Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Blades clashed and bodies collided as two top-tier assassins fought fiercely in the open space of the gym.
With the duel restricted to katana techniques, Luca—whose swordsmanship was still rather poor—was no match for O-Ren Ishii.
He could only rely on his superior physical strength and stamina to keep up with his opponent.
O-Ren Ishii was also intentionally holding back. Her focus was on teaching rather than defeating him.
In the end, both of them were exhausted—drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.
The two silently agreed to a truce.
"You're improving quickly, Dove."
O-Ren Ishii sat cross-legged on the wooden floor and gave a solemn evaluation.
"In less than half a month, you've already mastered the basics."
"With your talent, if you practice diligently every day, you could become a master swordsman within three years."
Three years?
If I had enough skill points, I could become a sword god in three minutes.
Luca handed her a bottle of water.
"I should be thanking you for being such a patient and responsible teacher."
O-Ren Ishii twisted the bottle cap open with a faint smile.
"I started learning swordsmanship when I was five."
"My father was my teacher."
"He was stricter with me than anyone else."
Her early childhood experiences were unknown to Luca.
In the original story, she was merely portrayed as a vengeful girl with a few strokes of narrative.
It never mentioned that before becoming an assassin, she had once been a little girl with a happy family.
Experiences shape growth.
Flowers nurtured by hatred bloom beautifully—yet they are covered in thorns.
Luca recalled his own childhood.
Before the age of ten, he had never really been a normal child.
He had far too much contact with the Mafia.
His father and godfather were both members.
During holiday gatherings and parties, every guest in his house was Mafia.
His mother left when he was young, and his father wasn't particularly strict with him.
So Luca grew up as a street bully.
Walking sideways like a crab.
Arrogant. Domineering.
After his father died, Luca almost overnight put away his knife and hid it much deeper.
"My father took me to a shooting range," Luca said.
"When I was six years old, I fired a revolver and hit the target with my first shot."
"My father called me a sharpshooter."
O-Ren Ishii nodded.
"I didn't start practicing with guns until I was nine."
She paused.
"By the way… when did you kill someone for the first time?"
Luca replied calmly.
"Fourteen."
"I shot a man who was having an affair with another man's wife."
In the Mafia, the wives of family members are strictly off-limits.
Anyone caught violating that rule would be executed.
Many Italian men might behave like newlyweds every night, but there was still an iron rule:
Never sleep with your brother's wife.
Lefty was the most typical example.
Before Black Sonny was released from prison, Lefty visited Sonny's wife and mistress every week to take care of them.
Yet he never crossed the line.
Their relationship never went beyond friendship.
"I was earlier than you," O-Ren Ishii said calmly.
"I killed a Yakuza boss when I was eleven."
"With a samurai sword."
She didn't mention the reason at first.
Only adding quietly:
"I was three years ahead of you."
"Were you afraid?" Luca asked.
"I wasn't afraid."
"What about you?"
Luca shrugged.
"Shouldn't the one about to die be the one who's afraid?"
The two exchanged smiles.
But Luca suddenly stopped smiling.
"I killed that adulterer because he was sleeping with the wives of several family members."
"He kept talking about true love."
"And even that woman pleaded for him."
"But not a single family member stood up for him."
Dominic once asked him afterward:
Do you know what you did wrong?
The rules had existed long before that man was born.
He had nothing to say in response.
If it truly was love, his greatest regret should have been not hiding it better.
Because they discovered it.
Luca looked directly at O-Ren Ishii.
"You were only eleven and dared to assassinate a Yakuza boss."
"There must have been a reason."
"I'm willing to bet it wasn't for money."
"I just want to say—"
"You did the right thing."
"And you did it beautifully."
"You made that Yakuza boss pay for his mistakes."
O-Ren Ishii's dark eyes flickered slightly.
She subtly shifted her gaze away, avoiding Luca's direct stare.
She brushed the hair away from her forehead.
Why do I always feel a strange sense of understanding when talking to this man?
Is it because their experiences are too similar?
Orphans.
Gangsters.
Assassins.
Finally she spoke.
"That company president murdered my parents."
"He had to pay with blood."
She looked straight at Luca again.
And used all her strength to say something she rarely told anyone.
Perhaps it was because of resonance.
For some reason, O-Ren Ishii felt comfortable sharing her past with Luca.
She wasn't seeking comfort.
Nor was she asking for guidance.
She simply wanted Luca to know what made her who she was.
She used to tell stories of her pain as jokes.
Until someone once told her:
"That's not funny at all."
"That's exactly how blood debts should be settled."
Luca swung his sword and smiled.
"Once I master swordsmanship…"
"Invite me along next time you have a job like that."
Her smile spread slowly like ink dissolving in water.
It was the first time O-Ren Ishii had ever smiled so happily.
He understood her past.
And accepted who she had become.
[Bond: Friends]
Ding! New Skill Unlocked --- [Snow Pavilion Zen Mind]
The two continued practicing swordsmanship.
Until Jimmy suddenly received a phone call.
"Dove."
"Your eyepatch friend stabbed Worm's hand."
"..."
Luca fell silent.
Even with his toes he could guess what happened.
Worm must have cheated.
And Elle caught him.
Trying to cheat in front of an assassin?
Worm deserved it.
It was already merciful that Elle hadn't released her Black Mamba.
That woman always carried a snake.
As for why it was called Black Mamba instead of her nickname California Mountain Snake—
That had everything to do with the woman's jealousy and vanity.
"Want to go to the casino together?" Luca asked.
"Elle caught a cheating thief for me."
"I should thank her properly."
Now that she knew Luca's nickname, O-Ren Ishii asked curiously.
"I heard you enjoy resolving conflicts."
"Is that also your way of defending peace?"
Luca smiled.
"If the cheating thief is willing to accept reconciliation…"
"Then peace will prevail."
If he refused—
The Peace Ambassador would have to use force.
When Luca arrived downstairs, he discovered that "cutting off the hand" wasn't literal.
Elle had stabbed Worm's palm with a dagger—
Pinning his hand directly to the poker table.
Blood stained one corner of the table.
Elle sat beside him casually counting chips and writing notes in her little notebook.
She waved happily.
"Dove!"
"I didn't want to cause trouble at your club."
"But this damn faker cheated me out of all my money."
Luca looked touched.
Apparently the Silver Queen plant didn't work very well on someone like Elle.
Her brain wiring was slightly… unusual.
"How much did you lose?"
"Over six thousand."
"I'm still counting."
"I was really lucky today."
"If I hadn't met a cheater, I definitely would have won!"
"Stop counting."
Luca waved his hand.
"I'll give you a nice round ten thousand."
"Consider the extra as the money you were supposed to win."
He told Jimmy to cash out the chips.
Then he invited the female devil to the bar for a drink.
"Dove, I love generous men like you!"
Elle blew him a kiss and winked with her single eye.
"You look terrifying doing that with one eye," Luca laughed.
He escorted her out before leisurely returning to the poker table.
Worm stared at Luca in shock.
For a moment he even forgot the pain.
Wasn't this the janitor watering flowers at the front gate?
"Ahhhhh!"
Worm screamed again when he saw Luca grab the knife handle.
But Luca didn't pull it out yet.
"Did you check whose territory this is before coming here?"
"Luca the… Dove."
"So you do know me."
He's the Dove?!
Worm's fear grew rapidly.
Luca took the $10 bill from his pocket and slammed it onto the table.
"You cheated in my casino."
"You scammed my customers."
"And ruined my reputation."
"According to the rules, I should cut off your hand and throw you out."
"But I believe in reciprocity."
"So considering the tip you gave me earlier…"
"I'll give you two choices."
He pushed the $10 forward while gripping the knife.
"If you want the money—take the ten dollars and leave."
"But your hand stays here."
"If you want your hand—I keep the ten dollars."
"And you bring me another thirty thousand."
He knew Worm and his friend owed the Russians somewhere between ten and twenty thousand already.
If he pushed too hard, they might just run away overnight.
But the moment Worm heard thirty thousand, his face turned green.
"I didn't cheat that much!"
"I only won about ten thousand!"
"You're using the rest to buy your hand."
"Don't you think your hand is worth that much?"
---
Worm sighed in despair.
"Fine."
"I'll take the deal."
"Pay."
"I don't have that much on me right now," Worm pleaded.
"Could you give me some time? I'll send the money later."
"Call your parents."
"Call your friends."
"Ask them to send you money."
Luca didn't let him argue.
He pulled the knife out so fast Worm didn't even react.
Only the pain remained.
"Jimmy."
"Have someone treat his hand."
"We release him once the money arrives."
Luca looked at Worm clutching his injured palm.
"Only if you keep your hand…"
"Will you have the chance to shake hands and make peace with me."
"I'm glad you chose wisely."
His smile looked like a devil's grin to Worm.
[Bond: Attention]
---
Worm was a gambler who only knew shortcuts.
Without cheating techniques, he was nothing.
He certainly wasn't a real Texas Hold'em master.
If Luca remembered correctly, Worm once dragged his friend Mike into debt with the Russians.
But in the end he ran away alone.
Leaving Mike to face the Russian gang.
Mike even admitted it.
It was repayment for Worm refusing to betray him when they were arrested years ago.
From that moment on, their friendship ended.
Luca wondered.
Were they still friends?
Or had they truly gone separate ways?
If Worm was still in New York…
Maybe he hadn't abandoned Mike after all.
After Worm was taken away, Luca casually asked Jimmy:
"Do you know Teddy KGB?"
Jimmy paused.
"Of course."
"He's a member of the Tarasov gang."
"He runs an underground casino."
"And he's the best Russian card player in New York."
"I used to lose a lot of money to him."
Luca: "."
People never forget who they lost money to.
The Tarasov gang was the same organization Baba Yaga currently worked for.
And it was the largest Russian criminal organization in New York.
Luca wondered:
Does Baba Yaga know how to play cards?
Soon after, Worm friend arrived at the SSR Club.
Mike Dermott.
When Mike learned Worm had been detained by the Mafia for cheating—
He was completely stunned.
Wasn't offending the Russians already bad enough?
Now he had to provoke the Italians too?!
Mike rushed into the underground casino and walked straight toward Luca.
"Where is Worm ?"
__________________________________________________________________________
[Character Card Discovered: Mike Dermott]
Rank: S
Source: Rounders
Skills:
Desperate Measures
Keen Observation
Bond: Strangers
__________________________________________________________________________
Seeing the big picture through small details.
The Peace Ambassador immediately took a liking to this skill.
True Texas Hold'em masters were masters of micro-expressions and psychological warfare.
A tiny facial twitch.
A small movement of the fingers.
Any of these could reveal the strength of an opponent's cards instantly.
Mike was exactly that kind of gambler.
A future Poker God.
An invincible law student dreaming of conquering Las Vegas.
But before that—
He would first have to defeat the Russians.
And then…
The Peace Ambassador himself.
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