The peaceful atmosphere vanished in an instant.
BANG!
Another gunshot echoed through the street.
Then another.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The sound ricocheted between the buildings like thunder.
People screamed.
Mothers grabbed their children.
Shopping bags fell to the pavement, their contents scattering everywhere.
Someone shouted,
"Run!"
"They have guns!"
Within seconds, the once lively street descended into complete chaos.
"B-Brother Benny..."
Xavier's small hand trembled inside Benny's.
His ice cream slipped from his hand and landed on the ground.
Benny immediately crouched before him.
"Xavier."
The little boy looked up, his face already pale.
"Listen carefully."
"I'm going to hold your hand."
"No matter what happens..."
"Don't let go."
Xavier nodded rapidly.
"I won't."
Benny stood, gripping the boy's hand tightly.
"Let's move."
The two tried to head away from the crowd.
Unfortunately...
Everyone else had the same idea.
Hundreds of frightened people surged toward them.
A man accidentally slammed into Benny's shoulder.
Another stumbled into Xavier.
"B-Brother!"
Benny quickly pulled the little boy back into his arms before he could fall.
"It's okay."
"I'm here."
He looked around.
The road behind them had already become blocked by panicked civilians.
The only remaining path...
Led toward the intersection where the gunfire was coming from.
"Damn..."
Several hundred meters ahead...
The Grand Meridian Hotel had become a battlefield.
A black armored convoy sat trapped in the middle of the road.
Luxury sedans formed a protective circle around one particular vehicle.
Bodyguards in black suits had already taken cover behind the cars.
Bullets flew through the air.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The sound of automatic rifles echoed relentlessly.
One bodyguard shouted,
"Boss!"
"It's an ambush!"
"The southern route is blocked!"
Another yelled into his radio,
"Sniper!"
"Nine o'clock!"
The rear door of the central sedan opened slowly.
Nathan stepped out.
His polished leather shoes landed calmly on the shattered pavement.
His black suit remained immaculate despite the chaos surrounding him.
Marcus hurried toward him.
"Boss!"
"Please stay inside the vehicle!"
Nathan ignored him.
Instead...
He calmly slipped one hand beneath his jacket.
Click.
A matte-black pistol appeared in his hand.
His cold blue eyes swept across the battlefield.
One glance.
That was all he needed.
Three shooters.
One sniper.
Two escape routes.
One fake retreat.
A trap.
Nathan pulled back the slide.
A round entered the chamber.
Without hesitation—
Bang!
A sniper hiding atop a nearby building cried out as his rifle spun from his hands.
Before anyone could react—
Nathan turned.
Bang! Bang!
Two masked gunmen attempting to flank his men immediately dropped behind cover.
Marcus stared.
"...Boss..."
Nathan spoke without looking at him.
"They're buying time."
"They're waiting for something."
Another explosion erupted near the hotel entrance.
Smoke quickly filled the street.
One of Nathan's men shouted,
"More vehicles approaching!"
Nathan calmly changed magazines.
"Hold this position."
"No one advances."
"No one retreats."
His men answered in unison.
"Yes, Boss!"
Meanwhile...
Benny and Xavier struggled against the rushing crowd.
People shoved past them without looking back.
Some cried.
Others desperately searched for missing family members.
"Benny!"
A woman nearly knocked Xavier off his feet.
Benny immediately pulled him into his chest.
"You okay?"
The little boy nodded, although tears had already gathered in his eyes.
"I'm scared..."
"I know."
Benny forced a reassuring smile.
"We'll be alright."
He looked around again.
Then his heart sank.
Without realizing it...
The crowd had carried them closer to the intersection.
The sound of gunfire was now deafening.
Smoke drifted across the road.
Burning tires released thick black clouds into the sky.
"B-Brother..."
"I don't like this..."
Benny squeezed Xavier's hand.
"Neither do I."
"Stay close."
Very close.
Across the battlefield...
Nathan fired another precise shot.
Bang!
One attacker fell back behind an overturned van.
Marcus glanced toward the terrified civilians.
"They're trapped in the intersection."
Nathan followed his gaze.
Dozens of innocent people had nowhere to run.
Then...
Among them...
He saw a familiar figure.
A young man shielding a little boy with his own body while trying to push through the frightened crowd.
Nathan's expression changed ever so slightly.
"...Him?"
Marcus frowned.
"You know that civilian?"
Nathan didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on Benny.
The same university student who had stood in the rain days earlier.
The same young man who now placed himself between danger and a child without hesitation.
Just then—
Another wave of terrified civilians surged forward.
Benny and Xavier were shoved directly toward the middle of the intersection.
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
"...Shit."
Marcus immediately understood.
"They're walking straight into the crossfire."
Nathan holstered his pistol for only a second before speaking in a calm, commanding voice.
"Driver."
The driver turned.
"Boss?"
"Bring the sedan around."
Marcus looked at him in disbelief.
"...Boss?"
Nathan drew his pistol again.
His icy gaze never left Benny.
"We're getting them out."
Marcus hesitated.
"But that's the hottest part of the battlefield."
Nathan slowly began walking forward.
"Then clear me a path."
The bodyguards immediately raised their weapons.
"Protect the Boss!"
Gunfire erupted once more.
Nathan didn't run.
He walked.
Every step steady.
Every movement calm.
His pistol rose again.
Bang!
One attacker trying to rush Benny was forced back behind a concrete barrier.
Nathan continued forward without breaking stride.
Behind him...
His men followed.
The feared Devil of Haven City...
Was personally walking into a hail of bullets.
And Benny had no idea that help was coming.