In the living room of the villa. Austin was holding a cigar in his mouth, slowly pouring white liquor into a glass.
"Three years no see, and you welcome me with bullets?" Tenshin Kōsuke and Danica walked into Austin's villa. Tenshin Kōsuke walked over and directly took the drink Austin had just poured.
"I was originally planning to greet you with an RPG." Austin glanced at Tenshin Kōsuke, then took out another glass and poured himself a drink. "If your voice hadn't changed, you two would be dead already."
Tenshin Kōsuke chuckled, raised his glass, and clinked it with Austin's. Both gulped the liquor down.
"Who's that woman?" Austin, holding his glass, looked at Danica who was standing in the living room, looking around.
"My ex-girlfriend." Tenshin Kōsuke put down his glass and looked back at Danica, who happened to turn her gaze towards them.
"Good taste." Austin muttered, then tilted his head back and chugged the remaining liquor in his glass.
"Enough about that, Austin, I'm in trouble." Tenshin Kōsuke's face suddenly turned serious. Austin frowned, sat on the sofa, and looked at Tenshin Kōsuke.
"I'd like to know what kind of trouble it is, that even you find troublesome."
"Sit down." Tenshin Kōsuke and Danica sat on the sofa together. Austin took out a red box from under the coffee table. He opened the box, revealing five cigars inside.
"Want one?"
"Top-grade MONTECRISTO."
Tenshin Kōsuke waved his hand, indicating he didn't need one. He rubbed his temples, a pained expression on his face. "You should probably finish listening to my story first."
Austin shrugged, puffed on his cigar, and gestured for him to continue. "It's like this, it all started with someone named Johnny..."
Five minutes passed. Tenshin Kōsuke recounted the entire incident, from beginning to end, to Austin. Austin's jaw dropped in surprise as he looked at Danica, who was dozing off beside him.
"This woman must be sent by God to torment you."
"Anyway, I need your help, Austin." Tenshin Kōsuke looked at Danica sitting next to him and sighed.
"No, what do you want me to do to help you?"
"Or rather, what kind of help can I offer you?" Austin scratched his head, looking troubled. His old friend hadn't been seen in three years, and the moment they met, it was a big problem.
"Help me send her to the Kakin Empire."
"I'm confident I can evade the Pegurose Federal Bureau of Investigation's search, but taking her with me would be very inconvenient."
"You're not leaving? Are you actually going back?"
"According to what you said, that Umbrella Corporation is no small force. Even the three small fry they sent are Nen users."
"You want to die?" Austin jumped up from the sofa, startled by Tenshin Kōsuke's words.
"Then what do you think I should do?" Tenshin Kōsuke didn't answer, instead looking at Austin and retorting.
"You and that woman leave Pegurose together. Either go to the Kakin Empire and meet up with your team."
"Or you take this woman back to your hometown."
"Wait for things to blow over, change your identity, and you can go anywhere you want." Austin sat back on the sofa, took a puff of his cigar, and said.
"No, I still plan to go back and investigate thoroughly."
"As for Danica, I'm entrusting her to you, Austin." Tenshin Kōsuke turned to look at Danica, who was already asleep, his voice softening.
"You just need to send her to the Kakin Empire. I've already contacted my old team members for a pickup."
"Are you really going to do this?" Austin asked again, but Tenshin Kōsuke didn't answer. Austin couldn't help but place the cigar in his mouth into the ashtray, pressing the tip down until it extinguished.
"Damn it!"
"You bastard, we've been old friends for over ten years, and you actually have the heart to drag me into this!"
Austin stood up helplessly. He knew Tenshin Kōsuke's personality and didn't try to persuade him further. He immediately pulled out his phone, dialed a number, said a few words, and then hung up.
"I've contacted the snakehead. Tomorrow, I'll send your woman to Patilus, and then I'll accompany you to infiltrate Umbrella Corporation Headquarters."
"It's already very late tonight, so let's rest for now."
Tenshin Kōsuke nodded. He was indeed a bit tired. Of course, the most crucial part was that Danica was already too exhausted to keep her eyes open.
After discussing their plan for tomorrow, Austin got them some food, they took showers, and he carried Danica into a guest room on the first floor. He then unceremoniously lay down next to Danica, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
"Tap..."
After an unknown amount of time, Tenshin Kōsuke's eyes suddenly snapped open. He heard a faint footsteps.
"Shh." Austin patted his shoulder, pointed outside, and whispered.
"Outside, a group of unfamiliar friends has arrived."
Tenshin Kōsuke's expression immediately hardened. He got up and gripped the katana he had placed by the bed.
"How many people?"
Tenshin Kōsuke and Austin both crouched, lightly approaching the left and right sides of the living room window, standing against the wall.
"Four cars. I estimate at least sixteen people." Austin and Tenshin Kōsuke cautiously peered over the edge of the window, observing the situation outside. Four SUVs with their headlights on stopped in front of his car. More than ten fully armed personnel gradually exited the vehicles.
"My God, these people's equipment is no worse than the best special forces in the world."
"Who exactly did you provoke?"
Austin spoke in astonishment, but he involuntarily stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. Tenshin Kōsuke glanced at him. He knew his old friend loved all sorts of firearms, even more than women. Austin was currently thinking about whether to fire a round at the opponents right now.
"Bang bang bang bang..."
But this thought lasted only a moment. The two only saw flashes of light from the opposite side, followed by a rapid succession of gunshots. Bullets hit the wall, creating small indentations.
"Shatter..."
The two quickly ducked. The window glass shattered with a "whish," and broken glass shards rained down on their heads.
"Damn it!" Austin cursed, shaking his head to dislodge all the glass shards. Then he raised both hands, cupping them. A ball of white aura surged into his hands, materializing two M1911s, which he casually tossed to Tenshin Kōsuke. He then materialized an Uzi submachine gun for himself. Without even looking up, he raised the submachine gun and unleashed a frantic spray of bullets towards the outside.
"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat..."
Nen-materialized submachine gun. The bullets it fired were powered by aura. The unique gunshots were continuous. At the same time, Nen bullets struck the ground, "thudding" and kicking up dirt. This lasted for five or six seconds before ending.
"Hahaha, satisfying!" Austin laughed heartily. In close-quarters combat, submachine guns had a fast firing rate and fierce firepower. At this range, the suppressive fire was undoubtedly extremely powerful. The gun body was light and maneuverable, making it the top choice for spies and private bodyguards. And Nen users could materialize firearms whose ammunition was provided by their own aura, so they didn't need to change magazines midway.
"Those idiots definitely don't know that my villa's outer walls are specially reinforced."
"Ordinary assault rifle bullets can't even penetrate them. These walls can't even be blown up by bombs."
Austin smugly raised his Uzi submachine gun, about to continue firing.
"Wait, Austin!" Tenshin Kōsuke stopped him, signaling him to be quiet. He then pricked up his ears, carefully listening for sounds and movements outside.
Austin also sensed something was wrong. In the quiet night, the forest was pitch black and silent, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.
Tenshin Kōsuke shook his head at Austin, then made a gesture, asking if there was another exit in the villa. Austin shook his head. The villa only had one exit, the front door.
"Hoo..."
The two slowed their breathing, focusing all their attention on their hearing and perception to discern the enemy's movements outside. Austin was fine, but Tenshin Kōsuke, having practiced martial arts since childhood, had extremely high sensitivity. The entire world seemed to fall silent. They could even hear the faint sounds of the cold wind rustling the flowers, grass, and leaves outside.
"What's going on?"
"Why is there no sound outside?"
Austin listened for a while, felt something was off, and quietly gestured to Tenshin Kōsuke.
"Use En?"
"No, our En range is too small. Your En's maximum range is only ten meters."
"And my En is mainly for combat support; its range is three meters." Tenshin Kōsuke shook his head. The people outside were at least a hundred meters away. Extending En here wouldn't even cover the steps outside the villa's entrance.
"How about we retreat first?" Austin tilted his chin, indicating Danica in the guest room. With a woman present, they couldn't fight freely.
Tenshin Kōsuke didn't hesitate and nodded. The two stood up, intending to leave the window.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, with a loud bang, an arm pierced through the specially reinforced wall. Five fingers formed a claw, reaching for Tenshin Kōsuke below.
"Rip!"
Tenshin Kōsuke pressed his left hand against the three bloody claw marks on his shoulder and back, his face grim. If he hadn't dodged quickly, it wouldn't have just been three claw marks; his entire right shoulder would have been torn apart.
"I'll go!"
Austin, on the other side, was startled. Without thinking, he raised his Uzi submachine gun and pulled the trigger into the hole.
"Rat-a-tat-tat..."
Nen bullets shot out through the holes in the wall, and the arm quickly retracted, disappearing.
"Didn't you say your walls were specially reinforced and couldn't even be blown up by bombs?"
"Shit, you ask me, who should I ask!?" Austin's face was also ugly. This slapping was too fast. He had never imagined that someone could break through his villa walls with just physical ability, and even make a hole in the wall. What a joke, how strong was this guy's Ren? Ordinary rifle bullets probably couldn't even harm him, right?
"Crash...!"
Suddenly, the sound of glass shattering came from behind the villa. Tenshin Kōsuke and Austin's faces changed simultaneously.
"Damn it!"
The two immediately turned and rushed towards the guest room where Danica was.
"Boom!"
Just as the two rushed towards the guest room, the sturdy villa door was forcefully kicked open, and a large number of guards poured in, pulling the triggers on their rifles, aiming at the two running figures.
"To you, Austin!"
The sudden turn of events didn't make Tenshin Kōsuke lose his judgment. He decided to save Danica himself, while Austin, with his ability to materialize firearms, was well-suited for fighting against multiple opponents.
"No problem!" Austin grinned in response, rolling on the ground. As his body rolled across the floor, he swiftly materialized another Uzi submachine gun.
"Come on, you sons of bitches!" Austin cursed, rising like a war god. With an Uzi in each hand, he aimed at the guards at the door and pulled the triggers.
"Rat-a-tat-tat..."
Nen bullets struck the guards' bodies, causing them to groan in pain. Their bodies were sent flying or knocked down by the powerful impact, lying on the ground, unable to move.
"Whoosh!"
A black shadow flashed from the window and disappeared. Five fingers spread into a claw, a large amount of aura wrapped around the fingertips, like sharp blades cutting through the air, tearing cloth like a fan, instantly enveloping Austin's head, leaving him nowhere to dodge. The attacker was none other than Julius.
Among the seven, Julius had the fastest training speed. Whether it was the Four Major Principles of Nen or the advanced applications of aura, he far surpassed the others. His ability to punch through the specially reinforced wall was proof of his strength.
"Hmm!?"
Austin had already noticed Julius when he broke through the window, but Julius was too fast, and Austin was still shooting at the time. Julius's claw left Austin nowhere to hide. Just as his head was about to be shattered by a claw, resulting in a horrific death—
"Heh..."
Who knew that at the crucial moment, Austin's lips would actually curve into a smile? He raised his two submachine guns and aimed them at Julius, who was attacking him. He managed to block the attack while also counterattacking.
But who would have thought that Julius's true intention wasn't to smash his head with a claw, but to capture him alive.
"Lost Swamp!"
Julius's five fingers, shaped like an eagle's claw, suddenly spread open, revealing his palm. A strange rune appeared in his palm. As the rune rapidly spun, it reflected in Austin's eyes.
"Swish!"
Austin felt a flash of white light before his eyes. He blinked, only to find himself in a misty swamp.
"Where... is... this?" Austin's mind went blank. He had just been in a life-or-death battle, how did he suddenly end up in such a bizarre place?
"Right, it's that guy's Nen ability!" The image of Julius opening his palm appeared in Austin's mind. He looked around. The surroundings were extremely quiet, with no sign of any living creatures. Even his own words created empty echoes.
"Buzz~"
In the swamp behind Austin, ripples spread across the water surface, quickly condensing into a humanoid figure. Its eyes glowed with cold red light. Austin's eyes narrowed. He instantly turned around, gripping his Uzi submachine gun, aiming it behind him, and roared.
"Die~~ Die~~ Die~~ Die~~"
But the moment he turned, he saw nothing. Even the word "die" he shouted echoed endlessly in this empty swamp.
"Nothing..." Austin's face showed frustration. He hated these strange abilities the most. This must be a Specialist-type, right?
Austin's mind raced. He had to find the weakness of this space so he could go out and help Tenshin Kōsuke. But as his thoughts churned, he didn't notice the silent ripple spreading across the water surface beneath his feet. The ripple spread, enveloping his feet.
"Hmm!?"
Austin's expression suddenly changed. Realizing something was wrong, he looked down and his eyes widened.
"Damn!"
He only had time to curse, before his body was dragged into the water. The empty swamp returned to silence.
🚨 Note : Consider to Support this Story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access +300 advance Chapters & 2 Chapters Daily and To Support The Daily Update