The chapter opened in Veylor's laboratory.
Kael stood beside the Kaiju suit.
"I've become quite skilled at using the suit."
Veylor nodded with satisfaction.
"I think you've trained enough. It's finally time to get to work."
He gestured toward a large screen.
"Take a look at this, Kael."
The screen displayed a location.
"After investigating Hikari and Lothar, I managed to identify one of the patrol zones assigned to their team by the Kaiju Combat System. This is where they're currently patrolling."
He continued,
"I also found out that Light is absent from the team. I don't know why... and I don't really care. We have no reason to target him."
Kael folded his arms.
"Alright. So what's the plan?"
Veylor looked back at the screen.
"You'll attack at this location. The Kaiju Combat Command will most likely dispatch Hikari and Lothar to deal with the incident."
His expression grew serious.
"And when they arrive... you must capture one of them."
Light, Karem, and Leanor arrived at the Stag Gang's hideout. Just as they were about to head inside...
"Wait," Light said.
Leanor looked back.
"How do you even know about this gang?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes, it does," Light replied. "Tell me—what's your connection to them? Why do you know them? Either you tell me the truth... or I'll tell Mother about this."
Leanor frowned.
"Come on, man. I'm helping you here. I don't even know why you're after this gang, yet I'm still helping without asking a single question. And this is how you repay me?"
Light remained silent, staring at him.
Leanor let out a sigh.
"Fine. I'll tell you... but you have to promise me you won't tell our parents. You too, Karem."
Light folded his arms.
"Tell me first. Then I'll decide whether it's something that should stay a secret."
"Then I'm not telling you."
Leanor shrugged.
"I've already brought you here. I've done my part. The rest is up to you."
He then looked at Karem.
"And honestly... I think you should go inside and talk to them."
He glanced back at Light.
"If Light goes in, he'll probably make things worse. You know how emotional he gets."
Then he smiled faintly at Karem.
"But you... you're the sensible one."
Leanor turned around and walked away.
Light and Karem entered the hideout.
Inside, members of the Stag Gang were relaxing. Some were playing cards, some were sparring with each other, while others simply sat around talking.
The moment they noticed the two newcomers, the entire room fell silent.
Every eye turned toward Light and Karem.
One of the men stepped forward.
"Who are you two?"
Karem raised his hands slightly.
"Uh... we're here to talk."
"To talk about what?" the man asked.
Light looked him in the eye.
"What's your name?"
The man smirked.
"We don't tell our names to strangers."
"You can call me... Stag."
He folded his arms.
"So... what do you want?"
Karem was about to answer, but before he could speak—
Light stepped forward.
"I want your gang to leave a girl named Jane alone."
Karem closed his eyes for a moment.
...Damn it.
Stag raised an eyebrow.
"Oh..."
"So you're the guy who killed thirty of our men."
Karem sighed to himself.
Leanor was right...
Light didn't back down.
"Yeah. That was me."
He stared directly at Stag.
"So? Are you going to kill me for it?"
Stag remained calm.
"Killing you won't bring my men back."
He paused.
"So... I'd rather hear what you have to say."
Light looked around the hideout.
"So... who's in charge here? You?"
Stag shook his head.
"All of us are."
"We don't have a leader. Our gang includes both Voltra Beings and ordinary humans, and we don't consider anyone superior or inferior."
"We're all equals."
Light narrowed his eyes.
"The way you're talking... it sounds like you're not some street gang. It sounds like you're an organization."
Stag gave a slight nod.
"I believe we are."
Light's expression hardened.
"And yet your men were trying to rape an innocent girl."
Stag sighed.
"Look, lad. I don't know what connection you have with that girl. But that 'innocent girl' owes us something."
"She wasn't cooperating. Maybe that's why those men tried to do what they did."
He paused.
"And they shouldn't have."
"If we'd known we had men like that in our gang, we would've thrown them out ourselves."
He looked directly at Light.
"We're disciplined. We don't harm innocent people unless it's absolutely necessary."
Karem looked at Light.
"Light, I don't think we should question them about how their gang works, how they operate, or what they've done."
He spoke calmly.
"We're here to settle the matter involving Jane. I think we should stick to that."
Then he turned toward Stag.
"So... what exactly does she owe you?"
Stag smiled.
"I like this one. He's smart."
Light took a step forward.
"Answer the question."
"She owes us money."
Stag folded his arms.
"If you can repay what she owes us, we'll leave her alone."
"I'll pay it," Light replied without hesitation. "How much?"
"Five million."
"What?!" Karem exclaimed.
Light stared at Stag.
"You're lying. There's no way Jane borrowed that much money from your gang. I've seen the condition of her house. They were barely getting by."
Stag shook his head.
"Not the girl."
"Her father."
"He owed us the money. He was one of our men."
"He was a gambling addict and a junkie."
Light frowned.
"Then collect the money from her father. Why are you harassing Jane?"
"We were collecting it from him," Stag answered. "But his addiction eventually destroyed his health. He became too sick to repay us."
He continued,
"That's when Jane stepped in. She begged us to leave her father alone and promised that she would repay his debt instead."
"Her father made her and her mother suffer their entire lives."
"But in the end... she still chose to help him."
"She even paid for his medical treatment."
Stag let out a slow breath.
"Because... at the end of the day, he was still her father."
He looked directly at Light.
"Then the old man died."
"And ever since then... Jane has been carrying his debt."