Getting a real threat from Gideon terrified Jack. He and Sora had made that armor themselves, using the best materials they could find—stuff that was nearly impossible to damage with any weapon. But today, that confidence was shattered.
The small object in Gideon's hand was able to pierce the armor's wall. It didn't need much metal, just a small piece was enough.
Jack could already imagine the horror of Gideon's weapon if it were ever used against Moko soldiers or adventurers.
"How is it?" Lena asked as Gideon glanced back.
"He's on board. But he has no idea what components are inside this bullet."
"Do we need to head back to Nemora and bring the bullet's blueprint?" Lena asked.
"It seems so. Breaking down this bullet is going to be tough."
"What kind of bullets are we making?" Lena continued.
"For now, 5.56mm and 9mm."
"Got it, Captain."
Gideon was done with his business at Jack's blacksmith shop. He said his goodbyes and was about to leave—until a gang of thugs came barging in, bumping into him, making his eyes narrow.
"What is it, Gideon?" Lena asked.
"Wait."
The five thugs shouted at Jack, all of them in T-shirts and leather jackets, holding wooden clubs and spiked iron rods. Gideon could feel the threat in their presence.
"Did you forget? Today's the deadline for your debt payment. The boss wants all of it paid!" one man barked.
"Please tell Lord Excel I can only pay half for now. I'll try to settle the rest next month."
Jack pulled out ten gold coins he had just gotten from Gideon. Gideon narrowed his eyes—the chains of debt had dragged Jack into poverty.
"What?! That's not enough! Lord Excel wants full payment, interest included," the thug said, still taking the money anyway.
"We… we don't have anything else. Please, give us more time."
Some of the thugs looked around at the swords and armor hanging on the blacksmith's walls, most of them old, dusty, and completely unappealing to knights or adventurers.
They wondered why Jack was even still in business when customers rarely came in.
Their attention then shifted to Gideon, Lena, and Aina. Lena caught their sharp stares and readied herself, hand sliding behind her to grip her SIG M17, safety off.
"You? Are you one of his customers?" the thug asked.
"Yeah," Gideon replied.
"HA! Are you stupid? He and his daughter are the worst blacksmiths in this district. You'll only get rusty, junk swords from them."
"We didn't come for swords," Gideon said.
"Then why?"
"You don't have the right to know. You're not part of the shop staff."
The thug's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed. He hadn't expected anyone to talk back to him—or embarrass him in front of others.
"You… Do you even know who I am?" he asked, pointing his spiked iron rod at Gideon.
Jack saw the situation turning dangerous for his shop. He stepped out from behind the counter, trying to defuse the tension.
"Get out of my way, you piece of trash!" the thug barked.
"H-he's new in town… he doesn't know you. Please, forgive him, sir," Jack said.
Gideon froze, eyes widening in shock as Jack came forward to stand between him and the thugs. The man lowered his head until he was bowing deeply to them, throwing away his pride to protect his new customer.
"HAHAHA!"
STOMP!
"You're nothing but a lowborn. Your place is in the dirt!" the thug jeered, his four friends laughing at the sight of Jack bowing for mercy.
The thug raised his foot and stomped on Jack's head while he was still bowing. Sora saw it, and rage surged through her—pure hatred.
Her fists clenched; she wanted to punch the man humiliating her father.
"You can't do that to my father!" Sora screamed.
But the thugs' grip was too strong. She was trapped. One of them roughly tore her clothes, exposing her chest.
The gang roared with laughter, enjoying the chance to humiliate Jack's family.
Gideon's expression hardened. He reached into his pocket, gripping his SIG M17 tightly. Magazine loaded, safety off. Lena mirrored his movement with her own handgun.
"Aina… wait outside."
"Lena. Five targets. You're cleared to fire."
"Copy, Captain!" Lena responded firmly.
"Suppressors on!"
Gideon screwed the suppressor onto his SIG M17. He stepped forward, aiming it directly at the thug's face.
The man laughed again, mocking the strange black iron "toy" in Gideon's hands—something they'd never seen before.
"You gonna kill me with your weird little iron stick?!" the thug sneered.
BANG!
Gideon pulled the trigger, igniting the primer of the 9mm round, setting off the gunpowder and sending the bullet flying at high speed. It tore through the thug's head, piercing his brain and killing him instantly.
"One down, four more," Gideon said coldly.
Lena raised her rifle and dropped the other four with precise shots to the chest or head—instantly killing.
"Three down, one more!" Lena called.
Gideon strode past the pale, shocked Jack, whose eyes were wide with fear. If he could fulfill Gideon's request, he might just be the only blacksmith who's ever made a weapon of mass destruction.
Sora was trembling—hands and legs shaking in fear at the sheer power of Gideon's weapon.
"S-stop," the last thug holding Sora stammered.
"W-we only came to collect Jack's debt, that's all!"
"I don't care about that," Gideon said calmly. "But you insulted the blacksmith I chose. You insulted Jack's pride. You assaulted Sora."
"That's enough reason for me to kill you."
"I'm part of Baron Excel's family. If you—"
BANG!
A clean headshot cut him off mid-sentence. He dropped dead, joining the other bodies as blood pooled across the blacksmith's floor.
"Sector clear. Weapon low," Gideon reported.
Lena quickly moved to cover Sora's exposed body and led her to the back room to change clothes.
Gideon turned to help Jack to his feet, engaging the safety on his SIG M17. The tension in the air began to ease.
"W-what have you done?" Jack asked, still staring at the corpses.
"Are you scared?"
"Yes. They're part of Baron Excel's group. Of course I'm scared."
Gideon smiled, patting Jack's shoulder to reassure him. They deserved it, regardless of their status. And besides, Gideon had friends far more powerful than a mere baron like Excel.
"If you're scared, you can move and come with me to Nemora Village. I promise, no one will hurt you there."
Jack went quiet. He hadn't made much profit in years living in the city—too much competition with newer, better innovations.
He thought hard. Maybe this customer's offer could change his life completely. He wouldn't know unless he tried.
"How is it? Interested?" Gideon asked.
"I'd have to pack my things. That could take a while."
"Don't worry. I've got a friend who can help you," Gideon replied.
Gideon glanced past Jack and saw Lena returning with Sora, now dressed again. Sora ran to her father and hugged him tightly. Lena stepped closer to Gideon.
"All right. Close your shop. You're coming with me."