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If her becoming the lord ameer would solve this problem...

If this is the price she must pay to abide by her own ideals—

Then in that case—

I—

I—I'll be Acahualla's lord ameer, and I'll bear the responsibility for this!

Tomimi?!

Zeruertza's... going to be destroyed?

Ha, haha... that's a seriously unfunny joke.

Stitch lifts his head, and lifts his gaze to the dome.

He'd been avoiding repairing it all along. Avoiding redesigning the thing, perhaps.

He'd always assumed he'd still have time.

Only now does he realize, he's out. It's gone. He has time no longer.

Teacher, it seems my hope of surpassing you is behind me.

Stitch jumps aboard a small boat, and sails it for the other shore.

He has to find somewhere to calm down.

Tomimi, what are you doing here?

We were bringing Master Edge's equipment and workers over, and came to see how it was going while were here.

Looks like we were right to do it.

You two as well... Hold on, so, Tomimi, have you ever actually, seriously, considered what you just said?

Of course I have!

Acahualla's always been without a lord ameer, Miss Avdotya.

It's just like you said. If all those Durins went to the surface, they'd draw the attention of the Sargon government for sure.

So before that happens, I—I'll be the Sargon lord ameer to govern the Acahualla region, and I'll make all of this smooth and simple!

No lord ameer? Even then, becoming a lord ameer isn't...

I hold the status of Sargon's government-posted Acahuallan Messenger... and scout.

If I assist, then provided Acahualla comes to have a lord ameer before drawing government attention, this incident can be wholly suppressed.

That should ease some of your concern, correct?

But, Tomimi, you...

It's alright! This way, you don't need to go to any trouble, Gavial!

I mean, yeah, but...

No pressure, Gavial.

Tomimi's volunteering to do it, and if she doesn't, then I can do it too.

Mm-hm!

Zumama...

Or are you scared? You think you made a mistake?

I don't, I just have this weird feeling...

Let me think up a way to describe it.

Yeah. Okay, it's like. I've got this giant boulder in front of me right now.

And I'm thinking, I have to use up so much of my strength just to break it.

But once I give it a shot, something tells me, wow, you can break this thing so easily.

But it's like, why? Even though it's so big.

Gavial, how's the axe I made you? Handy?

Yeah. Honestly, even more handy than I thought. I like it a lot.

I stayed for days straight making it for you, and the materials are all the best I could get too.

What? C'mon, you should've said so sooner. I'm embarrassing myself here.

I'm telling you because I want you to understand—I don't need you to thank me for making these things for you.

Because—

Because Gavial's Gavial!

What the hell does that mean?

Something very simple—

Your fists are bigger than you think, Gavial.

Because you have me.

And me!

And the Rhodes Islanders, and all the people you've saved, and everyone in Acahualla too.

Because in the end, you're right, Gavial.

Ultimately, all those guys you beat into submission are willing to recognize you, because they realize that in the end, you're right.

Gavial, you believe in the right things. You've never gone wrong.

We all believe in you, Gavial.

So, our fists are your fists.

And you can keep on believing in your fists.

All you've gotta do is charge ahead, Gavial! We'll help you out!

You guys...

Oh, but, but—

Zumama, next time you make equipment for Gavial, I want to help too!

I can do it myself.

No, it's unfair only having a Zumama charm! I want to draw on my... my dreamcatcher! And the 'Gavial's Will' mark! And, and...

Uh, no can do, Tomimi, that's too much.

*wail* I'll only draw three!

If you don't let me draw anything, your tail will turn thick!

No putting curses on my tail!

*whimper* Gavial, please don't bonk my head...

Standing by Avdotya, Inam can sense that this Lupo woman to her side is having a somewhat hard time believing her eyes.

But to herself, it's a trivial, banal thing.

She lets out a small sigh.

She knows that finally, she's come to a decision too.

And on that note, I have a better proposal.

Inam?

I'll serve as Acahualla's lord ameer.

Huh?

I've hung around with you as a government Messenger for all these years. I have the right to stand for lord ameer.

I just didn't want to before, that's all.

Seeing as we'd have to force Tomimi back from Rhodes Island, whereas I've been in Acahualla the whole time, I'd make a tidier fit for lord ameer, wouldn't I?

And I imagine that better assuages your concerns, Avdotya.

Yes, it does, but I have to say, you people really boggle my mind...

They're... no, we're just a couple of fools living in the rainforest.

Inam, are you really sure about this?

Well, this way, you won't need to leave Gavial, will you?

Gavial, I have this feeling we'll be fine friends, won't we?

Hahaha, of course we will!

If you insist, then hell, go right on ahead!

Now I see. All else aside, you've definitely persuaded me. I'll make good on my commitment.

However, Gavial, don't get carried away yet.

An entire city's worth of people are headed for the surface. There's no precedent for something like this in all of Durin history.

It's something the entire city has to decide on, and if the people ultimately dissent, then we're out of luck.

Which is exactly why we need you to talk 'em over.

Not a worry. I made you my promise. I'll do all I can.

Haha. Thanks.

(Under breath) Honestly, I should be thanking you on behalf of all of Zeruertza.

Huh? What did you say?

I said, I need to return and make some preparations.