About ten minutes later...
Lycaon glanced at his pocket watch, then looked up at the mess scattered across the floor. His voice was low and steady. "Everyone, leave a few who are still conscious."
"Huh?"
Ellen turned at the sound, then looked back at the rebel under her giant scissors—already completely unconscious.
She blinked, thought for a moment, then casually kicked the man down the steps. Folding her hands behind her back, she pretended nothing had happened.
A hint of helplessness crossed Lycaon's face. His gaze lingered on Ellen for a moment before he reluctantly looked away and turned to the others.
"Corin?"
Hearing her name, Corin jolted like she'd been shocked, clutching her chainsaw tightly. She turned around timidly, panic flickering in her eyes.
She hurried to apologize, her voice shooting up from nerves. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lycaon! I thought they could take a bit more, so..."
Looking at the trembling Corin, Lycaon could only sigh. "Have confidence in your own strength, Corin."
"Yes, Mr. Lycaon! Corin will remember!"
Corin bowed again, flustered to the point it was unclear if she'd understood at all.
Lycaon's gaze shifted again, this time landing on Rina as she drifted out from behind the wall.
Sensing his attention, Rina instinctively turned her head. She met Lycaon's expectant stare and immediately understood what he meant.
But the moment she remembered the rebel she'd electrocuted unconscious behind the wall, a faint embarrassment crossed her lovely face.
Still, as the head maid of Victoria Housekeeping, proper decorum was essential.
So Rina straightened her back, lifted her chin, and let the awkwardness fade, replacing it with a warm, gentle smile. Covering her mouth with one hand, she said:
"Oh my! Those fellows showed such disrespect toward my children, so I may have gone a little overboard."
Before Lycaon's expression could grow stranger, Rina turned slightly, looking toward the far side of the wall.
"Still, I believe Phaga left a few tongues behind."
Just as she said...
Soon after, Phaga appeared, one hand gripping the collar of a man as he dragged two rebels toward them.
Only when he got closer did everyone see clearly.
Both rebels had lost their helmets, and blood streamed from their knees. Phaga had dragged them all the way here, leaving four long streaks of blood behind him.
He tossed the two rebels at Lycaon's feet, crossed his arms, and said, "I asked a few questions. This one's the squad leader, and this one's the deputy."
As he spoke, Phaga tapped each one to confirm.
The deputy captain, the meeker of the two, rolled his eyes and quickly identified who was in charge. He immediately wailed:
"Boss! Boss, I'm new to this job! They forced me into it! Please spare me—just this once!"
He wriggled toward Lycaon, trying to grab onto his leg. But Lycaon stepped back, letting him fall short, his expression showing clear impatience.
Still, as a gentleman, he forced himself to stay composed and polite. "Deputy Captain, please observe basic courtesy. Otherwise, I will consider handing you over to New Eridu Public Security."
Hearing even a hint of leniency, the deputy brightened instantly. He scrambled up and nodded frantically. "Yes, yes—"
"Yes my ass!"
A sudden smack hit the back of the deputy captain's head, the crisp crack echoing as he kissed the floor.
Everyone turned in surprise toward the indignant squad leader, thinking for a moment that he was a man of unwavering loyalty.
But the very next second, the man who'd looked furious moments ago suddenly grinned like a bootlicker, rubbing his hands together as he fawned:
"Um… Mr. Thiren. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you everything. I know far more than this useless deputy. Just don't hand me over to New Eridu Public Security afterward."
Anyone in the rebel business knew their line of work meant gambling their lives. Once Public Security got them, a public trial was inevitable—life imprisonment at best, death entirely possible.
So the moment he sensed Lycaon wasn't fully set on handing them over, the squad leader threw his dignity away without hesitation. He'd happily stomp on it—and on the deputy's too.
Damn it! How dare this guy steal my chance!
Lycaon gave him a long, searching look, then asked directly:
"Very well, Squad Leader. Why did you try to stop us? Was it because of Miss Rain?"
Everything that happened at the Ballet Tower had felt suspicious. There was no way no one was pulling strings, and Rain remained Lycaon's prime suspect.
But the squad leader's answer genuinely stunned him.
Stealing a glance at Phaga nearby, then noticing the scrutiny in Lycaon's eyes, the squad leader flinched and quickly replied:
"That's part of it. Since you're that bitch Rain's—Miss Rain's reinforcements, we were naturally ordered to eliminate you…"
His voice grew quieter and quieter, terrified of offending them. Then he hastily raised it again:
"But we knew right away from your looks alone that you were all skilled fighters—way out of our league! I wanted to run from the start, but the deputy dragged me along—!"
"Bullshit!"
A hand suddenly shot out from under the squad leader, grabbing his face and shoving him into the ground.
The deputy scrambled upright and, to ensure the squad leader couldn't get up, sat on him with his full weight. Looking around, he said:
"Don't listen to his nonsense! He only thought of running after he realized he couldn't win."
"No wonder he's the squad leader—he's the fastest runner in the entire unit! They call him an experienced veteran, but really he's just got tons of practice fleeing!"
"You—!" The squad leader's eyes bulged, too furious to speak.
Nearby, Phaga fiddled with Kunmutu. "Funny. I don't remember you being much slower than him."
He'd caught the two himself, and when he'd chased them down, their escape speeds had been almost identical.
"Heh, well, he trained me. Of course I followed the same path up the ladder!"
The deputy scratched his head sheepishly.
"You're really proud of that…"
Phaga pinched the bridge of his nose and stopped talking.
"Heh."
Putting on an awkward smile, the deputy quickly added, "Everyone, there's one more reason he didn't mention!"
"We got two contracts this time—and the targets overlapped!"
"Eliminating the vampire Phaga inside the Hollow was also our mission!"