They had barely taken a few steps—
When Steve Trevor noticed several tall men in suits approaching with purpose. Others lingered nearby, pretending to read newspapers while clearly monitoring them.
He leaned toward Leon and whispered:
"Big brother, I think we're being followed. And I don't think they're friendly."
"How many?" Leon asked calmly.
"Three behind us. Two on the street. Five total."
As a trained spy, Trevor's counter-surveillance instincts were razor-sharp. He wouldn't have survived stealing Dr. Maru's notebook from under Ludendorff's nose otherwise.
"No," Leon replied evenly.
"Thirteen."
"Four in each of the alleyways ahead on both sides. No matter which direction we turn, they'll surround us with superior numbers."
Between Leon's Observation Haki and the aerial positioning of Arcee and 2B's hovering support units, every movement had already been mapped.
"That… cautious, huh?" Trevor muttered, correcting himself mid-word.
"They must be sent by Ares to stop us!" Diana concluded immediately.
"Does Ares really have that much free time?" Trevor countered. "My bet's on Ludendorff."
"Ludendorff is Ares!"
Diana declared, convinced she had uncovered the truth.
Leon couldn't help it—he burst out laughing.
Arcee, ever the dutiful battlefield reporter, recorded the entire exchange.
He genuinely looked forward to the day Diana's divine wisdom fully matured and she revisited this "Detective Mouri-level deduction."
The group casually turned into the right-side alley.
Four revolvers instantly emerged from around the inner corner—each aimed precisely at Leon, Diana, and Trevor.
The remaining nine blocked the alley entrance.
Thirteen guns in total.
Leon and Diana remained composed.
Trevor—who would very much die from a bullet—instinctively raised his hands.
"Captain Trevor," the apparent leader said smugly, "I believe you're carrying something that belongs to General Ludendorff."
"Take that up with my big brother and sister-in-law," Trevor shot back boldly—before immediately Flash-Stepping behind Leon and Diana to use them as shields.
"Do you really think they can protect you?"
With a wave of the leader's hand—
All thirteen revolvers aimed squarely at Leon and Diana.
Leon smiled.
A smile faintly reminiscent of a nuclear detonation.
"It's been a while…"
"How long has it been since someone dared point a gun at me?"
He raised one hand toward the sky.
"Wrath of God."
2B's emotionless voice followed instantly.
She pulled the trigger of the Holy Spear.
Dozens of mirror-like magical arrays materialized midair.
Scarlet laser beams ricocheted between them—
Reflected.
Amplified.
Converged.
In a single breath—
All thirteen gunmen's palms were pierced clean through.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!" ×13
They collapsed, screaming.
The revolvers, half-melted and fused into the cavities of their scorched hands, caused horrific secondary burns. Flesh charred visibly.
"Who sent you?"
Diana pressed the Godkiller Sword against the leader's neck.
But before she even applied force—
His body convulsed from the agony in his hands.
The blade shifted slightly—
And his head fell cleanly from his shoulders.
The sharpness of the Godkiller Sword far exceeded even Diana's expectation.
Blood sprayed violently.
The remaining twelve assassins froze in shock.
Sister—at least let him answer first?!
"Ludendorff!"
"It was Ludendorff!"
"Yes, yes! He sent us to retrieve Dr. Maru's notebook!"
One quick-witted survivor blurted out the truth immediately. The others followed in panicked agreement, terrified of the next swing.
They didn't get one.
2B dropped her optical camouflage, stepping forward.
Her greatsword—Virtuous Treaty—appeared in her grasp.
In one smooth arc—
All twelve heads fell.
Her sapphire eyes glowed faintly red.
"Those who show disrespect toward Master deserve only death."
Trevor inhaled sharply.
Confirmed.
These women were absolutely not to be messed with.
And where the hell had that enormous sword come from?!
Diana sighed softly.
There was a trace of regret in her eyes—
But not moral outrage.
She felt no absolute prohibition against killing.
After all—
Only rare "saints" like Bruce Wayne maintained an unwavering no-kill code.
…
War Cabinet.
When Trevor arrived with his two "guardians," Sir Patrick Morgan was delivering a speech advocating peace.
He argued for negotiation with Germany—
To end a war that had become an endless meat grinder of blood and bone.
Beneath the surface—
Currents moved unseen.
And the God of War watched quietly.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789