Chapter 92 — The Trap
The café was strangely quiet.
Despite being filled with some of the strongest players I had ever seen, nobody spoke loudly.
Some read books.
Others quietly discussed maps or dungeon routes.
Even Imperial officers sat beside National-level Pros without any sign of hostility.
It almost felt...
Neutral.
As if everyone understood an unwritten rule the moment they stepped inside.
While waiting for our order, Volt casually pulled out his communication device and began pressing several buttons.
I leaned closer.
"...What are you doing?"
Without looking up, he answered,
"Changing the plan."
"What plan?"
"The meeting place."
He continued typing.
"It's here now."
I frowned.
"...Again with this mysterious person."
"Who exactly are we even meeting?"
Volt only smirked.
"...You'll see."
"...I swear..."
"If you say that one more time..."
He simply laughed.
Across from us, Blaze quietly sipped the coffee the waitress had served.
As usual...
Nothing seemed capable of bothering him.
Meanwhile...
Something else caught my attention.
People were staring.
Not at me.
At Blaze.
I slowly looked around the café.
Several veteran players had subtly shifted their attention toward our table.
One National-level Pro paused halfway through drinking his coffee.
Another crossed his arms while quietly observing Blaze.
Even an Imperial officer sitting near the fireplace glanced at him more than once.
"..."
Did they sense something?
No...
Blaze wasn't releasing any aura.
He wasn't threatening anyone.
He was simply sitting there.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Almost ordinary.
Yet...
Every instinct I had told me that if Blaze actually fought...
There probably weren't many people in this café who could stop him.
Thankfully...
That wasn't his personality.
He avoided unnecessary fights.
If anything...
He always tried to avoid attention.
I smiled to myself.
This would probably be our last journey together.
Soon...
I'd return to the Resistance.
Blaze would continue traveling the New World.
Our paths would separate.
It's not like some massive event would force us to work together again...
...Right?
Just as I finished that thought—
THUNK!
A knife suddenly buried itself into our table.
I instinctively jumped backward.
"What?!"
Pinned beneath the blade...
Was a wanted poster.
Right across the center...
The words had been cut cleanly by the knife.
WANTED
STARLINK SNIPER
DEAD OR ALIVE
Silence filled the café.
Nearly everyone looked toward us.
I slowly lifted my head.
Standing beside our table...
Was a massive hooded figure.
An enormous battle axe rested across his back.
His face remained hidden beneath the hood.
Only his eyes were visible.
Cold.
Experienced.
The eyes of a veteran.
Volt stood up so quickly his chair nearly fell over.
"...You..."
Even Blaze quietly placed his coffee down.
The hooded hunter ignored them.
His gaze never left me.
Then he spoke.
His voice was deep.
Calm.
Certain.
"Starlink Sniper."
"You're coming with me."
I slowly stood.
"...Not happening."
The hunter didn't move.
Neither did the two hooded figures who had silently appeared behind him.
So he wasn't alone.
two bounty hunters.
Inside the café.
Around us, none of the powerful players interfered.
Some watched with curiosity.
Others simply continued drinking their coffee.
Almost as if...
They wanted to see how this would play out.
I tightened my grip beneath my cloak.
The hunter slowly reached toward his belt.
A strange crystal appeared in his hand.
Blaze's eyes narrowed.
"Ryze—"
CRACK!
The crystal shattered.
A blinding white light exploded between us.
"What the—?!"
The world twisted.
The café disappeared.
The floor vanished beneath my feet.
For a split second...
Everything became white.
Then—
BANG!
I landed hard on a cold concrete floor.
"Gah!"
I immediately rolled forward and drew my rifle.
The familiar weight steadied my breathing.
"...Teleportation..."
I groaned.
"...Why do bounty hunters always use teleportation skills?"
I quickly checked myself.
Rifle.
Still here.
Handgun.
Still on my waist.
Ammo.
Still intact.
Good.
I wasn't disarmed.
I slowly looked around.
A massive warehouse stretched in every direction.
Rusted metal containers.
Broken machinery.
Abandoned cargo.
Sunlight entered through shattered windows high above.
It looked completely deserted.
"...Where am I?"
A slow clap echoed across the warehouse.
I immediately aimed my rifle.
Across the room...
The same hooded hunter stood waiting.
Beside him...
Two more figures silently stepped out from behind stacks of cargo.
Three against one.
My heartbeat quickened.
"...Volt..."
"...Blaze..."
No answer.
The teleportation had separated us.
The hunter rested one hand on the handle of his enormous axe.
"You've got spirit."
"Good."
"I hate easy jobs."
I raised my rifle and aligned the scope directly with his head.
A smile slowly formed beneath my hood.
"You want to capture me?"
I pulled back the charging handle.
The metallic click echoed throughout the warehouse.
"...In your dreams."
For the first time...
The hooded hunter smiled back.
"Excellent."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Behind him...
The other two bounty hunters quietly spread out.
Beginning to surround me.
There was only one way out now.
Fight.