Saito narrowed his eyes at the man.
He stepped in front of Tina without hesitation.
The man looked at him calmly. "Kid… you have a problem?"
One of the crew members leaned closer. "Boss, that's one of the kids from our village."
The man shifted his gaze to Tina.
"Oh… so you asked for their help?"
Tina stayed silent.
The man clicked his fingers.
Instantly—
Axes and knives flew through the air.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
Every single one was deflected midair.
Kaito stood there, knives in hand, eyes cold.
The weapons dropped to the ground around them.
The man's lips curled slightly.
"Silent Killer… Kaito."
He tilted his head. "Oh yes… I remember now."
"I asked my crew to hire you to kill that kid."
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
The man let out a small chuckle.
"Looks like the plan failed."
His eyes shifted to Tina.
"That kid has caused us trouble many times. Her mother refuses to pay taxes… always relying on that mayor."
He glanced back at Kaito.
"I'll give you one last chance, Silent Killer."
His voice turned cold.
"Kill that kid… and I'll break the contract. You'll be free."
Silence fell.
Kaito looked at Saito.
Then at Tina.
His grip tightened slightly.
"…Sorry," he said.
Saito stayed still.
Tina held onto his sleeve.
Kaito exhaled slowly.
"But I already retired."
He took out a coin—
An assassin token shaped like a deer skeleton.
Without hesitation, he threw it to the ground.
"I'm not that person anymore."
Kaito's eyes sharpened.
"I'm a gangster now."
The man's smile faded.
"…I see."
He turned slightly.
"Then I'll make sure to report you to your boss."
The man let out a quiet breath.
"…But not now. I have work to do."
He turned slightly, then looked at Tina.
"Kid…"
His eyes were cold.
"If you enter my village again… it won't end well for you."
He glanced at his crew. "Let's go."
They turned and walked away.
Saito watched them leave, his grip tightening.
Then he turned to Tina. "You okay?"
Tina nodded slowly. "…Yes… but…"
Her voice trembled.
"I can't meet Mom anymore…"
Saito's expression softened. "You will. I promise."
Kaito spoke from behind, calm but serious. "I'm not so sure, Saito."
Saito glanced at him.
"Even though he's a jerk… he's a strong fighter."
Saito looked forward again.
"…Then it's time for me to defeat him."
He started walking after the man.
Kaito grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back.
"Don't be an idiot."
Saito stopped.
"Let's wait," Kaito said. "And make a plan first."
At a small restaurant—
Saito and Kaito sat across from Tina.
Saito and Kaito each had a hamburger, while Tina held a warm bowl of chicken soup.
Saito took a bite, then looked at her.
"So… what village do you live in?"
Tina lowered her gaze slightly. "…Lorum Village."
Kaito paused.
"That village is small," he said. "We can't just sneak in like that."
Saito frowned. "Why? We could just rush it."
Kaito looked at him flatly. "And get ourselves killed? No."
Back at the village—
Tina's mother was dragged through the dirt by a group of gangsters.
"Please—wait!" she cried.
One of them sneered. "Your daughter just humiliated our captain in front of outsiders."
"No… please…" she begged.
Footsteps approached.
"Let go of her."
The gangsters stopped.
Takashi stood there in his mayor suit—deep blue, with gold details gleaming under the sunlight.
His expression was firm.
"Unfortunately, we can't, Mayor," one of the gangsters said. "This is the boss's order."
Takashi clicked his tongue. "Tch… I don't ask twice."
The gangster shrugged. "Then go talk to the boss."
They laughed.
Dragging Tina's mother along, they headed toward a large house at the center of the village.
The doors creaked open—
And she was thrown inside a jail cell.
Saito leaned back slightly. "So… what do you know about this man?"
Kaito rested his elbow on the table. "He's Kuro… the leader of the Claw Gang."
His eyes narrowed a bit.
"You might see him as annoying… but he's more powerful than you think."
Saito nodded slowly. "Yeah… I know."
He glanced at Tina.
She was quietly eating her soup.
"…But I still want to help her."
Kaito watched him for a moment—then gave a small smile.
"Well… I can't argue with that."
He leaned back. "But we still need to be strategic. I don't want your dream to go to waste."
Saito smirked. "Oh? Since when do you care about me?"
Kaito shot him a flat look.
"Ask me that again… and I'll leave you alone."
At Lorum Village—
The villagers gathered, voices rising in protest.
"The Claw Gang has gone too far!"
"We can't live like this!"
Takashi raised his hand. "Calm down. Please… just stay in your homes."
Before anyone could respond—
Bang.
A gunshot echoed.
Silence fell instantly.
Kuro stood there, holding a gun loosely in his hand.
"So…" he said calmly, "who's going to be my bullet's next destination?"
No one spoke.
Takashi narrowed his eyes.
Then—
A scream came from the gate.
Everyone turned.
Saito stood there.
His sword was already unsheathed.
Two gang members lay behind him.
Tina stood close by his side.
Saito walked forward without hesitation.
Kuro clicked his tongue. "Tch… you're here."
His gaze shifted to Tina.
"I thought I told you not to come back."
Saito stepped forward, placing himself between them.
"Hey, claw guy… you deal with me, not her."
Kuro smirked. "Fine."
He walked toward Saito slowly.
"So… you're going to play hero? Save all these weak people?"
Saito didn't hesitate. "Yeah. And I'll free this village from you."
Kuro chuckled.
"Big talk… for someone who's been a gangster for a week."
He snapped his fingers.
Instantly—
Gang members surrounded Saito from all sides.
Saito tightened his grip on his sword… and pulled Tina slightly behind him.
Kuro smirked slightly.
"Alright… how about this, rookie…"
He pointed at Tina.
"Let me have her… and I promise to take good care of her."
His smile widened.
"You leave… and everyone here lives happily. How about that?"
Saito's eyes hardened.
"Big promise… for someone who's been torturing them for years."
Kuro sighed. "Come on, kid… I'm getting impatient."
Saito stepped forward.
"You all—" he looked at the villagers.
"I know he's been cruel to you. For years. Torturing you… taking away your rights…"
His grip tightened on his sword.
"But I'm here now… to stop this madness."
Kuro burst out laughing.
"Hahaha… you might convince them…"
His expression turned cold.
"But I have the high ground here."
He raised his hand.
"Kill him."
The gang members rushed forward—
But suddenly—
Two of them dropped.
Stabbed.
Before anyone realized what happened—
Kaito appeared beside Saito.
"Don't forget…"
His voice was calm.
"He's with me."
The gang members froze.
"Silent Killer…? He's with that kid?"
Kuro's eyes darkened.
"I said kill him. If you miss…"
His voice dropped.
"I'll kill all of you."
The members nodded nervously and charged again.
Kaito cracked his neck slightly.
"Let me guess…"
He glanced at Saito.
"You take care of Kuro. I'll handle these duds."
Saito smirked. "You read my mind."
Kaito gave a faint grin.
"Well… with pleasure."
He vanished forward—
And lunged straight into the crowd.
Takashi looked at the chaos unfolding.
"Villagers—get inside your homes, now!"
No one hesitated.
They all rushed away, doors slamming shut one after another.
Kuro clicked his tongue. "Hey… what do you think you're doing?"
Takashi turned to him slowly.
The wind brushed through his yellow hair.
His blue eyes narrowed, calm but firm.
"Win this…" he said quietly.
"…or you lose control of us."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away.
Kuro's expression darkened.
"Tch…"
He looked back at Saito.
"I'm going to kill you, kid."
Saito tightened his grip on his sword.
"Then come here."