Decarboxylation under acid, water, and extreme heat
Yes, your analysis is correct. This is a common sequence in the malonate synthesis of carboxylic acids and acetoacetate synthesis of methyl ketones. After taking advantage of the acidic, doubly alpha-proton and using the resulting enolate as a nucleophile, the ester(s) are hydrolyzed with acid. A carboxylic acid with a carbonyl in the beta-position can be thermally decarboxylated to give an enol, which typically tautomerizes to the keto form.