A dull crash echoed from outside the villa door and shattered the stillness of the night.
"Who's there?!"
"The one here to settle accounts with you!"
The door was kicked open as a figure strode inside purposefully. The horse-faced boss showed a slight flicker of panic.
"Bodyguards! Bodyguards!" he shouted desperately.
But after calling out twice, the villa remained eerily silent with no response at all.
"Stop yelling. You could scream until your throat goes raw and there'd still be no one coming to save you."
The bodyguards stationed outside had already been quietly dealt with using silenced weapons.
"Damn it, useless trash," the boss cursed under his breath.
He pulled a pistol from his coat and fired two shots at Rowan without another word.
But just as the bullets were about to connect, a faint blue energy shield suddenly shimmered into existence around Rowan's body.
Clang, clang.
The bullets bounced harmlessly off the barrier and clattered to the floor.
Seeing this, the horse-faced boss realized Rowan was wearing high-grade protective gear. Ordinary weapons wouldn't do any damage. He immediately turned and lunged for a weapon mounted on the wall.
He was wearing protective gear, too. It wasn't over yet. He could still turn this around if he acted fast.
"You done? My turn now."
Rowan didn't waste words. He pulled out a heavy weapon and hoisted it onto his shoulder with practiced ease.
The air suddenly fell deathly silent.
The boss's face went pale as a ghost.
"That's not necessarysir! We can talk about this!"
What kind of grudge warranted this level of firepower?!
Before he could say more, the Energy Cannon began to glow, building up power.
*Boom!*
[You broke open the safe.] [You obtained cash +100,000.] [You obtained gold bars +5.] [You obtained diamond +1.]
Looking at the valuable loot scattered before him, Rowan's face bloomed with satisfaction. His once-empty wallet was instantly full again, with even some additional spoils.
"Woo-wee-oo! Woo-wee-oo!"
Piercing police sirens suddenly rang out as patrol cars flooded the nearby streets in force.
Rowan's expression tightened. The job was done, and now he had to hurry before they closed in.
He tossed several flame grenades behind him, quickly vaulted out the window, and rode off on the motorcycle he had prepared earlier. Within moments, he disappeared into the night.
Towering flames engulfed the villa and destroyed all evidence of what had transpired.
Soon after, explosions were also heard at Pegasus Taxi Company's headquarters across town.
The next day, radio news reported with urgency:
"Breaking news. Late last night, Pegasus Taxi Company was attacked by unknown forces. An explosion occurred at its headquarters, and the owner's private villa was destroyed in a massive fire. The owner's whereabouts remain unknown at this time."
In an instant, Pegasus Taxi Company's stock price plummeted dramatically.
The mastermind behind all this chaos, Rowan, had already returned safely to his own company.
Next would be the Lizard Gang. However, regarding this entrenched criminal force, Rowan decided to take a more cautious approach. Alone, it wouldn't be easy to handle them all.
He planned to expand his operations further and recruit some loyal subordinates first.
While watching the fluctuating stock prices on his computer screen, he gradually figured out the deeper rules of the market. His eyes lit up with realization.
You could not only buy stocks on the rise, but you could also short-sell them. As long as you predicted a stock would fall and shorted it in advance, the harder it dropped, the more money you earned.
And now, with this substantial amount of capital backing him, new possibilities opened up.
An idea suddenly sparked in his mind, dangerous but potentially very profitable.
Maybe he could manipulate the market itself.
Meanwhile, in the old district of Liberty City, on the chaotic streets where any semblance of order was absent, two groups were fighting fiercely. One side was the scale-covered members of the Lizard Gang, the other was the Ram Horn Gang with their distinctive curved horns.
"Everyone, drop your weapons immediately!"
A deer police officer appeared at the street corner with her weapon drawn.
Holding her pistol steady, she aimed it at the crowd of fighters.
The gang members froze when they saw the small deer officer, then burst into mocking laughter.
"Who the hell do you think you are? A tiny cop like you thinks we're scared this easily?"
"If you know what's good for you, get lost before we kill you!"
Their attitude was extremely arrogant. They simply didn't take a lone officer seriously.
Clara's face showed visible anger. Liberty City's citizens really were too lawless for their own good. Every single day, countless crimes and fights occurred in the streets, and she was determined to change that reality.
Seeing the officer standing unmoving, the gang members grew more annoyed. This cop clearly didn't understand whose territory this was. Several stepped forward to teach her a painful lesson.
"I advise you all not to move another step!"
A figure stepped out from behind Clara. Who else but Officer Judy.
Her hand rested casually at her waist, ready to draw and strike at any moment.
At first, the gangsters didn't care about the second officer, but once they recognized who it was, their legs instantly went weak with fear.
Someone shouted in panic, "We're doomed! It's the Demon Rabbit! Run for your lives!"
Terror filled their faces as they tried to flee in every direction.
But a shadow flashed past them with incredible speed.
Judy moved like lightning and charged directly toward the scrambling gang members.
Within moments, she was knocking them down one after another with precise strikes.
Clara rushed forward to help her partner. During this time, her own combat skills had also improved greatly. One electric shock from her taser, and a thug convulsed violently before collapsing unconscious.
Soon enough, an entire group of gang members squatted on the ground in defeat.
"Officer Judy, we won't dare to oppose you ever again! Please let us go this time!" they begged pathetically.
The only reply was a collection of silver handcuffs clicking into place.
With Clara's constant actions lately, Liberty City's streets had improved noticeably. From car theft and robbery to gang fights, illegal trade, and even cult gatherings, she interfered in everything she could.
If she couldn't handle a situation alone, she simply called for backup without hesitation.
Because of this relentless enforcement, the underground world trembled with unease. After the Demon Rabbit, Liberty City had gained another force to be reckoned with. Officer Clara, the righteous policewoman.
Boshita's POV--------
As for Boshita, ever since visiting the underground market, he kept thinking about all its forbidden treasures.
Unfortunately, he had little money to his name, and earning it by causing random trouble in the streets was far too slow for his ambitions.
When he returned to Ken's office, Ken told him he would introduce him to a major figure in the city.
Boshita recognized the visitor immediately. Someone he had met once before at the party.
Liberty City real estate tycoon, the stag Avery.
Avery was an imposing stag with massive antlers, a slightly gaunt face, deep-set eyes, and an aura of cold ruthlessness around him.
As a business magnate in Liberty City, Avery owned vast assets and naturally had accumulated many bitter competitors over the years.
Having heard of Boshita's past deeds through the grapevine, he came specifically to commission him for a delicate matter.
"Mr. Boshita, I know you are highly capable and efficient in your work."
"This time, I'd like you to handle a small problem for me. Nothing too complicated."
"As long as you help me with this task, you will receive generous compensation."
"And I have considerable influence in Liberty City. If you encounter trouble in the future, you may come to me for assistance."