Chapter 98: Vengeance!

"Hmm?"

Luke's figure blurred through the forest, but he couldn't help but stop in his tracks as he felt a sudden disturbance behind him.

"...Shit."

Turning around, he sensed a familiar surge of Nen emanating from the direction of Meteor City.

"What's going on, Director?"

Everyone looked confused.

Luke scratched his head and said, "Change of plans, we're going back..."

"Give me all of your valuables!"

He shouted, opening his palms wide.

"Huh?"

This command left everyone looking at each other, unsure of how to respond.

Meanwhile, back in Meteor City, the immense pressure suddenly vanished the moment it had appeared, as if it were nothing but an illusion.

However, people were already trembling, and some had even passed out from fright.

"Urghh... What the hell?"

"What's happening?"

"I don't know, but isn't that smoke?"

Despite their confusion, some of the stronger individuals managed to stay awake and cautiously made their way outside.

As they emerged, they were surprised to see dark smoke billowing from the direction of their favorite new spot, Dumpster Delights.

Realizing this, they began to swarm toward the restaurant, only to witness Raymond holding the lifeless body of someone they knew very well.

"..."

The atmosphere suddenly grew eerily quiet, with only the crackling of the fire intensifying behind them.

Despite the heat from the flames, a chill seemed to settle over them.

Frustration clenched everyone's fists as they beheld the scene before them.

Taka was...

...their favorite waiter and the mascot of the restaurant.

He had brought laughter and joy to them every time they came over with his innocent and sometimes naughty behavior.

However...

"Sigh..."

...seeing him lifeless and pierced by a protruding flint knife with his gruesome condition, they could only release heavy sighs, unable to find the words to express their grief.

"...We took nothing from them," Raymond spoke slowly, his words carrying weight that resonated with everyone present.

"We initiated no conflict against them."

"...Yet they have taken from us... a joyous soul... innocent blood..."

"..."

Each phrase uttered by Raymond caused a tightening in the hearts of those listening, as if they were experiencing his emotions as their own.

"...They have crossed the line..."

An overwhelming aura of bloodlust emanated from Raymond's body, filling the air with an intense tension.

However...

Instead of fearing him, everyone around felt a surge of anger, as if they shared Raymond's perspective.

"...!"

Instinctively, they too exuded their own aura of bloodlust as they gritted their teeth in anger.

"We have never turned them away, for we turn away no one. Yet they have taken from us... someone... precious..."

With his crimson eyes blazing fiercely, Raymond declared, "They shall pay for this... life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe..."

"...!"

Sakujiro looked on with a mixture of disbelief and awe at the scene unfolding before him.

As he observed Raymond's crimson eyes glowing with an intensity, Sakujiro couldn't shake the feeling that he was witnessing something beyond human comprehension.

"He's leveraging their emotions, manipulating them to rally to his cause..."

Sakujiro thought to himself, realizing what Raymond was doing.

Sakujiro sensed genuine anger emanating from Raymond, indicating that he was truly outraged by the death of an innocent in this conflict.

However...

To maintain such a composed and calculated demeanor in the midst of such intense emotion was utterly otherworldly!

"I thought he was a dragon..."

Sakujiro could feel he was sweating.

Still...

....his perception was shifting as he realized...

...Raymond seemed more akin to a demon in his eyes now!

Yet, amidst his conflicting emotions, there was a glimmer of hope.

Sakujiro's face contorted with a strange mix of joy, anxiety, anticipation, and fear.

"...He might truly be able to give me what I desire..."

After some time, they finally buried Taka's body in front of the restaurant, surrounded by everyone who had regularly visited the establishment, now gathered to mourn.

Sakujiro approached Raymond and asked, "What do we do now?"

He seemed to have accepted the fact that they were now aligned, with Raymond leading the way.

"..."

Raymond fell into a brief silence as he silently observed Sin, who was kneeling by Taka's grave.

He appeared to have passed out from grief, tears drying on his cheeks.

Raymond's eyes sharpened as he answered, "...We'll attack."

"...Understood."

On the other side of the city, Watanabe sat in silence before turning to Sajin, "Have you checked on what's going on?"

They had felt an intense surge of Nen a while ago, which had alarmed them deeply.

However...

"...There seems to be nothing wrong," Sajin replied after a brief silence.

Watanabe frowned, feeling doubtful.

It shouldn't have been an illusion since everyone felt it, but he shook his head.

"Forget it. How about the elders' whereabouts?"

"According to our men, they are still staying in their hideout. We should still be able to conduct our attack by tonight as planned," Sajin nodded before answering.

"Alrig---!!!"

Watanabe was about to nod in satisfaction before his eyes widened in shock as he shouted, "Get out!"

However, it was all too late as a deafening explosion suddenly occurred.

BOOM!

The impact sent everything blasting away, tearing the place to pieces. Dust filled the air, causing everyone to cough violently as it obscured their vision.

Watanabe, who had sensed the danger in advance, could only frown as he swiped the dust off his shoulder.

He glanced at Sajin, who appeared to have reacted safely as Sajin turned and shouted, "Everyone's alright?"

"...Urgh."

"What the hell is going on?"

"...My arms hurt."

Turning to his men, he saw that only the strong ones were uninjured, while the rest had sustained minor injuries.

"This is quite unexpected, but they should be able to fight..."

Watanabe then turned to the culprit who stood in the middle of the wreckage and spoke, "...I thought you were smart by running away earlier like a little girl. Now you've come back?"

"What are you? How could you be so foolish to return..."

Watanabe couldn't help but shake his head as he sighed, unsheathing his sword.

As the dust slowly settled, Raymond's figure, with Sakujiro standing beside him, was revealed.

"...So they're the ones!"

Everyone's eyes sharpened as their killing intent flared up, focusing on these two figures.

"..."

Sakujiro didn't say anything.

His Nen surged, forming an Ice Armor that slowly covered his body. In his hand, he held a kitchen knife like a dagger.

And Raymond...

...his crimson eyes glowed brightly as he held his chopstick and spoke, "...I am vengeance."

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