A plume of yellow sand spiraled into the sky as the off-road vehicle tore away.
From afar, a small black shape could still be seen amid the sandstorm—tethered by a rope and dragged behind the speeding vehicle.
"Mr. Phaga…"
Corin clasped her small hands tightly to her chest, staring blankly into the distance. She watched as the off-road vehicle grew smaller and smaller, until a flash of violet light from a spatial fissure swallowed it whole, leaving nothing behind.
They must have already obtained accurate intelligence, right?
The thought surfaced naturally in Corin's mind.
In her understanding, Mr. Phaga did not fear killing—but he rarely initiated it.
Even when facing a mortal enemy, he would suppress his hatred, continue investigating, and do his best to avoid harming the innocent.
Once Phaga began killing, it meant that every truth had already come to light.
That meant Mr. Phaga and Miss Ellen had succeeded.
Relief welled up inside Corin, and she couldn't help but feel happy for them. But…
For some reason, despite knowing she should be glad, a hollow emptiness suddenly spread through her chest, accompanied by an inexplicable ache.
Had she failed to help again…? No—wait!
Thinking it over, Corin realized that this time, even Mr. Lycaon and Miss Rina hadn't really helped either.
She wasn't the worst one.
All at once, Corin shook off her worries and gloom. She clenched her right hand into a fist to cheer herself on, her eyes filling with resolve.
If she kept going, one day she would be useful.
Just as her confidence surged, Corin suddenly sensed someone staring at her. She blinked and glanced over her shoulder.
"Miss Lucy? Is something wrong? Why are you staring at me?"
Being watched like that made Corin uneasy. She looked herself over from head to toe, but nothing seemed out of place.
Confused, she raised her gaze back to Lucy, silently asking for an explanation.
"No, no, it's nothing. You're fine—it's just… forget it."
Lucy had only just walked over, but as the saying went, timing mattered. She'd happened to witness the entire process of Corin sinking into dejection and then reigniting her fighting spirit, and she couldn't help being surprised by such a drastic emotional swing.
After a moment's thought, Lucy decided not to pry. That was personal.
Still, there was one thing she absolutely needed to ask.
Lucy glanced around. Everyone else was still reeling, clearly stunned that someone would show up in the Outer Ring just to blow up the playing field.
With Eous stabilizing morale and analyzing the situation, the group would soon settle on their next objective.
Which meant they wouldn't notice this side for a while.
"Corin, come with me."
She said it like a request, but didn't give Corin a chance to refuse. Lucy wrapped an arm around Corin's waist and guided her toward a quieter spot.
Corin struggled a little, but resisting too hard might hurt Lucy, so she could only follow.
Before long, they reached an empty stretch of ground. After carefully checking their surroundings and confirming no one was paying attention, Lucy turned back to Corin, crossed her arms, and asked:
"That man who appeared earlier—his name is Phaga, right?"
"How did you kno—mm?!"
Corin's eyes flew wide open in shock.
"Hey, don't look so surprised."
Lucy put one hand on her hip. Though she secretly enjoyed Corin's reaction, her expression remained composed.
"If it were Caesar or Burnice, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know the weight behind the name 'Phaga.' But you and I both came from the city. People like us understand how important information is."
"Not to mention the mess caused by the Black Phaga incident recently. Anyone who's been to the city would have heard about it."
Lucy lowered her head in thought.
"Phaga… with my current means, and without using family connections, I really can't dig up his background."
"But that's enough. If I can't find anything, it means his identity isn't simple. And judging by your reactions, your own background isn't ordinary either. Tsc… just what kind of whirlpool has the Outer Ring been dragged into?"
After thinking it over, Lucy gave up on speculation and asked directly:
"I'll be straightforward. Will your so-called objective spread out and affect other biker gangs? What I care about most is my Sons of Calydon."
Hearing this, Corin finally let out a breath of relief.
Lucy was rational, didn't meddle in things that weren't her concern, and focused only on what truly mattered to her.
Corin nodded lightly and answered without hesitation.
"It won't. Mr. Phaga definitely saw you earlier. Since he didn't make a move, that means you aren't the target."
"After all… given the strength of the Sons of Calydon, Mr. Phaga has no reason to hold back."
"Tsc. Getting underestimated like that doesn't feel great—but I guess it means we dodged a bullet."
Lucy was still speaking when she heard footsteps approaching.
"Hm? Burnice? Oh—you've decided?"
Burnice jogged over, scratching her head and grinning brightly.
"We figured we should still go to Cinder Lake. After all, Tour de Inferno doesn't happen every day. Sure, there was a little hiccup, so we might not get first place—but looking on the bright side, as long as we reach the finish, we'll be second… uh, third. Either way, that's still a good result!"
"So what do you think, Lucy? Hearing we might get third in the entire Outer Ring—doesn't that get your blood pumping?"
Burnice was clearly thrilled, practically itching to claim third place.
Lucy slapped her forehead so hard her helmet nearly shifted, then looked helplessly at Burnice's still-excited face.
"We were guaranteed second, and somehow dropped to third for no reason. And you're still this excited? That's so you."
"Hehe. Why stress yourself out so much? We did our best. Whatever the outcome, as long as we can face ourselves, that's enough!"
"Tsc. Sometimes I really envy your optimism. Corin, let's go."
The words carried urgency—not a question, not a reprimand, but a matter-of-fact assumption, as if Corin had always been meant to move with them.
Corin froze, then replied stiffly, "Eh? I can come too? But didn't you already—"
"[Already realize you're undercover]? So what."
Lucy spoke calmly as she walked ahead.
"I only weigh pros and cons. For now, you and Phaga seem close. When we reach Cinder Lake, if Phaga starts killing indiscriminately, you can serve as a kind of immunity pass."
"…Oh."
Corin followed after her blankly.
So that was it. She really had overthought things.
But after a few steps, Lucy's cheeks flushed slightly. She shut her eyes, planted her hands on her hips, and spoke as if resigned:
"Besides, you're our Sons of Calydon partner now—a close comrade. So you'd better pull your weight later. Got it?"
Corin nodded slowly, still a little dazed.
Burnice burst out laughing and slapped Lucy on the shoulder.
"Come on, Lucy. If you like someone, just say it out loud! No need to hide it—Boss! Lucy's hitting people!!!"
"Burnice, stop right there! And Caesar—if you dare block me, Sons of Calydon is getting a new leader today!!!"
Corin stood there, stunned, watching Lucy charge forward red-faced.
Burnice bolted immediately, ducking behind Caesar. Caesar puffed out her chest, hands on her hips, standing squarely in Lucy's way—an emotional critical hit.
Lucy, mortified and furious, was just about to throw hands when Lighter and Piper rushed in, each grabbing one side to break it up.
"Pfft—"
Corin suddenly laughed, her brows soft with genuine happiness.
"All this noise and chaos… it feels like home."
Smiling, she hurried forward and wrapped her arms around Lucy's waist, trying to pull her back.
"Lucy, if we keep dawdling and don't head to Cinder Lake, we might go from third… to second."
Why would slowing down raise their ranking?
Simple.
One of the top two just has to die.
…
"How wonderful they are… Mr. Lycaon, with such a beautiful family down there, you wouldn't want your actions to offend the vampire clans and make all of this disappear, would you?"
High above the canyon, Kovei clicked his tongue repeatedly, binoculars in hand as he watched Corin and the Sons of Calydon laughing and brawling together below. He suddenly turned his head toward Lycaon and Rina, who stood on guard nearby, a dangerous curve lifting at the corner of his mouth.
Kovei stepped away from the cliff edge, unhurriedly pulling a pair of white gloves from his suit pocket and slipping them on.
Smiling, he said, "If I'm not mistaken, Mrs. Meilin sent you to Khors to look for clues. Then Khors talked you into coming here to stop me, didn't he?"
At that, Lycaon clasped one hand behind his back. His eyes narrowed slightly, lingering for a brief moment on Kovei's white gloves before he spoke in a low, steady voice:
"Since you already understand the situation, you might as well hand over Mr. Perlman and surrender. Considering that you and Phaga are both descendants of the True Ancestors, we'll put in a good word for you when you face the Public Security Bureau."
"Hahahahaha!"
Kovei suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter, so hard that tears welled up in his eyes. After a long moment, he wiped the corners of his eyes, lowered his hands from his stomach, and said with amusement:
"A half-breed like me actually deserves to be called a descendant of the True Ancestors? Mr. Lycaon, you're far too funny."
"Besides—"
Kovei's gaze darkened in an instant. His aura shifted violently as crackling arcs of electricity burst from his white gloves. A terrifying pressure spread outward, and riding that surge of power, Kovei rose into the air, thunder lifting him aloft.
Looking down, the savage lightning scorched the yellow sand beneath him into blackened patches. Even Kovei himself seemed unable to fully endure it, his face twisting with pain.
"If I refuse, what exactly can you do?"
"You're nothing but a pile of dry bones, destined to be buried along the vampire clans' thorn-covered road of song. No one will mourn you!"
As the words fell, Kovei raised his right hand. Countless bolts of lightning converged in his palm, forming a spear of thunder that he hurled the instant it took shape.
"Die!"
The thunder spear crossed the distance in a blink, detonating right in front of Lycaon and Rina. Blinding light swallowed them as a deafening explosion shook the ground, the entire cliffside trembling violently.
From the canyon floor came scattered shouts and curses—someone complaining about the sheer number of outsiders flooding in with the Tour de Inferno.
Kovei landed lightly, his toes brushing the sand.
His eyes locked onto the center of the explosion. Thick yellow smoke billowed, obscuring everything within. He abruptly turned and barked:
"Perlman. Drive yourself to Cinder Lake. Understood?"
"Y-yes! Understood! Please be careful—this lowly dwarf is on his way!"
Perlman trembled, clearly terrified by Kovei's sudden harshness.
He had no intention of fleeing. Even with heavy dark circles under his eyes, he sprinted at full speed, wishing desperately that he had been born with two more legs.
But then—
Whoosh!
A sonic boom tore through the air from atop the towering cliff.
From within the swirling sand, an ice spike shot out at blinding speed, aimed straight at Perlman's back.
Kovei didn't react until the icicle had already grazed past his cheek. Snapping to his senses, he spun around and flung out his arm, releasing a bolt of lightning.
Bang!
He caught up to it.
Kovei's expression lit up.
As long as the lightning struck the icicle, it would shatter—and Perlman would be safe. The vampire clans' grand plan would remain standing between heaven and earth!
But in the very next moment, Perlman collapsed.
An ice spike had pierced straight through his right lung, missing his heart by barely an inch.
The icicle had still hit.
How?
The shock froze Kovei in place.
Lycaon, however, did not give him a moment to recover.
With a casual wave, a chilling gust swept through the canyon, blowing away the sandstorm and revealing Lycaon and Rina standing completely unscathed.
Lycaon flexed his slightly sore wrist and began walking toward Kovei, his voice calm and heavy.
"Rina. I'll hold off this half-blood vampire. You deal with Perlman."
There was no room for hesitation.
Perlman might have been a minor figure, but he was the critical cog—one that could single-handedly alter the vampire clans' entire plan.
"Khors… former president of Belobog. Hmph. I'll trust you for now."
Lycaon's eyes narrowed as the thought crossed his mind, and he immediately issued the order.
"Understood!"
Rina gave a slight bow and rose into the air. She spread her hands to either side, fingers curling as if grasping invisible threads.
At once, two small Bangboos floated up to her palms, rubbing against each other.
Moments later, two massive plasma spheres formed in her hands. Deep blue lightning reflected off Rina's serene smile, her presence resembling that of a distant, impartial deity calmly passing judgment on life.
With a decisive push of both hands, divine punishment descended.
"Tsc! Where's the clan's support? What is Bern doing?!"
Seeing the attack racing toward Perlman, Kovei ground his teeth, preparing to intervene. His hand clenched as the outline of another thunder spear began to form.
"You're ignoring your opponent right in front of you. Isn't that a bit overconfident?"
A cold, stern voice exploded beside Kovei's ear.
His eyes widened as he turned—just in time to see a metal lower leg whip out in a brutal arc.
Bang!
One kick.
Though Kovei reacted in time to raise his arm, the sheer force still snapped his head violently to the side.
In the next instant, Lycaon raised his leg high. An overwhelming frost surged from his metal prosthesis, like a towering iceberg collapsing at once.
Then—he stomped down.
Boom!
Kovei crossed his arms as his footing slipped, his body skidding back dozens of meters. The moment he stabilized, he spat out a mouthful of blood, staggering as he forced himself upright.
Even so, he couldn't afford to fall.
Despite taking two heavy blows from Lycaon, Kovei twisted his head to look toward Perlman.
The two plasma spheres were almost upon him.
Kovei's eyes went bloodshot as he roared, "Bern! Where the hell are you?!"
"Don't shout. I thought of a few brilliant experiments on the way here, so I was a bit slow."
A calm voice drifted into everyone's ears.
The next instant, a true iceberg materialized out of thin air above the sand sea and slammed down mercilessly.
The two plasma spheres vanished instantly, leaving behind only faint wisps of white smoke.
Bern stepped forward, hands tucked neatly into his sleeves, making an unhurried entrance.
"One opponent each," he said flatly. "Kovei, don't drag me down."