Panis Town—the seedy pleasure district lurking in the heart of Baleralc.
Dubbed the city that never sleeps, its midnight clamor devoured the stars, while neon lights pulsed like veins of blood.
Delinquent punks bared their fangs, mafiosi swaggered with menace, and the law here was nothing but a corpse in the gutter. This was a city where darkness itself breathed.
"Their hideout's got to be somewhere in this town. Darmaine, go pick a fight with some Nova Family thugs drinking around here. Beat the answers out of them and make them spill the location."
Rose, donning his tasteless mask once again, gave Darmaine his orders.
"At once, my lord!"
Darmaine's obedience rumbled like a chained beast's growl.
"Are we really sure this crude plan will work…?"
Saizō muttered, doubt in his voice.
Beside him, Kumashis wore an expression of utter lethargy, his lack of spirit plain as day.
"Um, Prince Rose… what about us?"
Endi asked nervously.
Rose pointed toward a large, glittering restaurant.
"Jessica says that place—the Platinum Grill—is a Nova Family favorite. Endi, Cain, Saizō, Kumashis. You four will work there."
"W-work!?"
Endi and Kumashis shouted in unison.
"Yeah. I hear the higher-ups slip in disguised as common folk all the time. Your job is to spy from the inside."
With that, Rose strode into the night.
"Where are you going, Prince?"
Saizō asked.
"I'll patrol on my own. With this mask on, no one'll know I'm a prince. Don't worry, I'll come running if anything happens."
His departing steps echoed like the silent prowl of a panther melting into the dark.
"That idiot… patrolling in such a ridiculous getup."
"Kumashis, for god's sake, stop blurting your thoughts out loud when Prince Rose is around."
Saizō hissed, pale-faced.
"Time to raise hell! Don't you dare hold me back!"
Puffing out his chest, Darmaine disappeared alone into the city.
"…I want to punch that guy. What now, Saizō?"
Endi muttered, already weary.
"We do as ordered. I'll get the restaurant to take on four temps. And call me Captain Saizō."
Saizō sniffed proudly.
The four headed toward the Platinum Grill.
Meanwhile, Darmaine stood tall in the most dangerous sector of Panis Town.
Arms crossed, brows furrowed deep like scars carved in stone, pupils black as a pit to hell. His bloodshot glare cut into passersby like blades.
People averted their eyes, scattering like birds fleeing a storm.
But no ruffian in this city of wolves would tolerate such a brazen intruder for long.
"Hey old man, where you from?"
"Look at that dumb face. What're you doing here?"
Two punks jeered.
Darmaine sneered back—then smashed their faces into pulp.
"Don't know me? Then fetch someone higher up! You pups are beneath me!"
He roared theatrically, tearing into the night like a wild beast, deliberately drawing attention.
As planned, the mafia swarmed.
"What the hell are you doing!?"
"You bastard! You'll pay for hurting our boys!"
Shouts rained from all sides, but Darmaine bellowed even louder.
"My motto: crush the weak! That's how I roll!"
He laid waste to them one after another, shouting with every blow.
"Damn, more of you crawling out? Like cockroaches, the lot of you!"
Lighting a cigarette after flooring his tenth opponent, he suddenly found himself ringed by twenty gun barrels.
"W-wait, let's not get crazy… I might've overdone it, huh? My bad."
His bravado cracked, eyes darting nervously.
The mob closed in mercilessly.
"You're Darmaine, admiral of the Indus Fleet, aren't you?"
"Old Doal scum—what are you doing here?"
"Cut the act. You're coming with us."
So this was it… Rose's scheme. Send me, a man whose face the mafia knows, into the open, stir up suspicion, let them drag me to their hideout—and the army swoops in after. Damn it, Rose, you got me good!
"I've seen him before, back when we did weapons runs in Mildonia. That's him for sure. Hey—unless you want to be riddled with bullets, you're coming quietly."
Even cornered, Darmaine grinned.
"C'mon, you've seen how strong I am. Make me one of you."
"The hell did you just say!?"
"You mocking us!?"
Angry voices flared like sparks in a powder keg.
Darmaine feigned calm and pressed on.
"Relax. I just tested you lot, that's all. Think about it: a former grand admiral of the Indus Fleet joining the Nova Family? Unstoppable. To start, how about I give you Prince Rose's daily routine? Kidnap him, demand ransom, we split it!"
"We'll hear your story later. For now, shut up and come with us."
Dragged away, Darmaine smirked inwardly.
Perfect. If they drag me to the hideout, the army can strike and I'll take all the credit. And if that fails… well, I'll just rise in the ranks and carve a life out of the underworld. Either way, my future's golden.
His thoughts gleamed with the sly cunning of a gambler holding his last ace.