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Alubarna.
In the noisy streets, three figures stepped out of an alley. On the left and right, one tall and one short person looked around, as if searching for something. In the center, a big man with a fierce and ugly face smoked a cigar, his expression calm.
The three didn't speak, and wandered aimlessly for half an hour without taking any noticeable action.
It was only then that the shorter youth on the right finally spoke up.
"Where exactly are we going? We've been searching for ages, what are we even looking for?"
The one who spoke was Trens. Ever since they left the outskirts and came here, half the day had passed without them doing anything.
"Yeah, Crocodile, didn't you say we came here for some turf war?" Jason, who was gnawing on a chicken leg he bought from a street vendor, asked in confusion.
"Mm, that's right. And I've already picked the target." Crocodile blew out a smoke ring, his eyes glinting with a menacing edge.
"Who is it?" Trens asked.
A smile curled at Crocodile's lips, his gaze turning sly as he looked at him.
"That rich second-gen who stole your girl. Looks like he's loaded." Jason's eyes lit up. Trens' whole body jolted slightly, and his expression grew complicated.
But only for a moment. Soon, Trens' gaze turned sharp and determined.
"If that's the case, then let's move. A hundred meters straight ahead, that's the kid's front door." Crocodile smiled and pointed forward.
Jason suddenly understood, looking at Crocodile and laughing: "So you had this all planned out, huh, Crocodile?"
"Did you really think I was some muscle-bound, brainless brute like you?" Crocodile shot back with a mocking laugh.
The three had trained together for a while now, and a fledgling bond of camaraderie had started to form.
Trens' past hatred had faded quite a bit. In his heart, he understood well that their comrade's death was more due to those bandits, and Crocodile's sandstorm was more accidental than deliberate. Now that they were part of the same team, although there were still some lingering grudges, after spending time together, suffering under Jason's daily training, a kind of battlefield friendship had emerged.
"Grudges will be settled, and vengeance will be paid!" Jason shouted, and the trio quickened their pace.
Just a hundred meters ahead, inside a manor, Somu reclined on a rocking chair, munching on a bright red apple.
Ka-cha!
With a loud crunch, he bit off a chunk of the apple. Then, impatiently, Somu glanced at the tear-streaked woman standing before him.
"You're still here? What, expecting me to feed you or something?"
"Somu, how, how could you treat me like this?"
The woman, Lusha, looked heartbroken. Her eyes were red, and tears kept falling uncontrollably.
"I only played with you because you seemed innocent and pure. But who knew, you kept climbing up the ladder, and the more you did, the more I hated you." Somu sneered.
"Look at yourself now. Dressed in gold and silver, caked in makeup, you look like you just walked out of some red-light district. Disgusting."
Lusha's eyes widened. She couldn't believe these words were coming from the man standing in front of her.
"You--!"
"Women like you? I just need to crook a finger and dozens will throw themselves at me." Somu let out a cold laugh.
"Now get lost!"
Lusha was devastated, her heart utterly broken. She had abandoned that pure-hearted boy and thrown herself into this man's arms. Yet after only a year, this man had already changed.
She wasn't the kind of woman who liked to cling. Though heartbroken, she held back her tears and didn't make a scene.
"I... I just have one last question." Her eyes locked on the man before her, her voice was deadly serious.
"Oh? Heh." Somu gave a mocking laugh and waved his hand dismissively, turning his head to the side.
"I loved you."
"Now get lost!"
Hearing that cold, mocking reply, Lusha's eyes grew even dimmer. She turned around, ready to leave.
Seeing her so sensible, Somu sneered and bit into the apple again.
Ka-cha!
The bright red apple crunched crisply, sweet and fragrant, it tasted quite good.
"Does she even know her place? A blacksmith's daughter thinking she could marry into my family? How laughable!"
His disdainful sarcasm reached Lusha's ears, piercing her heart like a blade. It felt like something inside her shattered.
Her already-raised foot paused mid-step and froze in place.
Scalding hot tears rolled down her cheeks and splashed onto the ground, breaking into scattered droplets.
At the same time, an overwhelming sense of humiliation surged from within her, consuming her entire being. Her fury ignited. In the next second, she almost turned around to slap that despicable man across the face.
"Bastard!"
Lusha cursed through gritted teeth and turned sharply, but just then, chaotic noises erupted outside Somu's estate gate.
"Who are you people?!"
"Stop them! Go alert the old boss!"
"Take another step and we'll shoot!"
Somu's face showed confusion. He sat up straight and looked toward the courtyard gate. The distance from where he was sitting to the gate wasn't far, and just by turning his head, he could clearly see the entrance.
But the moment he turned his head, his expression instantly changed.
"Ahhhhh!"
A shriek tore through the air as the guards who had rushed out were all sent flying back into the courtyard.
Immediately after, three figures stepped into the courtyard, one after the other. None of them spoke a word, but their presence alone was suffocating, Somu felt like a ferocious beast had locked onto him, and he involuntarily shuddered.
Among the three intruders, two were tall and muscular, exuding pure intimidation. The third wasn't tall and looked rather ordinary, carrying a rifle over his shoulder. But the moment his gaze swept across the area, everyone felt their bodies tense up.
"T-Trens?!"
Somu, still staring in shock at the intruders, suddenly heard the woman he had just driven away shout a name.
"You said that guy is Trens?!" Somu's expression darkened, and he strode quickly over to Lusha.
Outside, cries of pain rang out near the gate, white smoke spiraling upward.
At the front, Jason cracked his knuckles with excitement in his eyes. Beside him, Crocodile calmly puffed on a cigar.
Behind them stood Trens, rifle slung over his shoulder, scanning the area intently, as if searching for something.
"Trens, close the gate. What we're about to do isn't exactly clean work." Crocodile said in a low voice.
Trens nodded, turned back, and shut the gate tightly, bolting it from the inside.
"Heh heh... Trens, I've found your target." Just as Trens turned around, Jason's voice rang out.
Trens froze, then followed Jason's pointing finger. The moment his eyes landed on the figure, his gaze turned razor sharp. And the very same instant Trens locked onto him, Somu's face twisted in horror.
"Damn it, it's those three bastards! You've got some nerve showing up here!"
(End Of This Chapter)