Roderick Blackwood was in bad condition as he gave them the key to the cage.
Zhang opened it and Grazia hugged him tightly.
"I was so scared... Thank you so much. All of you."
Draven grabbed Roderick from back and held the dagger on his throat.
"I think that's all.. Now I can butcher you, Roderick Blackwood. You want another chance? You want me to untie your hands?
You're not getting it.. hyyaaaahahaha!!"
Roderick makes quick moves and grabs the dagger with his mouth to swing it through Draven's head.
Zhang turns back and sees Roderick approaching towards him.
Inner thoughts: "Wha-... It's too late for me to draw my sword.. and if I dodge, Grazia will be at the target.. Dammit!! What should I.."
Grazia comes in front of Zhang to protect him.
And the dagger slices through her neck....
"Gra..zia.."
Zhang Liang's mind goes numb at the moment.
"Hey.. Grazia. Are you.. okay?"
Roderick sits down and laughs slowly with a face covered in blood.
Ryujiro watches in disbelief while the anger slowly builds up inside him.
"RODERIIIIIICCCKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!"
Ryujiro screams in a monstrous voice as he takes out his Kurogane and starts poking it through Rodericks body multiple times..
"AAAAGGHHHHHH!!!!!!"
..until he dies.
Ryujiro falls back after the huge trauma of Grazia Moretti's death.
And the loss of a ripper who never betrayed him.
TO BE CONTINUED