The thin man—who had been standing in the corner, barely noticed—picked up a carrot and took a bite. The crunchy sound of the bite sounded out of place, almost sarcastic in the solemn atmosphere. He chewed slowly, then replied in a flat yet sarcastically sarcastic tone, "Let me remind you, this dead end is your decision."
John looked up at the man sharply, his eyes challenging: "Without those people chasing us, do you think you could have safely taken that woman and baby from dozens of heavily armed assassins?"
The thin man's expression didn't change an inch. Without hesitation, he replied, "I can."
Jane—tired of this argument—stomped her foot, causing Jane to bite her lower lip, which was starting to turn pale with stress, and then she stared at them with teary eyes. "Okay, why are you arguing now?" Jane exclaimed softly, but sharply. She then turned to her husband, her voice soft but almost desperate, "John... do you really believe that strange man can save us?"
John took a deep breath, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world were on them. He opened a water bottle and downed it as if it were his last drink. "He... that man is no ordinary man. I've seen so much blood, Jane. But that man—I can't even look him in the eye for long. If he can get there in time... I believe he can get us out of here alive. But..."
John stared out the window at the morning sky, the wind whipping through his hair, carrying the smell of dust, metal, and fear.
"... This is Los Angeles."
They were in Los Angeles. But Lance—their only hope—was in New York.
The distance between the two cities? Three to four thousand kilometers. It would be hours by plane. And time wasn't something they had right now.
He called Lance just to ask for a chance.
His voice sounded strained, trembling at the edges of his unformed words. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, despite the piercing morning air. John's fingers gripped his phone as if it were the only remaining link to the outside world.
What if Lance was powerful in Los Angeles and could send someone to rescue them?
However, Lance hung up the phone just as John had said that vaguely, leaving John with a deep sense of doubt.
The sudden disconnection sounded like a loud slap in the still air, leaving an echo of emptiness in John's chest. For a moment, John stood frozen, as if his body were rejecting the reality.
"They're coming!" The man, who had experienced the ups and downs of life, pulled the bolt and spoke abruptly.
The sharp, cold sound of metal clashing against the gun rang out, shattering the frozen tension in the abandoned building.
Suddenly, the woman holding the baby turned nervously.
Her eyes widened, her wild gaze swept around, and her arms tightened around the baby, as if she were preparing to shield him with her own body.
John and Jane looked in the direction indicated and saw several Chevrolet commercial vehicles speeding towards them, screeching to a halt outside the concrete block.
The large tires screeched as they hit the rough concrete, kicking up long-simmering dust. The vehicle lurched like a steel monster out of the city fog.
Then, assassins dressed as special forces officers jumped out of the commercial vehicle, joined the group of assassins initially stationed outside, and cautiously approached the unfinished building.
Their steps were swift but controlled, marching in silent formation, their movements synchronized like a well-trained killing machine. The streetlights reflected off their jet-black helmets and chest armor.
Jane extinguished the cigarette that had turned to ash: "Honey, it looks like we can't wait for your savior."
The voice was calm, almost a gentle taunt, but beneath it was an unconcealable bitterness. The last of the cigarette's smoke drifted like a hope slowly fading into the air.
John fell silent.
His face tensed, his eyes staring blankly into the distance. His jaw clenched, but no words came. Only a heavy sigh hung in the air like an invisible weight.
The surroundings were eerily silent, and the three of them were on high alert, waiting for the large number of assassins to arrive.
The smell of wet concrete and rusted metal hung in the air, mingled with the scent of gun oil and cold sweat. Everything felt like the final seconds before a storm struck.
The wind blew gently through the empty window frames, producing a shrill hum.
The subtle jingle danced between the pillars and the concrete, like a whisper of death slipping through the cracks of the world.
Suddenly, the man, who had experienced a life-changing change, turned abruptly, raised his pistol, and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Two bullets shot straight toward the doorway.
However, they missed their target.
In the dim light, a bright flash of blade light appeared, followed by two soft thuds, and two bullets were fired to the side.
The man's eyes suddenly narrowed.
He had never seen bullets cut by a samurai sword before.
However, this didn't frighten him.
On the contrary, his gaze hardened, fueled by curiosity and the honor of a long-time warrior who never succumbed to surprises.
The man was about to fire again, but John stopped him with a determined voice: "Wait! That man is our reinforcement!"
Kagenobu Yoshioka was dressed in a black ninja costume and wore no mask. His cold face was expressionless.
Nobu's gaze was calm, like a samurai from a long-gone era. Nobu's hair was neatly tied back, and his body moved silently, like a shadow animated by revenge and discipline.
Kagenobu Yoshioka swung his katana and stepped aside to clear the way.
Lance walked out, followed by two men—Mr. X and Cross.
Their leather shoes clattered against the concrete floor, emitting a steady echo. Like a mafia leader in a classic movie, Lance strode with a swagger, dressed in an elegant black suit untainted by the dust of the outside world.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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