Chapter 4: Zoldaad: Rebels, Castle Keys & Lazarov

How do you enter the Rebel Hideout?

Finish the capital’s marked information gathering and meet Jake in the alley by the Imperial Hotel. The underground route then leads to the hideout. Hear the plan and rest before setting out for Weapons Factory. Entering the city is not, by itself, the condition for opening the castle route.

The factory walkthrough covers its three bridge sections and rotating intersections. Its local controls move walkways; its large pedestals complete the central crossing. The first two Ignis meetings are story events. The winnable third battle follows Lasswell’s barrier-removal scene.

Why doesn’t the prison key open the throne room?

The Dungeon Key and Throne Room Key are different items. After the factory victory, return to the hideout and speak to Jake in his room. Reenter the tunnel and use the gate that was locked on the earlier visit. Follow the capture, escape and Amelia scenes into the dungeon route.

Defeat the guard near Shera for the Dungeon Key. Free the prince and open the cells needed for the upward route. On the castle’s upper floor, speak to the captain in his quarters to obtain the Throne Room Key; talking him down can resolve this without an extra fight.

If collecting the optional Hairpin of Grace, read the clue in the upstairs bookshelf before examining the painting left of the main staircase. The clue interaction and the main key objective are separate.

The emperor is not the chapter’s final fight

Bring Water for Emperor Sosa and his guards. After the throne-room scenes, continue upward toward the roof and the Wild Rose story events. The emperor’s defeat does not award the complete airship route immediately.

Follow Lid and Evan’s sequence, then board the Enterprise when directed to pursue the Invincible. The confrontation with Lazarov introduces experiments with different affinities. Earth on Lazarov does not mean Earth is correct for every target he summons.

What opens after Zoldaad?

Return to the capital and finish the closing conversations, then inspect the Enterprise outside town. Airship travel opens later sanctums and side quests. Camille begins a separate train investigation, Wilhelm follows Camille, and Legendary Arms have their own acquisition conditions. None is required before following the next Mysidia story objective.