Later that day, as the sun dipped behind the rooftops, Noah and Emma joined Amy, Haru, and Harris for dinner at Heaven's Kitchen. Lamps glowed faintly inside the restaurant, filling the room with warmth.
"This smells wonderful," Noah said, already drooling.
Emma nudged him. "Control your drooling."
"I can't believe you're letting us eat here today," Noah said, licking his lips. "Feels like a dream."
"It's the least I can do," Haru said. "For the people who helped me."
They all sat down.
Noah stomach growled.
Haru removed the lids from the pots and said, "Dig in."
Everyone dug in immediately.
Noah attacked his food like he hadn't eaten in years. At one point he grabbed two bowls at once. Another time Emma had to smack his hand because he tried to take hers.
"Eat your own food!" Emma said, pulling her plate closer.
"It is my food," Noah said. "All food is my food."
"Not how that works!" she snapped.
Even Haru and Harris laughed as Noah battled the meal like it was an enemy.
When they finally stopped eating, Noah leaned back and patted his stomach.
"Thanks for the meal," he said.
Emma stared at him. "How many plates did you eat?"
"One," Noah said calmly.
"Don't lie!" Emma shouted. "You ate more than five!"
Noah picked his teeth with a toothpick. "I don't recall."
"You inhaled half the table! Even my plate!"
"Allegedly," Noah said.
Haru and Harris were still chuckling when Noah suddenly sat up straighter.
"Anyway," Noah said, "I'm planning on taking over this island. But I don't want to be in charge. I want one of you to do it."
The room fell silent.
Haru and Harris both stared at him in shock.
"Why would you want to take over the island?" Haru asked.
"Because the mayor isn't a good person," Noah replied. "Somebody decent should be running things."
Noah leaned back again, this time more serious.
Emma folded her arms. "While we were in the lower district handing out food, I talked to some people."
Harris nearly dropped his cup. "You guys went to the lower district?"
"Yes, we did," Noah said.
Emma cleared her throat. "From what I heard, this Captain Grudge guy only leaves the island once every four months."
Amy blinked. "When did you have time to gather all that?"
Emma smiled proudly. "I'm good at multitasking."
Noah wiped his mouth with a napkin and leaned forward.
"Do you know what this means?" Noah said. "It means your daughter is still somewhere on the island."
Harris froze. His hands trembled slightly.
Emma nodded. "Amy told us that you taught her martial arts."
"I did," Haru replied.
Emma spoke softly. "Then we'll need her help. To rescue the missing girls… we'll need someone who knows the district and the people."
Haru looked down, thinking. The room fell silent.
Amy placed a hand on her father's shoulder. "Dad… we can save them. Noah and Emma aren't ordinary."
Haru took a long breath, then nodded. "If Amy wants to help… I won't stop her. Just promise me this—bring those children home."
"We will," Noah said firmly. "You have my word."
Meanwhile… Inside the Mayor's Office
Across the island, in a tall white building overlooking the highcrest district, the mayor slammed a paper on his desk.
"So this Noah boy brought food to the lower district without my permission," he said, face twisting in anger.
A nervous aide stepped forward. "What actions will you take, sir?"
"Well, I can't have him ruining my plans," the mayor said darkly.
His lips curled into a smile.
"Kill him. And everyone he knows."
"Yes, sir," the man said quickly before hurrying out of the office.
The mayor leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.
Another man walked up from the shadows. "What should I tell the captain?"
The mayor smirked. "Tell him I'll need his assistance getting rid of a few… bugs."
"And this time, make sure he understand that failure is not an option."