Layla took a step back. Her jaw-dropping and her eyes widening from the sudden shock of the news. Her father was still alive and has been working with the Queen of Doom! It just didn't make sense. Clifton shouldn't be alive after consuming that much malefic energy, or did he even consume a single joule?

She eagerly wanted to find the reason, but she's afraid of knowing more. Unable to gulp more truth into her heart. "I know this news is electrifying for you. But he must have a good reason for working with Vexana," Aurora calmly spoke through the Water Mirror. Her eyes observing the background that was behind of Layla. "Where are you three right now?" She asked curiously. "Bane's ship. They're heading there right now to destroy the City with their party bombs." Franco answered Aurora's question as he walked around the room to find something to eat. His stomach loudly grumbling, hinting that he needed something to eat and fast. He couldn't think properly on an empty stomach and might quickly go outside of the room to search for precious meat. "Those bombs might be Clifton's inventions. I want all of you to use his bombs to your advantage and make sure the City and its people will be safe." Aurora instructed before quickly signing off. The Water Mirror's surface turning deep black until she could no longer be seen.

Clint's eyes fixed on Layla. His face forming a frown after seeing her look so betrayed with a mix of despair. He didn't know what it felt like, but he can imagine that she must be feeling horrible right now. The cowboy didn't want to see Layla like this any longer and so he decided to walk over to her. Wrapping his arms around her to form a hug. "I know everything is crazy right now. But we need to focus." He said comfortingly as he patted her back with one of his hands.

Unsurprisingly, Layla wrapped her arms around him to return the hug. Her head laying on his firm chest. "My father, he's one with the bad guys. His bombs are going to kill thousands of innocent lives..." She shakily spoke. Vivid images of the City of Scholars being drowned in flames and bodies appeared in her mind. It looked so real, and it will turn into a reality if they don't stop the bombs from falling towards to the city. "He's not going to kill thousands of innocent lives, sugar. You know why?" Clint asked as he lifted her chin up. Their eyes locking into each other. "I don't know why." Layla replied grimly. Looking like she was about to cry. "Because we're going to stop this ship from bombarding the City of Scholars," He said enthusiastically with a grin on his face. "Now, if you're gonna start crying. I'm gonna kiss your lips." After saying that. Clint immediately got pushed away by Layla with a fuming expression on her face. "Kiss me again and I'll make you sorry! Now let's go before they drop the bomb." She threatened the cowboy, but it didn't affect him. He didn't even give a slight hint of expressing fear. He merely just let out a chuckle out of his lips. "All right. Let's go save their lives." Clint spoke in determination as he gently grabbed one of Layla's hands. Taking her towards to the only door of the room that will most likely lead them to a hallway.

The malefic gunner suddenly made Clint stop walking before they could exit the room and quickly asked him: "Wait! Can I borrow one of your guns?"
"What happened to that large chunk of metal of yours? Forgot it again?" Clint replied. Letting out a sigh afterward. "No. Did you possibly think I can carry that thing while climbing towards to this ship?" Layla asked. It was pure logic and Clint didn't seem to have grasped it. The cowboy realized it was a dumb question and regretted asking. He pulled out one of his guns out of its case and threw it at Layla and then said: "I thought it was very important to you? Anyways. You can have this gun." The malefic gunner caught the gun and observed it. "Thanks for the gun. And that heavy chunk of metal is important. I'll come back for it later." Layla replied as she twirled the gun on her hand as if it was a toy. "You lovebirds! The hallway is clear, let's move out and go to the kitchen first." Franco called out to the two with a low voice that is enough for them to hear.

Layla almost choked. Making herself stop spinning the gun after hearing what Franco just said. "Go to the kitchen first?" She questioned as she raised an eyebrow. "How many times I have to tell you guys. Food is the most important thing in the world!" Franco answered. Going out of the room without hesitation and sniffed a scent of what seems to be food getting cooked in a kitchen. "I can't take Franco seriously sometimes," Clint grumbled to Layla as he walked out of the room with her to follow the Viking. "Same. Sometimes he looks so serious, but he's actually not. But he's still a good guy and he saved our lives." Layla replied. Her eyes scanning the hallway for any signs of someone suddenly popping out of a door. "I bet he'll marry a meat and call them my deer." Clint's awful joke made Layla turn her head to glance at him. "Don't joke on the poor guy. How about you? Will you even get married?" She asked as she felt an arm slowly making its way into wrapping around her shoulder. "Of course I will. Everyone gets married in the future. It's sorta destiny, you know?" Clint answered with a sly grin on his face. She was resisting the urge to punch his stomach for thinking that they'll get married, or is it that she's the one thinking that they'll get married? Layla couldn't help but silently cringe. "Ahaha. Destiny? Please stop acting like a child and grow up," She pulled his arm off that was wrapping around her shoulder. Then pushed him away. "I'll look at your stealing my first kiss as a friendly kiss. Because obviously, you're not gonna have another kiss with someone else. Such a pity." Layla bitterly added as she turned her head to look away from the cowboy. He merely just grinned at her. Tipping her chin with one of his fingers and made her head turn around to face him. "Aw, sugar. It's true I won't be kissing someone else on the lips. Because I'll eternally be kissing yours." He teased her, making the malefic gunner blush in an instant.

What the hell?! It backfired! Layla thought to herself as she tried to hide her reddening cheeks underneath her pigtails. "Is the little markswoman blushing? Has she fallen for me?" Clint continued to tease her more with that grin on his face that Layla wanted to get rid of. She just fumed and grumbled angrily at him while gradually burying her face in her golden hair. "Can't you two just get a room all ready? I get that you two love each other. Why not admit it already?" Franco said in annoyance. His stomach unable to resist the pain of hunger. "But I'll still be your best man, right?" He specifically asked Clint whose cheeks were slightly red. The thoughts of him and Layla getting married vividly flashed in his eyes until he snapped back into reality to answer the Viking's question. "Well, since you...Saved us twice. Yeah?" All though his answer sounded like it has doubts about it. Franco took it as a successful yes. "I've read something about Bane's ship when I was researching about him. I think the bombs are located on the lower deck. You guys go on ahead and I'll grab something for us to eat." Franco said before quickly running off towards to the scent of where the food was being cooked.

The two let out a sigh and followed what Franco had told them. They went to the lower deck. Avoiding enemies in the process and doing their best to not shoot them since it'll create attention. Clint would ambush them time to time. He would tightly wrap an arm around their neck so that the airway will become blocked, making them unable to breathe and thus making them knock out. It was brutal for Layla's eyes to watch, but it's better than having to shoot them.

She hasn't even shot a living being before. But her father taught her the Arts of Shooting. He was a great marksman after all. So was her beloved mother who passed away after giving birth to her. It was sad that Layla couldn't get to see her dear mother. But at least she saw pictures of her when she was still alive. Layla still couldn't understand why her father is siding with evil. His bombs will kill innocent beings who don't deserve to die. What could he possibly achieve or receive from serving them? The same goal that Elion has.

Back to the Castle of Doom-or the Queen of Doom's castle. Fanny quietly fled towards to the weaponry room. She went to Saber's room and took a quick rest before immediately going towards to where Alucard is. She did what Saber has told her, but he did not tell her to stay in that room.

Fast like an eagle and swift like a fox. She arrived in the weaponry room without breaking a sweat. Smoothly landing on the floor in silence as her ropes quickly fled back to the metal cases that hung on her sides. Fanny silently and carefully pushed the doors forward to create a small opening for her to peek inside. She immediately saw Alucard whose face revealed that he was bored from looking around at the swords that hung on the concrete walls. She sighed in relief after seeing that he was still there.

The female assassin opened the doors and walked inside. Quickly getting Alucard's attention. "How did you become Alice's henchman?" She quickly asked him. Not bothering to greet the demon hunter since they're now in bad terms with each other. "I'm the one supposed to be asking you questions. I'll answer yours if you answer mine." Alucard replied. Walking over to Fanny with eyes that were frosty cold. An aura of acrimony filling the room quick like wildfire. "Make it quick. Saber is probably searching for me right now." Fanny grumbled as she crossed her arms. "Why are you with these wicked people? I bet you're one of the people who are responsible for those scholars' deaths." Alucard said his questions bitterly. "Saber saved me after you sliced my arms off. He's been taking care of me while being a jerk. I had no choice but to join them. If I try to escape or do anything that looks like betrayal. I'll instantly get killed." Fanny answered his questions. Walking over to the door to take a look outside. She quickly saw Saber running quickly towards in this direction.

Fanny could already tell that he knows that she's here. If she didn't take a peek, he would have jump scared her. The female assassin couldn't help but panic and ran behind Alucard to hide. "He found me! I don't want to get my punishment!" She said quietly. Holding tightly on to the demon hunter who let out a soft groan out of his lips. "I'm sure the punishment won't be that bad."
"No! I don't want to fight him. He'll obviously dominate me!" She said in fear.

Alucard couldn't imagine what the punishment could be like. He hasn't seen Fanny this afraid since when she was a child. When she grew into an adult. She would always smile and continue to be determined and brave. That accident sure did make her go through such a change that she didn't even look or seem like the Fanny that Alucard knows. 

"The Fanny I know wouldn't hide or let fear take over her." He grumbled. Gently grabbing her hand and pulled her forward. "The Fanny you know is dead. And the Alucard that I know is dead. Forget it, I'll just let Saber take me away since it's hopeless to fix it." She grumbled. Pulling her hand out of his grip and walked out of the weaponry room.