"This, this can't be..."
The guard was surprised. He had not anticipated that the gorilla, famous on Galliant Island for his enormous size, would be taken down by a single blow from a woman.
Rian shook his head as he looked at Tess, who was applauding triumphantly. With this in mind, where is there room for men to intervene?
Elzaine's swordplay is renowned for its sophisticated attacks. As a trained fighter, skilled in targeting vital points in any situation, she could neutralize differences in strength and size in an instant.
Reaching the tip of the chin with minimal movement is impossible without lethal concentration. You should realize how lucky you are. If Tess had drawn her sword, you'd be dead by now.
Shirone stared at the motionless doorman. Was this the move of a swordsman, the counterpart to that of a wizard?
If Rian's strength was cutting-edge, Tess's strike felt like witnessing a perfect work of art.
"Wow, that was really cool, Tess."
"Hehe! Was it good? Shirone, you have a keen eye, unlike someone standing next to me."
Rian, listening in part, approached the guard.
The guard was terrified, his legs shaking. When Rian grabbed him by the neck and lifted him, he made a final effort.
"Keuk! Do you know where you are?"
"I came to look for her because I know where she is. Do I look like I'm playing hide-and-seek? Where is Amy now?"
"Damn it! Who's Amy? How would I know?"
"Should I stop your heart instead of killing you?"
"Damn! I really don't know! If you're curious, go find out yourself!"
"This guy, seriously!"
Rian's eyes lit up. He was already eager to die, and this guy was provoking him. Weren't they doing this because he didn't have time to search?
As he was about to intimidate him with a bit more intensity, Shirone stepped forward.
"Rian, that's enough. What's the point of asking someone something he doesn't know?"
"So what? Are we really going to go room by room?"
"No, ask him something he does know."
"Ask something he knows? Like what?"
The guard, locking eyes with Shirone, was startled.
Anger of a different nature from Rian's. It felt as if his joints were freezing due to the escalating coldness.
"Ask him where Falkoa is."
***
Tavern, Royal Palace. Basement Level 1.
Those in the know call this place the Temple. Of course, there are no gods. But sometimes, they see gods due to the hallucinogenic effects caused by the drug 'Loop'.
Ultimately, the VIP room on the fourth floor is a place where tourists who came only after hearing rumors would come and go, and the real heavyweights were all in the basement.
The Temple was a space where various drugs were distributed, and one could indulge limitlessly in stimulants, particularly Loop—a space for pleasure maniacs.
The temple is divided into 17 sections and has 1.5 times the total area of the first floor.
It's always packed, but Room 4 isn't open to customers because it's Falkoa's room, the Freeman Organization's action captain and the boss of the Royal Palace.
"So, I asked him. Will he be buried after you die, or will you die after burying him? So, do you know what he said?"
"Euhuhu, what did he say, Captain? What did he say?"
Falkoa shouted as if pretending to die.
"Please, save me!"
"Hahaha! That's crazy! Please, save me!"
"Pujahaha! My stomach hurts from laughing so much! Please, save me!"
Falkoa's lackeys pounded the table and burst into laughter. But Jiss couldn't understand it at all.
"Crazy bastards. What the hell is so funny? They're out of their minds."
"Oh dear, why aren't you drinking?"
Jiss simply shook his head without even making eye contact with his companion. He felt that if he drank here, he wouldn't be able to see the sunrise tomorrow.
Jiss gently turned his head to look at Falkoa's companion. He was sitting next to Amy, whom he had brought along.
Of course, she too didn't comprehend Falkoa's coded laughter and just looked ahead with a blank face.
"She's truly incredible. I'd be scared out of my wits, but her expression doesn't change.
If you're an ordinary girl, especially a young girl, it's normal to tremble in fear in a situation surrounded by damned gangsters. However, there wasn't a single trace of tension on Amy's face.
"Oh, so noisy. Boring. I want to go back."
Amy moistened her lips with the alcohol in front of her. As a noble, she had learned to drink but didn't enjoy alcohol and never really drank. She barely managed to finish the bottle out of boredom.
However, alcohol is alcohol. When it started to take effect, she found herself falling into slightly emotional thoughts.
'What am I doing here?'
Of course, she had come for Jiss. But thinking about it, it seemed like that wasn't the only reason.
'I'm sure he's already back, right?'
Why was Shirone late? Maybe he had gotten entangled in another senseless fight.
Looking down from Shirone's omniscient point of view, how many unfortunate people could there be in the world?
"Huhu, did I want to mimic him?"
Thinking about it, her reason for being here wasn't different.
All she could hear was the idiot she met at the port, and of course, I heard only the cries of the idiot I met at the port, of course, the idiot who didn't seem to have fallen to the bottom, screaming for help.
The atmosphere of the drinking party gradually heated up. Amy became more irritated as this happened.
If she acted dominantly, she could display her power and leave, but contrary to expectations, Falkoa maintained his manners.
"What the hell is he thinking? Should I make the first move?"
By the time Amy was engrossed in her thoughts, Falkoa was also smiling at Amy, with a wicked smile.
I can hear the sound of his head rolling even from here.
Amy must be a high-ranking noble. There was a unique noble nobility that couldn't be complemented with just appearance.
But Falkoa was calm. He had the most outstanding weapon that could subdue a noble.
No, with just this thing, he could make even a king kneel at his feet.
It was Loop.
Even now, many high-ranking nobles were slaves to Loop.
If he took his time and led them to Loop bit by bit, even the proudest noble wouldn't be able to resist.
"Come, come. Let's toast, cheers!"
At that moment, a creaking sound was heard beyond the door. Then the employees' screams erupted.
"What are you doing! Keuk!"
"Hey! Block them! That's the boss's room!"
The door burst open, and three people barged in.
Seeing the invaders' faces, Jiss jumped from his seat as if he had seen a ghost. They were Amy's friends whom he had seen at the port.
Falkoa's expression wrinkled immediately. He would pardon a troublesome customer if they paid a bit more money, but an invasion of his Temple, his territory, was a matter of pride.
"What? What's going on?"
When Falkoa spoke with a voice devoid of laughter, the immediate subordinates sitting around stood up. The women, knowing the men's temperament, discreetly backed away.
"Shirone? How did you know I was here?"
Amy asked with wide-open eyes.
However, Shirone delayed his response. A burning energy made his spine tingle.
The one sitting arrogantly in the high seat and crossing his legs must be Falkoa. He didn't look monstrous, but it was clear at first sight that he was not normal.
'He is strong, that person...'
Exuding a killing intent was easy. Even an average person could intimidate their opponent if they truly looked at someone with the intent to kill. But exuding a subtle killing intent as if it were there but not there was not easy.
It was an energy that only assassination professionals could produce.
'Amy...'
Why was Amy sitting next to someone like this?
Instead of a cup of tea, there was a glass of alcohol in front of her, who enjoyed tea and coffee. The floor was dirty and smelled bad. None of the things she had seen in her room were here.
Therefore... she wasn't here of her own will.
"Let's go home, Amy."
Amy was puzzled. After all that delay, all he said was "let's go home, Amy". How could he be so bold when he hadn't even shown his face while she waited?
Amy was angry with herself for being happy to see Shirone a moment ago. From what perspective was Shirone looking at her now? From the level of a human eye or from that high sky?
This wasn't what she wanted. That's why she didn't even want Shirone's help. If she decided, she could leave right now.
"Y-you! Do you know where you're going to get in?"
All the tavern employees rushed in. However, they couldn't bear to enter Falkoa's room, which seemed like a demon.
Shirone was stunned. The boss even his subordinates feared. How deep and intense was this man's evil?
Falkoa lowered his voice in an annoyed tone.
"What are you? Do you know what happens if you enter my room without my permission?"
"We came to take Amy with us. Let her go."
"Hah, if anyone hears that, they might think it's a kidnapping. Even if you're nobles, there are things you need to be careful of. Especially in places like this."
Shirone's predictive assumption was correct. This place was a lawless zone protected by the island government.
"What are you doing? Send the kids back."
"Where should we send them back to, brother?"
Falkoa let out a sigh and spoke.
"To hell."
The direct subordinates in room 4 relaxed and approached. It was a different aura compared to the employees who had been around until now.
Tess took a stance to unsheathe her sword and spoke.
"Shirone, be careful. They all are Schema users."
Shirone's eyes lit up. Tess had a good eye, so it was probably true.
Of course, most students from the swordsmanship academy could use Schema. However, it was definitely odd that none of the ruffians living on the island, not inland, lacked a Schema.
'Who the hell are they? How is it possible for a mere tavern owner to employ such skilled individuals?'
Shirone looked at the subordinates blocking the front. At that moment, a tremendous emotion struck Shirone's heart.
"Pressure!"
"Shirone, be careful! It's pressure!"
There are many skills related to 'Eye Techniques' in the Schema system, but Pressure was the most popular among them.
It's good for practical use because the reaction is intuitive and easy to master as long as you know how to project your emotions outward.
Shirone wasn't surprised. He realized it was the same technique he had suffered from Adel, the Karmis family's butler, when the enemy's hostility crushed his lungs.
However, the feeling of the emotion was of a different dimension. If Adel's pressure was simply to overwhelm the opponent, his pressure was only to end a life.
Rian grabbed the handle of the straight sword and took a step forward.
"How dare you!"
"Rian! Wait!"
While Shirone shouted, Falkoa's men squinted with puzzlement. It was a Pressure of a whopping 10 simultaneous killing intentions. It was normal for the heart to stop instead of being able to speak.
But Shirone remained standing. Even with a faint smile on his lips.
The only person who understood this situation was Amy.
'Indestructible. In some aspects, it's a power that matches my Red Eye.'
They couldn't hit Shirone with Pressure. No, maybe they could, but they were out of their reach.
Shirone moved slowly. Then, as if the atmosphere was being pushed, the subordinates backed off at the same pace.
Of course, it wasn't easy for Shirone to let out his emotions.
It was Pressure from 10 veterans who had experienced countless battles.
Emotions couldn't be valued, but to estimate, it was like waiting for a carriage coming from afar tied hand and foot to the ground.
To be more precise, it was the terror of the moment the carriage arrived right in front of you, and the huge wheel filled your view.
In reality, the time to feel fear would only be 0.1 seconds because death awaits, but Shirone had been feeling the same emotion for over 20 seconds.