Chapter 93: Taking Action!

A while ago...

"Hmm..."

Raymond's mind immediately sprung into action as he witnessed the unfolding spectacle.

He assessed the situation with a quick, analytical glance and formulated a plan on the fly.

His movements remained silent and stealthy as he navigated towards the battleground, his expression calm yet focused.

As he drew nearer, he activated his eyes, and his crimson eyes glowed brightly.

The world around him shifted subtly as details became clearer.

"...!"

As Sakujiro and Watanabe stood face to face, he saw a radiant, circular light enveloping Watanabe as the guy closed his eyes, forming an ethereal dome around him as Raymond suddenly felt alarmed.

Watanabe drew his sword at a ridiculous speed, unleashing a surge of Nen energy that surged toward Sakujiro's unsuspecting arms.

The sheer force of the attack and its speed were invisible to Sakujiro, leaving him vulnerable and defenseless.

The second he realized, Sakujiro had lost his left arm!

 "That old man is going to die at this rate..."

As Raymond observed the impending danger facing Sakujiro, memories of their first encounter flooded his mind.

He remembered the suspicion and hostility Sakujiro had shown towards him, branding him as an outsider with dubious intentions.

But despite their initial animosity, Raymond couldn't stand by and watch as Sakujiro faced certain death.

He knew that if Sakujiro could perceive him as an outsider, Watanabe would also recognize that.

"I have to intervene," Raymond resolved, his determination solidifying as he prepared to step in.

In such an uncertain scenario, having someone who desired the downfall of your potential opponent could be considered an ally.

Thus, Raymond took out his kitchen knife and shot it right through toward Watanabe's head.

"Hmm?"

But his surprise was palpable as he watched the second his knife entered the radiant, circular field surrounding Watanabe; it was almost as if Watanabe had seen it coming despite his closed eyes.

In a swift motion, Watanabe evaded the attack by leaping backward, narrowly dodging the knife's trajectory.

"...I knew he would've reacted somehow, but how he saw through the attack was quite unexpected."

Still, those unexpected reactions from Watanabe gave him hints about Watanabe's Hatsu, which was quite an advantage.

Looking at Sakujiro's state, who had lost his left arm, Raymond asked, "You alright?"

"..."

Sakujiro stood in silence, his gaze fixed on the unexpected guests, his expression unreadable.

He pressed his right hand against his shoulder, stemming the flow of blood from the deep wound caused by the loss of his arm.

Ice formed around the wound, closing it off and stopping its bleeding.

"I guess you're alright..."

Raymond muttered softly as he glanced at Sakujiro's arm on the ground before he shifted his attention to Watanabe, who observed them with a wary gaze.

"So, he had to close his eyes to use that, hmm?"

He noticed that the invisible dome surrounding Watanabe began dissipating as Watanabe's eyes flickered open.

"..."

On the opposite side of the battlefield, Watanabe's gaze locked onto the glowing crimson eyes that bore into his own, sending a shiver down his spine.

It was as if those eyes could strip away his defenses and lay bare his deepest secrets.

His attention was drawn to the aftermath of Raymond's attack, where a massive crater marred the ground in the direction of the kitchen knife.

Watanabe's eyes narrowed as he turned back to face Raymond, his expression darkening with suspicion.

"You... You're an outsider, aren't you?"

His voice held a note of accusation, tinged with wariness.

Ever since their first encounter at Dumpster Delights a few days ago, Watanabe had been wary of these outsiders.

He couldn't shake the feeling that someone as formidable as Raymond wouldn't find themselves stranded in a forsaken place like Meteor City unless they had ulterior motives.

Now, faced with the unexpected intervention, his suspicions only intensified.

"..."

And the silence from Raymond only fueled his apprehension, causing him to heighten his alertness to its maximum.

"Damn it! How'd he get here?"

Sajin's frustration was palpable as he struggled to understand Raymond's sudden appearance.

He gestured urgently to his subordinates, who cautiously moved closer to Watanabe.

Meanwhile, Watanabe remained silent without stopping his men.

"..."

His gaze fixed firmly on Raymond, his mind racing with suspicions and plans.

Meanwhile, Raymond furrowed his brow, turning to Sakujiro, "...What do you have?"

"Anything sharp..."

Sakujiro responded, materializing another dagger with his Hatsu.

Raymond shook his head, tossing his kitchen knife toward Sakujiro, "Take this. Your ice dagger won't cut it..."

"...And you?"

Sakujiro's ice dagger melted away as he retrieved the kitchen knife from the ground.

"Me?"

Raymond grinned before he took out a pair of chopsticks that he brought with him, "These will do the trick..."

"..."

Sakujiro fell into silence.

"Listen, old man, when I signal, shut down your aura node," he instructed, deftly twirling the chopstick in his hand, his gaze focused.

"...Got it," Sakujiro responded after carefully observing Raymond's serious expression.

"...A chopstick? Aren't you underestimating me, young man?"

Watanabe's disbelief was evident as he stared at Raymond's choice of weapon.

Raymond remained unfazed, shaking his head with determination.

"It's not just any chopstick. It's MY chopstick!"

"..."

His voice carried a strange conviction, causing a momentary hush to settle over the battlefield.

However...

Despite the incredulous looks from those around him, Raymond's muscles tensed in readiness.

"Now!"

He bellowed, signaling the start of their actions!

"Arghh! What?"

A sudden cry of pain echoed from behind, catching Watanabe off guard.

His eyes widened in surprise as he turned to see a pink-haired girl launching an attack on their flank.

Reacting swiftly, Sajin shouted, "Shit! On your back!"

Caught off guard by Machi's unexpected arrival, Sakujiro hesitated for a moment, glancing at Raymond with uncertainty.

"I'll trust you on this..."

However, he quickly made up his mind, shaking his head and following Raymond's instructions to sever his aura node.

In a swift and stealthy move, Raymond crept up behind Sakujiro, delivering a decisive chop to his neck.

Sakujiro's eyes widened in shock as he staggered, muttering before losing consciousness, "...What?"

Recognizing what Raymond was trying to do, Watanabe quickly grasped the situation, shouting, "Focus on those bloody eyes!"

"I'll see you try..."

Meanwhile, Raymond maintained his smirk, unfazed by Watanabe's warning.

With a powerful kick to the ground, a thunderous boom reverberated through the air, sending a dense cloud of dust billowing towards them.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Watanabe's voice thundered with rage as he swung his sword in a wide arc, cleaving through the dense cloud of dust.

The haze parted, revealing an empty space where Raymond and Sakujiro had vanished, leaving no trace behind, not even Sakujiro's severed arm that had lain on the ground moments ago.

"You son of a bitch!"

His furious cry echoed through the area, punctuating the tense silence that followed.

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