Inside his office—
Saito leaned back comfortably in his chair while looking around the desk.
No stacked documents.
No reports.
No requests.
No contracts.
The table was completely clean.
Saito blinked once.
"…Huh."
He slowly looked left and right again suspiciously.
"…No more paperwork?"
For the first time in a while—
Peace.
He leaned back further with relief.
"This is the life…"
BANG!
The office door suddenly slammed open.
"Saito!"
Takashi rushed inside quickly.
Saito immediately sighed loudly without even turning around.
"Come on…"
"More paperwork?"
Takashi shook his head immediately.
"No."
His expression stayed serious.
"We have a problem."
Saito straightened slightly.
"One of our farmers has been taken hostage outside the gate."
Silence.
Then—
Saito instantly stood up.
"…What?"
Takashi continued quickly.
"A group is waiting outside the village entrance right now."
Saito's chair slid backward loudly as he moved.
"Who did it?"
"We don't know yet."
Saito immediately grabbed his sword from beside the desk.
"Let's go."
Then rushed out of the office at full speed.
Saito rushed toward the village gate.
Several guards already surrounded the area while nervous villagers watched from a distance.
At the center—
Three rough-looking men held one of Lorum's farmers tightly.
The farmer's face looked pale with fear.
Kaito stood nearby with one hand resting near his knife.
"…Let him go."
One of the men laughed.
"We will."
"After your village pays us."
Saito walked forward slowly.
The air around him immediately became tense.
"…Who are you?"
"What are you doing in my village?"
The man holding the farmer smirked.
"Oh?"
"So you're the leader here?"
He straightened proudly.
"We're the Ash Rat Gang."
"We came to deliver a message."
Another member beside him spat onto the ground.
"Our leader wants this village to kneel beneath the Ash Rat Gang."
Saito's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Unfortunately."
"This territory already belongs to me."
The third man looked him up and down before laughing.
"Oh?"
"A rookie?"
The first man grinned wider.
"Don't tell me you seriously haven't heard of our leader."
"I'd prefer if you just followed our rules peacefully."
Saito slowly stepped closer.
His voice became colder.
"…I won't ask twice."
"Give back my farmer."
The man slowly shook his head.
"…No."
The moment the word left his mouth—
Kaito vanished.
One second he stood beside Saito.
The next—
He appeared directly behind the gangster.
THUD!
Kaito struck the back of the man's neck instantly.
The gangster's eyes rolled upward before he collapsed unconscious onto the dirt.
The other two men froze in shock.
"…W-What?!"
Saito sighed while rubbing his forehead slightly.
"…You could've waited two more seconds."
Kaito ignored him completely.
He grabbed the frightened farmer carefully before disappearing again.
Then reappeared behind Saito together with the farmer safely beside him.
The rescued farmer immediately stumbled backward toward the guards.
"T-Thank you sir Saito!"
The remaining two gangsters looked at their unconscious friend in panic.
"You'll pay for that!"
Suddenly—
Footsteps approached calmly from behind Saito.
Bomb.
"…Saito."
"Let me take care of them."
Saito glanced sideways at him briefly.
"…Sure."
Bomb stepped forward slowly.
The two gangsters looked at each other once before charging at him together.
"GET HIM!"
One swung a rusty blade.
The other lunged with a punch.
Bomb didn't even step back.
BAM!
His fist slammed directly into the first gangster's face.
The man spun sideways and crashed into the ground instantly.
Before the second could react—
Bomb grabbed his shirt.
Then punched him hard in the stomach.
The gangster coughed violently before collapsing to his knees gasping for air.
Several villagers watching nearby winced at the impact.
"…Damn…"
Bomb calmly cracked his knuckles.
The remaining conscious gangster quickly grabbed his unconscious friend in panic.
"This isn't over, rookie!"
Then both men hurriedly fled down the road as fast as possible.
Saito watched the two gangsters disappear down the road.
"…What is their problem…?"
The guards slowly relaxed while villagers began whispering nervously among themselves again.
Saito crossed his arms and looked toward Kaito and Bomb.
"You two know anything about the Ash Rat Gang?"
Kaito shook his head first.
"…Never heard of them."
Bomb also shook his head calmly.
"Same."
"They're probably a smaller group."
Saito frowned slightly.
"…A smaller group that suddenly wants my territory."
Takashi stepped closer from behind the guards.
"I've heard the name once before…"
Everyone looked at him.
Takashi adjusted his glasses slightly.
"But that's all."
"No real information."
Saito let out a tired sigh.
"…Great."
Another gang problem.
He rubbed the back of his neck before speaking again.
"…Looks like I need to invite Kuro."
Kaito smirked faintly.
"…Yeah."
"If it's about underground gangs…"
"…that old man probably knows everything."
Inside the office—
Kuro calmly lifted the teacup toward his mouth before taking another slow sip.
The room stayed quiet while Saito, Kaito, Bomb, and Takashi waited for him to speak.
Finally—
Kuro placed the cup down onto the table.
"…Ash Rat, huh."
He leaned back slightly.
"What I know…"
"…they control information around Jokun City."
Saito frowned slightly.
"Information?"
Kuro nodded.
"They deal in rumors, spying, blackmail, threats…"
"A reckless dirty-fight type of gang."
"They don't even have morals."
Bomb crossed his arms quietly while listening.
Kuro continued.
"Their leader's name is Joshua."
"…Another ruthless bastard."
"He only sees his subordinates as puppets."
Saito tilted his head slightly.
"…Are they strong?"
Kuro immediately answered.
"Nope."
The blunt answer made Kaito smirk faintly.
"But…"
Kuro narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…they're highly intelligent."
"If you ask me, that's what makes them dangerous."
Saito stayed quiet for a second.
Then looked down thoughtfully.
"…But why come after my village?"
Kuro stood up from the sofa and slowly walked toward the large map hanging on the wall.
He pointed toward the western territory.
"They control this side."
Then his finger slowly moved toward Lorum Village.
"And the closest major territory near them…"
"…is yours."
Saito looked at the map carefully.
Kuro folded his arms.
"I assume they want expansion."
Takashi sighed quietly.
"…So another territory war."
Saito cracked his neck lightly.
"…Well."
"Looks like another gang to beat up."
Kuro glanced toward him briefly.
Then his expression became slightly more serious.
"…Fair warning, Saito."
"He's connected to Metal Rod."
Saito blinked.
"…Metal?"
Kuro nodded slowly.
"Metal Rod."
"A group made of three major gangs that ruled Jokun City long ago."
The atmosphere in the room became heavier.
Kuro continued calmly.
"Every gangster and villager here knows that name."
"But…"
"…they went silent after the Jokun Empire fell four years ago."
Saito crossed his arms slowly.
"…I see."
"If we defeat one…"
"…the others come after us."
Kuro nodded once.
"Yes."
Then smirked faintly.
"…Although honestly?"
"They don't really care about each other."
Saito stayed quiet for a moment while staring at the map.
Then finally crossed his arms.
"…How about I just confront him directly?"
Kaito looked toward Kuro.
Bomb also stayed focused on his reaction.
Kuro rubbed his chin slightly before shrugging.
"…That might work."
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"But be careful."
"Joshua isn't the type that fights head-on."
"He prefers manipulation."
"Traps."
"Pressure."
Takashi sighed quietly.
"…Annoying type."
Kuro smirked faintly.
"Exactly."
He grabbed his coat from the sofa nearby before putting it on slowly.
"…Anyway."
"I'll be away from this city for a week."
Saito blinked.
"…Leaving already?"
Kuro walked toward the door casually.
"Every gangster needs a holiday sometimes."
Kaito snorted quietly.
"You call wandering around drunk a holiday."
Kuro pointed at him without looking back.
"And it's a fantastic lifestyle."
Saito laughed lightly before nodding.
"…Alright."
"Thanks, Kuro."
Kuro waved one hand lazily.
"…Don't mention it."