「The Bay Area, Pier 2 Street.」
DRUM...
As night fell, the downpour grew louder.
Business was always slow at night, and the violent storm drove everyone inside. The taverns on Pier 2 Street, right next to the docks, were naturally packed to the brim.
Passing merchants, travelers on their way through, and dockworkers from distant mountain towns and small cities who had come to make a living all crowded inside the taverns.
As a few poets among the travelers struck up a tune on their accordions, the tavern grew even more boisterous, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.
Even in a corner of a tavern, one could witness the prosperity of Ogrande City.
"Hic... hic..."
In a corner, a drunkard reeking of alcohol was slumped over a table, letting out drunken hiccups.
Across from him, Zorn sat steadily on an old bench. He had changed into an old, short, brown linen robe and wore a gray, dome-shaped woven hat.
CRACK!
A bolt of purple lightning streaked across the firmament, illuminating Ogrande City through the curtain of rain.
After the flash of light came a viscous, silent darkness.
Immediately after,
RUMBLE...
Thunder rolled in from the distance. Zorn could feel the Kum Quat Liqueur in his cup vibrate, sending faint ripples across its surface.
'What a wonderful night.'
Sitting in the lively tavern, listening to the rain drumming against the windowpanes, gave Zorn a sense of déjà vu.
Zorn's original plan for the day was to meet with the Alchemist, Vladimir Kojin, after seeing Joliya.
However, the Alchemist had sent a messenger with a letter the day before.
It said he had an urgent matter to attend to and would pay Zorn a personal visit later.
Finding himself with some free time after dealing with the matter concerning Joliya, Zorn had come to the Bay Area.
He planned to deal with the gang that had swallowed the Coric Clan's fortune, and to root out the nobleman and the mastermind behind it all.
He would also take the opportunity to test the special "bug" between his two Sequences: Evil Spirit Wizard and Fighting Master.
In Zorn's experience,
The Bay Area and its Docks Gang were a nexus where many "Incidents" converged.
And these "Incidents" were never isolated; they were all inextricably linked.
The end of one "Incident" was often the beginning of another.
In this era of roaring tides, this age of Extraordinary resurgence, a swirling vortex of undercurrents threatened to pull in all who participated.
And the Bay Area was the epicenter of that vortex in Ogrande City.
The interests of not only numerous Esoteric Sects but also the Church were at stake here.
And within these factions were Evil Spirits.
They were all Zorn's targets.
Now, with a Dual Sequence at his command, Zorn was finally qualified to take part in this grand overture, but he still needed to be exceedingly careful.
The Sweetheart Cabbage Tavern, where Zorn currently sat, was a frequent gathering place for members of the Homer Mafia.
The dock transport company his father had invested in was now under the Homer Mafia's control.
Now, Zorn was going to make them spit it all back out—with interest.
Before long, a horse-drawn carriage pulled up on the street outside the tavern.
CREAK!
The door to the bustling tavern was suddenly thrown open.
Aside from a few travelers near the entrance who glanced up at the newcomers, the other patrons remained lost in the tavern's uproar.
Of the three men who entered, the one in the lead was in his early thirties, with a medium build and a beard.
He wore a Fedora Hat, and his leather shoes struck the wooden floor with a firm, resounding CLACK.
He had a sinister air about him. His face was cold and grim, his eyes were sunken, and his gaze was as wary and steady as a hawk's.
As a Mafia Boss who lived a life of violence, he was more cautious than anyone.
Two burly Mafia members in gray newsboy caps walked up to the bar, aggressively shoving a few patrons out of the way.
The displaced patrons shot them furious glares.
But upon seeing their trench coats, suits, and newsboy caps, they seemed to realize something. Fear washed over their faces as they shrank back, clearing a path.
When night fell,
The Homer Mafia were the kings of this underworld.
They were not to be provoked.
Clyde Joshua sat down, took off his Fedora Hat, and rapped his knuckles on the bar.
The bartender immediately stopped what he was doing and greeted him.
"Good evening, Mr. Clyde! The usual?"
"Heh... Yes!"
His voice was raspy and worn from smoke.
"Any trouble?"
"It's been quiet all day. Business has been great."
Soon, a glass of crimson Blood Snake Wine was prepared.
Most people couldn't handle such a potent, special liquor, but Clyde Joshua, the Homer Mafia Boss, was clearly not most people.
As the intense flavor stimulated his palate and soothed his nerves, Clyde Joshua felt the chaotic mix of gazes from the crowd.
As a Transcendent, he possessed incomparably sharp insight and strength far beyond that of an ordinary person.
He had many rivals, and plenty of them watched him from the shadows, but few dared to make a move against him.
Clyde Joshua reveled in this feeling—a tiger among sheep, stared at in awe and fear by the weak flock.
Savoring the crimson Blood Snake Wine, Clyde Joshua glanced out at the roaring, rain-swept night.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose and frowned. He didn't just dislike rainy nights; he hated them.
'This miserable weather!'
「In the corner.」
Zorn, sipping his Kum Quat Liqueur, pulled his brown, dome-shaped woven hat lower over his eyes.
'A Level Two Arsonist. He has the power to control flames and can unleash terrifying infernos.'
'According to the Ogrande Steam Daily's reports from the last six months, there have been several incidents of merchant ships catching fire at the Bay Area docks.'
'I suspect many of those fires are connected to this Arsonist.'
'He seems quite powerful. A shame for him that it's a rainy night!'
'And... he has two of his goons with him.'
As these thoughts passed through his mind, Zorn closed his eyes. Silently, the power of his Evil Spirit Authority radiated outward.
The rank of a World-level 'big boss' class like Evil Spirit Wizard was extremely high.
In layman's terms, this meant a large area of effect, low chance of detection, powerful results, and few drawbacks.
Therefore, even at a distance, Zorn could use his Evil Spirit Authority to silently take control of the Arsonist's two goons.
Given the Arsonist's cautious and vigilant state, trying to control him directly would not only be detected but might even provoke a counterattack.
Although the two goons were ordinary people, they could play a crucial role.
To be safe, Zorn subjected the two Homer Mafia members to a twofold baptism of his Authority.
The power of his Authority radiated out from Zorn, anchoring itself perfectly onto the two ordinary Mafia members.
Now, they were both devout Believers of the Holy Witch Dominator.
Someone from a Sequence skilled in Spiritual matters and Perception might have detected a slight anomaly.
Unfortunately for him, an Arsonist was no better than a Fighting Master in that regard.
'In a moment, find a reason to get him into the back alley.'
After conveying the Evil Spirit's will, Zorn headed to the tavern's back alley ahead of them.
He had already cased the place while waiting earlier.
He had even chosen the perfect graveyard for the Homer Mafia Boss!
Soon, the Arsonist, Clyde Joshua, finished his Blood Snake Wine.
He turned his gaze back to the rain-streaked window, the incessant drumming of the downpour making him inexplicably agitated.
Just then, one of the goons beside him lowered his voice.
"Boss, that kid who just walked past... I think he's one of the ones who got away from the Oak Town Mafia. He glanced at us a few times."
Those words immediately struck a nerve with Clyde Joshua.
He felt as if he'd just found the source of his agitation.
Although the Oak Town Mafia Boss had died at their hands, several of his most loyal men had escaped.
Those escapees had already tried to take revenge on him twice, injuring him both times, and he bore them a bitter grudge.
He had sworn to wipe out every last member of the Oak Town Mafia.
At his goon's prompting, Clyde Joshua thought back. He did recall seeing an agile young man sitting across from the slumped drunkard.
Clyde Joshua let out a low, sinister laugh.
"After him. Looks like we've found tonight's prey."
Plunging into the pouring rain, Clyde Joshua immediately spotted a figure fleeing in a panic.
"Get him!"
The three of them immediately quickened their pace in pursuit.
Whether it was their target's bad luck or their own good fortune, they weren't sure.
「After two or three turns.」
The three of them had the young survivor from the Oak Town Mafia cornered in a narrow dead end.
"Get him!"
the Arsonist, Clyde Joshua, ordered coldly.
The two goons behind him each drew a Tema Short Saber.
KRA-KOOM!
A bolt of purple lightning illuminated the entire world for an instant, glinting off the sharp edges of the Tema Short Sabers.
RUM... BLE... BLE...
SHLICK!
SHLICK!
Two wet, piercing sounds rang out, only to be drowned out by the thunder.
Drowned out along with them was the beast-like roar of rage from the Arsonist, Clyde Joshua.