"Hehe, Ryuuto, this guy's hilarious!"
Gwen couldn't help but giggle, clearly amused by Jett Storm's ridiculous outfit and over-the-top swagger.
"Yeah… just a thief who thinks looking flashy makes him scary. What a joke," Ryuuto muttered, shaking his head in disbelief at the gang before him.
"Who dares mock our famous Mopper Bandits? Looking for death, huh?!"
The surrounding robbers, seeing Ryuuto and Gwen as just two ordinary people, roared in defiance and swung their oversized bags of stolen loot—ready to make trouble. But they instantly regretted it.
"It's… noisy!"
Ryuuto glanced at them with pure disdain, ignoring their bluster. Smiling at Gwen, he said casually:
"Gwen, block their mouths. Don't let the stink get in the air. Honestly, it's all trash anyway."
"Got it!" Gwen grinned mischievously, spinning his hands and shooting out tough, lightning-fast cobwebs. In seconds, the robbers were slammed against the walls, immobilized, their mouths sealed tight. Horror and panic filled their eyes.
"Damn it! Who are you guys? You really going to fight the Moppers?!"
Jett Storm, finally realizing he couldn't control the scene, pointed angrily at Ryuuto and Gwen, face full of rage.
[Ding! New A-Level Mission Released: Successfully subdue the Star Lord and return all stolen property to the owner. Rich rewards await!]
"Piece of cake. Take down this thief? Too easy."
[Good luck then! Whee!] Shion's cheeky voice echoed in Ryuuto's mind.
Ryuuto smirked. "Of course. When I go out in person, there's nothing I can't handle."
The mission details filled his mind instantly. He was finally interested, and Jett Storm wouldn't slip away that easily.
"First, stop pretending you're some big-time gangster. You're just a band of common thieves. Ever heard stealing's illegal?" Gwen teased, hands on her hips, smirking.
"Second, meet my Spider-Man! In New York City, you don't get to play thief!"
"Yes! That's perfect!" Ryuuto applauded, then zeroed in on Jett Storm, who was sneaking around:
"Kid, I suggest you get caught fast. Otherwise, you won't just be arrested—you'll be fed a real nightmare!"
"Bah! I don't care who you are! No Mopper scum can make us submit!" Jett Storm shouted, eyes cold.
"Then fight if you dare. Let's see who's stronger!"
Jett Storm raised his elemental guns and fired explosively, laughing maniacally: "Eat this, bomb!"
White light flared in the night as bombs rocketed toward Ryuuto and Gwen.
"Gwen, watch out! Elemental guns are dangerous!"
"No problem, leave it to me!"
With their enhanced reflexes, Ryuuto and Gwen dodged effortlessly. Gwen's confidence surged, and he leapt across eaves and walls toward Jett Storm, ready to neutralize the bandit.
Shadow Clone Technique!
Ryuuto wasn't about to let Jett Storm escape either. Forming a complex series of hand signs, over two dozen Shadow Clones sprang into action, instantly encircling the area and cutting off every escape route.
"Hey, Jett Storm, thinking of getting away?" Ryuuto taunted, his eyes glinting with mischief as he landed among the immobilized robbers.
"Abandon your gang, huh? You guys really are reckless, cold-blooded, and merciless!"
"Despicable! Don't hurt them! The Moppers will never forgive you!"
Jett Storm's hands slowed involuntarily, anxiety creeping in.
"Nowhere to run!" Gwen announced, dropping from the sky. Jett Storm's body froze, a bad premonition spreading through him.
Before he could react, Gwen stomped down heavily on his back, sending him sprawling to the ground. Both elemental guns wobbled precariously in his grip.
"Ah! No!" Jett Storm screamed, flailing wildly, terrified by the overwhelming situation.
"Cough… cough! This hurts… death…" he whined, utterly defeated.
"Still remember pain? That's the fate of thieves. You deserve it," Ryuuto declared.
Gwen landed triumphantly beside him, fists clenched and a victorious grin on her face.