The air was filled with a chilling, murderous tension. The sound of footsteps drew closer. Yago turned his head, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
From the pocket of his trench coat he pulled out a slender dagger, gripping it in reverse in his right hand while his left hand pressed against the sheath. With a gentle push of his right hand, he slowly drew the dagger out.
The faint rustling sound of metal scraping against the sheath clearly reached Yago's ears.
The instant Yago fully pulled the dagger free, Bill, holding a gun, arrived at the corner where Yago was hiding.
Swish! Yago suddenly opened his closed eyes, exhaled a breath of stale air, and without the slightest hesitation, thrust the dagger in his reverse grip forward.
Clang! At the moment the dagger struck, Bill reacted swiftly. He bent his arm, slightly raised the pistol, and used the body of the gun to block Yago's stab.
At the same time, like a swift cheetah, Yago hunched his body and burst out from the corner.
The moment Bill saw Yago, he decisively pulled the trigger. Yago reacted instantly as well, exerting force with his right hand to jerk Bill's gun muzzle slightly upward.
Bang bang bang!! Several scorching bullets nearly grazed Yago's scalp as they flew past.
Rip! Taking advantage of the brief instant while Bill was pulling the trigger, Yago changed direction, flipping the dagger so the tip pointed downward and slashing out.
A spray of blood burst forth. His wrist injured, Bill was forced to release his pistol.
How could Yago miss such an opportunity? He clenched his fist and delivered three heavy strikes straight to Bill's chest. After the heavy blows came an unrelenting barrage of punches, each one crashing into Bill's chest, forcing him to stagger backward again and again.
Yago did not waste the chance. He seized Bill's wrist, spun around, and delivered a side kick to Bill's face. Instantly, blood and snot flowed as Bill stumbled unsteadily.
Yago released Bill's wrist, gathered a bit of strength, bent his knees, then sprang upward. A heavy knee strike slammed into Bill's chest. At the same time, Yago raised his arm high, bent his forearm, and as his body descended, brought down an elbow strike onto the top of Bill's head.
Bill's body immediately went limp. Bang! His burly frame was kicked flying backward by Yago and fell beside Lara Tybur with a thud.
The entire process happened very quickly. In just a few dozen seconds, Yago had displayed terrifying combat ability. Even Lara Tybur, who stood nearby, was somewhat surprised. But surprised as she was, she showed no panic at all, calmly watching the masked man before her.
The trench coat was very ordinary. Though half his face was covered, judging from the eyes that were visible, he did not seem very old. But why had he come here?
Seeing Bill lying limply on the ground, Yago relaxed his guard slightly. A normal person would be either dead or crippled after that combo.
But the moment Yago relaxed—
Bang! A gunshot rang out. A sharp pain shot through Yago's thigh, and his body staggered.
Clutching his wounded thigh with both hands, Yago frowned and looked at Bill, who had already stood back up.
Bill's face was drenched in blood, making him look terrifying—especially the grin he showed at Yago. His mouth was full of blood, his teeth stained red, making him look even more horrifying.
With two pistols in hand, Bill sneered at Yago.
"Pretty good at fighting, huh, little thief? Come on, let's go again."
Yago lifted his head. Just as he moved slightly—
Bang! His left arm was hit by another shot. The bullet's impact forced him a step backward.
The muzzles of both guns were now aimed at Yago's head. Bill's eyes were filled with frenzied killing intent. He had never been this embarrassed before. This little thief had to die here.
Just as Bill's murderous intent surged, Yago moved. Enduring the searing pain in his thigh and arm, he dashed forward like an arrow, so fast he became a blur.
But no matter how fast—could he be faster than a bullet? Bill could already picture the scene of the thief's head exploding.
Yet what happened next was beyond Bill's expectations. Yago did not charge toward Bill. Instead, he twisted and leapt, suddenly wrapping an arm around the neck of Lara Tybur, who had been watching the show, pressing the sharp dagger against her slender throat.
Lara was stunned. After a moment, she realized—
She had been taken hostage?
Bill was also stunned. He had not expected this at all. From Yago's expression just now, it had clearly seemed like he was ready to fight to the death.
"Let me go. Otherwise, this young lady will likely die here," Yago said in a deliberately lowered, hoarse voice.
Bill immediately hesitated. After all, she was a member of the Tybur family. For old Master Ebson, it seemed they could not afford to offend them. He stared at Yago grimly.
"Kid, are you threatening me?"
"Move!!" Yago growled, pressing the dagger closer to Lara's neck.
After a moment of silence, Bill limped aside, making way. Yago held Lara hostage and left.
Downstairs in the villa, the earlier gunshots had already drawn a large group of guards. But when they saw Yago holding Lara Tybur—a member of the Tybur family—hostage, they were at a loss. Guns raised, they hesitated, unsure what to do.
Yago held Lara hostage all the way to the center of the estate.
"Who are you? Why did you infiltrate the Louis estate?" Lara asked calmly.
Yago's Titan power was repairing the gunshot wounds from earlier. He was too lazy to answer her question. Taking her hostage had been a temporary measure. If he truly wanted to leave, with Yago's Fate Titan, the entire estate's guards would be nothing more than a dish on the table. But Yago did not want to expose his Titan power in Marley.
"This young lady, say less. If you want to leave safely, cooperate with me."
But Lara Tybur remained calm. "You must have had a purpose in infiltrating the Louis estate. The Louis family has always kept a low profile. Only their arms business gives them some reputation. Yet they do not seem to care who they trade weapons with. You likely had no need to sneak in here over arms dealings. So—did you come for Ebson?"
Yago frowned. What was wrong with this woman? The dagger was already at her throat, and she was this calm?
Because in older Eren's memories, Lara Tybur had barely shown herself in front of him. When she did appear, it had been vaguely within hardened crystal, and not long after she had been "cracked open like a walnut" and crushed by older Eren. So even having seen older Eren's memories, Yago did not recognize Lara. He only felt her face seemed somewhat familiar. Besides, at this time, Lara was not wearing a maid outfit.
"No matter who you are, it seems you will not be Marley's friend but its enemy. Since you won't speak, then we'll just have to capture you and make you reveal your identity," Lara said indifferently.
Yago: "?? What are you talking about?"
The next moment, Lara gave a low shout: "Idiot!" Then she proactively reached up and pressed down on the dagger at her throat.
As Yago stood there stunned, blinding yellow arcs of electricity erupted before his eyes.