Moran is "officially" accepted by the crew of the Sylvana, albeit in a most interesting manner.

Sophia presents the chance for Claus and Lavi to enter the 8-Hour Endurance Race at Horizon Cave. They accept the challenge, so long as the Sylvana mechanics will help them out. At the event, Al is allowed to "pick" the vanship that they must repair and fly for the race. Tatiana and Alistia, however, have a mission during the race. They need to hit a specific point in the race at a specific time. Tatiana expresses her dislike of "amateurs" i.e.: Claus and Lavi, but Alex shuts her up.

Dio and Luciora show up, because Dio is with his sister, Daphne. Dio shows an interest in Claus, who doesn't return the fascination. Dio informs Claus that he is there to fly in the race with him.

While the race is going on, Alex is at an auction to purchase something rare. It turns out to be an EXILE item, and Alex's opening bid on it, is 10,000,000 Claudia. This shocks the man sitting next to him, who just

As the Silvana and the Urbanus continue their search for Exile, Sophia briefs the vanship pilots on their strategy to capture it. Sophia asks Dio to fly as Claus's navigator, but he refuses from fear of being found again by Delphine. At Horizon Cave, Nestor proposes that the Claudia unit capture plan be accelerated after the Guild recalls several units, but Duke Mad-thane appeases him to wait for the scheduled operation on Covenant Day. On the final day of the Guild's Birth Week, Alvis surprises Dio with a birthday party, much to his delight. After days of searching, the Silvana and the Urbanus locate Exile, and Dio agrees to fly as Claus's navigator to assist in its capture. The Guild locates Dio on board the Silvana, and Delphine orders Lucciola's brother Cicada to retrieve him at all costs. As the vanship squadron attempts to anchor cables onto Exile, the ship's defense system activates, but it is able to complete their objective after identifying an unprotected section of the hull, with Dio's help. Alex hands Marius's Mysterion to Sophia and tells her to return to the Urbanus. Just before Claus and Dio return to the Silvana, Guild fighters land on the flight deck.

When Claus and Dio return to the Silvana, the crew is missing. When they go to search the bridge, they find that Delphine has captured Alvis and the ship. Tatiana and Alister sneak a transport carrying Sophia back to the Urbanus. Alex comes out of hiding to attack Delphine but is defeated by Cicada. Delphine takes Dio back to the Guild along with Claus, Alvis, and Alex, and orders that Exile be secured before they leave. On the Urbanus, Vincent promises Sophia that he will recapture the Silvana. When they return to the Guild, Dio is taken to prepare for the Rite of the Covenant. Delphine indulges in the world's rarest delicacies at dinner, causing Claus to become upset about her disregard of the hardships of the people of Anatoray and Disith. Dio is reunited with Claus and Alvis, but they find that his personality has changed and he no longer recognizes them as friends.