It was now morning. Leo and Roland had agreed to contact the nurse who had saved Roland's life when he was pulled from the River Spree. Though reaching out to her could bring danger to her doorstep, Roland vowed that if any threat arose, she and her family would fall under his protection.
Roland, accompanied by the waiter who served him on his first night at the brothel and the worker he saved that same evening, set off to recruit the nurse. They traveled in a modified black Rolls Royce Specter—a testament to the brothel's wealth and its penchant for understated extravagance. Despite the car's sleek appearance, its modifications served to deflect unwanted attention. You could consider it the safest place to be, 2nd only to the presidential vehicle.
"Jenna, Lina, I'm grateful you two volunteered to assist me with this mission," Roland said, his tone sincere. However, Jenna, the bartender, dismissed his gratitude with a casual wave of her hand.
"Oh, please, hun. All the girls back at the house adore you and Leo. You're like a little brother who's always finding himself in some kind of trouble," Jenna replied with a laugh.
"Yes, Sister Jenna is right, Roland!" Lina chimed in enthusiastically.
Roland chuckled at their comments. "I see."
When they arrived at the hospital, Roland spotted the nurse exiting through the main doors. Dressed in a black coat, his right arm concealed under a buttoned shirt, he approached her. Despite his friendly demeanor, the nurse froze, her expression one of anxiety and fear.
"Greetings. I don't believe you remember me," Roland said softly, offering her a reassuring smile.
"You... you're the gentleman I helped in the ambulance. How may I assist you, sir?" the nurse replied, exhaling a heavy sigh of relief.
Noticing her unease, Roland pressed gently. "There is something you can do for me. But first, what troubles you, liebe?"
The nurse hesitated before shaking her head. "It's not something you should concern yourself with. I'll be happy to assist you if you're injured, though."
Roland remained insistent but decided to ease her tension. With a sigh, he unbuttoned his sleeve, revealing a bandage soaked in blood. "A friend and I got into a bit of trouble. He couldn't make it here, so I came to you."
The nurse's brows furrowed, but she nodded. "I'll help you... but can you promise to take me home afterward?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I swear, as long as you're with me, no harm will come to you," Roland assured her. His words seemed to calm her enough to follow him to the car.
Just as she moved toward the vehicle, a gunshot rang out. Acting on instinct, Roland activated his new skill, shielding her with his left arm.
B - Darkened Armor: The Black Knight wears armor imbued with dark magic, making it highly resistant to physical and codex attacks. The armor regenerates over time but consumes energy and Codex power during use.
The darkened armor manifested as scales resembling those of a dragon, with sharp, claw-like fingertips. A crimson-hued cloud absorbed the bullet, though Roland felt a slight depletion of his energy. Without hesitation, he grabbed the nurse and threw her into the car's backseat, absorbing more bullets as he followed.
"Drive, Jenna!" Roland ordered as he slammed the door shut.
"Kyros' men?!" Jenna shouted, speeding away from the hospital.
"Unlikely. That shooter's aim was decent but nothing to worry about," Roland replied, then turned to the nurse. "What's your name, dear?"
"Mira... My name is Mira. I'm sorry for dragging you all into this. I didn't think they'd come!" Mira exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.
"Hey, hey! Don't worry, Mira!" Lina interjected. "Roland is strong. He won't let anything bad happen to us."
Mira glanced at Roland's arm, noticing his movements had reopened his wounds. Determined, she began rubbing a cross around her neck. From it emerged a small, snake-like figure.
"You're such a sweetheart," Roland said with a chuckle, petting the snake's head.
"Hey, sssss! I'm no petssssss!" the snake protested, puffing up its little hood. "But you're in bad shapessss..."
"Sana, please lend me your power to heal this man," Mira begged. The snake hissed in agreement, and Roland's wounds began to mend rapidly.
As the car sped on, Roland shifted his attention back to Mira. "So, who are the fine gentlemen chasing us?" he asked calmly.
"They're debt collectors," Mira confessed. "My parents were drowning in debt when they passed away. Now, they've come after me and my little brother. They take so much of my wages that we can barely afford to eat."
"The name," Roland pressed.
"What?" Mira asked, startled.
"Tell me the name of the debt collector's boss, and I'll send him to the grave. Consider it payment for helping me and my friend."
"I-I don't want to cause you trouble..."
"Doll, trust me. This guy lives for trouble," Jenna interjected. "If he says he'll handle it, he will. We'll also collect your brother. You're both under OUR protection now." She smiled reassuringly.
"Lina, hand me a pistol," Roland commanded. Lina complied, pulling out a Desert Eagle from the car's concealed compartment. Surprised but unfazed, Roland leaned out of the window, firing at the tires of the pursuing cars. Several crashed and exploded.
"Wow... I'm better than I thought," Roland remarked with a smirk.
"You missed four shots out of seven, though," Lina teased.
"Shhh, no need to mention that part."
Their laughter filled the car as Sana and Mira exchanged glances. Despite the chaos, for the first time, they felt safe.
An hour later, the group retrieved Mira's younger brother and returned to the brothel. The girls there welcomed Mira and her brother warmly, providing them with food, water, and a safe place to rest. Meanwhile, Maria confronted Roland.
"So, you dragged an innocent girl into your mess. Typical."
"The first crime boss I'll flush out of Berlin: Adler 'Der Schakal' Meinhardt. The Jackal of Berlin," Roland declared, his voice resolute.
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