Chapter 10

Genji, desperate to make Ripper understand the impending danger, elaborated further, his voice filled with urgency. "If you can't meet their demands, they will forcefully harvest our organs!" Ripper's initial confusion transformed into immediate concern, his brows furrowing with worry. He exclaimed, "Bloody hell! I don't know how you've come by this information, but thanks for the warning, mate." With a swift motion, Ripper retrieved a weathered pistol from beneath the bed, its well-worn appearance a testament to its frequent use.

Genji, still filled with fear, voiced his concern about Ripper's ability to defend against their assailants. "Are you sure you can fight them off with that?" he asked, his voice trembling. Ripper, understanding Genji's worry, responded with a touch of honesty. "Nah, mate, I ain't no expert in fighting, despite my name. But as long as those bastards don't bring a gun of their own, I reckon I should be able to hold my own." He didn't want to give false hope to his newfound friend and chose to be realistic about their chances.

Ripper then asked Genji a question, "Can you fight by the way?" Genji looked at Ripper with a mix of surprise and disbelief, as if Ripper had asked the dumbest question alive. Ripper quickly realized his mistake and chuckled, saying, "Alright, mate, that was a dumb question to ask." He then reached into his back pocket and retrieved a small knife, handing it to Genji. "But," he continued, "if things go under, you're gonna have to lend me a hand, alright mate?"

Before Genji could say anything, both of them heard a loud banging sound coming from outside the room. Genji's heart raced as he realized that it must be the people Ripper had mentioned. "That's them," Genji whispered, his voice filled with unease. Ripper quickly hid his pistol under his shirt and turned to Genji. "Alright, mate," Ripper said. "You stand by the door and be ready to help." Genji, though scared, nodded in agreement and positioned himself by the door, ready to assist. Meanwhile, Ripper cautiously made his way towards the front door, preparing himself for whatever lay on the other side.

As Ripper opened the front door, he was greeted by the familiar faces of Jessika, Charles, and Dane. "Hey there, Ripper. You doing good?" Jessika said, a teasing tone in her voice. Ripper maintained his composure, keeping his hand close to the hidden pistol. "Yeah, what brings you guys here?" he asked, his voice guarded. Dane's annoyance was evident in his tone as he responded, "Don't give us that shit, Ripper. You know why we're here!" Charles chimed in, confirming their purpose, "For the crowns, of course."

Genji, in the other room, watched the tense exchange unfold. Seeing the faces of those who had caused him so much pain, he felt a surge of anger and fear. Gripping the knife tightly, he tried to steady his trembling hands. Meanwhile, Ripper, attempting to defuse the situation, spoke in a diplomatic tone, "Come on, guys. You know I'll get your crowns when you want them. Can you forgive me just this once? We're mates, right?"

Jessika's question carried a threatening undertone, "So you don't have the crowns we want?" Ripper's reply was hesitant, "Uh, no?" Before any further words could be exchanged, Dane, fueled by anger, grabbed an empty glass bottle from Ripper's table and smashed it. However, Before he could say anything, a gunshot rang out, and Dane looked down to see a hole in his chest.

And all of them turned to see Ripper holding a smoking pistol. "Oops," Ripper said, realizing what he had just done. Before he could shoot again, both Jessika and Charles lunged at him, attempting to overpower him. Meanwhile, Dane fell to the ground, clutching his chest from the bullet wound.

As Jessika and Charles lunged at Ripper, their intentions clear, he relied on his instincts and evasive movements. He sidestepped Charles' wild swing, narrowly avoiding the blow that would have connected with his jaw. Ripper countered with a swift kick to Charles' knee, momentarily throwing him off balance.

However, Ripper's advantage was short-lived. Jessika, fueled by anger and a desire for revenge, delivered a series of rapid punches, targeting Ripper's abdomen and ribs. The blows landed with force, causing Ripper to stagger backward, pain radiating through his body.

Just as it seemed like Ripper was about to be overwhelmed, a sudden turn of events shifted the tide. Genji, despite his physical limitations, mustered up the courage and determination to intervene. Gripping the small knife tightly, he approached from behind, unnoticed by Jessika.

With a swift and unexpected motion, Genji lunged forward, plunging the knife into Jessika's back. A look of shock and disbelief crossed her face as she gasped for air. The pain became unbearable, and Jessika collapsed to the ground, her body weakened by the unexpected attack.

The room fell into a momentary silence as Charles, stunned by the turn of events, paused in his advance. Ripper, clutching his bruised ribs, seized the opportunity to regain his composure. With newfound determination, he delivered a powerful punch to Charles' jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground, momentarily dazed.

Genji, his hand still trembling from the adrenaline coursing through his veins, stared at the fallen Jessika, her life slipping away. He knew he had saved Ripper, but the weight of his actions began to sink in, mixing with a sense of relief and fear.

Genji's initial expectation of satisfaction and relief quickly transformed into a sense of unease and distress as he watched Jessika's life slipping away. The sight of her dying before his eyes caused his hand to tremble uncontrollably. The weight of the situation became unbearable, and a single thought echoed relentlessly in his mind *I just killed someone.*

Nausea engulfed Genji as his breathing became erratic, struggling to find a steady rhythm. The gravity of his actions hit him with full force, filling him with a profound sense of guilt and remorse. The reality of taking another person's life, regardless of the circumstances, overwhelmed him.

"I just killed someone," Genji whispered, his voice trembling with the weight of his words.