"—The Reunion Movement! They're after Misha too!"Amiya immediately tensed up. The little bunny took a combat stance, her spell-casting ring heating up in preparation for an incantation.
But Revy raised a hand to stop her, shifting his gaze to the Rat King.
"Don't look at me, kid. Do what you need to do—I don't meddle in your business,"the Rat King said lazily, glancing at Revy.
"Just a bunch of low-grade punks. Don't tell me the infamous 'Edge' can't even handle them?"
Revy gave a dry laugh.As expected, this old man had seen through his other identity. After all, he had left Babel four years ago and only recently returned to Rhodes Island.
"Well then, I'll gladly oblige."
No sooner had he spoken than three figures appeared from around the corner—clad in white uniforms, wearing crude masks, all bearing the insignia of the Reunion Movement. Judging by their gear, they were better equipped than the ones they had encountered in Chernobog.
Clearly, Misha was important to Reunion—even elite operatives had been deployed.
"Wait a minute... You're from Rhodes Island!"
The leader of the trio seemed to recognize Amiya. At his shout, all three drew their blades, eyes fixed warily on her.
"Amiya, don't act. I'll handle this."
Blocking her with his body, Revy lifted a strange-looking long case to his waist. The rectangular case was off-center, its handle situated toward the top-right, causing it to naturally tilt downward when carried.
Of course, this wasn't any ordinary case. It was a custom-built sword carrier, made to fit Yukihime's dimensions by the tech department. It also contained two standard pistols and magazines for emergencies—since his signature weapons, Skydust and Sin, were still with Vulcan.
"Kill them! Avenge our fallen brothers in Chernobog!"
"Revenge? Heh."
Revy sneered, gripping the case's handle trigger with his left hand and giving a light pull with his right.The hilt of Yukihime snapped out from the case, landing neatly in his grasp.
"Come. Don't waste my time."
"Go to hell!"
The Reunion leader, likely a squad captain, charged. Once a factory worker, infection had strengthened his body to the point that he could split stone with a single strike. This earned him a spot in the elite unit under the direct command of the Regicide.
His mask contorted in a ferocious grin as he imagined slicing the man before him in two—
Too bad his opponent was Revy.
There wasn't even a flash of a blade. The captain lunged two steps forward, then dropped to his knees.A visible slash mark slowly split down the center of his mask.
With a sharp crack, the mask broke apart. His grin—still etched in death—remained frozen on his face.
Thud.The upper half of his body collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath his face like a red puddle.
"Such speed…"
The Rat King narrowed his eyes, still savoring that single strike. Amiya was too stunned to speak.
Until now, her understanding of Revy's combat skills came mostly from reports.As a child, she'd only ever seen him return to Babel covered in wounds. So even hearing that he was "on par with Logos" didn't mean much to her.
But today, she witnessed it for herself—how terrifying Revy was when he wielded a blade.
"Captain!"
The remaining two charged in with a shout, blades whistling in from both sides.
"There are many ways to honor fallen comrades—"
Revy's figure vanished from in front of their strikes.
Their blades fell uselessly. Confusion filled their eyes.
("Where did he go?")
In the next moment, one of them had no more questions.His head had been severed from his body.
The second froze as she looked at her comrade. Then she lowered her gaze to her own chest—A silver katana protruded from it. Blood gushed from the widening wound, draining her warmth and her life.
"—And you chose the dumbest way."
A silver flash. Yukihime vanished, as if it had never been drawn.
"The Regicide... won't... forgive you…!"
The final Reunion member's voice faded into regret and hatred as he collapsed.Blood continued to spray from his body like a small fountain.
"Kid, you've made a mess of my turf."
The Rat King shook his head.
"Killing's easy, but cleaning up after it isn't. Try not to do that here again."
"Sorry for the trouble," Revy replied, bowing slightly.
"It's not that big a deal."
The Rat King waved a hand dismissively, as if brushing something away.
"They killed a few stray dogs around here earlier anyway—not that I care about those mutts, but this is the slums. Killing without my permission? That's a slap to my face."
"So... dead they are. Saves me the trouble."
Amiya shivered.For a moment while the Rat King spoke, she saw a towering overlord, a man with power over life and death.
But in the next second, all she saw was an old Zarak man in a long coat, leaning on a cane.
The Rat King glanced at Amiya with amusement, then turned to Revy.
"Take that little girl Misha and leave Lungmen as soon as you can—this place is no longer safe for her."