"What are you talking about…" Suguru's face twisted with disbelief. If not for the heavy atmosphere, he would have rushed forward and punched the man to demand an explanation.
But Mukuro raised an arm, blocking him, cutting off the words he wanted to say.
"Kid, is what he said true? Uncle doesn't like children who lie, you know." The masked leader crouched in front of Mukuro, giving his shoulder a friendly pat as he asked.
"Of course not."
Mukuro pulled out both his pockets, showing they were empty. Under the man's suspicious stare, he even turned out the bag slung on his back.
"Hey?!" Suguru nearly cursed aloud when he saw the bundle of cash and the phone being yanked out along with the pockets, held casually in Mukuro's hand. His whole body tensed, ready to summon a cursed spirit at any moment to save him if things went bad.
But what happened next stunned him.
Until Mukuro stuffed the money and phone back into his pockets, not a single person reacted. Even the leader straightened up, expression calm, as though nothing unusual had happened.
"Both of you, move over there."
After checking every pocket and not finding anything, the leader waved them toward the group that had already handed over their money. His eyes, however, lingered on Mukuro's back. That unshaken composure didn't look like something a normal kid could pull off.
"How did you do that…" Suguru muttered as they walked, stealing a glance. His eyes widened. Mukuro's right iris glowed crimson, a sharp "1" burning in it. Clear as day, yet unseen by the armed men a moment ago.
"Secret." Mukuro only smirked, wagging a finger like a mischievous child.
"Tch… I've been played, huh? If it were just a kid talking nonsense out of fear, I'd understand. But for an adult to do that? That's just mocking me." The leader turned and strode toward the bespectacled man who had made the accusation. His sharp eyes glinted with hostility.
"I'm telling the truth! A lot of people saw it. Ask them, they'll confirm it! That woman! Yes, she sold the kid an ice cream!"
The man grew desperate, pointing toward the ice cream shop. His voice cracked as he looked for someone to back him up. Spotting the female employee, he ran toward her like he'd found salvation. He even dropped to his knees, clutching at the floor, begging her to speak.
But despair closed in.
Nobody moved to help. Everywhere his frantic gaze landed, people turned away, avoiding his eyes. The girl bit her lip, then resolutely turned her head aside, refusing to look at him.
"How pitiful. Seems no one is willing to stand up for you," the masked leader said softly, his gun already pressed against the man's forehead. The cold barrel made his body quake with dread.
"I-I must've been mistaken! Please, I didn't mean to trick you! I gave you everything, I swear! Please, spare me!" Tears and snot streamed down his face as he begged.
The leader sneered. "Sorting truth from lies is for judges. I'm just a robber. Someone speaks, someone pays."
His words dripped with mockery. The man shook uncontrollably, feeding the cruel pleasure in the leader's eyes.
Suguru leaned toward Mukuro, whispering, "He's going to die… what do we do? Should we save him?"
He despised the bespectacled man, but since awakening his technique, and realizing he was different, he had resolved to use his strength to protect the weak. To him, people like himself and Mukuro had a responsibility to safeguard ordinary lives, no matter if the threat was human or cursed spirit.
But now, seeing this coward willing to sell out a child to save himself, his sense of justice blurred. Was someone like that really worth protecting?
"He'll die. What does that have to do with us?"
Suguru froze. He hadn't expected Mukuro to speak so coldly, his expression flat as he watched the trembling man about to wet himself.
"Don't confuse people with monkeys, Suguru. Trash like him is nothing more than an animal."
The moment that man tried to use him as a tool to escape, Mukuro had already decided not to let him live. Living by any means was fine, but he had chosen the wrong target.
Bang!
A shot rang out, the bullet tearing through the man's skull.
Blood and white matter sprayed through the air and splattered across the floor, right before everyone's eyes.
For the first time, Suguru's worldview cracked.
"Aah!"
The crowd, which had been steadying itself, broke down again. Men and women alike screamed at the sight of gore they had never witnessed before.
"Shut up, or you're next!"
The robbers fired several shots into the air, forcing the noise down.
"Robbers Inside! Calm down! What you asked for is coming soon!"
From outside, the police shouted urgently through a megaphone. Had it not been for the freed hostages revealing the number of people still inside, they would already have considered a direct assault.
"If you want us calm, then follow orders quickly. Otherwise, they'll pay for it!"
The leader stepped to the entrance and shouted back, then shut the doors again. He grabbed some food from nearby, shared it among his men, then sat down with them around the hostages, waiting quietly.
Time dragged on. People kept emptying their pockets to buy their lives, and for now, the robbers didn't cause more deaths.
* * *
The whir of blades suddenly filled the air.
"Your helicopters are here!" The police called once more from outside while the rotor noise grew louder.
"Boss, they came!"
Several robbers peered cautiously from behind the doors, watching the aircrafts descend. Excitement colored their voices as they shouted toward their leader.
"Good. Then we begin," the masked leader said, swaggering to the entrance. "And what about the five hundred meters? Didn't you hear me? Move, or I'll start killing!" He sprayed bullets toward the officers, making step them back.
"Do we really retreat?"
Younger officers, holding shields against the hail of bullets, glanced at their chief. Letting robbers escape under their noses would crush their authority.
"There are too many hostages. Remember, their safety comes first. Arresting criminals comes second. Bite it back and fall back!"
The chief wanted to give the charge order, but in the end, clenched his teeth and ordered a retreat.
"Boss! They're pulling back!"
Cheers erupted among the robbers.
"Hahaha! Just as planned. We'll regroup at the usual spot!" The leader laughed, then pointed at Mukuro and Suguru. "Take those two kids. If something goes wrong, we'll need hostages. But unless it's necessary, don't lay a hand on them."
The last part he whispered to his men.
Though the two looked shabby, their calmness made him suspect they weren't ordinary children.
"Understood!"
The robbers hefted their sacks of loot, shoving Mukuro and Suguru forward into the waiting helicopters before climbing aboard themselves.
The leader remained with a megaphone, still threatening the police. "Don't even think about firing. This is only half of us leaving. If you tail the helicopters, I'll start killing hostages!"
Three helicopters lifted off in turn, their rotors slicing the air.
The police ground their teeth. They hadn't expected the criminals to use such a scheme, and now they could only watch helplessly as the aircraft pulled away.
Inside one of the helicopters.
"Unbelievable. The plan worked perfectly, boss is a genius!"
Excited voices filled the cabin. If not for the two children seated nearby, some of them would have already ripped off their masks and opened champagne.
The pilot frowned. "But is boss really fine alone back there?"
"Relax. Without us, he can run even better!" another replied.
No one noticed Mukuro and Suguru exchanging glances with knowing smiles.
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!