"Boss… are we really just going to let him go like that?"
This was already the third time Kunlun had asked the same question in the past hour.
Liu Feiyun had finally had enough.
"What else can we do?! If we stop him, then what—what exactly do you propose we do?!"
His voice rose sharply, whether directed at Kunlun or just venting at the whole situation.
"Intel. Goddamn intel! Those damned intelligence brokers were clearly bought off by Panlong. They were using us as scapegoats from the start!"
"But… are you sure that guy was telling the truth?"
Kunlun still looked unconvinced. But Liu Feiyun shut him down immediately.
"Do I want to believe him? Of course not!" he shouted."But when you look at the details—every single one checks out!"
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
"Why did the city's Guard Bureau break the usual underworld rules and intervene so directly? Why did Panlong stay completely silent after we seized that shipment?!"
"—Because we were being used from the start! We're just pawns in someone else's power game!"
Suddenly—
A third voice entered the room.
"Now you understand."
Both Kunlun and Liu Feiyun turned sharply.
At what had been an empty corner of the room, a figure was now standing silently.
"…Patron!"
There was a hint of relief in Liu Feiyun's voice.
Because this was the true core of Liu Gang—their mysterious Patron. From the generation before Liu Feiyun's, this man had silently guarded the gang for over 70 years.
Strangely, he looked like a teenage boy—no older than eighteen.
"You… saw what happened?"
Liu Feiyun hesitated, then decided to seek advice. He remembered that the Patron had strongly opposed attacking Panlong in the first place.
The boy nodded—then shook his head.
"Feiyun, it seems you already know what was right and wrong."
"I… I do, Patron."
"Don't rush to apologize. I'm not here to scold you."
The boy raised three fingers.
"First—after hearing that man's information, I pieced together some context. A bit of intel I guessed on my own."
He lowered one finger.
"Second—regarding the Seventh Prince… I happen to know a little inside information. I can say for sure: that man wasn't lying."
Liu Feiyun's eyes widened. He opened his mouth to speak, but—
"Third—whatever you're about to say, don't bother."
The boy lowered the last finger.
"Even if you added me into the mix, that man could still kill all of us. Easily."
Kunlun and Liu Feiyun both gasped.
They knew how powerful the Patron was. Liu Gang's long-standing standoff with Panlong wasn't because of wealth or numbers—it was because of him.
In the last 70 years, Panlong's "Dragonwing Guardians" had gone through 17 successors. Fourteen of them had died at the hands of this mysterious boy.
And now, he was saying he couldn't beat Revy?
"But… you haven't even fought him yet. How do you know you'd lose?"
Kunlun blurted out. Liu Feiyun clearly had the same question.
The Patron gave a strange look.
"You both know… I'm not a normal Aaslan, right?"
The two nodded. That much was obvious.
The Patron explained slowly:
"Because of my bloodline, I've lived far longer than normal people. I didn't need training—my strength grew naturally."
"But when my blood sensed his blood… it was immediately suppressed."
"No matter how I tried… I couldn't overcome the fear. That instinctual, blood-deep fear."
He looked at them both seriously.
"That's when I understood: the gap between me and him is only a little."
"Just a little…?"
Kunlun's eyes widened. He wasn't convinced.
"If it's just a little difference, then if we attack together with the whole gang, couldn't we win—?"
"You fool!"
The Patron snapped.
Kunlun shrank back, still confused.
The Patron exhaled deeply and looked at them again.
"When I said 'a little'… I meant his one finger."
"With just one finger—he could kill me."
—Scene break—
Revy furrowed his brows, looking past Blue Gold to see the new arrival: a second Kuranta.
Long silver hair, identical outfit—but white instead of blue. She was even more beautiful than Blue Gold.
But anyone focusing only on her face would regret it—because slung across her back was the same deadly composite bow Blue Gold carried.
"...Blue Gold, no introduction?"
"She's the current Platinum."
Blue Gold said flatly.
"She was supposed to drag me back home… but now she's just my little tail."
"Aw, don't be like that~"
Platinum smiled brightly.
"I risked getting hunted by Kazimierz to skip out on my mission. Can't I get a little appreciation?"
"Sure, I'm so touched I could cry."
Blue Gold rolled her eyes and glanced at Revy helplessly.
"Looks like I won't be shaking her anytime soon. Boss—what now?"
"What now? Nothing."Revy shrugged."If she wants to follow, let her. You'll handle it, won't you?"
Then he fixed his eyes on Platinum, his tone turning cold.
"But let me say this—Blue Gold is my partner now. That means she's half my employee. If I find anyone trying something shady while she's under my protection—"
"—I'll make sure that person dies slowly. Don't say I didn't warn you."