E726I
Unhh?!
A... strange tune crashes through the sound of this fierce battle.
Is this... electronic dance music? Something about it sounds familiar.
Hah... finally.
Thanks to the merry chase you've led me on, I have slid ever so slightly further into the world of the bristly.
Let's see. Title 2, Section 11... ah, Row C. The punishment for those who dare to flee from the Middle's retribution begins by tearing their legs apart from the groin.
I will make sure you suffer for all of my time you wasted.
W-what the fuck is that blighter doin' here?!
The hell's wrong with you?! You've been stalkin' us all along?!
Since when is chasing after a thief conflated with stalking? I'll have you know that I'm still banished from the world of the luscious thanks to you who dared to pinch my hair coupons...!
W-what the hell? Where'd they come from?!
... You guys are just pissing people off left and right, aren't you...?!
Zilu, take 'em out!
... What an utterly insular fool.
What did you say?!
Do you not know? That man...
What's the Middle doing here?!
... Ricardo, a Big Brother of the Middle.
The man who slaughtered the Sinners like they were nothing - the man who almost forced me to self-destruct.
<Faust... don't tell me I have to get ready for that again...>
... No. Not yet.
According to the evaluation data at the LCE, the Sinners' powers had grown since their time at the Great Lake.
Our chance of victory against this individual has risen to a meaningful degree to forfeit the battle before it even begins.
B-by how much...?
... Enough to put our faith in the... uncertainties.
Alrighty then... enough with the background noise.
I don't know what your business is with these thieves, but...
... I've personally traveled all the way to the eastern part of the City because I simply must exact my vengeance against him with my two hands.
I could've simply informed my Brothers in the East and let them handle this, but… that just wouldn't do. I was determined to see this through to the end myself... even if it meant asking a Great Brother of the east for a favor.
So you there, half-pint and his cute mini entourage... get the hell outta my sight. The Middle's Book of Vengeance comes first.
Half-pint?! HAH! Keep babbling that fat lip of yours, minion of the Fingers! You don't scare me at all with your cheap hairdo and that garish as hell, botched dye job! You're in the H Corp. turf now! I-I am -
…….
... Wow. Just wow. Bloody hell, mate. That's messed up.
He's far too absorbed in his own foolishness to see he's walking into his own demise.
Unexpectedly, Ricardo's face wasn't contorted with wrath, even after enduring that barrage of insults. Instead, he looked… surprised. A moment of silence followed, during which he seemed to be absorbed in thought…
Whew... impressive. You... you just set a new record.
You are the current record-holder for 'how fast can I get written up in Ricardo's Book of Vengeance?' challenge, boy. You did it in 15 seconds.
Then, with trembling hands, he reached down to grab his Book of Vengeance, opened it, and began to write something down on the paper. Slowly and deliberately, as though to make each stroke of pen count.
Unfortunately, your audacity is... terminal. I will rip your jaws apart myself as punishment.
Boys! Make sure that this little band of thieves won't get away while I deal with this pipsqueak!
W-what the hell is this asshole talking about?! Hey, Zilu!
Haaaah...
Who the f... actually, I don't care. Stop me if you can.
Effective immediately, the punishment for all involved parties and bystanders at the site of your crimes... shall be complete and total extermination!
I-I think we can slip away unnoticed in this mess...?
<Uh... I don't think we've got much of a chance there...>
Ricardo practically rocketed toward where Zilu and Shi Yihua were standing in a burst of speed...
... but his henchmen had already begun to slowly surround us as he ordered.
Ready your weapons, everyone. Payback time for what happened at the Great Lake. Let's do this.
Besides... I've got a score to settle with that son of a bitch.