Chapter 11

Ripper's gaze fell upon Genji, his body trembling with concern, and a wave of worry washed over him. He feared that Genji might have been injured in the confrontation. However, before he could check on him, he needed to deal with Charles, who was still dazed on the ground. With determination, Ripper firmly grabbed Charles by the collar, pulling him up into a sitting position. Locking eyes with Charles, Ripper's voice turned stern and commanding. "Stay down, mate. It's over."

Charles shook off his dazed state, defiance flickering in his eyes as he stared directly at Ripper. "Copperhand will hear about this!" he spat out, his voice dripping with venom. Unfazed by the threat, Ripper met his gaze with an annoyed expression. "Well, I'll deal with him later. Just great," he replied sarcastically.

Swiftly, Ripper extracted a rope from his jacket and bound Charles' hands and legs, ensuring that he couldn't escape. "Now, don't you move," Ripper said, his tone laced with a hint of amusement. With Charles temporarily secured, Ripper turned his attention to Genji, who remained fixated on Jessika's lifeless body, his gaze unblinking. Concern etched across Ripper's face as he approached Genji cautiously. "Are you alright, mate? Did you get hurt or something?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Genji's voice trembled as he whispered, "I... I just took someone's life." Ripper's concerned expression transformed into confusion as he responded in an unconcerned tone, "Yeah? So?" Genji turned towards Ripper, his eyes wide with shock, and demanded, "How can you be so indifferent? I... I just killed someone!" Ripper's confusion deepened as he tried to grasp Genji's emotional turmoil. He replied, "I could ask you the same thing. Why are you freaking out about killing someone, mate? I thought you got hurt or something."

Genji's mind was a mess, consumed by conflicting emotions and thoughts. *Does he seriously not get it?* he wondered, frustrated by Ripper's apparent indifference. Meanwhile, Ripper's curiosity got the better of him, and he wanted to know more about Genji's foresight. "Anyway, moving on from that," Ripper began, "how did you know this was going to happen, mate? And now that I think about it, I don't even know your name."

Genji, still taken aback by Ripper's nonchalant approach to death, reluctantly replied, "Genji. Takeshi Genji." He couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration, going through this introduction once again due to the nature of his power. "Well, they already mentioned my name, so you're aware of it," Ripper responded, "But can you tell me how you knew they were coming, mate?" Ripper asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

When Ripper asked that, uncertainty flooded Genji's mind. He had a sudden thought, *Can I say it?* He didn't fully understand the rules of his power and its potential consequences. Then, another thought crept in, *Should I say it?* If his ability worked as he suspected, people could easily take advantage of him. While Ripper seemed to be the 'kindest' person he had encountered thus far in this world, his nonchalant attitude towards death made Genji hesitate. He couldn't help but question whether it was wise to disclose this secret.

Genji made a decision not to reveal his unique ability at this moment and instead shared a partial truth with Ripper. "I overheard them talking about collecting a debt and how they would resort to organ harvesting if the payment couldn't be made," he explained.

Ripper nodded in understanding, his expression reflecting a mix of surprise and disdain. "Bloody hell, they're audacious to discuss such gruesome things out in the open," Ripper remarked, unaware of the real reason behind Genji's knowledge.

Genji felt a slight sense of relief as Ripper seemed to believe his explanation, although the weight of taking a life still lingered heavily on his conscience.

Genji's gaze remained fixed on Jessika's lifeless body, his mind grappling with conflicting emotions. He repeated a mantra in his thoughts, attempting to rationalize his actions and find solace in the belief that he had eliminated a threat.

"She killed me twice. She killed Ripper without mercy for a debt. She's likely taken other lives without remorse," Genji whispered to himself, the words serving as a desperate attempt to justify his own actions.

He continued to repeat these thoughts, hoping to find some semblance of peace and release from the guilt that weighed heavily on his soul. Deep down, he yearned never to be forced into taking another life again.

Ripper looked towards Charles and then turned his gaze to Genji. "Well, what will you do now, mate?" Genji met Ripper's eyes, confusion evident on his face. "What do you mean?" Ripper gestured towards the lifeless bodies of Dane and Jessika. "Well, we killed them, but like Charles said, Copperhand will come after us. Even if I took down Charles, they'll send people to investigate. They won't believe it was just me acting alone, mate."

Genji was sent to this world with a sense of purpose shrouded in uncertainty. He didn't have a clear path to follow, a defined mission to fulfill, or a specific goal to accomplish. Yet, he clung to the belief in fate, a belief that perhaps this was his destined path. Maybe, just maybe, he was brought here to confront the rampant crime and apathy that plagued the city. To ignite a spark of compassion and empathy among its people, creating a better place where individuals looked out for one another, instead of turning a blind eye. Or perhaps, it was merely a coping mechanism, a way for him to find meaning in the midst of his own suffering and despair.

Genji looked at Ripper and then said, "Well, there is only one thing we can do." Ripper looked at him, intrigued by Genji's statement. "And what's that?" he asked. Genji understood that Copperhand was a key figure responsible for his suffering. "We have to take him down," Genji said firmly. Ripper, taken aback by the suggestion, responded with a puzzled expression, "Huh?"