The evening sun had almost disappeared behind the hills.
Saito and the Blue Scarf crew followed the narrow dirt path leading uphill.
The village slowly faded behind them.
Trees grew denser.
The air became quieter.
Saito glanced at the woman walking a few steps ahead.
"So..."
"Are we close?"
The woman didn't even turn around.
"Three hundred feet ahead."
Everyone looked up.
At the top of the hill stood a lone wooden house.
Smoke drifted lazily from its chimney.
It looked ordinary.
Too ordinary.
Rin narrowed his eyes.
"So..."
"That's where your leader is?"
The woman nodded.
"Yes."
She immediately stopped walking.
"Can I leave now?"
Saito looked at her.
"Why are you in such a rush?"
He smiled slightly.
"Shouldn't you be happy?"
"You just brought us to your leader."
The woman rolled her eyes.
"You think I enjoy this?"
"I already gave you what you wanted."
Bomb crossed his arms.
"So what's the hurry?"
The woman's expression became much more serious.
"I only work..."
"...to feed my younger brother."
The crew fell silent.
Saito blinked.
"Oh..."
"I see."
The woman looked away.
"Our parents died years ago."
"So I'm all he's got."
"If I don't take contracts..."
"...he doesn't eat."
Fanny lowered her head.
"...That's rough."
Alya quietly looked at the woman.
"So becoming an assassin wasn't your dream."
The woman gave a small laugh.
"Dream?"
"People like me don't get dreams."
"We get bills."
"We get hungry."
"And we survive."
Rin looked at her for a moment before resting his scythe on his shoulder.
"...You're different from the Noctarions."
She nodded.
"They kill because they're ordered to."
"My company kills because someone pays."
"Neither is something to be proud of."
Saito remained quiet.
Then he reached into his pocket and took out a small pouch of coins.
He tossed it to her.
She caught it instinctively.
"...What's this?"
"Payment."
She frowned.
"I didn't do this for money from you."
Saito smiled.
"I know."
"It's for your brother."
The woman stared at the pouch in silence.
"..."
Finally, she looked up.
"...You're a strange gangster."
Bomb laughed.
"You'll hear that a lot."
A small smile appeared on the woman's face for the first time.
"...Thanks."
She tucked the pouch away.
"Be careful."
"My leader isn't someone who likes visitors."
With those words, she turned and hurried back down the hill, leaving the Blue Scarf crew alone before the quiet house waiting at the summit.
Inside the house...
A massive man stood in the center of the room.
A gigantic crimson sword rested against his shoulder.
The blade was almost as tall as he was, thick and heavy enough to crush stone with a single swing.
Several assassins stood around him, waiting for orders.
The leader glanced toward the door.
"...Where is Cici?"
"She was supposed to bring them here."
One assassin bowed slightly.
"Maybe she'll arrive in a minute, sir."
The leader frowned.
"I don't have a minute."
He gripped the hilt of his enormous sword.
"We must kill him."
"If we fail..."
"...our company will be destroyed."
The assassin swallowed.
"...Yes, sir."
Just then—
Creak...
The front door slowly opened.
Everyone inside turned.
Standing at the entrance were—
Saito.
Rin.
Bomb.
Alya.
And Fanny.
The room fell silent.
The leader slowly smiled.
"...Oh."
"It looks like Cici succeeded."
Saito stepped into the room.
He calmly looked around at the assassins gathered inside.
Then his eyes stopped on the enormous red sword.
"So..."
"You're the leader."
The man rested the heavy blade on his shoulder.
"I am."
"And you're..."
"Blue Scarf."
Saito nodded.
"That's right."
The leader chuckled.
"I expected someone older."
"But..."
He glanced at the golden sword hanging from Saito's waist.
"I can see why the Noctarions want you dead."
Bomb quietly counted the enemies.
"...Captain."
"About fifteen."
Rin smirked.
"Not too bad."
Alya looked at her device.
"They all have strong auris."
Fanny clenched her fists.
"So..."
"We're fighting?"
The leader suddenly raised one hand.
"Wait."
The assassins immediately stopped moving.
He looked directly at Saito.
"I have one question before we start."
"Why did the Noctarions put such a ridiculous price on your head?"
Saito smiled faintly.
"You should ask them."
"Because..."
"I've been wondering the same thing."
The massive man slowly lifted his crimson greatsword.
Its weight alone made the wooden floor creak.
He looked directly at Saito.
"My name..."
"...is Frox."
He rested the blade on his shoulder.
"You should remember that..."
"...after I kill you."
Without another word—
Boom!
Frox exploded forward.
The heavy sword came crashing down.
Saito reacted instantly.
Clang!
He raised his own sword just in time.
The impact shook the entire house.
Wood splintered beneath Saito's feet as he slid backward.
"...Strong."
Saito muttered.
Frox grinned.
"You're still alive."
"Good."
At the same moment—
Frox's assassins charged.
"Kill them!"
More than a dozen rushed toward the Blue Scarf crew from every direction.
Alya calmly pressed a button on her device.
Click.
A pulse of compressed auris burst outward.
BOOM!
A powerful shockwave swept through the room.
Several assassins were thrown off their feet and smashed into the walls.
Others dug their boots into the floor, enduring the blast before immediately lunging again.
"They're still coming!"
Bomb shouted.
Fanny didn't wait.
She rushed straight into them.
Her Beastman strength exploded.
Bang!
One punch folded an assassin over.
Before he hit the ground—
Wham!
Her spinning kick sent another crashing through a wooden table.
A third tried attacking from behind.
Fanny caught his wrist.
Twisted it.
Then drove her elbow into his chest.
Crack!
The assassin collapsed.
Rin spun his scythe beside her.
"Heh..."
"Leave some for me."
The curved blade flashed.
Two assassins immediately backed away rather than meet it head-on.
Meanwhile—
Frox continued pressing Saito.
Each swing of the crimson greatsword carried enough force to split the floorboards apart.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Saito blocked one strike after another, his arms numbing from the sheer weight behind every blow.
Frox laughed.
"So..."
"This is Blue Scarf?"
"I expected more."
Saito pushed the greatsword away.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You've only seen..."
"...the beginning."
Saito took a step back.
He drew in a deep breath.
His sword became coated in flowing auris.
"...Wind Knives."
With a swift swing—
Whoosh!
Nothing could be seen.
No blade.
No projectile.
Only the sound of cutting air.
Frox's eyes narrowed.
Then—
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
Thin cuts appeared across his arms, chest, and shoulder.
His coat was sliced in several places.
Tiny drops of blood hit the floor.
Frox looked down at the wounds.
Then back at Saito.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"...Good move."
"So your attacks don't always need to be seen."
He rolled his shoulder.
"I like that."
He gripped his crimson greatsword tighter.
"But..."
"It won't be enough."
He charged again.
Across the room...
Rin moved like a shadow.
His scythe spun around him in smooth circles.
Slash!
One assassin's sword was knocked away.
Before the man could react—
Thud!
Rin struck the back of his neck with the shaft of the scythe, dropping him instantly.
Another assassin lunged from the side.
Rin ducked beneath the blade.
His scythe curved upward.
Slash!
The assassin cried out as the weapon cut across his arm, forcing him to retreat.
Rin smirked.
"You guys really need better training."
Not far away...
Bomb preferred a much louder approach.
He caught an assassin by the collar.
Punch!
The man stumbled backward.
Bomb casually slapped a small sticker onto the assassin's shirt.
"Present for you."
The confused assassin looked down.
"...Huh?"
Bomb had already moved to the next target.
He punched another one in the stomach.
Thump!
Another bomb sticker found its place.
Then another.
And another.
Soon, four assassins were unknowingly carrying the tiny explosives.
Bomb stepped back.
He dusted off his hands.
Then smiled.
"Time for the fireworks."
He brought his palms together.
Clap!
BOOM!
The bomb stickers detonated simultaneously.
Four explosions erupted throughout the room.
Smoke filled the air as the assassins were blasted off their feet.
Bomb laughed.
"Never gets old."