Strifer and the others had reached the outside when Zinadae spoke up. "You know, I didn't really like Zeid that much."

Tracy Lou nodded. "Yeah, he was a regular meanie-weanie! Talking bad about the other races when we're right in front of him! That makes my blood boil-woil!"

Garek nodded. "He was a rude brute! That is for certain!"

Deaths Blessing looked over at the others while they continued on to Bastok. "Zeid… well, he… he has always been like that, since the day I met him. Why he trained me to be a Dark Knight, I will never know… perhaps he saw something in me that nobody else did."

Nenye was reflecting back on the events she had just heard. "Its strange, I never knew that Volker and Zeid beat the Shadow Lord together… I didn't know either one of them had beat him at all!"

Garek chuckled. "Someone had to beat the Shadow Lord, did they not?"

Strifer, who was well ahead of the others, listened to the conversation they were having and just boldly said. "Well now we know that Volker isn't the one who actually beat the Shadow Lord, it was Zeid. The sooner we get back to Bastok and tell Volker about this, the sooner it can all be resolved.

Deaths Blessing stepped up. "Zeid knows that Volker won't step down as leader of the Mythril Musketeers! There will be a fight, and what a fight it will be!"

Back in Bastok, Gumbah was having a fight of his own as he tried to convince the Galka of the Mines District that he was the Talekeeper. "Listen to me, my friends, it helps nothing when you are all in such an uproar as this! You all wish to visit Altepa Desert, do you not?"

All of the Galka in the Mines District cheered. "Yeah, let us through!" One of them said.

Gumbah, with a smirk on his face, simply said. "Hear me, Altepa Desert is nothing now… nothing but an empty desert. Let's say we let you all through Korrokola Tunnel. Then what? What would you all do over there? Revenge on the Antica? Perhaps, but what will it change? Nothing! It will only cost more lives of our people and I will not allow it!"

One of the Galka yelled at Gumbah out of the crowd. "Why are we listening to you? You're just a kid!"

Gumbah, with the moon pebble in hand, shouted. "I am not just a kid, I'm three hundred and sixty five years old, don't let my appearance fool you! However, I am also the Talekeeper!" He then thrust the moon pebble up above his head and the crowd cheered.

Povall was amongst those in the crowd and quickly turned and ran towards the exit of Bastok, but Iron Eater moved in front of him and blocked his exit. "You should be ashamed of yourself! Do you know what you've done to the Galka! Do you know what you have caused?" He was about to back hand Povall with his massive hand, but suddenly lowered it when he realized that he was letting his rage get the best of him. He then stepped aside and pointed to the gate. "Go now and never return here!" The scared Povall nodded and quickly made his way for the gate.

It was then that Strifer and the others had returned through Korrokola Tunnel. They saw the crowd of Galka by Zeruhn Mines dispersing and Deaths Blessing knew that Gumbah must have talked some sense into them. Gumbah was walking down the steep hill in which he stood upon to give his speech and then Deaths Blessing shouted to him. "Way to go, Gumbah, you've done it!"

Gumbah smiled. "Yeah, it was nothing. Just took a little Talekeeper magic to convince them."

Ayame, Naji, and Iron Eater walked up to Strifer. "Did you get the information?" Iron Eater asked.

Strifer nodded. "Yes, we did, but Zeid wanted us to give it to Volker personally. He said that he only wanted Volker to hear it, not anyone else."

Iron Eater was surprised. "So, you saw him then." He was then compelled to think on the matter a bit more. "Very well, if you wish to see Volker, I will arrange a meeting in the Metalworks."

Iron Eater turned and made his way to the Metalworks, followed by Ayame and Naji who saluted Strifer before they left. Gumbah was shocked to hear about Zeid too. "What's Zeid like? I knew him a while ago, but some say he has changed for the worse! They say he is more bitter than ever before."

Nenye crossed her arms. "Well, I think they were right! He insulted me, and my family; he also thinks that Deaths Blessing is a disgrace to Dark Knights just because he chooses to travel with us!"

Gumbah was shocked. "I suppose, then, that Zeid isn't the same Galka that I knew long ago." Gumbah hung his head low for a minute and then suddenly it popped right back up. "You should get to the Metalworks, the Mythril Musketeers work fast, and Volker is probably already waiting for you."

Strifer and the other nodded and then saluted Gumbah. "Good luck Gumbah, see you around!" said Deaths Blessing.

They all made their way through the busy and bustling streets of Bastok and after reaching the Metalworks, they were greeted by Naji. "Hello again, my friends. Volker is inside the conference room waiting for you."

Strifer and the others entered the congress room and a man in a Bronze Harness with a sword in one hand, had his back to them looking at maps on the wall. "So, what is it you want to talk about with me?" He turned around to reveal a man with a scar on his face and a white headband around his head, not to mention his silver stained boots as well as dark brown hair and beard. "Iron Eater has told me that Zeid has given you some information that he wishes to be kept between the two of us."

Strifer saluted him. "Yes sir! He simply said…" nervousness in his voice. "…That twenty years ago, when the Shadow Lord was defeated, that it was Zeid that had defeated him, but you took all the credit. He also told me that your uncle was responsible for the death of Raogrimm and that these actions are seldom forgiven. However, he is willing to forgive you if you step down from the position of leader of the Mythril Musketeers. That's all he said."

Volker was astounded by this atrocity accused against him. "How dare he threaten me with simple mistakes that happened in the past! He knows I would never step down from my position! What is he trying to pull?"

Deaths Blessing stepped forward. "If I may, Volker. I believe that Zeid knew you wouldn't step down from leader of the Mythril Musketeers. I believe that he knows that you will track him down, and when you do, he'll have a trap waiting."

Volker thought on this matter hard. "I know Zeid, he wouldn't set a trap for me. He wants to meet at the sight of my injustice done to him, I am sure of it!"

Strifer was confused. "Where would that be, sir?"

Volker had his back to the others and turned after a few seconds. "He wants to meet me at Castle Zvhal, the place where the Shadow Lord was defeated." He started walking towards the door. "However, he may have changed over the years, I am not sure, so I want you six to go there before me, make sure it's safe."

Zinadae was quite angered at this request. "You want us to be bait for you? What kind of leader are you anyway?"

Deaths Blessing waved his hand, motioning for Zinadae to be quiet and then looked towards Volker. "We'll do it. Just tell us where to go!"