"Who are you?! Why… why did you kill Kava?!"
Loda staggered back in panic and collapsed onto the ground.
"Why are you asking such a strange question?"
The Sarkaz man tilted his head slightly, as if genuinely puzzled by Loda's words."Just a moment ago, you were plotting how to kill us. Why are you so surprised when it's your turn?"
Revy chuckled slightly and tapped his own head, as if to say, "Are your brains even working?"
Loda certainly wasn't in the mood to laugh.
This man had clearly entered the inn with Amiya just moments ago, yet somehow appeared next to him out of nowhere—and silently killed Kava right under his nose.
Weren't they told Amiya was just a regular researcher?Wasn't the company she worked for just a normal pharmaceutical business?
But this guy's skills… even Blacksteel's elites might not match him!
Are all pharmaceutical company people monsters?!
"Alright, I've been kind enough to answer your question. Now, how about answering mine?"
Loda's heart raced. He scrambled backwards on all fours.
"W-what are you talking about? I don't understand…"
Loda's ears twitched, and his eyes darted about nervously."We just… we just saw that you and the lady looked fancy, assumed you were rich… I get it now! We won't try anything again! So please—!"
"That's a bit of a stretch."
Revy shook his head in disapproval, clearly unconvinced."I won't deny that Rhodes Island's uniforms aren't something you'd find at a street market, but calling them expensive? That's a bit much."
"Also, I'd advise against reaching for the gun behind your back. Or try it, if you like—just don't be surprised if you lose a few fingers in the process."
"Eek!!"
Whether it was Revy's chilling words or the overwhelming difference in strength, Loda gave up.He dropped the pistol behind him and raised both hands in surrender.
"Good. Now, your answer?"
"I… I don't know!"
Loda tried to look as sincere as possible, but his shifty eyes gave away his lie.
"You don't want to sell out your employer, huh? Afraid it'll ruin your reputation and future jobs?"
Revy narrowed his eyes."Understandable… but that kind of thinking requires one crucial condition."
"W-what condition?"
"You'd need to have a future first."
In the blink of an eye, the man in front of him vanished—and then came the searing pain in his right hand.
"Gahhhhhh!!"
Loda screamed silently. Somehow, his right hand had been twisted into a tangled mess!
A thick branch had been shoved in his mouth, blocking any sound from escaping.
"Okay, let's try this again."
Revy reappeared in front of Loda with a friendly smile, as if he hadn't just dislocated his hand and gagged him.He pulled the branch from Loda's mouth and stared at him calmly.
"Who are they?"
"I… I really don't know, I swear!"
At this point, Loda didn't care about secrecy. The pain in his hand made it crystal clear—if he didn't talk, he'd die.
This man had no hesitation about killing him.
"I've met them, yes! But they were completely covered in black clothing—I never even saw their faces! I don't know them!"
"So, you're just the hired help? A disposable pawn sent to test the waters?"
"Yes! Exactly! We took the job because they paid a huge deposit. They even said we wouldn't have to return the money, no matter what happened. We just assumed they were big clients!"
"Alright. Then you're useless now."
A cold gun barrel pressed against Loda's forehead, sending chills down his spine.
Wait—wasn't he promised safety if he talked?
Wasn't he going to be spared like some insignificant nuisance?
Oh… right. Revy never actually said that.
"Wait! Wait, wait, wait!! Don't kill me!!"
Loda shouted, barely intelligible from panic.
But the man before him didn't move. His finger on the trigger began to tighten.
"I have intel! Important intel! Please don't kill me!!"
Desperation filled his voice—he hoped anything would stop that trigger finger.
"…Speak."
The pressure eased slightly. The gun lowered, and Loda exhaled in relief.
But he knew he wouldn't survive unless that finger came completely off the trigger.
"That group who came to us—I couldn't see their faces, but I heard something important. I've always had good hearing. They didn't realize I overheard part of their conversation!"
"What did you hear?"
"If I tell you… will you let me go?"
The trigger finger tensed again.
"Alright, alright! I'll talk!"
Loda was practically in tears, both terrified and frustrated."They were whispering right before they left. I heard a name—'Steiner Zokrei'!"
Revy frowned. He didn't recognize the name.
"He's a volcanologist around here! That's all I know—I swear!"
Loda prayed that Revy would show mercy. As long as he lived, he could return to the bandit gang outside the wildlands and rise again.
Kava's death would be a problem. Losing his right-hand man would be troublesome.
But if he survived—just survived—he could reclaim everything.
A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years.
"Very well. Thank you for your cooperation."
The finger finally came off the trigger. Even the barrel left Loda's forehead.
"T-thank you for your mercy…"
"—Goodbye."
…Huh?
Before Loda could even process the meaning of the word, everything went dark.
And then—his consciousness faded away.