Under the gaze of Jeanne's cold golden pupils, the three members of Penguin Logistics, realizing that the situation was far from simple, quickly assumed defensive stances.
When they saw those eyes, their bodies couldn't help but shudder. They instinctively reached for their weapons, but unfortunately, their gear wasn't with them; they only grasped at thin air.
"Who are you? You actually dare to impersonate Penguin Logistics personnel to break people out of the Lungmen Guard Department... aren't you afraid of the retaliation once you're discovered?"
Texas stared at the woman before her. Aside from vigilance, there was a trace of doubt in her eyes—a feeling that something was "off" surged from the bottom of her heart. How exactly did this woman deceive the senior inspectors of Lungmen? And why did she wait until they were here to knock out the LGD guard? What kind of power stood behind her?
Countless questions flooded Texas's mind. This woman was a total mystery. Texas hoped to fish for some information so that even if they were taken away, they could leave a trail for others to follow.
"Who am I? I'm actually pondering that question myself right now~ Anyway, there are plenty of people in this city who want Penguin Logistics to disappear, so why fret over the details?"
At this moment, Jeanne gave herself a mental thumbs-up for her performance as a villain. She hadn't expected that, as a dignified Saint, she would actually have a talent for playing the "bad guy."
Jeanne felt around the unconscious prison guard for a moment and soon found the keys.
"Alright, you three 'little' darlings can come out now! But let's make a deal—how about you follow me quietly? It'll be a waste of energy if I have to knock you out and carry you."
As she spoke, Jeanne inserted the key into the lock. While appearing very skilled at turning the complex mechanism, she wore a "kind" smile directed at the three people in front of her. However, what Jeanne considered a gentle smile looked utterly sinister to Texas and the others; it was the look of a terrifying predator staring down its prey.
"Don't waste your energy. This lock has a special structure. If you don't turn it in a specific sequence, the key will snap. Be careful not to twist it the wrong way and break the key inside."
Croissant spoke with forced calm, but her legs were secretly tensing. The moment Jeanne opened the door and relaxed her guard, Croissant planned to use the horns on her head to ram her out of the way.
Beside her, Texas and Exusiai were also prepared. The moment Croissant initiated the charge, they would attack Jeanne simultaneously. Having worked for Penguin Logistics, they had seen all sorts of situations. There was no way they would surrender just because the opponent held the upper hand. Even Exusiai, whose combat power was significantly lowered without her guns, wouldn't give up resistance and follow her obediently.
Creeeeak—
Sure enough—though they didn't know where she had learned the method—Jeanne successfully opened the door.
Simultaneously, the moment the door swung open, Croissant's legs exerted force as she lunged toward the iron gate. If she actually hit her mark, those bovine horns would act like a pair of knives, piercing Jeanne's unprotected body.
However, if Jeanne dodged Croissant's attack, she would face a pincer attack from Texas and Exusiai behind her. In that case, Jeanne would be forced into a passive position. As long as the two of them could stall her, Croissant would have enough time to run out and find the LGD for backup.
To come up with such a plan and act on it in such a short window spoke volumes of their chemistry. Unfortunately, they had still underestimated Jeanne's reaction speed.
Jeanne used only one hand to easily neutralize Croissant's charge. With a swift sidestep, she dodged the tackle and then locked her arm around Croissant's neck, rendering her immobile. She used Croissant's body to block the exit, creating a blind spot that prevented the other two from striking.
"I'm still trying to negotiate with you. If we really start fighting, it wouldn't be good if I accidentally hurt you. I did promise someone I'd bring you to her in one piece, after all."
Even as she spoke, Jeanne dodged an incoming strike from Exusiai. She suddenly released her grip on Croissant's arm and, before Exusiai could react, she lunged toward the top of the Sankta's head.
Strangely, Exusiai, who had no time to dodge, didn't feel a hint of pain. She only saw a black-sleeved arm flash over her head, and then... nothing happened.
"Eh? What's going on?"
While Exusiai was still trying to rescue Croissant and hadn't realized what had occurred, she saw Texas looking at Jeanne with extreme vigilance, no longer daring to attack.
Exusiai turned around and saw Jeanne holding a strange "fluorescent tube" in her hand. With a sinister grin, Jeanne stood there casually twirling the tube.
"Eh! Is that my halo? How on earth did you do that? You can actually take that thing off my head?!"
Exusiai felt the top of her head and found that it was indeed empty. She stared at the scene in disbelief. Even in Laterano, she had never heard of anyone being able to remove a halo. If their halos were ever obstructed by something, it usually caused an intense, uncomfortable reaction.
"But hey, thanks anyway! That thing has been a headache for me for a long time! Even if I give it to you as a gift, it's no big deal."
Exusiai flashed that characteristic, heartless smile, seemingly mocking Jeanne's choice to trade Croissant for the "fluorescent light" on her head. She didn't seem to care about the halo at all. Therefore, their only priority now was to find a way to escape. As for the halo, whether she got it back or not was irrelevant, as long as she and her friends were safe.
However, just as the three of them prepared to leave, Jeanne's voice, laced with a hint of arrogance, made them stop in their tracks.
"Do you really not care? I didn't expect Miss Exusiai to be so fearless. Your life is currently in my hands, yet you can say such things so nonchalantly."
"What do you mean by that! Make yourself clear!"
Hearing that her friend's life was in danger, Texas looked at Jeanne with eyes full of fury. She didn't know what Jeanne had done, but if Exusiai was in peril, she would protect her even if it meant taking Jeanne down with her.
"Don't you know? If a Sankta's halo is destroyed, the owner's life comes to an end as well. And I, as it happens, know exactly how to break it."
Before Jeanne could even finish her sentence, Texas lunged like a true wolf, sprinting toward Jeanne to snatch back the halo.
"Pity. You are far behind me in both strength and speed."
As she spoke, Jeanne slipped the halo over her own hand and, in a few swift moves, had Texas restrained.
What Texas found most incomprehensible was that Jeanne could have ended the fight with a simple kick to her abdomen. Why did she go to the trouble of using a gentler method? Texas was certain that with Jeanne's speed, she could have easily timed a strike to incapacitate her.
"Let Texas go. You're here for me, right? I'll go with you—just let the two of them leave!"
Did I overact? This was supposed to be a prank, but now I've become a full-blown villain—the kind of boss that taunts the protagonists.