BWDC:SDDK Chapter 15: The Master of Fear
A figure.
A figure dressed in cheap casual clothes had appeared out of nowhere.
At this very moment, he stood positioned right between the bank robber and his inside accomplice.
He stood very close.
However, the bank robber had absolutely no idea when this person had appeared.
His eyes were trembling.
He realized that every word he had just exchanged with the accomplice had been overheard by this ghost-like individual.
In that instant, the robber's hand instinctively tightened around his pistol.
When one holds a weapon, murderous intent arises naturally.
Facing such a dangerous situation, the thought of killing flashed through his mind immediately.
And the robber acted on it instantly!
However, just as the pistol rotated, about to be aimed at Ren Ichimonji—
Pain.
An incredibly intense pain surged from his arm joint.
The robber's face twisted in agony.
His hand gripping the pistol had been contorted at an unnatural angle, far beyond the limits of a normal human range of motion.
The palm holding the weapon naturally lost all strength.
The pistol slipped from the robber's control.
The bank employee who had been exposed as the accomplice flashed a ruthless look in his eyes.
If they were going to do this, they had to go all the way.
He let out a loud shout: "I'll help you!"
He lunged forward, intending to snatch the gun and perhaps kill under the guise of an accidental discharge.
However, Ren Ichimonji didn't even spare him a glance.
With just a light tap of his toe—
The force-generating techniques mastered from a fusion of over a hundred different martial arts styles exploded against the accomplice.
In the next moment, the accomplice was sent flying at an incredible angle.
He slammed violently against the nearby wall.
It felt as though his internal organs were tossed into chaos.
The accomplice clung to the wall for a brief moment before dropping and hitting the floor hard.
His bones seemed broken—every single one of them.
His body was now completely beyond his control.
The situation had entirely exceeded his expectations, entering an uncontrollable territory.
The bank robber, who had his arm dislocated the moment he tried to act, let out a strange cry.
The pain, combined with the terror of seeing the accomplice's miserable state, nearly crushed his resolve.
Ignoring the gun and the money bag on the floor, he turned to bolt for the back door, desperate to escape.
However, that figure appeared before him like a phantom.
At that moment, the robber's legs turned to jelly.
He collapsed backward, landing uncontrollably on his backside.
Ren Ichimonji stood with his back to the light, shadows wrapping around his body like a cape.
The clearest thing the robber could see were his eyes.
Eyes that seemed to radiate an immense fury, as if ready to tear his target into pieces.
--- Batman is a master of inducing fear.
He is a host recognized by the Yellow Lantern Ring.
Even the most cunning criminals feel terror in the presence of the Batman.
This small, insignificant bank robber was naturally no exception.
Ren Ichimonji took one step, then another, and another toward the terrified, retreating robber.
Each step landed like a heavy hammer against the robber's heart.
His shadow draped over the robber's body.
It felt like falling into an ice cellar, being cast into an endless darkness.
A hand gripped his collar.
The man, weighing well over a hundred pounds, was hoisted up by Ren Ichimonji as if he weighed nothing at all.
Ren stared deathly at the robber and asked:
"Tell me, who are you? Who is your partner?"
Fear completely shattered the robber's psychological defenses.
He shrieked in terror: "I... I am Toru Saeki! My... my partner... no, the—the mastermind!"
"The mastermind is Noboru Taniguchi, the one you just sent flying!"
"I'm just an accomplice! Let me go! If you want to kill someone, go kill him!"
Noboru Taniguchi, who was sprawled on the ground unable to get up, raised his head in grief and indignation upon hearing this.
If he were capable of speech right now, he would have shouted something like, "You shameless scoundrel, how dare you bark such lies in my presence!"
--- He and Toru Saeki had met at a casino.
Both were absolute gambling addicts who had even fallen into the clutches of loan sharks.
They had formulated this bank robbery plan together just to pay off those debts and return to the casino to enjoy themselves. How did he suddenly become the "mastermind"? The ship of their friendship had capsized instantly!
Whish.
Ren Ichimonji released his grip, letting Toru Saeki fall to the ground.
On one hand, there was no longer a need to keep dealing with Saeki.
On the other hand, the one-minute "Batman Time" provided by the "Downing a Cup of Coffee" effect had expired.
As someone who had crossed over from the real world with a physical condition barely above sub-health levels, trying to effortlessly lift a heavy man with one hand was honestly a bit much for him.
If he hadn't let go, he might have been pulled down by Saeki's weight himself.
[Medium Difficulty Security Task Completed!]
[50 points reward has been credited, please check!]
The system's light screen popped up at the perfect time.
Ren Ichimonji nodded slightly.
Everything had gone exactly as he expected.
To the Batman of Gotham City, the common criminals of Beika Town were nothing more than fodder that could be dealt with within a single minute.
As long as he activated the state after the target appeared, medium-difficulty security tasks were no problem at all.
However, the thing to deal with now wasn't the fifty points, but...
"So... so amazing!"
Suzuki Sonoko's excited voice rang out.
Her eyes had almost turned into stars.
--- Who wouldn't love a sunny young man with such a massive contrast? Someone who could be as destructive as a landslide in motion, yet as quiet as a literary scholar when still?
Well, he was still "sunny," mostly...
"Mr. Ren Ichimonji, how on earth did you do that?"
Ran Mouri, standing beside Sonoko, was also secretly shocked.
Such speed and power were definitely beyond her own.
Even in a national high school karate tournament, he would likely take the top spot with ease.
In her mind, the only person who could perhaps be compared to the terrifying speed and explosive power Ren had just displayed was her idol—
--- The national-level martial artist who had never lost in four hundred matches: Kyogoku Makoto!
"I-is that so?"
The noticeably older man among the bank staff swallowed hard.
Then, he spoke up loudly: "Mr. Ren Ichimonji, thank you so much!"
"Not only did you stop the robbery, but you also helped us identify the inside accomplice!"
"Truly, we are immensely grateful!"
--- Whether he was actually grateful or not was secondary.
The second young lady of the Suzuki Financial Group had already expressed her approval.
If he didn't follow suit, it would be like he was looking to go bankrupt.
As the manager of the Beika Park Branch of the Teito Bank, Kazuo Ebisawa knew exactly where he stood.
Setting aside the fact that he already needed favors from the Suzuki Group, even if he had no connection to them, openly opposing their second young lady would make it very difficult for him to keep his position as branch manager.
Regardless, he would offer praise and compliments first.
Everything else could wait until the officers from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrived!
End of Chapter
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