One-Eyed Mercenary

Mass violence breaks out in Cutis. In response, the Imperial Army mobilizes a Machina to raze villages to the ground. This is Cutis's full crisis point, building directly on the frame-up from Chapter 6: with Duke Stellian now installed as governor and Arcia's Cutis Liberation Army still publicly blamed for "Bernstein's" death, the Empire uses the unrest as cover for outright destruction.

Draupnir Mond, judging that the Imperial Army's forces have been overcommitted elsewhere, decides this is the moment to deploy the Allied Forces and the Machina El Jenaro to liberate Cutis. Before setting out, the Allied Forces meet with Astania's High Pontiff, Rubens Heisenberg, to procure the Edillium needed to operate the airship; Astania also reports signs of internal Imperial conflict, which the Allied Forces see as an opportunity to move.

Upon arriving at Port Rios, the Paladin Order pushes ahead for May Plain instead of joining the Dagal Mercenary Corps. Arriving later, mercenary leader Landam Kelvins notices a man tailing him — the masked man moving through the chaos, traveling under the cover name "Kleiner." Landam persuades G.S and Cindy to rescue the Liberation Army prisoners first, and they head for a secret passage into Castle Cutis, ignoring a signal from the Allied Main Force to instead press on toward the rescue.

At the passage entrance, Cindy and G.S — suspicious of Kleiner all along — demand he reveal his true identity. He finally does: "Kleiner" is none other than Vincent Bernstein, believed dead since Chapter 6, working undercover this whole time to help G.S and Landam infiltrate Cutis Castle from the inside.

Deeper in, the captured Erica Myers and Marcia hold onto the hope that Arcia will come save them, watched over by Imperial soldiers — until the Dagal Mercenaries launch a surprise attack, defeat the guards, and free them along with the rest of the captured Resistance. In the process they reunite with Paladin comrade Kevin Hastings, believed dead. Pushing on to the hangar, the Mercenaries discover the Imperial Army has been mass-producing Asura Machina there, and destroy them all to keep the main Allied Forces safe from ambush.

As a cutaway during this same stretch, Crow and Riona — still in exile, hunting the Black Prince — are shown observing Cutis from afar, discussing the search between themselves. They come up empty; he isn't here. This thread doesn't intersect with the Castle Cutis operation on-screen.

With the Asura unable to move and the prisoners escaping, Duke Stellian is furious. The momentum lets the Allied Main Force reach Castle Cutis, but they struggle against archers on the castle walls — until the Dagal Mercenaries arrive, clear the walls, and join the Main Force in a pincer attack that finally brings the Imperial Army down, with Iyolin delivering the killing blow to Duke Stellian herself.

After the victory, the Allied Forces reprimand the Mercenaries for going off-script; Landam explains he was trying to rescue the prisoners all along, and the Paladin party, Kevin, Arcia, and the Resistance are all reunited. The chapter's title figure, the One-Eyed Mercenary, is Landam Kelvins — the Dagal mercenary captain and former Astanian Bishop Knight — who led the charge into the castle alongside G.S with Vincent's secret help clearing the way.