Chapter 311: Extracting the Bullet
At that moment, a small figure standing on a nearby rooftop tilted her head.
"Hmm? Strange." Jenny looked down at Hit-Girl and Big Daddy in the alley, as well as the injured woman they were helping.
"What is it, Jenny?" Daredevil asked, his head turning slightly toward the commotion.
"There's a weird kid down there," Jenny said, referring to Hit-Girl. She sensed that while the girl was skilled, she didn't seem to possess any superhuman abilities.
"Yes, it is a bit unusual," Matt replied. Through his heightened hearing, he could 'see' the three figures below perfectly. Since the strangers had already rescued the woman, there was no need for them to intervene.
"Let's go, Jenny," Matt said, patting her shoulder.
"I want to follow them and see," Jenny said, her curiosity piqued by Hit-Girl.
Matt hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. "Alright. Just remember to come back early."
About a month ago, Matt and Jenny had started operating separately to cover more ground and combat crime more efficiently. After a few more words of caution, Matt swung away using his billy club, disappearing into the night.
"Chirp chirp~" A palm-sized Shadow Ninja Eater hopped out from the shadows beside Jenny.
"Alright, shh~ Little Nine, be quiet. We're going to follow them secretly." Jenny scooped up the little creature and began leaping agilely between the rooftops.
The Temporary Base
Damon and Mindy knew they couldn't take a wounded stranger back to their actual home. Even if the woman was in critical condition, bringing an unknown variable into their personal space was too risky. Instead, Damon led Rei to their temporary safehouse—a hideout used for resting and resupply.
Damon flicked on the lights, allowing everyone to see each other clearly. Rei was a beautiful woman, her black leather outfit hugging a fit physique, but her right arm was soaked in blood. Damon quickly grabbed medical supplies and handed them to Mindy, who approached Rei.
"Who are you?" Rei asked, looking at the oddly dressed pair. A grown man and a girl who looked like she wasn't even an adult—it was a bizarre duo.
"Let's re-introduce ourselves. I'm Hit-Girl, and he's Big Daddy. Our mission is to take down criminals," Mindy said.
Rei nodded thoughtfully. "I am Rei Ryougi. You can call me Rei."
"Rei? Are you from China?" Mindy asked. To many Westerners, China was the first thought when seeing an Asian face.
"No, I am Japanese," Rei corrected.
"Why are you here, and why were those thugs hunting you?" Mindy asked, pulling out a tactical knife.
Rei glanced at the blade. "I killed one of their people. They won't let it go."
"I need to cut open your sleeve to get to the wound. Do you mind?" Mindy asked.
"Go ahead," Rei replied. She watched the young girl curiously. Is a child really going to treat my wound?
With Rei's permission, Mindy sliced away the leather of the right sleeve, revealing the mangled flesh where the bullet had entered. The wound was jagged and ugly, a grim reminder of how close Rei had come to death.
"5.8mm. You're lucky," Mindy observed. "Any larger and you would've lost the arm, or your life."
Getting hit by a bullet was no joke. If it had been a 7.62mm round, the exit wound would have been devastating, likely ending her life on the spot. Even with this smaller caliber, Rei's arm was numb and useless.
"I have to get the bullet out," Mindy said, disinfecting the knife with alcohol. "Do you need a towel?"
"Please," Rei nodded, knowing the pain would be unbearable.
Damon tossed Rei a fresh towel. "Just bought it today. Was going to use it for the shower."
"Thanks." Rei took it with her left hand and bit down hard on it. "I'm ready."
Mindy didn't hesitate. There was no anesthesia here, and the wound couldn't wait.
"Mmmph!" As the blade entered the wound, a sharp, searing pain shot through Rei's body. Beads of cold sweat immediately broke out on her forehead.
The Departure
"That looks scary, Little Nine," Jenny whispered from the shadows of the safehouse, her bright eyes watching the scene.
"Chirp~" Little Nine squeaked softly.
Finally, after ten agonizing minutes, the crude surgery was finished. Mindy wrapped the arm in gauze to stop the bleeding.
"Thank you," Rei said, standing up and bowing deeply to the duo.
"It's what we do," Mindy replied, shaking her head.
During the process, Rei had shared bits of her story. Damon felt a spark of sympathy; he understood a life driven by vengeance. Before becoming Big Daddy, he was a cop who came to believe that only violence could truly stop criminals. This belief led him to train Mindy into the lethal weapon she was today.
"Now that you've had your revenge, you should leave the country. New York is dangerous right now," Damon warned. Between Kingpin's movements and the general unrest in Hell's Kitchen, it was no place for a wounded loner.
"I understand," Rei nodded. With her father avenged, she planned to return to Japan to run her family's kendo dojo—inheriting her father's legacy.
Mindy felt a bit of regret; she had actually hoped Rei might join their crusade.
"Goodbye. If you ever find yourselves in Japan, you are welcome at my dojo." Rei reached back, unstrapped her katana, and handed it to Mindy. "You seem to like this. It was my father's. It's yours now."
"You're giving it to me?" Mindy asked, stunned. To a swordsman, a blade was their life.
"You saved my life. The sword has no life without its master," Rei said simply.
"Thank you!" Mindy beamed as she accepted the gift. Even Damon felt a lift in his spirits seeing his daughter's joy.
After another round of thanks, Rei turned and left the safehouse.
"Maybe you should wait until morning?" Mindy called out.
"No, I have a flight tonight. Goodbye," Rei replied without looking back.
In the shadows, Jenny blinked and dove into the Shadow Kingdom with Little Nine. The show was over, and it was time to go home. However, as Rei walked toward the street, another figure appeared silently behind her.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!