The Duel (after battle)

This really isn't a great start, fellas… Haah. It's never easy, is it?

Hey, at least we got a nice warm-up. It wasn't all bad.

I don't know, this seems more serious than our usual street brawls…

Ishmael's right. They weren't your everyday thugs who pick fights with random people for no good reason.

They were contracted by someone to specifically target and eliminate Hong Lu.

And given how open they were about their intent, calling it a 'contract'… it doesn't seem like whoever gave the contract was exactly going for subtlety.

Then… maybe this is what Jia Xichun was talking about way back when she mentioned surviving as Heirs?

Whoever's behind this must have a bone to pick with Hong Lu.

Indeed. It seems that we must expect more skirmishes like this going forward.

Alas, was this trial not readily overcome?!

Not the point… think on it a little more.

<Seems like they're assuming that Hong Lu's brought something here in order to participate in that 'Family Hierarch Evaluation'...>

<... Then there's no reason to assume that we've seen the last of them. They're going to try again to take out the competition.>

A highly accurate assessment of the situation by the Executive Manager. I expected no less from someone of your genius.

Mmm~ Goin' for the classics of brown-nosing today, Outis?

Since when was it 'brown-nosing' to compliment a job well done? Do you not expect -

This inane conversation is most riveting, but I would prefer some silence while we wait.

It seems that the company foresaw such difficulties. They've sent you a support team to help handle this issue.

We heard voices coming from behind us, from where Vergilius pointed.

My... you guys still haven't learned how to stick to the plan, have you?

It really threw me off when I was told to meet you in some Backstreets location, away from our agreed rendezvous point.

A familiar voice. A voice we could not forget.

Been a while, everyone.

H-hi, I'm here too… hehe.

We turned around to follow where the voice was coming from… and recognized the two people we've been hoping to see again.