"How bad's the wound?" Shuichi flicked his lighter, aiming to check.
"Not fatal—patched it rough. You..."
Purple-hair cut short—boss's shout echoed: "Aikawa, you there?"
Tension spiked.
Boss packed heat; dim or not, gun ruled.
She'd shot once, spent from Shuichi tussle—drained.
Shuichi hurt? Both doomed.
"Can you move?" Shuichi whispered.
She rose, swaying—wall-propped, short-lived.
"You go," she panted. "I'll hole up."
Red lamp glow: face ashen, sweat-beaded, gut-wrap blood-soaked rag.
"You won't last," Shuichi frowned.
"Together? We drag each other down," she urged. "Go—I won't owe you a life!"
Pigeon-egg ruby shoved in his palm.
"Jeweler's loss—hand to cops. Say Phantom Lady didn't steal; owner staged it."
Insurance scam?
Shuichi pondered, shaking head: "You reclaimed it—you deliver. Owe me a life? Return one someday."
"Hey, you..." She flushed urgent.
Footsteps neared—boss, no answer, checking.
Shuichi scanned, locked on tengu statue: "Hide behind that."
Tight fit, but her-sized.
Trapped if found—no flee, no fight.
No choice; she wall-shuffled over.
Shuichi stripped his shirt, donned the downed thug's tee.
"Impersonate? They'll spot," she hissed.
"Got this." He hauled thug to corner, statue-back—hand dangling bait.
Lit two cig-crackers by him.
Done, back: she hidden.
He face-down, mid-path.
Ticks passed. Footsteps closed—one minute.
"Aikawa?"
Gun drawn, boss eyed prone thug.
"Useless—can't bag one wounded bitch."
Boot-kick: "Not dead? Up and work!"
No stir. Brow furrowed, squat-check—
Bang! Channel ahead—gunshot twin.
Boss blind-fired twice: "Bitch, I know—no gun on you! Gem out, I spare ya!"
Wall-hug creep forward.
Two steps: monster statue—hand protrude!
"Got you, slut!"
Gun barked statue-ward—emptied clip.
Clip out, reload—neck chilled.
Blade kissed skin.
"Aikawa, hogging the gem? Without me, you can't fence it!"
"Yeah?" Shuichi chuckled low. "Too bad—I'm not him. You shot him dead?"
"What?!" Boss reeled. "Who the hell—"
"I..." Shuichi started.
Boss shoved blade-arm, spinning pistol-whip.
"Ultraman?" Face clear—actions lagged shock.
Shuichi slashed empty-gun hand.
"Ah!"
Gun clattered. Hilt-smacks: two to skull.
Boss crumpled.
Shuichi grabbed empty, looted bullets, unmasked—exhale.
Lighter-flare: face matched morning's flower shop bite-victim—balding middle-age.
"Ah, blood! I-I how..." Thug wailed ahead.
Shuichi checked: lucky—shoulder graze only, rest missed.
Pain-woke, clutching howl.
Annoyed, hilt-knock: lights out again.
Thugs down, to statue: "Phantom Lady—handled. Out safe."
"Phantom Lady?"
No stir. Twice more.
Peek: she slumped, out cold.
Dragged free, hoisted back—bolted exit-ward.
Sirens wailed near.
Out: riot shield line; twenty armed cops, muzzles trained.
Familiar bark: "Freeze, hands up... Eh, Hayashi-kun?"
"Three thugs inside—knocked cold," Shuichi briefed. "Megure-keibu, ambulance—girl on my back's shot!"
(End of Chapter)
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.