Melone's blood pooled on the clean corridor floor, slowly spreading outwards.
Trish's mother's newly replaced IV drip steadily released drops of clear fluid—the source of life and the light of victory.
"Illuso will not have died in vain," Risotto mused, a sharp glint flashing in his dark eye sockets. "His resolve is now in my hands."
Trish's mother had become a vegetable, and Trish had been taken away by Bucciarati's Team, but the scales of victory once again tipped in favor of the Assassination Team.
Melone lowered his gaze, staring intently at the IV fluid. He knew that as soon as the fluid pulsed, it meant the Boss's time erasure had begun.
"I've seen through his ability. I suspect he can't attack during the time erasure," Risotto analyzed calmly. "Otherwise, he wouldn't have failed to attack during two instances of time erasure."
"During time erasure, we will continue to move according to our original operating rhythm, and we won't be able to see his movements."
Risotto analyzed carefully, his gaze never leaving the IV drip.
Diavolo was hidden in the darkness, their every move under his watchful eye. He trembled with anger, not expecting Risotto to see through his ability so quickly.
According to Risotto's analysis, it was possible that even his Epitaph would be seen through.
Epitaph was originally derived from his King Crimson's time erasure. Without Epitaph, he couldn't see the opponent's movement trajectory, and time erasure would become unreliable.
The fury in his double pupils could no longer be concealed. He had to kill them in the hospital, otherwise, once his ability was exposed, winning would not be easy.
Melone was currently transmitting his ability to all members of the Assassination Team; he had to be killed—
He hid in the dark corner of the hospital corridor, then moved slightly, fully exposing his body under the fluorescent lights.
"Thump—"
"Thump—"
The sound of leather shoes echoed in the empty hospital, sending shivers down one's spine. Diavolo, expressionless, walked towards the emergency room of the woman who represented his past.
"This is..." The sudden footsteps made Melone's eyes widen.
Risotto couldn't help but let out a cold snort from his nose. With an expression that showed he had expected this, he said, "As expected, after we discovered his ability, he decided to kill us to silence us."
"You three!" Risotto shouted loudly, his back to the doctors and Nurses: "Hide in the restroom! No matter what happens, even if you have to gouge out your eyes, don't look!"
"I don't want ordinary people to get involved in my fight."
The immense pressure from the footsteps made the doctor and Nurse stumble and run into the restroom, which even single rooms had, and lock the door from the inside.
"Look closely, Melone!" Risotto looked up at the IV drip, then said to Melone, "This is the final battle."
Melone took a deep breath, leaning his back against Risotto, constantly vigilant. According to Risotto, the Boss could move continuously during the erased time, and they wouldn't be able to see him. At the same time, objects that were already in motion would definitely continue to move along their original trajectory.
As the footsteps slowly approached them, Risotto's nerves were stretched to their limit. Then he whispered to Melone, who was also so tense that he was breaking out in a cold sweat: "Relax, Melone. Your only task is to get the message out."
"Leave the rest to me."
"I won't let any more of my subordinates die."
Melone looked at Risotto in surprise, and a feeling of reassurance, like that of a powerful father figure, welled up within him.
The Italian mafia is structured in family units, and the Assassination Team is an independent family. Risotto's strength is what binds this group of diverse and often conflicting personalities together.
He is a true godfather; the Assassination Team's independence surpasses any other form within the organization, even Bucciarati's Team, because the Assassination Team's rebellion was unanimous, whereas Bucciarati's Team even had Fugo betray them.
The reason for their complete betrayal of the organization, of course, is that Risotto is more like a true mafia godfather than the Boss.
Melone nodded vigorously, took out his phone, and sent messages to the entire Assassination Team, notifying them to come to the hospital.
"Always… always…"
The footsteps abruptly ceased, and a magnetic voice appeared out of thin air, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps—
"Always… the past has always pursued me…"
"I want to completely erase the past, let it vanish with the winds of Sardinia…"
"But—"
This was the Boss's voice, the man who commanded the entire "PASSIONE"… "No matter what I do, I can't erase it completely…" Risotto listened carefully as the Boss continued, "So I decided…"
Diavolo's voice had not yet stopped when he suddenly appeared outside the emergency room's glass window—
Risotto's eyes widened as he looked at the man with a bare torso and long, vibrant pink hair. His terrifying double pupils stared silently at Risotto.
"So I decided to treat it as a trial," Diavolo said expressionlessly, "Should I say, as expected of you, Risotto…?"
Diavolo slowly walked to the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, less than five meters from Risotto.
"An organization as large as 'PASSIONE' will always have traitors."
"These traitors are also my trials."
Diavolo's entire body was exposed before Risotto's eyes. Risotto slightly narrowed his eyes, and a terrifying pressure emanated between the two absolute powerhouses. This sharp aura permeated the air; ordinary people would find even breathing difficult.
While watching Diavolo, Risotto manipulated his Metallica to form a tiny needle at his fingertip, piercing his own finger from the inside. Blood slowly flowed down his finger, dropping slowly onto the pristine marble floor, blossoming like flowers upon landing, like plum blossoms in white snow.
"This trial will end here."
Diavolo's vibrant red hair moved without a breeze. His pupils were extremely strange, with only a triangle and a circle in a double pupil, which were once said to be the eyes of a legendary demon.
This being, not even truly human, stood sideways before Risotto, like an inhuman demon.
Diavolo, truly worthy of the name. From the day his mother gave him that name, from the day he was born without a father—
A devilish existence with a dual personality—
His name is Diavolo.