Chapter 41: The Tough Guy
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Robin emerged from meditation and smoothly drew his gun.
Once he left his meditative state, it became difficult for him to communicate with the machines. He could speak only with those nearby and unobstructed, so this was now a test of Robin’s own abilities.
To deal with poison gas, one needed at least to cover the nose and mouth with a towel. But the man had moved too quickly. In the few moments Robin had spent exchanging words in his meditative state, the intruder had already taken down everyone else in the basement. Robin had not had time to make any preparations.
He had never expected this safe house to be breached so easily.
Click...
Just then, a pill was tossed through the gap beneath the door.
Robin held his breath. Before the pill could burst into a cloud of gray vapor, he decisively aimed his gun at the door.
Bang, bang, bang...
Bullets from the steam pistol tore through the wooden door in a frenzy.
One round after another pierced the wood, attacking the enemy outside.
Robin knew the man was short, so he had deliberately angled the muzzle downward.
“Hm?”
The man gave a soft exclamation, inadvertently revealing his position.
Robin tightened his grip on the pistol, his eyes fixed on the holes punched through the door.
Damn it. Did I hit him or not?
He’s incredibly fast. After I fired, I didn’t even catch a glimpse of him.
The man had thrown the pill at an angle. In other words, he had not been standing directly behind the door, but pressed against the wall. Robin’s shots had been partly a gamble.
The vapor gradually spread through the room.
Robin’s expression turned grim.
How long can I hold my breath? I have no idea how lethal this gray vapor is!
Bang!
At that moment, Robin’s door was suddenly kicked open.
His finger had remained on the trigger, and there were still bullets in the gun.
Bang, bang, bang...
The instant the man kicked the door open, he vanished. Every one of Robin’s bullets struck empty air!
The man was simply too fast. Robin could not even track him.
Put plainly, pulling the trigger took time, and reacting after seeing someone took time as well. Robin’s attributes were still far too low.
Swish!
A short figure appeared soundlessly in the doorway and lunged toward Robin.
He wore a black bodysuit and a mask that left only his eyes exposed.
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Robin swung the muzzle around and tried to fire again, only to see the man raise a hand and slip a finger directly into the trigger guard.
Robin’s pupils contracted.
Too fast!
His other hand instinctively slashed at the man with a fruit knife, but the man gave a hard tug. Robin stumbled, and the gun was stripped from his hand. The knife in his other hand was taken as well.
Bang!
By the time Robin reacted, his face had already slammed into the wall of the corridor, while both his hands were locked in place by the man’s iron grip.
In the briefest exchange, he had captured Robin alive.
Robin thought, We’ve come face-to-face and exchanged blows. I already have his information. First, I need to determine whose side he is on.
I can’t resist him by force for now, but he didn’t kill me immediately. That means there’s room for negotiation.
If he has killed the others, I’ll find a way to survive first, then avenge them by killing him!
Robin decisively opened the intelligence system.
The battle had been a matter of split seconds, and he had not had time to look before.
After all, the King of War system was strategic in nature, not a combat-assistance system.
[Damien Ritchie]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 49]
[Strength: C+]
[Agility: B-]
[An underling of Grand Duke Benito Andrea, in charge of the intelligence network. A top-tier transcendent. Cautious, somewhat chuunibyou, somewhat narcissistic, and somewhat talkative. He admires talented people. He dislikes discussing matters concerning his height.]
[Weakness Analysis: His combat ability decreases when fighting under sunlight. The stronger the sunlight, the weaker he becomes. Of course, even with this reduction, one should not lightly attempt to fight him under the sun. He particularly despises homosexuals, believing homosexuality to be a betrayal of the Earth Mother. He once casually killed a homosexual couple while carrying out a mission, nearly causing the mission to fail.]
This was the second person Robin had encountered whose attributes had reached B-.
Damien—the Grand Duke’s intelligence chief—was a core figure!
Wait. Was he one of us?
Was he the person who had contacted me before?
He had been with the Black Mountain Army just moments ago, and now he was here?
No wonder he had found this place so easily. No wonder he had slipped inside without making a sound.
I thought I had been careless earlier and was followed, or that the enemy had somehow discovered this place.
Damn it, is this man sick?
You’re my superior. What was the point of coming here like this?
“Hey, Robin Rommel, you’re as good as dead.” Damien gave a sinister chuckle. “As long as you’re willing to surrender and join Marquis Hyde’s army, everything you did on the battlefield, your escape from the hospital, and all those soldiers you killed can be treated as though they never happened.”
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“What about the others? What did you do to them?” Robin did not answer his question, instead throwing out one of his own.
So this is the game you want to play with me? Fine. I’m not afraid.
“The others? I was able to reach your room, and no one came to help even after you opened fire. You still have the nerve to ask such a foolish question? I’ve already dealt with them.” Damien’s voice was cold. “If you refuse to surrender, you’ll be the next to die!”
“Surrender?” Robin laughed. “The bearer of the Silver Wing Medal, a war hero, surrender to Marquis Hyde?”
“Is this your way of trying to undermine the morale of the Black Mountain Army?”
“Dream on!”
“I, Robin Rommel, have a blood debt with all of you!”
“If you have the nerve, kill me right now. Don’t give me the slightest chance, or I’ll make you regret ever coming into this world!”
“Ah...”
Robin cried out in pain as Damien bent back one of his fingernails.
“If you refuse to surrender, I’ll tear off your fingernails one by one and force you to eat them. I know hundreds of tortures like that.”
“Hahahahahaha...” Robin burst into laughter. “Go ahead! Try it! Joining the Black Mountain Army was an accident, but the comrades who took bullets for me and those who died for my sake—I won’t let their deaths be in vain!”
“Come on. Let me see what you can do!”
Damien nodded inwardly.
As expected, he was a tough one. No wonder he had been awarded the Silver Wing Medal.
This should be enough. It would be troublesome if I actually injured him.
With that thought, Damien released Robin.
The moment Robin broke free, he spun around and brought the edge of his hand down toward Damien.
Smack!
Damien easily blocked the strike, then took out an identification document.
“Look carefully.”
With one hand, Damien effortlessly subdued Robin once more.
Robin struggled in vain, and only then turned his attention to the document.
“Damien?” Robin stared at the identification, looking somewhat bewildered. “The Black Mountain Army?”
“I’m your superior.” Damien raised the corners of his mouth. “You’re the only one who noticed I had arrived, and the only one capable of putting up any effective resistance.”
“Kid, you’re pretty good.”
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