The Blood wolf's drove a rented car into Mr. Matsunaga's backyard, stopping in front of the back door. Saul unlocked the door, clicking a button to the wall to light up the surroundings. The smell of medicines hung in the air, suggesting that this room was a place for medicine storage.

"Then, could I trouble you to help me surprise my daughter?"

The Blood Wolf's cheerfully replied affirmatively as they carefully moved deeper into the house, to the living room where Mr Matsunaga's daughter would presumably be.

At be same time—

She was sitting on a chair in the living room, staring out of the window at the back yard. It was hard to tell what she was thinking — was she feeling worried?

No, of course she would be feeling worried. Megacorp's had came after her father's life when he just wanted to help people, if anything, they would come after her next.

It was natural to be worried.

"I just hope Saul can bring him back."

Saul Griffin, the leader of a mercenary team and her old friend from school — he was a reliable guy. Unlike most mercenaries, who will turn on you depending on the situation, he did his job to the end without any backstabbing.

Megumi could trust him, and that was saying something. Because, ever since this incident with her father, her trust on everyone was gone.

That said, she couldn't be blamed for feeling like that. Not everyone could stay calm and collected the moment their loved ones get captured by a gang of mercenaries backed by a multi-billion dollar conglomerate.

So, Megumi continued to stare out of the window as she waited, waiting for any sign or hint of Saul and her father returning. And, as if had prayer's had been answered, she heard the back door unlock.

The front door had been barricaded by her, just in case they came after her as well. Meanwhile, the backdoor had a facial recognition system alongside reinforcement which made it so only people like Saul could come in and go and if for example, someone came to kidnap her, It would hold well enough for her to escape.

Megumi whirled around just as the blood wolves carrying her father in their arms entered the room.

"Dad!"

She rushed forwards immediately, her feet stumbling due to the speed. Her father was a bit roughed up, there were scratches and small gashes and cuts all over him, but he was fine and alive and most importantly, well.

"Oh, Megumi! My daughter."

Despite his wounds, her father's face brightened as he saw her come running up to him.

"You're okay! I was so worried!"

Megumi hugged her father as tight as she could, not wanting to let go. She felt a huge relief well up in her heart, as her father placed one hand on her head, stroking them and consoling her.

"It's alright, I'm okay. You don't have to worry so much."

It was the first time Megumi could relax ever since she had learnt her father had been captured. Her worries and nervousness from these past few days had come to an end.

"I'm so glad, I'm so glad."

The blood wolf's excluding Luna who was standing in a corner smoking a cig, could only smile at the wholesome scene.

Megumi's glanced over her shoulder at the blood wolves, a small thankful smile on her face.

"How can I thank you all for doing this and saving him…?"

Saul looked at her and then at Mr. Matsunaga, and spoke.

"Don't worry, we are receiving enough money from you already. Your dad is giving us a bonus too."

"Then, is everyone okay from your side too?"

Saul looked at the ground for a brief moment and then:

"Aoi is dead. He was killed by a Karakter before we could reach the factory. We've given him a burial."

Megumi didn't even know Aoi, and it was a bit cold to hear that he had died in an abrupt manner, however, in this profession, there's no way one wouldn't come across the fact that their comrades could die. She wasn't sad or anything like that, just a bit surprised.

"I see…I am sorry for your loss."

"It's alright, part of the job."

Megumi nodded back, she could tell Saul truly didn't mind and had taken it rather well, and he was right, being a mercenary was dangerous and people could die in missions. This really wasn't anyone's fault, and Saul knew that — it was just unfortunate.

"I see.."

Megumi said, her grip on her father's shoulder's loosened as she took a step back.

Saul took this as a cue to talk, and so he did—

"Then, everything has been complete from our end. I hope the same can be said from your end."

Megumi looked at him as he spoke, and then:

"Of course, you'll receive the money as soon as possible. How does tommorow morning sound?"

Saul shook his head. He was in no hurry to get the money because, frankly, he trusted her.

"There's no need to rush. I don't mind waiting."

Megumi looked at everyone who was standing around — Nomi, Taguchi, Hirata, Luna and lastly Saul and spoke.

"Why don't you all get comfortable, if you are not in any hurry that is. I'll make everyone some tea. It's the least i can do."

Saul gave her a nod.

"Then, we'll take that offer."

Megumi gave them a grateful smile — one that was quite different from her normal cold and aloof expression. This was the first time she was this close to someone, and it wasn't an unpleasant experience, really.

She then walked out of the room, the sound of her footsteps slowly fading away.

Everyone started to move around and get comfortable.

Taguchi collapsed on the sofa with a tired sigh while Nomi sat down on a chair, and looked around the house with wonder and interest, following Nomi — Hirata and Saul did that too. Meanwhile, Luna stumbled over to where Saul was and leaned down, speaking:

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"If we are done here, Can I go? I need to attend some biz."

Saul looked at Luna from the corner of his eye without turning back, and replied:

"If it's urgent."

Luna nodded

"Good. It is."

"Alright, go ahead then."

Luna nodded and then spun around, walking towards the hallway. As she reached the door, she turned back and gave the blood wolf's a cheeky wave, and finally departed.

Just as Luna left, Megumi came back with a tray in her hands. On the tray was a pot of tea and six cups, she placed the tray on the table in the center of the room.

"It's herbal tea."

She announced with a gentle undertone in her voice.

"Thank you very much."

Nomi, who was sitting on a chair, replied with a lazy smile.

"Yeah, thank you."

Taguchi added

Megumi gave them a small, but friendly smile. She started pouring the tea into the cups, and handing them to the blood wolf's.

Matsunaga looked at them, "Should I quit?"

He said, with a sorrowful tone, speaking out his inner thoughts.

Megumi looked over at her father before sitting down next to him, a cup of tea in her hand.

"No."

She replied with a firm voice.

"What we are doing is for a good cause. Everyone should be able to afford medication."

She paused for a moment before continuing.

"Just think about all the people we're helping, dad. The people who's lives we've changed. Because of what we are doing, numerous poor people are able to afford medicine, and orphan kid's are getting proper treatment without worries. Think about if someone else was in your shoes. Yes, we are doing good, we are destroying the monopoly those corporations have but it will take a lot of time and effort, an controlled industry build upon decades of misinformation and manipulation is not going to be topped over in one day. They kidnapped you because they are afraid of us."

Megumi finished with a determined tone, looking directly at her father.

Her father's face slowly turned serious, as he listened to Megumi's words. He inhaled sharply, her daughter was right.

He couldn't stop now, and he shouldn't.

He was helping people. Everyday. By making affordable and accessible medicines.

"You're right, I shouldn't."

He finally said — his tone was firm, and it was clear that he was determined to continue the work. However, while saying that, His wrinkly fingers clenched against the soft fabric of his pants.

They were both aware that what they were doing was extremely dangerous, but it was equally important. Matsunaga gulped down a whole cup of tea in a few gulps, trying to hide his nerves. The Blood Wolf's watched the father and daughter's interaction without saying anything, this was their private matter and not something they should comment on.

When, Nomi's ear's suddenly perked, she glanced around, to see where the noise she was hearing was coming from.

Below?

No.

Somewhere in the house?

No.

She then slowly glanced upwards, towards the ceiling.

"FUC—"

She shouted suddenly. And, aimed her gun at the ceiling of the house, pulling off the safety but before she could fire a thunderous roar was heard as something fell down.

Nomi didn't even get to finish her sentence. Her cry was cut off as someone dropped out of the heavens, through

The ceiling and onto her like a meteor.

The roof caved under the enormous impact, dust and debris filling the space. The room's floor collapsed, the ceiling of the room above collapsing as a massive weight pressed down upon it. A large cloud of dust rose from the place of impact, blocking everyone's view as chairs, tables, and various objects became buried beneath the rubble.

The object was actually a person, or more accurately something that resembled a person. From head to toe, the human-shaped figure was completely encased in cold steel plates and machine armor, which glowed with a dull, faint red light from its joints.

His eyes were crimson, staring into the soul of anyone unlucky enough to cross his path.

Nomi's eyes widened in shock. Her body got pinned under something heavy with a sickening crunch, the thing, a metal skeleton of a person. As Nomi cried out in pain, she tried to look up at the thing which laid on top of her— A man less and machine more. He looked down at Nomi who was pinned under him with a cold gaze, his cold expression contrasting the warmth of the blood which spilled out from Nomi's mouth.

Nomi wasn't just crushed under the debris and wreckage, her whole body, her bones, were obliterated by the weight of the heavy mech suit that landed on her.

Her right arm had been twisted at an almost 180 degree angle, the bone shards had pierced through the tender skin of her arm while her right and left legs had been crushed into a pulp, almost like they had been eaten.

She looked deformed, as if made by a child with no idea on how the human skeletal structure worked, and was painted in various different shades of red. Her face was the only part of her body which hadn't received any terrible damage.

If he was just a little bit heavier, she would've been ripped apart — not just her body, but even her very flesh.

He stepped off her, his body turned around, metal scraping against debris filled the air — his cold eyes scanned the room, and then at the meat which was under his foot.

"I squished a bug, I see."

His cold, metal-like voice was emotionless, and the tone he spoke in resembled a machine instead of a human who was capable of any real emotions.

A strangled choking sound came out from the wreckage of Nomi under him. She was alive, and the man noticed. He reached down and picked her up with one hand, holding her head like a child holding a toy doll and lifted her up off the ground.

"N-Not a bug…."

She muttered weakly. Blood spilled from her mouth as she said this, dripping down onto the floor.

"Oh? You're still alive? Hm, that's a shock."

The man in armor said as he stared down at Nomi, or what was left of her. His grip on Nomi's head tightened, and he lifted her up even more. He studied her injured body and she winced in pain under his grip but his hold was unyielding.

"I'll make sure this doesn't happen again."

The man's finger's squeezed Nomi's head, and the sound of bones creaking could be heard even over the sounds of breaking wood and wreckage. Blood began to drip down from her head, a thin trickle at first. It was a slow process, her skull and bones were tougher than the thin crust of the watermelon and would required a lot of force before anything would happen.

He squeezed harder, and Nomi's skull started to cave in like a piece of rotten fruit under a heel.

Suddenly, the man's grip crushed Nomi's skull in a vice grip — her bones popping and cracking echoed. It felt like her head was being split open as a warm wetness ran down the sides of her face and a metallic taste filled her mouth — blood. Her head was crushed like a watermelon under the man's grip, blood pooling from her ears and her eyes. She was dead within seconds.

"Now we go back to business."

The man tossed aside Nomi's corpse with no other words. He turned around to face the blood wolf's. Saul took a step back. The others were also terrified of the newcomer.

"W..who...are you.."

Megumi muttered, barely holding back a heavy feeling in her stomach, which, if she let go would come rushing out of her throat — puke.

The man's eyes rested upon them, but his expression was hard to guess — his armor was like a steel mask, hiding his facial expressions.

"Who I am, is none of your concern."

The man's voice was completely flat, it lacked all intonation as he spoke — and yet the atmosphere grew heavier with dread.

Hirata, however, seemed to know something. As the ogre stepped forward, showing himself in all his grim glory, his eyes widened.

"Blades on the arms, a metal suit, shoulder missiles. No, it can't be. He's...Setoshi Hellosch. One of the strongest diamond rank mercenaries in Asia and the leader of the Black Rose's!"

"You—"

Saul said, his face paling, the realization of the man's identity hitting him as well.

Setoshi Hellosch, more commonly known as The Tokyo Butcher, was one of the strongest mercenaries in Asian continent. He was a ruthless and efficient monster, known for his cold brutality. His reputation was unparalleled, many people refused to believe his existence thinking of him only as a made up legend by the Kusonoki Conglomerate to scare people. Some people belived in him, Some didn't. Some admired him, Some didn't but one thing was clear — He was a Neo-Tokyo Legend.

Even Saul and the others could feel it, the aura which Setoshi emanated. They would've never thought they would face him here – not in this city, not in this mission. The Tokyo Butcher was a monster on a totally different level entirely, an entire galaxy above them.

Saul gulped down heavily, his throat bobbing, his face pale with fear. No one dared to speak up, facing the monster who could easily kill them with a single finger.

Zero, still standing in the center of the wrecked room, spoke up.

"Where is Luna Seki?"

At the mention of Luna's name, Saul swallowed once more, the lump in his throat getting larger. If The Tokyo Butcher was to go after Luna, she wouldn't survive. He didn't know for what reason he wanted Luna, if it was personal or a contracted one but whatever the case.

It was very unlikely for her to survive, and the same applied to the Blood wolf's — Anyone who saw Setoshi while he was working would be killed as well.

Saul opened his mouth up to speak, but the words wouldn't come out, no sound came out of his dry mouth. His hands started to tremble. He gulped down heavily, staring at the man with cold eyes. Zero, however, simply stared back.

After what felt like to be an eternity, Saul spoke.

"Will you spare us if we tell you where she is?"

"No."

Zero said calmly, but something about that tone made one shiver. No matter the circumstances, the way Zero could go from one emotional state to the next in mere

Fractions of a second was just plain terrifying.

"All meat must die."

There wasn't any emotion in his tone, he made it seem like it was such a normal thing. Just like saying 'The sun shines brightly in the morning', simply a statement — not to be disputed.

Before anyone could protest further, Zero lifted his arm, it's joints creaking and groaning loudly — revealing the missiles hidden in it's armor sleeves.

Saul gulped and looked at everyone behind him, before shouting!

"EVERYONE, RUN! I'LL HOLD HIM OFF!"

It was a desperate gamble at best, Setoshi was imbedded with all sorts of implants and weapons. Meanwhile, Saul was 99% human. It wasn't a fair fight.

Just a meaningless sacrifice.

"You, will try."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.