatos is doing?"

She narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

Ignis wasn't going to lie. "You're father is turning everyone into half-daemon slaves."

She clicked her tongue. "That's ridiculous. You expect me to believe that? You'd say anything to change my mind."

"Then do you know of his plan to rule over Niflheim?"

"I do, and I'll be right there by his side. We'll take over and end these stupid wars, once and for all."

Angelica suddenly felt her back hit the wall. She watched as Ignis came closer and closer until he was right in front of her. He was close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body. He gazed down at her.

"Angel, this isn't you."

"What do you know?" she spat. "I happen to agree with my dad's plan. Now back off before I-"

"Before you what?" Ignis dared, snatching her wrists and pinning them on either side of her head. "Attack me? Go ahead. If you're really as ruthless as you say, then it shouldn't be a problem, now should it?" The girl's cold glare softened. She stared up at him in silence, causing the advisor to chuckle lightly. "I knew you couldn't do it."

Angelica turned her head away in embarrassment. "Shut up."

"Angel, darling, this isn't you," he repeated in a softer voice, leaning down closer to her. "I've known you for so long, and I know what you're feeling." She looked up at him, listening intently. "You're angry and hungry for revenge. You think that the more power you have, the closer you are to achieving your goal. You're inviting the darkness into your heart."

He was right. How does he always seem to know everything about me? "You forgot about one thing though. I really want to believe in my dad. I lost my mom, I don't want to lose him too... and I will follow him. He's had many losses, just like us. My decision has not changed, Ignis. I'm still gonna-"

Ignis cut her off by taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head up, and pushing his lips against hers. Angelica's eyes went wide and she stiffened, her free hand shooting up and clutching his arm. Despite the sudden action, the kiss was sweet and gentle, and held so much meaning behind it. Much to the girl's surprise, his lips were softer than she would've thought. Her heart was pounding in her chest and a light blush stained her cheeks. Ignis slowly pulled away, his emerald eyes boring into her sapphire ones.

"I've loved you for so long, Angel," he confessed. "And yet, I hate to see you turning into this. I miss the Angelica who would do anything for her friends, the one who risked her life time and time again for Noct's sake. I know she's still in there, so where's the girl I fell in love with?"

The redhead simply stared up at him, still stunned by everything. Her mind was reeling, making it difficult to answer. "I... I don't know."

Ignis took her hand and pulled her over to the vanity mirror on her desk. He positioned her in front of it while he stood right behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Tell me one thing, is this truly the person Miss Valerie raised you to be?"

Angelica stared at her reflection. For a brief second, she could see herself when she was a child with her mother in Ignis's place behind her. Memories flooded her mind of everything Valerie had ever taught her. She only ever wanted Angelica to be happy, and to loyally aid the prince and her friends in whatever ways possible. The girl was finally understanding why her mother never brought her back there. She had abandoned her old ways, and she never wanted me to know them. Angelica saw in her reflection the monster her father was turning her into.

"By the Stars, you're right. This isn't me." She placed a hand over half of her face while gazing down at the other. She was regretting her terrible decisions. "I'm... I'm becoming a monster. I let my anger consume me - I thought my dad's way was the only way. Listening to him, I went against everything my mom ever taught me."

"It isn't too late," Ignis argued. "You can turn this all around. Believe me when I say that there is another way, and I will show you."

Angelica gazed at his reflection, a faint smile gracing her lips. "Thank you for coming back, and for not giving up on me."

Ignis smiled. "My pleasure. Wanting vengeance is understandable, but not if you let it consume you. Now, we simply have the matter of dealing with Thanatos."

"Let me talk to him," the girl said, turning to face the bespectacled man. "If he's really doing everything you said, then I need the opportunity to show him there's another way. Please, Ignis, I have to go. He's my dad."

He nodded. "Very well, but be careful. I'll find the others and meet back up with you."

Angelica swiftly nodded and darted past him, but quickly stopped herself at the doorway. She turned her head, smiling, recalling his confession. "And to be fair, I've loved you for a long time too."

Before he could respond, she left in a hurry. But as she left, she lightly touched her lips, still feeling his kiss. Ignis was left standing in her room, a smile of joy gracing his lips. All those years, and they'd felt the same way about each other. But Ignis was quick to tuck the thoughts into the back of his mind so he could focus on the current task. He needed to regroup with the others.

He rushed down and out of the house where he was met by a havocfang-masked assassin. Before he even had time to respond, there was a sharp pain in the back of his head. He collapsed, the world rapidly growing dark around him as he fell into unconsciousness.