Chapter 7: A New Friend

Bero attends a busy Clanless Future Movement gathering at the Little Persimmon, reflecting on how the Double Double attack grew interest but increased risk. Despite leadership urging caution, Bero and Tadino still conduct sporadic vandalism against clan businesses, believing small strikes erode Green Bone authority.

Guriho opens the meeting, condemning jade and the Green Bone system, and framing global violence as fueled by jade control. Bero tries to impress a young woman, Ema, with tales of his past jade and close calls, but she is skeptical and focuses on the speech.

As Guriho reads the movement’s manifesto, a foreigner interrupts, questioning what the CFM can realistically do against well-resourced clans. Tension rises when Tadino defends local etiquette, but the man defuses the moment by apologizing and introducing himself as Molovni, a Ygutanian sympathetic to their cause.

Molovni explains he came to learn about their struggle and suggests that ambitious goals may be possible with the right friends. His presence both legitimizes the CFM’s aspirations and hints at external involvement, leaving the group intrigued and cautious about the implications of foreign support.