Vermilion and Carmella swiftly left Rosseaulyn's house, determined to return to their home in the slum. While racing through the streets, they observed a convoy of buses heading in the same direction. Spotting an opportunity, Carmella dashed towards a bus halted at a red light. Knocking urgently on the door, she addressed the driver.
"Excuse me, Mister! Are you heading to the slum?" Carmella inquired.
"Yes… What's wrong, lady?" the driver responded.
"Excuse me, is this bus going to the slum?"
"Yeah, it is."
"Could you give us a ride, please?"
"But… There's a military operation over there right now! I can't risk both your lives! Nobody knows what is going to happen! If anything happens to both of you, I will be held responsible!"
"Oh, please! I know it's dangerous right there! But I really need to go back! It's urgent!"
"Sorry, lady… I can't…"
Carmella, desperation in her eyes, pulled out all the cash she had and showed it to the driver. "This is all I've got! I just need you to give us a ride, and that's it!"
The driver hesitated, conflicted. The traffic light turned green, and Carmella urged, "It's green already! Are you in or not!?"
"Just get in! Hurry up!!" the driver relented.
"Thanks! Vermilion, get in!" Carmella exclaimed, and they boarded the bus.
After parting with their entire savings, Carmella wore an expression of discontent and frustration. Vermilion, sensing her unease, kept silent. As the bus resumed its journey, the driver, now curious, turned to them.
"Why do you insist on going to the slum? You told me you want to 'go back' just now, aren't you? That means you are living in the slum, aren't you? But you don't look like someone who lives in the slum at all…" The driver asked curiously.
"Everyone has their own difficulties and choices; it just happens that I live in the slum, nothing wrong with it!" Carmella replied.
"Yeah… Indeed… You are right…"
"I'm more curious about those buses in front of us. Are they heading to the slum too? Why is there still a bus operating to the slum right now?!"
"I'm not sure about the others, but I guess they have received the same instructions as mine from our Headquarter. We were told to drive the bus to the east of the slum and assist the police. But not sure to assist on what…"
"I see… I guess maybe they need your help to evacuate the people."
"People? I heard they are all illegal immigrants and criminals…"
"Not all!"
"You are right… You are one of the exceptions… Or you are actually an illegal immigrant too?!"
"Here is my ID card, I am a pure local citizen of Kothern. I won't get you in trouble, no worry!"
"Oh, Thank God for that! Otherwise, I will get into huge trouble… How about the lady beside you?"
"She is my sister."
"I see… But you two don't look alike at all…"
"Really? I don't think so. Many people told us that we look alike."
"Huh? I felt like you look alike the new officer of Luthernza… I forgot her name… I saw her once before. Do you know about her? A very tall and beautiful lady…"
"Nope, I don't know about her at all!" Carmella denied.
"Pss… Why are you lying to him?" Vermilion asked in a whisper to Carmella's ear.
"He was thinking that we look suspicious! If I admit I am really her sister, it might sound like I am lying!" Carmella replied in a soft voice.
"I see… Speaking of suspicious, have you seen a group of trucks carrying gasoline heading to the west side of the slum just now?"
"Nope, I was talking to the driver and didn't pay attention to what happened on the outside… A group of trucks carrying gasoline…?"
"Perhaps they just happened to be in the same direction as us just now."
"Probably, they may be heading to other places instead of the slum."
After a ten-minute ride, they arrived at the slum earlier than expected as the bus headed directly to the area. As they disembarked, the driver unexpectedly called Carmella over and returned all the money to her. Vermilion and Carmella looked at the driver in surprise and thanked him from the bottom of their hearts.
"What a surprise… He just returned all my money. I will repay him at least the fares if I meet him again."
"There are other kind-hearted people here too. Not all of them are snobs!" Vermilion remarked.
"Yeah. Follow me this way. We'll try to avoid using the main street. Use all your strength; only then we have a chance to make it in time!"
"Okay, got it!"
They exerted all their strength and stamina, navigating through the alleys to make their way home. Although the military was still advancing from the far west, the sounds of gunfire and explosions could be heard clearly from the east.
"Oh gosh… I'm feeling a little terrified and regretful right now…" Carmella said.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Those sounds… They're making my heart pound fast… Starting to get nervous now."
"No worries! I'm staying by your side! Last time I also almost freaked out and was extremely nervous when I snuck into the military camp. Thanks to Ayukawa, she calmed me down and supported me. I will do the same."
"Thanks, but I don't want to trouble you. Let's just hurry up and leave here immediately once we're done…"
"HEYY!! The ladies over there!" A policeman spotted them and called.
"Whoa! We got spotted by the military! Let's run!" Vermilion panicked.
"Just now, I almost trusted you that you would help me calm down, and right now, you are the one who needs to calm down."
"Sorry! But…"
"He is not a soldier; he is a policeman."
"Policeman? Is he siding with the military?"
"I don't think so; everyone knows they hate each other.
The policeman approached them, saying, "Girls! Stop wandering in the alleys! There's a war going on here! Hurry up and head to the east entrance and get on the bus! Do you want me to show you the way?"
"Uhmm, we…" Vermilion began to reply but was immediately stopped by Carmella.
"It's fine, officer! We know the way! We will head to the bus right now!" Carmella said.
"That's great! There are still hundreds of people waiting for me to evacuate…" The policeman muttered while rushing his way to another building.
"So, the police are now helping to evacuate the people…"
"I feel so grateful for them! Else, everyone will just die for sure…"
"Those buses we saw earlier… They are really coming to help the people."
"I wonder whose idea this is… I don't think any government officials are willing to use their resources to help the people from the slum, including the police."
"Must be someone who really cares about this slum…"
"Aghh! Vermilion! We have no time to discuss this! Don't forget our purposes here!"
"You're right; I just almost forgot!"
Vermilion and Carmella continued their way to their house located in the center north of the slum. However, they didn't realize that the war situation in the eastern part of the slum was escalating fast and started to spread to the center as the assassin confronted Dialla and his troops.
"I've seen and known how skillful you are… I have prepared well for this time… So, bring it on! Coward! You're going to pay for my eye!!" Dialla declared loudly.
"Hahahahaha!! How are you going to pay what you owe me then? Clearly, your eye isn't a payment option for me!" The assassin teased.
"Owe you?! What did I owe you? And when did I owe you something?!"
"Oh! My dear client! How can you be so forgetful? Alzheimer's disease?! Hahahahaha!!"
"Soldiers! Shut his big fat mouth and catch the culprit alive now!" Dialla ordered.
"Yes Sir!"
"This is going to be fun!" The assassin muttered with an evil smile.
A group of soldiers approached the assassin, attempting to catch him with their bare hands. The assassin did nothing and just stood still, waiting for them to approach him. In the next second, all their palms were cut off, and the soldiers were puzzled for a few seconds.
"My… My palm… My... My… My palm!! MY PALM!! WAHAHAH!!" The soldier screamed.
"IDIOTS!!! When did I ask you to go with your bare hands! Use the taser guns!!"
"Yes Sir!" The soldiers took out their taser guns and pointed them at the assassin.
"Oh no… Taser guns… So many of them… Hahahahaha!!" The assassin laughed sinisterly.
"What the heck are you laughing at, maniac?!"
"Nothing… I guess… I... I better run! Hahahahaha!!" The assassin ran away.
"Damn it! Chase him!! Whoever catches him alive, I will reward him greatly!"
"Roger that!!" The soldiers got hyped up after hearing they would be rewarded for catching the assassin alive.
The assassin was running away, heading to reunite with some of his followers in the center-north. Despite losing his track several times, Dialla and his men were still chasing closely behind.
"There he is! All of you, keep your eyes on him! Don't let him out of our sight again!"
"Yes Sir!"
"Sighed… He just won't give up, isn't he? Fellas! Retribution time!" The assassin said loudly.
"Yes leader!"
A large number of the assassin's followers suddenly appeared along the street as well as the building's rooftop.
"What the? A trap! I see, they are hiding here and waiting for the time to clash with us. Fire the long-range taser guns and take him down before he escapes!"
"Yes Sir! Fire!"
The assassin's followers, carrying the ballistic shield, came to help the assassin block all the tasers.
"What a close call! Hahahahaha!! Great job, fellas!"
"No problem! What's our next move?!"
"Well, just do as we agreed earlier!"
"Got it!"
All his followers took out their weapons and pointed them at all the soldiers, attempting to surround them simultaneously. Dialla observed the situation but remained calm, showing a face full of confidence.
"Hmm! What a boring tactic! Trying to surround us?! No way! Soldiers! Get yourselves in position and ready to fight back against them!"
"Yes Sir!"
"I wonder how a mousetrap could trap an elephant… Hahahahaha!"
The soldiers immediately assumed a defensive stance, awaiting Dialla's orders. The assassin once again displayed his evil smile and a face full of confidence. After exchanging glances with Dialla for a moment, he started to wave at him.
"Hmm?! Why is he waving at me?!" Dialla puzzled.
"Is he drunk?" Victor added.
"Hahahahaha!! Fellas! Ready and… Retreat!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!" The assassin ordered.
"Oh yeah! Everyone runs!!" His follower shouted.
"Sir! What the…?! Where is he? He's gone! Victor is shocked.
"No! No way! He just disappeared in the crowd!" Dialla exclaimed, almost losing control of his anger.
The scene became very chaotic as the assassin and his followers ran in all different directions simultaneously, and those on the rooftop also escaped through the planned routes. The assassin fled from the scene with his followers who carried the ballistic shield while teasing Dialla.
"Wooohooo! Hahahahaha!! Did you all see the commander's expression?! It's so fun, isn't?!" The assassin asked.
"No… We didn't have the time to look at his expression… What's his expression, by the way?"
"Like a volcano that almost exploded but was not able to explode as the top of his head was stuck…. Hahahahaha!!"
"It does sound very interesting and funny!"
"I have told you all! All I want to do is just piss him off!"
"Yeah! You just did it! So, what is our next move? Pissing him off again?!"
"He won't fall into my trick for a second time! Next time, it will be the real show! Prepare yourself!"
"Yeah! We've been prepared all the time!"
"Great! Hahahahaha!!"
The sinister laughter of the assassin kept echoing in the ears of Dialla. He reached his boiling point and lost his temper completely as he started to yell out of control.
"RAHHHGHHHH!!! I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU!! SON OF A BITCH!!"
"Si… Sir… They are fooling us…" Victor said in a very soft tone.
"NO! YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO GOT FOOLED!! NOT ME!!"
"Ye..Yes!! You are right! I'm the fool! Yes!" Victor replied panicky.
"Why are all of you still staring at me??!! What are you all waiting for???!!! Chase them! CHASE them!! CHASE THEM!!! MOVE YOUR ASS!!! A BUNCH OF IDIOTS!!!"
"YES SIR!!!"