Sooga sliced open one of the doors to the arena. He then turned to another Yiga. "Armitage. Take a team to the Manhandla garden and do what we should have done when the Viper was killed. Dispose of his Manhandlas."

"Even in death, the Viper manages to be worse than worthless," Armitage grumbled. "And we don't even have any Gale Boomerangs to deal with the Manhandlas."

"You need a Gale Boomerang? I have one," Kronya volunteered. "Point me to the Manhandlas, I'll take care of them for you."

"I'll go too," Cyril said. "I'm good enough with Revali's Gale to keep us safe from the poison."

Armitage didn't argue. "This way." Kronya, Cyril, and several Yiga followed him.

"Everyone else, search for Astor and Wizzro. If you find them, dispose of them," Sooga ordered.

Flayn, Mercedes, and Caspar ended up searching in an upstairs section of the lair alongside a pair of Yiga agents. There they found a few Poes, which they dispatched easily, and a few dead Yiga.

"They're nearby," Flayn said. "I can sense them."

"I think you're right," Mercedes agreed. "There's a sense of darkness here. And not the harmless kind, like Hubert."

"But...this is the crèche!" one of the Yiga exclaimed. "That means...they're going after the children!"

The five of them rounded a corner and saw Astor and Wizzro, who had tied up several children in a room, and placed a large bomb in the center of the room.

"Don't come any closer," Astor said. "The bomb is set to go off if either of us die, and you won't be able to disable it before we escape."

"Hiding behind children? You cowards!" Caspar shouted angrily.

"Cowardly or not, all that matters is it works," Wizzro said.

"Here's what's going to happen," Astor said. "You will let us go, or the children die."

Flayn stared daggers at the two of them. "Go."

One of the Yiga reluctantly spoke into a small item. "The targets have a bomb in the crèche. It's got a deadman's switch. Don't engage them until we can disarm it."

Astor and Wizzro began preparing a portal. It took several minutes, but eventually they opened it, went through, and closed it behind them.

And then the bomb started beeping.

"Can you stop it?" Flayn asked.

"No!" The Yiga both said.

"Then help me untie these kids!" Flayn shouted, as the bomb started beeping faster.

Caspar formed Daruk's Protection around the bomb. Mercedes then also surrounded the bomb with a sphere of solid light. Not long after they did so, the bomb exploded.

Their shield just barely held the explosion.

The children looked at Caspar and Mercedes gratefully. "They saved us!" one said.

After the Yiga had gathered once more and the situation had been explained to the Clan, Sooga addressed Link. "Your companions saved several of the Clan's children. We are in your debt. Moreover, Astor, Wizzro, and Ganon must pay for this insult. You may have the Thunder Helm and our prisoners back, and the Yiga will assist you against Calamity Ganon. However, we will not commit to swearing allegiance to the royal family once more."

"Why not?" Link asked.

"Because I am not convinced that the royal family is deserving," Sooga said. "You defeated Master Kohga and six of his best assassins, and had you faced me you might also have defeated me. You have proven your strength; the Yiga will honor your strength by fighting alongside you against Calamity Ganon's forces. But the Princess might not be worthy, and even if she is, her descendants might not be. Moreover, the Yiga will not disarm. We refuse to give up our strength for anyone."

"If I may ask," Hapi said, "why are you hung up on honor? The Yiga aren't some noble order. You're terrorists and assassins."

"The strong are deserving of honor," Sooga said. "Master Kohga wanted you eliminated, but he did not have the strength to make it happen. I will honor your strength by aiding you. Likewise, the royals who tried to disarm us in years past were undeserving of honor. They knew they had not the strength to command us, so they sought to weaken us."

Hapi shrugged. "Well, at least that's an honest definition of honor, even if it's not the traditional one."

Ashe frowned. "It's a poor definition of honor. Honor is about fidelity, virtue, protecting the weak. Not...this."

"Define honor as you will," Sooga said. "But your definition means nothing without the strength to uphold it. Regardless, when you bring the fight to Ganon, the Yiga will stand with you."

As the Company left, the Yiga with the burned face confronted them. "The attack on our children must be avenged, so we will fight Calamity Ganon with you. But we will not forget Master Kohga. When this is done, Hero, always sleep with one eye open."

The Company retrieved the Gerudo scouts the Yiga had taken prisoner, and began making their way to the entrance to Karusa Valley. "That went better than it had any right to," Yuri commented.

"Seems like some of the Yiga are likely to hold a grudge," Leonie said.

"That's a problem for later," Link said. "For now, let's get this helmet back to Chieftain Riju and deal with Naboris."